The question arose in in 1598, in connection with a son lately born to Gabrielle, who was constantly spreading reports that she would be the king's wife.

To give consistency to this report she took it into her head to have her son presented at baptism as a child of France, and an order was brought to Sully "to pay what was right to the heralds, trumpeters, and hautbois players who had performed at the baptism of Alexander, Monsieur, child of France." After looking at the order, Sully detained it, and had another made out, which made no mention of Alexander.

The men complained, saying, "Sir, the sum we ought to have for our attendance at the baptism of children of France has for a long while been fixed." " Away, away!" said Sully, in a rage; "I'll do nothing of the sort; there are no children of France." And he told the king about it, who said, "There's malice in that, but I will certainly stop it; tear up that order." And turning to some of his courtiers, "See the tricks that people play, and the traps they lay for those who serve me well and after my own heart.

An order hath been sent to M.de Rosny, with the design of offending me if he honored it, or of offending the Duchess of Beaufort if he repudiated it.

I will see to it.