Note 26 — Chapter I

Madame de Sully, the second wife of the Duke, was Rachel de Gochefilet, the daughter of Jacques, Seigneur de Vaucelas, and of Marie d'Arbalète. She was first married to François Hurault, Sieur de Châteaupers et du Marais, who died in 1590. She survived the Duc de Sully, and died in 1659, at the age of ninety-three years. The arrogance of this lady was so notorious that it became the subject of one of those biting epigrams for which Henri IV had rendered himself famous; for it is on record that upon an occasion when he was a guest at the table of the finance minister, he drank her health, accompanied by the following impromptu:— "Je bois à toi, Sully; Mais j'ai failli; Je devois dire à vous, adorable Duchesse, Pour boire à vos appas Faut mettre chapeau bas." Dictionnaire des Hommes Illustres.