Chapter I: HAVE received your letter of the 29th of last month. You may have

the doors you have need of, for the security of your prisoners, made at Exiles, without taking the trouble of having them carried from Pignerol.

I have written to the _Père Lachaise_ for the benefice, which you ask of the King for one of your children, to whom I trust His Majesty will grant it.

DE LOUVOIS.[317]

[317] Ibid.

No. 115.

SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS.

Precautions for the Security and Concealment of the
Prisoners at Exiles.

Pignerol, July 12th, 1681.
Just setting off for Exiles.

IN order that the prisoners may not be seen (at Exiles,) they will not leave their chamber when they hear mass; and in order that they may be kept the more securely, one of my lieutenants will sleep above them, and there will be two sentinels night and day, who will watch the whole round of the tower, without its being possible for them and the prisoners to see and to speak to one another, or even to hear any thing of one another. They will be the soldiers of my company, who will be always the sentinels over the prisoners. There is only a confessor, about whom I have my doubts; but if you do not disapprove, I will give them the curate of Exiles instead, who is a good man, and very old, whom I will forbid, on the part of His Majesty, to enquire who these prisoners are, or their names, or what they have been, or to speak of them in any way, or to receive from them by word of mouth, or by writing, either communications or notes.

I am, &c.

DE SAINT-MARS.[318]

[318] Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

No. 116.

LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS.

Departure of Saint-Mars from Pignerol ordered to be
deferred, in order that he might receive Catinat there.

Versailles, July 22d, 1681.