81 - MAINTENON, Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de [Niort, 1635 – Saint-Cyr, 1719], morganatic wife of Louis XIV, founder of the Saint-Cyr school for young women.

MAINTENON, Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de [Niort, 1635 – Saint-Cyr, 1719], morganatic wife of Louis XIV, founder of the Saint-Cyr school for young women. Autograph letter signed with her initials, addressed to the Countess of Caylus. Marly, January 24, [1708], 1 page, in-4°, with address and red wax seal bearing the coat of arms. “Mr. de Maretz is a good man and will become better than ever; stick with him—he is reliable, and now he is related to the minister. Ms. d’Armenonville is good for nothing; I will speak to Mr. Chamillart the first time I see her, but you must make the effort yourself, and not expect to secure the favor I wish for you through my own efforts. [...] Do not speak to him in my presence in too affectionate a tone; you have erected insurmountable barriers between us, but [...] I wish you every happiness [...] You’ll be pleased with me when you don’t demand intimacy or deep trust. So put yourself on that footing—be free, without ulterior motives, and without pretension; you’ll be—and appear—far better at it than I am .”