332 memoirs of madame de Maintenons Fulyy 4a, 
with her, and put her into the hands of the same nurse to: 
whom fhe had intrusted mademoiseilé de Villette, her: 
daughter. 
* In a few years madame d’Aubigné obtained liberty tov 
her hafband, and set out with him and all her family for 
America, where: they had considerable claims, In the: 
course of the voyage, Frances fell ill, and was reduced so: 
low, that fhe ceased to exhibit signs of life. A: sailor was: 
going to throw her overboard. The signal gun was ready 
loaded. Madame d’?Aubigné begged: leave to: prefs. ler’ 
poor infant ence more in: heratms ;—{fhe put her hand on: 
whe heart, and felt it still palpitate, ‘ She is. not dead,” 
cried fhe; and her maternal cares restored her fully to life. 
The vefsel in. which this. unfortunate family were pai- 
sengers, was attacked: by « a corsair, but escaped, and arrived: 
safe at: Martinico, 
“ D’Aubigné establifhed himself there in. so: idakilige’ 
ous a situation, that he was enabled to live in opulence. 
His wife was obliged to return to Europe to- settle some af- 
fairs. In her absence, d?Aubigné spent his whole fortune 
at play, and fhe found him, om her return, ruined’and dying. 
‘Fhe widow returned to France to. obtain afsistance, leav-: 
ing her daughter, who was now seven years of age, as. se= 
eurity to her creditors, who sent the child about from one: 
to another. The judge of the place, taking: pity on her, 
received her into his house, but becoming soon weary’ of 
her as the others, sent her after her mother. She fell first 
into the hands. of madame de Montalambert, her kinswo- 
man, who: refused to entertain her. ~She was then recei-: 
ved by madame de Villette:her aunt, who brought her up» 
in the Calvinist religion. 
’ © Her mother, a good catholic, wifhed, notwithstand-: 
ing her distrefs, to.take her daughter into: her own hands,. 
