1638.] A SHAM MARRIAGE. 171 



" having seriously reflected before God," suggested 

 a device, which to the heretical mind is a little 

 startling, but which commended itself to Madame 

 de la Peltrie as fitted at once to soothe the troubled 

 spmt of her father, and to save her from the sin 

 involved in the abandonment of her pious designs. 

 Among her acquaintance was M. de Bernieres, 

 a gentleman of high rank, great wealth, and zeal- 

 ous devotion. She wrote to him, explained the 

 situation, and requested him to feign a marriage 

 with her. His sense of honor recoiled : moreover, 

 in the fulness of his zeal, he had made a vow of 

 chastity, and an apparent breach of it w^ould cause 

 scandal. He consulted his spuitual director and 

 a few intimate friends. All agreed that the glory 

 of God was concerned, and that it behooved him 

 to accept the somewhat singular overtures of the 

 young widow,^ and request her hand from her fa- 

 ther. M. de Chauvigny, who greatly esteemed Ber- 

 nieres, was delighted ; and his delight was raised 

 to transport at the dutiful and modest acquiescence 

 of his daughter.^ A betrothal took place ; all was 



Jesus, dont elle connaissait la prudence consommee, et le supplia de 

 I'eclairer de ses lumieres. Ce religieux, apres y avoir serieusement 

 re'fle'chi devant Dieu, lui repondit qu'il croyait avoir trouve un moyen de 

 tout concilier." — Casgrain, Vie de Marie de V Incarnation, 243. 



1 Enfin apres avoir longtemps implore les lumieres du del, il remit 

 toute I'afiaire entre les mains de son directeur et de quelques amis intimes. 

 Tous, d'un commun accord, lui declarerent que la gloire de Dieu y etait 

 interessee, et qu'il devait accepter/' — Ibid., 244. 



2 " The prudent young widow answered him with much respect and 

 mcdesty, that, as she knew M. de Bernieres to be a favorite with him, 

 she also preferred him to all others." 



The above is from a letter of Marie de I'lncarnation, translated by 

 Mother St. Thomas, of the Ursuline convent of Quebec, in her Life of 

 Madame de la Peltrie, 41. Compare Les Ursulines de Quebec, 10, and the 

 " Notice Biographique " in the same volume. 



