395

[Lett: xcvii. Letters Historical and Galant. 395]
in another, a magnificent ambigue (ie. an Entertainment of meat and fruit together) was served up, where there
was a Table that lay open all night, and all the Masques refreshed themselves in their turns : Refreshments
were no more spared than they were at Count de Tarouca's ; and Indeed the Portugese Gentlemen, carry the
day for fineness of taste, and the manner of doing things.

Besides those publick Entertainments, we had some private ones here, the original of which was a
twelfth night cake, that was broke at Count Denhoff's House, where the Earl of Strafford was proclaimed
King, and the Dutchess de St. Pierre Queen. My lord exactly fulfilled his Engagements, by inviting some days
after the same Persons that were at Count Denhoff's Entertainment; he added some more, and gave them
all a Magnificent Entertainment, followed by a Ball. The Assembly was composed of the two Prussian Mi-
nisters and their Ladies, the two Ministers of Savoy : Count Zinzendorf; the two Ministers of Portugal, the
three of France, the Minister of Venice; the Duke and Dutchess of St. Pierre, Mr. and Madam Dalwich, Miss
Wood niece to the Bishop of Bristol, a young lady of merit [universally?] lik'd and esteemed here, and for whom the
Dutchess of St. Pierre has a particular Regard. Count Passionci was of the Party too, with the Marquis of
Miremond. The Former had the Crown, which he placed on the Head of the beautiful Madame Markchal.

Ill tell you another time how those Entertainments were continued to the End of the Carnaval, and
at present shall acquaint you, How they celebrated twelfth Day at the abbot of Polignac's House. It was in a man
ner agreeable to this Character, and with a fine mass in musick, in which the following Anthem was sung
The Anthem sung on the Epiphany at Utrecht, when His Excellency The Lord Abbot of
Polignac, Cardinal in pelto, and one of his most Christian Majesty's Plenipotentiaries [of the]
Congress gave an Entertainment. The musick was composed by Mr. Caryol.

"Sing Psalms, Play on the Dulcimer, the Psaltery, and the Harp ; Sing the marvellous Works of God.
"The Wisemen saw a Star ; they said one to the other: this is the Star of a great King. Let us go and find him
"out and offer him presents: See Melchior ; sing Psalms, Play on the Dulcimer, the Psaltery and the Harp.
"See Melchior, the sovreign chose him beaucse he knew that he is great : praise him, for he is kind, praise
"him ye that have the Honour to be in his house."

This Anthem was thus applied to Mr. de Polignac.

"His Excellency; Christian name is Melchior: Melchior was one of the three Kings that came to adore
"our Lord. The first words of the Anthem direct several sorts of Musical Instruments to be taken, in order to
"Sing the marvellous works of God. Tis said afterwards, that the Wisemen saw a star, and said one to ano
"ther, this is the Sign of a Great King, let us go and find him out and offer him presents. This may justly
"be applied to his Excellence: He is the Star, the Sign: He represents a great King: The Gentlemen that have
"the honour to attend him are the wise men, who own him to be such: This Engages them to follow him,
"and offer him daily their Respects and Services: This same star is called Melchior: Let us now enjoy
"the honour of his presence, make his name eccho to the Sound of Instruments, and sign the marvellous
"works of God, who has raised his Excellency to the Purple, because he knew his Piety and his Verture.
"And our King has honoured him with his power, because he is fully acquainted with his Capacity and
"merit. Once more, praise his Excellency, who is goodness itself, praise him all ye that have the honour
"to approach his Person and to lodge in his Palace.

You see Madam, I send you a very exact account of every thing that possess here, whether Pleasure
Business, Politicks, or Devotion, I lay them all before you, and give you the pleasure of seeing the celebrated
Congress of Utrecht in your chamber. And that nothing may escape you, I must tell you too that the Count de
Tarouca who is the Life of this Country, gave a magnificent Ball, besides the Entertainment I told you of, and
abstracted from his character, which I shall describe to you in proper Time and place. This was a public Enter
tainment, which his Politeness engaged him to give the Ladies, because he observed that Don Lewis D'Aeunha's mas
querade had givem them great Pleasure. He accordingly gave one, in the great Hall I described to you before, where all the
Maks were admitted; They came in great numbers, and all were magnificently dressed. The Countess of Bergomi
represented night, and shone greatly under her dark disguise. She is very handsome, & Wife to the Minister of