de la Mothe-Houdancourt, one of the king's mistresses. He went to England where he found at the court of Charles II an atmosphere congenial to his talents for intrigue, gallantry and pleasure. He arrived in London in January 1663. Philibert quickly entered into the English court's inner circle. Not much adaptation was needed as French was the predominant language at the Restoration court. Elizabeth Hamilton, the sister of Anthony Hamilton, admired his wit and gallantry and fell in love with him. Philibert married her in London in December 1663 or early in 1664. In March 1664, having heard of his marriage, Louis XIV wrote him a letter saying that he could come back. The couple had a son on 28 August old style, but he died as an infant. There is a famous anecdote told about her marriage, which reverts the order of events by placing the marriage, which was, according to this tale, forced on de Gramont by her brothers, after the permission to return. It goes as follows: When in 1664 he was allowed to return to France, he left in haste, giving the impression that he would not honour his commitments. Her brothers George and Anthony therefore pursued and intercepted him on his way to Dover and pressured him to return and marry her. They asked him whether he had not forgotten something in London. He replied "Pardonnez-moi, messieurs, j'ai oublié d'épouser votre sœur." (Forgive me, Sirs, I have forgotten to marry your sister). He turned around, went back to London, and dutifully married her. The story is partly proven wrong since he married her before Louis allowed him to come back, but it could well be true that a bit of pressure from her brothers was needed. It has been said that this incident suggested to Molière his comedy Le mariage forcé, first presented 29 January 1664, but this idea clashes with the known dates. Back in France In 1664 he was allowed to return to France. He revisited England in 1670 in connection with the Sale of Dunkirk, and again in 1671 and 1676. In 1688 he was sent by Louis XIV to congratulate James II on the birth of an heir. From all these small diplomatic missions he succeeded in obtaining considerable profits, being destitute, and having no scruples whenever money was in question. At the age of 75 he fell dangerously ill, which