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The Virginia Gazette
Williamsburg, Virginia
What is this article about?
A French Marquis, captured by Barbary corsairs and enslaved in Morocco, eloped with a Mahometan princess who helped him escape. In Rome, he received papal dispensation to keep both his original wife and the princess, who was welcomed kindly by the first wife.
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"About half a year ago there arrived in this city a French Marquis, who brought with him a Mahometan Princess acquired in the strangest manner imaginable. Going to join his regiment in Corsica, he was taken by some Barbary Corsairs, and carried away and sold as a slave to the Emperor of Morocco. One day, as he was working in the Emperor's garden, a Lady came to him, and, after conversing for some time, and finding that he was a man of parts and rank, she proposed to elope and marry him, promising, at the same time, that if he would consent, and be guided by her, she would effect his deliverance, and restore him to liberty. Struck with her beauty and generosity, and resolved not to be surpassed in the latter, he frankly declared that he was already married, and could not, therefore, fulfil her expectations. 'It does not signify,' says she, 'if you have twenty wives; you may add one more to the number: nothing is more common in this country.' 'Alas! but it is not so in mine: the laws allow but one wife.' 'Surely, then,' replied she, 'your laws are not founded on the laws of nature, which has constituted the union of the sexes the only real marriage; grant me but that point, and I will readily give up the rest.' The prospect of liberty was inviting, and beauty tempting. He consented, and she had the address to convey him safe to the sea, where a ship waited ready to receive him. He came to Rome, where the singularity of the case, and the probability of adding one sheep more to St. Peter's flock, operated so strongly as to procure a dispensation or indulgence, to enable the Marquis to have and to hold two wives. Some allege that the jewels and treasures of the Princess had more influence than any other consideration. But, what is more extraordinary than all, if there could be any thing extraordinary in the sang-froid of a French matron, is, that she received the new wife with the utmost complaisance and politeness, and that she still continues to treat her with the greatest kindness and attention."
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Rome
Event Date
About Half A Year Ago
Key Persons
Outcome
papal dispensation granted to the marquis to have two wives; the original wife received the new wife with kindness.
Event Details
A French Marquis was captured by Barbary Corsairs en route to Corsica, sold as a slave to the Emperor of Morocco, and worked in the Emperor's garden. A Mahometan Princess proposed elopement and marriage, helping him escape to a waiting ship despite his existing marriage. They arrived in Rome half a year ago, where the case's singularity led to a papal dispensation allowing him two wives, possibly influenced by the Princess's jewels. His first wife accepted the second with politeness.