MANCINI HORTENSE, DUCHESSE de MAZARIN: (1646-1699) Niece of Cardinal Mazarin and mistress of Charles II King of England, Scotland and Ireland. Rare signed receipt, `La Duchesse Mazariny´, a bold and large signature, one page, 4to, Paris, 6<sup>th</sup> March 1665, in French. The document being a receipt for an amount received, stating `J´ai reçu de Mr. de Chasseneuil la somme de quinze cents livres pour mes menus plaisirs du present mois de Mars..´ ("I have received from Mr. Chasseneuil the sum of fifteen hundred pounds for my own pleasure expenses of the present month of March..") Very small minor age wear, with two very small holes at the base of the document, not affecting the text or signature. G

Hortense Mancini was the fourth of the five well-remembered Mancini sisters, who, together with two of their cousins were known at the court of King Louis XIV of France as the Mazarinettes. Noted for their great beauty, her mother Girolama Mazzarini, brought her daughters to Paris in the hope of using the influence of her brother, Cardinal Mazarin, to gain them advantageous marriages. Hortense´s sister, Marie, was the first romantic love of King Louis XIV. They all married Princes and Dukes.