Hallo Listers, I would like to propose a toast to Charlotte d'Arbaleste. Charlotte was the wife of Philippe de Mornay, who was also known as M. du Plessis Marly (from the name of his estate). She has no relationship (as far as I am aware) to any of my ancestors. However, I read the following book because Plessis Marly was said to be my ancestors place of origin. A Huguenot Family in the XVI Century - The Memoirs of Philippe de Mornay, Sieur du Plessis Marly written by his wife Even on the title page of the book she is 'his wife', almost as though she has (as Andrea pointed out), no identity other than being someone's daughter, wife or mother. Charlotte was married aged 18, in 1567, to Jean de Pas (Lord of Feuqueres) and they had a daughter, Suzanne de Pas who was born on 29th December, 1568. The following year Charlotte's husband was wounded (by a horse) and died following a fever on 23rd May, 1569. Charlotte was in Paris at the time of the massacre and only escaped by hiding in the house of a friend with her daughter and then sending her daughter to stay with her grandmother. It was to be several years before Charlotte married for a 2nd time. This time to Philippe de Mornay on 3rd January, 1576. They had the following children: Marthe, 17th December 1576, married J. de Jaucourt de Villarnoul 14th April 1599 Elizabeth, 1st June 1578 Philippe, 20th July 1579 in Antwerp Maurice, who died aged 3 months Anne, between 1582- 1584 Twin Sons, still born Daughter who died aged 3 months Sara died aged 3 months Suzanne de Pas married M. de la Verrie on 6th June 1597 and the following year their son, Philippe was born on 15th April 1598. Charlotte, wrote her husbands memoirs for her son, Philippe, who pre-deceased her, having been killed in the Low Countries in 1605. Charlotte died a year later in 1606. Her husband - the hero of the story - died in 1623. This is a wonderful account of life during this period and there are still some copies of this book available on www.abebooks.co.uk (or www.abebooks.com) depending upon where in the world you are. Regards, Suzie