de launay was born in paris. her father was a painter named cordier. he seems to have deserted her mother, who then resumed her maiden name, de launay, which was also adopted by her daughter. she was educated at a convent at evreux, of which mme de la rochefoucauld, sister of françois de la rochefoucauld, author of the "maximes", was superior. there, she became attached to mme de grieu, who, being appointed abbess of the convent of st louis at rouen, took her friend with her.