Madame De Sevigne S Tates That the King Had

I I AD A ME D E SEV‘ I GNE {X

HER CONTEMPORARI ES.

I N T W O VO LU M E S.

VOL. U;

L ON D ON

H E Y N R C O L B U R N, P U B L I S H E R,

GR M A RLB R R E T E A T ‘ O OUGHL ST E .

1 84 1 .

CONTE NTS

T H E S E C O N D V O L U M E .

BOURD A LOUE

Le e e A c s o of R T lli r ( r hbi h p heims) .

Rue P e re la. Pére If; Chaise Pére le Tellier D uk e and Duc h ess de M on tausier Turen n e Ma rquis de Lo uvois

Le Gran d Colbert

Comte an d Comtesse de Gramm ont

Maréchal de Villeroi Marquis an d Marquise de Vill ars vi CONTE NTS.

Duc h ess de Mazarin The Kin g an d Queen of Spain D uc h ess de la V alli ere Mademoisell e de Mon tpens ier

Duke de Lauzun

Prin cess des Ursin s Madame de Main ten on

St . Cyr d J ames I I . an Mary of Moden a V ersailles Le N ostr e Lord H erbert of Cherburg The Earl of H ollan d

ll ers Du e of uc n m Vi i , k B ki gha

’ Maré c hal d E strades

’ Comte d Harcourt

Marquis de Vieuvill e

Duke of Mon tague

D r . Barillon

Earl of Sun derlan d Secon d Duke of Bucki ngham Duke of Shrewsbury

St. o n o ol n o e J h , L rd B i gbr k Duke an d Duchess du Maine The President de Barlay

’ The Chancell or d A guesseau CONTENTS. vii

Fontenelle

Du d mon ke e St . Si F en elon

Ma dame de Simian e Lette r -writin g in Franc e Comte de Treville Madame de Motteville Mon sieur and Madame de Coulanges

The Monastery of La Trappe

Louis X IV . Con clusion

THE TIME S AND SOCI ETY

M E D E S EVI N E M A D A G .

B O U R D A L O U E .

o n 1 6 3 2 e 1 70 4 . B r , ; di d ,

JUDGING from the letters of Madame de se vi n é u c r g , who was a faithf l e ho (always va ied and always agreeable) of the prevailing opinions in s m a c i n ociety, it y be seen what an immense pla e

Bourd aloue public opinion ﬁlled in France . When

r s c m u s w as he ﬁ t be a e known, the reign of Lo i at its height of reﬁnement and pleasure ; every day

s s s s or . witnes ed fete at Ver aille at St Germain,

uc s of c every night the prod tion Corneille, Ra ine,

s and Moliere were repre ented at the theatres . The improvements in the arts and scienc es were

B VOL . H . 2 BOURD A LOUE .

s u rapidly advancing, and the world re o nded with

’ the glory of Turen n e s vic tories . In the midst of this worldl y gr ande ur and daz

’ zlin Bourdaloue s s g gaiety, severe mini try and the gravity of his eloqu en c e were the more striking.

Bourdaloue preached at c ourt during many Lents

s s and Advent , and was alway heard with eager

s c s to nes ; whenever he ame, crowd assembled

him u Bourdaloue u hear . Altho gh was a Jes it, he had friends and admirers without n umber amongst

u s. u wh o those who hated the Jes it Boilea , de

s saw u him te ted them, m ch of ; and Madame de

i n was hi s r s Sév g é greatest admi er. Her letter are

f s his u u o . f ll his prai es, his sermons, and eloq ence

s s Pére Bourdalo ue s She ay , preached ye terday at Notre -Dame ; every on e was s truc k with his sermon ; it was of a strength to make the courtiers tremble ; and never did a minister of the gospel

u s so c enforce Christian tr th magniﬁ ently . The subjec t of his discourse was on conforming to the

us of our law, setting before the example Saviour,

w of presented in the temple. It as the perfection

u f eloq ence, and some parts o it as if preached by

” u St. Pa l himself.

u im At another time, the sermon makes s ch an BOURD A LOUE . 3

s she pre sion on her, that writes almost the whole of u of it, in a letter to her da ghter. In the Lent

1 6 8 2 she s : , write to Madame de Grignan My

is u f Pére B urdal on head f ll o the o oue. I began

’

As h s . u s Wedne day to hear him, at St Pa l , and we have already had three admirable sermons . M . de Lauzun miss es none of them ; he will learn his

is new s religion , and I believe it a very tory for

su c of x was on c en him . The bje t the te t the

’

s . turion, who aid, Lord, we are not worthy Upon this he took occ asion to speak of the dispo s u ou m us to c itio y t be in receive the sa rament, and that those who had the care of souls should never hold o ut the threat of the pro fanation of the

of i u u body and blood Christ w tho t inc lcating that,

did s s u if we not partake of the acrament, we ho ld never know life eternal ; that thes e two c an never be separated ; that, if we are not living in sin, we should partake of the sacram ent ; and that if we

in sin . u us s s us s are , St A g tine ay , that we m t epa

u s our s s rate o rselve from in , that we may approach

s c u the sacrament, and not live in a false e rity apart from this divine mystery ; that that sta te was

s u s of of out an in ec re tate mind, and a mere mark ward respect to religion in persons of no prin B 2 4 BOURD A L OUE .

l s was s c ip e . All thi delivered with a traight

ss s ut us ss re forwardne , a trength, a tr h, a j tne of

th e s u -ﬁn der oul see mark , that greate t fa lt c d not

u s u anything to c avil at. M . Arna ld him elf wo ld

f E on e w as m not have said di ferently. very in ad i

ut s was k on h ot ration ; b they aid, it like wal ing

m No m s scou s suc s . t e ber to di r e of h atter a word,

w as s s hi s s m o m however, to be aid again t er n, fro

” o n e party or the other.

’ Bourdaloue s pleas ing man ner had great power ; he conformed his style and his argum ents to the rank and to the u nderstanding of those he had to

’ c so m s m ad vise or to on le . Si ple with the i ple,

s u learned with the learned, trong in arg ment with

u c m out all is u s the nbeliever, he always a e of d p te

was ad victorious . He mired both by the pious

s o s o f and the worldly, and by per n every rank in soc iety ; e xerc ising an as c endan cy over the minds of his c m a s h c as uc his ote por rie , w i h he owed m h to

s his a s as his u c manner and mor l to eloq en e .

’ The King preferred Bourdaloue s repetition s to

has new doc trines and to new preac hers . It been

’ su s B al ue s u s ppo ed that ourd o ﬂattery of Lo i XIV. w as u m as s his o f lso e, there are whole page in w rks

u s in reg larly entitled, Compliment to the K g ; BOURD A LOUE . 5

and those pages are as strong in c ompliment as

Bourdal others were severe in repro ac h . If oue w as betrayed into oc c as ional tim e -serving c onduct

u s m us set w in towards Lo i , it t be do n to the

ﬂuen ce of u s s c a co rtly atmo phere, again t whi h he

s s to u s u warn other , and the niver al enth siasm and

d m o m o c u a irati n for that nar h, ntil old age and

m s c s h ad bigotry, and ilitary di gra e , altered the

’ u him But Bou rdal tone of thos e aro nd . oue s in

c of s w as x m dependen e peech in general e e plary.

A s m Sév i n é s s u his Mada e de g ay , he th ndered

s “ m un u — anathema , frappant com e so rd disant — des vérités a bride abattue parlant a tort et a

’ s c l adultére— u ui u il v a traver ontre sa ve q pe t,

” u m to jours son c he in .

c c c out Silen e, don ried Le grand Condé,

’ on e of Bourdaloue s m i s greatest ad rer , when he

r u c s appea ed in the ch r h, where crowd were as

’ s m him don e ! l én n emi e bled to hear ; Silence,

est en prés en c e . Bourdaloue openly reproac hed persons in the

’ King s presen c e for the very c onduc t purs ued by the King him self ; and in private he was urgent

as to c his uc with him a hange in cond t. When

u s his s Lo i , yielding to remonstrance , told Bour 6 BOURD A LOUE . dalou e that he had sent Madame de Monte span to

C la n ére u g y, and said to him, Mon p , vo s

” l est la n devez etre content de moi ; e le a C g y.

Bourdaloue s Oui s s u an wered, , ire ; mai Die serait plus s atisfait si C lagn y était a s oixante -dix ” lieues de Versailles . The following is the manner in which Bourda loue treated the King and the c ourtiers whom he was supposed to flatter ; and these extracts from

o s c u will s his serm n preached at o rt, al o serve to shew that the c orrupt and dissipated of man and woman kind will always be the same in all c en turi es that some of the sins of the s eventeenth c en tury are not very different from those of the nine teen th century ; and that the base and p erﬁdious

But are alike all over the world. before reading

s u u s these extract , it m st be nder tood, that the word

” Court is taken in a larger and m ore extended s igniﬁcation than belongs to it in modern times .

” u m u s Co rt, in the ti e of Lo i XIV. meant the s of i s eat polit cs and fashion, and the pot that gave

u s the law and sanction to all new ideas. Co rtier

s of s s but meant not only eekers place and pen ions, all the young and dissipated nobility who crowded

’ the King s antechambers ; what, in the present BOURD A LOUE . 7

u day, wo ld be called the world of political life and

s — u d the world of fa hion, the world that wo ld atten

a birthday or a ball. f

‘f of a but of The Court is the seat politic l life, the — most selﬁsh politics that of advancing yourself and making your fortune and the only c are ofeac h

s in to person is, how to ri e the world, and keep hi s o s x s of r m elf above ther , at the e pen e eve y other

uc is c a a s con sideration . S h the h r cter of the person about a c ourt ! (gens de c our) -persons withou t fr s i w s o ut u iend h p, not ith tanding the m st bea if l and spe c ious demons trations to the contrary ; pers ons on ard a rese w ed to their gg , w

' v b c us the defensi e, e a e,

s at c ur r them elves, they are aware that o t the e IS

a or on e always an attac k to be fe red to repel . At court are to be met with occ asionally many un c u us c of ommon and virt o haracters, some them distinguished for the purity of their religious lives

x and opinions. The an iety evinced to know these pers ons is not from any wish to hear or to admire

but u s c an dis them , to cens re any foible that be

in so as u c covered them , to take away the p bli

Tha t esteem in whic h these characters are held . 8 BOURD A LOUE . i s the object of the malignant cu riosity whi ch be

u lon gs to pers ons abo t c ourt. It is at c ourt that all passions are s tronger

s s s than elsewhere, that de ires are more ardent, elﬁ h

s us u motive more vigoro ly followed p, and where is to be found the infallible consequen c e connected

s s o s — a u sa l n ss as with pa i n , niver l b i dne to what

u m E their own c onduc t will bring pon the . ven the mos t enlightened no longer see their way in

of is c u the path life . It at o rt that the divinity,

u s s u o Fort ne, exerci es an ab ol te p wer over the minds and c oncern s of men it is at cou rt that the

s s wi s to u s s wi h to ri e, the h o t trip other in a race

m s m k u s s of a bition , the wi h to a e yo r elf plea ing

or g c s u a reeable, form haracter that, nder other

c cum s s c s u ss for ir tance and in other pla e , wo ld pa

t s of i u mons er in q ity and crime .

is u z c us Here all a thori ed by tom, and habit

has assum ed not only the rights of possession but

s of proscription also . Tho e who pass their lives at

c u i u s for so o rt, w tho t any rea on doing except that

of u habit, are especially f ll of its errors . However goo d the m oral charac ter may have been origi

in all c us s of g y, they become ac tomed to scene vice

1 0 BOURD A LOUE .

tati n l But all or s o in conversation, grave rea on able subjec ts carry distaste with them ; serious dis

u all u s u t co rse ﬂags, and lang ishe witho t hat helper

s i and se as oner of c onversation . If the p rits of the c s aiet is s ompany are to be rai ed, and g y to be re tored

s c ou u u to o iety, y m st la gh at your neighbour, and

m s s w u s c ac an d he u t be he n p, (donné en pe t le ;)

h s s in his if hi s t en, if all that pas e private l e and

c is c u home cir le placed in a ridi lous light, and if

s i c s is with at ri al talent the new of the day added, every one awakens as if from sleep ; the attention is us f of so ro ed, and the most indi ferent member

” c f iety loses not on e word o what is said . When it is considered of whom and of what the c ongregation were c omposed to whom this was

s u u addre sed, the co rage of the preacher m st have

’ x c Bourdaloue s c u s been e treme ; for, in fa t, dis o rse were an athemas more reﬁned in terms and lan

u but s c g age, not less evere, than those prea hed by

John Knox and his presbyterian brethren to their

u u s u of c s nfort nate overeigns, Mary, Q een S ot , and

s Charle I . It does not seem that Louis ever inter

fe red on s cc s s u the e o a ion , f rther than to protect

’ c c u s s or the prea her from the o rtier remark , that the King ever made any us e of pul pit eloquence in BOURD A L OUE . 1

as cen France, Queen Elizabeth had often done a

u f tury before in England. That Q een o ten gave

u s her opinion through the medi m of the preacher ,

” c u u s whi h she called t ning the p lpit , when any violent stretch of her authority was abou t to ap {man

is he It to remarked, that persons of rank, in the

s o f u s . had time Lo i XIV , however their moral c uc s ond t might be, went to mas and sermon whereas those m uc h demoral ized in modern times

al s u gener ly ab ent themselves, either from nconcern as or of to another world, from the dread hearing

as s disagreeable truths to the pre ent world . That

s was c thi not the ase in France, Madame de Sé

’ vigne s letters alone would prove ; and that the

u m s s men and women co rtiers attended a , either

s u u u from their it ations abo t co rt, or to worship

— l —o r c c the King, not God A mighty, from o a sioual feelings of religion and repentan c e . Thus they gave an opportuni ty to the preacher to sound their c onscienc es ; and that they were not spared

is . s s e pretty evident Moreover, ermon were in g neral delivered in addressing the persons present, and not with the French politeness of speaking i n the thnd lxwa n n 1 2 BOURD A LOUE .

s M aubour was Fenelon related to Mar hal g, who

u u ss at Cambray d ring the War of the S cce ion , that he w as on c e apostrophised from the pul pit in the c s s s c of i hapel at Ver aille , in the pre en e the K ng

c u c and of the whole o rt, by Pere Seraphin, a ele

was as s Pére brated preacher. Fenelon f t a leep ;

S o o ff his sc u s xc i eraphin br ke in di o r e, and e la med

u c s in a lo d voi e, Awaken that leeping Abbé

c m s c u c s l there, who o e to h r h, perhap , on y to pay

” c ou to hi s s 1 u s c u rt Maje ty Lo i , the whole o rt,

s f c u s and even Fenelon him el , o ld not help miling

s u ss ﬁ om u at thi ro gh addre the p lpit . Madame de Sevigne s tates that the King had

c c ai o f i s re eived a letter, to ompl n the talk ng, noi e,

and laughter made by the prelates and priests

’ u m ss x c d ring a in the King s c hapel . A few e tra ts

’ . s u l c from Mr Locke jo rna , who travelled in Fran e

u o u s and Italy abo t the peri d all ded to, will hew

with how little reveren c e prayer or the c ere

m s s onial of wor hip were regarded. Both in Italy

E - was and in ngland, free thinking making rapid

ss bu t as s c . progre , yet had not hewn itself in Fran e

u s c m The Marq i de Bordage, a Fren h an, who

’ c Turen n e s w as s s married a nie e of , at ma at Rome,

w was s hen the Pope pre ent, and not above a yard BOURD A LOUE . 1 3

c i u s or two from him, when a ard nal j st be ide the

s . af of Pope a ked M de Bordage, ter the elevation

c s u u st the host, Che di e vostra ignoria di t tta q e a fan fan taria

was but This in Italy ; at Montpelier, in the sou of u th France, the Jo rnal mentions

. 7 1 676 . Feb , The States go every morning to m N Y ou c ass to 6tre . Dame annot hear a word.

i s s on The card nals and bi hop the right hand, the

- c lay barons to the left. The ardinal repeated

" ffi c s u c part of the o e with an ncon erned look, talk in u g every now and then, and la ghing with the

” bishop next him .

D ec . 23 1 6 78 . c , , Paris At the levée whi h I

’ saw i s . s th morning at St Germain, the King de v otion is x m as ss very e e plary ; as soon he is dre ed,

s his -s l he goe to bed ide, where he knee s down to his s s s prayer , everal prie ts kneeling by him, in

c s u c u s i whi h po t re he ontin e for a pretty wh le, not being disturbed by the nois e and buzz of the rest

m i c is ﬁi ll of o s of the cha ber, wh h pe ple, tanding

“ and talking on e to another.

Bourdal oue preached both agains t things and

’ s f f Lord Kin g Li e o Loc k e . 1 4 BOURD A LOUE .

’

. s Je s persons Madame de Sevigne say , m en vai

r al sa has n ow en Bou d oue . They y that he taken

s u to de cribe people in the p lpit, and that, the other

m of day, he made the retire ent Treville into three

s was n . division , in which the name only wa ting

s his a is With all thi , pre ching ﬁner than ever, and it is allowed that no on e h as ever preac hed like him .

’ ' M oh ere s Tartuﬂe out When play of came , reli gious pers ons were alarm ed at the tendency of the

c s s uc w piece ; and the hypo rite were tr k ith terror.

’ It h as been s aid that the play of Tartuﬂe lower ed the c ause of religion as muc h as the Maxims of

La Rochefou cauld lowered the c ause of virt ue .

Bourd aloue c his ser prea hed against the play, in m n o on the s eventh S unday after E aster. The

u Bourdaloue us was arg ment that ed , that raillery brought on the s tage against hypocrites affe c ted

u us as as r c u the virt o well the hypoc ite , and a sed malignant interpretations to be plac ed u pon real

But Bou rd aloue w as piety . led by mistaken zeal to this c on clusion . As the power of ridic ul e is

m c m s f u to s i mense , and be o es in l the greate t de

s is s gree when mi applied, it worth while to con ider

u i is a q estion which arises da ly, daily discussed, and BOURD A L OUE . 1 5

- c is on e of every day im po rtance . Ac ording to

’ Bourdaloue s u u he u arg ment, no ridic le can la ghed

u u s c c at witho t a virt e being a riﬁ ed along with it . But there is no warrant in sc ripture to spare the hypocrite ; n o crime is there denoun c ed as more odious than that of the hyp oc rites who possessed

s of of s n them elves the goods orphan , in shewi g exterior form s of godline ss ; an d the various parable s in sc ripture dem onstr ate that hypoc ritical

r s u n ot its but u s p ide ho ld have reward, its p ni h

h s a ea red ment. W en the hypocrite pp unto men

s . to fa t, verily they have their reward The object of ridic ule should be to elevate virtue as muc h as to lower those disgui sed c haracters that wear its semblanc e ; but to hold up to ridi cule the scruples

s in s e i is of a tender con cience, earne t in its f el ngs,

of f on e c be a sin a di ferent nature, and that annot too severely spoken of or reprehended . The opinion of so fair a j udge as Sir Wal ter

m a be on s su : i u is Scott y given thi bject Rid c le ,

z us o u we allow, a ha ardo weap n, to be sed with cau tion ; yet when employed with a good fai th an d

s u i s hone t p rpose , it the most formidable and

ff u c an s e ect al which be directed again t a crime, equally odious in the sight of God and dan gerous 1 6 BOURD A LOUE .

u c . is to h man so iety It , we think , in the allego rical m c of s c m is ro an e Spen er, that a ha pion intro duc ed w uc his , bending, ith awe and rel tance, lanc e against an opponent c overed by the red-c ross

But s is u s u s shield . when that ign fo nd to di g i e

s u an impo tor and a felon, the tr e knight does not permit him for an ins tant to enj oy its protec tion . There is m uc h less danger of religion being di s c redited by the di sc overy and e xposure of devoted and self-seeking hyp ocri sy than in permitting that

c u c um vi e to l rk , like a con ealed and cons ing canker,

s m of s c u c in the bo o o iety, ndete ted . To assert that the prac tic e of exterior Observan c e s is to pre s c r o x su c us erve the hypo rite f m e po re, be a e it may occasion a scrupulou s inquisition into the c onduc t of c nsc us is s the really o ientio , aying, that we ought to re c eive a fals e c oinage be c ause it is an imitation of c is u or that whi h tr e , that the profession of re li i on u c u g o ght to serve, like the h rc hes in popish c u s as s u o ntrie , an a yl m for all that is vi c ious and

“ c s riminal in ociety.

Bourdaloue both lived and died respec ted by all s c s e t and partie s in religion . D uring the latter

ose Wo s of Sir a te Scott vol xvn Pr rk W l r , . .

1 8 CHARLES LE TELLIER.

E LE E CHARL S TELLI R, AR CHBISHOP E OF RH IMS .

o n 1 64 2 e 1 7 1 0 . B r , ; di d ,

A LL the prelates of Fran c e were n ot Bour

s c s i daloues in eloqu enc e and Ma aron in learn ng. Some of those who enjoyed the highest dignities of the c hurc h were di stinguished for their vio

c c lence and rapa ity, and for the fero ity and coarse

ss . . so n of ne of their manners M de Sevigne, the

d m Sévi n é . m Ma a e de g , writes to M de Po ponne ,

1 697 c m of c u of i in , to o plain the ond ct G les de

Beauv e au s of i u , Bi hop Nantes ; th s worthy dig i tary of the c hurc h having c hallenged M de Sé v i n é i g to s ngle combat, with all forms and cere

n s. s c c u s mo ie To thi a o nt, M. de Sevigne add , that the Bishop appeared one day in the m arket

c at pla e Nantes, sword in hand, and swearing with

s i s his s many oath , aga n t ervant, with whom he

m s u had had so e di p te . Suc h c ontrasts did the c atholic c hurch of hi s mos t Christian Maje sty affo rd in the c onduct of

s u s c its prelate d ring the eventeenth entury, in France ; and the remains of the warlike spirit of CHARLES LE TELLIER. 1 9 the Cardinals de Richelieu and de Retz still c c casion ally shewed itself from under the sou dan e

” u u s ro ge and the p rple robe .

A love of good living distinguished some of the

n leadi g prelates more than anythin g else . The

’ Cardinal de Bouillon s cooks were the best in

c his su s Fran e, and dinners and pper the most

ec h erche. u s Rhen n es was r La Vie ville, Bi hop of ,

“ ” n ot s o reﬁned in his taste as a gas tronome .

m Sévi n é us Mada e de g tells , that he was in the habit of marking the plac es for his devotional ex

o s his or - ho cr i es in breviary, prayer book, with s es

of ham .

le li u w as Charles Tel er, the brother of Lo vois, a

ur u i of violent, t b lent prelate, hav ng little an arch

s u but . bi hop abo t him, learned withal He had

u E travelled m ch, and collected in Italy, ngland,

of and Holland, a ﬁne library volumes ;

f Ge whi ch he bequeathed to the Abbey o St.

c c n eviev e . His c haracter mu h resembled a ele brate d of portrait him by Mignard, in which he is represented seated in his library amongst

on drous u p vol mes, swelled by pride and bloated with good living . When Fenelon was made Archbishop of Cam 20 CHARLES LE TELLIER.

u s c s a bray, he relinq i hed his other e cle iastical p poin tmen ts with a di sinterestedness that astonished

i i s s s who the K ng, and ind po ed many again t him

c were not inclined to do the same . The Ar h

s of s m uc s s bi hop Rheim , h di plea ed at a con

uc m s d t he did not mean to i itate, aid to him ,

“ ” s u ous us z . Mon eigne r, v no perde Le Tellier was in the habit of driving al ong at a tremendous

x pace in his c arriage and si with outriders . One

m an on c day they ran over a poor horseba k,

o u his esc who, h wever, got p and made ape . When

r c s was s the A hbi hop telling the story, he aid,

’ av ois u cc u -la e lui aurois Si j ten mara d , j

” m l s u es s e t c u les . ro p bra , o pé oreille When visiting Madame de Coulanges and Madam e de

o his c s m Sevigne, before g ing to dio e e, Mada e de

’ u s s him u o a Co lange aid to , Q elle f lie, d aller

’ Rheim s l e t qu alle z vou s faire la? vous vous eu n uiere z c m n u u ici us o me c hien . Deme rez ; no

” us r min r n no p o e o s. This disc ours e held to an

” c s m us Ar hbi hop, says Mada e de Sevigne, made

u . u s c c la gh We fo nd it in no way anoni al, and we c ould u nderstand that if som e ladies held it to

‘ s m s l n e erdroien t u - as o e prelate , el es p pe t etre p

u le rs paroles . PERE LA RUE . 2 1

s o f c u to s u All the prelate Fran e looked p Bo s et. One day some of the young almoners of the c ourt were speakin g of his charac ter and works in a way to c u s throw a ridi le on them , with a lightne s

u u c m c pec liar to yo ng Fren h en, when the Ar h

s u u u m s bi hop t rned ro nd pon the , and said, Tai ez

” l n vous ; respectez votre m aitre et e 6tre .

E E R U E P R L A ,

o n 1 64 3 e 1 725 . B r , ; di d ,

PERE LA RUE ﬁrst signalized him self in a Latin

c s u s poem on the vi torie of Lo i XIV. Corneille

ut c s p it into Fren h ver e, and presented it to the

s u . Rue s King, prai ing the a thor La wi hed to go as ss but was mi ionary to Canada, he told that he f would be o more us e in France . He preached

t suc c ss c u wi h e in the provin es and at co rt, at the epoch of the great reverse s whic h su c c eeded

r to forty years of vic tory . Pé e La Rue was alto gether the best preac her of hi s day : his vivid

in of c imagination took ﬁre the heat de lamation , in a manner that could never be imparted to 22 PERE LA RUE .

s u But a n s a written di co rse . notwithst ndi g thi

of u c gift eloq ence, whi h was a great advantage ,

c n of c ac ordi g to the mode delivery in Fran e, both

Rue ss La and Ma illon were of opinion, that preachers should not be requ ired to get their

as c s s sermons by heart, it oc a ion a considerable

ss m i s s lo of ti e , and that it better to read a ermon

r u as c u s m is E . I n f om the p lpit, the to in ngland this i s e xplained the great advantage that the

French preachers had over the English divine s : they

u m en of but were eq ally learning, in France they were as mu ch in the habit of de clamation as our greate st politic al orators ; and none but those thus

v u was gifted e er acq ired any great reputa tion . It

’ u s u La R e opinion, that reading a sermon wo ld not be prej udicial to eloqu ence ; that the orator

u f u wo ld be at his ease, and the people with di ﬁc lty

s of forgive an ab ence memory . La Rue was c onfessor to the D uchess of Bur

. ft u s e gundy He o en left the co rt for the Cloi t r,

to preserve his mind calm and u ndisturbe d . He preached the fu neral oration of the D uke an d

uc of u u of c — all D hess B rg ndy, and their hild three

cu t off a on by death at the s me time, and the very steps of a throne to whic h they would have done PERE LA CHAISE . 23

u u . m c s ch hono r The father, other, and hild, were

a m f u all placed in the s e co ﬁn, and b ried at the

Rue saw same time . La tears shed abundantly

u s s c at that f neral, and to thi day the ermon annot

u a u c on be read witho t emotion, p rtic larly at the

s n cl uding passage . Not le s ﬁne are a sermon o

of c Bouﬂl eurs on e the death the Maré hal de , on

u c an d on s e p blic alamity, one the dying inn r .

The Pére La Rue w as a Je suit ; both he and

Bourdaloue at s s often preached Pari , at La Mai on

‘ des esuites. s g J He compo ed some Latin tra edies, and all through his life was fond of dramatic

is os to poetry, and supp ed have written the piece

1 703 . l re of Andrienne, represented in Co lé

’ u s but to ched this piece, and it pa sed for Baron s ; it is written more as an observer would write than

’ s an actor, and it is not in Baron style .

E E E P R L A C H A I S ,

o n 1 624 ed 1 709 . B r , ; di ,

PERE LA CHAISE was the confessor of Louis

was u was u XIV . He a Jes it, and fo nd deeply implicated on all occasions in court intrigues and 24 PERE LA CHAISE . quarrels ; in those between Madame de Montespan and Madame de Maintenon between Madame de

cc s s c m s Maintenon and the King ; in e le ia ti al atter , between the Jesuits and the Jan sen ists ; between Bossu et and Fenelon ; in the revocation of the edic t o f Nantes in 1 68 6 and in the m ar riage of

1 684 . the King with Madame de Maintenon, in

o a s s Whatever opini n he gave, he lway made enemie ,

was and often on both sides . It by the advice of

ére s u s m P La Chai e that Lo i XIV. arried Madame de Maintenon ; and he was c harged by the King to m ake the widow of Sc arro n c on sent to a private

is sh marriage . It likely that e never forgave the

c onfessor for his want of zeal in not urging a

u c she u s s him — p bli marriage, for ab e often, some

times for possessing neither inﬂuen c e nor c ommon

sense ; sometim es for doing mis chief to Bossuet ;

at another tim e for praising the generosity and

s ss of o di interestedne Fenel n .

Amon st ot e acco un ts o f t at e secut on is th o g h r h p r i , e f llow in g I read a l etter l ast n igh t fro m my sister at P aris (the oun tess o f o t um e an h C N r h b rl d). S e writes as every one who ' has um an e affect on s m ust a nd sa s t at o f h i , y , h th ere i s n ot mo t n re h a (Pro tes tan ts) esteem ed to be l eft in ance ; and t e uess s o o n b n Fr h y , I g , will e co verted by the d ra ” ' oon s r — o e s . Lad Russell s g , Letters . p ri h !y

26 DUKE AND D ucE E ss DE M ONTA USI E R.

c ll u of - de N ai es, for the destr ction Port Royal and the Jan senists. The weak Cardinal de Noailles

to of n consented this work i iquity, for which he passed the remainder of his days in regrets and repentan ce .

P r le li u Pére i é e Tel er s cceeded to la Cha se, in

’ 1 709 in c of c s . , the dire tion the king s on cience The Catholic religion w as a matter of state wi th

V was him Louis X I . Le Tellier with when he died ; and it has been repeated in v arious memoirs

t of tha , when the confessor stood beside the bed

u to him the dying monarch, Lo is said , Je vous

n m on ére rends responsable deva t Dieu, p , de

’ toutes les violences que vous m avez ord on n ées l

D E M ONTA USI E R DUKE .

o n 1 6 1 0 e 1 690 . B r , ; di d ,

D E M ONTA DUCHESS USI ER.

orn 1 607 e 1 671 . B , ; di d ,

- u CHARLES DE SAINT MAURE, D ke de Montau

was of of Tourrain sier, an ancient family e . He

was 1 61 0 i born in , and dist nguished himself early U A ND M ONTA S D KE DUCHESS DE U I E R. 27 i n military life ; at eight-and-twenty he was mad e

c - - Maré hal de camp, and afterwards Governor of

A . u d e i lsace He abj re the t nets of Calvin sm, in

c whi h he had been educated, and married Jul ie

’ d A n e n es s f g de Rambouillet, the heires o the

u of A n en es ho se g and Vivonne . Mademoiselle

ui was e u di s u s de Rambo llet a b a ty, and a ting i hed person in all ways . She early imbibed, in her

’ o s s c on m ther hou e, a taste for learning and witty

w as versation, and known in the society by the

’ '

l zncom a r a ble A rtemice. r name of p The ve y name,

of 6 u however, the H tel de Rambo illet now only

’ recal s pretensions that Moliere s plays have turned into ridi cule .

3 1 was s In 1 6 , the plague at Pari , and pene f trated into the very Louvre . One o the brothers

m u was ill of Mademoiselle de Ra bo illet taken , and

se u u sh e shut her lf p with him , and n rsed him,

r . u a du ing nine days The Marq is de Salles, fter

s u M on tausier a s for ward D ke de , made propos l her

but she him l s hand, did not marry ti l twelve year

she u M on afterwards . When became D chess de tausier she was made Gouvernante des En fan s de

c ft us of Fran e, and a erwards her h band took charge the Dauphin . M ONTA I E 28 DUKE AND DUCHESS DE US R.

of Some years before her marriage, the poets

s had s c the ociety compo ed, in con ert with the

” a u u p inter, Robert, the famous G irlande de J lie . M on tausier gave it to Mademoiselle de Ram

u was ad bo illet, and this gallantry universally

was but in dif mired. The painting, however,

feren t s s a . s , and the ver e lso The best line are by D esmaret de Saint-So rtier

LA v xo u zr ra .

’ ' anc e d a mbition e m e cac e sous e e Fr h , j h l h rb , o este en ma co eu m o este en mon s ou M d l r, d éj r ; a s si s ur v otre om e me u s vo u n ou M i fr j p i ir j r, u um d s ﬂeurs se a la us su e La pl s h bl e e r pl perb .

’ ” The Duc hess kept this gage d amour of her

’ was husband s always with her. He the author of

sixteen of the madr igals in it. After the death of

u u s u D u the D ke and D ches , their da ghter, the

’ ss C russol-d Uzés ss f che de , became po essor o the

” u u is s G irlande de J lie, and it now in the po

s of u ession the D ke de la Valliere .

t of u u v i Af er the death the D ke de Long e lle, the D uke de M on tausier became Governor of Nor

u u c mandy ; and d ring the plag e whi h raged there,

s so u he expo ed himself m ch, notwithstanding the

of u s s for him entreaties his family, that Lo i ent to thank him for his conduct during that time of M ONTA USI E DUKE AND DUCHESS DE R. 29

u 1 668 u p blic calamity. In , the D ke became Go w vernor to the Dauphin . It as a choice that gave

u s . ur niversal sati faction D ing his long life, Mon tausier made to himse lf principles from which he

u ua never swerved . Placed in a perilo s sit tion in

u of u . u the brilliant co rt Lo is XIV , he made it a r le to spe ak the exac t truth ; but by this love of truth w he m ade many enemies . He as asked what right he had to pass censure on the King and on

s su u s tho e who rro nded him He an wered, My ancestors have always been faithful servants of the

c r his ﬂatterers monar h they se ved, and never were ; the liberty to which I claim a right is the acquired

s of the truth posses ion my family , and is come to

” me from father to son as my inheritance .

’ Sometimes M on tausier resisted the King s

u to wishes ; and once Lo is said him, I like what

ou sa for u is y y, I know what a heart yo rs Ma

v ll dame de Se igne, who te s this story, says, You know that the D uke possesses every virtue ; his is a sincerity and a straightforwardness worthy of

” - of old s the knight errants time . Bossu et and Huet were associated with the Duke in the edu ca tion of the Dauphin ; but with all the

e on his n n u care and pains bestow d educatio , at re 30 DUK E AND DUCHESS DE M ONTA USI E R.

would n ot allow of this prince becoming a great man .

w u He was born ith a pro d and susceptible temper, and when he was offended he ﬂew into a passion .

On e day be imagined that he had been struck by his

d uss had governor, in a isc ion they had, and with great vehemence he called for his pistols . Bring

” i u u c them to Monse gne r, said the D ke, oolly ;

his u and giving them to p pil, he said, now let w us see what you ill do with them . At these words the Dau phi n threw himself into the arms of

u his govern or. At another time the Da phin was s his hooting at a mark, and had missed aim ; a

c his young ourtier, companion, and known to be

s r but i an expert hot, ﬁ ed, at a still greater d stance

” from the mark Ah l little wretch 1 said M on

” i r taus e n . , you ought to be stra gled

u i M on tausier At the marriage of the Da ph n,

to i but u . hoped be at l berty, Lo is XIV insisted on his hi s u i keeping a thority, with the t tle of Pre

” miére 1 682 Gentilhomme de la Chambre . In , he

u obtained permission to retire from co rt ; and, in

i u M on sei tak ng leave ofhis p pil, he said to him, g

’ u étes e u m aimerez neur, si vo s honn te homme, vo s ;

’ ’ si t s as s hai rez et e vous ne l e e p , vou me , j m en

” o n . to u n c solerez When he wrote the Da phi , in M ONTA SI E 3 1 DUKE AND DUCHESS DE U R.

1 688 e c , he said, I do not mak you any ompliment on the taking of Phili sbourg ; you had a ﬁne army ’ n o u and Vauban . I do t make yo any compli

on r ment your brave y, because it is an hereditary virtue in your race ; but I compliment you on

e d re being lib ral, good, and understan ing and

” in f s c ompe ns g the services o other . The D uke de M on tausier terminated hi s honour

u u able and virt o s career at the age of eighty.

i l u c Mass l on, in the f neral oration which he prea hed

o f u ak of his at the death the Da phin, spe s thus

us governor A man of a tere and great virtue, of a probity soaring above our idea of mortality ; of a tr uth n ot to be fou nd in courts ; a philosopher

h u a n s without ostentation, a C ristian witho t we k e ses, a courtier without bad passions . The enemy of c of ro vice, the friend and prote tor merit, the p

’ of of u l c moter the nation s glory, the censor p b i

Sébas tian ls Prestre Se n eu de au an who e in , ig r V b , di d 1 707 a e seven t - ou a ré s avo t a va é a t o s cent , g d y f r , p ir r ill r i s a nc en nes et en a vo cons t u t ente-t o s no uve es pl ace i , ir r it r r i ll , ’ et a es s é tre t ouvé a cen et ua ante act ons d e vi ueu pr r t q r i g r, ” n u - H avoit con u t ci ante t o s sié es . is o a e a s et d i q r i g bi gr ph r dd , La Maréc hal de Vauban étoit n u ancien Romain sous les ’ ’ t a ts d un a n o s . Su et e n une ﬁdélité n v o a e et r i Fr c i j pl i d i i l bl , ” u ement co u t san il aimoit m eux se v ue a e . n ll r i , i r ir q pl ir H Nov . D iet. ist . I E 32 DUKE AND DUCHE SS DE M ONTA US R.

s r was on e of di o der. In short, he those men who s ft r u of eemed le of the g ande r the ancient world, and whose character does n ot belong to our cen

tury .

u of u Nevertheless, the great rep tation Monta s of the ier had many detractors. When the play

” s Mi antrope was acted, it was hinted to Mon tausier that Moliere meant to represent him in

of c s . the character Al e te He went to the theatre,

c M oliére but ft intending to ane , a er he saw the

a was pl y, he ended by embracing him and he so

s well pleased with this repre entation of himself,

s that he aid, I have no right to complain ; the

us s o original m t be excellent ince the copy is so go d,

” s and I should like to re emble the Misantrope . The lines particularly supposed to resemble the D uke are :

M es eux son t tr0 ess s et la cou et la v e y p bl é , r ill ’ ‘ ’ ’ ‘ Ne m ofi rent rien qu obj ets am échafi er la bile ; ’ en t e en une umeu n o e en un c a n o on J r h r ir , h gri pr f d , Q uan d j e vois vivre entre eux les h o mmes comme ils fon t ; ’ ’ e n u s us ten en a e et mon esse n J y p i pl ir , j r g , d i

E st de rompre en visiere a to ut le gen re h umain .

“lE The funeral sermon of the Duke and D uchess

e e is a ictu e of the D uc ess de M on tausier at Ea Th r p r h , rl ' ’

S ence s at A t o e . is one of na s est o traits p r , l h rp It Mig rd b p r an d most n s e ctu es ﬁ i h d pi r .

' 34 v reomr E DE TURENNE .

te is r a s nis , and, what mo e, they all m de trict l Catho ics afterwards. The character of Turenne was more remarkable

il i a to e for solidity than for br l ancy . Contr ry g

c neral experience, he be ame more enterprising

i . his s as he advanc ed in l fe In early year , he never gave battle except when c ertain of victory ; l while Condé, celebrated in early ife for the

u s of hi s e he valo r, even to rashnes , enterpris s,

E u came in old age prudent even to tim idity. q ally

in u c ss or in u s calm s c e defeat, T renne was alway ready to prose cute the one or to repai r the other. Yet in early life this sage and serious man w as the s him port of a woman, who drew to her political

u s s u his ss p rpo e , and la ghed at pa ion . When the

c of u re prin es the blood were arrested, d ring the geney of An ne of Austria and the government of

uc u s Mazarin, the D hess de Long eville old her

uren n e his to s jewels, and T sold plate, rai e money

s and troop to oppose the court. The Fronde

’ a Turenn e s p rty were defeated ; army, composed

s u of all nation , melted away ; and he ret rned to his allegiance during the regency of Anne of

Austria .

r n be At the marriage of Louis XIV., Tu e ne VICOMTE DE TURENNE . 35 came Marshal-general of the armies of France ; an appo intment accompanied with the signiﬁcant

’ ’ ! n e u a u ue c c words, I tient q vo s q soit d avan

” ' . his reli ion tage However, he never changed g

or c n e for a bribe, his chara ter to please any o , and was equally disinterested and hones t in all

’ c s F occurren e . He took great interest in ouquet s

’ on e i be i lawsuit ; and some blam ng Col rt s v olence,

” i o l Ou i and prais ng the m deration of Le Tel ier, ,

re ut c u e ue . u answe d T ne, j crois q M Colbert a pl s

’ ’ d en vie u u et ue . q il soit pend , q M Le Tellier a

’ ” plus de peur qu il ne le soit pas. This is the only

’ s c on c Turen n e s for had evere spee h re ord of , he a

ss heart overﬂowing with kindne and benevolence . He was c onverted from the tenets of Calvinism to the Roman-Catholic church by the doc trines

u of s u n and eloq ence Bo s et, and, from havi g been

s his r ad his di ciple, he became ardent f iend and mirer.

u to When T renne was going the army, and h u s t at he bid adie to the Cardinal de Retz, he aid

' n e su un dzseur m i e u to him, Je is point a s j vo s

r s us ue f -ci prie de croi e érie ement q , sans ces a faires ,

-étr n s e re tire rois oil pe u t e o a be oin de moi, j me

et e us ue si comme vous j vo donne ma parole q , 36 VICOMTE DE TURENNE.

’ c e n e u as s ur le co re et j en reviens, j mo rrai p ﬁ ﬁ

e m a t u u j ettrai, vo re exemple, q elq e temps entre ” m of la vie et la mort. Here is another exa ple a wish fo r peace and retirement in on e who had been all his life concerned in scenes of bus iness and ‘ glory !

’ Turen n e s death is told by Madame de Sevigne in more touching and affecting langu age than ever was expressed before at the death of any military

on u c um hero . The letters the s bje t are too n erous

s too x u a . to tran cribe, and well e pressed to c rt il

sa of . uren n e n e u n i She ys M de T , On po vait

’ l aimer u i u c son m erite , etre to hé de sans en etre

’ us e t s pl honnete homme, que jamai homme n a

’ si res u c his été p d etre parfait . In anno n ing

sh e u on u la death, says, Pe t do ter de Providence,

e t ue le u q canon qui a chosi de loin M . de T renne,

dix s ui étoien t u u lui n e entre homme q a to r de , ?” fut chargé depuis un e éternité T

M our ir sur le co r e was a sa n of the a s of ou s . ﬁ , yi g d y L i X I V , n o l onger in use : e v cus ans la e ne atten ant le on eu J é d p i d b h r , ” mou ur un ff n tt n an mon m i t E1 r us s co re e a e d t a re.

So me t m e a te the eat of u en ne a ame de Sev n e i f r d h T r , M d ig

tes to her au te was the ot e d a at . de la Roc e wri d gh r, I h r y M h ' foucauld s the con versati on las ted for two h ou rs on the divine 3 7 MARQUIS DE LOUVOIS .

MAR QUIS DE LOUVOIS .

o n 1 64 1 e 1 69 1 . B r , ; di d ,

h was 1 679 in November, , that Madame de Sevigne described the wedding of the daughter of

‘ u s son of Lo voi and the the Prince de Marsillac .

c of The magi her pen will not bear translating.

’ J ai été ac ette no ce que vous dirai-j e ? magni

ﬁcen ce l u u re , i l mination, to te la France, habits

ua t es of t s t ue e o . A e es e e ﬁ e t ea s and q li i hi r h r ll y w r ll d wi h t r , you c an not thin k how grief for his l os s is engraved on the h earts f l We all ema e t at it is n ot s n c his at t at th o a l . r rk d h i e d e h h e oo ness of his ea t the extent of his s om an d the e eva g d h r , wi d , l tion of his c ha racter is talked o f for that every o n e was full of ’ V tu u n h on ma n t his ir es d ri g is life . D t i gi e hat hts l oss is like an ot e — ou ma s ea of i t con stant t out its e n y h r y y p k ly , wi h b i g mo e t an all the o are ee n . A s to the state of his sou r h w rld f li g l , ( and h ere i s a mirac l e whic h comes from the perfect esteem in which his c haracter was h eld) no dévot has tak en it into his a t at it was n ot in a oo tat One can not c om e en h e d h g d s e. pr h d t at v and sin u n s His con ve s on was h e il co ld be i uc h a h ea rt . r i s n a v on ta s of the so i cere th t it a ppea rs like baptis m . E ery e lk good ness of his moral s ; the p urity o f his intentions ; his h umi lit c was far emove om all s ec es of aﬁecmtion the y, whi h r d fr p i ; sol 1d o o f his c a acte t out osten tat on ov n v tue gl ry h r r, wi h i , l i g ir , as he did t o ut ca i n for the a o at on o f the o , wi h r g ppr b i w rld , ” o n e to n n t n n o f c a t j i d a g e ero us a d Chris ia feeli g h ri y . t s ma a e the ma u sate the c ateau and esta tes By hi rri g rq i , h , of Barbesieux eventually came into the La Roc hefoucauld m w a ho n e te t em om o uvo s . f ily , i h ri d h fr L i 3 8 o i MARQUIS DE L uvo s.

’ u et rebrochés s feu batt s d or, pierreries, bra iers de et ﬂeurs s c arosse s r s de , embarra de , c is dan la rue,

ﬂambeaux u s ul et s u en all mé , rec ements gen ro és ;

ﬁn le u to rbillon, la dissipation, les demandes sans

’ réponses ; les complim ens sans savoir ce que l on

’ di t c l s s a ui les , les ivi ité san savoir q l on parle,

s s u D u l u pieds entortillé dan les q eues. mi ie de

u il u u u to t cela, sortit q elq es q estions de votre

’ san té ; a qu oi n e m étan t pas assez pressée de ré

u ui les faisoien t u s pondre , ce x q sont dem re dans

’ ’ ' l ign oran c e et dans l in diﬂéren ce de c c qui en est. O vanité des vanités ! Cette belle petite de Monchi a

” la etite- ! on ourroit c i 1 p vérole p en ore d re, O vanité

s s s r Twelve year afterward , she write f om the

a u . ul s Ch tea de Grignan, to M de Co ange at Rome, and her pen had lost nothing of its vigour : Je suis tellement éperdue de la nouvelle de la mort

trés u . u ue e n e oil s bite de M de Lo vois, q j sais par

u u adon e commencer po r vo s en parler. Le voil mort, cc c et si c ui grand ministre, homme onsiderable, q te n oit si le moi une grande place ; dont , comme dit

. étoit si u ui étoit le M Nicole, étend q centre de

’ c s s : ue d aﬂaires ue s s ue tant de ho e q , q de des ein , q

’ ue c s ue d in térets adéméler de projets, q de se ret , q ,

’ ue u s ue d in tri ues q de g erre commencées, q g , or 3 MARQUIS DE Louv s. 9 que de beaux coup d e checs a faire et a con

uire u m oi un d l Ah l mon Die , donnez peu de

e v oudrois nu au D ue temps, j bien donner échec

’ d e n u au c d Oran e n on Savoie, mat Prin e g ; non, , ’ — s n aurez as n u u n u s u . u il vou p se l, e l moment Fa t

sur u ? n on raisonner cette étrange avent re , en

il u réﬂéchir son c . a le vérité, y fa t dans abinet Voil

n r ue u u s ue second mi ist e, q vous voyez mo rir, dep i q

’ m us diff r n vous étes at Ro e . Rien n est pl e e t que

’ leur mort : mai s rien n es t plus égal que leur for

u et ai ui at t ne, les cent millions de ch nes q les ” tachoien t ton s u de x a la ter m. This description of the death of the great and

of is r ambitious minister Louis XIV. pe fectly dra

’ matic ; Malherbe s admired lines are not more so :

La mort a des rigueurs a n ull e autre pareilles N ous avons eau i e b pr r, ’ La c ue e u e e est se ouc e les o e es r ll q ll , b h r ill E t n ous a ss l i e c rier . Le auv e en sa c a a ne le c aume le couv e p r b , h r , E t s u e a ses o s j t l i , E t la gard e qui viell e aux barrié res d u Louvre ’ ” N n en a o e d ef d p s n s rois .

u u Lo is XIV. hated Lo vois, and he defended

Turenne from his hatred during ﬁfteen years ; but

’ e k s his Louvois minist red to the ing ambition,

See ette 26 u et 1 69 1 L r J ill , . o v oi 40 MARQUIS DE L u s.

u in r ling weakness, and he led him into that which f the end caused the overthrow o his glory . Yet it cannot be denied that Louis was a great monarch a king in everything ; and the character sat so

u u nat rally pon him, that he never shewed con

u or s of straint, fatig e, ab ence mind, in all the

f his n various sc enes o long reig . The coldness a nd hardness with which Madame de Maintenon writes of the death of Louvois is a striking contrast to the style of Madame de Sé

. I I étoit et dur c au r i vigne . rude , atta hé o et

’ ’ a u u et u l etat ; mais présompt e x si contrariant, q il

it u u a s n I l a r é to deven ins pportable o maitre . u oit

’ ’ essuyé un e disgrace sans la guerre : il s en appet

i e s cc v o t t u u u . u son o , mo r t bitement On tro va c eur

’ serré d une facon extraordinaire ; cc qu i ﬁt croire

’ ’ ” ue le l avoi tu d utr s l s q chagrin t é ; a es di ent e poi on .

FOUQUET.

o n 1 6 1 5 e 1 680 . B r , ; di d ,

. i n his on s M FORTOUL, book Ver ailles, says, that the erec tion of that palace w as s timulated by

us u f the jealo y that Lo is XIV. had o the taste and

2 4 BOUQUET.

t al n at length crea e a re school of painti g, which France would be able to oppose to the glorious s chools of foreign na tions . “ f 1 1 66 1 On the a ternoon of the 7th August, ,

the ur a . i co t came to visit the ch teau The K ng,

u - the Q een mother, Monsieur, Madame, and a

u s s n mber of prince and seigneurs, were a sembled

but u w as u there ; the Q een nable to come, on

u account of her pregnancy. The co rt began by visiting the gardens and examined with evident

u t - s ~ pleas re the wa er works and basin , to which

s f u form o great bea ty and variety had been given . The King appeared to share the general satisfaction expressed on this occasion ; he was observed to

c -of- u u stop before the oat arms of Fo q et, which

on hi met the eye every side, and w ch was charged

t uo n on wi h a squirrel, and the motto, Q as cendam It has been said that Colbert, who was

fé te present at this then ﬁrst informed Louis XIV. that Fouquet had offered livres to Ma

as c of demoiselle de la Valliere, the pri e her virtue . The King was at that time in love with

The ea ut u Be a rt om oza t a te a s ma ie b if l g , wh M r f rw rd rr d , a eare as a naia in a s e -s a e c a ot e t at of a pp d d , h ll h p d h ri , lik h sea- o es s an d e ve e a com men com ose for the n g dd , d li r d pli t p d Ki g P llisson by e . ' ‘ FOUQUE I . 43

o e his i in telli her, but he c nc aled anger, which th s

had u an d‘ gence worked p to the highest pitch, partook with a good grace of the supper served

a a of up fter the promen de, and the honours which re performed with inﬁnite tact by Madame

Fouquet.

ft u A er s pper, the King went, with a perfectly

c u c composed o ntenan e, to the play that had been

e hi c prepar d, and for w h a theatre had been erected

of of fi r- at the bottom the great alley trees.

ha d al l & f Torelli made the machinery c . o the

u s piece, and Le Br n him elf had condescended to

i e pa nt the scenes . Moliere gav the ﬁrst represem tation of his comedy of Les F a cheux ; and Pellis

’ son who in on e of Fou uet s ffi , was employed q o ces, h ad written the prologue . The comedy was ex

u ceedi n gly successf l . Menage declared it to be

' on e of the best that Moliere could write ; the verses

c were perfe t, the characters happily and vigorously

n u e traced. The Ki g was q it charmed at it ; he

ss his a s to desired to expre s ti faction Moliere, and

l was i i hi m . whi e he compl ment ng , M de Soye

in an court, the greatest sportsman Fr ce, happening

‘ ’ to o g by, the King added, There s an original

e e o whom you have n ot yet copi d Molier to k, 44 FOUQUET .

u of of from this hint, the s bject the new scene the

u was on Chasse r, which he determined adding to

his c o d to . me y, and soon after set work upon it

“ fte e was u A r the repres ntation over, the co rt

went to look at the ﬁr eworks . While the petards

s were battling with the water , and the rockets were marking a thousand glittering pa ths through

a c was the air, La Font ine, pla ed in a corner, con sidering the pleasure he shoul d have in writing the

s o f s f to his M aucroix detail thi ete friend De , at

Rome ; he was al ready c ollecting the rhymes for

his of hi s narrative, and thinking beloved patron,

u u un e u a Fouq et, who wo ld enjoy, fort ne lasser

m u f la renom ée . On a s dden the noise o the

u uc to of royal tr mpets s ceeded that the ﬁreworks,

s u of for the King, de iro s returning the same night

to u us Fontainblea , had ordered the m keteers to

u . all t m be in attendance . Lo is XIV this i e let n o

indication escape him that could di s sipate the en

a of c - and ch ntment the inno ent hearted poet,

u u i before going away, he desired Fo q et h mself to ac company the court on its intended excursion

into Brittany. Thither the intendant went ; but he was arrested at a f Nantes a few days after , and tr ns erred succes ' r ot QUE r . 4 5

sivel y to Angers, Vincennes, and at length to the

l . His was Basti le trial held before the parliament, in a chamber c omposed of the relations an d friends ’ x of Colbert. The e amination lasted three years ; and at the end of this time Fouqu et was c on d mn n u s w n e ed to ba ishment. Lo i XIV. as ot to

u en be t rned from his purpose , either by the

s of the treatie Mademoiselle de la Valliere, or by

‘ s of . a verse La Fontaine He even once s id, If his is s death decreed by the parliament, I hall

’ allow it to take plac e . He thought the members of the parliament had but badly mi nistered to his

c s u anger ; he in rea ed the p nishment, and changed the decree of banishment into that of rigorous and eternal imprison ment.

I t a ea s t at the un o tunate n ten an t av n een p l r h f r i d , h i g b acc ustome e u te to ma e ove in a s o e of o d , lik J pi r, k l h w r g ld , x tan n a emo se e d la a foun d an un e pected res is ce i M d i ll e V lliere . ovo e at his ant of suc cess he sco ve e t at the in Pr k d w , di r d h K g w as his i va and had the m ru ence to let La a e e no r l , i p d V lli r k w w h r m n Sh that he as ac quain ted with the sec ret o f e attach e t . e n o me the n ose ea ous a nd esen tm en t ere o use i f r d Ki g, wh j l y r w r d to the es t tc t s co mm un cat on and t e e e in high pi h by hi i i , h y w r creased by his seeing a p o rtra it of Mademois ell e de la Valliere at aux in the c a net o f the am tious ou uet . The i n V , bi bi F q K g ou a ve had him a este and sen t to son t at momen t w ld h rr d pri h , had not Anne of A ustria d eterred him by these few word s at in the m e of an ente ta nment c he ves to Wh , iddl r i whi h gi " you ! 4 6 FOUQUET.

e his Before he ent red prison, the unfortunate Fouquet learned that the king had j ust given orders to make Versailles surpass, n ot only the Chateau

but of h de Vaux, all the palaces the world ; t at Le N6tre had been entrusted with the laying out of

Le t c of the gardens, and Brun wi h the de oration

m s c the apart ents ; that fete , whi h had never been l para leled, had already been given in the palace, for which Moliere had also written comedies ; and

had u that Louis XIV. concentrated ro nd his per son of u u of art of u all the éclat l x ry, , and geni s, which the u nfortunate intendant had h ad the

” culpable idea of Sharing with the monarch. The his tory of Fouqu et sufﬁciently proves the

i of u s . vind ctive spirit Lo i XIV , even were proofs

n s u a i wanting o that subject. Thi q l ty alone woul d

c of u as i s blot the chara ter Lo is a hero . Th re

s lation, together with the arrest and impri onment of u c m the Masq e de Fer, have sin e beco e lessons

But on e o f m to s overeigns. the most re arkable

of u s c u cases cr el impri onment inﬂi ted by Lo is,

’ w as u of x u C ol that of a yo th si teen, in the Jes its m lege at Paris. The college had always ho e the

of n c name the College de Clermont, i s ribed in

i 1 6 4 n was Lat n over its gateway. In 7 , the Ki g FOUQUET . 4 7 at the representation of a tragedy by the scholars of c o was u u the llege, which m ch appla ded by the

s u of a in courtier , in conseq ence the ﬂattery ddressed

to . on e of it him At the conclusion, the courtiers said something to the King of the extraordi nary

c o -i success of the pie e to which L uis said, Faut l

’ ’ ” — s s en étonner c est mon c ollege. Thi Speech was i c overheard, and that same n ght the ins ription on the gateway was changed to that of College

” s u a Louis le Grand. On thi a yo th m de an

i a was ep gram in L tin, which thus rendered in French :

La c o x a t ace aux l s et esus s au roi r i f i pl y , J Chri t ; ” o u s 0 a e m e est le seu eu c ez toi . L i , r r i pi l l di h

The writer was discovered to be a scholar of the

l w as l co lege, and he thrown into the Bastil e, and remained in prison for this on e offence for thirty

s on e year .

c u u u h ad The o rtiers ﬂed from Fo q et, who been

s of s their idol, at the ﬁr t beginning his di grace ; but friendship was shewn to him in the strongest

u s o form in whic h it is to be fo nd in hi t ry. Ma

’ da me de Sevigne s letters on this subject speak

u of everything in favo r her heart and head, and La Fontaine and Pellisson entirely sacri ﬁc ed them

selves for their patron . La Fontaine wrote his elegy 4 8 r ouQUE r .

was s to Fouquet, when he himself in pri on by the

’ s s od King command. He also addre sed an e to

u s his u s Lo i XIV. in favo r. Before pre enting it, he sent it to Fo uquet in pri son ; and there is an answer extant to the remark s which Fou qu et seems to

u c s u have made pon it, whi h hew that unfort nate min ister to have had a very noble mind. I come

” to s on tain e ou that part, say La F , where y say that I lower myself in asking for what ought to be

s . s is of ou on e de pised Thi feeling worthy y , and who sees life with such indifference does not de serve to die ; but perhaps you have n ot c on si

I s I ask dered that it is who peak, who for a par

is of us ou don that more importance to than to y .

s u so u so There are no term , tho gh ever h mble,

c or so ss u us patheti , pre ing, that I sho ld not be j tiﬁed in making use of when I bring you for

s ou u u ward, I hall give y words s itable to yo r great

. l o u ou hav e u mind Allow me to te l y , y l not eno gh

for u c as u s passion s h a life yo r . I will try and put t “ my ode into the s ate which you wish it to be . The unfortunate Fou qu et passed nineteen years

s in pri on, where he died .

E x ’ act of a ette of La on ta ne s to M . ou uet at tr l r F i F q , d ed o m a s soth Jan 1 6 3 fr P ri , . 6 .

50 MARQUIS DE DANGEAU. s of c s us ss of u aid a word the on tant b ine , and yo r

’ zeal for the King s servic e ; another word of the

x s s ou great e pen e y were drawn into, and which would not allow of being retrenched ; that it w as with regret that the Abbé de Grignan and I

f w as troubled hi m with these a fairs . All this s but t o ou his horter, and better arranged ; tell y

u uc m answer will not take p m h ti e Madame , — I will attend to it and with the se words he con

” was duc ted me to the door, and all over.

i a c c as was was f Th s answer, l oni it , a great e fort

of s and mark con ideration ; generally, Colbert

u c his kept a profo nd Silen e, and never moved from

C orn uel on e . a a u out o f place M d me day, q ite

u patience at s ch a reception, said to him, Mon s i n u s ou e g e r, at least make me some ign that y he ar me

T HE MAR QUIS D E DANGEAU .

o n 1 6 38 e 1 720 . B r , ; di d ,

WE are now c ome to the principal courtiers of the reign of Louis and of the times of Madame — de Sevigne . There is a long list of them the MARQUIS DE DANGEAU. 5 1

u s u Marq i de Dangea , Vardes, Treville, the Comte

u u de Grammont, La z n, and many others .

Dangeau was well known for his qu alities as a i c u h s su ss s . o rtier, and cce es in that profes ion He

u Tu had been with the army in Flanders, nder

. t of s renne Af er the peace the Pyrenee , he s s of S erved in the Spani h army, and the King pain wanted to attac h him to his service ; but he w as

m uc c too h attached, like a true Fren hman, to

s reﬁi s ed s . Pari , and he to ettle at Madrid

f u c u A ter his ret rn to the Fren h co rt, both the young qu een and Anne of Austria were delighted

Of of to hear their family, and to talk Spain, and to meet with any on e who spoke the Spanish lan guage . They therefore took a great fancy to Dan

’ s d gean s conver ation, and he ma e their party at — Riversi every even ing circu mstances which he

i s ss turned to mmense advantage . He po se ed

’ l esprit de j eu to a great degree ; and with a head

u of m s o m his own c cu s f ll co bination , f r ed by al lation , he had great advantage s in playing wi th the two

u s : u q een he talked all the time, am sed them,

m own ss and made the laugh over their lo es .

A s the money that Dangeau won at Rivers i was

’ u s s to a large amo nt, Colbert economy di posed D 2 52 MARQUIS DE DANGEAU. him to qu es tion whether he played fairly ; and he

s u i his s c s . poke to the King abo t it, intimat ng uspi ion The King found means on e evening of looking

hi s of his u over play , and being convinced hono r,

’ he took him away from the Queen s table and plac ed

’

his . D an eau s calc u him at own M . de g head for

o his u n o t lation, j ined to good fort ne, did forsake him with the King more than it had done with

u s . w as the Q een One day, when he ordered to

’ o s s u j in the King party, he a ked Lo is to accord

u of v an m him the favo r gi ing him apart ent at St.

. i i f cu o on u Germain Th s was d ﬁ lt to btain, acco nt

of s a u want Of p ce for lodging all the co rt. The

s u o m s King an wered, that he sho ld have the r o ,

s u ask provided he ho ld for them in verse. The lines were to be c omposed during the time he

was playing with the King, and were to be on e

u n o ss hundred in n mber either m re nor le . D uring the time he was playing with the King he

n ot or s did appear engaged ab ent, and when it

was over, he repeated the hundred lines : he had

s c u c compo ed them, o nted them, and pla ed them in his m em ory ; and these three efforts of quickness

’ and memory had n ot been disturbed by the rapid

ss of progre the game . N MARQUIS DE DA GEAU. 53

u - - u Dangea was Aid de camp to Lo is XIV. , and m followed him in his c a paigns . The King wished

s as sa w but to end him ambas dor to S eden, he

s a entreated not to be ent into banishment. He w s

on of envoy extraordinary the marriage James II. w c s Of n ith the Prin e s Modena, and e joyed various

s u s u c u . place , dignities, and hono r abo t o rt

a m s us was M da e de Monte pan ed to say, that it

u to u at impossible not to like Dangea , and la gh him also .

u u has us Dangea kept a jo rnal, and left vario

w c c u MSS . behind him, ith a o nts of the times he

u ac lived in . He was a complete co rtier, and,

’ c to - m c u s u ording Saint Si on, o rte an adroit, d ne

’ u u e s vanité ridic le and, according to La Br y re d c as his es ription, Pamphile, in Book of Cha

” ” racters . , he was fort plaisant

u Madame de Sevigne writes to her da ghter, of

s to s 1 676 un her vi it Versaille , in Voici changement de sc ene qui v ous p aroitra auss i agre

’ J e fus m a able qu a tout le monde . sa edi Ver

v s sailles avec les Villars : voici comme cela a. Vou

le c on n oissez la toilette de la Reine, la messe ,

’ ' il s u étouﬁer diner ; mais n e t pl s besoin de se faire , pendant que leurs majesté s sont a table ; c ar a 54 MARQUIS DE DANGEAU.

s s le u troi heure , Roi, la Reine, Monsie r, Madame,

’ l u c c u s e t Mademoisel e, to t q il y a de prince de

s d s ut sa u prince ses, Ma ame de Monte pan, to e s ite,

s s u s les m en ﬁn c e u i tous le courti ans, to te da es, q

’ lle c se u s cc s appe la cour de Fran e, tro ve dan bel

s n n iss z u appartement du Roi qu e nou c o o e . To t

s u m u est m a n iﬁ ue . e t me blé divine ent, to t g q On

’ ’ n e s ait c c que c est qu e d y avoir c hau d ; on

’ ’ pass e d un lieu a l autre san s faire la presse nulle

. Un eu m e t ﬁxe part j de reversi donne la for e,

au res s tou t. Le Roi est p de Madame de Monte pan

ui la c s u e t d q tient arte ; Mon ie r, la Reine Ma ame de Soubise ; Dan geau e t c ompagn ie ; Langlee et

l u s u sur l c ompagnie . Mi le lo is ont répand s e tapis ’ d ’ il n y a point autres jetons. Je v oyois jouer

’ Dangeau ; e t j admirois c ombien nous s ommes sots

’ au eu au res lui. I l n e s u a son ff j p de onge q a aire,

et o n u s il n e i n gagne les a tre perdent ; négl ge rie ,

’ il roﬁte u il s p de to t, n est point di trait : en u n

sa c u déﬁe u s mot, bonne ond ite la fort ne ; aussi le

u c mi ﬁ' an cs u de x ent lle en dix jo rs, les cent mille

us un m u sur le sa éc en ois, to t cela se met livre de

c t . I l dit ue e r a son eu re et e q j prenois pa t j , de so rte que j e fus assise tres-agréablement et tres

c m . Je u i le Roi s ue u om odément sal a , ain i q vo s MARQUIS DE DANGEAU . 55

’ il m on u me l avez appris ; me rendit sal t, comme

’ si av ois été u et j je ne belle . La Reine me parla

’ uss - ue a i long temps de ma maladie, q Si c e ﬁt été

un e c ouche . Elle me dit encore quelques mots

u le D uc de vo s. M. me ﬁt mille de c es caresses a i quoi l n e pense pas . Le Maré c hal de Lorges

’ m atta ua u le du de q so s nom Chevalier Grignan,

' ’ e n ﬁn a tz u tutti qu n . Vo s savez cc que c es t que

’ de recevoir un mot de tou t c c que l on trouve en

m s s on c hemin . Mada e de Monte pan me parla de

u l ui c e t Bo rbon, elle me pria de conter Vi hi,

’ comment je m en étois trouvée ; elle me dit que

u au u u un u l ui Bo rbon, lie de g érir geno , a fait mal

lui l s au x ux . u e do de Je tro vai bien plat, comme d isoit l u la Maréchale de la Mei leraie ; mais, série se

’ u n e u ue sa u ment, c est chose s rprenante q bea té ;

’ ’ sa s si u étoit taille n e t pas de la moitié grosse q elle ,

s ue n i u n i levres san q son teint, ses ye x, ses , en

étoit u s o ient m oin s bien . Elle to t habillée de point de Franc e ; coiffée de m ill e bou cle s ; les deux des tempes lui to mbent fort has sur les joue s

u s sur sa d e S des r ban noirs tete, perles de la Mere

’ c l H6 ital e uc e t hale de p , emb llies de bo les de pen d eloques de diam ants de la derniere beauté trois

in on s ff n u ou q u atre po c ; point de coi e ; en mot, 56 MARQUIS DE DANGEAU . u n e triomphante beau té a faire admirer 5 tous les

’ ’ E u s l i i ambas sadeu rs . lle a su q on e p a gn o t qu elle

’ empechoit tou te la France de voir le Roi ; elle l a

c z e t u n e u redonné, omme vous voye ; vo s sa riez

c ue u le n i u roire la joie q to t monde en a, de q elle

c n beauté cela rend la c our . Cette agréable o

’ us s s c o u o u c e u us f ion, an nf si n, de to t q il y a de pl

’ ’

s u u s u s us u e six. choi i, d re dep is troi he re j q S il

u s le un vient des co rrier , Roi se retire moment

u l ses s e t u s v . ! ton po r ire lettre , p i re ient I y a

’ u s u u us u u u et ui n jo r q elq e m iq e q il éco te, q fait u

' - n e ﬂ I l us c les s ui tres bo et. ca e ave dame q ont

’ i ur E n ﬁn acc ou tumé d av o r c et honne . on quitte

’ le j eu a six heurs on n a point du tou t de peine

’ a faire les c ompte s ; il n y a point de jetons n i de

u s u s au c on marq e ; les po le sont moins de inq, six,

s c u s uz ept ents lo i , les grosses de mille, de do e

’ c d abord -c u ents . On en met vingt inq chac n,

’ c s e t u s c u i m e t cent ; p i el i qu fait en et dix . On donne chac u n quatre lou is a c elui qui f le qu in ola

’ et u on u et u n e on passe ; q and fait jo er, q on

as u on z a ou prend p la po le, en met sei e la p le,

- - pour apprendre a jouer mal a propos . On parle

s s c ss et n e u sur le o u . an e e, rien deme re c e r Com ’ — ’ bien avez-vous de coeu rs ? J en ai de ux j en ai

58 MA RQUI S DE VARDES .

’ n e fut m si e et Cependant elle ja ais agréabl , l on s m ouhaite fort que cela c ontinue . Mada e de

est i t i sa Nevers fort jol e, fort modes e, fort na ve ;

n us . s beau té fait s ouve ir de vo . M de Never est

’ u ur le sa m s s . to jo s meme, femme l ai e de pa ion Mademoiselle de Thianges est pl us réguliéremen t

ue sa s o ur e t u u s c . belle q e , bea co p moin harmante

WI d a est c m son s . Maine in o parable ; e prit étonne, ’ m et les c hoses qu il di t n e se peuvent i aginer.

s Madame de Maintenon, Madame de Thiange ,

‘ ’ uel hes et Gibelzns s ue u rassem G p , ongez q to t est

hon n étetés a us d e blé . Madame me ﬁt mille , ca e

ac labonne princesse de Tarente . Madame de Mon o

étoit 5 Fans

D E E THE MAR QUIS VARD S.

D e 1 6 8 8 . i d ,

THE Marqu is de Vardes was implic ated in the intrigu es of the c ourt at the death ofthe unfortunate

uc s of was n s D he s Orleans. He ba i hed to the

u of c w as s c of So th Fran e , and often in the o iety m Madame de Sevigne and Mada e de Grignan , at

See ette of the 29th u 1 676 . L r J ly , MARQUIS DE VARDES . 5 9

Aix, in Provence . Madame de Sevigne writes to

s M oulceau s 1 68 3 the Pre ident, De , from Pari , in

’ o - as u s u N av z vous p été bien s rpri , Monsie r,

u ss s . s ue de vo s voir gli er des main M de Varde , q vous teniez depui s dix-neuf ans ? Voila le temps

ue avoit u on q notre Providence marq é en vérité,

’ n e n soit us il aroiss oit u e t sacriﬁé a y p pl , p o blié

’ l e xe m le . ui s e t ui u p Le Roi, q pen e, q range to t

sa c un u ue . dans tete, dé lara bea matin q M de Vardes seroit a la c our dans deux ou trois jours : il

’ ’ o u lui av oit s u c nta q il fait écrire par la po te, q il

’ av oit u le e t u avoit u vo lu surprendre, q il y pl s de

Sa six mois que personne me lui av oit parlé .

t eut il ouloit u Majes é contentement ; v s rprendre, et tout le monde fut surpris : jamais un e nouvelle

’ n un e si ss n i n u si a fait grande impre ion, grand

u u -l E n ﬁn il br it q e celle a. arriva Samedi matin

c u u son s ec e t u n u ave une tete niq e en e p e, vie x us u a on le ortoit j ta corps brevet, comme p en

6 I l se n u u 1 6 3 . mit geno a terre dans la c hambre

’ 1 ii n av i du 0 1 o t ue . C hateau n euﬂ Roi, y q M de Le Roi lui dit que taut que son c oeur avoit été

’ il n e l av oit s ue blessé, point rappelé, mai q pré ‘ ’ ’ sen tem en t c étoit u et u étoit de bon coe r, q il aise de

le . revoir M . de Vardes répondit parfaitement 60 MARQUIS DE VARDES .

’ e t d un et c e des s ue bien air pénétré, don larme q Dieu lui a donné n e fit p as mal son effet da ns

c t s . s c e vue le et e occa ion Apre ette premi re , Roi

. le u e t le s t c ﬁt appeler M Da phin, pré en a omme

n c u s le c u u e jeune o rtisan ; M . de Varde re onn t

t l u le lui ri an t : ‘ s e e sal a ; Roi dit en f Varde ,

’ vo ila un e s ottise ; vous save z bien qu o n n e salue

’ s dn jam ais personne devant moi . M . de Varde

’ m : e me s l us u eme ton Sire, j ais p rien ; j ai to t

oublié ; il fau t que votre Majesté m e pardon ne

’ ’ ’

us u a s s s. Eh e le u dit le j q trente otti e bien , j ve x,

’ ‘ - Roi t a v in t uf. E su le se o u , res e g ne n ite Roi m q a

lui so n u u . . s : de j sta corps M de Varde dit Sire, quand on est assez miserable pour etre éloigné de

v us n on u est u m ai s o n o , se lement on malhe reux,

’ e st u u est ur c e n e t ridic le . To t s to de liberté

’ d a rém en t g . To us les cou rtisans lui ont fait des ” s merveille .

r r s a The d ess wo n by M. de Varde , which p

eared so ul us be ic p ridic o , is often to seen in the p tures of Van dermul en and other painters of that

day ; it was worn by the princ ipal c ourtiers at the

f re o u . beginning the reign of Lo is XIV , and it

u q ired a special permiss ion to wear it .

See ette o t e 26th M a 1 6 8 3 . L r f h y, 6 1 COMTE AND COMTESSE DE GRAMMONT .

E E C OMT D GRAMMONT.

o n 1 6 21 e 1 707 B r , ; di d , .

E E D E GRA M M N C OMT SS O T .

c a s WHEN that epitome of perfe tion, M demoi elle

’ d Hamilton s an d s c u , married the gaye t wittie t o rtier

in c s . his s s Fran e, Charle II wrote to i ter, the

D u c I i she s s hess of Orleans, bel eve will pa for a h ands om e wom an in France ; she is as good a l c reature as ever lived. The Cheva ier de Gram E mont, leaving ngland, was overtaken at Dover

u n o t by her brother, who inq ired whether he had forgotten something in London ; to whic h be re

I u s s plied, have forgotten to marry yo r i ter ; and returned with him . This adventure served

” Moliere in the Mariage forcé .

” s u s Thi good creat re, however, did not plea e

u of s h c u . u s e at the o rt Lo i XIV , tho gh had in her

u c m favo r the prote tion of Mada e de Maintenon .

us s s of Madame de Cayl ay her, Madame la

Comte sse de Gramm ont avait pour elle le gout et

’ l habitude d u Roi ; c ar Mad ame de Maintenon la

’ Il u trouvait plus agréable qu aim able . fa t av ouer 62 COMTE AN D COMTESSE DE GRAMM ONT .

’ uss u u s u a i q elle était so vent Anglai e ins pportable,

u u s ﬁatteuse u i et q elq efoi , denigrante ; ha ta ne ram

' E n ﬁn s il n av oit pan te . malgré les apparence y

s a ue sa u e n e o u de t ble en elle q mine, q rien p vait

’ s uoi u elle se u ses abais er, q q piq ait de fermeté dans Il sen tim en s e t c s c es s . , de onstance dan amitié

’ est vrai aussi qu elle faisait toujours p araitre beau

’ c oup d esprit dans les différentes formes que son

lui s humeur et ses desseins fai aient prendre . Ma

’ dame de Maintenon joignit a l en v ie de plaire au Roi en attirant chez elle Madame la Com tesse de

le i u s Grammont, mot f de la so tenir dan la piété,

’ ’ e t d aider autant qu il lui éta it possible une c on

’ ur c D uharmel version fondée s elle de . C était un

ti u a u le s gen lhomme Lorrain, conn la co r par gro

’ eu u il s u . I l u e t j q jo ait était riche nat rellement,

u u u il s i u u de en se e t he re x, a ssi fai a t bea co p de p , était a la m ode a la cour ; mais il la quitta brusque

’ e t se a l in stitution sur un e ment, retira , vision

’ u u vu e e t c n u q il cr t avoir ; la meme gra e, par c -c u u u u s m 1a ontre o p heure x, to cha a s i Mada e

’ s - l in é ali té Comtes e de Grammont. Peu t etre que g

’ ’ u araitre sa o u et q elle a fait p dans c nd ite, dont j ai

sur le c ui se été témoin, était fondée ombat q passait

u sa s e t in contin ellement en elle, entre rai on ses COMTE AND COMTESSE DE GRAMMONT . 63

’ ’ c lin ation s ; car il fau t avouer qu elle n av ai t rien qui

” tendit a la piété .

c of as The haracter the Comte de Grammont, a o u s u bon - s s c rtier and a di e r de mots , was e tabli hed on so u ur of u solid a fo ndation at the co t Lo is XIV. ,

n that he coul d venture o anything. The title of Fa milier des Rois woul d have still better suited

to of F a milier des him than that given Voltaire,

is on e of e s P ri nces . Here the lib rtie he took

was . o u when he in England, Charles II pointed t to him that at each di sh that was served to him his

s u servant knelt to him, which was the etiq ette at

” ’ s u the Engli h co rt . Sire, said Grammont, j ai cru qu e v os gens vous déman doien t pardon de la

’ mauvai se chére qu il vous font faire

m w as but Gra mont a clever courtier, sincere,

m u was when it suited hi to be so . Lo is playing at trictrac. The King contested the point, and

-s but s c onsul ted the by tanders they were ilent.

” is c i Here Grammont oming, said the K ng he

” s . u u s hall decide Sire , vo s avez perd , aid Gram

” ! us n e s o ? mont. Comment vo avez p int encore

“ s u E h ! u as ue si le aid Lo is, ne voyez vo s p , Sire, q ,

’ u e ﬁt été u u u s u n au co p se lement do te x, ces Mes ie rs roien t pas manqu é de vous donner gain de c aus e 64 c omr nssn COMTE AND DE GRAMMONT .

When the Prince de Conti married the daughter

u . uc s of Lo is XIV and of the D hes e de la Valliere, the Com te de Grammont c ongratulated him on

c s s s u e the oc a ion in the e words Mon ie r, j me re o uis c j de votre mariage royez moi, ménagez le beau-pere ; n e le chicanez point : n e prene z point garde a p en de chos e ave c lui ; vivez bien

s m et e s ue u s dan cette fa ille, j vous répond q vo

us u c vo tro verez fort bien de ette alliance .

” s s s of The King like thi ort thing, says Ma h s e s s . dame de Sevigne, when tells the e tories

u Unmerited favo r made Grammont very angry .

I n o u ss f u s . w as ur the war the s cce ion , Lo i XIV s rounded by the friends and relations o f the weak

n s and incapable mi ister who were then in favour. The King on e day expressed his wonder at the

of s tupidity a foreign ambassador at his c ourt .

” u z s m ue c e s Vo s verre , Sire, aid Gra mont, q era

” le parent de qu elque ministre l The Com tesse de Grammont had been the great

as be auty of the English c ourt of Charle s II. the

The y outh an d the in capacity o f the ministers were then

n oto ous . a a me o nua had een at e sa es a nd on ri M d C r l b V r ill , , her etu n to a i s she wa s as e at she had seen saw r r P r , k d wh I ” “ some c u ious t n s she sa ove in the tom and the r hi g , id ; l b , ” m n ste s in t e c a e i i r h ir r dl .

66 COMTE AND COMTESSE DE GRAMMONT . and his opinion of his o wn merit being equally

di d s . was u great, he not de pair Play his r ling

s s but u pa ion, it co ld not now detain him from the

’ lady s company ; and Sai nt E vrem on t gave him advic e as to the improbability of a penniless, untitled younger brother succ eeding in suc h a

” u su . o o l p r it My g d friend, replied the Cheva ier

“ u s tu c on de Grammont, tho art a philo opher ; nais la nature des etoiles du c iel ; m ai s pour l es

’

s tu n c s . us a tres de la terre, y onnai rien I have j t had a lec ture of three hours from the King.

E c outez m ss , mon a i l I will marry Mi Hamilton , in spite of my rivals and the world . I will have my banishment reversed ; she shall be Dam e d u

’ Palais to the Queen of France ; my brother will

so di e or our be good as to some day other, for particular gratiﬁcation ; Miss Hamilton shall be

* t s of Sém eat mis res and Comtesse de Grammont,

s s oaf to make her amend for the los of that Norfolk,

sot ch a l u . that Ri mond, and that r ke Fa mo th And

m on u what do you say to that, pa vre philosophe

is u c Grammont, with h a da ity and perseverance, A c arried off the prize from his rivals . year after their marriage they returned to France ; Madame

m The c h ateau of the fa ily . COMTE AND COMTESSE DE GRAMMONT . 67

“ c m du s de Grammont be a e Dame Palai , and some

s year after, Grammont inherited the property by

of his the death elder brother. The Comte and Comtesse de Grammont were

1 703 of in great favour in , towards the end the

of u s ss reign Lo i XIV. The King gave the Comte e

us so a ho e in the park at Versailles, where many persons went to visit them that the Comte threat ened to send in the bills to the King of all the dinners he was forc ed to give in consequen c e . Madam e de C oulanges writes to Madame de Grignan La Comtesse de Grammont se porte

’ tres bien ; il est c ertain que le Roi l a traitée a

’ merveille s ; e t s en est assez pour que le monde se .

' u son c 6té s tro vera fort de ; mai comme vous savez ,

” le . Madame, monde est bien plaisant

’ Ninon de l E n clos used to say of the Comte de

m an was Grammont, that he was the only old who n s o s ot c u u c u . u ridi lo at rt T renne aid, that he wi shed to live that he might see Grammont old ; Boileau wrote verses to him ; Saint-E vrem on t sang his s u us a praise , and c rio pr ises they are

nsolen t en os t I pr péri é , o t cou to s en n cess t F r r i é i é , ' ame en o rt une a e L f libér l , x n s o o a A u créa cier pas tr p l y l e . 68 COMTE AND COMTESSE DE GRAMMONT .

The Comte de Grammont did not write so well

“ as he talkedﬁ He gave his brilliant c onvers ation

hon - s his -in - his and mot to brother law, to write memoirs ; and then sold the manuscript for the

sum f s u o ﬁfteen thousand franc s. In thi man

he is tra ité de rz on script f p , and Fontenelle, who

was c s of ou t of the en or the book, regard for

’ Grammon t s u u u rep tation, wo ld not a thorize the public ation of it ; but Grammont wanted his f f n us c s i tee tho and fran , and obliged Fontenelle to

allow of i ts being printed .

The death of the Com te de Gram mont w as ex

e cted hi s s -ﬁfth p in eventy year, and the King,

knowing how lightly he thought on religious s ub

ects s u was j , ent Dangea to him, to tell him that it

s ou m u now time to think eri sly . Gram ont t rned

’ to his s “ ss si s n wife, and aid, Comte e, vou y

u us esc m otera preniez garde, Dangea vo ma con

’ Here is a n ote of the C o mte de G ra mmont s s ufﬁciently to the u o se and c n ot a o o f his e sto a o e s p rp , whi h will ll w pi l ry p w r n o n a s o h being called in questio . L rd C or w lli wed t e C omte de ammon t ten or t e v e un e u neas his at e -in-la w Gr w l h dr d g i ; f h r , Sir Ste en Fox a his e ts but D e ammon t n n ph , p id d b , Gr ﬁ di g o o n a s n ot e to a him sen t him the o o n L rd C r w lli lik ly p y , f ll wi g n ote as he was l ea vin g E nglan d

o r — a emem e the omte de ammon t an My L d , Pr y r b r C Gr , d ” d o not o e Sir Ste en Fox f rg t ph . H M I LTON 6 COMTE ANTOINE A . 9

version . He recovered, and lived to the age of

- u eighty six ; leaving two da ghters . One was an

ss u abbe ; the other, Cla de Charlotte de Grammont, m t was o of ff . arried Henry Howard, Earl Sta ord

w as as as w as She witty her father, and afterwards known as the dear fri end Of Lady Mary Wortley

u Montag e .

E C OMTE ANTOIN HAMILTON .

o n 1 646 e 1 7 20 . B r , ; di d ,

AN TOI N u of COMTE E HAMILTON, the a thor the

” M em oires m was de Gra mont, brother to the

Comtesse de Grammont . They were allied to the

m s E for greatest fa ilie in ngland, having their

u son of m s father, Sir George Hamilton, fo rth Ja e ,

s E of o for ﬁr t arl Aberc rn and their mother, the sister of the Duke of Ormond. Hamilton had been on e of the crowd of gay young c ourtiers who

su un s . his s o rro ded Charle II , on re t ration to the

His throne of England. family had long resided

d he was of c abroa , and more a Fren hman than an

E u of . nglishman he followed the fort nes James II , and had a regiment in the se rvi c e of Ireland. 0 VI LLE I 7 MARECHAL DE BO .

’ t s s Af er the King defeat in Ireland, he ettled at

St . Germain .

’ This gay and caustic writer was d un humeur

” c u c s c n hagrin, and very m h di pleased at being o tin ually sent for to Sc eaii x by the Duchess d u

on e was Maine, where every expected de faire de

’ ” l e s rit. s di n his u u p However, notwith tan g ill h mo r, he c ontinu ally wrote verses for the exigea n te L udo v iso the nam e by whic h the D uchess was dis tin uish ed of c u g by the wits her o rt .

u . u i Co nt Hamilton died at St Germain, abj r ng hi s c s errors, whi h were aid not to have been few in

u n mber.

THE MARE CHAL DE VILLE BOI .

o n 1 6 4 3 e 1 7 30 . B r , ; di d ,

THE MARECHAL DE VI LLE ROI was known in his s c of as youth in the o iety Madame de Sevigne,

“ ” le c u harmant, and Madame de Co langes did not c onceal her admiration of his ﬁne manners .

u ss s Bav iére When the Da phine , Marie Chri tine de ,

s i Villeroi w as c s c arrived at Ver a lles, ho en to dan e

with her ; a distin c tion whi c h n early turned his M A RE C E A L VI LLE ROI DE . 71

s s I l head . Madame de Sevigne ay , dansait si

on le u si on u bien, tro vait bien, en parlait si so vent,

’ il u c u un était habillé de co leurs si onvenables, q

u le u s . le jo r pere (Lo i XIV ) dit en rencontrant, Je pense que vou s voulez donner de la jalousie 5 mon fils ; j e ne vous le conseill e

Villeroi suc c ss gave h prolonged are to his dre , that on some publi c occ as ion he kept Lou is wait in who was as s g, exact, all king are, and who never

s but Villeroi before had waited for any per on ; ,

u u . unfort nately for Lo is, was a favourite V ll i ’ i ero s incapac ity as a general was well known .

s The best pecimen Of a French song, mentioned

” his u s Litterature w as by La Harpe, in Co r de , written upon his reverses

i Villero ,

l r i Vi l e o , A fort bien servi le roi

u aume u aume . G ill , G ill

c u u Vill eroi was At the o rt Of Lo is XIV. remark

for i u s his s his able his intr g e , indi cretion, and

his su frivolity ; with the army, for pre mption and his c u hi s incapacity ; in o ncil, for arrogance ; and

f u s in the edu cation o Lo i XV. he betrayed a mix

u . his t re of pride and baseness Yet dress, bril 72 MARQUIS A N D MAR QUISE DE VILLARS .

lian c s so u y of manner, and talent , won Lo s XIV that on his death-bed he appointed him Governor to the youn g King.

’ - m s Villeroi s c c Saint Si on give haracter, whi h is

said to have been j us t. He was a man m ade on

purpose to preside at a ball ; to be thej u dge at a

us h ad c carro el, and (if he had any voi e)to have

su in of s. ng at the Opera, the parts kings and heroe

c as his ss i Perfe t to dre , and for setting the fash on,

” but having nothing else in him .

A u os de M arsaille o n ar son roi hér , él ig é p , On v o ait an s les cam s succeder Villeroi y d p , a v o de ou s us ue d e la v cto e F ri L i pl q i ir , ' ’ E t an 5 I m ! dc ban ma s et t ans l hist ir gr d gf , i p i d o e.

C u BN l E R.

D E T H E M A R Q U I S V I L L A R S .

D e 1 6 98 . i d ,

THE E D E MAR QUIS VILLARS .

o n 1 6 24 e 1 706 . B r , ; di d ,

MADAME DE VILLARS accompanied her husband

his d s an M . in embassie to Sardinia to Spain . de Villars was known at the court of Versailles by the

I A 74 MARQU S AND M RQUISE DE VILLARS .

w as of the dear friend Madame de Maintenon . )

’ Mais cela e st mele de tant d amitié et de

’ s u s ue son tendres e, q il emble q temperament soit

” c hangé en E spagne .

u Madame de Villars, whose nat re was seem i n l c r s was g y changed by an absen e f om Pari , the s s c s of i ter Of the Maré hal de Bellefond , the friend

ss u us c Bo et, and the mother of the famo Maré hal

is sc c u de Villars . She de ribed in strong olo rs by

u s étoit un e St. Simon Cette M arq i e bonne

m s c c c petite fem e, e he, vive, mé hante omme nu

’ ’ serpent ; de l espri t com me un démon ; d exc el

’ ui s sa us u au lente compagnie q avait pa sé vie, j q

r les l u et les us s dernier jou , dans mei le res pl choi ies

c et du e t ui c de la our grand monde, q onseillait

’ u u s a son ﬁls au u to jo r , de se vanter Roi tant q il

ourroit i n e a p , mais de jama s parler de soi per

” s onne . m d The c o pany of M . and Ma ame de Villars was i s ought by every one . Liv ng with the best society

m et f to be with in France, and having both o

m h ad s the every means, in their long re idences at

of an d Copenhagen, in Italy, and in Spain, hearing s r of c r eeing a va iety chara ters and nations, thei convers ation was full of anec dote and curious I A ND V 5 MARQU S MARQUISE DE ILLARS . 7

s us s detail . The ho es of foreign ambas adors were in those days like fortiﬁed town s ; and what sa nc tua ry and p rivilege meant in these abodes may be known from some of the singular stories that c ame

c of u under their ognizance . One the most c rious

* e s of d of th se tories is that Stra ella, the Venetian,

St a e a one of the eatest mus c an s O his t me wa s r d ll , gr i i f i ,

n n in ta en . de a s was am assa o at r k ow I ly wh M Vill r b d r T u in . H was co m ose to the Do e o f en ce and e uen t san e p r g V i , fr q ly g th t t His ta ents his o wn co mpositions at e h ea re . l as a m usician t o u t so i of t at all who s e to exce i n t at were h gh h ghly , h wi h d l h an x o us to eco me his u s mon st scienc e were i b p pil . A g those o f om he had the nst uc t on was a oun a of no e i t wh i r i , y g l dy bl b r h , a Roman but n o wn at en ce a s o tens a and who n ot , k V i H r i , , t stan n her ust ous escen t s u m tte to ve it a wi h di g ill ri d , b i d li w h m n as his m st ess The e uen acc ss Venetian n obl e a i r . fr q t e O f St a e a to t s a o uc e in t em o t a mutua as s on r d ll hi l dy , pr d d h b h l p i , ’ n o ne summe s n t t e e t en ce a nd St a e a and the a d r igh h y l f V i , r d ll m n sa t U on the scove o f t lady reac h ed Ro e i fe y . p di ry heir t the enet an had ecou se to the u s ua met o of Oh ﬂigh , V i r r l h d sat s ac t on for ea or s u ose n u es he s atc e tainin g i f i , r l pp d i j ri ; di p h d two assassin s with instruc tion s to murder both Strad ell a a n d H o ten s a v n t em e o e an a sum of mone an d a ro r i , gi i g h b f r h d y , p The assass n mise of a larger s um sh ould th ey s ucceed . i s traced u t v es to Rome a nd t en ote to t e em o e as n the f gi i , h wr h ir pl y r, ki g for l etters O f recommen d ation to the Venetian ambassad or at Ro me to sec u e an as um for t em to to as soon as the , r yl h fly

s ou be e et ate . On the ece t of t e ans e deed h ld p rp r d r ip h ir w r, a n e t at on the mo o at ﬁve in the ev en n St a e a th ey l e r d h rr w, i g, r d ll was to perform a miserere in the c h urch o f San Gio vanni Late The mu e e s o ose o n to the ce emon fol o . rann rd r r pr p d g i g r y, St a e a an d his m st ess o ut of the c u c and then lowin g r d ll i r h r h ,

st n the o . A n m mense m u t tu e c o e the c u c riki g bl w i l i d r wd d h r h ,

E 2 R I E 76 MARQUI S AND M A QU s DE VILLARS .

which happened during the embassy of M . de

Villars at Tu rin .

E s Of . Louis XIV . c onferred the order the St prit

“ ” n déméles o M . de Villars ; and the thereon,

te St a e a san a m se e e of whic h was b ut p artially ligh d . r d ll g i r r his own com os t on th e o s o f c e e 0 God p i i , w rd whi h w r , , ” h a v e pity on us 1 a nd of m u sxc so b ea utiful as seem ed to be - on as it e e to a not e o . en the ee tone l g , w r , h r w rld Wh d p d , a t es on ses o f the m u t tu e i n the c u c ostra te o n e r hly r p l i d h r h , pr the avem en t e an to affect the assass ns the s u est on s p , b g i , gg i m v t s v n tu s e o e the er of h um an i ty c a e O er h eir a age a re . B f r p forman c e vs as f n s e t e e e u of c om u n ct on at de i i h d , h y w r f ll p i riv in Of life on e who had s uc o e s o v e a o e m u t tu e p g h p w r r wh l l i d , and th ey agreed to exert th emsel ves for the preservation of him St a o m t e had c o me to est o . e o o e e a wh h y d r y Th y f ll w d r d ll , n o me him o f the an e his fe was in a v se his eav n i f r d d g r li , d i d l i g Ro me ns tan t and a ve as a eason for t e e en ta n ce the i ly , g , r h ir r p , o v p wers th at the m usic had o er th em . St a e a an d o tens a fled to u n The assass ns etu ne r d ll H r i T ri . i r r d to t e em o e an d e o te the t o f the o ve s and the h ir pl y r, r p r d fligh l r , im o ss t o f urs ui n t em to u n the a s e n seve e p ibili y p g h T ri , l w b i g r i n t at c t an d aflordin n o otect on to m u e e s but in the h i y , g pr i rd r r at ous s o f m s immedi e h e a ba sado rs . The Ven etian had con trived to associate with him in his even e the at e o ten s a an d t s o e man had r g , f h r Of H r i , hi h rribl ete m ne to ecom e th e m u e e o f his Ow n c and a on d r i d b rd r r hild , l g t w ufiian s n t t o r e t o u n t t at v e . The enet an wi h , w T ri wi h h i w V i ' no eman ocu e ette s om the A d E strades t en am bl pr r d l r fr bbé , h m n bas sador o a ce to en c e to . d e a s enc am fr Fr V i , M Vill r , Fr h b ssad or at u n h w a T ri . T e p urp ort of th ese l etters as a rec o m mendation of the ea e s O the ette s who e e t e e n t e a b r r f l r , w r h r i pr s en te to be m e c an ts to the otect on of the enc am as d r h , pr i Fr h b

sa o s o u t e stan in n ee of it . d r , h ld h y d d The D uc ess o f Sa vo t en Re en t of Sa n a was n o me h y , h g rdi i , i f r d o t e a va of St a e a a nd o tens a a t u n and t e f h rri l r d ll H r i T ri , h ir I A ND MA I MARQU S RQU SE DE VILLARS . 77

and the ridi culous sc ene that oc curred on the in

stallation of the knights, are well told by Madame

de Sevigne . M . de Villars had been ﬁrs t known

P histor an d n o n the S of even e o f the enet ans she y, k wi g pirit r g V i ,

ace the a in a con ven and eta n e St a e a in her pl d l dy t, r i d r d ll

se v ce as her nc a mus c an . One even n o eve r i pri ip l i i i g, h w r,

en St a e a was ta n the ai r u o n the a m a ts he was wh r d ll ki g p r p r , as sa e t ee assass ns who av n eac i n cte a oun il d by hr i , h i g h ﬂi d w d

on him etoo t emse ves to the ouse o i M . d e ars as to a , b k h l h Vill , u But the attac on St a e a av n een m a e in sanct ary . k r d ll h i g b d the s t of n u m e s of e sons o n the u c a occas one igh b r p r , p bli w lk , i d in the c t c soo n eac e the ea s o f th D u an uproar i y , whi h r h d r e ch ess

of Savo . She o e e the ates of u n to be c ose a nd y rd r d g T ri l d , ent sea c to be m a e for the t ee assass ns an d e n dilig r h d hr i , b i g i n formed th at th ey had tak en refuge with the Frenc h amba s

sa o she sen t to eman t em . . de a s ns ste on his d r, d d h M Vill r i i d v e es c t ose in his s tuat o n c a me as the law of pri il g , whi h h i i l i d nat o ns and e use to e ve u the c m na s but he ote i , r f d d li r p ri i l ; wr ’ ’ to the A d E strades to n u e nto the sto The A bbc bbé , i q ir i ry . ans e e him t a he had een s u se n to a recommen a w r d , h t b rpri d i d ation of these men by one o f the most p owerful of the nobles n of Ve ice . I n th n e m St a e a was cu e o f his oun s a nd e i t ri r d ll r d w d ; M . de a s to ma e s o t o f the uest on of v e e an d the Vill r , k h r q i pri il g

ts of am assa o s suffe e the assass ns to esca e . A ea righ b d r , r d i p y r e a s n St a e a t ou t mse sec u e om an u t e l p i g, r d ll h gh hi lf r fr y f r h r at em t on his e and the D uc ess o f Savo o ne the an s t p lif , h y j i d h d o f Stra e a and o ten s a an d t e e e ma e A te the d ll H r i , h y w r rri d . f r

ce emon St a e a and his . e had a w ish to v s t enoa r y , r d ll wif i i G , n t an n en t on o f tu n n o u Th as sa goi g th ere wi h i t i re r i g t T rin . e s s ns had atc e t e mot ons aud the da a te e eac e i w h d h ir i , y f r th y r h d enoa the m u e e s us e nto the oom an d sta e St a G , rd r r r h d i r , bb d r t h a t e had ta en ar to s u d ella and H ore n sia to t e he r . Th y k c e ec re a a c la i n the o t c t e ma e t e esca e b rk whi h y p r , by whi h h y d h ir p

om ust ce an d e e neve ea o f mo e . fr j i , w r r h rd r 78 MARQUI S AND MARQUI SE DE VILLARS . in life in a terrible adventure he killed a man in a

u m d el who he had never beheld before, the Comte

’ d Héricourt s c u u , the e ond of the D ke de Bea fort ;

s s c u de M . de Villar having been e ond to the D ke

u s m u Nemo r , in the fa ous d el that happened in

1 2 c 65 . He was obliged to leave Fran e for a long

m but his ti e, having been pardoned and employed, talents in negotiation were found of great use to

w as u his government. He ret rning from last

s adv en embas y to Spain, when he had a strange Hi ture on the frontiers of Fran c e . s suite were attacked by the suite of the Spanish ambassador returning home ; and several person s were killed on both sides ; and the ambassadors them selves w ere obliged to take part in this curious engage ment . There are thirty-seven letters written by Ma dame de Villars to Madame de Coulanges . Some

x c us s of e tra ts, shewing the age Spain, will serve to compare with those of Spain as it now is Ma — drid 3 oth ov . 1 679 . I o ut is , N , go when it ﬁne,

tom a r el s ol to ta ke the s un ou t , that is, literally, ,

s o f c us c u of the gate the ity. One m t be aref l to

u s n draw all the c rtain of the carriage in the tow , otherwise one should pass for a woman of bad re A I I M RQU S AND MARQU SE DE VILLARS . 79 putation ; and it would not be worth being talked

u ou u of for s ch a triﬂe . If y co ld have been here to-day you might have seen the handsome st nuncio

’ ss m (the pope s amba ador)in the world, and the ost

His s u agreeable . Spani h is q ite easy to under

c him vvith all c but u stand. I re eived eremony, q ite comfortably ; I having been seated on a pile Of

- c us s i n . hion , and he an arm chair He talked a

of s V u s great deal Charle . , and I felt q ite a hamed

so u but to know little abo t him, hope that I did

s not betray it. I said a few word here and there, trying to remember certain ﬁne passages my eldest

son u u . son sed to talk to me abo t My , the Abbé,

s uc c who was with me, hone as m h in this onver sation as if he h ad been on the benc he s of the

u Sorbonne . M. de Villars, who is j st come home,

s u to use S s places him elf at yo r feet, a pani h phrase . — 27th . I s December have received my visit , and the way that they are managed is rather ex

traOrdin ar . A S s as c m to y oon I a e Madrid, all

uc s s of s the princesses, d hesse , wive grandee , and

s an d u other ladie , sent to compliment me, inq ire when I c ould see them ; and some days ago they were informed that I should rec eive every on e 80 M ARQUI S AND MA RQUISE DE VILLARS .

all s during three c onsecutive days. To tho e who

s u s have ent, a page goes ro nd with note , called

’ u i s c us u s n d llo , be a e, in tr th, they are twi ted

’ d A ssera of u s. u s note The Marq i e , widow the D ke of a c Lerm , whom I had known in Fran e, and who

s i s thinks that I did her ome l ttle ervice, did the

of m us u s s honours y ho e d ring tho e three day , and

s ur also the lady who e pict e M . de Villars has .

u She has been very handsome, and wo ld indeed be

’ so still were it not for the widow s dre ss which she

u if ul s wears . However bea t a per on might be, they

c ould not appear tolerable in this acc ou trement ; and I do not u nders tand how any woman who thinks

’ o f u is un eu her bea ty, and p galante, does not — I marry again at the end Of a year. will not de

scribe the precise number of steps I made to re

c eive s c — s c the e ladies respe tively, ome a few pa es,

others more for in entering and going away you

must pass by all the ladies. The on e who di

rected had u set me eno gh to do to me right, for I

was u ll c perpet a y forgetting the eremonial . The

s c visits la ted the whole day, and took pla e in a

c s an d room overed with carpet , having a large

’ s us ilver brazier in the middle . I m t not forget

’ l ou s to tel y , that in thi brazier there is no coal,

8 2 MARQUI S AND MARQUISE DE VILLARS . water ; then chocolate ; and you cannot imagine

u t ate or the q an ity they , carried away with them,

’ s c s c ca s ta nas . Of maron gla é , alled here g The

al l c s women are very ivil, very eager to plea e and

bu t was s to oblige ; with all that I mo t delighted,

of when the end came of my three days. Many

c h or u of them came to see me twi e . T ree fo r

' s a t them peak a little French, and I speak li tle

” Span ish . — 6th c 1 680. I s Mar h, have been to the Spani h

so theatre with the Queen . Nothing can be de

us s ia s testable . I am ed my elf watching the lover

s s looking at their mi tresse , and talking to them from a distan c e by sign s on their ﬁngers . Their

o s u c ﬁngers g so fa t, that, if they nderstand ea h o S us xc ther, Love, in pain, m t be an e ellent master

” in this art. — 2 l st March There was the other day a pro c ss is s f e ion, in what called the Cloister o the Pa lace . I went to see it from a little window . The

King and Queen walked together. The Queen

of s wore a robe ceremony, hanging sleeve , and a

o m - l ng train carried by the ca arera major. The c s s ros , the patriarch, the bishop, the priest , and

us the religio orders preceded their Majesties . After Z DUCHESS DE MA ARIN . 83

i u c i c the the K ng and Q een ame the lad es, alled . - s guarda major. Their lover have that day per

ss a mi ion and liberty to t lk to them . If the c ross had n ot a c s s u m de it a devotional pro es ion , I ho ld have said it had more Of gallantry in it than any

s thing else I have een in Spain . — 2 7th March There w as on Sunday a ﬁne i s u was c . proce sion . The Q een magn ﬁ ently dressed

of u e d The maids hono r had point d, plaite , white

u on t s s ga ze caps heir head , and their lover by

s ou ss s t e their side . I hall not tell y how pa e h

u s three holy days, Wednesday, Th r day, and Fri

- Of ss . o s day Pa ion week All the w men are dres ed,

“ u c c u and run from ch r h to h rch all night, except those who have found him they seek in the ﬁrst chu rch ; for there are many wom en who c an only

” se e their lOv ers those three days Of the year.

E E D E HORTENS MANCINI, DU CH SS Z MA ARIN .

o n 1 64 6 e 1 6 99 . B r , ; di d ,

’ C ARDI N AL M A ZA RI N S nieces were like the god desses belonging to the heathen mythology Of the infernal regions ; they were gifted with wit and 84 HORTENSE MANCINI,

u us s beauty, they bro ght conf ion and di cord with

m e s is at the wherev r they came, and their hi tory

di ui - sc tended with sg ses, hair breadth e apes, exiles,

u s s as intrig es, and poi oning . It appears ifthey lived

u u s u s ao s rro nded by the Fate and F rie , and were

c ompanied with ﬁre and ﬂame wherever they went . Horten se Manc ini was the great beau ty of the

w as s u family. She the greatest heire s in E rope,

of a and had proposals marri ge from Charles II. ,

u of . in his adversity, and from the D ke Savoy

Cardinal Mazarin was aware of his political béveue

n ot 1 6 6 1 in having accepted the ﬁrst ; and , in , he

u married Hortense to the D ke de la Meilleraie,

z who took the name and arms of Ma arin .

f s s Shortly a ter thi marriage, Horten e left her husband ; and whenever a reconcil iation w as pro

s c out as po ed to her, she ried , the mob had done

u ! d ring the Fronde, Point de Mazarin point de

was devot s us Mazarin He , avariciou , and jealo ,

n and, when Madame de Sevigne saw him, ma y

o a drea ul zi liness s s years after, f df g . She ay , it is impossible to give any idea of the strange ways of this man ; he m us t be mad ; his dre ss is that

his is of a beggar, and religion all the wrong way

him his in his head . We tried to persu ade to get Z DUCHESS DE MA ARIN . 8 5

f of she is wi e out England, where in danger Of

or u being sent away, perhaps perverted, (this m st

a as she me n in her faith a Catholic, ) and where is

f s with the enemies o the King. He make always

’ TO the s ame answer Let her c ome to me . him ! E vrem on t , indeed We may say with Saint ,

s s m i she is di pen ed fro all ord nary rules, for in

” s s c . eeing M . de Mazarin we ee her justiﬁ ation The fate s of all these sisters were c urious ; all

s but c had made great marriage , all be ame travel l a ven turier es i E ing , living in Spa n, Italy, ngland,

Flanders, or anywhere, where the government

u f wo ld allow o their remaining. They came to A ix was s , where Madame de Sevigne re iding

n she with Madame de Grigna , and describes

m c c the , like heroines in roman e, avec for e m ’ pierreries et point de che ises . There was

’ ’ som e love adventure in this equip ee and Madame

' de Colonna and Madame de Mazar in were arrested

’ m c o A ix c w as in en s l thes at . They ame there, it

see the the said, to Comte de Marsan and Che valier de Lorraine, their lovers. They were both re-c ls Hor laimed by the Pope and the Cardina .

s Of E u tense, the greate t heiress rope, having s e f ot p nt all the money that her jewels a forded, g

u a pension from Lo is XIV. , and lived three years 86 HORTENSE MANCINI,

E at Chamberry, and then went to ngland, with the intention Of captivating and governing Charles IL, whose wife she had nearly be c ome some years

s previou ly.

“ Madame de Sevigne says, Madame de Ma

m c A n zarin c ou rt les c ha p s . On la roit en

‘ ’ le terre OII il n c u s z n i ui g , y a omme vo s ave , foi,

’ ui e s u me v oudroit loi, pretres mais j croi q elle

’ as le u e fi t le p , comme dit chanson, q on en chassé

” Roi .

E . . 6 1 6 6. velyn mentions her Often Sept , 7

’ u s o S pped at the Lord Chamberlain , where als supped the famous beauty and errant lady the

Duchess of Mazarin, (all the world knows her

u of u u of story,)the D ke Monmo th, Co ntess Sus sex of u , children the King, and the Co ntess of

u u to Derby, a virt ous lady, da ghter my friend the

” of Earl Ossory .

s u n E vrem on t Ba set and d els, Sai t and the

M on acco c u Prince de , o c pied her time ; and the latter rather cam e across her plans with regard to

Charles II. The King gave her a pension ; and Evelyn names her again on the Sunday evening

f . o 1 684 . before the death Charles II , in

I can never forget the inexpressible luxury an d s m s profanene s, ga ing, and all dissolutenes , HE Z DUC SS DE MA ARIN . 8 7 an d u of God , as it were, total forgetf lness (it being

’ S unday evening)which this day se nnight I was witness of ; the King sitting and toyin g with his

c u s u az con bine , Portsmo th, Cleveland, and M arin a French boy singing love songs in that glOrious

u of gallery (at Whitehall), whilst abo t twenty the great cou rtiers and other dissolute persons were at

s u of s bas et, ro nd a large table, a bank at lea t two thousand in gold before them ; upon whi c h two

s gentlemen, who were with me, made reﬂection f s . was with astoni hment Six days a ter, all in

us d t.

Hortense retired to Chelsea, where Lysons

she says kept a basset table, and gave concerts and u s s of ar e to s ppers to per on rank, who said have usually left money under the plates to pay for the entertainment.

E s u l 1 th 1 699 . velyn write J ne , Now died the famous D uchess of Mazarin . She had been the richest lady in E urope ; she was niec e to

al c s Cardin Mazarin, and was married to the ri he t

u u as s s bject in E rope, was aid ; she was born at

i n was extraor Rome, educated France, and an din ar u but t y bea ty and wit, dissolu e, and impa

of tient matrimonial restraint, so as to be aban 8 8 HORTENSE MANCINI, don ed us s she by her h band, and bani hed ; when

s s came to England for helter, lived on a pen ion given her here, and is reported to have hastened her death by intemperate drinking strong spirits .

own u s She has written her story and advent re , and so x s s has her other e travagant i ter, wife to the

” noble family Of Colonna. Madame la Connétable de Colonna was that

u s . w as same Marie Mancini, whom Lo i XIV in love with, and wanted to marry. On her

s c u is being ent from o rt, she reported to have i s him us u us s Roi et aid to , Vo ple rez, vo ete ,

u c j e pars . She is m ch des ribed in Madame

’ s she de Villars letters from Madrid, where took

’

u s s . the veil d ring the time of M . de Villars emba sy

She afterwards ran away from her convent, and died in obscurity in France : she appears to have been mad.

’ t of M azarin s u Ano her niece , the D chess de

u l w as c ff Bo i lon , oncerned in the a air of La Brin

l is vi liers . Muc h as to her conduct to be found in

’ a s l M dame de Sevigne s letters . She amu ed herse f

’ too u u on her trial m ch at the j dge s interrogations,

and was in consequen c e banished ﬁ om Paris by a

” - - i s lettre de cachet. Madame de Sevigne descr be

0 9 . CHARLES II , KING OF SPAIN, AND

CHARLES H , KING OF SPAIN,

o n 1 66 1 e 1 700 . B r , di d ,

E E ’ E E MARI LOUIS D ORL ANS , QU EN

OF SPAIN .

o n 1 66 2 ed 1 68 9 . B r , ; di ,

’ u MARIE LOUISE D ORLEANS, the da ghter of

n s u u . Mo ie r, the brother Of Lo is XIV and of the u u uc ss of s he nfort nate Henriette, D he Orlean , f m the o s . of ca e wife Charle II , King Spain, in

1 679 . Her grief at leaving France is Often named

’ a s was in Mad me de Sevigne letters . Her sorrow augmented by her de sire of becoming the wife of

u f n the Da phin o France ; a d when Louis XIV.

i u for own sa d to her, What co ld I do more my

” daughter than make her Queen of Spain ? she

s But ou u u an wered, y co ld do more for yo r

” . of niece The people Paris, seeing her weeping

s out n ot and in great distres , called She will

o— s g Mon ieur is too good to let her go . She did

' go, however, and was married to the weak and

s c . . mi erable monar h, at Burgos M and Madame I MARIE LOUISE, QUEEN OF SPA N . 9 1

l c c m Sh de Vil ars a o panied her to Spain, where e s c us of s c oon became a c tomed to a life re traint, ere

u u as cen mony, and enn i, and acq ired a power and dancy over the King which las ted during the ten years of their union . The followi ng extrac ts are taken from a work

u s 1 692 ou t . p bli hed in , and now of print The

’ ac count of the Queen s re c eption is a mixture of

c s u c us the magniﬁ ent, the tately, and the l di ro .

“ u s A s The King came to meet her at B rgo .

as u to c soon he arrived, the Q een went re eive him

s s in her Spani h dres ; and having met him, as he

- she u was entering her ante chamber, wo ld have

w s his but thro n her elf at feet, he hindered her, and sal uted her after the Spanish fashion . They

s u u di co rsed together some time, witho t being able to u on e s was nderstand another, and thi certainly

s no little pain to them . M. de Villar , who per

eived a c r c it, dvan ed fo ward to serve as an inter

sa s preter, and if he did not y everything they aid, it is at leas t certai n that he spoiled nothing of

s u s their di co r e, and that he mingled a great deal of tenderness and passion with it . The King was

a Sc omber ue c is dressed la g , whi h properly after the French mode, and all his attendants were clad 92 . CHARLES II , KING OF SPAIN, AND in the same manner ; for the c ampaign habits of the French and Spaniards are muc h ali ke .

s u s u a s as c c The di p te and q rrel to pre eden y, amongst the Frenc h attendants and the Spanish

s m u c u grandee who ca e to meet the Q een, oc py a

s considerable place in thi ac c ount. The ceremony

’ was inco nito u s ofmarriage performed, g , in the Q een

- e . s ss s ut ante chamb r Whil t ma was aying, they p a ribbon of black wﬂety about the King and

’ u u s and Q een, tied in a tr e lover knot, a white

’ gau ze with a s ilver fringe u pon the King s shoul

’ s u m der , and over the Q een s head. The Ca arera

uc ss Of u u major, the D he Terra N ova, held p the ’ m Queen s train during the c ere ony .

uc of u After the marriage, the D hess Terra N ova treated the young Queen muc h as a severe

ss s c governe doe a hild, permitting her only to

s s of s m she receive the vi it some ladie , with who

c u c c c s m of of o ld s ar ely onver e, fro want knowledge

u of c u the lang age . The writer the ac o nt (who

w as s s a French woman, settled in Spain) ay ,

' “ uc u s u M h abo t thi time, I had the hono r of

ss but she ul s i ki ing her hand, co d not forbear m ling

to see me so mu ch altered for the worse by my

i u Span sh garb . After I had passed thro gh her

4 I L 9 CHARLES , KING OF SPAIN, AND

’ of s and Saint Jago, the gentlemen the King

s - m u hou ehold, the major do os to the Q een, and

n um the grandees of Spain, followed with a great

u s f s ber Of lacq eys, who e di ferent liverie of brocade and galoon of gold and silver of a mixed colour mad e an agreeable diversity ; the equ erries of the

Queen m arched on foot im m ediately before her ;

m was b an d the Co te de Villa Majana on her right , who was her c hief gentleman-u sher ; she w as sur

’” E u m en in s u ro nded with her and pages Of hono r, (when she walk s on foot she always leans upon

u ss o n e of them . ) The D che de Terra Nu ova fol

’ u d Alar on lowed her, and Donna La ra g , governess of s of u the maid honour, both Of them mo nted

’ i n upon their mules, and their widows habit,

c s s of u whi h omewhat re embles that religio s women ,

c except that when they are on horseba k , they wear

s ss great hats on their head , which make no le

u terrible a ﬁg re than the rest of their garb . After

saw of this, people , with a great deal pleasure,

s c s Donna Tere a di Toledo, Donna Fran i ca Hen ri uez u s q , Donna Maria di G sman, Jo epha di

u u s Fig eroa, and Donna Man ela di Vela co, the

s of u u beautful maid hono r to the Q een, all very ,

M enin s were the c hildren of person s of ra n k who served the ueens of S a n q p i . I MAR E LOUISE, QUEEN OF SPAIN. 95 and richly dressed ; they were on horseback ; each o f was m them acco panied by their relations, in the

s of c mid t whom they mar hed . There were several m led horses, ad irably ﬁne, led by grooms clad in

an d ss u u rich liveries, the pa age was sh t p by the

u Lan cill g ards de la a.

on e At the Prado, which is of the most agree

i n of s able walks Madrid, by reason the everal

u a s t c u was fo nt in that wa er it ontin ally, to be seen

r a galle y, Open on every Side, with one and twenty

in c s. s utt s out ar he There were everal j g in it, on which the arms Of the kingdoms under the do minion of Spain were affixed to pillars that sup

s u s c c s u ported gilt tat e , that arried devi e in hono r of u c s s the Q een, with rowns and in cription having

u o u a relation to each kingdom . The Q een f nd at

of u c r u the end the gallery a tri mphal ar h, th o gh

c h c s whi h She entered the city, w en the orregidor ,

m s c of s apparelled in cri on and bro ade gold, a dres suc as s s r s h the ancient Ca tilian wore, p e ented her

s c o with the key Of the ity, and with a can py which

s they c arried over her head . The treets were a s s us dorned with the riche t tapestrie , and the precio

’ stones to be seen in the Goldsmith s-row were valued at eleven millions. The Queen was mounted N AND 96 CHARLES IL , KI G OF SPAIN,

us s on a ﬁne Andal ian hor e, which, in its noble

' c s u c so beautiful mar h, eemed pro d to arry a prin

ss so ce . Her habit was covered with embroidery, that the stuff w as not to be seen ; she wore on her

i u hat wh te pl mes mixed with red, and a pearl

’ c as as called the Peregrina, whi h is large a small

s m u u Catharine pear, and of ine ti able val e, h ng

s Of c was below a cla p diamonds, with whi h her hat beset ; She wore on her ﬁnger the great diamond

c u ss Of the King, whi h, as they pretend, s rpa es in

u beauty anything of that nat re ever set in a ring .

c u of u But the gra ef l deportment , the Q een in all

s c u m her action , and parti larly in the manage ent

f s c m s of s O her hor e, joined to the har her per on, made a greater lustre than all the preciou s stones

sh e u c u wore, altho gh it is certain that people o ld

s carc e behold the glittering of them . She made a halt before the balc ony where were the King and

u - s u m the Q een Mother, to al te the . They opened

’ u u s see the lattice abo t fo r ﬁnger breadth, to her,

his c and the King, taking handker hief in his hand,

s m u s carried it everal ti es to his mo th, his eye , and

his c is s c of heart, whi h the greate t pie e gallantry

u on in c ss in Spain . The Q een went her pro e ion,

u - and the King, with the Q een Mother, received

98 xnvo or A CHARLES IL , SP IN, AND de taureaux affreux deux grands pens éren t y périr ; leurs cheveaux tués sous eux ; tres souvent

t a divertiss men s la scene es ensanglantée . Voil les e

’ d un royaume Chrétien A curious his tory of Spanish etiquette is told of

* a : those d ys The King, who loved the Queen di t tenderly, notwithstan ng hose who tried to do

r him on e f her ill se vice with , knowing that o her

i was r greatest d versions hunting, ordered th ee ﬁne horses to be brought from Andalusia. The Queen c on e but she n o hose Of the most mettlesome, was s u ooner mo nted than the horse began to rear, and

r s had nearly th own himself backward upon her.

she on e of her When fell, feet hung in the stirrup, and the horse, ﬁnding this embarrassment, run

u u u u abo t f rio sly, dragging the Q een at the peril

s Of her life . Thi accident happened in the court of i the palace, and the K ng, beholding it from a

was s but u balcony, in de pair at the sight ; tho gh

u of u of the court was f ll g ards and persons Of rank,

on e ff u yet no durst o er to go and help the Q een ,

u n u because it is not lawf l for a ybody to to ch her, i and especially by the feet, unless it be the ch ef of

” or g ut on cho in s. her menins pa es, who p her pp

A ccount of the C ou t of S a n nte in 1 69 2 . on on . r p i , pri d L d OP MARIE LOUISE, QUEEN SPAIN. 99

These are a sort Of sandal, into which the ladies

ut s p their hoes, and which makes them appear * u very tall . The Q een always supports herself

“ ” upon on e Of her menins when she walks any

” bu t u where, the menins were Children too yo ng

s u ﬁ om she was to re c e her the danger in . At last

s ui las two Spani h knights, Don Lo s de Torres, and

D n o Jayme de Sotomayor, resolved, whatever

n to d on e of might happe , eliver her ; SO them

of caught hold the bridle Of the horse , and stopped

’ him n of u s , when the other, taki g hold the Q een

u s foot, took it from the stirr p, and in doing her thi

ut of out of i but service, p one his ﬁngers jo nt ; w without tarrying a moment, away they ent to

u s e their ho se , and presently order d their horses to

’ s be saddled, to escape the King indignation . The

u Pen n aran da of young Co nt , a friend to both them,

a u c appro ched the Q een, and told her very respe t

u f lly, that those gentlemen who had been so

as to a u happy s ve her life, were in fear, in co se

’ f wn uen ce o o . q , losing their She spoke to the i K ng in their favour, who came down immediately

C hoppins al so formed part of the dress worn by the ladies in E n an in the a s of E za et and ames gl d d y li b h J I .

F 2 1 00 n . CHARLES , KING OF SPAIN, AND

see d she was s to what con ition in, and te tiﬁed an

ﬁn d she was u extraordinary joy to that not h rt, and very kindly received the request she made in

s was behalf of these generous criminal . Word

s immediately ent to them, who by this time were on u horseback to save themselves, and the Q een

u b ad hono red them with a present, and ever after

” ul a partic ar consideration for them . Madame de Vill ars gives an account to Madame de Coulanges of her acc ompanying the King and

s u Queen in a vi it to a convent d ring the carnival. The King and Queen are each seated in an arm

u chair ; the n ns at their feet, and many ladies

c u who ome to kiss hands. A collation is bro ght ;

u s on the Q een always eat , and the King looks ,

h e s l and thinks s eat a great dea . Two dwarfs are

” u present, who keep p the conversation . She gives an account Of her visits to the Queen I have received by this exp ress a letter from

d a u Ma ame de Sevigne, and I re d to the Q een the part in which she speaks of her and of her pretty

so u . feet, which dance and move with m ch grace

s u s u but t e Thi gave the Q een plea re, then She ﬂec ted that her pretty feet have nothing to do

K AND 1 02 CHARLES IL , ING OF SPAIN,

We are much better off at the palace Since

’ the D uchess d Albuquerque has succeeded to the

- Duchess of Terra Nuova as Camarera major. The Queen and I are allowed to look out of the win

u has dow as m ch as we like, from a window which a view of the garden Of the con vent Of the I n car

Y ou nation . cannot believe that a young Princess brought Up in France c an count this pastime as a pleasure ; but I try and make this seem an in dul

u f. c an gence, more than I sho ld think it mysel I not conclude my letter withou t telling you of the

c u for u way that this o rt prepare their jo rneys,

s ur or u which are merely to the E c ial, to Aranj ez . It costs the Kin g immense sums to go to these

a a u p laces from M drid, for the waste and perq isites

s u but u s are enormou , tho gh it is seven leag e distance . There are at the least to go there on e

t to hundred and ﬁf y women belonging the palace, si noras de honor or of u or ca g , maids hono r, ma

des - stas or cr ia . re , their , (women servants ) The si nora s in g are widows, dressed always the same manner ; but the other ladies are in their ﬁnest

s s clothe for thi journey. They wear hats with

on u w feathers, and their sho lders hat are here called mantillas : this is neither a c loak n or a A M RIE LOUISE, QUEEN OF SPAIN. 1 03

of scarf ; they are made velvet, and embroidered

or in gold silver ; some are green, some are cri m

son . I n the manner they wear these, one arm is

s f di engaged, and the end o the mantilla passes u nder the other arm . All their gallants come to see them into their carriages, and then gallop

ft . al of a er them Sever these gentlemen, on ﬁne

s inco nito horses, follow these ladie g , with caps w that fall do n over their faces, and prevent their

w but i di u being kno n by any the r la es . The Q een

she E u wore a hat the day that went to the sc rial,

l u a with black and ye low plumes ; b t s to a mantilla,

u of of h as were a q een Spain to die the cold, it

” n been written that She never Should wear o e . Madame de Villars desc ribes the atmosphere of ennui at court mu ch like a November fog in

’ ' London L en n ui du palais est aﬂreux ; et j e dis

’ u a u quelq e fois cette Princesse, q and j entre dans

’ ’ sa c il u le u le hambre, me semble q on sent, q on

’ ” u le il est u . voit, q on touche ; tant répand épais

s of n She speak of the delights chocolate , and the

e makes her excuse for doing so. Songez que j

’ s E s et ue u e sui en pagne, q c est presq e mon s ul

’ ” plaisir d en prendre . She says in another letter,

’ ’ ’ ll n y a qu a etre en Espagne pour n avoir plus 1 04 IL CHARLES , KING OF SPAIN, AND

’ ’ d env ie d u u of y batir des chatea x . Her acco nt

s u of the ceremonie at co rt, and the three Sights she was s u -ﬁ ht n witne s to, a b ll g , a preachi g, and

u of u the f neral Of a maid hono r, are exceedingly

of well told, and worthy Madame de Sevigne .

’ s ue c s un e ue She exclaim , Q e t belle Chose q de

’ rire en Espagne Si l on avait de bonnes dis

s cc seroit n u u position pour la penitence, lie propre

” pour la faire l Madame de Villars describes the looks and dress of the young Queen exactly as a picture at Ver

i u sa lles represents her, in the Spanish co rt dress, of f c on u a sti f bro ade, her hair lying her sho lders,

on on e on but and combed side her forehead, very

s handsome even in thi hideous attire .

The King w as mu ch in love with the Queen ; but neither She nor the Queen Dowager could in spire the King with any wish to look into the

of is leﬂ: affairs h kingdom . He everything to his

s u u his mini ters, and Sh t himself p in palace, like

E u the Sultans Of the ast, s rrounded by women, by

s u dwarfs, and rare animal ; and not even inq iring as or t to the changes in politics, the even s which

u took place in E rope .

u 1 68 9 was u The Q een died in , it s pposed by

xnvo or 1 06 CHARLES IL , SPAIN, AND

at the c ourt of Madrid . A letter from the English

‘he i of as sador . A mb , Mr Stanhope, gives th s account the King

“ To THE EARL OF PORTLAND .

r ar 1 4 1 698 . M ad id, M ch ,

so can c The Kin g is very weak, he s arcely lift his hand to his head to feed himself; and so

his ff entirely melancholy, that neither bu oons,

s n or - all dwarf , puppet Shows, which have shewed

their abilities before him, can in the least divert him from fancyin g everything that is said or done

of i to be a temptation the dev l, and never thinking himself safe but with his confess or or two fr iars by

s a his ide, whom he m kes lie in his chamber every

” night. It w as insinuated to the wretched monarch that

u u of en he was bewitched, and nder the inﬂ ence c hantment and malicious reports were actively

c u . irc lated, inculpating the Queen and others

u Portocarrero u w of The a thority of , nited ith that

u n u c the grand inq isitor, i d ced the onfessor to

The onou a e A exan e Stan o e oun est son of H r bl l d r h p , y g Ea of es te e E nvo Extrao na om n Philip , rl Ch rﬁ ld , y rdi ry fr Ki g am to S ai u an d fa e of the ﬁ s Ea of S an Willi p , th r r t rl t hope . 1 MARIE LOUISE, QUEEN OF SPAIN. 07

of have recourse to exorcism, in the hope casting

u s s out the evil spirits . The dreadf l expres ion used on this awful occasion increase d the weak

s s nes of a di eased mind, and the King fell into a

a of st te despondency.

’ s r c u of In Mr. Stanhope letters f om the o rt

is u l to Madrid, there a diplomatic note from Lo vi le

n Torcy Le chambella , Comte de Benevente,

u u méﬁer no s vient avertir, en pleurant, de no s

’ d une berline attelé que la D ouairiere avait donnée au Roi u et ui -il Catholiq e, q devait, disait , par

’ ’ ’ l effe t s -d oran er d un ortilege devenir caisse g , pen

” dant que le Roi deviendrait oranger en c aisse .

“ Lord Mahon remarks : Yet those were the con temporaries of Locke and Newton 1”

u u a re The nfort nate King, brooding over the pp h en sion of w as u c su sorcery, pers aded to on lt a

s su woman of Canga in the Asturias, who was p

s u u po ed to be nder the inﬂ ence Of a demon, and the credulous con fessor s uffered himself to be

s charged with this commi sion . The woman re

i ff c c f pl ed, that the King was a ected by wit h ra t, and

u f named various persons as g ilty o the c rime .

1 700 ﬁ s In , the in rm King left Madrid, to e cape 1 08 n . K CHARLES , ING OF SPAIN, AND from the persecution of those who importuned him

uc u al to name his s cessor. He went to the Esc ri , where he grew better ; but there he recurred to a s u us perstitious c tom, common in Spain, and which

s had been resorted to by his father. He de cended i u Of s nto the va lts the Pantheon, to vi it the corpses of c s in terc es his de eased relative , trusting that the sion of their departed Spirits would arrest the pro

l d c f Of gress Of his ma a y. The o ﬁn his mother

on being opened, the Sight made little impression him but the body of his ﬁrst wife appeared with

of u u few marks dissol tion, and with a co ntenance s c s car ely le s blooming than when alive . The Sight of u t u feat res once tenderly beloved, s r ck him with

c horror ; he recoiled from the view, ex laiming I shall soon be with her in heaven l” and hurried

' f ﬁ om the v ault t The wre ched King had still his will to make .

his own but u He inclined to relations, the intrig es

his u Of France predominated ; and will, more famo s

ac t was of than any of his reign, in favour Philip,

A play has made great sensation at Madrid of late years “ on t s su ect I t is ent t e Ca os Se uen o el ec hi bj . i l d , rl g d H hi ” za o An ton o il Za at G . d , by i y r i

1 1 0 DUCHESS DE LA VALLIERE .

D LA E DUCHESS E VALLI RE .

o n 1 64 4 e 1 7 1 0 . B r , ; di d ,

on e a un EVERY has he rd of the beauty, the

s c of happine s, and the repentan e Madame de la

s Valliere . She po sessed

’ C e c a me s ec e ont oe est enc an t h r r t d l il h é,

E t la ace us e e encor ue l a eaut . gr , pl b ll q b é

Mad ame de Sevigne always names the D uchess

’ us r s de la Valliere as the violet, in all ion to Desma et pretty lines

Mo este en ma cou eu mo este en mon s ou d l r, d éj r , ’ ’ ” n m anc e d ambitio e e cac e sous er e . Fr h , j h l h b

d was so She says, that Ma emoiselle de Fontange

of h full Of magniﬁcence and airs grandeur, t at She

“ had asked for guards to be given to her. We

’ i nce Eu ene in a es s a sence sec u e his e ect on to Pr g , Ch rl b , r d l i the ones of e man and un a un e the name of the thr G r y H g ry , d r But the is ac o f th u Emperor Ch arles V I . d gr e e D k e o f Marl o ou at the cou t of En lan an d the e eat of the E n sh b r gh r g d , r tr gli t oo s term nate the war on the on inen t an d the eace of r p , i d C t , p n War o e out n an Ut ec t was oc a me i 1 7 1 3 . a a d r h pr l i d br k g i , ano e t eat in 1 725 the Em e o enounce S a n and by th r r y , , p r r r d p i the n es the Low ount es and the ta ia n do I di ; Philip, C ri ; I l minions of Spain fo rmed the separate monarchy of Naples and S c i ily . DUCHESS DE LA VALLIERE . 1 1 1

Shall never again see on e of these ladies ashamed

a mistress an d uc s of be ing , a mother, a d he s ; never

” ul will on e again be seen cast in that mo d .

o When Louis XIV. forso k Madame de la

l f r Val iere o Madame de Montespan , the young D uke de Longu eville professed his attachment to

uzu a d u t i her ; and La n, lways rea y to p h mself for

r s to bu t wa d, propo ed her ; her heart was broke with the treatment She had received from Louis an d u s his pro d and violent mistres , Madame de

s . o Monte pan She res lved and wavered, and

as wavered and resolved, to retiring into a

; of monastery The court France had, for the ﬁrst

n n s of time, wit essed the extraordi ary ight a woman i i ff d sliking éclat, ind erent to ambition, and who w loved a kin g for himself alone . It as in the order

h c of she of Providence, t at in the ex ess her passion

Should feel the exc ess of her misery . Madame de la Valliere always disdai ned the

c u homage Of the o rtiers who were at her feet, and

' v u made her friends amongst the irtuo s. The

Maréchal de Bell efonds was on e of these persons ; and his sister was prioress of the convent of Car

m eli tes s. s , at Pari Madame de Bellefond became

the conﬁdant of the secrets and the unhappiness of 1 1 2 DUCHESS DE LA VALLIERE . the Duchess de la Valliere ; and this friendship led her ﬁnally to decide upon retiring from the world .

u c w as to Boss et mentions, that the du hess obliged

’ have recourse to her rival to get the King s per

s s u mission to immu re herself in a Cloi ter. Bo s et saw on s u Madame de Montespan thi s bject, and draws her c harac ter exactly in a letter to the Maréchal de Bellefonds “ The D uche ss de la Valliere wished me to settle the business Of her religious vocation with

ft s was Madame de Montespan . A er aying what

s d as as u neces ary, I a ded much I co ld as to the crime of disturbing her in her good intentions . They do not care as to the retirement into a con

m is n ot of the vent ; but the Car elites approved , and

u ss u was as whole b sine , together with her resol tion,

u as s u m ch po sible t rned into ridicule . I hope that

of u k n another view the s bject may be ta e . The

h had s but his King knew t at I been poken to,

s on su b Maje ty having said nothing the ject to me, I remained Silent I advise the duchess to ﬁnish her arrangements as soon as possible ; but it

s l u give her pain to ta k to the King abo t it, and

” sh e ut Off p s it every day.

The life of the Duchess de la Valliere was a

1 1 4 DUCHE SS DE LA VALLIE RE . for she takes the wish to be virtuous for virtu e it — self a dangerous illus ion of be ginners in amend

” . s ou ment In the same letter he say , I enclose y

r l i c a letter f om Madame de Va l ere, whi h will shew

ou of she is i to y that, by the grace God, now go ng execute the design he h as pu t into her heart. Every on e is ediﬁed by her tranquillity and cheer

fu n an d . l ess, her courage, resolution She now

i but of u of th nks penitence, witho t fear the austeriti es of the life she is embracin g ; and she looks to the end of all things with a consolation

is u . l that bears her p I have on y to speak, and it

has . done ; I have words, but She good works hi When I consider these t ngs, I feel confounded ;

s in of and hardly dare peak, the fear pronouncing

” my own condemnation . Such was the as to nishm ent with which Bossuet contemplated the courage and resolution Of this gentle and timid woman . The D uchess de la Valliere was n ot thirty when

s as o o she took the vow S eur L uise de la Misericorde .

s was i Madame de Sevigne ays, She surpris ngly

’ s . Boss uet s is w as hand ome She adds, that d course not so ﬁn e as it was expe cted to have been ; but

u to what reﬂections co ld Bossuet venture make, DUCHESS DE LA VALLIERE . 1 1 5 con sidering who were the actors in that august — ceremony a ceremony peculiar and extraordinary

s u in its Circum tances. The Q een of France con ducted to the alta r that rival who had been the ﬁrst to make her feel the passion and misery of jealousy ; she spread the funeral pall over her who had ﬁrst caused her to s hed bitter tears . By the si de of the

u u l Q een was the D chess de Longuevil e, who had pas sed the las t twenty years in deploring the sins of u i of s early yo th, in a l fe incessant au terities and

r f i of c cu penitence and who, f om a con orm ty ir m

of u stances with those the act al moment, drew much of the public attention during this religious

u was was service . Lo is with the army, but he

’ present in every one s thoughts ; an d when the mind wandered to the imperious Madame de

s C la n u t Monte pan at g y, in all the s mp uous mag ni ﬁcen ce of u s n a retreat embellished by Lo i , livi g

the s ff e in violence of pa sions, su ering alternat hope

’ s u s and fear, le t the King s heart sho ld e cape her, a new interest ﬁ' om the contrast was attac hed to

u of the ceremony at the ch rch the Car melites. Bossuet probably expected that the world would n ot be contented with hi s disc ourse ; for he says

“ in it, The action and the ceremony spe ak for 1 1 6 DUCHESS DE LA VALLIERE . — themselves ; words are useless there is no occasion

— i n ot of the has for them th nk preacher, whether he spoken ill or well ; what can the words of mortal

— is n a who man signify there an i visible pre cher, — preaches in the heart it is to him that preachers

” d ss and auditors should listen . Ad re ing himself

u is to the Q een, he says, This ceremony worthy — of the presen c e of a great and religious queen it

ur of is right that yo Majesty, making a part the

f u on grandeurs o this world, sho ld assist an occa

” s c us ion when it be omes to despise them . Soeur Louis e de la Misericorde li ved thirty-six

us t f f years in the a erities o monastic li e . Madame de Sevigne saw her at the Carmeli tes at the time

’ u a to Of her da ghter s m rriage the Prince de Conti, where She reluc tantly received the co ngratul ations of the c c ourt. She describes her perfe tly, in her

t to d let er Ma ame de Grignan She had, in my

all c ad eyes, the harms that we used formerly to

in she is t her mire the world ; nei her larger, nor complexion al tered ; she is not as thin as she w as an d u e no t , her co ntenance and ey s have

i is u fr ust s fa n or d min hed in bea ty om a eritie , sti g,

of s h s want leep . The religious habit S e wears take off s a or e nothing from her exces ive gr ce, her nobl

1 1 8 MADEMOISELLE DE MONTPENSIER .

* of u ing description Christine, Q een Of Sweden, is an amusing account of that extraordinary woman I learnt that the Queen of Sweden was to

was see on leave Fonta inbleau . I to her her road ;

was ss as soon as I knew She at Essonne, I dre ed

l . . myse f and went there When I arrived, M de

’ u s C omm en es us G i e, g , and the King s ho ehold who

c out . was waited on her, ame to receive me She

w as n in the ﬁne Italian chamber, where She goi g

see m was su u to a ballet perfor ed, and She rro nded

of so she c ul ad by a crowd persons, that o d only vance two or three steps to meet me . I had heard

C st ne ueen o f S e en o n in 1 6 26 succee e her hri i , Q w d , b r , d d a e ustav us A o us who e i n the a ms O v cto at f th r G d lph , di d r f i ry ,

u zen in 1 6 32 . She a cate the c o n in une 1 654 in L t , bdi d r w J , , v u her cous n a es ustavus an d t ave se D n fa o r Of i , Ch rl G , r r d e ma e man the Low oun t i es and a i ve i n an c . rk , G r y , C r , rr d Fr e A t Brussel s she embraced the C ath olic religion : she wen t to ome b ut n ot n n in vate e the a ness she had R , ﬁ di g pri lif h ppi ant c ate she ma e some va n e fo ts a te the eat of i ip d, d i f r , f r d h

a es to eco v e her t one. s n e was u of ta en t Ch rl , r r hr Chri ti f ll l , un e stoo s eve a sc ences and was e ve se in te atu d r d r l i , w ll r d li r re but she w as v o ent ca c ous ncons ant an d t out d i l , pri i , i t , wi h e n t in her con uct or h r nv ce c e e e co e sat on . Th ass y, i h r d r i e as sination un e her own e es of M onaldeschi her an - cu e , d r y , , gr d é y r, and her ov e i n the G a ler ie des Co S at on ta n eau in l r, r/ , F i bl , 1 65 4 ns e a us o o f h r a a he te m nat t o e c c . S e , i pir d j h rr r h r ter r i d her ext ao na fe at ome i n 1 68 9 i n her s xt -t r rdi ry li R , i y hird E MADEMOIS LLE DE MONTPENSIER. 1 1 9

so much of her extraordinary appearance and

r was u aﬁ‘ aid of u n d ess, that I very m ch la ghi g at

e out “ the ﬁrst Sight Of her. They call d Gare and

on saw she place being made for me, I then her ;

she n ot surprised me, but did appear ridiculous

she e wore a grey p tticoat, with gold and silver

uste-a u-cor s of wi lace ; aj p scarlet camblet, th lac e

li c on c of ke the petti oat ; her, ne k a handkerchief

t r Genoa poin , fastened with a sca let ribbon ; a

blonde ronde uc wig, and behind a , s h as women n ow wear ; and she held in her hand a hat with

l . is wi u b ack feathers She fair, th bl e eyes, that ft have sometimes a gentle expression, but that o en

look very determined ; a large, but pleasing mouth,

ﬁn e ui . is l teeth, and an aq line nose She a ittle

uste-d a-co s n woman ; her j m hidi g her bad make .

t she i bo Al toge her appeared to me l ke a pretty y.

“ k c She issed me, and said, I am mu h delighted to have the honour of seeing you ; I have passionately i w shed it and then presented me her hand, to

s help me over the bench. I placed my elf in the

- s arm chair de tined for me, and amused myself in

a convers tion with the persons around . The

ui u s Queen inq red abo t my father, how many Si ters

had -in - — I had, who been my mother law, and 1 20 MADEMOISELLE DE MONTPENSIER.

u s asked many q e tions, mixed with many ﬂattering

s spee ches. When I pre ented the Comtesse de

Fies ue she so q , said in a whisper, She is not very

s uc — is hand ome, to have made SO m h noise the Chevalier de Gram mont still in love with her

d u she When I presented Ma ame de Beth ne, spoke

of usc s d to her her man ripts, and seem very gla to have it appear that sh e knows who every on e

u ft was is, and all abo t them . A er the ballet over,

sh e we went to the play, where did surprise me ; she s she c prai ed the parts fan ied, swore by the

of name God, lay all her length in her chair,

u threw her legs abo t, and passed them over the arms of her c hair ; her postures were so extraor din ar h y, t at I have never seen the like, except in

Trivelin — on e and JOdelet two clowns, an Italian,

c o on u u c the other Fren h . She sp ke vario s s bje ts,

an d She repeating verses that pleased her, all talked Of she said very agreeably ; sh e had long ﬁts Of absence, sighed deeply, and then recovered her

s a . she elf, like person in a dream Altogether is

r f was a very extraordi na y person . A ter the play

was of u s over, there a collation fr it and weetmeats, and then we went to see some ﬁreworks played

Off on u the water, the Q een meanwhile holding

1 22 MADEMOISELLE DE MONTPENSIER .

thanked her for all her civilities, and for the

s of but u s obliging thing She said me, I req e ted her humbly not to speak to the cardinal They came to tell her meat was served ; and I took my

” u Petitbour . leave, and ret rned to g Mad emoiselle played a great part du ring the

of she c wars the Fronde . When had the annon of

on the Bastille ﬁred the royal troops, Mazarin ex

” c u 1 claimed, That annon has killed her h sband

s f She pa sed her whole life in projects o marriage .

l she of u Early in ife, had the hope marrying Lo is

us of XIV. She ref ed the sovereigns England

u w as s n ot and Port gal, and di appointed in marry ing the E mperor of Germany and the King of

. s u us s Spain She pas ed her yo th in am ement ,

u s c intrig e , and politi s ; her middle life in love and regrets ; and the concluding years of her

s existence in di appointed vanity. Late in life she

be e of - took to being a l sp rit. At the age forty two

u u u She fell in love with the D ke de La z n, and made herself completely ridiculous.

was but s u c She weak and vain, di g ised these defe ts u nder strong words and dec ided ac tions. A look

' — ﬁ om the King turn ed her head She did not know where she was ; a word from the minister enchanted DUKE DE LAUZUN. 1 23

f her. She had a head that e fervesced (if that ex

u n all c s s w pression may be sed)o oc a ion . She as

lorieuse a rvenu i sc as g as a p ind reet from vanity,

s s al u and, moreover, posses ed the mo t fat q ality — belonging to an unsteady head that of acting

she was exactly at the wrong moment. When

u see u u dying, She wo ld not La z n .

THE DUKE D E LAUZUN .

o n 1 6 32 e 1 723 . B r , ; di d ,

Z was u LAU UN endowed with a dacity, energy,

u uf s . valo r, and vanity s ﬁcient for twenty per ons

u - u of He bore, d ring twenty fo r hours, the title

u e as c s us of D ke de Montp nsier, the ho en h band

s but was ma n ué on Mademoi elle ; the marriage g , account of its not having been sufﬁc iently hurried

m s over, and envy and com on ense had time to lay

u to . hold Of Lo is XIV. forbid it altogether Madame de Caylus says that Lauzun wished it to be ar ranged with all the c eremony u sed for crowned

s w heads . The letter ritten by Madame de Sevigne

on u . this subject are well known, and m ch admired La uzun revenged himself on Madame de Monte G 2 1 24 DUK E DE LAUZUN.

s n his pan, and the Ki g pitied Lauzun for disappoint i hi m ment, and appo nted to command the army that

s accompanied the court into Flanders. He oon,

u his however, gave umbrage to Lo vois, to whom

u was a dacity represented ; and he was taken, in

1 671 Pi n erol was s , to g , where he conﬁned for ome

e di d years in a dun g on . So little hi s adventures

s of u u re emble the events ordinary life, that Fo q et,

Pi n erol who was a prisoner at g , thought him mad .

was At last, Lauzun liberated, but not permitted to return to court . He was ungrateful to Made m oiselle ; and here begins what Madame de Sevigne

s u of calls the econd vol me Lauzun . He went to

E theRev oluti on ngland, where beginning, James II. placed the Queen and the Prince of Wales u nder

his to . u u care, convey them to France La z n wrote to Lou is that he had sworn to leave the Queen and

son f f her under the protection o the King o France .

u u u Lo is then desired him to come, and th s he fo nd the road to Versailles by passing through London .

a When he rrived at Versailles, however, his manners

w out of bu t c u were gro n not merely fashion, ridi lous, and his mode Of paying c ourt to the King no longer

uc of please d. Still he appears to have retained m h

’

s . n the King s favour. Jame II havi g given him the

URSI NS 1 26 PRINCESS DES .

as o f n times named, and always a person i ﬂuence, f i in the society o Paris. The Card nal de Retz gave her some political lessons.

s D uring twelve year of her life, the Princess des

u Ursin s exercised absol te power in Spain . She

c u e u h ad mu h ﬁnesse, a c ltivated taste, a gr at t rn

c l u Of sel fo r politi a b siness, and a strength mind

u . d Ursin s dom fo nd in woman Ma ame des , by

was u 1 659 birth, Princess de la Tremo ille ; and in

al She married Adrien de T leyrand, Prince de

s was to on ac Chalai , who obliged leave France

u u c of ff u s co nt of a d el, (a spe ies O ence Lo i XIV . never pardoned. ) The Princess de Chalais fol

us t lowed her h band into Spain and I aly, and he died in exile .

’ The Cardinal de Bou illon and d E strées were friends and protectors of this Princess ; an d ten

s ft 1 675 year a er, in , they managed for her a mar

e m was ri ge with a Ro an prince , who Old and

—the u of rich D ke Bracciano, head Of the family of Ursin Orsini des s. At that time Rome was looked on as the best school for statesmen ; the papal court kept its inﬂuence in Eur ope by means of its uc ss c clever policy . The D he de Brac iano

“ n ourissait un e s eu de ces ambitions vaste , fort URSI N PRINCESS DES S. 1 27

’ son et l ambition i dessus de sexe, de ord naire des ” w hommes . Rome as full of attraction s for

su . of ch a genius The grace her manners, the

of her u u of charms conversation, and the l x ry her

u house, drew aro nd her every noble an d dis tin guished person in the capital of the Christian

s world. Her po ition at Rome appears to have t e

t of u d s sembled hat another d chess of mo ern day , who possessed in herself and her home all that the

u o f c c u s D chess Bra iano relinq i hed to govern Spain .

u of use u Anxio s to make herself , nderstanding and

ui s s u and g ding negotiation , by turn pr dent bold,

u li c cu pro d and conci ating, ac ording to cir mstances,

she n ot and to persons, failed to enter into the ' f i u u midst of the ntrig es of the papal co rt. But the u nion of this Prin c ess with her old and

' ric h husband was not exempt from clouds in c on

u Of c s she s seq ence whi h, it appear , sometime came

to s. Pari She, however, soon became a widow for

s u an d the econd time, when She sold the d chy,

m f c Ursin s adopted the na e o the Prin ess des . She was no longer young when the proposition

’ was m ad e to her to bec ome c amarera-major of the

V " s . Of Prince s Of Savoy, whom Philip , King Spain, w as about to marry . The Cardinals Porto Carrero 1 2 8 PRINCESS DES URSINS.

’ d E strées and had opened the negotiation, and though her ambition was ﬂattered by the choice made of her, yet it appeared she hesitated . Her existence at Rome was on e of consideration and

she if cu she power, and dreaded the d ﬁ lties might have to encounter in a kingdom torn by intestine

. s of wars The entreatie , and at last the orders ,

ui . Ursin s Lo s XIV decided her, and Madame des

ft n ew u of le Rome, and joined the Q een Spain at

Nice . She is represented as having a manner pleasin g

s uc and ed tive in the highest degree, added to powers of eloqu ence and persuasion . She joined to these powers a rare discreti on and the most ex

i of con ven a nce qui s te tac t and knowledge . With

m of w as so many eans captivating, it no wonder

she i in that pleased a young queen, nexperienced the ways of the world. From her ﬁrst interview

was u u nl her empire ndisp ted, and death o y put an end to her inﬂuence . When the Princess des Ursins entered on the

of ai of government Sp n, her charms person were

a u gone . M dame de Co langes writes from Paris

d Ai x of d to Ma ame de Grignan, then at , Ma ame

Brac cian e as he : de , s calls her Madame de

1 30 Pa C IN E SS DES URS S. to have no inﬂuence in the coun c ils of his grand;

son . but was , Philip V it their intention to make

Madame des Ursin s the means of governing Spain.

ft S des Soon a er her arrival in pain, Madame

Ursin s or ff en thu either felt, a ected to feel, an

Sias m hi - the a u for everyt ng Spanish, l ng age, the

s c m &c . u she manner , the li ate, ; and tho gh kept up a direct communication with the court of

c she s r Fran e, called the Spani h g andees to the

ff of u t i government and a airs the co n ry. Phil p

s his went to vi it dominions in Italy, and during his s u or des ab ence the Q een, rather the Princess

Ursin s . , consolidated the royal power in Spain

” old Her ﬁrst echec came from her protector,

’ d E strées on the Cardinal , who determined having a Share in the government of the state . The s u was a tr ggle long between them, but M dame des

Ursin s c ontrived to have the cardi nal recalled . He

m wi u . im ediately became her enemy th Lo is XIV ,

i n his and was replaced Spain by nephew, her open foe . The Princess on e day had the French co urier s ss topped, and opened the letters addre ed to the

of King Spain, where She found a violent denun ciatiOn ns u s or agai t herself, and a s ppo ed liaison 1 3 1 PRINCESS DES URSI NS.

’ A i n marriage named with on e called d ub g y. The

s s s all sh e Prince s, at this di covery, lo t prudence ;

r of i s wrote in the ma gin the d patch these words, Pour mariée— non !” and then sent back the

is u u d patch to Lo is XIV. This history made Lo is

she very angry, and contrived to get the nephew,

’ d E strées but u s u , recalled ; Lo i , witho t explaining

to his s c des himself grand on, ordered the Prin ess

Ursin s a 1 704 . to leave Spain and retire to It ly, in

c u s The Prin ess, witho t letting herself be ca t

w suc do n by h a blow, prepared Slowly for her de

” u Louis ua torze a va it a r lé I But part re . Q p

u She knew her inﬂuence with the Q een, and the

’ Queen s inﬂu ence with Philip and she had friends

s l s off She at Ver ail e . Italy was too far , and asked

u uc . leave to go to France, to j stify her cond t She

u u u obtained leave to go to To lo se, and in the so th

c she of Fran e waited, in apparent inaction, for better time s. The public affairs of both kingdoms were grow di ing worse daily, and a good understan ng between

u the co ntries became doubly necessary . The

u u a was s yo ng Q een of Sp in di pleased, which ren

t u s u t dered an in erco r e between the co r s difﬁcult. Mada me des Ursin s had gained over Madame” de 32 1 PRINCESS DES URSI NS.

Maintenon to her interests, and they persuaded

oui s al for L to low the Princess, who had a year s h u s she olicited t is favo r, to come to Pari , and

1 705 . arrived there in January, She kept her

’ s c u she saw u s fa po ition of justiﬁ ation, ntil Lo is v ourable view of matters and Mad ame de Main

’ tenon s dec ided support ; then She changed her

u de ender a ccuser . meas res, and from f She became She be c ame in great favour with the King and with

u Of c was the co rt Fran e, and her return to Spain settled to her wishes . Then began the new reign of Madame des

in Urs s . She promised Madame de Maintenon a

c onﬁdence and a deference ﬁ' om which She never

. a on u l swerved It was s id, acco nt Of the litt e

she h ad a n haste m de in leavi g France, that She had had an idea of supplanting Mad ame de Main tenon with Louis ; bu t these two women were

was n ot nearly of an age, and it likely that She Should be ambitious of an uncertain inﬂuence at

l she s u Versail es, when had an ab ol te power at

Madrid . The Princess was received in Spain with de m on stration s of joy ; the King and Queen came

to meet her ; her places were restored, and she

1 34 PRINCESS DES URSINS. marked in the correspondence between Madame de Maintenon and Madame des Ursin s. Spain

r was now abandoned to its resou ces, and for three years a crisis took place in the history Of that

u des Ursin s s co ntry, in which Madame hewed a courage that kept u p that of the King and Queen . The great qu estion was how to exist ﬁ om day to day ; and th e administration had no time for plan s f of amelioration . The Princess, O ten a prey to

u s f ul inj stice, and di gusted at the di ﬁc ties of her s u u of u i it ation, tho ght the sec re and happy posit on

he h ad s sacriﬁced when formerly living at Rome, and wished to return to it ; but She was per

uaded m s to re ain in Spain .

1 709 she i s In , asked leave to res gn her ituation,

an d but u s retire to France ; Lo is XIV. advi ed

u her remaining, and peace was Signed in E rope . The Princess was to have had granted to her the

of Low u sovereignty the Co ntries, in the posses

of n but s sion Spai , Spain had lost tho e dominions.

1 71 4 u d s In the Q een ied, and the lo s of this

c ss was Prin e , who tenderly attached to Madame

Ursin s w as des , a cruel blow to her authority. She looked round E urope for a princess who was likely

to unite in herself all the qualities to suit the ’ PRINCESS DES URSI NS. 1 35 c umstan ces of ff to a airs, and strengthen her own

u she u u inﬂ ence, and tho ght She had fo nd in Eliza

of u of beth Farnese, the niece the D ke Parma , a ﬁt queen for Philip . This Princess had been

u u bro ght p in retirement, and had the character

of m . c ri ui being ti id and gentle A lever, int g ng

s sub Italian, Alberoni, who re ided in Spain in a

u des altern employment, overt rned all Madame

’ rsins r u U p ojects . He disg ised the true character of the of g was s Princess Parma the marria e ettled,

u X adr a n e and the new Q een arrived at g , a little

u s i town some leag e from Madrid. The Pr ncess had j us t time to present herself to her new sove

t had reign ; and af er the ﬁrst compliments passed,

of u u a informed her the co rt etiq ette Of Sp in, which

s do u it wa her place to . The Q een ﬂew into a

- passion, ill treated the Princess, sent her away, and gave an order to have her conducted out of

i . of 1 71 4 i n Spa n It was the month December, ,

s Ursins a very severe sea on, and Madame des , in

u ss u u ser her co rt dre , witho t her women, witho t

u c of s d vants , witho t hange Clothe , and without foo , was thrown into a carriage, and taken, escorted by

u u m n s g ards, witho t ti e bei g given her for re t, to f i the frontiers o the k ngdom. 1 36 PRINCESS DES URSI NS.

i u -for in con Th s strange event, SO nlooked , so

c eivable s . s , overwhelmed the Prince s For ome time she had n ot felt secure in her authority there had been con stant difﬁcul ties in the corre

n den ce c u s spo with Fran e, and Lo i was displeased at not having been c onsulted as to the royal mar

But ur ss a riage . the co age of the Prince rose gainst

u bad fortune, and She wrote to the King and Q een

u c Of Spain . The Q een took no noti e of her let ters . The King wrote to her that her pension should be paid to her ; but that as to what had

’ c u u s u s . passed, he o ld not ref e the Q een s wi hes

Madame d es Ursin s then applied to Versaill es ; but Loui s had determined to abide by the dec ision

Of Philip . Madame de Maintenon answered with

s Ursin s eva ive compliments, and Madame des w u c is ent to Paris. Lo is received her oldly ; h end was c his approa hing, and along with death She

of u foresaw the regency her Old enemy, the D ke

of s . u a Orlean , who hated her She co ld not obt in

to u t but she leave go into the Low Co n ries, passed

u u thro gh Savoy to Genoa, and ret rned to Rome,

V faithﬁi l where Philip . , to his word, paid her her

u pension reg larly.

s u Notwith tanding her great age, solit de and

1 38 M M A a E N MADA E DE ON.

u f u mi was r led every part o her nat re . Her nd

as n or neither elevated by enthusi m, disturbed by

she e passion, nor melted by tenderness p rformed

of us t no acts hazardo vir ue, and knew the art Of skilfully releasing herself fr om inconvenient friend shi ps . Some traits of the very earliest years ofMadame de

Maintenon shew her character. She made a longer resistance in abj uring Calvini sm than could be

o . expected from childho d One day, when playing with the daughter of the jailor of the prison where

was s her father conﬁned, the girl aid I am

” ” Bu f ou. t o richer than y I am noble blood, answered the child : pride was in fac t the foun da

u tion of her c onduct thro gh life . When she was

u u the wife Of Scarron, the b rlesq e poet of France,

u She said, after performing some religio s observance, I did not act thus to please God ; but I wished to be looked up to : my passion was the wish of

” ak n m i g myself a name . The s ociety that frequented the hous e of Scarron was distinguished by wit and knowledge ; but the

was of s sc tone of conversation the lighte t de ription. Scarron tried to forget his sufferings in c onstant

uff M en a e b oonery. His intimate friends were g , A I M DAME DE MA NTENON. 1 3 9

Pellisson u in on , Mademoiselle de Sc dery, N de

’ l E n clOS , Madame de la Sabliere, the Comte de

u u Grammont, the D ke de Chevre se, the Maréchal

’ d A lbert i c & c . his , V llar eaux, At his death, wi dow was reduced to ask reli ef ﬁ om the priest of of a the parish, and Anne Austria gave her

s pen ion . On e Of the numerous ladders by which Madame Scarron c limbed into society was a friendship with

’ f Of c l d A lbert of the wi e the Maré ha , a woman

but . good moral character, tiresome She thought

su to u of hi it better to bmit the enn i t s friendship,

u herselfl s s than to am se She ay , I contradicted

but t all my likings, it cost me lit le when I looked forward to the praises that my conduct would draw

u i w as s . n ot ar pon me . Pra se my pas ion I did c e — — for riches I was mu ch above that I wanted

” honours.

’ Scarron s t ai she After dea h, says S nt Simon, was c us of indeed re eived into ho es distinction, but not on a footin g of equality ; She was sent out Of m the room, someti es to order wood for the ﬁre, s to c ask ometimes call a arriage, sometimes to if

on us n dinner was ready, and a tho a d little errands,

c f whi h the use o bells has sinc e made needless . 1 40 MADAME DE MAINTENON.

The hands ome Madame Scarron was much the

s She w as n fa hion at Paris ; gentle in her ma ners, and made use of her c leverness to amuse her

f u r . riends, and was faithf l to their sec ets By this conduct She obtained the most ﬂattering considera ti on every on e had a c onﬁdence to make to Ma

or s ask dame Scarron, wi hed to her opinion and advice ; and more than once she brought upon

of herself the jealousy Madame de Chalais, after

i Ursin s i re wards Pr ncess des , in th s species of

s of putation . All this time, the deare t friend this

u u woman Of religion, virt e, pride, and s bserviency,

’ w as Ninon de l E n clos ; and Madame Scarron

s 1 666 write to her in , to desire her to tell M . de la

u u his Rochefo ca ld that book of Maxims, and the

of book Job, were her only studies.

’ Madame Scarron s ﬁi en ds procured for her the

ff f u o er of the hand o a man Of rank abo t court,

i r but by no means an est mable character. She e

ﬁi sed s this person, and her friends, di pleased at

ff ul so the di ic ties She made, all for ok her, except

’ Ninon and the Maréchal d Albert and at the

sh e of same time lost her pension, by the death

of n Anne Austria. At last they obtai ed for her the offer of a situation in the family Of the Prin

1 2 4 MADAME DE MAINTENON .

in s she new state pired in her director, that parted

' ﬁ om hi m .

’ “ Scarron s Rien One of Madame maxims was,

’ ’ n es t p lus ha bile gu une con duite i rr ep rocha ble which Madame de Genlis has taken as a motto for her novel Of Madame de Maintenon . Her wish was to please God and mamm on too ; and a thirs t

of for fame is the leading trait her Character. She

ul says, there is nothing that I wo d not do to get

‘ ” emme or te the repu ta tion Of f f . To this thirst for fame her virtues and her faults may all be

was u c mi x traced. There in her an npre edented

of ture religion, pride, and ambition ; and, to make

f of . A n ers s us e o an expression M g , Con ideration

” was her means and her end.

’ When Madame de M on tespan s reign began at the

of she u for s c our t France, looked abo t a per on to

edu take care of her children, which were born and

A s eech c ated in mystery. p from the King took away

’ Scarron s sc on u all Madame ruples the s bject. She

s i she herself de cribes the l fe led. She had a bonse ,

ut f r she o o Paris, where the child en were had ser

s an d ft vants and carriage , o en passed the night with

s c i a s the e si k Ch ldren, performing all the avoc tion of a nurse ; and in the mornin g she entered ‘ her AI MADAME DE M NTENON. 1 43

own she house at Paris, by a back door ; there d ressed, and joined the company at the Hotel

’ d Al bert or the Hotel de Richelieu. Sometimes

s r she was n ot to be een o heard of. Madame de Coul anges writes to Madame de Sevigne The life of Madame Scarron is wonderful : no creature has any c ommerc e with her. I have rec eived a

c I u on letter from her, whi h say nothing abo t, ac count of the nu mber of questions it might bring on me .

c When the hildren grew older, Madame Scarron

u . f brought them to co rt The King, speaking o

a her to M dame de Montespan, always termed her

” s c u . m votre bel e prit, votre pré ie se At that ti e

c u she became in dire t comm nication with Loui s.

to hi s con Admitted circle, the King liked her

his u c c s versation , and prej di es hanged into e teem

c r of c for her ha acter ; the proofs whi h were evident, in his constantly askin g for her opinion. After her

a u she of present tion at co rt, took the name the

r s u . m Ma qui e de S rgeres Mada e de Montmorency, who w as as quick in convers ation as Nin on de

’ l E n clos af to m , always fected call her Mada e de

u . was on e S ggere This name a just , as Madame

Scarron suggested to the King half his resolutions . 1 44 MADAME DE MAINTENON.

i e Some t me aft r, with the money given her by the

she u of s u King, bo ght the estate Maintenon, it ated

* a t s u u . ne r Char re , abo t fo rteen leagues from Paris Louis then called her Mada me de Maintenon ;

i old and Ninon chr stened her friend, Madame de

Maintenant. Madame de Maintenon had every resource in her character by whi ch favourable chances are l created and un ucky events got over. Endowed

u s with s perior good sense, and with a pliant dispo i

u to u as as tion, that co ld bend itself fort nate, well

n c she o u u fortunate ircumstances, discovered in L is

ul t a mind that co d be urned to bigotry. This

u c su e n q ality exa tly it d her pla s, and accordingly

s s sh e set her elf to work to form his ta tes. Mean

i u n wh le, the q arrels between Madame de Montespa , th e i i m stress, and Madame de Ma ntenon, the friend, were frequent and violent. The King had every day to reconcile two women who coul d neither live

' together n or asunder ; and Madame de Maintenon passed the years of the reigns of Mada me de Mon tespan and Mad emoisell e de Fontanges in making

She d esc ribes M ain ten on as h avin g app urtenances of wood s “ and oves i n Ma ame de Sevi n e m t eam f gr , which d g igh dr o Ma ame de i nan d Gr g .

M 1 46 MADA E DE MAINTENON.

To convert the Jan senists was represented as the most glorious work that so great a King could

s on e a u to accompli h, and cert in to insure absol tion the worst of sinn ers . When the horrible perse cution s of n on the Protestants were goi g , and acts of atrocity were daily and hourly committed, which make the era of the revoca tion of the edi ct of Nantes

s the blacke t and basest in French history, the King,

of was n f kept in ignorance what passi g, heard o nothing but conversion s by the hundred and thousand ; all was triumph at court ; masses were sung and said in gratitude to Heaven ; bishops from

u u f all q arters sent congrat latory letters ; and, o c i c ' ds of ourse, the court ers e hoed the soun satis

hi a faction . Be nd the scenes were M dame de

n l s Maintenon, the Cardi al de Noai le , the Jesuit confessor, and the unprincipled Louvois, the de

“ v as tator of the Palatinate .

as d It is known a fact, that Ma ame de Mai nte non was married to Louis X I V. according to the

of u 1 685 ceremonies the Catholic ch rch, in , by

Harlai s of , Archbi hop Paris, in the presence of

’ re s the s B n the Pé la Chai e, King confessor, o

- - u temps, the ﬁrst valet de chambre, and the Marq is

o e n ua te ev e No . 9 a e 1 2 . F r ig Q r rly R i w, , p g D MA AME DE MAINTENON. 1 47

of d de Montchevreuil, a friend Ma ame de Main

’ s. w as ft tenon She then in her ﬁ ieth year, and

u s his - bri Lo i in forty eighth year. There is a ef

“ to his extant from the Pope, addressed dear

u n c da ghter, Madame de Mainteno , in whi h he recommends her to prote c t the c hurch and the

is suf Catholic religion . This ﬁcient proof that the

of u Pope knew the marriage, for he co ld only have written thus to a woman to whom the King had given a right to protec t religion ; and it is a great proof of the wisdom and s trength of mind of

s Madame de Maintenon , who e pride and ambition was so she s u r great, that ho ld have kept the sec et of r u c her mar iage all thro gh her life, never on e

on s betraying it. Once, however, pre enting herself

of of s i c at the grate the convent Carmelite , wh h w as c s c s only opened to the on orts of monar h , when the superior came to the grate to receive

“ she Y ou our u s her, said, know sage , Madame

” is o c it for y u to de ide, Madame de Maintenon

”

u ou e . replied, O vrez t jours, ma m re

u s u The Princesse de So bi e, who had witho t

u s do bt penetrated the my tery, having, in writing

n s to her, ﬁ ished her letter by igning her name ,

ri avec respect, Madame de Maintenon, in w ting

H 2 1 4 8 MADAM E DE MAINTENON.

s s “ res ect the answer, ay , With regard to p , let there be no such phrase between us ; you c o uld owe ou - it to my age only, and y are too well bred

” to remind me of that. Madame de Maintenon always occupied the plac e of the Queen in the tribune of the c hapel

“ ” s s . h er M a da me at Ver aille The King called ,

his s c u m set and from re pe tf l anner towards her,

x to s of c u the e ample the re t the o rt, and to the

n was Royal Family. When Mig ard painting her

ss of - s in the dre Sainte Francoi e, he asked the

ut m King whether he might p in a mantle of er ine,

f is c whic h w as a mark o royalty. It re orded that

’ Lou is s answer was made in the tone and with the — e xpression of Tartuffe ; Oui Sainte Francoise le m erite bien . When in public Madame de Maintenon assumed

ff c of u no rank ; and, with an a e tation h mility that

s c s impo ed greatly, gave pla e to all the ladie with

s . was u s E title She seen in f ll dre s, at the nglish

u of . co rt St Germain, making way for all the ladies of rank ; and with the most grac ious and

ff r on e as a able manner, talking to eve y a private

s u per on wo ld do . But what m us t have been the struggles of the

1 50 MADAME DE MAINTENON.

c she u natural to her haracter, gave p the point,

ad f an d to m e no further e fort, reconciled herself h her obscure grandeur . W at that obscure gran

u s u of s de r was, is the mo t curio s part her hi tory ; her power having been greater than had ever been

x c s u of c e er i ed by any q een Fran e .

of had ll The court France been gay, ga ant, and

’ ss u n u di ipated, d ring the Ki g s yo th and middle

’ age ; but under Madame de Maintenon s auspices

l u s tr it became hypocritica , and s per tition and bigo y

’ added cruelty to the measures of Louis s government

’ d sc during his ol age . Saint Simon s de ription of the manner in whic h she exercised her asc endancy

c s over the King, however tin tured by ho tile feel

c c n ot ings, is a pi ture too well des ribed to have m uc h truth in it Tlie minis ters tran sac ted busine ss with the King in Madame de Mainte

’ s a n or k non apartment. She sat by, re di g wor ing

she u tapestry ; q ietly heard all that passed, and

f s rarely threw in a word. The King o ten a ked her

‘ ’ ‘ a r u solidit or u dvice, add essing her as yo r y yo r

’ reas ona bleness . s She an wered slowly and coldly, s carc ely ever be traying a prepossessi o n for any

u s . thing, m ch le s for any person If by chance

n was the King at ﬁrst ﬁxed on her ca didate, it well 1 51 MADAME DE MAINTENON.

— u the ministers were s re to agree, and they con trived to hinder the mention of any other person ;

n but if the Ki g shewed a preference, the minister

u wn read o t his o list, rarely recommending any on e but i n c all directly, h nti g at the obje tions to , so as to leave him perplexed. In this embarrass

of ment, he often asked the advice the minister, who a bad u s of , fter balancing the good and q alitie

all s li c on e . , hewed a s ght preferen e for The King

ﬁ' e uen tl of us hesitated, and q y in that stage the b i

r : she ness, refe red to Madame de Maintenon pretended to be inc apable of j udging ; said some

in of but thing favour another candidate ; at last,

as dehberatin — as an d slowly, if g sometimes if by — a sudden recollec tion returned to that ca ndidate whom she had ﬁrst prompte d the minister to re co mmend ; and in this way she disposed of all the

” c preferments and fa vours in Fran e .

a In this m nner she appointed, removed, preferred, an d di sgrac ed minis ters : they consulted her plea

u in i . h s re everyth ng Sometimes, w en matters were not managed with sufﬁcient artiﬁce and ad

s n was to dre s, the Ki g liable certain explosions of

or independence . When a minister a general too

on e of ui re openly favoured her relations, Lo s 1 52 D M D MA A E E MAINTENON.

” s t an d of his . u is ed, boasted spirit S ch a one, he

u sa is u is n ot his u wo ld y, a good co rtier ; it fa lt

’ ” that all M ada me s relations are n ot preferred . These occas ional s trokes more and more taught

c s s her to be reserved and wary. Her on tant an wer to s was she dl i application , that never med ed w th

-a- of s po litics. Half dozen her oldest friend were a creditable exc eption ; on their behalf she pre

ﬁs vailed over her fears and her sel hness, and gene

’ rally succeeded i n conquering the king s spirit of

c . uc s independen e On s h occasions, warm scene

sometim es passed between the king and her ; and

was on she wept, and thorns for some days. This mutinous disposition had be en shewn by

o u s hi s . li L i to some of former managers Le Tel er,

was c on c of on e before he hancellor, the appli ation

his s of be t friends for a favour, answered, that he

u His ﬁ' ien d u would do what he co ld. m rmured at

s Y what he thought a c old an wer. ou do not

” u the know the gro nd, replied minister our recom mendations prevail nineteen times out of

twenty : we know that we shall fail but once in

twenty times ; but we never know whi ch recom

m n ati n on e is e d o will be the to fail, and it often f that in which we are most desirous o succeeding.

1 54 D MA AME DE MAINTENON .

e le independence . The word p op no man in his dominions woul d have dared to u tter. The

’ ’ s f. tate, he said, is mysel Scenes desc ribed by different writers will give an idea of the s tate of the c ourt of Franc e when governed by Madame de Maintenon . One scene is c E s s of the a ting of sther, by the pen ionnaire

. C r u of c St y , Tthe acco nt whi h Madame de Sé v i n g é writes to Madame de Grignan . Another sc ene not less striking is that at the camp at C om

’ peigne in 1 698; where Mad ame de Maintenon s

s chalr appearing as an old woman in a edan , amongst

E n u ev e vol . xi v . . 4 2 1 di b rgh R i w , p . " The st e esen at on of Es t e was ven at St on 1 ﬁr r pr t i h r gi . Cyr, h w m s e ua 3 rd 1 68 9 . T e au ence as c o o e of the F br ry , di p d n c a e sons o f the ouse o A te a s the o pri ip l p r h h ld . f rw rd r ya l h t n tat on was f family as k ed to see i t . T e hird represe i or the e ous e son s e e la a se some s o s ou teen or r ligi p r , P r Ch i , bi h p , f r teen es u ts a ame de M iramion an d some n uns M a ﬁf J i , M d , . “ ame de a ntenon sa To-da we s a a for the d M i id , y h ll pl y sa n ts and the sa n ts a au e e the ot e s and s e i i ppl d d lik h r , wi h d ” t a l s m s t a s t e e e e h t a l tragedie rese bl ed E th er . Af erw rd h r w r two t ousan as an ts for the on ou of see n it and aces h d pir h r i g , pl b ut for two un e e sons The n ma e a st as for h dr d p r . Ki g d li “ ” th n o s a s c e Voyage d e M arly . The so gs f th o e d y (whi h mad e as correct a j o urnai of po pul ar feeling i n France as the

. S tc s f n ma i H B . ke h e do o the presen t d ay i n E ngl a d) ke t ’ ” k nown tha t l altiere Vasthi was mean t for M adame de M on tes an and the r ouvo p ; History of Haman fo that of L is . Sa n m n I i t Si o . MADAME DE MAINTENON. 1 55

f s c the o ﬁcers and oldiers, is related in su h strong i f language by Sa nt Simon . Another scene o the display of her power was that of her charitable

i s of assembl es, held once a month, when the ladie

u s s the co rt came to vi it her, bringing their alm m with them . Mada e de Caylus mentions in her

u t s w as So venirs, that Madame de Mon e pan amongst those who came to these assemblies ; and

n li - s arrivi g ke the others, and seeing in the ante room the s swurs- rises s of prie ts, and g , and all the di play charity whic h Madame de Maintenon then p ro

ss she s ou fe ed, aid to her, Do y know, Madame, that your ante -room is wonderfully well arran ged

” for your funeral oration l Madame de Maintenon was amused with this speech of her old ﬁ' ien d and

t u u bi ter enemy, and repeated it alo d, not m ch

c c caring for the mali e that di tated the remark . Madam e de Montespan at that time kept hover n u c u s s u i g abo t the o rt, like tho e gho ts that ha nt

s u u the spots where they have inned ntil Lo is,

u u of son u d u thro gh the medi m her the D ke Maine,

for his ow n recommended her, sake, and for her ,

s to ab ent herself entirely .

’ Madame de Maintenon s account of her daily life in 1 705; when she was to all intents and p ur 1 56 MAD AME DE MAINTENON.

s s u of n po e , Q een France, and enjoyed an i ﬂuence

u was that no q een had ever enjoyed in France, given to her friends at St. Cyr, and conveys a bet ter idea of the rou tine of c ourt at the latter period of of u t the reign Lo is XIV. han any other piece o f writing to be m et with I must take for my prayers and for mass the time when every on e still

u to sleeps ; for when once they have beg n visit me,

u I have no longer a moment to myself. Monsie r

’ s s u Mar chal (the king ﬁrst rgeon,)arrives at half

s s u pa t even then Monsie r Tagon, followed by

u u or of s se s to Monsie r Blo in, ome one who nd

ill d or s . C ham ar know how I am ; then come M , — — some minister the archbishop a marshal of

—or of France, who is going to the army a relation

u s s my own a n mber of per on follow these, who

s u hi tay with me till their s periors arrive, w ch oblige

c . s rr them to give pla e At la t the King a ives,

and they m u st all go away : he remains with me

u s s ntil he goe to ma s . All this time I am in my

- s m s ul night dres ; for, had I dressed yself, I ho d

not have had time to say my prayers . The king

u s ss c s uc ss ret rn after ma , and then ome the D he

u s s a de Bo rgogne, with her ladie ; they all t y with

u m me d ring the ti e I am at dinner. I am then

1 58 A D M AME DE MAINTENON.

u that ho r for coming to vis it me . He is very

f u to a but di ﬁc lt to talk , s ys little, and I am obliged to exert myself to keep up the c onvers ation for f both o us.

“ as a As soon the King has dined, he comes b ck — to my room with the royal party princes and

s ft u princes es. A er staying for half an ho r, he

e . of go s away The rest the company remain , and then I mus t lend myself to the most triﬂi ng of con v ersation s is ull of c , while my mind f ares and

as s anxieties, to what is pas ing with the army,

t s and where every day there are bat le and sieges,

s u and so many persons I am intere ted abo t, either

ﬁi en ds or s my own , connected with tho e dear to

s u c s me ; add to these private intere ts, p bli new weighs down my spirits ; and I m ust look calm

a c r c u when I am re dy to y, and seem heerf l in the midst of the most pain ﬁi l intelligence .

s u When the a sembly breaks p, there are every day some persons who remain to speak to me in pri

r . vate, to tell me their so rows They expect that I

as u s should feel as mu ch for them for p blic event .

li u m e Those who do not ke me, eq ally make their conﬁdante as those who do . I am expected to

f to serve them, and speak of their private a fairs a MADAME DE MAIN TENON . 1 59

di r sovereign weighed down by public st ess . The

‘ uc s ft s s téte-a-téte so D hes de Bourgogne o en de ire a ,

old lad s f that the y become the resource o every on e .

u When the King returns from h nting, he c s ome to me, and then no one is admitted ; his

us cares and distresses m t be shared and lessened, and they are not few in number. Sometimes a

s in s b ad minister arrive ha te, and brings news ; the

an d to King hears him with attention, sets work,

s is c and if my pre ence not wanted in coun il, which h s i s r appen rarely, I retire to a little d tance, whe e

su I write, or say my prayers . I p while the King

n but l am u is still writi g ; anxio s, whether he is

: u alone or with others th s I am never at ease,

’ ﬁ' om six c o clo k in the morning till night, and am

‘ . s s Y ou often very tired The King ees it, and ays,

ou t — is so ? ou are worn , Madame it not Had not y

’ ? c bu t better go to bed My women ome to me, I see u that they annoy the King, who wo ld talk to

s so me, and who will not talk if they are pre ent ;

u s m I make haste to be ndre sed . At last I am in y — — bed I send away my women and the Kin g

~ u s remains by my bed side ntil he goes to upper.

A u of u u q arter an ho r before s pper, there arrive

- u u in my bed room, the Da phin, and the D ke and 1 60 D MA AME DE MAINTENON .

u s D chess de Bourgogne . At a quarter pa t ten

’ c o o lock they are all gone, and I take the rep se I have such need of ; bu t the fatigues of the day

” s often prevent my leeping.

di to of Accor ng the estimate the world, Madame de Maintenon was the most prosperous of women . Bigotry was an exc ellent contrivan c e for throwing into the shade all the events of her early life ; and

r e of supe stition b ing the weak side the King, her c u she ond ct ensured his veneration, and thus

u But mainta ined her a thority over him . her own desc riptions betray the differenc e between ~ pros~

e rit : she was ou t u p y and happiness worn by favo r,

s u was pro perity, and enn i, and punished by the A very means by which she had risen . few pas sages

' ufﬁ s taken ﬁ om her letters s c iently prove thi . f We lead here a strange li e . We wish to display gallantry, wit, and invention, but all this

u . is wanting ; and we have given it p We play,

i s u yawn, gather some triﬂ ng folly from tho e aro nd u s c , hate ea h other, envy each other, ﬂatter each

us other, ab e each other. — Do not hope for happiness there is none on

but if was u earth there , it wo ld not be to be

u ou us fo nd at court . In private life y grow acc

1 62 M D A AME DE MAINTENON. ticians c of l on , the hypo risy the re igious, e ceases to m en s esteem more than women. The e last, how

e s s r da ever, b come more to be de pi ed eve y y. These extrac ts from the letters of the most p ros

er ons woma n in E uro e u us p p form a c rio lesson,

’ and might be placed beside some of Solomon s

ar reﬂections in the Proverbs. They e mostly

to c u . addressed her nie e, Madame de Cayl s

’ Madame de Mai ntenon s letters to the Princess

Ursins ar e of f c des a more sti f and wary haracter, but conta in many sentence s worthy of La Roche

on be s foucauld. Here is e not to surpa sed by the most acute of his maxims

We u u un rate must s bmit to live with deceitf l, g ful w ﬁi ll of , and icked men, for the world is them ;

u where a ssions a re they abound most in co rts, p kep t

’ Madame de Maintenon s letters are more dis tin uish ed an d s u u n g for being sage erio s than am si g, and are written in a different style from thos e of Madame de Sevigne but they have no sort of ﬂ‘ a ec tation u . l u abo t them The fo lowing are c rious, fr om the circumstan c es under which they were written . Madame de Maintenon, along with part of c f l Ki the ourt o France, fol owed the ng and the A D M AME DE MAINTENON. 1 63 army in to Flanders in the year 1 692 ; and her

e s u n t lett r give the acco nt of the entrance into Dina ,

the Low u in Co ntries .

“ — 1 692 . May, Yesterday we marched, during

u on six ho rs, a tolerably good road, and at last

s of on c di d came within ight a castle a ro k, that n ot appear very habitable . We drew nearer with out ﬁnding an y road by which we could arrive at

s or it. At la t we discovered, in an abyss, deep pit,

s u of at the foot of the ca tle, the tops of a n mber i us s s l ttle ho e , surrounded by harp and high rocks that looked perpendicular. We were obliged to descend into thi s horrible habita tion by a road

u l u to eq a ly dreadf l, the carriages rolling from side

of side, at the risk breaking the Springs ; and the ladies in them holding by everything they coul d

ft of u catch at. A er half an hour perpet al terror,

ll s s n of on e we f e into a town con i ti g street, called

so ar the Great Street, narrow that two c riages

- a n s. is c n ot pas It dark even at noon day, the

s is i s house are horrible, the water bad, Wine s u r carcely to be proc red, and the bakers have o ders to but m of bake for the ar y, and to let the rest the world starve, and everything is carried to the

As camp . It rains torrents since our arrival. yet 1 64 MADAME DE MA INTENON.

I have seen but two churches ; they are both on the ﬁrst ﬂoor ; and we sho uld not have gone to them “E but c l . us sa lut from ivi ity They gave a , with v bad c so u in u ery music and in ense, contin ed, s ch

u s so u u see q antitie , and perf med, that we co ld not

sa ou of each other. I y nothing to y the dirt and wretchedness of the plac e ; indeed the King is very wrong to take su ch town s A red-hot

’ u . Bouﬂler s u b llet has fallen into M de q arters, and has set ﬁre to 7000 weight of powder. This

add plac e was shaken by the explosion . To to our c n of of pleasures, we hear the a non the siege

Namur a c , Tand we live in the fear of e ch harge

” ff s m n carrying o o e o e we care about .

s a The following letter, addre sed to M dame de

Veillhauts was n un f , who a in the convent o

— u i Gomer Fontaine, was also written d ring th s mili tary progress

I f an c u c s n un ou y one o ld, in cons ience, wi h a t of ul i see ou her convent, I sho d l ke to y in these

s on e fortiﬁed town , where we are (in and if

u u co ld exchange dispositions, I wo ld willingly take

E vening pray ers ‘ u w s n n u I V n th f Nam r a bes ieged a d take by Lo is X . o e

3 rd of une 1 69 2 . a u an con ucte the s e e . The n J , V b d d i g Ki g had the out but was ca e in a c a to the assau t. g , rri d h ir l

D 1 66 MA AME DE MAINTENON .

e n ment to hav to amuse a man, wh o is no lo ger

” amuseable l

' I n A u ust 1 71 3 she s but th e g , , write , Nothing extraordinary health an d strength of the King coul d be a consolationfor the manner in which he treats those he best loves. If he made me eat

as u half as much he eats himself, I sho ld not long

us of c be alive . We m t not speak in onvenience ;

of but m he thinks nothing show, and sy metry,

ul grandeur, and magniﬁcence he wo d rather have all the winds blow thr ough his doors than that

to c they shoul d n ot be exactly opposite ea h other. I have seen hi m in a room with four d oors and

u u all fo r windows, very large and of eq al size,

. u c open We are going to Fontainblea , whi h

as n o will be still worse, there is preparation for

” the winter. I expect to suffer mu ch .

Regard for herself prevailed, even in the last

’ of i i u moments the K ng s l fe . She contin ed her

attendance on him only as long as it was us eful to

him and safe for herself ; neither compassion nor

t u gra it de led her to do more . When the King

s Villeroi became insen ible, the Maréchal de , think ing that Madame de Main tenon might become the

of u d object resentment to the pop lace, a vised her D MA AME DE MAINTENON. 1 67

e to . sh e m r tiring St Cyr, which i mediately did.

ft u Two days a er, the people ins lted the remains of X I V Louis .

’ The King s death was announced to her at

’ . d A umale St Cyr, by Mademoiselle coming to her an d n d ai s sayi g, Ma ame, toute la m son con terné

’ ” est a l egli se . Madame de Maintenon imme

s diately joined the congregation, and as isted at the

c was s ervice for the dead, whi h performed in the

u c hapel. Some days after, the Regent, D ke of

u to Orleans arrived to visit her, and contin ed her

ft i of s the pension le her by the K ng, livre ;

disin te and it was inserted in the act, that her rare

” s c restedn ess had made the pen ion ne essary.

of . 1 1 1 71 5 she s t In a letter Sept , , write o the “ ss Ursin s Prince des , I have seen the King die

s ui like a aint and a hero ; I have q tted the world, whic h I disliked ; I am in the most agreeable re

c an . s can tirement I desire As to ociety, I have none ; the inmates of this house (St. Cyr)know

A the ea of the n a ame de Ma n enon t d th Ki g, M d i t pos sse no n but her estate of a n ten on c ou t h r se d thi g M i , whi h br gh e - or 1 2 000 1 v es a ea . e o e the evo ut on o , i r y r B f r R l i f 1 78 9 t s estate had sen to the v a ue of v , hi ri l li res a- ea e t e om the nc ease va ue of the an or om y r, i h r fr i r d l l d , fr its increase of territory . 8 D N 1 6 MA AME DE MAI TENON.

of s a u nothing what I have een, and are cq ainted with nothing bu t the rules of their own comma

” n ity. Madam e de Maintenon gives her reasons for

n i u of retiri g to St . Cyr w th m ch force expression

It would n ot bec ome me to e xpose myself to the

c of or u of prote tion the happy, the enn i those now in disgrac e ; to the murmurs of the discon

” u s of tented, nor to the c rio ity the indiscreet.

’ she A month after the King s death, writes to

us m see her niece, Madame de Cayl , Co e and

u n u me, but come witho t attenda ts and witho t

is u for to be noise . It fort nate me able to end

m so . r s six to y days in ﬁne a retreat I i e at , go m s m s c s s a s at seven, and so etimes assi t at the exer i e

of a — and recreations the l dies, whom I have de sired to give me notic e when they shall perc eive me

is u beginning to dote . It hono rable to reac h such old age as mine ; n ow it is a eul ogium on me to

she s s d say, She still reasons well ; till write a stea y hand.

The year following, (March, Madame de

w s a us Maintenon rite to Mad me de Cayl , Get

w a on s a c me a black go n ; let it be m de , with

n r s l neither plaits o girdle . I am o fa len away the

1 70 MADAME DE MAINTENON.

u lished in French society. D ring the last thirty

of u years her great inﬂ ence and power, the women

sh e u u l by whom was s rro nded were vu gar, ignorant,

s l . . Barill on illy, or il iberal M de , who was long

d E of ambassa or in ngland, a man the world, and

old on u u her friend and admirer, his ret rn to co rt

e m after a long abs nce, remarked , on the i moderate

s u n s noi e, la ghter, and talki g which the ladie

was of made , that he surprised that a person

’ Madame de Maintenon s sense and taste coul d suffer a society that was like a holiday in th e school

" s s of c s of a convent. Thi tyle onver ation went by

” of B a bil de St. C r the name the y , and was

as uc u a r known in France s h d ring h lf a centu y . None of the portraits of Madame de Maintenon represent her as a yo ung woman . The on e in the

Louvre is of a handsome woman of forty years of ag e , apparently enjoying good health, and with an

x s of but s s c oun te e pre sion good sense, po ses ing a nance totally wanting in reﬁnement . A portrait in the private apartments she inhabited at Ver sailles is more characteristic ; it is on e of M ig

’ s u s s nard best painted pict re , and repre ents her with Mademoiselle de Blois as a child standing

a beside her chair. Mad me de Maintenon is A -C S INT Y R. 1 71

c dressed in bla k, having lost all the good looks she — might once have pretended to, with a fat face, a dark complexion, and penetrating black eyes of no

s very gentle expre sion .

- SAINT CYR .

SAI NT-C Y R w as founded in 1 68 6 ; the kings and

u of c its q eens Fran e were to be sole benefactors .

It was situated abou t a league from Vers ailles ; the

w as n s on e r building ﬁ i hed in yea . The plan of

u the instit tion was a noble idea, and the King liked and admired all Madame de Maintenon ’ s views with regar d to it ; crowns a-year were settled by government on St. Cyr . At the ti me that Madame de Maintenon took

i of . 1 685 al the d rection St Cyr in , a med was s s truck repre enting Piety. By an allusion that

c on e i was of es aped no , the ﬁgure ent rely veiled

s . e a maje tic form, like hers Madame de Maint

u non would have no lux ry intr oduced at St . Cyr ;

h n or n t ere were neither mirrors gildi g, and the

u u m was f u f rnit re in her own apart ent o bl e serge . At the angle of the garden was a pavilion destin ed

1 2 2 - 1 7 SAIN T CYR.

s s for the vi its of Louis XIV. eparated by a wood

c from the hief buil ding. The King arrived by an aven ue fr om the park of Versailles to a door that

opened into the wal l of the building. The

bu ilding advan c ed so rapidly that St . Cyr was

s oon in a s tate to re c eive three hundred young ladies

of r s u o us noble bi th, who were in tr cted in religi

hi s us c principles, in tory, geography, and m i ; their

w as c m s style formed by o po ition, and they were taught to express them selve s grac efully in c on

-six u versation . Thirty ladies s perintended the

u of s ch ed cation the e ildren, along with twenty w four sisters belonging to the institution . It as

originally intended that the ladies shoul d be cha

noinesses u but was , bo nd by no vows , this plan

c ul hanged, and they were reg ar nuns ; and a

c ons titu tion w as given them which partook of the

su n s of the order of Ur li e , and Sisters of St .

Mary .

s u Thi ﬁne institution, framed and fo nded by

m s th e s u Madame de Maintenon, for brighte t feat re

f in o her history. Her talent lay in being an s truc tress of you th : she never was so happy as

s u the c s when at St. Cyr. She in tr cted novi e her self ; sometimes she went through the clas ses with

- 1 74 SAINT CYR.

i e . during th rt en years They were received at St.

ﬁ om Cyr the age of seven till twelve, and were some of them allowed to rema in there to the age of

on i u twenty , and their leav ng the convent, a tho sand crowns was given them either as a marriage

or as in portion, to sist placing them in some situa

U to of tion above want. p the period the French

u . n Revol tion, St Cyr had not cha ged since the i days of Loui s XIV. everyth ng remained in its place as formerly. Exactly ﬁfty years after the death of Madame

c i de Maintenon, Hora e Walpole saw th s noble establis hment ; and although Frenc h au thors say

u of ss that the acco nt the day he pa ed there, which

to his ri ta is he writes f end, George Mon gue,

n a s more amusi g than ex ct, yet it give a better

of . s as was idea St Cyr to the Engli h reader, it

u to then kept p, than any account be met with in a French author

P ar is Sunda n i ht e t 1 9 , y g , S p . 7, 76 . I had obtained leave from the Bishop of Char

tr into . as du es to enter St Cyr, and, Madame

' D eﬂan d never leaves an ythin g undone that c an

s s she to give me ati faction, had written the Abbess to desire I might see everything that could be

’ h s was seen t ere . The Bishop order to admit me, - SAINT ov a. 1 75

M onsieur de Gra ve et les da mes de m c , a. omp oy i n e. I begged the Abbess to give me back the

order, that I might deposit it in the ar chives of

t r she S rawbe ry, and complied instantly. Every

o e us u s d or ﬂew op n to , and the n n vied in atten

to ase tions ple us. The ﬁrst thing I desired to see

’ was s Madame de Maintenon apartment. It c on s s l ist of two small rooms, a ibrary, and a very small

in i saw chamber, the same wh ch the Czar her, and

she d . in which die The bed is taken away, and the room covered n ow with bad pictures of the

o hi c st s r yal family, w h de roy the gravity and sim

licit . oak p y It is wainscoted with , with plain

of c a u chairs the same, overed with d rk bl e damask .

Everywhere else the chairs are of blue cloth . The simplicity and extreme neatness of the whole

us r . ho e, which is vast, are very rema kable A large apar tment above (for that I have mentioned

on ﬂoor n of s is the ground , ) consisti g ﬁve room ,

‘ and destined by Louis Quatorze for Madame de

inﬁrm ar i Maintenon, is now the y, with neat wh te l n of i en beds, and decorated with every text scrip ture by which could be ins inuated that the foundress

w as u . i a Q een The hour of vespers be ng come,

to was we were conducted the chapel, and, as it m had us I was y curiosity that led thither, placed in 1 6 - R 7 SAINT C Y .

’ — the Maintenon s own tribune my company in the

d s a joining gallery. The pen ioners , two and two,

a c e ch band headed by a man, mar h orderly to

s s their eat , and sing the whole service, which, I c w littl di u as a e . u onfess, not te o s The yo ng ladies,

u of u ss to the n mber two h ndred and ﬁfty, are dre ed

c s m in bla k, with hort aprons of the sa e, the latter,

u u and their stays bo nd with bl e, yellow, green, or

s u c s red, to di ting ish the classes ; the aptain and

u s of ff u dis lie tenants have knot a di erent colo r, for

is c u tinction . Their hair rled and powdered, their c iﬂh re s of c u - o a ort Fren h ro nd eared caps, with

ti ets a f r u s r white pp , sort of ru f and la ge t cker ; in ho t,

s. u a very pretty dres The n ns are entirely in black,

l s ns with crape vei , and long trai , deep white hand

s - kerchief and forehead cloths, and a very long train . The chapel is plain, but very pretty, and

dl of u in the mid e the choir, nder a ﬂat marble, lies * C ambis on e the foundress . Madame de , of the

s u u u as nun , who are abo t forty, is bea tif l a Ma

has but donna . The Abbess no distinction a

c on larger and richer gold cross . Her apartment

s f sist o two very small rooms. Of Madame de

‘ a ame de Gam s was n ece of La a u se de Bouﬂers M d bi i M rq i , an d havin g ﬂed to En glan d at the brea king out of the Frenc h evo ut on es e e e t her eat c too ace at R l i , r id d h r ill d h , whi h k pl

c mon in an ua 1 809 . Ri h d , J ry ,

1 8 -C Y 7 SAINT B.

. saw saw Mary We their dormitory, and them at

u n s pper, and at last were ear ed to their archives,

u u where they prod ced vol mes of her letters, and where one of the nuns gave me a small piece of

c s in - paper with three senten e her hand wr iting.

ou I forgot to tell y that this kind dame, who took to me extremely, asked me if we had many con

u vents and many reli cs in England . I was m ch embarrassed for fear of destroy mg her good opinion — of so but . I we me, and said we had few now Oh

a otheca irie went to the p , where they treated us

l on e of with cordia s, and where the ladies told me

u sin as was u deten inoc lation was a , it a vol ntary

as u u of i tion from mass, and vol ntary a ca se eat ng

ras Our u g . visit concl ded in the garden, now grown

u very venerable, where the yo ng ladies played at

f u little games before us . After a stay o fo r hours we

’ our ss took leave . I begged the Abbe s blessing ;

an d she u she smiled, said, doubted I sho ld not place much faith in it. She is a comely old gen tlewom an u of s , and very pro d having een Madame

to de Maintenon . Well, was I not in the right — wish you with me coul d you have passed a day more agreeably ?”

St. Cyr was entirely destroyed at the French

u Revol tion . MARY OF MODENA .

D e 1 7 1 8 i d, .

Sr . has c ff GERMAIN been the residen e, at di erent

times, of the greatest variety of character named in — the records of royalty La belle Gabrielle ; Loui s

. of h u f XIII , and Anne Austria ; C ristine, Q een o l Sweden ; the Duchess de La Va liere ; and James II.

and his Queen . The reception of James by Louis

1 68 9 was . XIV in , magniﬁcent Madame de

“ du a Sevigne says, La belle ame roi se plait

' ” u di d s s jo er ce grand rcile. Never Loui eem

or . on c greater, James II less great, than that oc a

sion . After the detail of their reception at St. Ger

’ she s s dix -d or main, ay , Le roi envoya mille louis

’ au Roi d A n gleterre ; ce dernier paroit vieilli et

u et u u i on t u fatig é la Reine maigre, des ye x q ple ré ,

s u et um u un eu a mai bea x noirs ; bea tient p p le,

u l s t un e la bo che grande, de be le den s, belle taille ’ — et bien de l esprit ; tout c ela compose une per

” s onne qui plait fort. 1 I A ND OF . 8 0 J AMES I . MARY MODENA

The Queen seems very unjustly to have partaken

’ o f her husband s repu tation for folly and in capac ity .

s ill The ﬁrst time that Jame appeared at Versa es,

of i he gave the idea be ng a weak monar c h . On

’ ” ’ l ui sav it n l u o u gré d etre catholique . Lo vois

’ s of s brother, the Archbi hop Rheim , said, in James s

- n a un ante chamber at St. Germai , Voil bon

ui u r au un e homme, q a q itté trois oy mes pour

” messe . Madame de Sevigne writes to her daughter Madame de Maintenon has been to see the

u of n i Q een England, who, havi g kept her wait ng

was a moment, apologized to her, by saying she

u s orry to have lost so m ch of her conversation.

She was perfectly well received. The Queen

as has of . e ple es, and a great deal sense S eing the

u of is King occ pied with the Prince Wales, who

she s she very handsome, aid, that had envied her son not being of an age to understand his mis fortunes ; but now she regretted that he should not be able to feel the goodness and kin dness of his

’ u c dit est u et n Majesty. To t c qu elle j ste de bo

’ s s ii en . Son mari n est pas de meme a bien du

c u s u n m u ui o o rage, mai esprit com n, q conte t ut

’ c e qui s est pas sé en A n gle terre avec un in sen si

1 82 S 11 AND or JAME . MARY MODENA.

’ ’ l hon n eur ue recevoir q votre Majesté me fait. Le

’ s ue Roi les lai sa, parce q Madame la Dauphine n a

l i e point de fau teuil devant u . Cette Reine s mit a n s un u la bo ne place, dan faute il, Madame la

a sa a sa r Dauphine droite, Madame gauche, t ois

u n autres fauteuils po r les trois petits princes . O ’ — causa fort bien plus d une demi heure ; il y av oit

u u u . E n ﬁn bea coup de d chesses, la co r fort grosse ,

’ s en le se et elle alla ; Roi ﬁt avertir, la remit dans

’ n e s son carrosse . Je sais j usqu ou la c ondui it

re Madame la Dauphine ; j e le saurai . Le Roi

et il : a monta, loua fort la Reine dit Voil comme

’ ii u ue un e et et fa t q soit reine, de corps d esprit,

’ I i m son u tenant sa c our avec dignité . ad ira co rage

’ a ses et u l avoit d ns malheurs, la passion q el e pour

’ le Roi son mari ; car il est vrai qu elle It was said in France that the Queen of England hadmade herself disliked in Englandby her reserved

s manners, and by the strictnes and formalities of

us she all her religio practices, which kept with the

Catholic ceremonies she would have done in Italy ; but she during her residence in France, shewed so an d so u much good sense, many amiable q alities, that Madame de Maintenon expressed an attach ment for her that only terminated with her life .

See ette 1 7 anvier 1 68 9 . L r J , S H . AND M or OD N JAME ARY M E A . 1 83

“ Madame de Caylus says, It is true that Madame de Maintenon was out of patience with the little secresy with which they managed their affairs ; no project was ever made at Versailles for the restora tion of this unfortunate King and Queen that it

ut was n ot immedi ately known in England. B

su u i s they were rro nded at St. Germa n by person

’ w of u s ho betrayed them ; and one the Q een women,

she u i was of whom partic larly l ked, in the habit

out of taking her pocket, at night, the letters that

Louis or Madame de Maintenon had written to

she c . them, which opied, and sent them to England M hi rs . of T s woman was called Strickland, mother a little abbé, who, in later times, tried to be made a c ardina But the total incapac ity of James became soon

was 1 6 90 on e evident, and it in , year and a few months after the King and Queen had arrived in

’ d s France, when Ma ame de Sevigne s good sen e

of ud c she s getting the better all her prej i es, write ,

ft n (a er givi g the news from the army in Ireland,)

“ is s It only King James that Spoil everything, and shews daily by his conduct that he is worthy of his disgrace .

ft of A er the end all his hopes in Ireland, King ‘

or N . 1 8 4 JAMES 1 1 . AND MARY MODE A

u to u James ret rned to St. Germain, n mber Ave

” Marias on hi s beads for the remainder of his days .

A. French writer says of St . Germain

' est i ci ue ac ues Secon C q J q d , San s m n s t es et san s m ai t e sse i i r r , Le m at n a a t ala m esse i ll i , E l so a a t au se mon t e ir ll i r .

The King went every year to the Abbey of La

of Trappe , in Normandy, where many the Scotch

l a s as Catho ics had t ken the vow monks. He formed a friendship and kept up a correspondenc e e ” with the Abbé de Ranc , who expressed himself enthusiastically in favour of the many virtues of

K s on as ing Jame , and looked him a martyr to

f i a the cause o rel gion . It is certain that a ch nge for the better took plac e in the charac ter and dis

of position the King in his latter days, owing to this intimac y ; that both the Kin g and the Queen were highly ediﬁed and strengthened in their t e ligious feelings by their conversations with the

v so u Abbé, and that James ne er made good a ﬁg re in any part of his life as during his visits to La

c u of u Trappe, the ac o nts which visits are to be fo nd i n s u s everal p blication .

The Queen lived a long life of virtues and

S or OD N . 1 86 JAME 11 . AND MARY M E A and with a plague whic h carried away millions of

u s hi r his s bjects, if it ﬁnishe by a peace w ch secu es

m l re- a s c Spain to his fa i y, and est bli hes a Catholi King in England — which I can hardly doubt will

” be the effect of pe ace .

1 2th of u 1 71 2 On the A gust, , Madame de Main

ueen A ne s s tenon writes for the ﬁrst time, Q n end

n u Lord Bolingbroke, who bri gs with him Ga tier

” and Prior. The foll owing letter ﬁ om Queen Anne to Loui s

of on e f XIV. is the copy in a private collection o

ll ﬁ' om letters in France . It wi be seen it that the

u r or Q een really did intend to favou the Stuarts,

s of so l gave hope doing from politica motives .

’ s — Mon ieur mon Frere, J ai recue avec n u

’ plaisir tres sincere l agréable lettre que le Sieur

’ Prior m apportée de votre part. Comme votre pru dence consommée a pris la resolution la plus propre

x pour ﬁxer les termes de la pai , vous serez per s ue c dte e me as n u uade q de mon , j perd p moment pour en accelerez la conclusion . Je vous assure

’ que la facilité que vous c ontez d y apporter a ma

’ consideration n e sera d ancun autre usage que

Auto a et e of ueen Ann e to ou s . in th l gr ph l t r Q L i X I V , e co

ec on of . eu e de Couc es l ti M F ill t h . S rr. or OD N JAME AND MARY M E A. 1 87

’ d etre in cessamen t employée pour retabli r la tran

uillité u u le us q p bliq e, comme nous souhaitons, vo et moi ; par les ordr es que j e donne a mes minis tres a Utrecht il paroitre que j e fais tou t mon p os

’ a u d un sible, d ns la conj ncture presente, en faveur

Prince dont votre gen erosité soutient les in teréts .

’ ’ Je n e dou te po int qu il n en soit pleinement con

’ i u lui- et ue u le va nc meme, q to t monde n en soit

’ a . le s u mon d ccord Je vous repete encore, Mon ie r

ﬁ' ére ue n s t e , q la co ideration de vo re amitié me s ra

’ un motif tres effec tive pour m en gager derechef dans ses in ter ts e t u sa m les é dans ce x de fa ille, selon

’ ’ occasions que s en pourront presen ter a l avenir.

A u e aVersailles ui con reste, j renvoyé Prior , q en

’ tin uant d y tenir un e c onduite qui vous soit eu

’ re n t n e ue d executer a la tié me agreeable, fait q

’ les e c e t u lettre ordres dont j l ai hargé, entre to tes les u son e t pre ves de devoir, de son zele pour ma

’ ’ e m atte n s d un u service, j maniere fort partic liere

’ qu il prenne toutes les occas ions possible pour vous

’ répéter l estime et la c onsideration tr es parfaite que

’ e t le s ar u e j ai pour vous, de ir dent dans leq el j suis de vivre avec vous dans une amitié sincere et per petuelle. “ Je prie Die u de vous donner de longues an 1 R or . 1 88 JAM ES 1 . AND MA Y MODENA

s e t ros erité et us anté de p p , de vo tenir

sa en sainte garde,

u s s Je s i , Mon ieur, mon frere,

Votre bonne soeur,

“ ANNE, R .

r lo . 1 1 2 A Windso , 24 Nov 7 . Madame de Maintenon writes at the very time that this letter was received — 6 1 1 2 . i of th Dec. 7 The K ng England (the Pretender)ediﬁes u s al l by his devout attention at

u s— mass . He has excellent q alitie religion, pro

ur His a bity, good sense, hono . char cter is pru

” dent ; he has no vivacity.

s s a Six month after thi , M dame de Maintenon c alls him by another name .

“ — 3 1 st 1 71 3 . al . May, The Chev ier St George is charmed with his re c eption at the court of Lor

” raine we mus t see him r eins ta ted.

‘ h s i an d s its T i w sh, the pro pect of realization, were n ot relinqui shed either by Madame de Main

or ss Ursin s e tenon , by the Prince des , at the acc s s f us of ion o the ho e Hanover.

’ u c a as Q een Anne s har cter, refers to her conti

u c so e r n ne tal con erns, is well describ d by Lo d Joh

s his o of E Rus ell, in Hist ry urope , that it seems to

1 90 v E RSA I LLE s.

V E R S A I L L E S .

VERSAI LLES is now the expression and coun te nance of the monarchy as it existed under Louis

ai E s u ai XIV. , as it may be s d that the c rial in Sp n

of . represents the monarchy Philip II , and Windsor

s u c c rec ollec Ca tle, the chivalresq e and monar hi al

was ai l tion s of England. It at Vers les that every

u u c u political movement in E rope d ring a ent ry, found an e cho ; it was for Vers ailles that all French

or s literature was written, against Ver ailles that it

was u cen was directed. Versailles France d ring a

u as is c . tury, j st Paris Fran e at the present moment

u s . s Lo i XIV was magniﬁcent in his idea , and

his u s equally so in expendit re and his pre ents.

His reception of Bernini is on e of the proofs of

his sparing neither money, ﬂattery, nor attention,

a or of when the ﬁne rts, the decoration his palace, w as in question . Until Louvois laid hold of the u of nderstanding the King, and exercised that sway

over the warlike destinies of E urope which his am

bition of do and that his master prompted him to ,

’ Colbert had turned the King s mind to improving

the of uf u i state France, in man act res, bu ldings, VERSAILLES . 1 9 1

u . w painting, and sc lpture Colbert as himself an

s ﬁn e enthusia t in the arts, and persuaded Bernini to make a visit to Paris .

The reception of Bernini in France was that of a royal person ; ' he received depu tations from all the towns on his way from Italy ; the King sent him the royal servants to attend on him ; and when

’ c C han lelou he approa hed Paris, de , the Kin g s

’ h6tel c r d . mait e , was sent to wel ome him Bernini was d s Hdtel ﬁrst lo ged at Pari in the de Frontenac, whi ch was furnished with the furniture ﬁ om the

’ i c his o his son K ng s pala es, for reception and that f .

u on A medal was str ck bearing his likeness, the oc casion of his visit to Franc e . He had hi s ﬁrst

u of u s . 1 665 a dience Lo i , at St Germain, in June and when he went to court he h ad his place at the table of the ministers . The Ki n g settled on hi m

00 u 6000 s on his son 30 g ineas a year, livre , and on his pupils and followers in proportion; So magniﬁc ent a reception made it supposed

’ that Bernini s genius was worthy of it ; but he w as

out c i old and worn , and as an ar h tect he failed in

u France, and did little d ring the ﬁve months he

sat hi s passed there . The King to Bernini for

us u was c an d b t, with which the Q een harmed, 1 92 VERSAILLES.

c s made Bernini many ompliment , which Bernini

u u u ret rned to the Q een, on a footing of eq ality ;

’ u s for Bernini s vanity knew no bo nd . Colbert

s his u began to think he was mi taken in s periority,

s c w as and let matter go on gently, whi h not easy,

as was u sus . Bernini violent, pro d, and ceptible Bernini began to be afraid of the effec ts of the winter climate of France on his constitution ; C ol bert was anxious to get rid of him and when he

c u s u s left Fran e , Lo i sent him g inea ,

s s uc livre of pen ion, and for his son . S h was the magniﬁcence with which Louis rem une rated all those pers ons whom he thought c ould m inister to his glory .

so of his s Bernini had high an opinion own power ,

was that when he taking leave of Colbert, he told him that God Almighty w as the au thor of his de

’ s s s u c ign ; and he told the Pope N n io, that God

s u had in pired him in his designs for the Lo vre .

u so for s Nat re had done little Versaille , that it

“ s went by the name of Le favori san mérite . After twenty years of c on struction and deco

a u s c c r tion, Lo i XIV. ame to inhabit a pala e where

u m s s c s he fo nd hi elflodged as the greate t of monar h .

Mansard ﬁnished the building ; Le Bru n laid aside

1 94 VERSAILLES.

1 5 1 685 o on his sur~ On the th May, , L uis, throne,

u c l u ss ro nded by his hi dren and family, in f ll dre ,

c u s of re re eived the Doge, with fo r enators the

u c of G c c m to p bli enoa, who had a o panied him

Fran c e . The throne was placed at the end of the

ran d alerie des c s on s o of G e g Gla e , a rai ed platf rm six s c c of teps, overed with a Persian arpet a gold

u c u gro nd, enri hed with colo rs and silver ﬂowers ; on the steps on each side were plac ed c andelabras

w as and c as solettes of silver and gold. The Doge

’ of red v elv et dressed in a robe , with a cap of the

’ s o f c same . The enators robes were bla k velvet .

c u n u The Doge remained overed d ri g the a dience, to keep up all the dignity that his unfortunate cir c umstan c es allowed of. He exe c uted his melan ch oly mission with a ﬁrmness that astonished every on e his s ; his bearing was higher than word , and

s his u rai ed him with a dience . When he had

s u off c a ﬁni hed his harang e, he took his p, and the

s s c t ki off princes hewed their re pe , by ta ng their

s hats . After the King had answered, each enator s poke in his tu rn .

u c c After his a dien e, the Doge was re eived at Versailles on the footing of ambassador-extraordi

a s him u o u n ry, and in wi hing adie , L is made him

s . was s of magniﬁcent pre ents He a ked what, all S VER AILLES . 1 95

i s s the S ghts of Versailles, a toni hed him most ; and

” his was s answer To ﬁnd my elf there . Thr ee room s at Vers ailles ar e now replaced exactly in the state they were in the reign of

u era de B oeu s o Lo is XIV. The f ; called from

of u the form its window, where the co rtiers in attendanc e waited the orders of their monarch ; the bed-chamber of the King ; and the c ounc il

-c in chamber. The bed hamber is the centre of is c of the palace ; the bed in the entre the room,

a win dow s un i s and before it is , from which the

to . . u m s seen rise every day M Forto l re ark , that it is to be con cluded that the two sovereign s

s awakened at the ame moment, and exchanged a

has glance at eac h other. The room no depth ; the bal ustrade of the bed is n ot far distant fro m the two doors The pic tures are replac ed as

f u . c r o o they were The ove ing the bed was f nd, o n e o l half in Germany, the ther ha f in Italy ; it

C r u dir St. ec had been worked at y , nder the f tions o Madame de Maintenon . The portrait of

uc ss of s ut c Henrietta, the D he Orlean , is p ba k in its c ac ustomed plac e . The ceiling only is changed .

c was n The present eiling taken by Napoleo , at

c u Veni e, from the gallery of the Co ncil of Ten, K 2 1 96 VERSAILLES .

was w s and painted by Paul Veronese . It a in this

u room that Lo is XIV. died. The coun cil-chamber is dec orated mos t superbly

s su u with gilt ornament rro nding picture s. The

u u is s f rnit re of tapestry, worked in wreath and

u s of s on u w b nche ﬂower a pale green gro nd . It as

u s s hi s u u here that Lo i , eated in fa te il, heard the

s s project proposed by his mini ters, and where

u s su c Colbert, Lo voi , and Torcy cceeded ea h other

u c s or in power. Co n il were held here before after

ss . s i s c 1 706 ma In thi room a clo k, made in , by

o s c is M rand, in the mechani m of whi h placed an

u s u c s u eq e trian stat e of the King, whi h i s es from a c u ou t of c c u u lo d of glory, whi h lo d the ﬁg re of

c s of Vi tory appear , placing a crown on the head

: c u s the monarch a curious pie e ofﬂattery, that Lo i c u u o ld never have lost sight of, and that m st have oc c asioned many an epigram during the reverse s at the latter end of his reign.

is s m s There a mall roo at Versaille , with a great number of glass windows that look into a long

ss or c reﬂec pa age corridor, whi h provokes many a

wa tion ; for it was in this room that Louis XIV. s c s u s ca lo eted with his Jes it confes or, while the p

u tain of the guard pac ed p and down, not able to

1 98 LE NOSTRE .

il ’E Marly ended by c osting as muc h as Versa les . Louis always determined to treat nature as if she were on e of his c ourtiers : lakes were made on e

u fogests n month, and ﬁlled p the next ; pla ted of

u di c trees f ll grown , that ed, and were repla ed ; hills that obstructed views were cu t in two ; the trees were trans pofted from C ompeign e ; an d

i - i s had s l o n s Sa nt S mon say , he ai ed in boats sp ot

had s but which been alleys, thickets, and walk , a short time before .

LE NOSTRE .

‘

o n 1 6 1 3 e 1 700 . B r , ; di d ,

LE NOSTRE was the arc hitect and layer out of

s i His the parks an d garden of Versa lle s. father had been superintendent of the Tuilleries gar dens.

son He wished his to be a painter, and placed him

Vou et - with , the portrait painter, with whom the youn g Le Nostre made a lasting friendship . The

Dan eau sa s in his emo s S l st M a On a g y M ir , ( y, c al c ul ation b eing mad e of the n umber of l abourers empl oyed at e sa es an d in its env ron s e e e o un to amoun t to V r ill , i , th y w r f d Wh en the amou nt o f the expen ses o f Versaill es was

a e o e o u s . he oo e at the sum tota and t e l id b f r L i X IV , l k d l , hr w ” the a e nto the ﬁre p p r i . LE NOSTRE . 1 99

n i s but you g man distinguished h m elf as a painter,

uc s u i u having m h imagination, he t d ed and bro ght

c an d c out to perfe tion the art of gardening, stru k a luxuriance of idea and a splendour of decoration

s f ﬁt to adorn the abode o monarchs. For the ﬁrst

m c u ti e were seen in France, porticoes, ber ea x ,

s trelli a e grottoe , g , and labyrinths, used to ornament

r u of and va y gardens ; and altho gh, since the days

as has — Le Nostre, another t te arisen in France that

of E s - or - s nglish plea ure ground, park this la t style

totally wants the majesty, the grandeur, and the

. Tuilleries gaiety, to be seen at St Cloud, in the , i or at Versa lles . Louis employed all the talent in France in c m

bellishin his s s w as g residence , and Le No tre not alarmed at the obs tacles which the s oil of Vers ailles

s his pre ented . When he had settled plans, he as to u on s o ked the King come and j dge, the p ts

s v as t of m. them el es, to the ﬁ ness the He began by shewing his plans for the pie ces of water that are on the terraces at the foo t of the chétteau. As Le

s n c c No tre explai ed ea h improvement he proje ted,

u s s the King interr pted him by aying, Le No tre,

”

ou ﬁ an cs. so ft I give y This was o en said,

t s s s of tha Le No tre, the mo t di interested men , s u c topped the King at the fo rth ex lamation, and 200 LE NOSTRE.

s u s s aid, Sir, yo r Maje ty hall hear no more ; I s u u ho ld ruin yo r Majesty. The plain on whic h Versailles stood has no

s u — it water. There were fen in the neighbo rhood w as proposed to dry them up ; but Le Nostre had

w ff s the water dra n o to the great canal. The tate lin ess and solemn grandeur of his groves and

s u s a s of u bo q et are imit tion the Italian style, s ited

c u u A f rV ill s parti larly to palatial architect re . te ersa e

s c u w as ﬁni hed, he reated the parks of St. Clo d,

i C la n u c u Chant lly, g y, Me don , S ea x, and the gardens of the Tui lle ries ; the parterre of the

u the c of Tiber, at Fontainblea ; magniﬁ ent terrace

’

. d l A utoi St Germain ; and the ﬁne promena e of , at

Amiens .

u s ss Lo is XIV . gave Le No tre permi ion to travel, 1 678 and in he went to Rome, where Pope Inno

c cent XI. gave him the most ﬂattering re eption .

' u c Pon tiﬂ him He had an a dien e, and the made s s of s hew and explain to him all his plan Versaille ,

c b e m . s m whi h ad ired greatly Le No tre, char ed

“ his s 1 with reception, aid, Now do not mind

s dying, for I have known two of the greate t men

u in the world, my master, the King, and yo r

” “ ” ss. diﬂeren ce Holine There is a great , said the Pope ; your King is a victorious and glorious

202 LE NOSTRE .

* ” - “ omme de chou. he with a p Sire added, how can — I forget my spade is it not to that that I owe all the favours with which your Majesty honours me

was When he very old, Le Nostre asked leave to retire ; but Louis m ade him promise to come to

see r or s him f om time to time . Two three year

a s s afterw rd Le No tre went to Marly, where Man

h s aw him s out t e . u s ard had laid grounds Lo i , and told him he would shew him the gardens : he got

c old m an a into his open arriage, and bid the t ke

his . uc seat in it Le Nostre, m h gratiﬁed at the

’ s s s u King kindness, and eeing Man ard, who s per

u s intended the b ildings, following, aid with tears

s “ u but in his eye , Sire, if my good father co ld have lived to see me s eated by the greatest monarch

on s ul ! earth, how a tonished he wo d have been It m ust be owned that your Majesty treats your

” mason and your gardener well .

v Le Nostre li ed to the age of ninety. The

” of of s re title the Gardener Kings, will alway

uc main his, having, in the art of gardening, introd ed

all possible magniﬁcence of design and decoration

su ited to royal palac es.

a The h ead of a cabb ge. LORD HERBERT or CHERBURY . 203

RENC AMB S ENGLI SH F H A SADORS.

LORD HERBE RT OF CHERBURY .

o n 1 5 8 1 e 1 6 48 B r , di d , .

FE W c of E s A noti es French , and ngli h ambas sadors will here ﬁnd an appropriate place . To begin with the famous Lord Herbert of Cher

u was 1 6 1 6 to b ry, who appointed ambassador in

u s . of Lo i XIII , for the purpose negotiating in

u f s s favo r o the Prote tants . He appear to have executed his commission with muc h sagac ity ; yet

c was u u s its obje t thwarted by the D ke de L yne ,

- i s u of c then prime m nister, and ﬁr t h sband the ele brated uc s s u D hess de Chevreu e . Thi yo ng man , to whose government the King had implicitly sur m rendered himself, had deter ined to extirpate the

s a of an d s Prote t nts by force arms, to this mini ter,

i ft s the K ng, a er long delay , referred the English am bassador , when the extraordinary conference ensued 204 ENGLISH AND FRENCH AMBASSADO RS .

i ’ which s here given in Herbert s own words . On De

u as as L ynes dryly demanding of him, soon they

c u of hi s s b e s were seated, the a se vi it, an wered, that

was his s he commanded by the King, ma ter, to me diate a pe ac e betw een the King of Fran c e and his

”

s su c . s u Prote tant bje ts What, aid the D ke,

u our hath the King, yo r master, to do with — ?” action s Why doth he meddle with our affairs

”

s m . The King, my ma ter, (Ja es I )answered Her

“ u an u of so bert, o ght not to give acco nt the rea n

i uc him u but ou ask that nd ed here nto ; , if y will m e s m to in more gentle term , I will do y best

i s u give you satisfac tion . To th De L ynes replied s imply with the word Bien an d Herbert went on m w his sti to say, that James , in confor ity ith

ulation w su p ith Henry IV. , that the rvivor of either shoul d always endeavour to procure the tranquillity

’ of s s s him for ur the other e tate, had now ent that p pose ; an d that he hoped that when the present civil

sc u c u di ord sho ld be a commodated, Lo is might be

s s s s E n di po ed to as i t the lector Palatine, the a cient

n u friend and ally of the Fren ch crow . The D ke

“ i u e of nterr pt d him by saying, We will have none

“ u v yo r ad ice and Herbert rejoined, that he took

h s w as s t ose words for an an wer, and orry that the

206 ENGLI SH AND FRENCH AMBASSADORS .

u of England . De L ynes passed over in silence

ll but the implied cha enge which he had received,

i u u preva led on Lo is to send his brother, the D ke

ul c of am de Cha nes, to London, in the chara ter bassador- ar c for u o of extraordin y, hieﬂy the p rp se

’ c procuring Herbert s disgra e, as he did, in fact, his recal .

on his re Herbert, his part, lost no time, after

’ s s sum turn, in suing for Jame s permi sion to

u u s mon De L ynes by a tr mpet to ingle combat .

u of The opport ne death, however, soon after,

u diﬂi c ulties s that favo rite, removed all in thi ﬂ’ i singular a a r. Herbert was again appointed ambassador to Paris ; and the King on this occa s but us c l ion paid him the high, perilo omp iment,

s his us of leaving all matter to discretion, by ref ing

s c H to give him any wr itten in tru tions . is second

u mission, however, did not prod ce any remarkable events .

Lord Herbert of Cherbury never ﬁlled any other

* public station .

m i r H s port ait is in the coll ection of the Earl of Powis . L r 20 EAR o HOLLAND . 7

E . H NRY RICH, EARL OF HOLLAND

D e 1 649 . i d ,

” of s HENRY RICH, Earl Holland, was the mo t

c s E s c u ac ompli hed ngli h o rtier of his time . He joined to the highest politeness and general good

u c breeding, the most profo nd skill in every bran h of thé minor sort of policy so peculiarly ad apted

w as u of to that c harac ter. He a favo rite the

u uc . c c use favo rite B kingham A ordingly, and to

u s the words of Lord Clarendon, B ckingham ﬁr t

” ug ss preferred him to a wife, the da hter and heire

u him of Sir Walter Cope , who bro ght the manor of s u Ken ington, which title he took, and nder that name followed Prince Charles and the D uke to

Madrid ; and on the failure of the Spanish mar ria e to s ssa ask g , he went Pari as amba dor, to the

of hand Henrietta Maria for Prince Charles . Some of his letters are in the Harleian Collee

’ u tion , and are given at f ll length in Lodge s Me

s u us moir of Ill strio Persons. Thes e letters shew him to have been a ﬁt ambassador for so diffic ult a

His o t a t an e is in the co ec on of his ace p r r i , by V dyk , ll ti Gr th D e uk e of B uccleuch . 208 ENGLISH AND FRENC H AMBASSADORS .

so s mission, where many ladies were to be plea ed, and so many gentlemen not to be offended . He conduc ted thi s royal courtship with consummate

w as E of . address, and created arl Holland

E u ﬁ'ien d u u The arl sec red a in the yo ng Q een,

his s c m c during tay in Fran e, who he harmed by his manners and c onversation. The subsequent

o f his c uc an d a n history versatile ond t, his fat l endi g on c f h as s s o the s a fold, nothing to do with thi h rt period of his life in France .

E GEORGE VILLI R S, FIR ST DUKE OF

BUCKINGHAM .

o n 1 5 9 2 e 1 6 28 . B r , ; di d ,

THE great and superb B uckingham came to

c 1 625 to c Fran e in May, , es ort the Princ ess

E n Henrietta to ngla d . He presented him self at

c u of s u the o rt France as ambas ador, favo rite, ﬁne

- s s sm gentleman, prime mini ter, lover, and tate an .

Much has been sa id of him in the chapters c on c erning the Cardinal de Richelieu and the D uches s de Chevre use but the gr avity with whic h Lord

of ul u on Clarendon tells his turb ent behavio r, his

2 1 0 ‘ E NGLrSH AND FRENCH AMBASSADORS .

on sa other case . Lord Clarendon goes to y, that he was ever after unceasingly assiduous in his encouragement of all who were most obnoxious to

c s o the King of Fran e, again t whom he lost no p portun ity of incensing his own sovereign ; and that

’ he took great pains to lessen Charles s affection to

u u u u u his yo ng and bea tif l q een, and even bro ght

f r u to of himsel ; cont ary to his nat re, a habit neglect

u ss ds of c and r dene towar her, whi h Lord Clarendon gives this most remarkable anecdote in proof — One

u u she day, when he nj stly apprehended that had s s his hewn some di respect to mother, he came into

u her presence with m ch passion, and after some

u c il u she very n iv expost lations, told her, that should repent it ; to which her Majesty answering with s u ome q ickness, he desired her to recollect, that there had been queens in E ngland who had lost their heads .

c of of In the gratiﬁ ation a spirit vengeance,

u u s I . B ckingham pers aded Charle , within little more

his u a than a year after n ptials, to declare war ag inst Franc e ; and he took on himself the c hief c om

sea. u mand, both by land and The H guenot town of La Rochelle having at that time de clined his

a s of un suc aid, he att cked the i land Rhé, was ’ ECH D E ST MAR AL RAD E S. 2 1 1

c essful u u a , and ret rned with a rep t tion of total

- military. incapacity. He then sent his brother ia

c i law, Lord Denbigh, with a se ond ﬂeet, wh ch had

u u s no better s ccess ; and, at the req e t of the people of e mbarka La Rochelle, he was preparing for his

u was s tion, to give them s ccour, when he tabbed at

u of s s Portsmo th by the hand an as as in . The memoirs of the day speak of the beauty

uc of his of B kingham, the grace ﬁgure, and the

' aﬂected s strange magniﬁcence he in his dres . He

s ui c r had twenty even s ts, the ri hest that embroide y,

or ul lace, silk, velvet, silver, gold, pearls, co d orna

ul u u ment ; and more partic arly, a white nc t velvet, set u c t all over, both s it and loak, wi h diamonds,

u u u set val ed at fourscore tho sand po nds, off with

” great diamondbuckles and diamonded feathers .

’ GOD EROI E D E STRA D E S. , MAR CHAL

o n 1 607 e 1 68 6 . B r , ; di d ,

’ THE d E strades ft on e Comte , a erwards known as of the most able negotiators and diplomatic cha racters was s di in Europe, ent by Car nal de Riche 2 1 2 A MB S DO ENGLISH ND FRENCH A AS A RS .

u s I . 1 63 7 n lie to Charle , in , to e gage him to remain neuter while the sea-ports of Flanders were to be

c c i u atta ked . Ri hel e , aware that he stood not in

c s the good gra es of Henrietta Maria, who e mother,

c was c Marie de Medi is, in banishment from Fran e,

’ des ired D E strades to offer to Henr ietta every pos

s 850 . u ible proof of his devotion to her, Sho ld

u u u was the Co nt ﬁnd the Q een favo rable, he to

’ s his own deliver the Cardinal letter, written by hand ; but should Henrietta be unfriendly to the

’ D E strades c e Cardinal, , in that ase, was to pres nt f o of . the letter her brother, the King France

’ D E strades on his E , who, arrival in ngland, had

ff u s to settle a airs of the most opposite nat re, ha tened

' u u m uc s to the Q een, whom he fo nd h incen ed

’ s w as again st the Cardinal . The Cardinal letter

’ s X I I I s s uppressed ; but Loui . letter referred the

’ u D E strad es c Q een to for the obje t of his mission , requ es ting the Qu een to use her inﬂuence to per

s c u su ade her royal husband to a tri t ne trality .

c sh e Henrietta de lared, that never intermeddled

f of u bu t c in a fairs this nat re ; , in complian e with

’ h er s s she ul su c brother wi h, wo d mention the bje t

us s to the King, her h band, appointing the amba

’ s o u D E strades ad r to return at a given ho r. When

2 1 4 ENGLISH AND FRENCH AMBASSADORS.

E land, the nglish ﬂeet would be in the Downs

c ready for a tion, and with an army of ﬁfteen

’ his c thousand men . Charles thanked Eminen e for ff of his but u the o er aid, he req ired no other

s to u s s own assi tance p ni h rebel , than his royal au thority and the laws of E ngland

Such was the noble answer of Charle s I. to the political seduction of Richelie u ; suc h was the s of c c c c on un c trength haracter whi h, at criti al j

u s uc his t re , he invariably displayed ; and s h was

u his c fort ne and his fate, that the greater politi al

s s s on him distres e ro e , the greater the energy m whic h he seemed to derive from their e xc ite ent .

su s On this incident the llen presbyter, Harri , felt

s a tran ient glow, exclaiming, This answer was worthy a British monarc h

’ The reply of Richelieu to D E strades is remark

s c able . He say , that Fran e might have been

c u s embarrassed, had the royal o ple had the addres to s s but n ow the conceal their entiment ; , that yea r should not c lose before both should repent o f

us their ref al to his proposals. The C ardinal acc omplished his predic tion abo ut the period as

’ s D E s r igned. t ades had orders to h old a s ecret intercourse with the S c otch Covenanters ; an d ’ D HA RC O RT COMTE U . 2 1 5 subsequently Ric helieu held an interc ourse with

E s s the ngli h Parliamentarian , and instigated the

Hollan ders to violate the ne utrality of the British “ ports .

E D E E E H NRI L ORRAIN , C OMT D ’ HA R R C OU T.

o n 1 6 0 1 e 1 66 6 . B r , ; di d ,

’ THE intrigu es of the Frenc h residen ts in E n g

c at s of u land, whi h began the embas y the D ke de

u c u u ni s s Chevre se, and ontin ed thro gh the mi trie

u of Richelie and Mazarin, provoked that ex clam ation from Lord Clarendon which is giv en

’ See D I sraeli on the ei n o f a es . , r g Ch rl I '

D E s tra des wa s a a n am assa o to a es I I . en a g i b d r Ch rl , wh great con ten tion happen ed between the Span ish a n d Fren ch a m bassadors in London i n O cto e 1 66 0 an d so me oo s e , b r , , bl d h d o cc mr ed on a uest on of ece en c ic n ea o e the , q i pr d y, wh h rly br k - a of th n s I t a en e soon a te lately con cl uded p e ce e Pyre ee . h pp d f r a t n and a es as e Eve n to a u an the restor io ; Ch rl I I . k d ly dr w p

ount o f the us n ess c he did and . n o f acc b i , whi h ; Philip IV , Ki g S a n sent the o o n ea the o mte d e uentes to ou s p i , , f ll wi g y r , C F L i

to ma e a e a a t on an d a n a o o for the o ffence . X IV . k r p r i p l gy u om om u The sa me repara tio n was req ired fr R e by Lo is X IV . I n 1 6 62 the D u e de C re u i the en c am assa o was i n , k q , Fr h b d r, ulted the a a ua s an d the o e w as o e to sen s by p p l g rd , P p blig d d his ne e a na to as k a on o f Lo u s c ph w , C rdi l Chigi , p rd i , whi h pard on was accord ed him at Versaill es . 2 1 6 ENGLISH AND FRENCH AMBASSADORS .

” z in the Life of Cardinal Ma arin . The Comte

’ d Harcourt of , known by the name Cadet la

” Perle w as E as c m s , T in ngland Fren h a bas ador, in

1 64 3 . s u x He was ent by Mazarin, nder prete t of

s m m ediating between Charle I. and the Parlia ent ;

ut his s u c s b real in tr tion from the Cardinal were ,

w as to set them still m ore at variance . He a

u s u c great captain, and had great q alitie , both p bli and private : his mission to England s eems to have had no results .

It w as about this time that an ambassador at

on his u on e of his Paris, ret rn, reported train to

sc E s as have de ribed the ngli h being, amongst

m s mankind, what wolves are a ong t beasts and,

’ Har r d cou t. probably, it was the Comte

D E E E MAR QUIS VI UVILL .

THE u u m ss Marq is de Vie ville, a ba ador from

c L c c Fran e to Charles , a ompanied Henrietta

u u Maria from Holland, where that nfort nate

See vol . 1 7 5 . . p . “ 1 This d enomination was given him b ecause he w as the oun est ot e o f the ouse of o a ne-E eu an d t at he y g br h r h L rr i lb f, h o e a ea in his ear w r p rl .

A 2 1 8 ENGLISH AND FRENCH MBASSADORS .

’ Ossor s c is u s or Lord y chara ter witho t pot stain,

u c u of and yet he was a co rtier, and a o rtier the

of times of Charles II. An idea may be formed

his x life, which did not e tend to more than forty

ﬁv e s c his i year , by giving a rapid glan e over br l

was - u liant c ar eer. He twice lord dep ty in Ire

i c d . w as land, and tw e an ambassa or There no

s u s ea u con iderable action fo ght by or land, d ring

of . i c di s the reign Charles II , in wh h he did not tin guish himself; he w as at the same time a gene

- of ral in the army and rear admiral the Red ; and,

1 673 s u ﬂa as c m in , he hoi ted the nion g o mander i n - of l of chief the who e ﬂeet, in the absence Prince

u u c Rupert. D ring the D t h war, the principle

of c and policy whi h he entirely disapproved, he fought with heroic valour ; and he would have

’ of l destroyed the whole ﬂeet Hol and, if the King s

u l h ad his n timid co nci s not defeated pla s . He was -in - a of commander chief in Irel nd, a knight

of the garter, a privy councillor, lord the bed

- chamber to the King, and lord Chamberlain to the f Queen. He was fond o seeking out foreigners of m i n his a erit and d stinction, and havi g them at t ble, which perhaps may have been the cause of his

- widely extended reputa tion on the c ontinent. 0 F DUKE MONTAGUE . 2 1 9

’ For Ossor s as Lord y character a friend, see

’ E s his : as v.elyn lament for loss his character a

’ hero is immortalized in Dryden s verse as a hus

son w as band and a , there none like him in his

s . of u of time The reply the D ke Ormond, to

- but s on his ss some well meant useles comforter lo , is very expressive I woul d n ot exc hange my

” dead son for an y living son in Christendom !

E E RALPH, FIR ST DUK OF MONTAGU .

o n 1 6 38 e 1 709 . B r , ; di d ,

son of a u RALPH, eldest Lord Mont g e, and after

s E u a u m u ward arl and D ke of Mont g e, had ch in ﬂuenc e both in the private s oc iety and the

u c s of m s of p bli hi tory the ti e Madame de Sevigne .

His s s I L on of his un letter to Charle , the death

u s s uc ss of fort nate i ter, the D he Orleans, have been

c cu m s s already given, and the ir tance mentioned,

was s of in which he a pectator her dreadful end . He was appointed ambassador to the French

1 6 6 9 . was m an court of Lo uis XIV. in He a

u s eager in acq iring wealth, and as eager in pend

a in his s s ing it ; m gniﬁcent habit , pos essing the L 2 220 RE A M BA SSA D R ENGLISH AND F NCH o s .

m s s cu o t reﬁned ta te in the ﬁne arts, parti larly in

painting and archite c ture ; but he was distin

u ished a i c g for w nt of pr n iple in many ways. He

’ is m Gramm on t s m o s as eu na ed, in em ir , p

” n ux u u but s da gere po r la ﬁg re, irre istible from

his ss his m anners and qu ickne .

M r u s i m . Montag e lived on term of nti acy with

u c u ul was the D ke de la Ro hefo ca d, and well known

’ s s c h w in Madame de Sevigne o iety. When s e as

u s u of c m with her da ghter in the o th Fran e, Mada e

” de la Fayette often names Montaigu in her

s h e r s as x us letter to , and alway being an io to m m u m arry Mada e de North berland, then a widow

"E a Paris un u u e e us t . Voila paq et q j vo envoie

or h m rlan d us n e pou r Madame de N t u be . Vo com prendrez pas aisem en t pourquoi j e suis c hargée

c c u il du om u de paq et ; vient C te de S nderland,

m m s i I l qui est présente ent a ba sadeur ic . est fort

ses m s il lui us u s o s s de a i ; a écrit pl ie r f i ; mai ,

’ ’ n a an t oi s il c u e ses y p nt de répon e , roit q on arr te

’

s et . c u c u u o s lettre , M de la Ro hefo a ld, q il v it tre

’ s uv s C har e le u o o ent, s e t g de faire tenir paq et d nt

’ ’ us su d n s il s . o e c u s n éte agit Je vo pplie , omme vo

’ us a le uel u un c on pl Aix, de renvoyer par q q de

ett es de La a ette d u 3 0 Decem e 1 6 72 . L r F y , br ,

222 E NGLISH AND FRENCH AMBASSADORS.

’ en ﬁn e fus du u u , j n en point to t éblo ie ; elle me

’ u c c u ou u parut entendre fort bien to t q on dit, po r

’ u di s c ar m ieux dire c e q e je ; j étois seul e . M. de

c uc u et Th an e ui la Ro hefo a ld Madame de y g , q av ien t ue c o envie de la voir, ne vinrent q omme

’ ’ i m av oit u elle sorto t. Montaigu mandé q elle vien

’ droit me voir j e lui ai fort parlé d elle ; il ne fait

’ r u a so n et aucune facon d et e embarq é service,

’ ” s p aroit tres rempli d e perance . The Countess of Northumbe rland was jealous

* of u c c r c u the D chess de Brissa , a eleb ated oq ette

of s to M r . u those day , and whom Montag e had formerly been attached, and Madame de la Fayette writes to her ﬁ' ien d : Madame de Brissac joue

u s et ff c un e - n e to jours la dé olée, a e te tres grand g

’ li en c e . u n e e c g M de Montaig l a, j rois,

i v ue c c -Ci de laire po nt de voyage , de peur de p a

’ orthumberlan d ui u r u Madame de N , q part a jou d h i.

’ u u Montaig l a devancée de de x jours . Tout cela

’ ’ ” u n l é u ne laisse pas douter q il e po se .

They came to England privately, and were mar

Titchﬁeld of Wriothesle s ried at , the seat the y , in

s 1 673 . Hamp hire, in

E Wri othesle u s u of lizabeth y, the yo nge t da ghter

- a e e ou se de St. S mon D uc ess de ssac . G bri ll L i i , h Bri DUKE OF MONTAGUE . 23

u ou his s c the Lord Treas rer S thampton, by e ond i E w fe, Lady lizabeth Leigh, inherited all the

a of n E est tes her mater al grandfather, the arl of

s . u Chiche ter She was married, when very yo ng,

ssel n c E u to Jo y Per y, eleventh arl of North mber

s 1 664 land, and they re ided at Pe tworth, in and

in 65 . 1 6 They were both bad health, and went

to Paris, attended by the great Mr. Locke, as their

E u s travell ing physician . The arl left the Co ntes

u c a nder the are of Locke, and proceeded to It ly, .

1 670 of u . where he died in , a fever, at T rin The E nglis h am bassador paid every possible atten

un u ss a fi tion to the yo g Co nte , in her st te of a lie

u tion, and grad ally began to hope that she might

hi m c she c c end by marrying , whi h a ordingly did,

c u of s u s in onseq ence his perseverance and as id itie . Evelyn writes of her great beauty ; and her re w putation as never called in question . Her por

ai is at u of tr t Windsor, amongst the bea ties King

’ ’ c u Charles s o rt ; and also at Lord Spencer s, at

t u Al horpe, and at Hampton Co rt ; and the pic tu c res well describe her character, whi h was blame

uf of an d less, patient in s fering mind body, and unprosperous under the outward appearance of

wa - great worldly prosperity. She s half sister to 224 O ENGLISH AND FRENCH AMBASSAD RS .

Lady Rus sell ; a wom an who would probably have been worshipped in pagan times for her heroI C

u s or had sh e l c q alitie , been a Catho i , in a Catholic

u ul c co ntry, wo d have been anonized for her

n - u Ruskell l s sai t like virt e s. Lady a way termed

“ m st f c cu s a her y poor si er, and rom that ir m t nce,

’ joined to thos e of Lord Montagu e s politic al in tri ues his i s u e g , that heart was always d p t d by other

uc s as women, and that she had m h mi ery to her

h r to c u d c ild en, it is be oncl ded that La y North

rlan was u m u mbe d a very nhappy wo an .

1 68 8 u was c E In , Lord Montag e reated an arl

“ i m u is by King Will a , and Lady North mberland thenc eforth styled Countess of Montague . In a work where so many Frenc h letters are

on e E s c o given, written by an ngli h lady ann t be

is u m isplac ed . It written from Lady Montag e to

us of s Lady Russell. The Ho e Common had

s t o c om rever ed the at ainder of L rd Russell, and a m ittee w as appointed to inqu ire into who were the

advisers and prom oters of the murder of William

s . is u Lord R us ell The letter written from Bo ghton,

o t m s u was in N r ha pton hire, where Lord Montag e

u i c engaged in b ilding, plant ng, and de orating, with

great tas te and lavi sh expenditure .

226 E ENGLISH AND FR NCH AMBASSADORS .

We will now go on with the history of Lord

a w c s u of Mont gue, hi h involve an intrig e those

m u ac u E ti es, too curio s and too disgr ef l to nglish

to s . . political life, pass over di regarded Charles II ,

u c f who was an habit al s o fer at all religion , ordered

u out Lord Montag e to ﬁnd an astrologer, in whom

u he had great faith . Accordingly, he fo nd the m an at Paris ; he also found that he was c apable of c r u being o r pted by money, and accordingly, made him give such hints as Should serve Mon

’ t g ue s o n B a w purposes . ut this great statesman had the folly to trust the story of the astrologer to the

u s was on c D ches of Cleveland, who then the onti

of di : i nent, in a sort sgrace th s violent woman,

ill - u in some moment of humour, vowed the r in of

u E Montag e, and She sent over to ngland an ex a r t s c gge a ed history of the tran a tion . In c on se

uen ce a u was 1 678 q , Lord Mont g e disgraced in , and m Lord Sunderland succ eeded him in the e bassy.

u m en Lord Montag e then revenged hi self, by

i u u . tering into a sec ret intr g e with Lo is XIV , for

u the removal of the Lord Treas rer Danby, (to be

s accomplished within a given time . ) For thi service Lord Montagu e asked the sum of a hun

’ s s or u dred thou and crown , an ann ity of forty K DU E OF MONTAGUE . 2 27

l f r thousand ivres o life . The bargain was fulﬁl led on — was di s s one side Danby graced, and ent to the Tower ; but Lord Montagu e only received half the stipulated sum of money from the French govern ment : he was also reduc ed to the necessity of making repeated and humiliating applic ations for

of i sc c u the money, at the risk a d overy whi h wo ld

i is on e have endangered h s head . This of the many stories of want of principle in the English

* s politicians of tho e days. Lord Montague afterwards went into opposition

s c us to the mini terial party, and voted for the ex l ion

l oﬂen c e . 1 680 i bi l, which gave great In , he ret red

c orthumberlan d to Fran e, where Lady N followed

hi m u . , and they resided d ring some years at Paris He became a zealous supporter of the government

n l i m d of Ki g Wi l a , who ma e him an earl, and

u u 1 05 Q een Anne c reated him a d ke in 7 .

of s of After the death his ﬁr t wife, the Earl

u f u his Montag e, having got into di ﬁc lties by mag n iﬁc en ce i and extravagance, determ ned to marry another heiress ; and in the character of the E m

eror i u p of Ch na, he co rted and won the mad

u s of u of D ches Albemarle . She was the da ghter

’ ’ See Barillon D s t es to ou s . and u net s s i pa ch L i X IV , B r sto Hi ry . 228 ENGLISH AND FRENCH AMBASSADORS .

u c ss of im the D ke of New astle, and in posse ion

s c s a . men e ri he , both by inherit nce and by marriage

s she c she Her intellects being di ordered, de lared would only marry a sovereign ; and after the

u l s She was c ﬁ m n ptia , kept in a sort of on ne ent in

o u ous s i on as E ss M ntag e H e, and alway wa ted mpre of i Ch na.

Lord Montag ue had twi c e over built and deco

u I t was u rated Montag e House . beg n between

1 6 75 1 678 c and , by Hooke, the archite t, and with a splendour of dec oration that c ost large sums .

E v s his c c elyn mention , in Diary, the magniﬁ en e

” c s u u of the pala e near Bloom b ry, and in Jan ary,

1 685 s s was u , he write Thi night b rnt to the

’ u u s c s u gro nd Lord Montag e pala e at Bloom b ry, whic h for painting and furniture there was nothing

” s more glorious in England . He mention the c Verrio u eilings painted by , and the n mber of

u c u cu s . val able pi t res, parti larly tho e by Holbein Lord Montag u e had exchanged hotels with the

Frenc h ambassador at Paris ; and it was during his re sidence that Montag ue House was des troyed

* ﬁre u di u t of c by . In reb il ng it, the co r Fran e

agreed to supply half the expense of the new

’ See a o c otes o f a n t n an d A c tectu e W lp l e s A n e d P i i g r hi r ,

v l i ii . o . 1 7 1 . . p

230 ENGLISH A ND FREN CH AMBASSADORS.

C ﬁﬂord u to Lord Arlington, Lord , and the D ke

u . di too c of B ckingham The la es, , re eived a

’ X s u s . d h share in Lou is IV. bo ntie La y S rews

on n c s she bury, receivi g her Fren h pension, aid, would make B uckingham c omply with the King i in all thi ngs . Lady Arlington thanked the K ng

i n for his magn ﬁcent present, and Lord Arli gton

i on a sa wa ted the French ambass dor, to y so, in his

’ s a u s wife name . Lord Sunderl nd and the D ches of Portsmouth hinted that they expected gra tiﬁ ca tions c from Fran e . They received and

“ 5000 r pistoles with a ve y good grac e .

i . In private l fe, M de Croissy was treated with

u ls c orres on disdain and ridic le, and a o in the p dence of Madame de Sev igne and Madame de

Grignan ; an d when the latter writes to Mon sieur

1 696 of his de Pomponne, in , to wish him joy

’ s c of of u s being again e retary state, and his da ghter

“ . c she s marriage with M de Tor y, ays, I think the

King and M . de Torcy very happy : one to have

ou y for his secretary of state, and the other to

”

ou f . ss . have y for a father, instead o M de Croi y

' See the o na s atc es uote in Da m e s A rigi l di p h , q d lry pl p d pen ix. . BA RI LL 2 M DE ON. 3 1

R D E BA I LL N. M . O

BA RI LLON u s cceeded to Colbert, and carried on

so u s ul i the system s cce sf ly began, and in wh ch he was aided by the inﬂuenc e of the D uche ss of u of has Portsmo th, whom it been said by an

i E w as b h storian, ngland in her time little etter

’2 f c u than a province o Fran e . In her bo doir was

c f arranged the secret treaty, a prin ipal article o

was s ul n ot which , that Charles ho d call a parlia

u of ment for a certain n mber years, and that meantime he should be supplied with money from

u f us uc Franc e . The amo nt o the pension ca ed m h

u s s su dispute . The plea ed by Charle to per ade

u c m w as “ ul Lo is to ome to his ter s , that it wo d

E n for on render ngla d ever dependent him, and put it out of the power of the English to oppose

” ’ * s him ! Tho e were the King s own words .

was Some time after, another secret treaty

but s c arranged verbally, the proof of whi h remain

’ arill n s c s i n B o dispatches. One of the ondition

n t m e vol . i . v n vol i . See u e vol . . D a E e B r , i i ; lry pl , ; ly , . 232 ENGLISH AND FRENCH AMBA SSADORS .

w as s u o , that Charles ho ld never m re call a parlia

. s s s his ment After thi , Charle di solved parliament,

c of E and never alled another. The King ngland

300 000l. his s c received , for pa sive trea hery, on

’ ou s s s u u u L i eiz re of L xembo rg, the key to the

u ss m s Netherlands . The D che of Ports outh boa ted

Of this being the best piec e of servic e that she had

” c u of c . ueroualle rendered the o rt Fran e Cette Q , as ad m s M a e de Sevigne call her, played a deep — and suc c essﬁi l game for France a fearful one for

E ngland .

’ It was in 1 684 that Charles s spi rits and health

ffi x declined. The di culties his e travagance and

u u i duplic ity bro ght on him preyed pon h s mind .

s c n o om In igniﬁ a t abroad, and c ntemptible at h e,

u s s c his m u s Lo i grew i k of mean i port nitie , and withheld his pension ; and Barillon c onfe ss es that he had disc retionary power to threaten Charles that the King of France would publish through

E ur ope the artic les of the sec ret treaty ; whic h would not only have endangered his c rown and his but u hi m s c life , wo ld have rendered de pi able

s r to the whole world . Charle , ove whelmed with

his o u u anger and terror, never recovered g od h mo r

s or his goo d spirit .

34 AN D R 2 ENGLISH F ENCH AMBASSADORS .

I shall expect you to-mbrrow We were all

u much am sed for various reas ons .

’ . Barillon s d There is a note of M de , ad ressed to

a a Sé M dame de Grignan, amongst M dame de vigne ’ s Letters

1 M a rs 8 , 1 67 1 .

’ J interromps la plus aimable mere du monde

u ui n e u pour vo s dire trois mots, q seront g ere bien

arran es ui . don e g , mais q seront vrais Sachez ,

a ue e u u u a ue e M dame, q j vo s ai to jours pl s imée q j

’ me u et ue si e ouv em e vo s l ai dit, q jamais j g , la

’ u E n Provence n aura plus de go vernante . attend

u - us et re n ez u sur ant, go vernez vo bien, g do cement

u ue u s u a v os . u les pe ples q Die a o mis lois Adie ,

” e u . Madame, j q itte Paris sans regret

’ s c e u Madame de Sevigne say , C est pa vre

’ Barillon ui u et n e q m a interromp e, qui me trouve gu ere avancée de n e pouvoir pas encore recevoir de

” vos u &c . lettres sans ple rer, N EARL OF SU DERLAND . 235

E E ROBERT SPENC R, S C OND EARL OF E SUND RLAND .

o n 1 640 e 1 702 . B r , ; di d ,

LORD SUND ERLAND was ambassador at Paris on

s of u 1 6 2 six the di grace Montag e, in 7 , and again,

r o years afterwards . On his ﬁ st embassy, C lbert,

' ss in E n lan d sc s the French amba ador g , thus de ribe

s . and recommends him, in a letter to Loui XIV The E arl of Sunderland will without fail depart

- on u s . to morrow, to wait yo r Maje ty He is a young gentleman of high family ; has a great deal of s c u n frankne s, parts, o rage, and learni g ; is also

- s extremely well intentioned, and strongly dispo ed

” to become a Roman Catholic. Lord Sunderland was endowed with splendid

s c ul u u abilitie , tivated by st dy, the most cons mmate

a s s u . ddres , and the most in in ating manners He

u o c began life witho t gener us feeling, or patrioti

u l u principle ; he contin ed his politica career, witho t

of l elevated or enlarged views po icy ; and withal,

as ft as Burnet says, He changed sides o en others

9, was Change their coat. He the most mercenary

f u . of o men, and is acc sed by James II receiving a 236 S D ENGLISH AND FRENCH AMBAS A ORS . pension from the Prin c e of Orange at the time he

“ n m u s o re c eived o e fro Lo i XIV. He g verned

his c s or so Charles II. by vi e , attempted to do ,

his s s u I I I . and wi hed to d pe William by virtu e .

Su was u c m ch Lord S nderland, who was twi e pri e minister of E ngland ; and he h as left a greater reputation for political crime than any other f minister o s tate .

his s o s s s u In ec nd emba y to Pari , Lord S nderland s ettled with the Frenc h government thos e s ecret pe c uniary relation s between Louis and Charles that

broil ht uc s c u E . His g s h di gra e pon ngland lady,

u ss of u w as Anne Digby, Co nte S nderland, who

s w as u i u as c u with him at Pari , very bea t f l, her pi t re

s Sir s . was as at Wind or, by Peter Lely, prove She

c u u us as u u bu t gra ef l and virt o bea tif l, and wanted

c s s as a Waller to Sing her harm in ver e, he had

s of -in - Sac charissa b ut done tho e her mother law, ; nothin g more is known of her than what is related

" was in simple prose . She the daughter and the

of s u u l c wife two of the mo t nprincipled men, p b i ly

E n . s s and privately, in ngla d Her deare t friend

E u was were velyn and Lady R ssell, and she the

eo e D Ea of sto . G rg igby , rl Bri l

238 ENGLI SH AND FRENCH AMBASSADORS .

u o u to of disposition to nb nded expense, the love

” u u of f c c . l x ry, and the vanity magni i en e It is certain that the politics of Lord Sunderland were

of c s s c worthy Ma hiavelli, and he is u pe ted ofhaving f u rged on the weak and c on iding James II. to

erﬁdi ous su s as violent and p mea re , being the strongest means of ac celerating his own ruin and

s c ss u of di grace, and the ac e ion and tri mph Wil liam I I L; a species of politi c al d uplic ity onl y to be paralleled in the days of the Borgias and the

Medi ci .

GE ORGE E E E VILLI RS, S C OND DUK

OF B UCKINGHAM.

o n 1 6 27 e 1 68 7 . B r , ; di d ,

s 1 67O m ss BUCKINGHAM was ent, in , a ba ador

s extraordinary to Paris, osten ibly to condole with

r on of the French cou t, the death Henrietta,

u of s s of s His D chess Orlean , the si ter Charle II.

pers onal“ appearance and his wit excited muc h ad

m iration u s X I V at Paris ; and Lo i . observed, that he was almost the only Englishman he had ever

w as seen who a gentleman . The French troops were CO SE ND DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM . 23 9

s reviewed before him, and balls, opera , and plays,

i his us were da ly planned for am ement . Louis made him many presents .

ft uc n was Two years a erwards, B ki gham again

s c di patched to the French monar h, then at Utrecht .

u u In passing thro gh the Hag e, he stopped to pay

s r s of n his respect to the P inces Ora ge . During his n s of u c i terview, he poke warmly the D t h ; and,

s on ff in order to plea e her, he dwelt the a ection

ffi s s which he a rmed England bore to the tate .

” n ot u in use We do , said B ck gham, Holland

”

s ss as . like a mi tre , we love her a wife Vraiment j e crois que vous nous aimez comme vous aimez la

” ’ * s votre , was the Prince s s reply.

’ Such is the foreign account of B uckingham s

n E s his re c eption o the c ontinent. The ngli h o s di m c c u t rian ays of his plo ati ond ct, The King f him so u o France treated in partic lar a manner,

n hi s u s knowi g vanity, that he gave in witho t re erve

s s to what the King propo ed, and con ented to the French ﬂeets coming into our seas and harbours ; whic h afterwards improved the mariners of that

I t is on eco t at t s u e once sa to a do t at had r rd , h hi d k id g h ‘ oﬂeuded him Get ou on e ou nast cur I s ou e e , y g , y y ; wi h y w r ” ma e and sett e i n the count . rri d , l d ry 24 0 GLI H EN S AND FRENCH AMBASSADORS .

u of nation , and ta ght them the way ﬁghting at

” Se a.

Wits have not always been good ambassadors ; and vain men have generally been the dupes of the nation that they were sent to d upe . The best

s is th e u m an s s amba sador plodding, d ll , who pro e

s his s u has and bore hearer , ntil he fairly wearied out the patience of those whom he is sent to suc h c harac ters have generally suc c eeded in gaining for

c u their o rts what they wanted.

The D uke of B u ckingham w as the jest and ad m iration of th e roﬁi ate c u s as p g o rt of Charle IL ,

c of his father had been the ora le of that Charles I.

Horac e Walpole give s his character ad mirably in

s c has as m few word , and Sir Walter S ott ad irably portrayed s ome of the sc enes of his life in his

f u s . s s o s novel Walpole ay the D ke , When thi

m an u us e xtraordinary , with the ﬁg re and geni of

s c u u s Al c ibiade , o ld eq ally charm the pre byterian

‘ irfax di ss u s l a and the ol te Charle , when he alike

i his s m c c ridiculed that witty k ng and ole n han ellor, when b e plotted the ru in of his c ountry with a

s s or u u c c abal of bad mini ter , , eq ally nprin ipled,

its c us bad s m s supported a e with patriot , one la ent that suc h parts should have been devoid of every

242 ENGLISH AND FRENCH AMBASSADORS . portance and necessity to Fran c e of peac e ; and a

u . t letter from Queen Anne to Lo is XIV , writ en

o s at the same peri d, shew the good understanding

"e between the courts of London and Paris . The

f s u s Duke o Shrew b ry, a Prote tant, and then lord

was on of uk Chamberlain, , the death the D e of

m s ss - x a s Ha ilton, ent amba ador e tr ordinary to Pari , H w to c onclude the negotiations for peace . o ever, he was neither to be ﬂattered nor cajoled, and

s t s ﬁc c c in is ed on everal bene ial articles of ommer e,

u c n which the French wo ld have de li ed . He soon

u ss u s hi m fo nd a coolne in that co rt toward , and

u s c c there pon oli ited his return, whi h he did not

” ill Au us 1 7I S. obtain t g t, T

' ’ D an geau s diary is fu ll of the ceremonials of his

his ak reception and of t ing leave, written in the

i s 1 71 3 22 . c was follow ng tyle , May Pea e pro

c in l ff l s laimed Paris in twe ve di erent p ace , and the

u herald passed thro gh the principal streets. M .

’ d A r en son s of g , the ecretary the home department,

c ss u headed the pro e ion, and distrib ted money

. 1 3 Jun e Versaill es amongst the people th , . The

King held a counc il of finan c e he gave the ﬁrst

u u c u of r s u p blic a dien e to the D ke Sh ew b ry, who

See a e 1 8 6 p g . ’ Sir E e ton es eera En an 1 g r Brydg P ge of gl d . or DUKE SHREWSBURY. 24 3

made his entrée here . In the little court of the

a u u s Ch tea , a q arrel took place between the ervants

his u was s of retin e, and there even blood hed,

u s s n ot altho gh ervant in livery do wear swords .

. s r ss Mr Prior (the poet, and ecreta y of emba y, )

was u t obliged to alight, and p an end to the fray

s m f c u . u 1 1 1 3 7 7 . with o e di ﬁ lty J ly , , Marly

The D uke du Maine and the Comte de Toulouse

s s c a went ome days ago to Pari , in expe t tion of a

o E s bu t as visit fr m the nglish ambas ador, they did

m s Was ut not agree in regard to cere onial, the vi it p

s off . The amba sador maintained that the princes

u m of s s o ght to eet him on the middle the tairca e, but u s they will only consent to go down fo r step , it having been asc ertained by the re c ords of the ushers of ambassadors that these princ es never

but ou went down lower ; Prior, who had br ght an

acc ount of the manner in which former Engli sh

s o s c amba sad r had been re eived, maintained his

s . opinion, and thereby prevented the vi it

1 9th u . u of u J ly, Marly The D ke Shrewsb ry, who wishes to remove all objections that may pre vent hi s paying a visit to the D uke du Maine and

m u u the Co te de To lo se, refers for the ceremonial

to the records of our ushers . M 2 244 ENGLISH AND FRENCH AMBASSADORS.

28 th u . u s u J ly, Marly The D ke of Shrew b ry went lately to pay a visit to the D uke du Maine

u u s and the Comte de To lo e, at the arsenal in

s c to is Pari , and referred for the eremonial what

c s of our u s re orded in the regi ter hers . The

princ es went down four s teps and m et hi m on the

but him c his c s on ﬁfth, led ba k to arriage, and tood

s s of c u the la t tep the staircase leading into the o rt.

2 1 A u . 1 71 3 . hi g , , Marly The King, after s i v u c u f levée , ga e a private a dien e to the D ke o

Shrewsbury ; and although it was an audien c e of

w as u c u leave , there no sher, ontrary to the etiq ette observed when ambassadors who have made a public entrée take their leave . The Duke of

Shr ew sbury con siders his being e xempted ﬁ' om

u has the formal ity as a high favo r. The King i s . c h s t c is ent him, by M de Tor y, por rait, whi h se t s u us with diamond , and val ed at twenty tho and

c s . ft c rown A er dinner, the King re eived the

“ visit of the D uchess of Shrew sbur yf who had

u dined with the Princess de Conti . The D ke

’ will return to E ngland a little after the King s departure for Fontainbleau .

A e a e Duc ess of S e s u a o o nese a the d l id , h hr w b ry , B l g l dy, t of the a c ese a ott daugh er M r h P li i .

246 VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE . whic h England and the allies had gained in the

but of s war ; Bolingbroke, to the end his day , while he admitted that England ought to have

s was so reaped greater advantage , said that he c c of ss of c onvin ed the nece ity pea e, that were

u u c s he placed nder the like circ mstan e again, he

u u wo ld take the same resol tions, and act the same ” part.

Lord Bolingbroke termed the previous war,

ur u s u o s cce sf l folly. In 1 71 6 (hi s former wife having died soon after he went abroad) Lord Bolingbroke married the

of u widow the Marq is de Villette, and niece to

u Madame de Maintenon . Her uncommon nder

s u of u tanding made p for her want fort ne . Lady

n she t e Boli gbroke told Voltaire, that had often proached her aunt for doing so little for her

. s family Madame de Maintenon, in her letter ,

“ styles her the most sensible person among her

” female relations .

was a Lady Bolingbroke a martyr to bad he lth .

s am Swift, in a letter to Bolingbroke, say , I

’ but ro sorry for Lady Bolingbroke s ill health, I p test I never knew a very deserving person of that

’ Lodge s Historical M emoirs . DUKE AND DUCHESS DU MAINE . 24 7 sex who had not too much reason to complain of ” ill health .

! The above closes the notices of French and English ambassadors !

DUKE DU MAINE .

o n 1 670 e 1 736 . B r , ; di d ,

E D U C H S S D U M A I N E .

o n 1 6 76 e 1 75 3 . B r , ; di d ,

BOURE ON u du son of LOUIS DE , D ke Maine, the

u . a s w as Lo is XIV and M dame de Monte pan, legi

imatized s his w t three year after birth . He as

uc e the n ed at d by Madame de Maintenon, and Ki g

s f s c early hewed an extreme a fection for thi hild, who announced great ac uteness and talent. Madame

’

o o n o e s o s came. out in f ve ua to vo L rd B li gbr k w rk , i q r

umes i n 1 754 e te Dav a et en D r . Jo hnson l , , di d by id M ll , wh uttered the following anathema upo n both author and editor Sl l’ he wa s a scoun e and a co a a scoun e for , dr l w rd dr l , c a i n a un e uss a a nst e on and m o a t a co a h rg g bl d rb g i r ligi r li y ; w rd , h had n o eso ut on to ﬁre it o ff mse but e t a because e r l i hi lf, l f h lf - o n to a e a Scotc man to aw the t e a te his a c r w b gg rly h , dr rigg r f r ” ea t d h . 2 CH 4 8 DUKE AND DU ESS DU MAINE .

s of his de Maintenon, to plea e the King, had some

s s as s theme and letter printed, to give pre ents ,

' ’ u of G uvr es diverses d un A uteur nder the title , de se t a ns p ,

s s of Madame de Sevigne write , that the ayings

u this little boy were q ite astonishing. When he w as or s old to ﬁve six year , the King remarked the child that he thought him reas onable for hi s

” u so age . I m st be , answered the child, for I

s have a lady with me who is rea on itself. (Ma

”

m . s da e Scarron ) Go, aid the King, and

ou i s n our vo tell her that y give her th eveni g, p s

” dra ées u us c s. g , a h ndred tho and fran

I n 1 692 u du , the D ke Maine married the

d s granddaughter of the Grand Con é . Thi was an

u c for sh e was as u nfort nate allian e for him, ener

as was u getic and violent he q iet and gentle . By

d 1 7 1 0 u s his l an e ict, in , Lo i made i legitimate c c u c n hildren apable of s cceeding to the row , on failure of the legitimate rac e . After the death of

u s X I V. s ac t of n Lo i , the ﬁr t the Regent, Orlea s,

u his sco w as to revoke thi s edict. The D ke hid di n

at s s u was c o tent thi mea re, for he nvicted of having

u s m S an ish entered into the intrig e of Cella are, the p

s s : was amba ador he arrested, and conﬁned in the

250 DUKE AND DUCHESS DU MA I NE .

as if r r so u lated statue, to ma k the spot whe e m ch

u t i u grande r formerly s ood, and rema n a mon ment to posterity of the ha voc that time and revolu tions make.

’ The Duke du Main e s epis tola ry talent has bee n m uch i B c of his to his dear adm red. er is a note

' e e diﬂere n t s as of is nam d in thre work , a model grac e and good writing ; it was written on new

’ s 1 71 3 am en n year day, , when Mad e de Maint o was t u of in u in fac Q een France, power and sit ation z

’ Il auroit o m a l cc été trop c mun, Madame, d l er

a n a u u l m ti votre porte, pour vo s faire, sur la no ve le

le m u . u cc e ne Voyez to t que j vous dois, depuis

’ on e u n é us n an oil e moment j s is , j q moment j

ue e t u di s - a us q vous avez formé, p is te vons vo

u ce ue e v oudrois us ir ui es t meme to t q j vo d e, q

’ u ue ai fo rt an desso us de to t cc q j e sen s . J

’ ’ a s il s a n ay ez i mal a la . m is, vou pl it, po nt tete

‘ Plus je réﬂéc his sur les diﬂére n tes marques que I HA RLA PRES DENT DE Y . 25 1

n z vous me do ne de la plus délicate, de la plus

u u us s et scr p leuse, de la pl incere profonde amitié ,

’ et plus j e vois combien j ai de raisons de vous

” adorer.

THE E HA RLA Y FIRST PR SIDENT DE .

o n 1 63 9 e 1 7 1 2 . B r , ; di d ,

AMONGST the char acters belonging to the court

L u on e of is f of o is XIV. the most striking that o

m c l the First President of Parlia ent, A hil e de H arla . y It almost approaches to caric ature . He w as n u s very thi , with a long face, an aq iline no e,

r ss u of ﬁr e u ve y expre ive eyes f ll , and a co ntenance full of energy ; and when he ﬁxed these tre m u c or st endons eyes pon a lient a magi rate, they

i His were ready to s nk into the earth . phari s ai cal pride and austerity rendered hi m dreaded

his f s a s s by in erior , to whom he ddre sed reprimand

was u of the most cruel nature . He very partic lar in forms and ceremonies ; and on e amongst the

s s of his u to numerou tories told him is, reb ke a young lawyer : spyin g from beneath his blac k robes part of a dre ss which he thought had not the gravity that the fashi ons of those days enjoined 252 I H PRES DENT DE A RLA Y .

g s s ma istrate and lawyers to follow Sir, aid

Harla s u is y, it appear that in yo r family there a

” d s v off c o ou s great i like to lea ing a l red c oat. Thi

c u s c c u s s was a r el pee h, be a e the ance tors of the

u u yo ng man had worn a livery. The br tal man ners and speeches of Harlay arose from his temper

was c o f i c he the vi tim irritability, wh h increased at time s to ﬁts of rage and pass io n approaching to insanity ; at other tim es he represented Tar tuffe

c as c perfe tly, being grovelling, hypo ritical, hollow,

as c and false, he whom Moliere pla ed on the s tage .

’ The President s dress w as more ec c lesias tical

for v i w as than legal, he carried e eryth ng that fo rmal to an extreme : he w as always full-dressed his s his s s s udi gait tooping ; peech low, t ed, and distinc t ; his pronun c iation of the old school ; his

s s m His word and phrases the a e . whole manner w as u s f made p, con trained, and a fected ; an air of i hypocrisy infected all h s ac tions .

His wit and presence of mind were extrem e .

c s for s s He was on e ent to Ver aille , and obliged,

’ l s o f s ike the re t the world, to wait the King plea s u in G il de Baeu l s re the j He fell a leep, and the

’ n s m u c s Ki g s p age , who were fa o s for practi al joke ,

2 54 PRESI DENT DE HA RLA Y .

u u an d u with the most absol te tyranny, t ning sing

as u them he listed, and often witho t their per c eivin di d g it, and when they , they were obliged

uf s a to submit. He never s fered the slighte t p proac h to famil iarity on the part of any pers on ; even in hi s own family as much ceremony was

s kept up as between the most perfec t stranger .

ur u At table, the conversation t ned pon the most c - su c his son n ommon place bje ts ; and , though livi g m ’ in the sa e house, never entered his father s apartments wi thout s endin g a message beforehan d ;

his s and when he entered, father ro e to meet him

in c u with hat hand, ordered a hair to be bro ght, and took leave of him in the same manner. Harlay w as celebrated for hi s dexterity in bow ing out people : the ins tant he wished to get rid of an out y person, he began bowing them from

so uc f um door to door, with m h a fected h ility and

u s c was im o s s ch determined per everan e, that it p

f r ft sible either to be o fended o to resis t. A er he had u ttered on e of the c ru el bon-mots for which

was ul m m c his s he remarkable, he wo d co en e bow , and never leave his vic tims till he saw them in their

u u m . on e carriage, and the door sh t pon the On

c s u Harla in o ca ion, the D ke de Rohan left y great RLA 2 PRESID EN T DE HA Y . 55

n r a ger, at the way in which he had been t eated in

u c was s i i n an a dien e, and he de cend ng the stairs, dul in us of hi m u g g in all sorts of ab e , when s ddenly

u u i c t rning round, he fo nd the F rst President lose

e him w him s u b hind , bo ing to in the most re pectf l

. u was u c e manner The D ke q ite onfus d, and ex pressed himself shocked that h e should give him

’ u see him o ut Harla self the tro ble to Sir, said y,

‘ is ou ou sa su c it impossible to leave y , y y ch harm ing things upon which he saw him into his c arriage .

a of . Montat ire, a Chevalier of the Order the St

E s u of u s - u prit, and married to a da ghter B s y Rab

was as as his c for tin, , well Wife, elebrated being

al a great t ker. They were once at an au dien c e of

s of us . the Pre ident, and began to talk their ca e

us t bu t n ot c The h band spoke ﬁrs , had advan ed far

his s s in tory, when the lady took the word from him all u i of an , and proceeded, with the vol bil ty

the us ss. energetic French woman, to explain b ine

i s u The President l tened, and at last, interr pting

’ s a t i Sir is u ? her, aid to Mont a re, , that yo r wife

‘ ’ ’ Y es sir s . s Harla , ; aid Montataire Sir, aid y,

’ ou u hi s c u I pity y , and t rned ba k pon them .

old n u An withered French woma , the D chess 256 SI HA PRE DENT DE RLA Y .

s Harla as de la Ferte, always poke of y the old

. had u monkey , and he knew it She a laws it,

c she an d s she whi h won, in ha te went to thank and to make speec hes and c ompliments to the

’ s d l u First Pre ident Ma ame, he said to her, a o d, you see that the old monkey loves to oblige the

’ old ape .

La Bruyere call s the persons about a c ourt

i rs pers onnages de comédi e . Certa nly the Fi t m President de Harlay erited the name of ac tor.

c s s u Vi e there will alway be in the world, ntil that golden age arrives that we look to ; but there is a

of s of s s of part the hi tory ociety, in the time Ma

m u l of da e de Sevigne, n ike that any other epoch ;

s m m u su o s the wor t of the co nity cen red the ther ,

ff I n c u and with more e e c t than the virtu ous . a o rt

u l of c s s c s s c u f l e cle ia ti , and when all the lea t orr pt of on n ot the nation looked with regret, and dared

’ s Harla l E n clos an d peak, y, Ninon de , Grammont, Madame C orn uel satirized the vices of the times ;

s s it fell to their lot to cha ti e the world, and their

u s sayings were applauded and listened to. Lo i

u was often inq ired what Ninon had said, and in awe of her bon-mots ; and the c ourt were amus ed with the wittic isms of these person s at

’ 258 D A GUE SSE A CHANCELLOR U. in the form and substanc e of which the Chancellor

on s of saw an attack the right the monarchy, that

ai m s he defended it ag nst Louis XIV. hi self. Thi

’ ss c u he expre ed energeti ally to the Pope s n ncio,

ui rin i c Fren n es Q , who ame to visit him at , and s aid It is here that arms are forged against

” ’ No D A uesseau ar but Rome . , said g , not ms,

” s hields .

’ D A uesseau out Under the Regent, g went of

f c was s o ﬁ e, and ent into exile for having opposed

the projects known u nder the name of the La w

s s but was 1 20 y tem ; it in 7 , that Law himself,

c C on ﬂan s ac ompanied by the Chevalier de , the

’ Regent s gentilhomme de la chambre, went to

’ Fren n s e c l . D A uesseau , to fet h the Chancel or back g

was - f n u a d . thirty fo r years in o ﬁce, ten in exile

c l u The Chan el or spoke like an orator, and tho ght

- like a philosopher. Saint Simon cannot help

saying a great deal of good of hi m ; he accords

s s him con iderable clevernes , application, pene

tration a n of , and le rni g all sorts ; which, with

u u of s gravity, religio s feelings, p rity moral , and

s r n f us c s o c . a t o g ense j tice, omposed his chara ter Sai nt-Simon afterwards c ensures his slowness and

c r indecision . One day the Comte de Bran as e FONTENELLE . 259

roached u . p him with these fa lts When I think,

’ ’ D A uesseau s s said g , that the Chancellor deci ion

co is l be mes law, it a lowable to reﬂect for a long

” while before pronouncing it.

u He nderstood Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and s s u al ome Ea tern lang ages ; also It ian, Spanish ,

u u s was Port g e e, and English . He a good poet, an d that circums tanc e gave his style the harmony an d reﬁnement which were so muc h admired ; hi s

u poems were never p blished.

F O N T E NE L L E

o n 1 6 57 e 1 75 7 B r , ; di d , .

’ FO LL S f c u NTENE E li e embraced an entire ent ry,

s was c wanting a few day . He onsidered in Franc e as o n e of the greatest writers of the brilliant age of

all s Loui s XIV. and the greate t men of his day

his or were either his friends , enemies, his rivals .

of hi s d of hi s The extent knowle g e, the reﬁnement

s w u s c u pen, he ing geni s and grace that were pe liarly

m c ul n and e inently Fren h, and that co d o ly have

c u been developed in Fran e, gave him a great rep 260 O LL F NTENE E .

tation his own c u c out in o ntry, whi h he never had

. was so uc m his of it There m h har ony in writings, his c u s us ond ct, and his principle , that he m t be

on as l looked whol y and entirely a French writer.

s m a s of The ame y be aid Sir Walter Scott, as

r s his c u his rega d o ntry ; for in life, character, and

s s m m x s ll . writing , the a e har ony e i ted nationa y

was but F ren ch Fontenelle a philosopher, a philosopher ; and accordingly b e determined to enjoy the comforts and happine ss of a tranquil

c us s i s of f . existen e, and to p h a ide all the ev l li e

He was accused of total and entire egotism ; but he did good secretly ; he was e xemp t from all s but s trong feeling, he ma tered every little passion ; his enlightened understanding was gentle

ci all c and con liatory on oc asions, and he had the ad dre ss ofknowing how to manage his ﬁ' ien ds with f out sacriﬁcing his independen c e o character.

of When at the head French literature, he gave

sc c n to ien e and letters the weight, the dig ity, and

u s consideration which w as their due . In all acco nt

o c of F ntenelle, it is mentioned, that when on e he

s u had given his opinion, and the rea ons pon which

his u ouc s he leaned, he held tong e, and never v h afed to answer any of those who c ontradicted him .

6 2 2 PONTE NE LLE .

o Fontenelle, after the death of La Motte, to k

s him u c occa ion to praise witho t drawba k, in a séa nce at the French Academy. At the end of his s i life, he said, The be t trait in my l fe is,

’ t was f hat I never jealous o La Motte .

tou ou s eu es s de a e se contentai t ec outer ceux ui j r p pr é p rl r, d q ’ ’ n éta ient a s nes de l entendre et son ea t seu emen t a eu p dig , g i l l r ’ mon t e u ne a a ence d a robation u i les em échait de r r pp r pp , q p

en e so n S ence ou d u m s . La orte us com lai pr dr il p r épri M , pl p ' san t en co e ou us oso e s a li ua i t a C e c e an s r , pl phil ph , pp q h r h r , d ’ les ommes les us sots le cé te avo a e il les metta t s ur h pl , f r bl ; i ’ ’ ce u i ls a va ent le m eux v u s ur c e u ouv aien t le m eux q i i , q il p i ’ en ten e et eu oc u a t sa ns affecta t on le a s ta e dr , l r pr r i , i , pl i ir d é l r ’ ’ u- e o s le en d e sa vo u i ls oss aien t S s so tai en t a d h r p ir q p éd . il r co n tents avec Fon tenelle il s sortaient en c han tés avec La Motte ’ flatté s que le premier l eur efit tro uv é d e l es pri t mai s ra vis de ’ " é o uv a v l s co n s en tre tr é bien ec e e d . Antoin e Hondar de la Motte was one of the most remark able te s of the atte end of the e n of ou s E uca te wri r l r r ig L i X IV. d d for the law he too to co m o s n for the t eatre ea in e , k p i g h rly lif b ut i n n out a ece t a t a e he in a fit of s us t ent br gi g pi h f il d , , di g , w o ff toLa a e a on t a oun en . The A de Ra ncé Tr pp , l g wi h y g fri d bbé sent a a t es e tw o oun men a t the end of two mo nt s w y h y g h , thin king th eir vocation or th eir weak state of h ealth not s uited to o e a s and the h ardships o f La Tra ppe . La M otte then wr t pl y e a s c had eat s uccess a t cu ar the tra e of Op r whi h gr , p r i l ly g dy ” ” nes de as t o Le M a nifi ue is the on one of his I C r . g q ly n w n a a s La otte ease dramas o in the lis t of acti g pl ys at P ri . M pl d un ve sa om his a eea e manne s an d a m a e s os t on . i r lly , fr gr bl r i bl di p i i He had bad ea t and was n ea n but his en t eness h l h , rly bli d , g l n v i I n so m o s t h t o on the oot o f e er left h m . e cr wded po e r d f a oun m an who tu n n oun a v e him a o aecom y g , , r i g r d , g bl w, ” anied t some n u o us ex ess on ons eu sa p wi h i j ri pr i M i r , id ” La otte vous a ez é tre en faché car e su s a veu e. M , ll bi , j i gl PONTE NE LLE . 263

The ﬁrst work which raised the re puta tion of Fontenelle w as The Dialogues of the Dead

” after thi s followed The Plurality of Worlds. The

” Dialogues had great suc cess ; they are full of su i c u to btleties and paradoxes, wh h were s ited the

” taste of the day ; but the Plurali ty of Worlds shews his profound knowledge and his powerfu l

” Hi s i of a of d. min H story the Ac demy Science,

his t ut to hi s u and geome rical work, p the seal rep tation as a man of science . Fontenelle carried hi s talents in to society with

had wi t his a light hand. He and gaiety at dis

was i w s posal, and he g fted ith the mo t agreeable manner to women ; his brilliant witticisms were

a never bitter, and he bo sted that he had never in his f i w as li e given the leas t rid cul e to virtue . He so re in um a was s served arg ent, th t it aid, Fonte

” l w in v ne le as afraid of being the right. In c on er sa w as was tion, he a good listener, and celebrated k a of s i . for m ing the wit other adm red One night,

’ Madame d A rgenson said somethin g wi tty at sup

’ but c was n ot r eleve of per, whi h by any the com

a u she c out p ny, pon which ried , Fontenelle, where are you His su ccess in the world ex

i t his l er c ted more envy han it ary succ ess. La 264 FONTENELLE.

u his c u Br yere drew haracter, nder the name of

ia c C d s s . y , whi h cannot be mi taken Fontenelle was never married ; he resided with his u c s u of n le Corneille, and afterward the D ke

Orleans gave him an apartment in the Palais

an d his Royal, in his old age he lived with nephew .

us sa s s but He ed to y, a wi e man take little

an d c room, seldom changes ; he did hange often,

o u m u His on s . c h wever, tho gh he ade no jo rney n e xion wi th the Regent and with the minister

D ubois did not inﬂuence his independence ; he

us n m u ref ed the Rege t his vote, to get Re o d de

Saint Mar d into the Fren ch Ac ademy . One day

the Regent said to him, Fontenelle, I believe

ut u . o s u an b little in virt e M n eigne r, he

swered s , there are, however, ome good kind

but of people in the world, they do not come

” to you . Fontenelle was very ec onomic al and very liberal

at the same time : som e of his gifts were n ot

c s found out till after his death . His pla e and

To pensions gav e him the means ofbeing liberal .

hi m as those friends who spoke to charitable,

” s So u . he an wered, coldly I o ght to be Charity

was m u s of his was i c not an i p l e heart, it the d tate

2 66 FONTENELLE .

a u for t c om l wyer at Ro en, and him Fon enelle mi tted on e s a very blameable action, and again t every rule of honour ; he wrote for Brunel a dis c i c c off z e c ourse, wh h arried the pri e at the Fr n h

But Tm l t i Academy. the Abbé b e mention s a tra t of

s w s u to s . this friend hip, hich doe hono r both partie

u r ﬁ‘ om u his ou Br nel w ote Ro en to friend, If y

v c F n to . o ha e a thousand rowns, lend them me ten elle u answered, When I got yo r letter, I was going to put ou t to interest my thou sand

” c s i u . u o rown . Br nel wrote aga n Send yo r th u

” w s m e — a c c n s i c sand cro n to , la oni a wer wh h

t mm c m i pleased Fon enelle, and he i ediately o pl ed

Vert6 s wi its . t th desire The Abbé de ays, in a letter to Madame de Stahlf that when B runel

1 71 1 was un but died, in , Fontenelle very happy ; his gaiety of disposition an d his fac ulties remain ed

of his x his to the last moment e istence, and death was but a fain tin -ﬁt to i su g , wh ch he had been bject in his old age .

a ame de S a the en and attendant o f the D uc ess M d t hl , fri d h d a a ne M i . D UK D I -SM O E E SA NT N. 267

E D E - THE DUK SAINT SIMON.

o n 1 675 e 1 7 5 5 . B r , ; di d ,

M A RM ONTE L s u - aid of the D ke de Saint Simon,

as histor ia n that an , he saw in the French nation o ; n obilit l only the n bility in the y, on y the peers ; ” eer s s f. and in the p , only him el Dangeau and ai - S nt Simon were the his torians of the events of f ’ o u s . D the reign Lo i XIV an geau s ac counts of

be what witnessed are told as fac ts in a gazette ;

- m w s f s Saint Si on rite in a di ferent tyle . After the

t of s dea h the Regent Orlean , he retired to his

s s e tate at La Ferte . He was ambas sador in Spain

u of c d ring part the regen y, which was the only

c ac t his c politi al of life on re ord.

When the D uke de Saint-Simon died in 1 758 , ,

usc of his the original man ript memoirs, written

i his own was ent rely in hand, deemed of suc h im

c his portan e by family, and the c ustody of it so m delicate a atter, that they applied for a lettre-de ca chet u of c w , by a thority whi h it as taken poss es s of for ion , and deposited preservation among the c s s ar hive of the tate . The memoirs terminate with the death of the Regent Orleans in 1 2 , 7 0. N 2 - 268 DUKE DE SAINT SIMON.

- The au thor lived thirty four years after that event . When the death of most or all of the persons men ti on ed in the m emoirs had removed the difficulty

whi ch had been originally felt as to their p ubli c m m ou c for ation, the fa ily ade vari s appli ations the restitution of the MS but always without suc

s of x m m s was c ess . The ta k e a ining the me oir m m co itted to the Abbé Voisenon, who made

c m c of extra ts from the , whi h, by the treachery a

m s c c m do e ti , were copied, and o mitted to the press at the beginning of the Frenc h revolution ; but it w as owing to the j usti c e and liberal ity of

u s o . w as s Lo i XVIII. that the riginal MS re tored

’ to u s - u s the Marq i de Saint Simon, the a thor de sc en dan t c o ut , and the complete edition ame at

- u 1 8 0 s w s 3 . Pari , in t enty one vol me , in

Saint- Simon desc ribes the fac ts that came u his ow n or his own mm i in nder eye , from i ed ate

is s s . n ot former He not an hi torian , for he does bind him self to any order of events ; and he is n ot

s him a biographer, for it plea es more to draw the c harac ter of his subject than to pursue him through the different stages of his life ; but he partakes of

un of his m both charac ters. The gro dwork me oirs

i s his wn u i of ui . o life . D r ng the reign Lo s XIV

2 0 A N - 7 DUKE DE S I T SIMON.

u s of is in u few opport nitie distingu h g that co rage, in

of h w as which a nobleman t at day never deﬁcient,

us f and th being ta lked ofin the saloons o Versai lles . Such is a general sketch of the ordinary life of

u f th s of u a co rtier o e day Lo is XIV. Of course it w as c u varied by political abals, by intrig es, by

u c cas s i . d els, and by o ional visits to the Ba t lle The moral characteristics of the courtiers were not of a high order ; success was the end and arbiter of all u s an d meas re , there appears to have been no

s of u n s mean ens ri g it, however ba e or wicked, whi ch were not resorted to ; the object of the suc c ess being rar ely of a kind to palli ate th e un

s of s u . i worthine s the in tr ments H gh play, pro

u too f sion, and expense of every description, were general to be c onsidered remarkable in any indi

u . had vid al They , moreover, the royal sanction ; and it is curious to consider how com pletely the moral code of that age was the creature of the

’ “ m s onarch breath . N0 man was ever so co mpletely the director of

s i f as u . an d ~ the p rit o his time Lo is XIV , no sove

as d reign ever ruled the nobility he did . Ma ame

’ de Sevigne s letters woul d alone prove this fact.

v w Foreign Quarterly Re ie . - DUKE DE SAINT SIMON. 271

The D uke de Saint-Simon was beginning his

as c u career a o rtier when Madame de Sevigne died,

and hi s notic e of her death has been alr eady men

tion ed. s his He revi ed his memoirs in old age, in his retirement of La Ferte ; some of his biogra

hers sa p y that he composed them there . The

’ Cardinal de Retz s memoirs were also c omposed

of . Cla in retirement, after years reﬂection Lord

’ rendon s history of what he had witn ess ed was w l i the ritten in seclusion, at Montpe l er, in south

f c of o Fran e . The letters those times convey more the impression of being dictated by the feeli ng of the moment than any memoirs or hi s

s as of torie , however these l t may have the merit reﬂection and composition. Saint-Simon w as in habits of friendshi p with

u of u who the D kes Chevreuse and Bea villiers, were

u u devoted to the young D ke de Bo rgogne, the

u of - p pil Fenelon, which gave Saint Simon such a

a f a His kn owledge and admir tion o th t prelate . embassy to Spain failed in its objec t ; but he was

a hi u has con m de a grandee of Spain, w ch hono r

n i his son was ti ned in his fam ly, and given the

order of the golden ﬂeece . Here is an example of the D uke de Saint A - 272 DUKE DE S INT S IMON.

’ of sc hi s of Simon s powers de ription, and manner bringi ng striking scenes before the reader. The c amp of C ompeign e was formed at the end of

1 698 s u of u August, , for the in tr ction the D ke de

ur n i o u s uk Bo gog e in mil tary man e vre . The D e was r u his was ﬁ st in command, and nder orders

r Bouﬂi ers i the Ma echal de , who d rected the

manoeuvres.

“ The siege of C ompeign e was m ade in exact

i : C ren an c u m litary form defended the pla e . Sat r

1 3th u day, September, the assa lt took place . The

di of u on King, followed by the la es the co rt, went

was s of the ramparts ; it the ﬁne t weather, and

’ u - oai was u c of the co p d l s perb, ommanding a view

r di s the whole plain, with all the t oops posed in

different divisions . The whole army was seen at

c s on e ; and at ome distance, so as not to embarras s

u s u the manoe vre , was an immense conco rse of

of an d s u Spectators, all ranks description , bro ght

n w together to wit ess the sight. The attack as to

n o u s be a pretence, therefore there were preca tion to be taken but as to the exactness of the move m ents .

of ff u on e But a sight a di erent nat re, and that

l as - I could as wel describe forty years hence to day,

274 -S DUKE DE SAINT IMON .

s . knocked again t the window, to have it let down

but to to He spoke to no one her, except give s s s and ome orders in the fewest po ible words, occas ionally to ans wer the question s ‘ of the Duchess

ur to s de Bo gogne, who tried make her elf noticed, and to whom Madame de Maintenon made sign s

f u rom time to time , witho t lowering the win

dow u c u s s d , thro gh whi h the yo ng Prince s creame

l s s - h to her occas iona ly. Oppo ite to the edan c air

was was c ut s in a pathway, which in rude teps the

to rock, and was not visible from the p, and an

d in opening had been ma e the old wall, that in

s u c ss m s u case it ho ld be ne e ary, so e per on co ld

’ arrive by a short way to take the King s orders .

u cc C ren an s S ch having o urred, ent Canillac, a

on e of d colonel of the regiments that defende , to

s on s take the order from the King ome point .

l c u s s w hi Canil a came p the step , and he ed mself

just above the Shoulders . I now think I see him

as distinctly as then : as he gradually saw the

s - su u hi s edan chair, rro nded by the King and all

c i n ot u his ourt, wh ch he had expected, beca se

was u post immediately nderneath, from which

n of c u i s r uc one this o ld be v sible, the sight t k

hi m u n a s with s ch asto ishment, th t he stopped hort, - DUKE DE SAINT SIMON. 275

x his u his eyes ﬁ ed, mo th open, and the greatest

n c on e saw surprise pai nted o his fa e . Every it as

l as u l we l the King, who said to him, q ickly Wel ,

’ l u — ? Canil ac, come p what is the matter Canillac

u s al s came p the step , and w ked slowly toward the

n to t Ki g, trembling and looking the right and lef , completely lost. I was near the King ; Canillac

u low passed by me, m ttering something in a voice .

’ ou sa ? s ‘ What do y y aid the King, speak

’ out. c u n ot c e s Canilla co ld re ov r himself, but aid

of hi s what he c ould remember business . The

who di d u King, not nderstand it, and saw that

i r hi m s s noth ng was to be got f om , an wered ome

’ an sir thing, and added, in angry tone Go, . Canillac did not wait to be told a second time ; he

s . l was regained the step , and disappeared Hard y

u he gone, when the King, looking abo t him, said, m ll I do not know what is the atter with Cani ac, bu t w as w h he be ildered, and did not know w at to

sa . on e a y to me No m de any answer.

u of ul i Abo t the time the capit at on, Madame de Maintenon apparently asked leave to go away.

’ The King call ed out Les porteurs de Madamel

o f u and they came and carried her f . Abo t a

u of u t n . q arter an ho r af er, the Ki g retired Every 276 - DUKE DE SAINT SIMON .

on e low ' spoke to his ﬁien d or his neighbour . It was impossible to recover from this scene : it had the same effect upon those at a distance in the plain ; the very s oldi ers asked what the sedan

c was was s hair , and why the King every in tant

n u stoopi g down into it . It was fo nd necessary

u s f s s q ietly to ilence the o ﬁcer , and repres the

u s of but q estion the soldiers, it may be imagined wha t a sensation this scene made am ongst the

s u foreigners ; it made a noi e all over E rope, and

was as u al of c of C om ei n e m ch t ked as the amp p g , ll with a its pomp and splendour. This pomp and splendour were very shame

ful u m s a , in the exha sted and i poveri hed st te

f c in which France then stood, a ter a war whi h d had so lately termi nated. The King ma e a present of livres to the Maréchal de

Bouﬂi ers f s and the general o ﬁcer , and many indi

v iduals ruined themselves with the expenses at

” c tendin g the o casion .

278 E E CHBI HO or F N LON, AR S P CAMBRAY.

“ is le s was Lou Grand, and the greate t monarch

that had appeared in Fran c e previous to the times

’ of - l u s Napoleon and Louis Phi ippe . Lo is conduct

s hi c to Fenelon is the wor t trait in s haracter.

was a u Fenelon born in the Ch tea de Fenelon, in

1 65 1 . was of c Perigord, in He an an ient and

l us tri u u u i l o s family, and bro ght p in retirement,

tu c s s and in the s dy of Greek and la ical learning.

ft was s At ﬁ een, he ent for to Paris by his uncle,

ui the Marq s de Fenelon, and at that early age, like

ssu his u c Bo et, he preached, and enchanted a dien e

i his u c . u c in ﬂu w th eloq en e His n le, afraid of the

c a on hi s c c en e of v nity hara ter, sent him to the

s of . u c . eminary St S lpi e, where he took orders He then wished to go as missionary to C anada ; but his i his thwarted in this project by fam ly, and

u his n health not being good, he t rned mi d, with a

us c i s religio and poeti al imag nation, to the mission

of s . s i his the Ea t These plan fa ling also, early

His on uc of works came out. book the ed ation

u l was s of yo ng fema es written, from the trong idea

u c of as the inﬂ en e women, wives and mothers, over the des tinies of husbands and sons ; and Fén é lon was recompensed afterwards in seeing grace

His and beau ty un ited with virtue and talent. E E CHBI HO or R 2 9 F N LON, AR S P CAMB AY. 7

oo was c to u u li s b k dedi ated the D chess de Bea vil er , the mother of a numerous family ; and with the Duke de Beauvilliers and the D uke de Chevreuse

he formed a friendship that resisted time, pros

’

erit i . s ﬁien dshi p y, disgrace, and ex le Fenelon p

s w with Bo suet as destin ed to an earlier ending.

1 68 9 u u s was In , the D ke de Bea villier named

u u u c s governor to the D ke of B rg ndy, and he ho e

n Fenelon as preceptor to the you g Prince . These two exc ellent men began the task of educatin g a

was su King, and never more evident the periority

’ f n l his s o Fé é on s gen ius. All wishe tended to wards realiz ing the beau-ideal of what a king s u of ho ld be . Fenelon had remarked that works imagination make more impression on the mind than works of reas on ; that persons are more c ap tiv ated with great ideas than with true ones ; and

that this partic ularly applies to the weak under i i of c i . stand ng h ldren Under this feel ng, he wrote

Telemachus . Fenelon always inculcated this great maxim on

u r c i too ft the yo ng P in e, wh ch cannot be o en repeated to those who are to rule m ankind

“ n i u men x d That i grat t de from must be e pecte , and must not interfere with the wish to be of use 280 FENELoN CHBI HO or , AR S P CAMBRAY .

n to them . When o e thinks of what the natural — disposition of this young Prince was that he was

c u us u s the most choleri , the most impet o of yo th , — and that he became the most gentle of men that

at ﬁve-and-twenty he was the idol of the army and f o the court, and that everythi ng was to be ex

ected ﬁ‘ om his — it sai p for France reign must be d,

Terrasc on “ s of with the Abbé , If the happines the

u u ul human race co ld be the res lt of a poem, it wo d

” ’ ’ fr T l m s - o u proceed om e e achus . Fenelon chef d e vre

was c of u , in fact, the mind and haracter the D ke

u de Bo rgogne .

’ s Fenelon moral excellence, his imagination,

his u of and genius, were forgiven at the co rt Louis XIV in favour of hi s perfect good breeding

s u his he sp oke the mo t reﬁned lang age, and per s onal superiority exc ited more admiration than his

u his ac us writings. La Br yere writes char ter th

One feels the force and as c endan cy of his rare

u i s extem genius ; whether in a st d ed ermon, in

orar u or c s u p y disco rse, in onver ation, he is eq ally master of the ear and heart of those who listen to h m his u i . Envy cannot take from him grande r of

” u or him of c m . tho ght, divest his harm of anner This ascendancy of virtue c reated in his friends a

282 E E A CHBI HO or . F N LON, R S P CAMBRAY of hi s nature led him to take compassion on a pure

’ é e ex l heart, carried away by a t t a tee. Bossu et denounced the heresy of Fenelon to Louis and at the same time he heard of the burn

of his a s of ing down pal ce at Cambray, the lo s his

ar his a i mis libr y, m nuscript, and papers ; wh ch fortune dr ew from him merely the Christian re

it hi s u mark, that was better that property Sho ld

s of Bos be de troyed than that a poorer person . suet was prepared to pursue his rival ; and Ma

m i c da e de Ma ntenon, with in onceivable coolness,

u c gave p Fenelon ; and shortly after, he re eived an

i s order to retire to h s dioce e at Cambray. This

xc his u order e ited in the Prince, p pil, a grief

di d u c a cr which hono r to his har cter, and the y against Fenelon had nearly been the ruin of the

’ u u D ke de Bea villiers in the King s esteem, but that his excessive disinterestedness won upon the

us f genero feelings o Louis.

’ In the Cardinal de Bausset s life of Fén élon may

u s of l u be found, at f ll length, all the detail the re igio s disputes connec ted with Rome ; and Pope Inno

’ c VI I I . s s ent he itation in condemning Fenelon, made his disgrace at Versai lles still more deter

to c u a mined. In addition these irc mst nces, a E E or . 283 F N LON, ARCHBISHOP CAMBRAY s tolen copy of Telemachus had been published in

s u ss c had Holland, and thi book, s ppre ed in Fran e,

s u c E u the greate t s c ess all over rope, and the ma

’ lignity of Fenelon s enemie s failed not to point out in it allusions to the c o nque sts and the reverses of

’ s im the King s reign . Fenelon oon heard of the

c s him pression Telema hus had made again t , and he appe ared re signed to a banishment whi ch he often termed his disgrace . l When the condemnation of his work, ca led

” i of m The Max ms Saints, arrived fro Rome, the

of s c s people Cambray as embled in rowd , like

sea : saw the waves of the they their archbishop,

ul — his whom they adored, get into the p pit, and

on e his c book in hand, ondemnation in the other they heard him read with a ﬁr m voic e that very c u u s ondemnation, s bmitting to it witho t re erve and without restriction ; they heard him join his own authority to that of the Pope in condemnin g him

in a on hi s own self, m king known the anathema writings ; interrupted only by the sighs and groans

of s u i u the as embled m lt t de, he pronounced on his

knees a co mplete and entire retrac tation of his sen

his timen ts . Thus did Fenelon raise himself above

s u own defeat, above his adver aries, and above Boss et, 284 E E A RC HBI SHC P or . F N LON, CAMBRAY from whom he carried off the admiration due to his victory .

’ Fenelon s existence in his diocese was on e of exhortation and instruction to those around him .

k of m s Li e the bishops the olden ti e, he a cended

u v m l u in s i the p lpit, and, gi ing hi se f p to the p ration of hi s genius ; he Spoke without prepa

hi u ration . An idea of s lofty eloq ence may be

d s o n conceive from a ermon he preached at Paris,

. f o u Foreign Missions A ter a magniﬁcent disc rse, ,

’ u ue me u - e u u u he ends th s Q p is j a jo rd h i, mes

’ ﬁ'éres m écrier i du c , comme Mo se aux portes amp

’ ’ ’ d I srael : uel u un est an e l se Si q q S igneur, qu i

’ a ! u u j oigne moi Die m en est témoin, Die devant

ui e u a u u e u q j parle, Die , la face d q el j sers chaq e

u u i les c o u e t jour, Die q lit dans e rs, sonde les

’ Sei n enr l u le z c reins ; g vo s save , que C est ave

’ c n u et u ur u i u o f sion do le q en adm rant votre o vrage,

’ je n e me sens n i les forces ui le courage d aller

’ li r u ‘ u a ui l ac comp . Heure x Ce x q vous donnez

’ s dév ouer l u u -méme de y He re x moi , malgré ma

et si u foiblesse mon indignité, mes paroles pe vent

u ls u u c all mer dans coe r de q elque saint pretre, ette ﬂame céleste dont n u pécheur comme moi ne

” ru m erite pas de b ler.

286 E E A RCHBI SHoP or . F N LON, CAMBRAY

s tu f The i ation of Cambray, on the French ron

u s n s s tier, bro ght there many tra gers ; among t other

"he Preten der c as s . the , a knowledged Jame III at m l the c ourt of Franc e . Fenelon gave hi excel ent

c s hi s s m E s c on advi e, hewing e tee for the ngli h stitution u des , eq ally removed from anarchy and h potism . The Pretender felt the charms of is c s was of a onver ation, and it the lot Fenelon to p

u in s s pear eq ally great the eyes of a pope, a tate

m an c c u . was ex , a politi ian, and a onq eror He empt from that illiberal patriotism which cries down all beyond the frontiers of its own govern ment ; his virtuous and benevolent nature ex

s tended itself over the Whole univers e . He u ed

sa c u r fa to y, I love my o nt y better than my

but u u mily, I love h man nat re better than my

” u co ntry. Fenelon kept up a c orrespondence with his

m s who of c c fa ily and friend , ten felt the as endan y

his u of u u of wisdom . F ll hope for the f t re, he

’ trusted that he might live to witness his country s

h t n n in n nd w ho T e e e e no a ce as ames . a Pr d r, k w Fr J I I I , a te a s et e to Ro me A t the att e of a a uet he f rw rd r ir d . b l M lpl q se ve un e a s a a s and t en st o e the name of r d d r M r h l Vill r , h ﬁr b r h - t e eva d n o e He e in 1 66 . Ch lier e Sai t Ge rg . di d 7 E E A or . 2 F N LON, RCHBISHOP CAMBRAY 8 7

s u to happines , and he comm nicated the Duke de

u i s ous s of i Bea v llier vari plan government, wh ch were to be submitted to his pupil ; but while

Fenelon was preparing the reign of the fu ture k of c su off u ing Fran e, dden death carried the D ke ,

uc u u c the D hess of B rg ndy, and their infant hild,

u old m an u leaving Lo is, an , alone in all the h mi liati on of s s of dis his lo t glory, and in the mid t

as ters that succ eeded to a long reign of ambition

and pride .

’ The death of his pupil ﬁnished all Fenelon s

s of u us c hope a virt o hereafter for Fran e, now left

to a monarch of seventy-six and to a child in its

h was for o — hi s c radle . W at now left Fenel n

i di s c u his n s his fam ly in gra e, and thro gh mea ;

m s diocese ravaged by a foreign army. In the id t

of s s his old the e bitter event , he lost and attached

ﬁi en d u u lli on , the D ke de Bea vi ers . Fenelon

c s c out his s this oc a ion ried , in mi ery, All ”— my ties are broken l but his very gri ef was

d of s ma e a crime , and interpreted in an ill ense at

Versailles . Fenelon kept up a c orrespo ndence with the

u of of D ke Orleans, probably in the hope reclaim

u No u ing a c harac ter given p to vic e . do bt the E E R or . 288 F N LON, A CHBISHOP CAMBRAY

D uke would have given Fenelon the highest

c but ofﬁc es, had he been willing to a cept them ; Fenelon did not live to be placed under the per: plexin g c ircum stances of refusing or ac cepting from s uch a princ e he had outlived all those he

his u i loved, and latter days were passed in mo rn ng

uc for fri ends he was m h attached to . He had long ardently wished for death at length an acc i

c his l his dent ac elerated it, and death, ike life,

u us s w as that of a great and virt o eccle ias tic. f I t o u . gives an idea the government ofLo is XIV ,

c s of c u and of the awe in whi h per ons stood the o rt, that no funeral oration was pronounced in the

c of on dio ese Cambray, the death of Fenelon, nor

of his suc c ss s . z . D acier did either e or , M Bo e or M ,

c c but at the Fren h A ademy, pronounce his name

the tender recollections of him formed a panegyric

u . su him on his memory . Lo is XIV rvived but

eight months . That both Bossuet and Fenelon were to blame i n the great controversy that went on between

m . s c the , all writers are agreed The be t reﬂe tion

o n the subjec t may be found in a pas sage of Bour

’ daloue s c u s of his , whi h t rn on the failings hero, the Prince de Condé There is not a l uminary

0 E E or . 2 9 F N LON, ARCHBISHOP CAMBRAY

de stiny which has never exposed them to such

trials.

of u The Character Fenelon , written by the D ke

- c c u de Sai nt Simon, may be a epted as tr e, for he

never w as known to ﬂatter any on e of his cotem p oraries

n lon was in u Fé é tall and th , with a good ﬁg re,

his eyes having more expression than any I ever — ull l . hi s saw f ofsense, intel igence, and ﬁre As to

u c s was im os c o ntenan e , having once een it, it p

sible ever to forget it ; there was in it both gravity

tr us s : and gallan y , serio nes and gaiety it combined

was as c as all, and appropriate to the ar hbishop

of o i to the man n ble b rth ; there shone in it,

as his in all person, perfect grace, decorum, deli

c c all di . was ss a y, and, above , gnity It impo ible to

’ off of take one s eyes him . All his portrai ts are

but has like, no painter ever given the harmony

His of the original. man ners agreed with his

s look , and partook of that good taste that an early

of u i s c s habit interco rse w th the best o iety give .

was r c s There a natu al eloquen e, an in in

i c politeness in his conversation, wh h was at onc e

s noble and di criminative . He put himself on a

u ff e level with his a ditor, and the e ect was like n E E or . 29 1 F N LON, ARCHBISHOP CAMBRAY chantment ; no on e c ould leave him withou t re

or to see . was i s gret, not wish him again It th great tal ent that bound his friends to him all through his l s of ife, in pite his disgrace, and which after their

s u ai to di persion bro ght them together ag n , talk of hi m — to — , regret him, and to wish for him In the retirement of his diocese he lived with the

u e ri u of h mbl and indust o s piety a pastor, and with

the m agniﬁcence and consequenc e of a man who felt no pain at renounc ing what others might sup

pose hi m to regret . He had the air of keeping

No the world at its proper distance . man had ever the passion of pleas ing more than he had ; it

extended to the servant as well as to the m as ter ;

never did man carry it further Cambray is a

pla ce of great resort. Nothing c oul d equal the

o ss i sc m p litene , the d ri ination, the agreeable manner

i c c w th whi h he re eived everybody. At ﬁrst he

w as s n c u on e hun ed ; he o rted no ; gradually, and

m s of his n al o t insensibly, the charm ma ner at

r c s c u s t a ted friends ; the fa hion a ght, and at la t

every on e went to him.

u of u un u When the D ke B rg dy became Da phin ,

’ s c l u the Archbi hop s pala e became real y a co rt.

u of s c The n mber person whom he had wel omed,

o 2 2 92 E E H or F N LON, ARC BISHOP CAMBRAY.

the n um bers who had lodged with him in passing

u c of thro gh Cambray, the are he had taken the

an d of u on c as s Sick the wo nded, who various oc ion

c had been brought to the ity, had won the hearts

s was ss u u of the troop . He a id o s in his attend

c on s fﬁ an e the ho pitals ; and amongst the o cers,

u al s his high and low, he wo ld keep inv id at palace

for u e r many months together, ntil they were p f fectly restored to health . In the character o a true

was i u s pastor, he vig lant in the care of their so l , and

ready at the c all of the meanest amon gst them ; and

w his u c ith power of eloq en e, and his knowledge of

u u c u his of the h man heart, s c essf l in care their

was ss r c minds, he not le attentive to thei orporeal

u s u ri wants . S b istence and n t ment for the sick ,

c su him deli acies, and medicines, were pplied by

u was in prof sion ; and this all done with order,

was s method, and care . Everything, too, the be t of its kind It is incredible to what a point

c of how he be ame the idol the soldiery, and his

m u r of s na e reso nded to the ve y court Versaille .

s s s s His alm , his repeated epi copal vi itation m hi m any times in the year, made personally

His known in the remotest village of his diocese .

e u l of c hu fr q ent preachings, his faci ity a cess, his

2 94 E E F N LON, ARCHBISHOP OF CAMBRAY . bourhood had hi m hi s u ) invited to palace, sho ld he ever visit that part of France . It is to be supposed

su his c that, as long as Bos et lived, private se retary

C ould never have avail ed himselfof that invitation ; but 1 704 a Bos in September, , ﬁve months fter

’ u on s et s death, he went to Cambray, his way to

u a Flanders . Perhaps he was stim l ted by a des ire of ascertain ing whether there was n ot a little ex

of u c aggeration in the voice pop lar renown, whi h so u on u lo dly descanted the virt es, the wisdom,

a d m c i c and the noble n episcopal agniﬁcen e, wh h Fenelon displayed in his exile and in the govern

of hi s i . u as ment d ocese Do bting, however, to

his Ar what might be reception from the chbishop, he had provided himself with a letter ﬁ om Ma

’ M aison fort was dame de , who a friend of Fenelon s .

Ledieu When the Abbé arrived, Fenelon was

but on visiti n g his diocese, the following day a

sa s u c ou rier arrived to y, that he ho ld return to

Cambray to dinner. The Abbé repaired to the

i n palace, and m ngled with the relatives, gra d

an d of c re v ic ars, almoners the Ar hbishop, who l c eived him as he a ighted from his carriage . I

to s thought it ﬁt, said the Abbé, leave tho e gentlemen undisturbed and free in the ﬁrst c ere E E I or 295 F N LON, ARCHB SHOP CAMBRAY.

moni es of politeness. I was then in the salle de

. A S billard, standing near the chimney soon as

saw I the Archbishop enter, I approached him w : was an d s but ith respect he at ﬁrst cold re erved,

l an d i s but po ite, invited me to enter w th kindne s, m without much fervour of solicitation . I avail y

’ ‘ s s of ss elf, I aid, the permi ion your Eminence was pleas ed to gran t me to come here and pay my

’ u s u ff s respects when an opport nity ho ld o er. Thi

u o I ttered in a m dest tone ; and I added, in a

t lower one, and in his ear, that I had brought him som e intelligence and letters from Madame de

’ M is nf rt Y ou u a o o . i do me great pleas re, he sa d ;

’ u come in, come in . The Abbé de Bea mont then

me appeared, who received with embraces, and in

c di l s a or a and agreeable manner, the Archbi hop

to f us hi s s seeming have in ed whole oul, his cha rac ter as his of roc e , and, it were, whole mode p

” u n on e was . d re, i to every who with him The secretary of Bossuet might well have been afraid that he should n ot have had so cordial a reception ﬁ' om the man whom Bossuet had deprived

of his s as sub- ituation, preceptor to the royal

prin ces.

Ledieu on The Abbé goes to say, I gave my 296 E E . F N LON, ARCHBISHOP OF CAMBRAY

of to s an d w u packet letters the Archbi hop, itho t

d sit opening it, he ma e me down above him, in an

- mi own s arm chair si lar to his , and de ired me to

u n our i c be covered. D ri g d s ourse, they came to

tell him dinner was ready : he rose and invited me to partake of it ; all the gu ests were wai tin g for - fo on e c him in the dining room, r no approa hed his c hamber when they kn ew that I was wi th him.

u as They sat down witho t ceremony, amongst

ri c s a f ends. The Ar hbi hop said gr ce, and took the

as was u . ﬁrst seat, ﬁt he sho ld The Abbé de C haterac sat on his left h and ; on his right there was a a vacant seat, and he m de a motion to me to

ur come there . I endeavo ed to decline it ; he

’ u req ested me mildly and politely. Come, he

’ said thi s is your place . I then accepted the seat without further ceremony . We were fourteen i an d x u . at table, Si teen in the even ng at s pper

of his of c c The company consisted relations, clesiastics u , whose d ty necessarily attached them to his e of s p rson, and friend , who never leave him. “ The table was magniﬁcently and delicately

s u u served ; the ervants in livery were n mero s,

u attended diligently and properly, and witho t any

298 E E or . F N LON, ARCHBISHOP CAMBRAY

on u a u of s his ret rn home from jo rney three week , he did not exhibit any symptoms of fatigue or weariness. After dinner all the c ompany repaired to the

' -c wh ere he u great bed hamber, invited me to occ py a dis tinguished place ; but I sat down near the

l n s . wal , leavi g the bottom of the room to vi itors

sat s The Archbishop oppo ite the chimney, in the

dl of v s l him mid e the room, ha ing a mal table near , for writing and transacting such business as was

c s presented to him, his se retarie and almoners s s peaking to him , and receiving order as to their

ff u c s ff u di erent f n tion . Co ee was bro ght to every o n e ; the Archbishop had the politeness to desire m ine to be given to me with a white napkin . The c onv ersation afterwards turned u pon the news of

&c the day, .

’ th c c c s Between two and ree o lo k, the Ar hbi hop

to see went the Comte de Monteron, the Governor

w as s of Cambray, who going to Pari in the course

f is i o a few days . The Governor int mate with and

entertains a high esteem for the Archbishop .

i n u Fenelon return g from his visit, fo nd me in

- his ante room . He then gave me an interview .

sc u ua We di o rsed on piety, spirit lity, and other E E or 2 9 F N LON, ARCHBISHOP CAMBRAY. 9 doctrinal topics : Madame de M aison fort was n ot

w as u forgotten. Our conversation interr pted by

of u the arrival the Governor, who came to ret rn

’ s s i c was the Archbi hop visit. When h s excellen y gone, the Archbishop sent for me, and we walked

u of be n up and down the s ite apartments, speaki g on l to s re igion, and referring it the whole ecclesia

u u n tical government, witho t, however, tteri g a

s u hi s u or syllable respecting Bo s et, either in favo r agai nst him ; and it was n ot for me to speak to

” him on su the bject.

Ledi eu to The Abbé goes on state that Fenelon,

a h spe king of C ristian simplicity, turned suddenly

r s h m A sk u s towa d i , and said, me whatever q e

s s tions you wi h, and I hall answer you with the f ” simplicity o a child . The Abbé might have dis

’ c overe d that Fenelon s reserve proceeded ﬁ om not wishing to put to the test the discretion of an ec clesiastic who had been the c onﬁdant of Bossuet during twenty years

h s u “ The Arc bi hop, contin ed the Abbé, kept

su me to pper, and placed me at the table near

him . ft u of i A er s pper, in the course conversat on, the death of the Bishop of Meaux (Bossuet)was

c mentioned. They asked whether he had anti ipated 300 E E S or M . F N LON, ARCHBI HOP CA BRAY

— his death whether he received the sacraments, and

from whom and the Archbishop inquired fr om me who had exhorted him when on his death bed ?

s as c s . I an wered simply, and the fa t were I am

u st inclined to think, however, from the last q e ion, that the Archbishop was of opinion that the Bishop of Meaux required able exhortation in the hour of

ﬁ°om s of u death, and a per on a thority, probably on account of the many important affairs which

u his s u had passed thro gh hand d ring a long life,

of of u and some them so delicate a nat re .

u n c s c s D ri g this onver ation, the Ar hbi hop had a

l him u smal table placed before , pon which he folded u M ais p his packet for Madame de on fort. Before ten

’ n s s of o clock at ight, he a ked if all the person the

us s a ho ehold were as embled, and dded Let us

’ c was - pray, whi h done in the great bed chamber,

all il w m l where the fam y ere et together. An a moner

u C on ﬁteor as as read the Form la, and the , well the

M isereatur c s u , whi h were imply repeated, witho t

i . e anyth ng from the Archbishop Aft r prayers, he

of s put the packet letter into my hands, and ordered a servant to bring wax lights and a ﬂam

u to u a bea , cond ct me to my ch mber, apologizing

at the sam e time at my having to c ross a c our t to

302 I MASS LLON.

MASSILLON .

o n 1 6 63 e 1 742 . B r , ; di d ,

MASSILLON was c onsidered the ﬁrst orator of

c s c his Fran e, in the pathetic tyle . He re eived

u of in . ed cation at the College Hieres, Provence

s was His talents made him oon known, and he

s c alled to Pari . When the Pere La Tour asked him

of a what he thought of the preachers the capit l, he s l i but aid I think high y of the r talents, when I

” preach it will be in another style . He admired

Bourdaloue bu t s , he wi hed to make trial of a style f i i ff h i l o preaching ent rely d erent from is . Mass l on observed that the sermons of that day dwelt on

ur external behavio , and general points of morals ; and he wished in hi s discourses to address himself to the passions and feelings of men ; he looked into

i s of con their hearts, to d scover the motive their

u l us of - d ct, and tried to combat the i l ions self love by reason, sentiment, and the hope of eternal hap pin ess in a future world : such was the Character

’ of Mas sill on s eloquence .

assillon c M ﬁrst prea hed at Montpelier, where he w as u u i m ch admired, altho gh they st ll remembered

Bourdalou e 1 6 99 c ; and in , he prea hed during MASSILLON . 3 03

t s. u s Lent at the Ora oire, at Pari His tri mph

suc of were h, that he grew alarmed lest the demon

B urdal pride should get posse ssion of him . o ou e

r so his went to hea him, and was charmed with

u c him eloq en e, that on seeing come down from the

u of s u p lpit, and speaking him to tho e who inq ired hi s as opinion, he said, John the Baptist had done on u th e u c the s bject of Messiah He m st in rease, but I m ust decrease . Massillon appe ared in the pul pit with down cas t

u c s u but his eyes, and witho t a tion or ge t re ; as

his c u c ss . disco rse animated, a tion be ame expre ive

s Baron, the actor, having come to hear him, truck

a s is with his decl mation, aid ofhim This indeed

but s . r s an orator, and we are actor La Ha pe tell

s of u c u a tory a man abo t o rt, who going to the

u u row of opera, fo nd a do ble carriages stopping up

r : to the st eet some were going the opera, others

ui z - to the Q n e Vingts, where Massillon preached.

c u He went into the h rch, and taking to himself

” the apostrophe of Thou art the man ! in the

c c sermon, he listened, and left the hur h a changed

c ﬁ om haracter what he had entered it.

ss ll or The court wished to hear Ma i on, rather to

u hi m . u w j dge Lo is XIV. as then at the very 3 04 M ASSILLON.

of u height his power and glory, a conq eror in

u u arms, and adored by his s bjects, surro nded by

M as homage and ﬂattery. To thi s brilli an t c ourt s i hi s x ss illon preached, tak ng for te t Ble ed are

” they that mourn. Afte r naming the brilliant s tate of u But both monarch and co ntry, he said ,

l u s of Sire, the ang age of the go pel is not that the world and then he placed the lan guage of scrip

u i c on t re n c ontr ast with that of the world. The

re ation c l g g of the hapel at Versail es, however

c c u Bourdaloue c ul a ustomed to Boss et and , o d not withhold their admi ration of this sermon . It was a pity that it was not pronoun c ed in the less

s u u . u pro pero s times of Lo is XIV , when mo rning

u s had and sorrow had succeeded to joy. Lo i

a so i i never he rd strik ng an opening to a d scourse, u l ss was on e r s hi s n e it f om a mis ionary, who began s s u ermon Sire, I hall not make yo r Majesty

i u any compl ments, for I have not fo nd any in

” s was re the go pel . Massillon always ﬁrm and s ectful u n l of p , in anno ncing to the Ki g the wil

God u f c ; and Lo is, who had o ten left his hapel displeased at the liberty preachers had taken to

a hi m was l s m s w rds , a ways di contented with hi elf after a serm on of Massillon this he said to M as

30 6 MASSILLON.

‘ des justes ﬁi t an moins egal a celui des pécheurs ?

’ - ue fesait u Croyez vous q , s il maintenant la disc ssion des oeuvres du grand nombre qui est dans cette

s il u ai u u ? egli e, tro v t se lement dix j stes parmi nous E n trouverait-il un seul According to the ac count of the rec eption of

s c this ermon by the ongregation, the sensation produced by the last awful words of thi s passage

has us was extraordinary. The passage th been t ranslate d I ﬁgure to myself that our last hour is come — the heavens are ope ning over our heads Time is

E has . sus i is no more, and ternity begun Je Chr st

u u us to abo t to appear to j dge , according our

r an d his d dese ts , we are here awaiting at han s the

s c of as f or . ask ou enten e everl ting li e death I y ,

- s c i now tri ken with terror l ke yourselves, in no

ar wise sep ating my lot from yours, but placing myself in the situ ation in which we all mus t on e

s our ud e—if s ask day tand before God, J g Chri t, I

ou c to y , were at this moment to ome make the

ul i us u awf part tion of the j t and the unj st, think you that the greater number would pass to his — right hand Do you believe that the numbers would even be equal ? If the lives of the multitude MASSILLON . 307

f ul us here present were si ted, wo d he ﬁnd amongst — ” te n righteous Would he ﬁnd a single one ?

Many of the passages of this c elebrated s ermon c ontain the most ﬁnished piec es of oratory. The followi ng passage is known to all ad mirers of elo

uen ce c exhi q , and its invective against dramati bitions did not prevent its being admired by both poets and dram atists Oh sont ceux qui renon c ent de bonne-foi aux

i aux u aux s s s plais rs, sages, maxim , aux e perance ’ — du monde Tous l ont promis qui le tient ? On voit bien les gens qui se plai gnent du monde qui

’ ’ ’ l ac cuse n t d in ustic e d in ratitude ui j , g , de caprice ; q se dec hain en t contre lui ; qui parlent vivement de ses ses u s le ils abus, de erre r ; mais en décriant

’ l aimen t le u il u , ils s ivent, ne pe vent se passer de lui se ses us c s ils s u s en plaignant de inj ti e , ont piq é , ils ne s ont p as desabusés ; ils s entent ses m au

traitem en s n e s as ses vais , ils connais ent p dangers ; ils s s on s c ux ui le s se cen urent, mai ont e q bai sent ? E t de lajugez si bien des gens peuvent prétendre

s u E n ﬁn us an al t. vo avez dit anatheme a Satan et a ses oeuvres ; et quelles sont se s oeuvres ? Celles

ui s s u le ﬁl et u q compo ent pre q e , comme to te la su u i s ite de votre vie ; les pompes, les je x, les pla irs, 308 MASSILLON.

les s il le ére les spe ctacles, men onge dont est p ,

’ l or ueil il est le modéle les u et les g dont , jalo sies

’ ” il s l isan contentions dont e t art . Thi s famous sermon on the elect made man y proselyte s to religion ; amongst them was the

u Rosember s f yo ng Comte de g, who e whole li e i had be en an extraordinary h story. He he

uc u s c longed to a family m h disting i hed in Fran e, that of Forbin de Janson . At the age of

had u twenty he killed his adversary in a d el,

s n s and escaped to Vienna, where he di ti gui hed

s u s s . him elf nder Sobie ki, again t the Turks War

an d us r being declared between France A t ia, Rose mberg offered his services to his native c u was u o ntry, and he employed nder Catinat, in

u m a Piedmont. Fo nd a ongst the de d after the

of M arsaille 1 693 his battle La , in , wounds were

was of declared mortal , and he given to the care

u Pi n erol on the Jes its, at g ; and while lying a

d of s be sickne s, the idea came across him, if he

of n u of his . lived, givi g p the rest days to God

He recovered, went to Paris, where his con

n exions his in the world, and pleasing manners

d s n u ma e him oon know , and where his t rn for

pleas ure caused him to lead a life of dissipation .

3 1 0 MASSILLON.

c n brought onsternation o the whole assembly. Another sermon on the Holiness of a Christian

Life mad e such an impression on the scholars of the

u s College de Bea vais, where Rollin pre ided, that these c hildr en entirely lost the li ghtness of spirits

tu t m on na ral to heir age, and i posed privations themselves which their good master was obliged to lessen the severity of.

ll c s of After Massi on be ame Bi hop Clermont,

’ 1 71 r c - o uv in 7 he w ote his hef d e re, Le Petit

C arém e s s u c , compo ed for the in tr tion of a king

who m ss (Louis XV. ) never proﬁted fro any le on

du his . u is ring life This work, in point of lang age, so c l on hi s perfe t, that Voltaire had it a ways lying

f s u w as desk as a model o pro e eloq en c e . Racine

“ ” ss ﬁfty when he wrote Athalie, and Ma illon, at the

f - was c c of age of ﬁ ty ﬁve alled the Ra ine the pulpit .

s Bourdaloue w as w Ma sillon , like , not gifted ith

: c s s o o u s . memory on e he topped hort bef re L i XIV , who s s to was helped to con ole him by aying him, it

fit that his auditors should reflect on the first part of

u s . u s but his disco r e Lo is paid him with ﬁne word ,

u of s s . the Regent, D ke Orlean , gave him a bi hopric

ou was s ? L is asked him, what his best ermon He

”

s on e . an wered, The I know the best by heart MASSILLON. 3 1 1

s i c s s ll was A s a bi hop, and in his d o e e, Ma si on the most excellent of men ; al l his revenue was

his given to the poor. Thirty years after decease, the people of his di oc ese had n ot forgotten either

di d s his beneﬁts or his virtues. Not only he as ist

m u u s but his c the with n mero s charitie , redit and

u a us He his pen were eq lly ed in their behalf.

cu s i m n u of s an d pro red a con iderable d i tion taxe , be abolished some of the anc ient and indecent proc essions that Madame de Sevigne and Madame

m m u s de Si iane ention contin ally in their letter ,

s as taking place in the south of France . The e pious c om edies the curates were afraid of doing

but u away with ; Massillon got into the p lpit, and so effectually preached against m aking a sc an

dalous u of i us s c masq erade rel gio rite , to whi h the

s s u people re orted with t pid devotion, and the

so u u better rt to t rn into ridic le, that he in a great

m eas ur e p ut a stop to them .

ll was c 1 7 1 9 c Massi on re eived, in , at the Fren h

Ac ademy ; and the beaux-esprits were as to n ished at the exc ellent tas te and tone of the

s u of . m c u di co rse a prelate He went no ore to o rt,

u s but to pronounce at St. Denis the f neral ermon

the uc ss of s s of D he Orlean , who had alway termed 3 1 2 MADAME DE SIMIANE .

Massillon her good fri end In a sermon of Mas

’ s ar e s u i u sillon , on Death, a few words mo t bea t f lly expressed on that subject Vous ignorez c e

ue s c u on les con q vous serez dan ette a tre terre, dition s ne changent plus ; n i entre les mains de

ui m ame ul r q to bera votre , se e, et angere, trem

l n b a te eu du c s . e i , sortir orp Si elle s ra env ronnée de lumiere et portée aux pied du trOn e sur les

’ s s u u o u o d un aile des e prits bienhe re x, envel ppée

” aﬂi eux et reci itée s n uage p p dan les abimes.

u an d Massillon died, like Fenelon, witho t debts

s withou t fortu ne . He is said to have left everal

s us MSS. , beside his religio writings, and amongst

” f of n s them a li e Correggio a pai ter, say

’ D Alembert “ s a us , who e t lents were analogo to

” his own s . , he being the Correggio of orator

MADAME DE SIMIANE .

o n 1 674 e 1 737 . B r , ; di d ,

THE grandct of Madame de Sevigne an d the godc of the Car dinal de Retz had every ri ght

u m edu to wit and j dg ent, both hereditary and by

but cation ; Madame de Simiane, cette jeune

3 1 4 MADAME DE SIMIANE

’ d u gran mother s inﬂ ence saved her, and which

’ an M . de Grign s extravaganc e and debts seemed

s had to render nece sary. Madame de Simiane the charac ter of possessing an unequal temper ; to

c t u whi h it is probable Madame de Main enon all des,

she s s i when ay , Madame de Sim ane never will be happy. The loss of the letters written by Madame de

u as Grignan to her mother m st ever be regretted,

f s h illustrating the history o the time . It as been said Madame de Simiane destroyed them ﬁ om a

but of u religious scruple, what nat re was never

was u of explained . Madame de Grignan acc sed having liberal ideas ; but there is n o further ground for this Opinion than her having studied

m u u Desc artes, and having ade ridic lo s reports to her friends of the religious ceremonies in the south

u of of of France . The acco nts the idolatry those processions are dispersed through various letters o f

’ l was so s Madame de Sevigne s. Massi lon hocked

s u s ut at these religiou masq erade , that he p them

f his c down with all the force o eloquen e and of

n s s his authority. From what remai to thi day

s of the religious exhibition at Aix and at Mar

of seilles, a notion may be formed what they MADAM E DE SIMIANE . 3 1 5

were in heathenish idolatry in the seventeenth

The few letters that remain of Madame de

’ Grignan s writing are the studied communi cations

of of u but a person birth, sense , and ed cation, they

of 0 are co nstrained, and want the ease expression

’ wr i n . v her mother s it g They represent, howe er,

a of r e — of r u m the Char cter the w it r, that a p o d wo an

of more solid sense than agreeable manners ; who

are n ot i c d for pleasing, and had it always in m nd

u was of that bea ty the peril woman. There are

e i of i u suc no strok s ind cative feel ng her s bject, h as v , when Madame de Sevigne, gi ing her opinion to on of her daughter the folly her losses at play, whi ch she had paid for with the fruits of her

“ ’ ec m out ﬁll e e m em ono ies, cries , Ma , j porte ;

’ il u c uff C est a n ex fa t bien dire omme Tart e, cés

’ dc zele Every phrase in Madame de Grignan s

is u - s letters meas red and well con idered, and there

” is excés z b u n n no de ele a o t a ythi g.

One letter o nly of Madame de Gri gn an to

a a i is r M d me de Sim ane wo thy of her mother, tha t descri bing the to ilette of the Duchess de

ur Bo bon.

t l u of The esta es, debts, and aws its M. de P 2 3 1 6 MADAME DE SIMIANE.

of s Grignan, after the death several member of the m fa ily, all centered in Madame de Simiane, who

in c c us ss adv er early life be ame a vi tim to b ine , to sit u ff c s y, to lawyers, to religio s di eren e , and to ill

. s of of of c health The tate debt the nobility Fran e, w u s . as at the close of the reign of Lo i XIV , tre m s an d c u of u n us a s endon , the onseq ence r i o w r , the

c s u u of c in rea e of l x ry, and a love play, whi h were u n x m was set iversal, and the e a ple of which by the

of c ourt. The debts and extravagance M. de

u as c was Grignan had been grad ally incre ing, whi h kno wn to Madame de Sevigne . She writes to her

u 1 679 s da ghter, from Livry, in October, , I wi h

Pére that M . de Grignan had heard Morel (the

: s ou c preacher) he think that y annot, without

c o c s on mmitting a rime, pend money yourself or

u su s as ou are yo r plea re long as y in debt, and that

these expenses become thefts ﬁ' om those who have

" a claim upon you.

u of 1 78 9 e c Until the revol tion , the Fr n h nobi lit m s s s y did not turn the i men e e tate , which some

o f or s firl them possessed, to profitable u e pur fi s . the u pose In seventeenth cent ry, their lands

’ See A t u Y oun s A cu tu a ou in an r h r g gri l r l T r Fr ce.

3 1 8 -W ON LETTER RITING IN FRANCE .

of ff s of writing, after speaking the sti nes the letters

’ of u a of s s Voit re and Bals c, says women letter

Le sexe v a plus loin que le n Otre dans ce genre

’ d écrire elles trouvent sous leur plume des tours et u n e des expressions qui so vent, en nous, sont

’ ’ ’ l effet que d un long travai l et d une penible re cherche : elles sont heureuses dans le c hoix des

’ l e ue us termes, qu e les plac nt si juste q , tout conn

’ u il s t il s le la u et q son , ont charme de no veauté,

’ semblent etre fai ts seulement pour l usage on elles

’ ’ l I I n a artien t u a l es mettent. pp q e les de faire lire

nu u un et dans seul mot to t sentiment, de rendre

l un e ui est l dé icatement pensée q dé icate . Elles on t n u i enchainement de d scours inimitable, qui

’ et u se suit naturellement, qui n est lié q e par le

i n s . s éto e t u sen Si les femme to jours correctes,

’ j oserois-dire que les lettres de quelques-unes

’ d entre elles seroien t peut-étre c c que nous avons dans notr e langn e de mieux Ther e is nothing to add to so ﬂattering a judg

’ ment given to women s writing by so good aj udge ;

al r to ﬁ' om and, so, the e is nothing abstract it.

rdi It is extrao nary, that the women now cele brated for their talent in letter-writi n g Should all

a actees de La u ee c a . i . C r r Br y r , h p O -WRrTI NG 3 N LETTER IN FRANCE . 1 9

a u h ve been intimate acq aintances, and have asso ciated u to ether z— s v m ch g Mesdame de Se igne,

a de Coulanges, De Vill rs, De la Fayette, and De

s Maintenon . Pos ibly La Bruyere might have seen some of the letters of these persons, but he must have seen many more which have long since been c onsigned to the ﬂames. The han d-writing of those times in France was

: u was generally a thin, long scrawl s ch the writing

u s of u u u of Lo i XIV the D ke de la Rochefo ca ld,

f s s Sévi n é a an d o Me dame de g , De Grign n, De la

. exami Sabliere, and De Maintenon From the f nation o their letters, it appears that they gene

in i on rally wrote haste , beginn ng their writing the

of c ui to i nd page the paper, ontin ng the th rd

u ur to ﬁr and fo rth, and ret ning the st page ; and that they used neither sand nor blottin g paper. Madame de Sevigne writes to her daughter The Princess de Tarente always says that she is going to write to you : she mends her pen s ;

is a ff t for her writing a great air, and her let ers are — f . a sort o embroidery, not done in a moment

v r a ﬁn We should n e e ﬁnish, were we to m ke e

’ ’ ” twists and twirls to our D s and L s. This re m ark alludes to the e xistin g fas hion in Germany 320 O - I N N LETTER WRITING FRANCE. an d of i Italy, mak ng ornaments with the pen,

’ ” us c s u c called, in man cript, la d amo r ; whi h

use of of c they made in their letters eremony, and of which many specimens may be seen in public

s n librarie o the Continent.

c u Corneille, Ra ine, Boilea , Colbert, and the

u - t s D ke de Saint Simon wro e small hand , and their manus c ripts would be ' considered as well written

u for thes e days. Madame de Co langes wrote her

e s s of lett rs on many eparate little leave paper, wi th which she is reproached by Madame de

Sévi n é : she s s g ay , they are like the leaves of — u the Sibyl, that ﬂy away they interr pt the — thread of the story but on e must n ot speak to her

” u she s of . abo t it, for love these bits paper The

s on di re letters were ealed both sides, near the c

s on tion, and al o the opposite side, and a piece of

u white ﬂoss silk fastened the letter entirely ro nd .

u an d of At the time of Voit re, before the days

Madame de Sevigne, great pains were taken in

c s c i the omposition of note and letters , and ompl mentary phrases were twi sted and twirled until

u l : sun they became nearly nintel igible the , moon,

s ss s and stars, and the god and godde e , were intro duc ed on as s all occasions, strong spice were

322 COMTE DE TREVILLE . dancing-master or the schoolmas ter may improve

ift ul these g s, they cannot impart them . The fac ty of l is of u f writing letters we l great val e in li e, no

fals iﬁes u doubt, and the maxim so long s bscribed

” to t absen s on t u ur . But i , hat les to jo s tort , if th s

n di u as a ma poi t be sp ted, at le t the s me answer y be given concerning that faculty whi ch Madame de Ludr es gave to the man who told her that she

’ was s u de bon hand omer than ever To t , j en

’ s un di sui bien aise c est ri cule de moins .

THE C OMTE DE TREVILLE .

D ed 1 708 . i ,

- TREVH LE HENRI JOSEPH DE PEYRE, COMTE DE ,

His was the oracle of the Sevigne family. successes

i as in early l fe, at court and in the army, were brilliant as could be desired by a courtier of the

of . reign Louis XIV All at once, however, he

u e of -R l q itt d the world, for the solitude Port oya ,

u an d for r i ft n for st dy a eligious l fe, a er havi g ran

rse of di s u s the cou ssipation u al in tho e days . He was n u a lover of the u fortunate Henrietta, D chess of Orleans ; an d the Circumstances of her death COMTE DE TREVILLE . 323 made so strong an impression on him that he re

u was f formed his life in conseq ence . He o a

was if decided and open disposition, and g ted with

c u n as much leverness as eloq ence . The sayi g

” “ H n u was parle comme livre, made from his

is n u conversation . He conti ally named by Ma

n dame de Sevigne and Madame de Coula ges, and always with admiration of his virtues and his learnin g.

i was a learn ed M. de Trev lle Greek scholar, and

s w immortalized by Boileau in ver e . He as also in habits of great intimacy with the Abbé de la

u Trappe . Not being an ecclesiastic, he never wo ld allow his writings on sacred matters to be pub lis hed ; but in the religious c onferences held at the

’ c Lon uevill e s u Du hess de g , he occ pied a distin

uished as of al l a g place, adviser and corrector th t

- i was s issued from Port Royal, in l terature . It aid by Madame de Sevigne that Bourdaloue preached

u of against him. Boss et said the Comte de Tre

’ ’ ’ ville C est un homme tout d une piéce- il n a pas de jointures to which the other ans wered

’ ’ ’ e as u il d os Si j n ai p de joint res, n a pas , alluding to the supposed pliancy of Bossuet as a theologian . 324 L MADAME DE MOTTEVI LE .

D E MADAME MOTTE VILLE .

o n 1 621 e 1 68 9 . B r , ; di d ,

BE RTA UT f MADEMOISELLE , the daughter o a

” l d u Roi Genti homme de la Chambre , , in the

the reign of Louis XIII . and niec e of the Bishop of was s u m Seez, de cended, thro gh her mother, fro

m Salda n e . was the ancient fa ily of g , in Spain She

c u n of u but pla ed, when a child, abo t An e A stria ; a

s old s Clever child of even years , who spoke Spani h, exc ited the suspicion and attention of the powerful m s u s u ini ter Richelie , and he de ired, thro gh the

u of a Bertau medi m the King, that M demoiselle t should be sent away fr om c ourt ; ac cordingly the

s m n little girl was bani hed to Nor andy, and An e m of Austria allowed her a s all pension .

1 63 9 She u de In , married Langlois, Seigne r

s of Motteville, a magistrate, and Fir t President

m of c u s the Cha ber Ac o nt in Normandy. There w as much di sproportion in the ages of the husband

. u and wife, and M de Motteville dying abo t the t ime that Ann e of Austria became Regent of

r c she for F an e, sent her former protegee, and

326 MADAME DE MOTTEVILLE .

an d i i on r heart d sposit on, more intent obse ving

s l than in acting, and i ent and reserved in her,

a manners. M dame de Sevigne mentions her but

but is on e of a once, it in her e rliest and very

t s r f at u pret ie t letters, w itten rom the Ch ea de

s Fresnes to M. de Pomponne, then amba sador in

Sweden .

1 st u ust 1 6 7 . A g , 6

’ s his e v Setting a ide Majesty s service, I b lie e,

’ s l A mbassadeur ul u t Mon ieur , that you wo d be q i e as happy here with us as in trying to see the sun out of the corner of an eye at Stockholm. I will tell you how we are all going on here : I have

’ d A udill — now M . y at my left hand that is, next — my heart I have Madame de la Fayette o n my r a du m i ght, and M dame Plessis opposite, a using herself in daubing little pictures ; M ada me de

M otteville a little f urther w! ,in a deep reverie ; our u u a dl ncle De Cessac, whom I fear, beca se I h r y

a a know him ; Mad me de C derousse, and her sister,

u e a new prod ction, whom you have never se n ;

n i and Mademoiselle de Sevig e, going and com ng

r r a all f om the adjoimng room . I feel su e th t these

e ul ou r ou p rsons wo d please y , and pa ticularly if y

l but n how n n c cou d imagi e we lame t your abse e, D E 32 MADAME MOTTEVILLE . 7

how ou b us y are beloved y all, and the anger we

i i u excellence are beg nning to entertain aga nst yo r , or a u mer it r ther, I wo ld say, against your , which keeps you at the dis tance of ﬁve or six hundred

u leag es from us. The las t time I wrote to you I was much out of n own as l as spirits, havi g all my melancholy wel

’ N u of s. ow the melancholy my friend , altho gh

e or nothing is changed, we have regain d courage,

a us u hO e rather, we are cc tomed to misfort ne, and p

us u i al bears p, and we are now beg nning to t k with pleasure of the times of the Bayards and

C hev ern the Comtesse de gy, and even wishing for some new enchantment ; but the magic of

A malthea n ot in ai e f is yet tr ning, and the op ning

of the theatre is put off to the autumn . The King amuses himself with the conquest of

' s -Rodn ue s ﬁ om Flanders , and Ca tel g retire every ll s . a town that his Maje ty wishes for However, the

for son t or world live in anxiety a , a bro her, a

us w s h band ; for, not ithstanding our pro perities,

is s s n e l or u d . there alway ome o ki l ed wo nde I,

‘ 5 s e e s to the Ca na de etz t en in i son at Thi r f r rdi l R , h pr

Nantes and Fou uet a so a sone of state. , q , l pri r The ass ume name of the a of the ouse acco n to T d l dy h , rdi g

the fashion of the Hotel de Rambouill et . 328 MADAME DE MOTTEVILLE .

-in - who hope on e of these days to have a son law,

- pray for the safety of all these kni ght errants .

” a u c The Ch tea de Fresnes, in La Brie, when e

i ss al of th s letter was written, po essed a ﬁne g lery

u s u pict res by the best arti ts, and Mansard had b ilt there a Chapel on the plan of the “ Val de Grace but Madam e de Sevign e knew nothi ng of the ﬁne

lau hed u u of la m arts, and even g at the p rs its da e

” du a u was u ai u ch tea , who then st dying p nting nder

us of c . the a pices Loir, a celebrated Fren h painter

M on m er ué c u M . de g , who mentions these irc m s c s s of s of tan e , call the attention the arti ts France

s c en to the cene des ribed in this pretty letter, to gage them to make an historical pic ture from Ma

’ dame de Sevigne s letter ; he also mentions that they were in the habit of acting at Fresnes little piec es

a s c t ken from the old romance , for whi h amusement

Madame de Sevigne had a great penchant .

0 u m ll who is T ret rn to Mada e de Mottevi e, represented in a li terary reverie : her love for her

mistr ess has inclined her to partiality ; as muc h as

’ the Cardinal de Retz s dislike of Anne of Austria would lead him to describe the Queen in the

striking and epigrammatic terms in which he o ften

u ind lges .

330 AND MONS . MADAME DE COULANGES.

. of t s of G in pond One he e men bore the name rap .

M. de Coul an ges got into such a sta te of confusion w in the detail of the proceedings, that he as obliged to s u top, and turning to the j dges, said Forgive w hi me, sirs, I have dro ned myself in t s pond of

’ Gra in s a u p , and I m your obedient h mble se rvant ft and he wi thdrew. A er that adventure he had

i sa but was k noth ng more to y to the law, nown in

as s - i u s s the world the ong wr ter, De Co lange , who e songs di d not long outlive the Circumstances they were wri tten for ; and as the most good-humoured

r c an d man in the world, who enjoyed pe fe t health, who had neither care nor anxiety : he was als o known as the bon-vivant who of all others appre elated a good dinner.

ul s De Co ange told a story well, and made the

u company laugh. Two jo rneys he made to Rome

him e of inspired with a lov the ﬁne arts, the result of i was a of i wh ch collection pictures, wh ch, if we

a Sévi n é e may believe M dame de g , (who, howev r, w as n o r t u e g eat connoisseur in pic ures, )were s p rb . His ﬁi en dships at court an d with the mi nisters made him well received in every society ; he was an

f a his fait of all the gossip o the s lons, and jovial dis pos ition caused him to be invited to the best dinners M E L . 33 1 MONS. AND MADA DE COU ANGES

his u at Paris, where his songs and sayings were d ly

His i ﬁi en ds him appreciated. m nisterial never gave any more solid proofs of their attachment ; but his

u ar i of good h mour, in this volunt y l fe luxuriant

c e of dependen e, pl ased them, and he became part

a His his s their st te . letters to cou in exhibit him

s n his of s pa si g life in the homes other , and par

of u of - r his taking the op lence the grand seigneu s,

e hi s n connexions, while they proﬁt d by gay c o

to sa w versation . He used y I as born for the

” rﬂ ities of n ot for a su e u c . p life, the ne ess ries The

s w same entiment is in a song he wrote, when ith

u M. de Cha lnes, at Rome

’ o tune tu m as fa t ue e e F r , i q r ll , ’ ” a s tu ne m as oin mal a t M i p t tr i é .

In general, says La Bruyere, he who amuse s the company does not make himself either loved or

” est eemed .

. u e was u l e man M de Co lang s a dimin tive ittl , and his species of cleverness corresponded to his

His e . hi s l app arance life was gay, spirits excel ent, and he continued eating and singing to the age of eighty-five ; while those favoured by fortune with

u c places, hono rs, and ri hes, passed by to the grave, the victims Of anxiety and di sgrace . 3 32 S. MON AND MADAME DE COULANGE S.

Madame de Coulanges was the near relation of

' c le l n s the Chan ellor Tel ier, and of the mi i ter

u s she i . Lo voi ; and although appeared, l ke her husband, to be placed in the high road to royal

u s bu t r favo r, her friend gave her nothing ﬂatte y and caresses : she held the ﬁrst rank in French

s ft society for cleverne s and wit. She is o en named d by Ma ame de Sevigne, in her letters to her

u as lea or s h da ghter, the ﬂy, the f , the ylp , and

- these fanciful denominations represented her per 1

fectl . u of u y She was a mixt re coq etry , malice ,

i l c cha l ghtness, world iness, grace, and viva ity ; a rac ter in c u but to be found all o ntries, which w as only thoroughly appreciated at the court of

u s l Lo is XIV. Her letters were upposed to be stil better than those of Madame de Sevigne ; and the agremens of her conversation were greate r

of was than those any person at Paris. She very t d in imate with Ma ame de Maintenon, and in great

u c u ss or favo r at o rt, without po essing titles, places ,

i but wit which was a pensions, or anyth ng that ,

di ni . u g ty Her wit, however, proc red her nothing

ut b honours, and it appeared that both she and

’

u n s c . u M. de Co la ge wanted ri hes Her h sband s — wit lowered him in society it partook too muc h

4 A ND . 33 MONS. MADAME DE COULANGES

f ul French wit must ever be the same play ,

u dazzling, powerf l excitement it was then ; and

a u s were M dame de Sevigne, Madame de Co lange ,

an d Madame de Grignan to ﬁnd themselves in a

al our own u s on at Paris, in day, they wo ld probably make as brilli ant a ﬁgure as they did in

’ u u M. de La Rochefo ca ld s room, or at the Hotel

Not so our de C arnavale t. Ladi es Carlisles an d — Devonshires of two centuries back we c an only imagine them arriving suddenly at the dinner or

of - as evening party to day, a species of mas querade ;

so ill woul d they assimilate themselves to the

u an d lang age, to the men and women, to the tone, of the present day.

i a ul c s Late in l fe, Mad me de Co anges ea ed to see Madame de Maintenon ; Madame de Sevigne

a i on of was de d, and she l ved terms friendship

’ L E n clos with Ninon de , who in her latter days rec eived at her h ouse a society of women of the

of u a e world. Her want fort ne, her g , her appear ance, and her bad health, made her leave the great world ; but she kept up a correspondence with

to 1 704 Madame de Grignan the year , when she

u u died ; and M . de Co langes contin ed to make

u jo rneys, to eat, and to sing, keeping in mind, in . N 3 MONS AND MADAME DE COULA GES. 35

“ u t s of his s “ all the acco n s he give host , that he

’ ” est u ui veritable Amphitryon cel i chez q l on dine . To those who are curious as to the detai ls of

- r every day life in France at that period, the lette s

u i . of M. de Co langes will be amus ng He wrote i n what Madame de Sevigne termed a style of

s friendship ; by which she meant detail , not phrases ; and he gives many ac c ou nts of the old

a u n r u u r Ch tea x of Fra ce, of thei f rnit re and o na f s as as s s o s. ment , well of the progres e the cardinal

’ u s d Uxelles s In a letter to the Marq i e , femme tre

” “ s s— I am aimable, he ay now at Bray, in the

” enjoym ent of happiness and good living.

Je connois de us en us pl pl , E n a san t t es- an e c hé te f i r gr d , ’ u un estomac ui e e Q q dig r , Vaut pl us de cent mill e écus ; Le m en sout ent cette t ese i i h , Rem i de an s mo ceaux pl fri d r , E t ant a son aise digér ,

uffes m e on s et cem eaux. Tr , l ,

s s s a u The e ver e , in a letter to a l dy, may j stify

of a n e icurea n i was the appellation p p g, which once

l s. c o given to M . de Cou ange Allowan e, h wever, mus t be made for tim es when a duke and peer of

France gave as a reason for not marrying a young 336 MONS . AND MADAME DE COULANGES. widow whom he admired That they should not

she was live well together, for that in love with the

” of he s ! new style cookery, which di liked How

on c s i o is s m i ever, on idering th s st ry, there o eth ng s triking in the good sense and philosophy of the

” m u his gastrono e, who wo ld neither have dinner

m u nor his enage dist rbed by dissensions.

u n s s l s M . de Co la ge describe the ife he pent in

us l ff u us the ho e of a cardina , which o ers a c rio view of the way of living of an illus trious prelate in

c i n 1 696 Fran e, I have been here a fortnight — the happiest m an in the world in the enjoyment of c m xc us u good o pany, e ellent m ic, enormo s ﬁres

w of s every here, games every ort and description,

xc c us e ellent dinners, and deli io wine The c s s of but ook are the be t, and masters their art, i they have a rage for someth ng new , and we shall

f c an d all s c die o eating. They ress the be t Fren h

l s s but to and Ita ian di he , they have now taken

E s s learn ngli h di hes, which they will bring here to

r . n ot con pe fection We do know where we are, in

u our i s s i n f seq ence, all d he speak g di ferent lan

u but s or g ages, omehow other making themselves so well understood, that we eat them all in what

ever form they present themselves, and with every

338 THE ARN AULD FAMILY AND

THE ARNAULD FAMILY, AND THE E E - R CLUS S OF P ORT ROYAL .

A LL u l m en m the Arna ld fami y, both and wo en ,

e tu s n w re saints in vir e, and the mo t lear ed per

of sons of France . Three the ladies were suc c essiv el s of of - y abbes es the monastery Port Royal ,

- s des m s . 1 625 at Pari , and Port Royal Cha p In ,

m s was the latter ona tery abandoned for the former, on c u of s u of u ac o nt the in al brity its sit ation, being su s l nk in marshe and damp and unhea thy woods .

u of Madame Arna ld, a widow great wealth, the

’ m u d A n dil l o s other of Arna ld y, the C mmis ary

of m s of general the ar y, and of the Bi hop Angers,

u C la n s s bo ght the Hotel de g y, at Pari , andpre ented it to her daughter ; both houses were then formed

on e s s n n l into e tabli hment, and k ow by the appel a tion s of Port-Royal de Paris and Port- Royal des

c was o - al Champs . A haplain only left at P rt Roy

m s c was des Cha p , and the pla e abandoned, ex c eptin g the parish churc h. The A rn aulds exercised great inﬂuen c e over

r on c c u thei times, a ount of their n mber, their or - 3 3 9 THE RECLUSES PORT ROYAL .

u u wealth, their virt e, and their learning. Arna ld

’ ’ d A n dill of s y, the father Madame de Sevigne

. c u the friend, M de Pomponne, left the o rt, at age of ﬁft -ﬁv e of u y , to lead a life religio s retirement.

was of z c s It him that Bal a aid, that in all the c u u w as of his orr ption of a co rt, he not ashamed

us u s u of his religio virt e , and not pro d moral pre

” f hi s eminen c e and exam ple . Two o s on s and ﬁve of s ca of - s his nephew be me the Port Royal ociety .

u s Henri Arna ld, Bi hop of Angers, and brother to

’ n u d A n dill w as m of Ar a ld y, the odel what a pre late shoul d be he never left his di ocese bu t once

hi s w as c of in life, and that to onvert the Prince

u c him his Tarent m, and re oncile with father, the

m was D uke de la Tre ouille . He adored by his

as s his people, who regarded him a aint, and after death they pre served everything belonging to him with the reverenc e that they would have done

had u of relics . He been tr ly the father the poor

d f c hi s m was u an the a ﬂi ted, and whole ti e occ pied

c of n s with them . The ity A ger revolted, in oppo

u his f u c of sitio to all e forts, d ring the regen y

u was c Ann e of Austria . The Q een advan ing to

take signal vengeanc e on the town : the Bishop

had been appointed, a few miles from the town, to

Q 2 34 0 THE ARNAULD FAMILY AND say m ass and administer the s ac rament after

ss u ma , the Q een advanced to the altar Ma

” dam s c o c , aid he, giving her the nse rated host,

c u — ou who s ex re eive yo r God y r God, , whil t

” o n c his m s I piring the ross, pardoned ene ie The

w s c ity as pared.

’ The other brother of Arnauld d A n dilly was the

r ul of as great A na d, the Doctor the Sorbonne, c elebrated for the inﬂexibility of his c har ac ter as for his great knowledge and understanding : at

m u s of his one ti e, d ring the mini try nephew, M . de

m was ur o Po ponne, he hono ed and c mplimented

u s . but s by Lo i XIV , a few year after, all had — c hanged the Jesuits were gaining an as c endan cy

o m c s in the g vern ent of Fran e , and the mo t learned

o m w as u su the logian in the kingdo p r ed, like a

ﬁ om to felon, town town, and obliged to save

was s himself by a tim ely ﬂight. It at thi time that the D uchess de Longu eville se creted him in her

his s us u f. ho e, and bro ght him food her el His

s w as whole exi tence stormy and agitated, and a

of was ss e m great part it pa ed in conc al ent, and

ou c of . c who acc om with t the omforts life Ni ole,

an ied him an was of u u p , d who a q ieter nat re, and

of c s rest him tired ontroversial war, propo ed to

342 THE ARNAULD FAMILY AND

s u were not married ; other , who were revengef l,

- s u . s m ill natured, intere ted, prej diced The e wo en are to be found every day ; but La Mere Angelique is the only on e I have ever m e t with who is sin

l was c ere y and trul y dead to the world. She the

’ ur d A n dill of c favo ite of M . y ; and her he on e said

to me, All my brothers, and my children, and

s bu t s c s my elf together, we are fool , in ompari on of

Angeliqu e nothing good has ever c ome from the pen of any on e of us that has not been corre c ted and looked over by her ; she is at home in every

n u s c she has ha la g age, and in every cien e, and d to do with many of the most learned works of the

s - In the mona tery of Port Royal there were, as

u s of u six n n , the mother the great Arna ld, of her

ug s of a s . da hter , and many her dist nt relation All

these women were as good as they were learned ;

uc c of and, indeed, s h had always been the haracter

- c the nuns of Port Royal . The Cardinal de Ri he

u w as m c lie , who their ene y, on e speaking ofthem,

s as u as s but as de cribed them p re angel , proud

’ s sc l s as demons . Thi de ription app ie to many

exc ellent persons in all age s.

u oﬂi ce M. Arna ld de Pomponne, who ﬁlled the - 34 3 THE RECLUSES OF PORT ROYAL . of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from 1 671

1 679 u t c of to , ni ed great talents to great excellen e f c . m o chara ter Mada e de Sevigne, in speaking

s s u the tation he had ﬁlled, say , Fort ne had wis hed to make use of his virtues for the happi

” i of - ness of others. The orig n the Port Royal

as — M society of learned men was follows . L e

Serricourt on e u w maitre and M. de , a yo ng la yer

u c o of great eloq en e, the other in the army, to k a

u di u 1 63 7 s dden sg st to the world, in , and with

r s - i d ew to a hou e near the Port Royal, at Par s ; their example was followed by several learned

s of persons, and the ociety went by the name the

- . f m of Port Royal Society A ter a ti e, want room

‘ in their hous e determined them to remove to the old u n abbey, ntenanted, and aba doned by the

u s of - des m s n n Port Royal Cha p , in a solitary

u s s. sit ation, seven league from Pari At Port

u Royal des Champs, they fo nd everything bearing

s of s : s for mark complete de olation the lake , want of c x u s s draining, were onverted into no io s mar he ,

s e s u s and exhaled the mo t p tilential vapo r , and the l and was completely ov erﬂowed ; the gardens were overgrown with weeds and brushwood ; the house had partly fallen down . The hermits were n ot to 344 THE ARNAULD FAM ILY AND be deterred by trivial inconveni enc es ; many of them were young men of the ﬁrst famili e s in

s i u France, yet they did not di da n to labo r with

s s c of l was their own hand . The a pe t the val ey soon tran sformed : the surface of the swampy m ss s i s ora oon exh bited a clear lake, whose water reﬂected the hills around ; the garden s were cleared ; and the walls of Port-Royal rose from

c the ground, for the se ond time .

ft o - c A er a short peri d, Port Royal be ame a

u u ur n c us n mero s and ﬂo ishi g society . Its re l es

u s but c of were not bo nd by vow , ea h led a life

s - voluntary poverty, penance, and elf denial ; they

um s bu t di s ui ass ed no dres , were ting shed by their c oarse and plain clothing ; their time was divided between devotion to God and usefulness to their

- s fellow c reatures. They met together in the variou c s but u of im was hurch ervices, m ch their t e ocen pied in diligently re ading and comparing the holy

s c di d u as Scripture , whi h they in the attit de well as the spirit of prayer ; they also read the New

s Te tament oftener than the Old, because they c ons idered the former as the be st explanation of the latter. Every on e of the recluses was under the direc

34 6 THE ARNAULD FAMILY AND c luses to undertake the educ ation of their chil dren ; many persons of property gave up their

c parks and gardens, to be appropriated for s hool

and play-grou nds ; and the gramm ars drawn up

for those schools obtained an d still maintain the

suff rage of the learned. Some of the ﬁnest verses

c l of Ra ine were meditated, while a boy at schoo , in

the woods of Port-Royal ; some of the best trans

lation s of of the Fathers, the theological works

ul u of c Arna d, the letters and tho ghts Pas al, the

s s of c moral es ay Ni ole, were composed in the

s u of - ecl sion Port Royal . In the meantime the nuns of the convent at

s e on e u Pari exc eded h ndred and eighty, and it

was resolved to di vide them ; they were acc ord in gly settled in the Abbey of Port-Royal des

’ f -ﬁve s Champs, a ter twenty years ab ence ; and

c us the re l es vacated the abbey, and made an esta

blishm en t s in the farms on the hill , called Les Granges : these two soc ieties contained eighteen

m u me bers of the Arna ld family. The history of these societies is particularly in

terestin u g, for those who care abo t the manage

u of ment of large comm nities . The great end their being was to help the poor ; and much in - 347 THE RECLUSES OF PORT ROYAL .

t u u of s r ction to that p rpose, from the details the

s u u . s in tit tion, may be acq ired Many of the plan of uc in stitu amelioration, now introd ed into the

uc ur tions for ed ation in Switzerland, were there p

u s ed.

Amongst the benefactors of these institution s

ss u c were the Duche de Long eville, the Prin e and

c ss u of Prin e de Conti, the Q een Poland, the

c Guim en ée Prin ess de , Madame de Sevigne, and

m was Mada e de Sablé . The monastery repaired and reﬁtted by the benefactions of the Duke de

u u of L ynes ; and M. de Lianco rt erected a range

u u c of b ildings in the co rt, for the re eption those guests who wished for a temporary seclusion from

u of the world. H ndreds persons, who were marked as an s eni sts u c s J in the p bli eye, re orted yearly for

us - s religio meditation to Port Royal des Champ .

The jealousy of the Jesuits had been long

of u s awakened, and, after the death the D ches

u a was s de Long eville, their downf ll lowly and securely determined on by the confessors of

Louis XIV. 348 THE DESTRUCTION OF

THE DESTRUCTION OF PORT-ROYAL D E S * CHAMPS .

f u . was s o WHAT Lo is XIV , when in the hand

su s Madame de Maintenon and the Je it , let the

history of Port-Royal and many another dark

s tory tell .

us s t Not far from Chevre e, a mall town distan

u s s s of abou t seven leag e from Pari , in the mid t a

l c c s o itary plain, en ir led by the Shadow and still

o s s is s c s x of ness Of f re t , een a on iderable e tent

u c o v e e gro nd , overed with a p or and meagre g

tation ; beneath which the traveller com es u po n

moss -grown stones and shapeless trac es of former

u . s on e u c ons tr ctions On thi spot, h ndred and

r s of thi ty year ago, arose the towers an abbey ; but thi s abbey was not one Of those Catholic

abodes of luxur y and high living : it was not like

m ie es s of c c u Ju g , with its marvel Gothic ar hite t re ;

T his accoun t of the d estruction of Port-Royal des Champ s “ is a t taken om a v e c ev e a t c e nte in the A the p r ly fr ry l r r i l , pri d " n aeu m c c on ta ns a c t ue on the acco un t o f the emo . whi h i ri iq d lition o f the mon aste u s e in a en c o ca e ry , p bli h d Fr h w rk ll d ” Soc ete des en s de ett es . Anot e aut o t is ance i G L r h r h ri y , L ' ot s sto of o t- o a l Hi ry P r R y l .

3 50 THE DESTRUCTION OE

sat u of c down at the banq et Ma beth ; that hydra,

u c s u . with a h ndred owled head , which Lo is XIV

u im os vainly strove to m zzle, and, ﬁnding that p

s sible, determined to de troy.

of - des m s u The Abbey Port Royal Cha p , fo nded,

1 204 E u u s was in , by des de S lly, Bi hop of Paris, one of the most anc ient and favoured communities

is tertian o Of the C rder. Towards the close Of the s c u s ixteenth ent ry, thi monastery had shared in the

c u s general de line, ca sed by the relaxation of moral c u u c u c u onseq ent pon ivil war and co rt orr ption, and whic h had extended itself to the religious c om

A n é mun ities. I n 1 602 u , a yo ng girl, Marie g

’ u u d A n dill c liq e Arna ld y, des ended from an

us ss. ill trious family, was made abbe Under her governm ent the c onvent was de stined to be rege

c c u i c n erated . The ir umstances nder wh h that

c regeneration took pla e, and the legend with whic h the traditions Of the monas tery c onnect

’ . s them, are given at length in M de Lavergne papers on His toric R uins ; and be there paints

us c u s of the growing, glorio , and tragi al fort ne

- d s Port Royal e Champs . From the period ofthe legend in qu estion dates — a new era that of the restoration of ec clesiastic al - FORT ROYAL DES CHAMP S . 351

di u of . c in its scipline, and the r le St Benedi t all

u . u rigo r The n ns committed to the ﬂames, in the

i of s of s m ddle the Cloister , the poems Ron ard and Baif; with the gauds and ornam ents that had taken place of wooll en an d sackcloth ; and where the

cords of the lute and the songs of the profane had

so n c s lo g e hoed, were now heard the olemn har

s f monie o the Gregorian chant. The reform of Port-Royal des Champs made

. u to a great sen sation Louis XIII. had s cceeded

Henry IV. , and with him devotion had taken

c l 1 626 c pla e of ga lantry. When, in , the in rease in the number of the nuns obliged the c ommu

n t s on e m i y to eparate, party re oved to Paris,

and inhabited the house Of the order in the Rue

. c u s c u l St Ja q e , whilst the other ontin ed to dwel

s s c s u in the hou e in the ﬁeld . A new spe ie of co se

c r u u old sc c ration g ew p aro nd the abbey, and ien e

was now personiﬁed in the illustrious family of

’ A rn aulds. c n u d A n dill the First ame Ar a ld y, and

u c f then Antoine Arna ld, the immortal do tor o the — Sorbonne one the brother, the other the nephew

of s . s s c s the abbe s Letter , the arts and cien e , all

the knowledge and the professions which honour

u or elevate h manity, had their representatives 352 THE DESTRUCTION OF

- : at Port Royal Lemaitre de Sacy, Lancelot,

of Nicole, Philippe de Champagne, and, last all,

s s of his m s s c . the greate t philo opher ti e , Pa al

s s There , while ome admini tered the personalities

u re- s s its for of the abbey, and labo red to e tabli h

s u i s hus tune , others tilled the gro nd, l ke imple ban dm en ; they c omposed books for the in struc

of u — i c u s tion yo th books wh h, two h ndred year

s as of uc . later, were till to serve the basis ed ation

- des s m P ort Royal Champ beca e a school, and the greatest nobles Of France aspired to the honour of

m s having their c hildren brought up there . A ong t

c u these hildren, the son of an honest b rgher Of La

was c . u ss u Ferte Milon, Ra ine Two s cce ive q eens Of France took the abbey under their protec tion ; and Madem oiselle de Scudery devoted a portion

” of s c of C léli e. her page to it, in her roman e

u c u s In this h mble and pea ef l retreat, eparated by a narrow spac e fro m all the c lam our that sur

u of u v s ro nded the throne Lo is XIV. , li ed the e

s as persons, objects of admiration and re pect long as virtue and s cien c e shall be honoured amongst men ; and to this day the se illustrious dead s eem

” c u of u yet to live in the pi t re the Holy S pper, where Philippe de Champagne, having to paint

3 54 THE DESTRUCTION OF

s f s Once tigmatized with the irst of the e epithets, the Monastery of Port-Royal des Cham ps

c its u s c stri ken to fo ndation , and never re overed ;

was that name the black ﬂag, planted by an enemy on its walls .

u ss s At length Lo is XIV . , whose confe or were

u s c of u Jes its, yielded to the oli itation the powerf l party whi c h had Obtained ﬁ' om him the revocation of c s o ut the edi t of Nante , and blotted with a

of on e s his stroke his pen of the glorie of reign, by forbiddi ng the nuns of Port-Royal then c eforth

his il c c . to re eive novi iates It was w l that, with

u us u the s rvivors of that glorio comm nity, all which remained of the in stitution itself should desc end

u into the grave . The n ns had hitherto dedicated themselves to the educ ation of a few girls Of noble

s s w c familie ; these girl ere snat hed from them . They had Some possessions derived ﬁ om the piety of l us us was s u il trio patrons, and an edict i s ed whi ch as signed thi s property to the community of

s s Paris . They had confes ors who posses ed all

c on fiden ce— old had their venerable men, who shared in the splendour of the abbey ; these e c cle siastics u s or were prosec ted, flung into dungeon , forced to fly the kingdom . - FORT ROYAL DES CHAMPS. 355

But the enemies of Port-Royal were not yet

s s . as s u x s ati ﬁed So long the abbey ho ld e i t, the

s c ul Pér le su a . e Je it o d not sleep in pe ce Tellier,

’ i s c ss the K ng onfe or, daily repeated to him that the on ly means of ensuring his salvation was to

u u of s i break p, thro gh an act his overeign w ll, a

u r ha ghty community, which had been fo merly

c i s prote ted by the Cardinal de Retz . Th last ar

um en t was u s ui g an nan werable one with Lo s, who

c l c s held in horror all re o le tion of the Fronde .

s The abbey, however, was till standing in the autumn of 1 709 ; but it was little better than a

ui s c u h r n, on who e r mbling walls mig t be read the terrible effects of the vengeance of a sec t whi c h

its s never yet forgave enemie . Of the eighty

s c ss ss - nun , whi h it formerly po e ed, twenty three only rem ained ; for by a sort Of sympathetic c oin c iden c e , the monastery and its inmates seemed

c hastening together to a ommon tomb . One more — summer h ad n ow elapsed how many Of the nuns were destined to look upon an other - how many to witness even the return of the leaves ? It would

s s s have oothed them, in their deep di tres , if aid and c on solation c ould have reached them from — withou t but n o : to declare for them was to 356 THE DESTRUCTION OF

u m inc r the most i minent danger, and even their nearest relatives were obliged to refrain from visit

uc was w l of u s . ing them . S h the il Lo i XIV At length the Cardinal de Noailles grew in di n an t s o g at their very re ignation, and f rthwith fulm inated again st them the terrible sentence of e xcommunication : then the courage of the poor

of s nuns gave way. A world feeling , an order of

s our s u ideas, which no longer exi t in day , m st be revived ere we can be made fully to c omprehend

uff n of s m u the s eri gs the e wo en, when s ddenly de nied the practice of thos e pious duties whi ch had

x s c : s formed their entire e i ten e no priest, to peak

peac e to their s orrows and par don to their sins the confessional empty no ceremonies n o — — mass day and night the altar deserted the

churc h m ute . They s till repaired me chanicall y

in his in thither ; as if they had hoped that God ,

n u a i u ﬁ ite mercy, wo ld work m racle in their favo r, and that there might rise up before them at the al tar on e of the venerable ecc lesias tic s who Slept

s its the leep of eternity within a few paces of foot. l ! i A as vainly did they l ght the tapers, and deck — the altar with the fre shest ﬂowers of the season the

a t was u l ar was still lonely, and still the church m te

3 58 THE DESTRUCTION OF

al s u u great h l, where Mon eigne r, the Lie tenant

c t m u c general of Poli e, wai s to co m ni ate an order

s from the King . We will render unto C ae ar the

’ ’ c C wsar s things whi h are .

u of u A deep terror fell pon the hearts the n ns.

s un to The day had by thi time beg dawn , and they could see that the inner c ou rts were ﬁlled with

s of c i m detachment Fren h and Sw ss guards. Tre i t bl ng and bewildered, the Sis ers entered the great

ad hall of the chapter. It h once been adorned wi s or th painting by Philippe de Champagne, p

Of s traits the abbesses, and plendid decorations ; but the ravages of time had now little to shew but

m - an n els - wor eaten p and disjointed window frames.

m c At the extre ity of the hamber, on a raised

s of c s sur platform, amid t the glare tor he , and

s s u rounded by military array, tood Mon eigne r de

’ Voyer d A rgen s on . He made a Sign to the nuns

s u i c m s to be eated, and nfold ng a par h ent ealed

” wi m of c s th the ar s Fran e, I am here, he aid,

Y u to exe c ute a m easure of severity. o have dis

obeyed the King, and he is not to be braved with

impunity ; s till his Majesty has rem embered

u mercy. Hear the decree iss ed by the King in

” u c co ncil ! Then he read that ﬁer e decree, dic - M 35 PORT ROYAL DES CHA PS . 9 ta the s c x u ted by Je uits, whi h e pelled the n ns f rom their monastery, and ordered that, after their

u u n u s depart re, the b ildi gs sho ld be ra ed to the

u r s u u gro nd, and thei ite s rrendered to the plo gh .

m c w By the ter s of this edi t, the very grave as

its of s ua robbed of right anct ry, and the bones buried in the cem etery were ordered to be di sin

h of c terred . 29t 1 709 From the O tober, , the famous com munity of Port-Royal des Champs was n o more . The reading of these last direc tions was followed

an d c as f by a long, deep groan, then a silen e, o

—it s s death, fell on the hall eemed the last igh Of

c u l the old abbey, and the blood rd ed in the very

’ en s n s w veins of D A rg o him elf. It as almost as if the

s ss su c ﬁ om nun had pa ed ddenly, and at on e, life — n o SO c u t death pale and inanimate was every fa e, and so m otionless every frame : between the au dien c e s s of ﬂe h and blood, eated in the worm

s s u s ﬂi eaten tall of the chapter, and the ﬁg re in e gy

n c c but o the ra ked walls, there appeared little difference .

c s as o At length a voi e aro e , fr m the depth of a — tomb it was the abbe ss who Spoke Mon 3 60 THE DESTRUCTION OF

” “ s u she u eigne r, said, I and my da ghters are m ” ready. When ust these things be P

was Y ou On the instant, the reply. are

- u s twenty three n n , and at the convent gate stand

- c c ou twenty three carriages, whi h will onvey y to

- r ff m s s ou w twenty th ee di erent ona terie , where y ill

Y ou end your days . have an hour for prepa " ” rations and farewell s.

” s My children, said the abbes , with a voice that rose clear and distinct amidst the sou nds of

” tears and distress follow me I

u s sum The n n obeyed, re ed their rank, and

m c u issued fro the hall . They traversed the o rt

of s amidst the crowd soldier , who made way for

s c u u them with re pe tf l commiseration, ntil they

s s reached the c hurc h . There the i ters knelt

s s s down ; and the gate being clo ed, the abbe s,

rc u l of s out s with a vo e f l maje ty, gave the ﬁr t

s of l o9th s c om ver e the P alm, and the whole

u x c s munity took p the ne t in horus . The ong at

was — s u ﬁrst faint and faltering haken by ang ish, and s tayed by tears ; but as the swelling bass es of s to ul of the organ ro e the va ted roof, the voices

u u s the n ns revived, and they fo nd those in pired

3 62 - FORT ROYAL DES CHAMPS . with which the country people visited the ruined

f c remains o the abbey and the emetery. Accord in l s s g y the gardens and walk were demoli hed, the

u s u u u fo ndation of the ho se were plo ghed p, and

d n ot the dea were torn from their graves, that a vestige might remain where the institution had — s tood that the memory of it might be clean — blotted out from the things that had been that no devotional feelings might be assoc iated with

of so u so the view the place where m ch religion,

u n s u had m ch good e s, and so m ch learning, once

u s u ﬂo ri hed, and where the p rest friendships had

c s u s existed, whi h made the spot acred to h ndred

Of hum an beings . The police at Paris seized all prints or drawings

c c of - that ould preserve a re ollection Port Royal .

su The Je its, having once gained their object, were indefatigable in the pursuit and destruction of all that c ould make it known that there had once

an s n is been J e ts in France .

What d etestati on of the Jansenists was instilled into the education of the B ourbons may be su pposed from the fol o n s o to o ace a o e of the Dau n son l wi g t ry , ld by H r W lp l , phi ,

o f ou s . : ea n of the c mes Ne o he exc aime L i XV r di g ri Of r , l d , ’ M a foi c étoit le us an sce e at ui fﬁ t ama s il n e , pl gr d l r q j i ’ l ui manquoit que d etre Janseniste. S TRA F 3 63 THE MONA TERY OF LA F E .

THE MONASTERY OF LA TRAPPE .

THE two institutions that made the mos t se n

n c sation in Fra e, both privately and politically,

u s of m de Sévi n é d ring the time Mada e g , were

s - l tho e of La Trappe and Port Roya des Champs.

Every on e had either a relation or a ﬁi en d in on e or the other of these es tabli shments . Of the ro

i of . Ran c é o of mantic h story M de , Abb t La

u but Trappe , eno gh has been told, a little more

to sc s u may be added, de ribe the in tit tion itself,

“ whi ch was called by m any The Tomb of La

” Trappe . The monas tery was founded in the twelfth c e n

u u us s of St. a o t ry, nder the a pice Bern rd, the Abb t

ft s o f Clairvaux. A er many ages had elap ed from its r s tu n s ﬁ st in ti tion, it had decli ed to a tate Of the

u of n s most scandalous c orr ption . Many the mo k

m s a on lived by robbery, and com itted assa sin tions the passengers who had occasion to traverse their

s w oods. The neighbourhood hrunk with terror

from the approach of men who never went abroad

u c u narmed, and whose ex rsions were marked with R 2 3 64 THE MONASTERY OF LA TRAPPE. bloodshed and violence : The banditti of La

” Trappe was the appellation by which they were

l n u s most genera ly disti g i hed.

Ran cé Suc h were the men amongs t whom M . de

ﬁx i resolved to h s future abode . He went alone

c of rufﬁan s into this ompany , every one of whom was bent on his destruc tion . Plans were formed to waylay and assassinate hi m ; bu t Providenc e

c c u s frus trated these plans . The a o nt of the live

s s ur s s of the Trappi t is c iou , hewing the steps by

c s whi h the e men were gained over to religion, and how so wonderful a change was effec ted in a c om

u s m u c of m nity. The a e ardo r and vehemen e c harac ter which had distinguished the Abbot of

c La Trappe in the world, now haracterized him in

s the Cloi ter.

The s ituation of the monastery was well adapted

’

c . I t was v u to De Ran e s views , not far from E re x,

sc v il in Normandy. In de ending a hill near the

of . u u i s lage St Ma rice, the traveller fo nd h m elf in s of r u ight a da k forest, extending f rther than the

u u . eye co ld reach, over an immense tract of co ntry The whole of the way through the forest w as in ex

ressibl a p y dreary, only diversiﬁed by a few solit ry l t di apida ed chapels, and here and there a few de

3 6 6 THE MONASTERY OF LA TRA PFE .

of r of T Th e u view the Monaste y La rappe . a thor

c u s e of the a co nt of La Trappe as it then exi t d,

hi u m from w ch this acco nt is taken, co pares the se nsation on the ﬁrs t view of it to the feeling e x

c f cited by the immediate presen e o death .

I n s diﬂi cult descending the teep, and intricate b - s i s y path , the traveller aga n lost ight Of the

u ea abbey, till he had act ally r ched the bottom f i o . e s the h ll Then em rging from the tree , the

c m a following ins ription, i mediately before him, p

eared - of c on p in stone work, above the grate the vent ’ C est ic i ue la mo t et la v t q r éri é , E lé ven t leu rs ﬂambeaux terribles ; ’ est de cette emeu e au m on e inaccess e C d r d ibl , ’ ’ ” u l n s é ni Q e o pas e a l ter té . f Over the gateway was a statue o St. Bernard

on e a he held in hand a church, in the other a sp de

u the emblems of devotion and labour. Ro nd the

u of oﬂi ces co rt the convent were the , granaries,

ll &c u w as stables, mi , . S ch the external appear f ance o La Trappe . The austerities practised withi n were all con f n ected wi th a Spirit of mortiﬁcation . The food o

e o es in his accoun t of La a e ment ons t s Mr . F ll w , Tr pp , i hi

same n sc t on en he v s te it in 1 8 1 7 . i rip i , wh i i d THE MONASTERY OF LA TRAPPE . 3 67

was s the monks vegetable , water, and bread, and

s s ﬁsh tho e in mall quantities ; neither meat, , eggs,

l s u e ll . c nor b tt r were a owed Their el were small, and c ontained only a bed composed of knotted

s u u straw rope , a rug, a few book , and a h man sk ll ; and when any one appeared near his death, he was placed on a bed made of dust and ashes on the

o to . u s c brick ﬂo r, there expire An nbroken ilen e was r u e maintained th ougho t the whole monast ry,

u n on e u on a con except d ri g ho r Sund y, when a voc ation w as held on religious subjec ts ; but nothing like general c onversation w as ever per mitted s u c e w as , and con eq ently ea h memb r nearly as much insul ated as if he alone exi sted in the u nivers e .

a c c i s u u Some f cts onne tedwith th s in tit tion, tho gh

s can sc c c di . but trictly true, ar ely be re ted None

an d m n or the abbot prior knew the na e , age, ra k,

u of of f even the native co ntry, any the di ferent

s of u on n member the comm nity. Every one, taki g

s ssu his the vow , a med a name ; and, with former

l i s u n ot to appel at on, the monk was pposed only

u but or o abj re the world, every recollection mem

of li n s of rial his past fe . Often have perso the same name and family lived together without sus 368 THE MONASTERY OF LA TRAPPE .

ectin l on -s p g it, til the name the grave tone of the dead betrayed the truth to the survivor.

Out of the man y extraordinary s tories known as c ur is facts, of what o c red at La Trappe, here — on e A you th of great religious promise entered himself at La Trappe his piety and his great

us s ediﬁed so c : a teritie the whole iety at last, he

s ow c was to fell into a l de line, a monk appointed

on hi m u e . u attend , and the yo th di d Abo t a year

ft of s saw who a er, one the monk him had attended

u m the yo th, in the burial place, in editation near his : n o r c rs tomb mo e noti e was taken till, ten yea

m his s un after, the onk died, when grave tone

se was his son m folded the cret, that it only who he

u had wept, and whom he had attended nknown to

s him elf. The hardships undergone by the m onks appear almost insupportable to hum an nature their heavy woollen c lothes were never changed or taken

off or , night or day, summer winter ; they were

s not allowed to warm thems elve in winter at a ﬁre .

Ran c é u c The Abbé de t rned away a novi e, as not

s of c us s having the pirit the order, be a e he ob erved

ut s him , in weeding, p by the nettle , to prevent

un . c being st g The ommon hall, where they

3 70 THE MONAS TERY OF LA TRA FFE si hi ns, and to pray for the un happy world w ch

s pray not for itself. The life of the Abbot Of La Trappe is worth

its c u ff a reading, from riosity : three di erent ccounts

of u s was him are p bli hed in Frenc h. He one day

u asked why he alone enjoined so many a sterities,

which no other order in the Catholi c religion

c s pra ti es. His Opini on was that no man c oul d

” c his safely negle t own peculiar c all . Whether

be s su c we called to mission , with the Je its ; to a ts

of a i of mercy, like the order Ch rity ; to enl ghten

u the world, like the c ongregation of St. Ma r ; to

c c s u l prea h, like the Domini an ; to h mi iation, like

or a of the Minimi ; to contempl tion, like the order

the Visitation ; I still honour the work of the

in c s Lord them all, and re ogni e from my heart,

a is on e as th t there body and one spirit, even ye

c on e l on e are alled in hope of your ca ling ; Lord,

on e on e s on e of faith, bapti m, God and Father all,

”

is all an d u us . who above , thro gh all, and in all The hi story of De Ran cé is on e of the most

u is s poetic al of the century of Lo is XIV. ; it a tory

u of s s s r f ll ﬁerce hates and love , burning pas ion , g eat

s s u ambition , and ho ld have been told in verse by the

’ f an cé s was on e pen o Lord Byron . De R character 3 1 THE MONASTERY OF LA TRAFFE . 7

such as Lord Byron loved to paint. We are told of his his genius, courtly manners, and that he possess ed that reﬁn ed raill ery which the Gram monts and the wits of those days gloried in .

u his s Byron wo ld have well described worldly love ,

his . great resolves, his deep repentance Some au thors have doubted the tru th of that part Of hi s s tory relating to the Duchess de Montbazon but

is i u its u there in real ty no do bt Of being tr e, from the circum stanc es bein g named in a public

“ of us of an u trial that time, ill trative other Ca se ” i Célebre, and by that mention never hav ng been

' contradic ted by the fami lies of De Ran c é and

u u i ssu Montbazon, tho gh this p bl cation i ed from the pre ss of the official c our ts of judic ature . The whole hi story of De Ra n c é proves that he

s u hi s rs had re olved that the h man race, in followe ,

u his u s sho ld exp iate crimes by their a steritie , and that a death -bed of peac e on sackcloth an d ashe s should sec ure to himself an immortality in a world

sc oﬂed to come, a world which he had at the very

n u of his existe ce ofd ring all the early years life, and

il u d (Oh, st l deeper in iniq ity !) had attempted an su c i to ff in on l c eeded in lead ng others sco at, by

n s cati g athei m and incredulity . 372 LOUIS xrv .

LOUIS XIV.

o n 1 6 38 e 1 7 1 5 . B r , ; di d ,

THE death of Cardi nal Mazarin m ay be called

the c ommencem ent of the reign of Louis XIV . From that time the King was his own prim e

s u u s s mini ter, and he tho ght to r le the tate de po

but u u s tically he was by t rns r led him elf, not by

on e bu m t by many . The agitation of the real

f u sinc e the death o Lo uis XIII. had prod ced the

s u s Of in us ordinary con eq ence agitation, the geni

c h c l u whi h it ad al ed p in every department. The beginning of his reign was the most pros i ss . r was s perons po ible Colbe t min ter, and the bes t of ministers ; and his general s held the ﬁrs t

E as a of rank in urope to reput tion . The talents

u m but Lo is were, in fact, rather below ediocrity ;

he posse ss ed the great power of formin g hi s m an

c u of ad ners and haracter pon a good model, and

is m u hering to it, which Often ore val able in the

c uc ond t of life than the very greate st abilities. By

u was of u nat re, he a lover order and reg larity he

374 LOUIS xrv .

’ — aﬂairs h &c . clot ing, arms, ; but he told a story better than any man of hi s time . His frequ ent changes of residence were made for the purpose of keeping up a number of arti

ﬁcial di s s u tinction , by which he kept the co rtiers in a perpetual sta te of anxiety and expectation .

e u s It was the fashion to r q e t to accompany him,

ask m ur u to for apart ents at Co t, and the co rtier w as elated or humiliated accordingly as the se

an u s . favours were gr ted, Lo i XIV not only knew how to keep his courtiers alive to a sen se of

s i bu t ul the di t nctions he granted, he had a fac ty of c u personal observation, whi h seems pec liar to w royal ty. The absence or presence of any one as

own c u noticed ; in his mind, he kept an ac rate

f w for ac count o these things. When he as as ked

i was s anyth ng for a person who seldom een, he

u sa n ot n him or on e wo ld y, I do k ow for who came rarely to court He is a man I never se e

s and these sen tences were ﬁnal. He had spie and

s of s . reporter everywhere, and all classe All let ters by post were opened with extrao rdi n ary dexterity and promptitude ; and sometimes the

letters themselves were laid before the Ki n g. The se crecy with which this department Of esp ionage I V 375 LOUIS X .

was conducted was impenetrable . Neither secrecy

u a was if cu i n or dissim l tion d ﬁ lt for the K ng ; he,

u on his r but however, piq ed himself keeping wo d,

‘ gave it rarely.

f for re re u . was o Lo is XIV the model a king, p sen tation — of s s the very hero addres es, petition ,

s s s s . l levee , review , and fe tival In all persona mat ters he was perfect ; there was a grac e in all he did s , a preci ion and reﬁnement in all he said, that rendered an attention ﬁ' om him a distinction ; he

u s knew the val e of it, and may have been aid to

his — his s il have sold words nay, even m e, even

s his looks . He poke rarely to any one ; when he

was : s did, it with brevity and majesty no har h word ever escape d him ; and when he repri man d ed w as of i ss . , it done with an air k ndne He may be said to have been polished to the very limits of hi s nature ; no on e better m arked the

c ns m hi s distin tio of age, erit, and rank, in mode

of reception . Hi s manner to women was most

s t u o off c re pec f l ; he to k his hat, and never repla ed

as as w as s m 0 it long he peaking to the . T men of o off his for rank , he to k hat a moment ; and

See o e n ua te vol ix F r ig Q r rly , . . 3 6 O xx 7 L UIS v .

of e with those inferior degree, he content d him

u s self with to ching his hat. When with the prince

o be s as Of the blo d, exhibited the ame manner when with the ladies ; bu t all this tim e his pride — shone in his eyes his loo ks proclaimed his sove rei n t u him g y over everything and everybody ro nd ,

a s to that degree, th t the mo t intrepid were awed by them ; and in whatever moment Of his life he was his a ab beheld, appearance procl imed him solu te and a king.

was c c The service of the palace like lo kwork,

i c c c c u s wh h was no small in onvenien e to the o rtier , who were obliged to be in parti cular saloons or

s c f s rs gallerie at ertain hours o their ma te day. Louis treated his servants with favo ur and con

s u was . ideration, and their inﬂ ence over him great

He was partic ular in as certaining with what atten

s m s tion they had been treated when ent of a e sage .

He u sed to relate with c omplac ency that be on e day sent on e of his footm en to the Duke de Mont

z s was ba on, Governor of Pari , who at that time in on e of his a u on of Ch tea x, and who, the arrival the

u s royal servant, was j st itting down to dinner. The D uke made the servant sit down to dinner

he c with him, and when departed, ac ompanied

3 8 xrv 7 LOUIS .

a s e ur a extensively imit ted ; it pread all ov r co t, c mp,

c u i to and ity, and red ced the nobil ty poverty and

ff u u - di ic lties, which the D ke de Saint Simon says

o c u the king f resaw and alc lated upon , to second his own purposes of subj ugating the gran d seign eurs

u ain of France, by means more artf l and more cert than the violent meas ures of Cardinal Richelieu.

' The death-bed of thi s extraordinary man is as

ﬁn e e an other his . a pi ce of acting as y , of life

u s h ad e Lo i died as he liv d, with all the grace and

His decorum he loved in his brightest moments. addresss es to his fri ends and attendants and to the

u so u an d little Da phin were st died perfect, that the desc ription of them produ ces the eﬂect of a

- s was well acted play ; every person pre ent in tears . He was long dying ; when he appeared at the

u s his worst, the co rtiers de erted apartments, and

u s W ﬂocked abo t the D uke of Orlean . hen he

l d was su uk was ra lie , the reaction dden, and the D e

hi s s ft . le alone In last day on earth, the King

r but shewed great st ength of mind, with it ex hibiting to the last hour of his life that passion for

admiration which had been his characteri stic

through li fe .

’ At a quarter-past eight O clock in the morn ing 3 LOUI S xrv . 79

of l et of 1 71 5 ui . r the September, , Lo s XIV b eathed his as was n l t. When the event know , the ﬁrst Gentilhomme de la Chambre” opened the win

an d cr out s r dow, ied three time f om the balcony

” Le Roi est mort ! then breaking his can e in two c out , he took another, and ried Vive

” le Roi ! The clock Of Versailles was stopped at i the time at wh ch the King expired, and remained so until the death of his su ccessor.

of ui s . was s The body Lo XIV tran ferred, nine

- his . days after death, to Saint Denis The pomp of his fu neral c eremony was interrupted by the rejoicings of the people ; they erec ted tents n ear

a -s w u the ro d ide, here they la ghed and sang, calling out ou s of u s u set on , that the h se the Jes it sho ld be

M as ﬁre by the torches of the funeral proce ssion . sillon pronounced the funeral oration of Louis le

Grand ; the people pronounced their eulogium in a different manner. Many pa n egyrites have c elebrated the reign of

ou . but o u so L is XIV , n ne have s cceeded well as

u s the Cardinal de Ma ry. Thi King had at the

of his u head armies, Turenne, Condé, L xembourg,

C aten at Bouﬂlers C ré ui u u Ven dOme , , q , Montesq io , ,

l u s c and Vil ars ; Colbert, Lo voi , and Tor y, were 380 LOUIS xrv .

e his c u o Bourdaloue call d to direct o ncils ; B ssuet, , and Massill on informed him what were his duti es ; Vauban fortiﬁed his town s ; Riguet c on struc ted his canals ; Perrault and Mansard built hi s palaces ;

t uss u u B u Puge , Girardon, Po in, Le S e r, and Le r n embellished and ornamented them ; Le Notre laid ou t r n i c ui his ga de s ; Corne lle, Ra ine, Moliere, Q

ul o u o u e n na t, La F ntaine, La Br yere, and B ilea lightened his reas on and amus ed his leisure hours ;

M on tausier B u B u i s u , oss et, ea v llier , Fenelon, H et,

Fléchier u u u his , and the Abbé Fle ry bro ght p c hildren and gran dchildr en . With this brilliant

” c m m us s i s o u ortege Of i ortal geni e L is XIV . surrounded in the eyes Of po sterity. Shoul d any on e pretend to argue that suc h

a c on e advant ges come by chance, whi h in age

u e so m s s all e s a prod c d any per on of d gree of t lent,

u s in u s . re I wo ld an wer, applying to Lo i XIV a

’ ﬂecti on of Sully s with regard to Henry I V

‘ It is to the King that belongs the praise due to

a good government ; for good s ubj ects are never

wanting un der any king ; but ki ngs are Often wan t ing to good

3 82 CONCLUSION.

n all and since the , Napoleon, governed France ; these persons having been formed and educated in

of c u times excitement and fa tion, revol tion and bloodshed .

The Christian philos opher will c ondemn the immoral c onduc t and the bigotry that suc ceeded to the corruption of the early part of the reign of

u but is Lo is XIV. then, again, it to be feared

E or u that ngland, Italy, Spain, Germany co ld not tell a better story in the private lives of the persons

u u on e c ff ed abo t their co rts . In respe t, France di er from them : the great world of politics and ambi

of ss s ss s tion, pa ion and di ipation , of elﬁshness and

u an d worldly interests, s ch as ever has existed,

s s in t s doe now exi t the world of civilized na ion , w as s d then organized, clas ed, and had a lea er in

u . i u s Lo is XIV K ngs, q eens, mini ters, and leading

so u to s for a persons have, in fact, m ch an wer , th t were those in power to possess tender cons ciences

u all and weak nerves, they wo ld never act at , did

s they consider their responsibili ty . During thi

out of s of time in France, a mas iniquity, the virtues of individuals rose from the multitude who followed to do evil ; their virtu es shone forth in 83 C ONCLUSION.

s u a u ai i e on plendo r, and their f lts rem n l ke sp cks

sun c ff its the , whi h do not a ect glory ; and there were virtu es practised in France that were very i strik ng. The gratitude of children to parents knew n o

n s c bou d , when those children had re eived a good ed ucation ; and friendship was a virtue of every

s of day use. The friendship those days were

c s u warm, on tant, and faithf l ; friends gave their

u s u c s fort ne and inﬂ en e in pro perity, their time and

s ss huts c onsolation in ickne and adversity. Few and ifs are to be found in their description of each

u li c k ad other, and they p b ly ac nowledged their

’ miration and liking ; at the tim e when “ l esprit

” ’ ” é oit un e ét i t o t . dignité, l amitie une devoir

. was dut but Not only friendship considered a y, the greatest cons olation and softener Of c alamity ;

ff of of an a air the heart and the imagination, and n ot a rac e of skill and strength in politic al or pro fe i n f ss o al li e . The lover of literature with j ustice admires the da ys of Le Grand Monarqu e ; the lov er of wit de lights in them ; and the artist or admi rer of pictu

resque effect ﬁnds a hundred strikin g scenes to rest 3 84 CONCLUSION.

— his imagination upon Moli ere reading his plays to i or uc ul the Card nal de Retz, to La Rochefo a d ;

Mademoiselle visiting the Qu een of Sweden ; Les

Préc ie us es Ridicules assembled round the bed Of

u l or c i Madame de Rambo il et ; in tragi l fe, the

u s of death of T renne, the hi tory Madame de

s or u u u of Gange , that Of the nfort nate D chess

Orleans .

THE

’ T . . Sa v ll P n te 1 0 St. M a rtin s lan e . C i , ri r, 7,