THE ROMANCE OF SAVOY

AND VI CTOR A MADEU S I I . H I S ST UA RT B RI DE

THE MARCHESA A’ITELLESCH I

WITH TWENTY- SI X FULL- PAGE I L LUSTRATIONS I N C L U DI N G T W O P H OTO GR A V U RE P L AT ES

I N T W O VO L U M E S

VOL I .

' U ° London H TCHINSON 59 CO . Paternoster ROW I 90 5

PR EFA C E

HE connection between the Courts o f Great

Britain and Savoy, and the mutual interests bind i ng the royal houses of these countries, supply a large

o f fund historical incidents , the political i mportance of which culminate d under the reign o f Victor

’ ’

1 d Orle an s . Amadeus I . and Anna

o f The persistent attempts Louis XIV . to keep

of Savoy in his iron hand , and the tenacity purpose by which Victor Amadeus overcame his manifold

o f adversities, not small importance for the political

of equilibrium Europe, form a most attractive theme , and suggested to the Author to attempt to meet the

of o n approbation the reading public this subj ect . In entering into this work the Author has met with much assistance from several sources . She would

first, with all due respect, wish to mention Her M r f o . Maj esty, Queen arghe ita Savoy Besides the gracious encouragement received from the illustrious M Sovereign, Her ajesty extended her courtesy to off ering the Author reproductions from her private

of o f of collection portraits the Princes Savoy . A vi PR EFAC E similar privilege was conferred on the Author by His

M of ajesty the King Italy, by whose gracious per mission the charming portrait of the Duchesse de

Bourgogne in the Quirinal Palace is here reproduced . For these royal favours the Author desires to express her most warm and respectful gratitude . These portraits have added considerably to the interest of the book , and in her endeavour to produce a picture o f Court life at Turin in the seventeenth and early

o f part the eighteenth century, will greatly conduce to help the success of a study on a period o f history but little known to England . The Author further wishes to take this opportunity o f expressing her thanks to the Principe di Scalea, who furnished her with notes and appropriate repro ductions relating to the short residence o f Victor M Amadeus in Sicily, to the Barone Antonio anno , “ by whose eff orts the strict rules of the cla usura ” of M papale the onastery at Pinerolo were infringed, and for the first time access was granted to reproduce

’ o f M the portrait the archesa di Spigno, the King s second wife, whose life terminated tragically in those ff precincts, and to the Conte Balbo Bertone, who a orded the Author information on the Contessa di Verrua .

In addition to those friends who, absent or present, ff have o ered the Author a helping hand, she would wish to pay a tribute o f respect to the memory o f M K onsignore Lanza, Court Chaplain to the ing of PREFACE

Italy, whose death has occurred during the progress ff of this work . The courtesy of this prelate a orded the Author an opportunity o f knowing o ne well versed in the history o f that House to which he was M deeply attached . It was also due to onsignore Lanza

R Vi are n o that she obtai ned permission from oux e g ,

re re publishers , to reproduce the curious engraving p senting the Duke and Duchess of Savoy in adoration before the Holy Shroud . These senti ments of gratitude are extended to the

Master of Peterhouse , for his assistance in historical

of i nvestigations , and to the Directors the State

o f o f Mi ni s tere ff Archives Turin, the des A aires

o f Etrangeres in Paris , the Archives at Chambery,

f O c and o the Record fli e in London . L ’ ENVOI

A pretty tradition relates that when Edmund , Earl o f o f Lancaster, wooed and won the beautiful Blanche

o f V. Navarre , the widowed Queen Henri , he brought from Provence the roses planted there by the Cru

sade r s . , and thus instituted the badge of his House The rose is also the ancient and traditional flower of

o f the House Savoy, established, it is said, in the

1 6 o f year 4 3 by the Queen of Cyprus , wife Duke

Ludovico of Savoy . The roses that bloom under

o f the grey sky the north , and those that luxuriate in

‘ o f o f the balmy clime Italy , form a nosegay blending perfumes that, side by side with the great interests

/ that have led to the unity of the royal Houses of ‘ o f Great Britain and Savoy, is a poetic emblem the feigning concord and the harmony of associations by h w ich the two countries are bound . C TE TS OF VOL ON N . I

C HAPTER I

I ET T Duc HEss OF O L HENR A , R EANS

C HAPTE R II SAVOY I N OLDEN DAYS

C HAPTER I I I TH E BIRT H OF VICT OR AMADEUS

C HAPTER IV TH E REGENCY

C HAPT ER V ANNA MARIA OF ORLEANS

C HAPTER VI THE MARRIAG E OF PRINCESS ANNA

C HAPTER VI I EARLY MARRI ED DAYS

C HAPTER VIII IN THE WALDENSIAN VALLEY

C HA PTER I X

TH E CARNIVAL OF VENI CE AND I T S C ONSEQUENCES

LLUSTRAT ONS TO V L I I O . I

P t ra r i c VICTOR AMADEUS II . ( ho og vu e' F ront fpie e

’ LE S OF ANNA MARIA D OR ANS , FIR T QUEEN SICILY Fa cing page 2 8

T H E OLD CHAT EAU AT CHAMB ERY 5 2

T H E T - - B PT ST 6 REGEN , MARIE JEANNE A I E 4

VICT OR AMADEUS AT T H E AGE OF NINE 8 0

VICT OR AMADEUS AT T H E AGE OF EIGHT EEN I 38

T H E OLD CHAT EAU AT CHAMB ERY I 7 2

T H E P ZZ T O T I 8 IA A CAS ELL , URIN 7

T HE DUK E AND DUCHESS OF SAVOY W ORSHIP H O PING T E SS . SIND NE

T H E P OF T H E T T ALACE VALEN INO , URIN

T O I L T K OF VIC R AMADEUS , FIRS ING SICILY AND SARDINIA

FACSIMILES

T T OF T O I I LE ER VIC R AMADEUS .

LET TER OF ANNA MARIA OF ORLEANS

THE ROMA N C E OF S A VOY

C HA PT E R I

E N E D C ES S OF E S H RI TTA , U H ORL AN

— d a The a ssoci a tion of the Houses of Stua rt a nd S a voy Ch a rles I . a n Henriett — — M a ria Birth of the future Duchess of Orlea n s Esca pe of the Queen to — — F ra nce The young Princess con fi ded to the ca re Of L a dy Morton The — — chi ld is conveyed in sa fety to her mother Her educa tion a t Cha illot Her a n a i n I 6 — n a n L XI V — ff present tio t Court 54 The coro tio Of ouis . The di er — ence of cha r a cter between the K ing a nd his brother Ann e of Austria chooses ’ — Prin cess Henrietta Anne for Monsieur s bride Description of the Princess E n a — n a The Queen a nd Princess return to gl nd Their receptio by Ch rles II . — — ’ M a rria ge dowry voted Imp a tien ce of Monsieur on his bride s return — — Violen t storm a t se a The a ttentions of the Duk e Of B uckingh a m Dea th z — a — a a n n of M a a rin The roya l m a rri ge Louis XI V. p ys tte tio s to his sister — — i n - l a w The suspicions of Monsieur a re roused The Comte de G uiche — ’ — Domestic troubles a rise Ma da me s politic a l i n fluenc e Louise de l a Va lliere — — ’ Birth Of the future Duchess Of S a voy i n I 66 9 M a da me s unha ppy life — — with Monsieur The Christening Of the Princess Triumph a l progress to — F la nders M a demoiselle de Montpensier rel a tes the ex perience of the e x — — p edi tion Monsieur continues to tormen t his wife M a da me lea ves for — — Engl a nd on a politica l mission The tre a ty of Dover The gra titude of ’ IV on a a a a n — H n n — R Louis X . M d me s ssist ce er sudde ill ess umours of — n - n a - be d — n f n O n poiso Sce es by her de th f The i di fere ce f Mo sieur The — ’ a B ossuet s a n . indigna tion of Ch rles II . or tio

HE numerous works published of late years o n the last Princes of the H ou Se o f Stuart tend to confirm belief that the public interest is unabated as to all that concerns a subj ect of such unfailing of e fascination . Doubtless a halo romance radiat s — I . B T HE ROMANC E OF SAVOY round certain sentimental episodes i n the chequered careers of the Chevalier de St . Georges and his two one o f un sons, and this period will always live as r usual interest . Seeing how absorbing is the pe usal of their blighted hopes , a desire may possibly arise to increase acquaintanceship with other members of of the royal family Stuart, who, if less known to fame, may lay equal claim to attention . This work is therefore presented to the public with the View o f bringing i nto notice another personality who by her marriage formed a link between the House of Stuart

o f S and that avoy .

Thi s is a matter of the greater interest, in view of the fact that the long - standing sympathy evinced of t for the House Savoy by the Stuar kings , and the correspondence between the two Courts, show that they were always on terms of disinterested friendship . To no country more than to England must the reminiscences of the Princes of Savoy naturally appeal . The sentiment of cordiality that unites the two countries in the present day has matured with of be the growth time , and the goodwill existing tween the two kingdoms has been o f unbroken continuation .

The Princess , whose history is recorded in this work as one of the many factors in the promotion M of of mutual sympathy, was Anna aria, one the of U least known the Stuart Princesses . nassuming of and simple though she was, her life appears worthy E E C ESS E S H NRI TTA , DU H OF ORL AN 3 i nterest owing to the circumstances under which her marriage took place and the consequences which followed it .

Princess Anna, to whom attention is now drawn , f was granddaughter of Charles I . and wi e of Victor

o f S . Amadeus I I . , Duke avoy The life of Victor Amadeus h i mself may be con side re d of l o of importance, not on y thr ugh the union two royal houses , but on account of his own successful career during a most interesting period of history . I n order that the relation of the future Duchess of Savoy to this record may be presented in a lucid manner , it may not be amiss to go back a few years and summarise as briefly as may be the principal ’ o events in which her mother, Henrietta d rleans , played a part during her few years of brilliant success at the Court o f France .

o f fre As is well known , the House Stuart had of quently claimed the protection France, and had received hospitality from the French Court which , of when it coincided with the interests France, was ever a powerful and reliable assistance to the exiled s of Princes and Princesse in moments need . This hospitality so ungrudgingly held o ut by France led to many marriages and i ntermarriages o f between the reigning Houses both countries, and

o f of the marriage Henrietta Maria, daughter M H . . enri IV and arie de Medici , with Charles I in 1 6 2 f or of 5 , had paved the way closer recognition kinship by Louis XIV . This connection was further 4 T HE ROMANC E o r SAVOY

’ cemented by the marriage o f Henrietta Maria s ’ d Orléans— daughter with Philippe, Duc the brother

o o f Louis XIV . and founder of the branch f the

- . 1 0 1 Bourbon Orleans family The Duke died in 7 , but his beautiful wife, who, during the few years allotted her, subjugated everyone by her charms , had predeceased him under circumstances that reflected ’ d O n gravely against Philippe rléa s . ’ n 1 6 th 1 6 Princess He rietta s birth on June , 44 , had

i n been ushered with omens of evil augury . In the

elt de oi e o f place of a f j , the ominous boom the enemy ’ s cannon with sinister persistency approached

o f ever nearer to the loyal town Exeter, where Queen Henri e tta Maria had taken refuge and had placed herself under the protection of Sir John Berkeley, ’ n f o f M o e o the truest the King s servants . idst the turmoil and confusion unavoidably attendant o n preparati o ns for a siege the Queen slowly recovered from her recent confinement ; and as the report gained ground that Cromwell ’ s army was within a few days ’

o f march the town , the Queen , after taking into con sideration that should she fall into the hands of the rebels it would seriously increase the dangers of the ’ the King s position , adopted grave decision to abandon both the King and England . Henrietta Maria was well aware that she had failed in obtain

ff o f ing any hold on the a ection the people . Devoted wife though she had been to the King, undoubtedly she had greatly contributed to his unpopularity, and in this moment o f sore perplexity she could not blind E E C ESS E S H NRI TTA, DU H OF ORL AN 5 herself to the fact that she occupied a large share in ’ the nation s resentment against thei r Sovereign . Having determined on the most advisable course to pursue, she confided the child , who was too young

o f M o f to travel, to the care Lady orton , one her

- i n - - ladies waiting, and after writing a heart breaking letter to Charles , though she was still weak and

fo r utterly unfit a perilous voyage, she contrived , with the help of friends and in disguise , to embark ff at Plymouth and e ected an escape to France . ’ Barely ten days elaps ed between the Queen s t h ‘ K i departure and the entry of ng into Exeter, D who , having repulsed Lord Essex , y forced marches had succeeded in entering the town . Here he ex

e c te d not p to meet the Queen, and his grief at finding her still there was all the more profound as

' he felt Fate held him in her cruel grasp . He was u nable to restrain his deep emotion as he took the child in his arms , and for the first and last time pressed her to his heart with all the fervour o f a s oul in deepest distress ; he then hurriedly turned to his chaplain and expressed his desire that she should be baptised according to the rites o f the Anglican

. ffi Church After making, under di cult circumstances , ’ the best possible arrangements for his child s welfare , of he hastily left the town, and without loss time ’ j oined hi s troops , who were in pursuit of Cromwell s army . ’ Within a few days o f the Queen s flight and the

o f hurried visit the King, Si r John Berkeley found 6 T HE ROMANC E OF SAVOY

to o f himself bound capitulate, and , though the Act Parliament had expressly stipulated that the baby Princess was to be permitted to reside in any town that Lady Morton should consider the most advisable

‘ for her, no sooner had Exeter capitulated than this

Act was no longer respected, and the Princess was e s nt to Oatlands , near Weybridge, under the strict supervision of the Government . This breach of faith o n the part of the Ministers M t convinced Lady or on that, in order to merit the confidence placed in her judgment, she must act on ow n her responsibility, and she forthwith occupied herself as to the best means of evading her enforced M imprisonment . Lady orton was too intelligent a woman not to foresee that the darkest hours o f the R evolution were still to come , so with heroic self sacrific e of , in the face grave Obstacles and dangers , she m ade the necessary arrangements to convey the 1 child in safety to France . In spite o f all the difli cultie s that stood in the way of M her decision , Lady orton , through her admirable

of courage and presence mind , was enabled to reach 1 6 6 Paris in safety in July, 4 , and transferred to Henrietta Maria the precious charge that had been confided to her care .

The Queen, in the joy of seeing her child again , “ ’ a called her l enf nt de bénédiction , and pronounced her conviction that this blessing had been granted her

1 ’ Henriette d i me d d n /eterre . 1 2 de a n. r n a g , p , B illo Pe ri , P ris, 1 8 8 6

8 T HE ROMANC E OF SAVOY a rrival was soon followed by that of his brother

o f difli James , Duke York, who, not without many l c u ti e s . and dangers , had escaped from England The Duke of Gloucester and Princess Elizabeth were still kept there as prisoners . The Queen led a retired life o f peace and seclusion in the newly founded Convent o f Chaillot . Henrietta Maria thus inaugurated the house o f refuge destined ’ to be in future years the solace of her son s wife,

M o f M a ary oden , under equally sad , if less tragic circumstances . The Queen dedicated her life to the care and

of o f education her children , and in the routine her methodical existence the years passed unperceived . She was only reminded o f the rapid strides o f time when , Princess Henrietta Anne being ten years of age, the Queen Mother used all her powers of persuasion to induce Henrietta Maria to emerge from her life of seclusion and to accompany her daughter to the recep tions at Court . For a long time Henrietta Maria refused to listen

n o t to a proposal , only distasteful to her own feelings , n but, as she argued , detrime tal to her child, for whom she feared the perils and frivolities of Co urt life . of Anne Austria, however, admitted no refusal , and represented to Henrietta Maria that the Princess had attained the recognised age for being presented at

Court . 1 6 o n A ball given at Court in 5 4 , the occasion of ’ the Prince de Conti s marriage, furnished a plea for E E C ESS OF E S H NRI TTA , DU H ORL AN 9

debut of the the young Princess , a chance not to be refused . The first step having been thus taken , the little Princess Henrietta Anne was fairly launched o n the dangerous shoals o f Court life under Louis XIV . d a nd She held the first rank amongst the ébutantes , ,

s h child though she was , even at that age e possessed

a nd the innate charm of personal attraction , cultivated it to such an extent that it was impossible to resist

a her f scination and winning manners . R The coronation of Lo uis XIV . at heims was the first public function to which Henrietta Maria thought u it her duty to accompany her daughter , pai nful tho gh the ceremony was to herself. She only assisted at it on the condition that she might take her place i n the cathedral as a private spectator without any suite , and insisted that her equipage should be the most unostentatious in the procession . Soon after this ceremony the Princess o f Orange came to Paris to see her mother, Henrietta Maria ; and her young si ster took part in an entertainment ’ given by the D ue d Orléans at the Palais Royal

of in honour the Princess . Anne of Austria no longer disguised her wish that ’ Louis XIV . should ask his cousin s hand i n marriage, and hoped that by encouraging constant meetings , and by inviting the Princess to the smal l balls that she herself gave at the Louvre, the King would be ’ imperceptibly attracted by his cousin s charms . But though Louis XIV . was an assiduous partner of hers at all the balls he felt no predilection for a 1 0 T HE ROMANCE OF SAVOY

little girl of twelve , only treating her with such playful attentions as an elder cousin m i ght employ towards a clever, amusing child . It was still more improbable that he should give her any seri ous thoughts as , at this moment, he was very much in love with another lady . The Queen Mother , there

o f own fore, had to give up the prospect taking in her ’ hands any decisions for her son s future . The peace between France and Spain in 1 6 5 9 led to the betrothal of the King with the Infanta Maria

o f Theresa, and Anne Austria having failed in marry ing her eldest son according to her wishes , turned her ’ ' f Orléans the we are of d . attentions to l Philippe, Duc No mother idolised her sons more than Anne of

Austria . She had personally superintended their edu

“ cation and entirely formed their manners . She had inculcated Monsieur at an early age with the respect he owed his brother as head o f the family as well 1 o f th e as head nation .

During their boyhood both Louis XIV . and his brother were as much admired for their kind dis positions as for their good looks , but as they advanced o f i n years they gradually lost all similarity character, of and the sombre, suspicious nature Monsieur soon

1 The custom Of c alling the brother next in succession to the King Of F r ance by the name Of Monsieu r w as first established by G aston ’ ’ “ ” d Orl ans L X The of M ada w as e . , brother of ouis III title me ’ equ ally the prerogative enjoyed by Monsieur s wife in distinction to the ’ K n da a n n a d i g s ughters, who, while cl imi g the right of bei g c lle ” M ada u d n n e an as a fi r me, co l o ly e forc the observ ce pre x to thei

Ch an na S ain S n t . . risti mes ( t imo , ome xii , p E RIE C ESS R E S I I H N TTA , DU H OF O L AN estranged him from the sympathy so largely bestowed o n Lo ul S XIV . Two years after his brother ’ s marriage with the ’ f d Orléans In anta, Philippe expressed a wi sh to follow his example, and appealed to his mother that a suit able alliance should be arranged fo r him . Without much hesitation Anne of Austria ’ s choice ’ o n fell Henrietta Maria s sympathetic daughter, and it required but little persuasion o n the part of the ’ Queen Mother to Obtain H e a e tta Maria s consent to a marriage which , though not the brilliant alliance to she had fondly conceived, was , nevertheless , not be desp i sed . All the formalities of marriage having been carried out, the necessary arrangements were made in View

M o f ro of the coming event . azarin , in spite his p ’ nounc e d antipathy to the Princess s family, felt him self obliged o n this occasion to Off er a splendid f banquet to the royalties o France and England .

Doubtless , whilst dispensing lavish hospitality to his guests and exchanging toasts expressive o f the cor di ali ty reigning between the Courts of France and l England, the ferti e brain of the Cardinal had already worked out schemes by which this alliance should be of profit to France . The Cardinal was at the height of his power at this to time his compulsory absence from France , owing a to politic l complications , contrary the dictum that

o nt . les absents tort, had worked in his favour His extraordinary capabilities were appreciated as 1 2 T HE ROMAN CE OF SAVOY they merited ; his many faults were buried in

e oti at oblivion . To him had fallen the honour o f n g — ing the Treaty of the Pyrenees a treaty sealed by ’ — the I nfanta s marriage with the King o f France and he intended that the coming marriage of the. Princess ’ of England with the Duc d Orléan s should also c on tribute to his prestige . The Princess was at this moment in the flower of

o f l good looks . The combination the brilliant ife at Court i n which she had taken part and the contrasting seclusion of the Cloisters where she constantly retired

’ with her mother, had produced one of the most difli ul seductive women o f her time . It was c t to realise that she was barely sixteen years of age . She impressed all those who addressed her as being a t most perfec ly formed , highly cultivated , and sym

Sh e of pathetic person . was the centre attention whether at a Court function , where her youthful mien and unaff ected gaiety brightened all those around her, or whether she was di scussing serious subjects with people far senior to her in years, but her inferiors in quickness of perception o r i nte lli

o f gence . The following description her between the age of fifteen and sixteen portrays to us her extraordinary charm and grace ' “ The nobility of her birth is easily noticed o f by the distinction her presence and mien . She promises to be very tall , and her figure is well o f proportioned . Her hair is a lovely shade a nd n i s chestnut suits her complexio , which both E E C ESS E S 1 H NRI TTA , DU H OF ORL AN 3

f brilliant and delicate . Her blue eyes are full o expression , her mouth is beautifully shaped , and so are her hands and arms . She is excessively i n te lli gent, and her remarkable intuition excites surprise when serious matters are concerned, and wins the aff ection of those who enj oy daily intercourse with sh e her . She is gentle and obliging, and though is o f capable saying sharp things , she refrains from doing so owing to her ki nd nature . She dedicates the greatest part of her time to learning h ow to carry of out, i n the best possible way, the duties required her in her position , and the few spare moments left to her to dispose o f are passed in perfecting herself in science and accomplishments . She dances with incomparable grace , she sings like an angel , and no o ne is a more finished performer on the spinet than ” 1 she .

Whilst the pros pective marriage festivities and arrangements were under discussion , Queen Henrietta ' ’ Maria received the good news of her son s recall to

o f England by the unanimous wish the nation . The warm reception accorded him when he landed at Dover from the Hague was sufli ci e nt reward to hi s fond mother for the careful guidance and wise advice she had given her two sons when they were left entirely to her responsibility .

hi s The arrival of Charles II . in England , and ow n wish to see his mother, coi ncided with her desire to be present at the meeting o f Parliament

1 J n 6 8 S e u a in f . 0 . M . d G 1 . ui , 5 o r rt olio ix , 7 5 1 4 T HE ROMAN C E OF SAVOY when the subj ect of Henrietta Anne ’ s marriage dowry was to come under discussion . The Queen and the Princess left Paris in the autumn of 1 6 6 0 ; of at Calais they were met by the Duke York , in command of the fleet, accompanied by many of the English nobility ; they formed an escort in two the crossing from Calais to Dover, which took

. v days to accomplish , owing to a dead calm On arri ing at Dover they found Charles waiting to greet them he received his mother and sister with every

o f ff mark a ection , and by easy stages the royal party to and their suite proceeded London , stopping at R Canterbury and ochester . The river was followed as far as Lambeth, from whence they crossed the

Thames in barges to Whitehall . The Queen had urgently expressed her wish that a public entry into London might, if possible, be avoided . Many opinions were thrown out as to the reason ’ o n for this desire the Queen s part . Whilst some suggested it was but a natural wish in order to avoid painful reminiscences, others tried to ascribe a deeper ’ motive in the Queen s request for privacy, and con s ide re d that remorse occupied a large share in her sorrow ; for though she had been an aff ectionate and i nsti nc good wife to her unfortunate husband, she ’ tive ly felt that the late King s partisans laid to her charge a serious share in the terrible calamity . Her bigotry and want o f tact influenced him to act o n many occasions in a way that greatly aggravated the

1 6 T HE ROMA NC E OF SAVOY Henrietta Maria ’ s dowry had also been agreed

o f diffi upon , though not without a certai n amount

h a d culty, owing to the devastation that been R wrought by the evolution on crown property . In order to obtain the dowry she had to engage herself

to reside part of the year i n London , so that the 1 money voted might be spent in England . The Princess ’ s power over the people became so great that loud protestations were raised against such a charming lady being afl'i a nce d to the Prince of any

country save her own . Charles II . , who had not seen his sister for some years during his residence at the

Hague , was as much enchanted by her amiability as he was struck with her common sense and correct

o n judgment matters of importance . He showed his appreciation of her capacities and his aff ection for her w by every means i n his po er, and loaded her with

beautiful presents . Whilst the Princess was winning populari ty on all

M on e i sides in England , onsieur despatched cour er

o f a ncée after another to hasten the return his fi , for though he was incapable of any sincere attachment

for anyone, his sinister and jealous disposition made hi m always ready to take off ence and to consider him

self slighted if he was not consulted on all matters . M Queen Henrietta aria, thinking it wise not to

of - i n - thwart the wishes her future son law , with grief and sorrow tore herself away from the embraces of her

not k nowm . two sons , g when she would see them again 1 a n . B illo , p . 5 3 E E C ESS or E S 1 H NRI TTA , DU H ORL AN 7

The p rep ara ti o ns ' for a return to France were made and the Queen and Princess were on the point o f starting when the Pri ncess of Orange , who was also

- ox in London at that time, was attacked with small p , o f and , as in the case of her brother the Duke

Gloucester who had died from the same illness , she a fli ance d succumbed in a few days . Thus the newly bride had twice within a few months seen the shadow of death across her path . As soon as the interment o f the Princess had taken place in Westminster Abbey (a ceremony of great

- solemnity performed at night by torch light', the Queen hastened to take her remaining daughter away from a place that haunted her with gloomy fore bodings . The return voyage was n ot accomplished with the same success as had smiled on their arrival i n

. V England While battling against a storm , the iolence

' o f whi ch S threatened to sink the hip, the Princess developed a severe attack o f measles and almost all

o f o f hope saving her was given up . The Duke

Buckingham , who had shown the Princess marked

attention in England , and had prevailed on Charles to grant him permission to accompany his royal relatives on their voyage, was beside himself with grief at

of o f the prospect the untimely end the Princess . It is related that his despair at the prospect of a calamity was so great that not till all anxiety was

o f allayed, and the crisis the illness passed , would

he consent to eat hi s food , which during the three — I . C 1 8 T HE ROMAN CE OF SAVOY

’ days apprehension of a catastrophe he had left

untouched . After this disastrous voyage the Queen and

Princess returned to Chaillot by easy stages , and decided to remain there till they recei ved the Pope’ s

dispensation for the marriage, during which time the

Princess was quite restored to health . The same day M 1 6 6 1 that the dispensation arrived , in arch , , M Cardinal azarin died at Vincennes . He showed as much philosophy and courage in his last mome nts as he had done during his brilliant yet, at times , criticised career and it was not till his vacant place of had to be filled, that the full extent his powerful a person l influence was realised . The marriage contract was signed on the 3 oth of M arch , and the marriage, which was destined to be attended with the fatality so inevitably attending any o f undertaking the Stuarts , took place the following evening in the private chapel of the Queen of ’ England s palace . The ceremony was unattended

or wa s L n with any show pomp, as it the ente season , of the members the royal family being alone present . Henrietta Maria off ered a supper to all those who had assisted at the marriage , and thus the wedding day was brought to a close . The following morning the bride received the customary visits of c ongratu o f lation , and she soon fell into the routine her new life . It was soon perceived that the momentary passion with which the Princess had inflamed Philippe E E C ESS OF E S 1 H NRI TTA , DU H ORL AN 9

’ d Orléans had been purely ephemeral , and as soon as the sense o f possession i n regard to his wife became the a of more pronounced , worst tr its his character ff . H came to the surface is e eminate, mean nature ’ was i ncapable of appreciating hi s wife s far nobler of who standard life, consequently anyone approached f Madame was singled out as a prey o his j ealousy . Even before marriage he had expressed great annoy ’ of n ance at the Duke Bucki gham s attentions to her, and now his suspicions fell on his brother .

Louis XIV . , who had repudiated any interest in Henrietta Anne when the subj ect of a matrimonial alliance with her was mooted by his mother, now that — she was his sister i n - law con sidered her from a very

ff i i di erent point of V ew . Lou s not only up to the time o f her marriage had disdained to look with ’ on M i m ati e nc e r favour her, but on noticing onsieur s p o f to obtain the consent Charles II . to his proposed

‘ marriage with the Princess , had sneered at his ’ brother s ardour, and contemptuously remarked that he need not be in such a hurry to marry a bag o f “ ” 0 3 bones , les des Saints Innocents . There was no doubt that the Princess as a child was far painfully thin , and report went so as to say that she was even slightly deformed , but she had greatly improved in looks since the day when as a child o f ’ ’ ten sh e was the King s favourite partner at the Court balls M M . According to ademoiselle de ontpensier , so great was her charm and general appearance of come li ne ss increasing in proportion with her years , that it 2 0 T HE ROMANC E OF SAVOY never occurred to anyone to c riticise the grave defect o f her figure ; on the contrary, she was often com

lim e n o n f p te d the grace o her movements . of e Louis XIV . gladly availed himself the distra ’ ff - i n - tion a orded him by his sister law s Court, and threw himself with alacrity into the amusements and féte s given by the Duke and Duchess at the

R . Palais oyal When the following winter approached , and Madame owing to her state of health was forced

o f to abandon her life social functions , the King was most assiduous in his attentions, and by daily inter course with Henrietta Anne he admitted to himself how completely wrong had been hi s previous i m

o f o f pression the Princess . During those months enforced idleness the Duchess received her friends as soon as her toilette was completed in the morni ng till ’ nine o clock in the evening . On being ushered into her room her visitors found her beautifully dressed , of lying on her bed , the curtains which were thrown apart that she might enj oy the pleasure o f conversing with her numerous guests . The King ’ s daily visits greatly encouraged the reports that had been already circulated when the Court was at Fontainebleau regarding the attentions

- n - he was paying his sister i law . Madame had great diffi culties to contend with owing to her high position in a Court where m oral s were very lax and principles were swept away in the vortex of p e rp e tUal pleasures . Some of the censure from which she could no t escape she doubtless brought E E C ESS E S 2 1 H NRI TTA , DU H OF ORL AN

on herself through her coquetry, which arose from

o f high spirits and the wish to please . Her powers attracting admiration she had cultivated to such a n

‘ exte nt that i m , without any ulterior motives , she perceptibly fascinated all those who frequented the

Court, a result which led to endless scenes with her

husband, who found himself confronted with rivals

on every side . We owe to Mademoiselle de Montpensier a daily chronicle relating to the political and social incidents M that took place at Court . ademoiselle was the ’ o f d Orlé a ns daughter Gaston , a brother of the late o n e King, and no was better qualified than she to

reveal to us the intrigues , frivolities, and petty ’ M m j ealousies of her cousin s Court . Her e oirs are an inexhaustible fund o f anecdotes and graphic de

s c ripti o n s of all the passing events . She relates that the Queen Mother w a s greatly annoyed at the constant quarrels t hat arose between Monsieur and Madame ; the former having found a new subject for his complaints i n the attentions paid

to his wife by the Comte de Guiche . Anne of Austria , of in one these moments of displeasure, vented the vexation ' she f on elt Mademoiselle, and upbraided her as being the caus e of the present disagreeable state of ff d a airs . She argued that had Ma emoiselle mar ried the Duke according to the Queen ’ s wish none r of these domestic disagreements would have occur ed , — q uite forgetting that she herself had been the p ro of moter the alliance . 2 2 T HE ROMANCE OF SAVOY

o f Shortly after one these repeated quarrels, the premature confinem ent of Madame was the cause of M further recriminations from the Queen other . She took this opportunity to reproach her daughter - 1 11 law for her frivolous life, and with great harshness made her responsible for the mishap which had just ’ to of o n taken place, owing the want care Madame s A ’ part . Henrietta nne resented the Queen Mother s a r const nt i nterference, and replied that anxiety rega d ing her brother, the Duke of York , who was engaged in the naval war, and of whose safety as yet no tidings had been confirmed , had worried her considerably, and was the sole reason fo r the misfortune that had j ust befallen her . Fortunately a political question arose at this time between France and England which occupied Madame ’ s leisure moments and lulled Monsieur ’ s suspicions regarding the friendly terms existing between his brother and his wife .

For a long while past Louis XIV . had watched a favourable moment to regain possession o f the town of Dunkirk , which had fallen into the hands of the

English under the protectorate of Cromwell . The accession o f Charles II . to the throne appeared to the French m onarch a fitting occasion to negotiate with him on the subj ect . Charles IL was quite aware that the proposal m ade by Franc e placed him in a difli c ul t os a d l e t e im a of p ition , n he rea is d h port nce avoiding all transactions that might give off ence to his peo ple but when he recognised the impoverished state of the

2 4 T HE ROMANCE OF SAVOY

facts , which , according to her opinion, were the cause of the final rupture between Monsieur and Madame which terminated eventually in the catas tro he p leading to her dea th . Henrietta Anne had

to de taken a violent aversion the Chevalier Lorraine , ’ o f one her husband s favourites , who lived i n the R Palais oyal . This antipathy became so pronounced that she influenced the King to believe that the Chevalier had gained undue authority over Monsieur which might lead to very bad results n ot only to She herself, but to the King as well . represented to Louis XIV . how disastrous it might easily become to S his position as overeign , should the Duke continue as he was doing, in making the Chevalier de Lorraine a confidant of public as well as private concerns . The M ’ King entirely concurred in adame s views , and showed his disapproval of his brother ’ s intimacy with the Chevalier by ordering de Lorraine to leave the Palace ; he was then placed under arrest and i m prisoned in Chateau Neuf for a long time . After he was liberated from prison he went to Rome and resided fo r some years in Italy he did not return to ’ France till after Madame s death . It w as unfortunat e that the banishment o f the Chevalier de Lorraine should have been due to M ’ adame s influence with the King, as not only did the Duke become more morose and inconsiderate towards his wife than hitherto, but it roused his o f worst passions , and from a mean spirit revenge he for the power she exercised over the King , began EN E C ESS E S 2 H RI TTA , DU H OF ORL AN 5 M openly to accuse her of inconstancy . adame felt

o f the isolation of her home life, and passed most her ’ day in the King s company , who took her into his confidence regarding future negotiations with Eng o u n land another political quest ion . Lo g before this

— o a moment the King, with his well known inc nst ncy, had transferred his aff ections to Mademoiselle de la ’ f M - - o i n . Valliere, one adame s ladies waiting The Duchess could not avoid feeling some slight m o rtifi

o n cation at having lost her former hold the King, but she had the far greater satisfaction of observing

on m the deference Shown her by Louis XIV . atters

requiring careful discrimination , and though he was

desperately in love with Louise de la Valliere, he never neglected to Show his sister- i n - law both aff ection

and consideration . M M ademoiselle de ontpensier , who was a spectator

of o n M M the dreary life imposed adame by onsieur , relates that it was impossible not to feel sympathy M for her sad position . adame opened her heart to M “ U ademoiselle, and said , p to the present we have h been strangers to each other, but you ave a kind heart b and I am not as bad as people think , so do let us e M good friends . ademoiselle was incapable of resist a for ff ing this ppeal friendship , and a new rebu on the part of Monsieur towards his wife led her to espouse M ’ adame s cause with all the greater in terest .

o th of 1 6 6 o f The 3 April , 9, the Duchess Orleans

h a t t had given birth to a daug ter , who , a la er period

of hi story, married the Duke of Savoy , and was the 2 6 T HE ROMANC E OF SAVOY

Princess on whose life our interest is centred and th who forms e principal subject o f this work . Hardly had the confinement taken place than Madame was

of acquainted the almost sudden death of her mother , the unfortunate widow of Charles I . This was a M very great sorrow to adame, and her grief was all the deeper through her inability to have assisted a t her last moments . M Queen Henrietta aria died at Sainte Colombe, a the of small country house on banks the Seine , where

of of she had resided late years , with the exception her short visits to England . The King and Queen Marie Thérese came to Sai nt M ff c on Cloud , where adame was living, to o er their dolenc e s of , after which they, the Duke Orleans, and the whole Court left her for the Chfiteau de Cham

of bord, where they announced their intention residing for a whole month . Monsieur was far too selfish to sacrifice any plea

n of sure for his wife, who was thus left alo e in a state physica l weakness and profound depre ssion o n the of on loss her mother, without anyone to console her a grief that she never got over and which added 1 considerably to the gloom of her life . Amongst the few ladies left to keep her company a nd to whom she was attached was Madam e de St . b Chaumont, who had been chosen y Madam e in the capacity of governess to her children . The choice o f having been hers , it was a new source annoyance 1 ai l n . 6 . B l o , p 3 4 E E C ESS E S 2 H NRI TTA , DU H OF ORL AN 7 when she w as informed by the Duke that he had M replaced Madame de St . Chaumont by the aréchale Cléram bault de , and begged the former lady to leave f M . C o the Court . adame de St haumont was aunt De Guiche ; therefore there m ay have been som e foundation for the suggestion that Monsieur had taken this step in order to make himself disagreeable to Madame and t o show his dis approval of the Comte ’ de Guich e s attentions to his wife . Though the Maréchale de Clerambault was a woman well versed in Latin , astrology, and other sciences , she was totally deficient in the qualities necessary for the education f o the Princesses . Preparations for a visit to Flanders were now

o n being made a large scale, and turned the attention of the Court from the wearisome dissensions between '

Madame and her husband . Flanders had fallen i n to the possession o f France consequent on a secret treaty with the Emperor Leopold, and Loui s XIV . intended that his tour in the country of his latest conquest should surpass any other royal progress in 1 grandeur and m agnificence . The King took all the greater interest in this projected j ourney as he had confided to Madame his wish that she should take advantage of this move to proceed eventually to f England on a secret m ission to he r brother . Be ore t e a of H a A h dep rture the Court, enriett nne desired th e of w as b that baptism the Princess , who to e of known under the title Mademoiselle de Valois ,

1 ’ 5 1 3 5 16 i f Loazr X1 V o i e ha . . . 8 . V lta r , c p ix p 4 2 8 T HE ROMANCE OF SAVOY

old should take place . The child was a year , and it was customary that children should not be baptised o f w till the age twelve, but o ing to the long absence ’ in prospect it was hurried o n by Madame s wis h . The ceremony took pla ce at the Palais Royal o n the

8 1 6 0 an d th April , 7 , in presence of the King Queen and the whole Court . The Dauphin accepted the

o f M charge godfather, whilst Mademoiselle de ont

’ o f M pensier was godmother the Princess Anna aria, 1 o f S future Duchess avoy . The ceremony was thus

Ga z ette de F ra nce o fli c i al chronicled in the , the paper of current events “ Mademoiselle de Valois was baptised by the ’ o f M a Bishop Vabre, onsieur s private ch plain , in the o f R chapel the Palais oyal . The Princess was held M Cléram bault o f by the aréchale de , the governess a nd children , was named Anne by the ’ a nd M o Dauphin ademoiselle d rleans . The cere mony took place in the presence o f the King and and R Queen their oyal Highnesses , besides the ’ D ue a nd d En u i e n Prince de Condé , the Duchesse g g , the Prince de Conti with his two sons , the Princesse a of de Carignan , and the lords and l dies the highest f families . All assisted to make this unction one o f the most important . The ceremony had been pre ceded by a magnificent dinner offered by Monsieur

hi s - l M i n large dining ha l to their ajesties , the Dauphi n ’ O l s M d r éan . thi s rand and ademoiselle After , g fete ” 2 the Court returned to St . Germain .

1 a n 1 . B illo , 39 2 d c 6 0 Na na Pa G a z ette e Fra n e 1 . e u . , 7 Biblioth q e tio le, ris ’ ’ A NN A D OR L EA N S M OG L I E D I VI T T OR I O A ME D E O 1 1 VE N UT A I N C H E R A S CO N E LL A NN O 1 7 0 6 ‘ ‘ F r o m a z e z z/r e m th e P a l a z z o R e m a M a r fi e r z z a R o m e p g g , ‘ By g r a c z ous p e r m zs s z on of H e r [Maj es ty Qu ee n M a rg fi er z za

’ M R A OR E F R T E E OF A N D A R A ANNA A I D L ANS, I S QU N SICILY S DINI

m 2 Fa c g p . 8

3 0 T HE ROMANC E OF SAVOY flattered herself that she looked much fresher than they did . At almost each town where they halted the King v reviewed the troops , notwithstanding the hea y rains , which appear to have been incessant . To Mademoiselle this prolonged j ourney seems to have been most enjoyable in spite of all the drawbacks, and we are able to gather that the constant opportuni ff f o . ties thus a orded her seeing M de Lauzun , for of whom she had a weakness , was the chief reason her pleasure . M o n To adame , the contrary, no respite was brought

l of M o n s1 e ur to her daily ife disagreements with , and o f the close confinement a coach with her husband , who took pleasure in tormenting her, was almost

of o f unendurable . One his chief forms vexing her e was to state repeatedly to others , wh n his wife was present, that astrologers had predicted that he would

f or have several wives, an event which he announced ’ he was quite prepared , as he considered Madame s health to be very critical . No one knew what answer or re marks to make to F M adam e these cruel sentiments towards , and it was no matter for surprise that as soon as they reached the halting - place for the night she always hurried to to her room , and did not appear again till it was time 1 start the next day . It was generally remarked that Henrietta Anne was i n very low spirits, and she was certainly indisposed 1 ' Mem oi rer . . . . , vol vi p 7 7 E E C ESS R E S 1 H NRI TTA , DU H OF O L AN 3

the day was Often passed without food , beyond an of occasional glass milk, and the King showed serious concern at her evident delicacy of health , largely due to mental depression . She was anxiously waiting the ’ moment to escape from Monsieur s unki ndness, and when o n reaching Courtrai she found a message to from her brother urgi ng her go to England , her sh e drooping spirits revived, and communicated to ’ the King her brother s desire that she should not delay to i n starting for Dover, where he would be waiti ng receive her . Monsieur was excessively annoyed when he was ’ e o f M inform d adame s early departure for England, and exerted himself to the utmost to prevent it but it was not likely that Louis XIV . , who had connived ’ f or at Madame s j ourney political purposes, would allow his brother ’ s personal grievances to stand in the way . The Duchess was accompanied by the whole Court to Lille, and from thence to Dunkirk . The deepest ’ sympathy for her was universally felt, and Monsieur s harsh conduct was severely criticised . One day in M despair she had exclaimed to ademoiselle, If I have really been as guilty as he would wish to prove, why did he not strangle me at the time that he says he witnessed my infidelity to him 1 ’ Even up to the last moments before Madame s departure Monsieur spoke i n such violent terms to his wife at table before all the company that Mademoiselle

1 Mi 0 d . . , vol vi . p . 5 3 2 T HE ROMANCE OF SAVOY

o ne said no present dared to take any initiative , nor did they interfere for fear o f increasing his violence but she herself felt sure that any lasting reconciliation 1 between them would ever after be impossible . Madame finally embarked for Dover with her suite o f 2 on T he 0 2 th of Ma 1 6 0 . 3 the 4 y, 7 last words of injunction from Monsieur that she was only of on to be accorded an absence three days , and no account to go to London , was still ringing sadly

ff - of in her ears, but when the white cli s Dover appeared in sight and the grey sky of the north filled her with the jo y of neari ng the land which s h e always associated with the word home, the past vexations were momentarily forgotten , and it is easy to imagine with what emotion she saw a large barge advancing

s h e to meet her, in which distinguished the King, the

o f R o f Duke York , Prince upert, and the Duke M onmouth , who all welcomed her warmly to the land of her birth . Old Dover Castle had been fitted up for Madame ’ s use, and as the moments were precious, the day after her arrival she entered into confidential conversation with her brothers o n the mission for which she had come . “ The infamous treaty with France , to quote M ’ acaulay s words, was ratified in a great measure through the i n fluence exercised by the Duchess o f

Orleans in both Courts of England and France, and it required but slight persuasion to induce Charles

1 Mém oi r er . . . . , vol vi p 7 9 E E C ESS E NS H NRI TTA , DU H OF ORL A 3 3 to forget his obligations to Holland and to shake ff O his adherence to the Triple Alliance . This secret

of treaty Dover, though skilfully negotiated , detracted considerably from the prestige of both Louis XIV and Charles I I . By this alliance Charles not only abandoned

Holland, but agreed to j oin the French monarch in declaring war against his former allies . Louis XIV . undertook to provide Charles with an annual subsidy of wa three millions as long as the r lasted, and the French King further designated the Isle o f Walc he ren and two fortresses on the Scheldt as England ’ s share i n the invasion . The Treaty of Dover was based o n the understanding that Charles should announce

of R his conversion to the Church ome, and in the ’ event of any disturbances arising owing to the King s f breach of aith with his subj ects, France guaranteed to support his cause and to furnish him with means 1 to o t carry u his resolution . The only part o f this ignoble transaction which Charles did not observe was that concerning his

. to religion The Nonconformists had be considered, and he reserved pronouncing any declaration on his

of faith till the moment hi s death . It is reported that his conversion to Roman Catholicism was wrung

of from him by his brother, the Duke York . The treaty having been signed by the English M inisters and Colbert de Croissy, the French Ambas

1 ' ° Hzrtar b J R G n o t e En /11 6 Peo le . . a . . . . . y f g p , vol iii ch p ix , ree

M a l an 1 8 . cmi l , 94 — I . D 34 T HE ROMAN CE o r SAVOY

M of sador, adame, after receiving the felicitations the Court at the important part she had played in an alliance upon which the two countries founded great to expectations , had say farewell to her brothers , and not without seri ous forebodings on the reception that M awaited her from onsieur, she returned to Paris .

Here she was met by the King, and she gave him the messages with which she was charged from both

o f her brothers . The result the voyage had exceeded ’ s the King most sanguine expectations , and he found it diffi cult to find words to express h i s contentment and satisfaction at the successful termination o f ’ Madame s mission . M onsieur had left it to the King to meet his wife, and owing to the fact that he was excluded from all the Cabinet Councils, the private communications that passed between his brother and Madame became a renewed source of suspicion . The King had every reason to believe that Monsieur o n more occasions than one had divulged deliberations taken by the M inisters at the Councils , a matter which necessitated his exclus ion when aff airs of importance were under discussion . Henrietta Anne i nstinctively felt that relations between her husband and herself were approaching o f a crisis . She realised that the attitude reserve s he was forced to adopt relating to her private con ve rsations with the King were most compromising

to n M and detrimental her positio with onsieur, but when she pointed out to Louis XIV . how perplexed E E C ESS E S H NRI TTA , DU H OF ORL AN 3 5 she was as to the advisability o f keeping Monsieur of ignorant on the subject their secret understanding, th e King implored her no t to divulge to Philippe W hat he had confided to her only, until a public announcement could be made of the negotiations with England . Madame herself felt an increasing insecurity as to her relations with her husband , but the King and

Queen , though they realised the strained condition of ff M M a airs between onsieur and adame, were totally unprepared for the disaster that took place . A few days after renewed interviews had passed M between the Ki ng and adame, the Queen , attended M M by ademoiselle de ontpensier, was taking her customary walk by the canal in the park o f Ver sailles , when a messenger approached them and said M S he had been sent in all haste by onsieur from t . Cloud to announce to Her Majesty that Madam e had been taken suddenly very ill , and that she her M i self asserted she had been poisoned . adame m pl ore d the Queen to hasten to see her before it was to o late .

The Queen , when she heard these disastrous M tidings , hurriedly got into her coach with ade m oi selle , and after finding the King, they all proceeded to St . Cloud . The spectacle that met their eyes was heartrend

M a m ing . Mademoiselle describes they found da e o n lying a small bed in terrible pain, her hair dis b evelled and uncombed , her nightdress torn open by 3 6 T HE ROMANC E o r SAVOY

her at the throat, the sleeves rolled up showing her bare arms , her cheeks without a trace of colour, the

o f nose pinched, and death written in every line her face . d As soon as they entered the room she exclaime , You see my pitiable state '” And she then mur mured a few words to the King only ; and to Made “ m oi selle Yo u she said , are going to lose a good friend wh o was j ust beginning to know and love ” you . Even at that moment that brought despair to everyone ’ s heart and seemed to paralyse any ff e ort being made to save her , all those round ’ Mada m e s bed were still further horror - stricken o n observing the attitude of total indiff erence with which Monsieur gazed on the unhappy woman who lay stretched before him in agonies ; he approached the bed and coldly contemplated her beautiful face dis to rte d ff by su ering, and contented himself with “ c o n inquiring, Who would be the most advisable ” fe s so r M on to call to assist adame, insisting the necessity o f having one whose name would look well rt z tt i n the Cou Ga e e . The doctors who had been hurriedly called in stood a little way apart conversing together, too much

ro aghast to suggest any remedy, not daring to p nounce an opinion , nor to say anything that might oblige them to corroborate Madame ’ s terrible accu

s sation . No attention was paid to the unhappy ’ woman s request that an anti - poison should be administered to her , and not until the King, scandal

3 8 T HE ROMANC E OF SAVOY Bossuet was received by the King and Queen at Versailles to relate the details of Madame ’ s last moments , and in simple and dignified language ex

atiat d o n p e her exemplary death .

An autopsy was ordered by the King, and the diagnosis o f the doctors on the illness was certified “ M ” by them as Cholera orbus , but this attestation o n the part of the physicians was powerless to allay the certa inty of the public that there had been foul play . These reports gained so much credence that serious apprehensions o f a rupture with England f t o f . I n a c were entertained , after the first moments horror and despair at such an unforeseen catastrophe, Charles used most menacing language a gainst the

French Court, and for some days the two countries hourly expected that war would be declared between the Sovereigns . It was chiefly due to the English

to Ambassador, who forcibly represented Charles how ’ much he had been impressed by the dying Princess s last words imploring that no violent measures should be resorted to , that the King consented to be pacified and renounced breaking relations with France, which , at that moment, would have been against the interests o f both countries . M M ademoiselle de ontpensier, in her touching

o f a account this terrible tr gedy, mentions that

M o onsieur begged her to g to St . Germain and see the little Princess Anna, who was barely over a t ’ year Old at the time of her mo her s death . M ademoiselle dressed herself in deep mourning, and E E D C ESS OF E S H NRI TTA , U H ORL AN 3 9

a in coach drawn by horses heavily trapped in woe , ’ she carried out the Duke s wish a nd off ered the child

a such care s it was i n her power to give . Monsieur showed as much unconcern after the funeral as he had done previous to his wife’ s tragic e nd . All this confirmed the suspicion to which some writers give credence that he was not absolutely ignorant of the sinister designs o f the Chevalier de

a a Lorraine, who had sworn vengeance g inst the

Duchess ever since his banishment from Court, which had been due to her influence with the King . Other rumours report that the increased favour shown her by Loui s XIV . since her return from I to England , and the mportance attached her opinion o n all ff political and private a airs , convinced the Chevalier that as long as Mada me t hus dominated the King, his exile would be i ndefinitely prolonged . The Chevalier in this supposition worked on the

- - of susceptibilities of a former aide de camp his , still ’ ’ M a d Eff I at in onsieur s service, n med , and led him to believe that he als o would in all probability be M ’ replaced at Court through adame s influence . In s s tho e day of intrigues , and at a time when death by poison was the expedient generally employed for

an speedily removing y intruder or undesirable person , it would not require much persuasion on the part of ’ the Chevalier de Lorraine to induce d Efii at to put some poison in a glass of chicory water that Madame

o f was I n the habit drinking during the day . In ’ Madame la Fayette s opinion the Chevalier and 40 T HE ROMANCE OF SAVOY

’ ’ d Efli at were the criminals ; the Duke s indiff erence ’ - to his wife s death , combined with his ill treatment of relat1 v e to her during his life, gave rise to reports M la his share in the murder, but adame Fayette always maintained that he was absolutely innocent of the designs which were in fact executed by his 1 o friend entirely of his w n initiative . ’ ’ B o ss uet s thrilling words on the close of Madame s brief but by no means unimportant passage through life bring forcibly before us how deeply she was

identified with the interests o f the French nation . As he pathetically dwelt on the goodness which

characteri sed the Princess, whose thoughtfulness for

he r others never abandoned her till death , the evident emotion of the Bishop was communicated to all his

audience, and sobs were heard in many parts of the

- u of mourning draped ch rch . The intensity the

emotion increased as , gaining in power, the voice of the preacher vibrated down the ' high vaulted nave

S t - of . Denis , the resting place of many generations of crowned heads , and a shudder passed through the awe - stricken congregation when he in hi s power

ful peroration pronounced the impressive words, “ ' M M re adame se meurt, adame est morte . In

of calling her acts courtesy and kindness, none save a few of his hearers knew that he was referring to a last kind attention o n her part that touched him M personally . Just before adame died, and i n the

1 ' ’ ' ’ Hi t tozre d Hefl rzette d Jfl /eterr e ar M ada de la F a . g , p me yette

Pa 1 8 . ris, 5 3 E E D C ESS E S 1 H NRI TTA , U H OF ORL AN 4

o f midst her excruciating agonies , her unfailing

l fo r so icitude others was still foremost with her, and she handed to one of her ladies an emerald

a which she alw ys wore, with injunctions that after her death it was to be remitted to Bossuet, as a part ing souvenir in remembrance o f her admiration and ff a ection f or the distinguished prelate . This emerald ’ from that day never left the Bishop S finger . On the

of M death adame, the care of Anna and her elder M d M sister arie Louise evolved on onsieur, who after ’ a short year s mourning for the sake of appearances married again . This time the King designated as ’ M i She ons eur s bride Charlotte Princess Palatine . was considered the most antipathetic and least plea s ing princess o f any of the courts o f Europe ; but if

M o n she lacked personal charm , she greatly assisted

o f o n sieur i n the charge the children , and bestowed ff them a ectionate interest and attention . These opening pages relating to the Duchess of ’ Savoy s mother may to some extent have drawn attention to the closely woven intrigues of the Court o f France at that time . These i ntrigues were not confined to France alone , and i n the subsequent Chapters it will be found that no country suff ered more than Savoy from the perpetual hara ssing occa s i one d by the presumptuous French monarchs and their ministers .

ow n France, however, defeated her ends i n the endeavour to force Savoy into submission . The eventual aggrandisement o f this hitherto unimportant T HE ROMANC E OF SAVOY

e state was the entirely unfor seen result , owing to the repeated campaigns thrust o n her by France . In order to safeguard her interests and protect her subjects she found herself compelled to exercise her intelligence, and to prove her courage against so for m idable a foe by labour and energy she rose from a provi nce singled o ut for the contemptuous bondage

o f o ne . France, to be of the leading European powers The history of the Court of Savoy under Victor Amadeus and Anna Maria will bring into notice the strenuous exertions of one of th e members of that noble house, who one and all were imbued with the laudable pride to work for the good of their country .

“ Previous to dealing with this subject, in order to recall to mind how the House o f Savoy from asmall province a as gr dually rose to fame, it will be advisable to c t

o f a retrospective glance on the history the country . Even In those days o f long ago Savoy was an obj ect o f to envy all the surrounding states, whose attention was constantly directed to trying to impede her ad vance a n d hinder her from Obtaining the smallest con sideration from any European powers of importance . C HA PT E R I I

S AVOY IN OLD EN D AYS

E a n P n —H a a w H n II I — nt P of a le or of rove ce er m rri ge ith e ry . Cou eter S voy — — — His pa l a ce nea r the river The fi rst Duke of L a nca ster The tra ditions — — of the S a voy The destruction of the pa la ce The origin of the Counts Of — — — S a voy The a ncien t S a ba udi a The founder of the House The va lour of — the Counts Their stea dy progress -Foun da tion of the Order of the Annun z a a — a n a i t Philip of Sp i bestows the ga rter on Emm nuel Philibert .

NE of the most interesting records connecti ng the House o f Savoy with the sovereigns of

1 2 6 . England dates from 3 In that year Eleanor, daughter o f Raymond Berenger fourth Count of P ro

of o f vence , and of Beatrix, sister Amadeus I II . Savoy, to came England as the promised bride o f Henry III .

he r She brought with not only the poetry, but an atmosphere o f romance from that bright and smiling corner of France where the seductive perfumes o f orange blossoms and roses are wafted by the balmy e bre zes across the glades and meadows, and promoted musing reveries in those dreamy days of yore . This Princess from the fair land of Provence had inherited the poetic temperament so inherent to her country, and, like her parents , acquired some note as a poet . Save for an occasional break caused by rai ds and 43 44 T HE ROMANC E OF SAVOY

skirmishes with unlawful intruders , or personal quarrels settled by hot~ blooded knights with the

o f sword , the composing madrigals and villanelles was the chief occupation in the uneventful current o f existence at th a t early period of history . They were the principal interludes in the easy flow of life . The dames for their part were content to sit at their tapestries surrounded with their damsels, or, as even

a ing pproached , they would step out on the balcony o f their castellated homes and encourage, by word ’ and look, the thrilling melodies of the troubadours

o f serenades . This was the birthplace those singers of a ballads who , nurtured in an tmosphere of love

o f and romance, in the mellow rhythm that dialect wove pretty sonnets i ntertwined with allusions to the ’ of ch ai tela i ne s charms the gracious , and thus laid their hearts at the feet of the maidens o f fair P ro vence . The marriage o f Eleanor o f Provence and Henry the Third took place in Canterbury Cathedral . The Princess appears to have been despatched to England e o u without any dower, and did not njoy as much p p larit y here as she merited, owing , to quote the words of a chronicler speaking of that time, to the crowdi ng r to England of her elations . From the same source we learn that this caused alarm to the ministers, and fear was felt that her family would acquire too much influence over the King, and thereby the constitution o f the country might be endangered . ’ Two o f the Queen s uncles closely followed her

46 T HE ROMANC E OF SAVOY fact “ that a town house was needful for him as a residence when the royal nephew and niece should be ” 1 2 th at their palace at Westminster . Therefore , on the 1 2 6 to February , 4 , the King , in order enable Peter of to keep up a greater state , made a grant the land “ lying between the Th a mes and the street called la ” “ f ” 1 S traunde o . , to his beloved uncle, Peter Savoy

Here he built himself a house, which was known as

long as it stood as the Savoy Palace . He kept it

in good repair, and furnished it with taste . The

- gardens sloped down to the river bank ; figs , cherries ,

and plum trees grew in abundance , and the “ pleasaunce was a favourite rendezvous o f gay

company .

Peter seems to have possessed versatile tastes , for besides leading a life o f politics and devoting himself “ ” o f - to studies in the art self government, he was f also very ond of a gay life, and it was related that o n one of his excursions to the Continent he returned with a boatful of young ladies with the avowed i nte n tion of marrying them to the wards of hi s nephew

the King . The undertaking was highly successful , f or many of the ladies married gentlemen o f birth ’ about the Court, with the Queen s special sanction ,

but to the great disgust of the English people , who ‘ ’ hated furriners in all cases, and specially in such ” 2 cases as marriage and giving in marriage .

a 1 2 The Count was almost always in Engl nd till 5 5 ,

1 M m o f é J L fti e or ial' e S avo . . . o e 1 8 8 f y, p 5 , Rev . 7 . 2 J hn E k n o . L oc i g . SAVOY I N OLDEN DAYS 47 when he finally abandoned his palace o n the river

H e bank . had never succeeded in ingratiating him self with others outside the circle of his immediate “ royal relations, and though he was a prudent and m valiant man , and was surnamed by so e the Second ’ Charlemagne , he shared in the unpopularity of all ’ ” 1 the Queen s foreign relations . Some accounts relate that he left his estate in the

“ Strand to his niece, whereas others say that Queen

Eleanor, who took the Savoy estate under her special

o ut o f M protection , bought the Friars ountj oy at

Havering, in Norfolk , to whom the Count had bequeathed his property . Whichever version is accu i t rate , is certain that it soon fell into her hands after ’ “ her uncle s departure , and she gave it to her most

o f dom or dear son Edmund , Earl Lancaster, with the , ’ ' ’ ’ ’ om z num looeor et reddittts cum erti nentz z s sui r so g , p , p , ‘ o f runs the grant, once the property her most dear ’ ” 2 U o f S ncle Peter , Count avoy . 1 1 In 3 5 Henry, the fourth Earl , was created first

o f a 1 o f Duke L ncaster, and in 3 99, when Henry

Bolingbroke ascended the throne as Henry IV . , he annexed the manor of the Savoy with all the other f estates of the House o Lancaster to the Crown . ’ Stowe wrote of the Duke of Lancaster s house of the Savoy as being the “ first in the realm in beauty ”

. o f P o i c ti e rs and stateliness After the battle , in 1 3 5 6, it became the residence o f the captive King f o . 1 6 0 John France He was released in 3 , but being 1 J 2 . . L oftie . 8 . Mid A endix A . Rev , p ” pp 48 T HE ROMAN C E OF SAVOY

of unable to fulfil the conditions his release, he voluntarily returned as prisoner, and died in the

1 6 . Savoy, 3 4

of This palace, so full reminiscences of history and romance, was reduced to ruins by the rebels under

Wat Tyler, to show their vindictive sentiments towards the Duke o f La ncaster for the protection ’ ff Wi liff e s he had a orded c followers from the rabble . The Savoy was never restored as a palace— i t was rebuilt as a hospital dedicated to S t . John the Baptist by Henry VII . ; but finally, when Waterloo Bridge of was built, that prosaic erection took the place ’ of S o f Peter avoy s palace , all remains which were swept away . The church , still standing, alone marks

o f the site the palace , though it was built at a much ’ of S later date , being the chapel Henry VII . hospital , ff and not of the palace . Twice the chapel su ered

c on fla rati o n o f 1 8 6 t he from fire, and in the g 4 interior was entirely destroyed ; but by the m un ifi

of o f cence the late Queen Victoria , as Duchess 1 Lancaster, it was redecorated . The new roof con tains within quatrefoils fourteen shields of the royal

o f persons connected with the manor . The first the of o f series bears the shield Peter of Savoy, those Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort terminate the suite .

Almost adjoining the estates of the Savoy, in ’ 2 Lincoln s Inn , we find the Sardinian chapel as another memorial of the friendly terms existing

1 2 J tie 2 [o/ . 2 1 . L of . 8 . i A Rev . . , p , p 4 SAVOY IN OLDEN DAYS 49 between the Court of Sardinia and the English of Court . It is one the oldest foundations now in

o f R the hands oman Catholics in London . On the

of 1 1 arrival the Sardinian Ambassador i n 7 3 , the chapel was attached to his residence close by . Many

R difli c ult M oman Catholics, who found it to attend ass owing to the constant religious disturbances during S the reigns of the last tuart kings , took advantage of ’ an d ro the Ambassador s private chapel , under his p te c ti on to and connivance, were enabled fulfil the obligations of their religion . In the Gordon riots o f 1 7 80 the embassy and the chapel were greatly damaged and partly destroyed, and fervid Catholics witnessed with abhorrence a cat hung up over their chapel door dressed in priestly f 1 l vestments with a holy wa er i n its paw , and simi ar o f unseemly acts mockery .

The chapel , however, was restored after the wave o f M destruction had done its worst, and ass is still

of old on of celebrated there, as , the opening the

of Law Courts in October, when the dignitaries the Bar attend in their robes of off i ce before proceeding

o f to the Halls Justice .

The genial welcome bestowed by Henry III . on Count Peter o f Savoy during his residence in Eng i n of land the remote ages the thirteenth century, a welcome extended to the subsequent representatives o f fo r Savoy, paved the way more important and consecutive relations at a later date, when friendly

1 Wa l J C a 'i n Lotzdofl . . . 1 2 0 . . . . k , vol i p A H re . — I . E 5 0 T HE ROMANCE OF SAVOY alliances between the two countries were o f fa r greater political moment . In order to have a clear conception of the con ’ di ti o n s o f Savoy at the tim e of Victor Amadeus

a accession , the state of the country in the e rly days o f a formation , and her subsequent expansion after m ny

of . generations struggle, must be briefly considered

o f o f S The history the House avoy, though pregnant with episodes relating to brilliant deeds

o f of valour her Princes , has to a great extent been neglected by students of events leading to the evolu tion o f a country that attained great importance of under adverse circumstances, and it is worthy a ~ larger fie ld of general recognition .

At the time that the break - up of the Roman Empire altered the general conditions of the whole o f Europe, the country comprising the two important

Allobro i u m of towns of Vienna g , the capital the terri tory inhabited by the Allobroges between the Rhone and the l sere and Geneva , became familiar under the

o f Sa audia o r . new name p , Sabaudia This land was first annexed by the first King o f

Burgundy, and subsequently passed into the hands

M le of Charles artel , Pépin Bref, and Charlemagne . The inhabitants o f Sabaudia found themselves c o n s ta n tly forced to appeal to the French kings for aid against the Saracens, who by frequent incursions R devastated the hone valley, and thus they formed

o f obligations with France , which proved serious o f inconvenience at a later period history . SAVOY IN OLDEN DAYS 5 1

In 93 3 Provence was united to the kingdom o f

Burgundy and Sabaudia, as well as the episcopal

o f M S territories Belley and La aurienne . ubsequent f R . o to the death of odolph III , King Burgundy , who

wa s died childless , this now considerable possession

inherited by the Emperor of Germany, Conrad the

Salic, as being next of kin to the late King . ’ This inheritance of Rodolph s provoked much s j ealou y amongst other relations , who urged equal of claims . Foremost these irritated claimants was f o f o . hi s nephew, the Count Blois and Champagne He tried in every way to Obtain possession of this valuable heritage, and as he secured the support Of many powerful vassals, there is little doubt he would have wrested the property from the rightful possessor

o f M had not Humbert, Count aurienne , come for ward to assist the Emperor in his legitimate defence , and with this help enabled him to vanquish the I n

to vaders . Conrad , in order to show his gratitude

Humbert for his generous assistance, rewarded him ‘ 1 0 o f of in 3 4 with the donation the estate Savoy,

of of allowing him the enj oyment the title Count, and added to it the Duchy of Chablais . The title of Count in the feudal laws of Burgundy implied ducal honours , and from the end of the “ tenth century the comtés o r counties became the appanage of the relatives o f the Emperor or

King. As time advanced the Old name of Sabaudia was

of Savo a ffi replaced by that j , which some authors a rm 5 2 T HE ROMANCE OF SAVOY

o r to be derived from Salva via , safe pass , owing to the comparative security of its roads at a time when all the other Alpine passes were infested with of brigands . It was an estate situated in the heart

M of the aritime Alps , extending to the arm the

Apennines that touched the Genoese coast, and was f under the j urisdiction o the bishops of Grenoble . —M 1 00 Humbert Blanche ain was born in 3 . Little is known concerning his history beyond the fact that he was of Burgundian origin , the son of William ,

- of Count of Burgundy, and great grandson Berenger ,

o f Ofli ciate the second King Italy . He d as councillor to of R Ermengarde, the wife odolph III . , after this ’ King s death . ’ o f Humbert s wife, Amelie , was sister Queen Ermengarde ; he consequently enj oyed almost a regal

f or position at their Court . When he fought Conrad he could boast of leading in his suite to battle Hé ribert o f , Archbishop Milan, and Boniface, Duke of Tuscany . Though the record of Humbert’ s brave deeds may not have been so fully recognised as those o f som e o f his successors , his name will always live as the

o f founder the House of Savoy , and the autonomy and history of that country commences from the days o f Humbert the first Count . Through subsequent acqui sition many well - known ’ towns flourished in various parts of Humbert s u domai ns , including Geneva, Chambery, Embr n , v Barcel onetta Gap, Susa, Digne, Sa ona, , Nice, Exilles ,

SAVOY IN OLDEN DAYS 5 3

G la ndéve s . a t , Vence, and Grasse These towns were

w as a great distance from each other . This a source of a a s perpetual inconvenience in those d ys , it led to continu al raids by the owners of intervening terri tory . Humbert was not long in perceiving these

f o r w as annoyances , on every side he beset with

o f dangers . The Dukes Burgundy and the Princes of the House of Anj ou left him but little peace .

o f o f The Emperors Germany, the Kings France and Spain importuned him with every means in their ’ n power . Even the Pope had an eye o Humbert s advantageously situated lands , and looked upon him and his successors as rivals to be feared and foes to 1 be crushed .

The Princes of Savoy, notwithstanding reverses

- o f caused by the ill will and envy their neighbours , who noticed with feelings otherwise than friendly the steady progress being made by this hitherto uni m portant state, advanced with rapid strides towards a prominent position . The unity of endeavours mani f e s te d by each succeeding prince to carry o n the good works of his predecessor was largely responsible for this satisfactory result . ’ Humbert s son , Oddone, by his marriage with M Adelaide, archesa di Susa and Contessa di Torino , the added to estate founded by his father, and “ ” le Amedeo VI . , known as Comte Vert, from the colours he wore at a tournament he held at Ch a m béry

1 ' ’ Hi t t z o re do 14 Moi rotz do S oooze . Be l io oso. C alm ann L , p 3, g j evy, a is 1 8 8 P r , 7 . 5 4 T HE ROMANCE OF SAVOY

1 6 0 about the year 3 , also contributed to the extension o f his possessions through his alliance with Bonne de

o f Bourbon , a cousin of Charles , the Dauphin France, from whom he received a large addition o f land .

Amedeo VI . is chiefly remembered as being the

of o f o n founder the Order the Annunziata, the origin of which so much has been written and said ; and though many suggestions have been hazarded on i na ro bearing the subject, it may not perhaps be pp — p ria te to refer to the best credited accounts on a page of old traditions , in connection with the institution

o f o f the Order . They are not devoid a picturesque attraction , and reveal the mystic tendency that mingled with the practical conceptions of the knights of olden days . It has never been positively ascertained if the o f creation this Order by Amadeus VI . was con ou of o r sequent an act gallantry, was symbolical of o f an incident a religious nature . The foundation for the last suggestion may possibly have been due to its establishment by Count Amadeus i n the Carthusian monastery at Pierre - Chatel i n

Bugey . He created fifteen knights , and ordered that “ fifteen Carthusian monks were to read Mass daily i n honour of the fifteen joys of the Blessed Virgin and for the welfare of the fifteen knights . This order was only accessible to the high and ancient nobility o f e unblemished Virtue and honour, nor was it p rmitted ” to wear it with any other decoration . The following duties were entailed by the holders SAVOY IN OLDEN DAYS 5 5

o n of the Order, and by the honour conferred them they undertook

“ 1 . To assist the Dukes of Savoy by word and deed o n all occasions that their assistance was required 2 and to protect the oppressed . . To wear con s tan tl or o f O y the collar chain the rder, which was compos ed alternately of love - knots and the letters 3 . They were to present to the

o f - Ché tel and Church Pierre a chalice, surplice, all M other articles requisite for the celebration of ass .

4 . On their death they were to bequeath 1 00 livres fo r the support of that church . At funerals the whole community were to be present dressed originally in

white, and later in black cloaks , which after the ceremony they handed over to the Carthusian monks ; o n all other occasions the colour o f the cloak was

crimson trimmed with fringes, and embroidered with ” 1 - love knots .

Certain alterations were inaugurated by Charles III . 1 1 8 w ho of Savoy, in 5 , gave the Order a new name , “ ” the Holy Annunciati on ; he also added fifteen

Fort re enamelled roses, alternating with the word , d eate of . p fifteen times, conjoined by the girdle St

Francis , as previously instituted by Amadeus VI II . ,

- in the collar, in place of the love knots . Such is the

collar which Philibert - le - Beau bears i n the Church of

NOtre o n Dame at Brou (Bourg en Bresse', both his

tomb and in his likeness in the great window . This

1 Té e B oo o Or derr . 2 0 . k . and a k k f , p 5 , B Bur e Hurst Bl c ett, 5 6 T HE ROMANC E OF SAVOY

fine Gothic church was built between the years 1 5 0 6 6 M o f o f 3 by argaret Austria, daughter the Emperor

fo r M a I . aximili n , as a mausoleum her second husband, Philibert, and herself. In the ornamenta tion ro und their tombs attention is attracted by the F or tune I n ortune constant repetition of the words , f ,

F ort Une F ert they recur as frequently as the word , and it is suggested that this epigram refers to the ’ incidents o f Margaret of Austria s life . As a child she had been promised in marriage to Charles VIII . , of King France , and spent many years at the Court o f w as his father, Louis XI . , but this brilliant alliance be broken off for political reasons . She was next V trothed to John of Castile, the son of Ferdinand . ,

o f f o r King Aragon , and embarked Spai n for the f celebration o her marriage . During the voyage a i violent storm arose, the vessel menaced founder ng, and the Princess , expecting to be drowned from one moment to another, fearing that her body should not on ar o n be recognised, fastened a band her m, which sh e had written

Ci i t Mar ot la e ntil de m oi sell e g g , g , ’ u e ut de u m ari s e t m ourii t u elle Q x p c .

not Her presentiment of drowning was , however, n o f verified , and she married Joh Castile, but he 1 0 1 died within the year . In 5 she became the wife

f - le - o f a o . Philibert Beau , Duke S voy The mys teri ou s motto may therefore signify the F ortune of I n or tune her first brilliant engagement, the f that SAVOY IN OLDEN DAYS 5 7

F ort- Une attended her marri age in Spain , and the that

— - crowned her alliance with Philibert le Beau . 1 2 u I n 6 0 Charles Emman el I . ceded Bresse and

Bugey to Henri IV . , and transferred the Order first

‘ M ontm e ila n to the Dominican church at , and thence to the hermitage o f the Camaldoli monks i n the 1 mountains near Turin . The costume of the knights has been frequently altered . At the present time the decoration is worn round the neck sus pended by a

- o n sky blue ribbon , accompanied by a star the left of side . When Victor Amadeus II . became King

Sardinia, he placed upon hi s head the regal crown and “ ” raised the Order o f the Annunciation to the first

of rank Orders in the kingdom . He abolished the limitation of numbers o f the knights and awarded “ ” 2 them the title o f eccellenza . But the meaning of F or t or the word , the four initial letters , has not

been clearly elucidated . Many interpretations have been suggested ; the o nly one which seems really probable is that which appears o n a gold piece struck f o I . in the reign Victor Amadeus , preserved in the

1 Cha rles Emmanuel received the M arquisate of S alu z z o i n exchange

and . L e sdi uiére s C nné a de F an had for Bresse Bugey g , o t ble r ce, who n fl V f F an n n a in a n n I . on n O bee chie y i strume t l pl ci g He ri the thro e r ce, d a d f n n d d a highly is pprove o this exch a ge of territory . He co si ere th t the gain of an est ate of considerable value w as badl y compe nsated ’ a f n in a k K n for by the loss of ooti g It ly, whereby the wor of the i g s d was ann d and d d a a a d pre ecessors ulle , expresse his is pprov l of procee ’ ing derog atory to his master s fame in the following comment ' L e de F an e a ai une a de a and e t M n de S a a roi r c f t p ix m rch , o sieur voie

a une a de An e . 1 F a r . f it p ix roi ( n p 7 , ve ges' 2 k . S . 2 0 . ir B Bur e , p 5 5 8 T HE ROMANC E OF SAVOY

— medal cabinet of the Kings o f Sardinia FEDE RE ET RELI G IONE TEN EMU R We are united by honour and religion A more applicable interpretation than this could not

A S have been found . we unroll the recording pages o f re the birth and growth of Savoy, her princes are vealed to us ever united by honour and religion in all that might conduce to the welfare of their country . ’ e Ev r alert to duty s call , they were animated by that impulse only ; they participated this sentiment to their people, and under the banner of honour and religion they attained the summit for which they were bound .

o f The last of the Counts Savoy was Amadeus VII . , “ ” 2 o f il R known under the name Conte osso, and his so n Amadeus VIII . was the first to enjoy the dignity of Dukedom conferred o n the Princes o f

Savoy in the fifteenth century by Sigismund , Emperor f o Luxembourg . In the patent drawn up as a mark of o f S favour to the former Counts avoy, they are

o f of qualified as Dukes Savoy and Chablais ,

M o f arquises of Aosta and Italy, and Counts Pied 3 mont and Geneva . All things considered , the Emperors o f Germany were more dependable as of allies than the Kings France, or, at least, the Dukes of Savoy suff ered less damage from inter

1 Note'and uerier D 6 th 1 0 2 1h S . X. Q , ecember , 9 , 9 2 ' l Maison de S oo e . el io o l n Hirtoz re de a a i B so. Ca m an , p 3 , g j

L P a 1 8 8 . evy, ris, 7 3 Mid . . , p 5 3

6 0 T HE ROMANC E OF SAVOY

o f f o n Sovereign , bestowed a special mark avour

o f Emmanuel Philibert, the then reigning Duke

S o f e avoy, and named him Knight the Gart r, the patent for which was drawn up in the following terms

M G od Philip and ary by the Grace of , King and H i e ru sale m Queen of England , France, Naples , o ur and Ireland etc . as entirely beloved cousin Emmanuel Philibert Duke o f Savoy and Prince o f

Piemont, heretofore elected to be Knight and Com o f o f mander the said noble Order the Garter, cannot conveniently repair to o u r castle of Windsor person ally to be installed i n the Collegiate Chapel of that

Order , he has sent a right noble personage, Johan ’ I A n u sta S t o i ne Thomas g des Contes de r p a , authorised to be his deputy and proctor to receive his oath , etc .

2 th a nua r 9 7 y ,

It is generally supposed that the bestowal o f the Order on Emmanuel Philibert was connected with the wish of Philip that he should marry Elizabeth , and that the honour was intended to encourage him d i n his suit . The idea seems to have been moote 2 by Paget, who was in great favour with Philip , and was approved of both by the latter and the Emperor . Possibly Philip may have induced Mary to bestow the Garter without owning his ulterior motives they

1 Tbe Or der o rée G arter E . . f , Ashmole 2 W l a a fi a n P a t a d rt 1 0 S e i li m P get, rst B ro ge of Be u ese ( 5 5 ecr V ’ a S a in n of n . and one of K n t ry of t te the reig He ry III , the i g s f chie advisers . S AVOY IN OLDEN DAYS 6 1

a might not have met with her pproval , as the mar riage would have implied the recognition of Eliza ’ M beth s legitimacy, for it is well known that ary never recognised Elizabeth as her sister , nor would ’ 1 she admit she was Henry the Eighth s daughter . Emmanuel Philibert had been compelled to sign a treaty with Switzerland , in which he renounced all claim on Geneva , but no sooner did Philibert die

h o n so n I . w tha his Charles Emmanuel , succeeded him , wished to establish his authority and reassert his s o rights . He carried his ambitions far that not con tent with putting in hi s claim for Geneva, he pro c e e de d to announce his intention to assert his rights

o f to the thrones Cyprus and Portugal . Some justification could be admitted to both these pretensions . Cyprus had been left to Savoy by o f of Charlotte Lusignan , Queen Cyprus and

o n Jerusalem in her w right . She had married the

s on of o n second Ludovic, Duke of Savoy, and her 1 8 death , in 4 7 , she left her kingdoms to the House U of Savoy . nfortunately Charlotte and her husband had been deposed by an illegitimate son of the late King of Cyprus therefore the legal claim o f title to ’ King had been the only advantage o f Ch a rlotte s

o f legacy to the House Savoy . The title was borne o f 1 8 6 1 by all the Princes Savoy till , the year the o f kingdom Italy was proclaimed .

In regard to Portugal , Charles Emmanuel bore in

1 ' Tbe Li ( ane D or mer D uebert o Fer za 1 6 d d fi f 7 , f ( 7 e ite by J n . . S n 1 8 8 . Rev teve so , 7 6 2 T HE ROMANCE OF SAVOY mind that his father Philibert had been warmly urged by the Portuguese nation to accept the throne on the plea that he bore the same degree of parentage as

H of Philip , the claimant to the crown Portugal , but

a enjoyed far larger Share of popularity .

I o f Charles Emmanuel . , Duke Savoy, so justly

a renowned for his brave deeds and successful c reer, is still remembered in Geneva by the fete held there annually to celebrate the historical episode of the a 1 8 8 u n escal de in 5 , on which occasion the Duke

a fortunately failed to add to his brilli nt record . C HA PT E R I I I

THE B I RTH OF VI CTOR A MA D E U S

n a n a n a — n n w n a II The i cre si g import ce of S voy The correspo de ce bet ee Ch rles . — ’ a nd Cha rles Emm a nuel The Duke s m a rria ge with M a demoiselle de ’ N — B V A a 1 66 6— b a — H a emours irth of ictor m deus , The oy s delic cy is gre t — — p re c oci ty m Hi s disposition Description of the Court of Turin Dea th of a E a n —T na R n Ch rles mm uel he Duchess med ege t . HE slight sketch in the preceding chapter illus t rati ng the unflinching will o f the Savoy princes to overcome the di ffi culties with which they had to contend reaches over the early years o f building up the House, and attention may now be turned to the relations between the Courts of England and ’ Savoy during the last years o f Charles Emmanuel s

o f reign , the second Duke that name, preparatory to the subsequent events o n the accession of Victor

Amadeus his son . The uninterrupted correspondence preserved in the Record Offi ce enables it to be realised the friend ship that existed between Charles II . and the Duke of

o f Savoy . The correspondence is full interesting

i n t1 m ac for material , and brings into notice the y that a long time had reigned between the two Houses . The most trifling details regarding the Court of Savoy were reported to Charles either in personally 6 3 64 T HE ROMANC E OF SAVOY addressed letters from the Duke o r from the English envoy , and are both instructive and amusing . The relationship between the Duke and Charles II . was ’ n M tolerably near, as He rietta aria, the King s mother, and Christine, the mother of Charles Emmanuel , were M both daughters of Henri IV . of France and arie de M edici . The interest evi nced by the two Courts in their

aff a1 rs i s mutual seen by the following letters, the first of which is from the Duke to the King relating to his ’ first wife s death , a preparatory step to the announce

a ment of his second marri ge .

M N S I NE — M ha s O E G UR , Your aj esty always shown me so much consideration that I have but little doubt your Majesty will sympathise with me in this moment of deep a fli i cti on on the death of Madame my mother M of and adame my wife, who died within three weeks of Ri caldon each other . I have deputed the Count to request an audience in order to acquaint your Majesty of what has taken place and to give my assurances of o f o dutiful regard, which I shall bear testim ny to the U M o n' o f . end my days ntil that moment I shall be, ’ Ma ff seigneur, your jesty s very humble and a ectionate

, A NU L cousin and servant C , EMM E .

RI N a nua r 1 th 1 6 6 . From TU , 7 y 4 , 4 “ To the King of Great Britain .

o ne This letter to Charles I I . was supplemented by ’ o f from the Duke s sister, Princess Louise Savoy,

1 S a and S a d n a f 2 2 . d C fli c e . voy r i i , olios 4, 5 Recor MA R I E - JEA N NE - B A P T I S T E D E S A VOYE

u c h e ss e d e S a v o e Pri n c e s s e d e P i e d m n y , o t R e n e d e re D , y C y p TH E R E G EN T

’ F r o m a r m t m t/z e s L z lt r a r Tu m p n y , r

Fa c i n g p . 6 4

6 6 T HE ROMANCE OF SAVOY

Beaufort in 1 6 5 2 during the. troubles o f the

Fronde . Charles Emmanuel ’ s second marriage was by no means favourably viewed by France . During the

o f . reign Francis I the Comte de Genevois, the head o f of the House Genevois, had been lured to France by the King to enable him to have complete control

o f o f the Alpine confines . In recognition the Count ’ s ready compliance with the French King’ s ’ m d A um ale demands , the Duchies of Ne ours and

o were bestowed n the Count . It was therefore with ill - concealed annoyance that France saw the diplomacy of o f Francis I . annulled through the marriage Jeanne de Savoie Nemours with her cousin , by which the

o f border provinces Genevois , Faucigny, and Beaufort 1 o f passed back into the hands of the Dukes Savoy .

Ma 1 Within the year following his marriage, on y 4th, 1 6 6 6 , Charles Emmanuel was able to acquaint the King

Of - the birth of the wished for heir, and assured before

f o hand o f felicitations on the part o Charles I I . n this event, he wrote to him as follows I humbly present my duty to your Majesty and with extreme joy I wish to inform him that it has plea sed God this morning to safely deliver Mada me f my wife o a son . I humbly request that your Ma Pioca s ue j esty may receive Count Philibert of q , ’ M o f adame s first equerry, the bearer thi s news, and I have bid him assure your Majesty that no one

’ 1 d d z Ann ei ne e S a r a ne 1 C de F a . e . R g , p 7, omtesse verges Pa A . S avaéte Ed . , iteur, ris T HE BIRTH OF VICTOR AMADEU S 6 7 more than I wish for the continuation Of his good graces . “ Your very humble and aff ectionate cousin and “ servant , . N EL C EMMA U .

R I N 1 th M a 1 6 6 6 . TU , 4 y ,

The rej oicings that followed o n the announced birth o f a son and heir to the dukedom , who was baptised

o f under the names Victor Amadeus, were partly ’ damped on the news spreading o f the child s extreme delicacy . So frail was he and of such a weak constitution that his early years inspired great anxiety, and during his first months of infancy grave fears were entertained that his life was in imminent danger . This would e have been all the more s ri ous for the country, as Duke Charles had entered i nto a second marriage with the sole object of leaving an heir to the dukedom . All the most eminent physicians o f Europe were consulted in turn , but their contradictory opinions, and employment of drugs as varying as their opin ions , only aggravated the distressing symptoms, which seemed to point to a disastrous end . The avoidance o f a fatal result was entirely due to hi s mother . She impatiently sent the celebrated medicos about their business , and replaced them by V l ' a i lage doctor i n whom she had confidence, Petechia

a by name . He t once abolished all the remedies hitherto employed , and suggested that the boy should 6 8 T HE ROMAN C E OF SAVOY

on be brought up the light biscuits or grissini , a

o f speciality Piedmontese bakeries . To this very

o n simple prescription , and the frugal fare insisted

a by the humble vill ge doctor , Victor Amadeus is 1 generally credited to have owed his life . The alarm felt during the first critical months o f his existence having to a certain extent subsided , early ’ attention was called to the boy s remarkable i n telli gence . It was impossible not to notice pronounced of of traces a character exceptional claims to interest . U nfortunately his mother , though constantly pre ’ occupied as to her son s health , was in no way fitted

a or to develop his mor l qualities , raise the standard o f a nature that required a most j udicious mode of

o f treatment, and the tact a woman of much finer perceptions . M R o f adame oyale, whose tenure conduct was ruled by ambition and the love of power, not only ’ o f led to the development the boy s failings , but was equally incapable of tending to the expansion of his many good traits . The pronounced self- will and obstinacy of which he gave proofs as soon as he was capable o f showing

o n a his insistence anything he intended to h ve, were allowed to develop for the want of some sensible

of person to look after him , who instead perpetually using threats , would doubtless have employed more of successful means modifying his arbitrary nature .

’ 1 ’ Mernoi rer Hi stori ue; 3 t 1a Ma i t on ro a le de S a voi e e o y , Costa d a d ndi I T n 1 8 1 6 a . . . Be ureg r , Appe x , tome iii uri , T HE BIRTH OF VICTOR AMADEUS 69

of As the years passed, the state perpetual rebellion i n which Victor Amadeus found himself with his mother increased instead of diminished , and she, in her misapplied endeavours to curb his will , rather helped to encourage than to discourage him in his faults . Many tales are related of the boy ’ s unusual precocity, and his extraordinary passion for soldiers was noticed at a very early age . 1 6 1 Cha uz e au o f I n 7 p , a former tutor the Prince o f Orange, was travelling in Italy, and having ’ occasion to visit Charles Emmanuel s Court, his

Cha uz e au attention was drawn to the boy . p notes in his Mém oi res the impression made o n him by

o f Victor Amadeus , who , at the age five, the first time he saw the tutor, eagerly asked him whether ’ Ch a u z e au s he had seen his regiment, and to p further surprise, took no part in childish games suited to his age, but was absolutely absorbed in the military . He had been promised that the day the Bishop o f

Laon , who was daily expected at Turin , should enter the town , he would be permitted to meet him at of Cha uz e au the head his regiment, and p said no ’ o ne could fail to be struck by the boy s gravity and dignity of mien with which he headed his troops on that day so impatiently longed for . With such a precocious child it can well be under stood that Madame Royale ’ s training was most ill advised . Instead of encouraging and interesting her self i n the studies most suitable to such pronounced 70 T HE ROMANC E OF SAVOY

t youthful individuality, she, on the con rary, guided by a presentiment o f j ealousy that Victor Ama deus would some day be a hindrance to her own ambitions , surrounded him with masters and tutors the least adapted to forward his education . No t bei ng sufli c i e ntly intelligent herself to reason that such marked intuition and perspicacity could not

o ut of s he be crushed the boy without serious results , blindly imagined that by keeping him ignorant of the duties of his calling he would remain for an indefinite f period o time under her complete control . In order to evolve the scheme she had devised to gratify her selfish ends , she brought him up to fear She ff . her, and sought in no ways to win his a ection argued to herself that in showing her indi ff erence and

S he keeping aloof, would gain the more complete mastery over his personal tendency to independence . She therefore only saw her son once a day for a few minutes, and even then this daily visit could hardly be considered in the light of a mother ’ s meeting with her ‘ f or only child , it never took place in private, but in u the presence of the s ite , and therefore assumed the character of an audience . Charles Emmanuel was devotedly attached to the S ff a boy, and howed him the a ection that was l cking on ’

M R . of adame oyale s part . It was not expected the

s ufli c i e n t Duke, nor had he leisure, to give his individual attention to a child barely o u t Of the nursery ; and he probably was still less inclined to interfere in the arrangements that na turally devolved T HE BIRTH OF VICTOR AMADEUS 7 1

w as on the mother, as there but little sympathy

a between the Duke and his wife, the m rriage showing

o f ff 1 no signs having been actuated by a ection . In 'the following letter from the Minister at Turin we are given a résumé of Charles Emmanuel ’ s dis i 1 pos t on , and are enabled to j udge that it was a practical step on the Duke ’ s part to combine an to alliance with his cousin , in order secure the succession , and was a marriage of convenience rather

of of than any reciprocity sentiment . The Minister, referring to the Duke, says

m arr e d 1 6 6 He hath bien twice y , first in Anno 3 to Mademoiselle de Va lois daughter to the Duke of ’ Orleans his mother s brother . But she dyed before f a v i z o . the end that ye r, as did his mother also f 2 Xbe r 1 6 6 . o r 3 , 3 Before two years of mourning m a rr e d to his Duchess and mother had expired, he y f M his second wi e aria Joanna Baptista de Savoy , c ommonly called Mademoiselle de Nemours unto whom he must have payd a large dower had he no t of n m arrye d her shee being a Pri ncess his ow family . Shee is twenty six years old and hath only o ne child 1 1 6 6 6 a sonn born the 4 May , so that the same day this present year 1 6 7 0 the young Prince will bee 5 years Old . This Duke is exceedingly like the King o f France only his hayr and complexion are a little not u blacker . The Duchess i s m ch unlike the present Q ueen of France and the young Prince doo th much

' 1 ' S vo La Comtert e de Verrue et la Cour de Vi etor of médee I . de a ie,

G . e P a 8 8 1 ar d Lé . 1 . p ris ris, 72 T HE ROMAN CE OF SAVOY

no t ressemble the Dauphin in as much as only myself, but many others have binn deceived with the sight of o ne their pictures , as taking for the other The

Duke is vigorous, lively, active , generous , liberal , amorous . A great lover of stately building and rich ac c om furniture, nor doth he spare any expense to li sh wi tn e s s e F p his pleasures , hi s allace at La Vénerie built in all perfection in a mountain of ill access and i nlar e m ent incapable of any g of gardens , courts , park ra s in Of woods , without removing hills and y g vales Ch t w he hath finished . But above all hings he loves hunting and at that exercise hath had miraculou s e scapes . Once his horse fell with him into a pool of very deep water where he had binn drowned had not his horse binn very strong and he himself very dexterous . Another time having hunted a stagg at a 3‘ th bay he adventured at y stagg w his sword . The a st gg turned head and gored his horse . The horse ’ being high mettled threw him between the stagg s horns, yet he had noe hurt but the horse was killed . The Princess Loyse who is the Duke ’ s sister may of a e have some forty years g , her face and person e rather masculine than feminine . The wom n here e e of succeed not in y inheritance y House, in private ff il a airs they doe . The next in blood is Principe di Carignano who is dumb and is sonn to Principe e ’ Tomaso brother to y present Duke s father . Principe o Tomaso dyed 8 r nine years since in this place . His second sonn is Principe Eugenio Comte de S’ oissons who is still living at Paris and m arrye d Mada me ’ Mancini Cardinal M az ari n s niece by whom he h a th The il several children . oldest is called Cavaliere di

T HE RO MANC E OF SAVOY

After s pe aking o f m any m a t te rs r e la ti ng to the

c e ds to s a Court , the letter pro e y

I n fi s c s be w w ho the r t pla e , wee mu t gin ith hi m ' i s s d s i s e e a Tr uc hi s in greate t cre it, and thi G n r l , c e t

. R. a m a n A dire Général de finance s de S A . of e levated parts though but o f m a n c ondition and i s c a a the ea te s o fli ce c . H extra tion e in omp r bly gr t i n ,

e ste e m e e of a n o ne eer . H in , in v neration , y h is r o f hi s e a s x eed father a plowman , ve y many r l tion e c i no r r co w o r . H s e ing poor , wo th a pigg e fifty y ars

s no t be o t - fiv e i s t Old , yet seem to ab ve thir y ; all , s tra t o f nd ff fa r co m y , black hair, yet an i i erent y t o o o a t s o f t r d plexion , much addicted lo k int m t er a e

. H m a rr e d h no r and commerce e is y , but hat child en ,

- fiv e a old th e a of a his lady thirty ye rs , d ughter private

l o ne w a s r r . gent eman , but that ve y ich “ The next i n business i s the M arquis de St . r o se a di a Thomas , ministro e p i m gret rio St to di

A . o f a S . s r R. (Mi nister and Fi r t Sec e tary St te to H bo t ea rs o f a e is a ut six y y Of age , pale , l c to a a melancho y complexion , subj e t c t rrhs , colds , and rheums . I cannot pe netrate into him so as to i cove ti find any great depth in him . H e i s r ch and

o us . H l th e Bu silio ne l is e dest sonn , Conte de , is a so ' r d Eta t all Coun sell s so p imiero Secretario , and i s at , r that this charge is i n a way of be ing he redi ta i e . “ The Marquis de Pi a n e s s e was he retofore chief Minister and all m e n a pplye d th e msel ves to him in

H . e h no t t R . such matters wher in t ey would rouble his , re t re d but, since he has quitted the world and y in a a l fe religious house to lead a priv te y , public ministers

74 T HE ROMANCE OF SAVOY

After speaking o f many matters relating to the

Court, the letter proceeds to say

wh o In the first place , wee must begin with him ’ a T ruc hi is in greatest credit, and this is Gener l , c est a f A R . o dire G eneral de finances de S . . a man elevated parts though but o f mea n condition and ffi extraction . He is incomparably the greatest in o ce,

e s tee m e of o ne . in , in veneration, any heer His f m s e ather a plow an , very many of his relation xceed i s a o r . ing poor, nor worth a cow pigg He fifty ye rs old - five a , yet seems not to be above thirty ; is t ll , s tra t ff fa r y , of black hair, yet an indi erent y com o f plexion , much addicted to look into matters trade m a rr e d and commerce . He is y , but hath no children ,

- five old a of his lady thirty years , the d ughter a private

o ne . gentleman , but that was very rich “ The next in business is the Marquis de St .

Thomas , ministro e primo segretario di Stato di (Minister and First Secretary of State to of of He is about sixty years age, a pale , melancholy complexion , subj ect to catarrhs, colds , I So to and rheums . cannot penetrate into him as c oveti find any great depth in him . He is rich and Bu silio ne ous . His eldest sonn , the Conte de , is also ’ S d Etat Counsells primiero ecretario , and is at all , so f h e r e itari e that this charge is in a way o being d . “ The Marquis de Pi a ne s s e was heretofore chief Minister and all men applye d themselves to him in

H . n o t R . such matters wherein they would trouble his , re t re d but, since he has quitted the world and y in a l fe religious house to lead a private y , public ministers T HE BIRTH OF VICTOR AMADEU S 7 5

doo no longer address themselves to him , though he is still very often called upon to assist and be present Cou nc ell at the . “ The Chancellor and Archbishop o f Turin are of the Council but i n no great esteem more than wh t the o f dignity their places requires . “ These are the most considerable if not the only ones , who negotiate matters of business in this ” 1 Court .

I 6 I on In January, 7 , a discussion arose the question o f privileges a ccorded to the Envoy o f the Court o f

Savoy in London . Charles Emmanuel was very tenacious of his posi

o f . o n tion at the Court St James , and hearing that the Envoy to the Court of Tuscany had been granted M prerogatives denied to his inister in London , the

Marquis de St . Thomas was instructed to write to

Lord Arlington on the matter . The first ground for complaint referred to the recent bestowal o f the name o f brother o n the Duke o f Tuscany in all the despatches that passed between Charles II . and the r Court of Tuscany . This innovation aised a strong feeling o f j ealousy o r resentment at an apparent slight

o f S o n M to the House avoy , which subject the arquis de St . Thomas wrote to Lord Arlington confidentially as follows

The Comte de M o urouz has returned from Eng land and given me a substantial report on his voyage

1 d Offi f 2 . Recor ce, olio 5 76 T HE ROMANCE OF SAVOY

r there . I cannot avoid acquainting y Excell ' that grea t surprise is felt here that the King o f Great Britain has quite lately addressed the Duke o f ’ M Tuscany as brother, though by His ost Christian ’ Ma a s o f j esty he is only treated cousin . The Duke Tusca ny has never dared demand a favour from s H R H France ; that country is also anxiou that . . .

‘ a should not enjoy that which he has right to claim . The late King o f Great Britain accorded him the

. R H . H necessary privileges . . therefore could not be satisfied if he was only to be treated on the s a me o f H R . H f or footing as the Duke Tuscany . . hopes still greater courtesy from His Maj esty of Great Britain and trusts he will not retra ct from the example h s given hi m by the late King hi s father . He a the

honour to be very near him in blood and parentage , a n d I feel I may add he is not less united to him by a ze l , inclination and duty . The remainder of the letter is occupied on the

question of privileges granted to the Envoy, and the Minister continues

r As it has pleased Y Excell 'to m ention to Count M ourouz that our Ambassador would receive the a t S same concessions the Court of t . James as those accorded to the Embassies to crowned heads , I humbly request Yr Excell 'to inform me if that clause ffi has been inserted in the o cial registers . I feel I ’ may claim the ratification of this promise , as Y Excell

H . H R . knows that it is a very long time since . M Fau c onbe r remitted his papers to ilord g, and being a informed th t he has arrived in England , I am THE BIRTH OF VICTOR AMADEUS 7 7 writing hi m a few words to advise him to speak to ” ’ 1 Y Excell .

These preoccupations o n the part o f the Duke and his ministers were easily dispersed , the replies from

a Engl nd were most reassuring, and there was no lessening of cordiality between the two Courts .

M a 1 6 1 o f In y, 7 , there was an interchange personal o f S letters between the Duke, Princess Louise avoie, the Duchess, and Charles II . , who all wrote to the King to off er thei r condolences on the death of Anne

o f Hyde, Duchess York . Charles Emmanuel ex pressed himself to the King in the following terms

Ir The interest I feel in all tha t concerns Y Maj esty induces me to assure him that no o n e has been more ff o n sincerely a ected than myself, the loss he has sustained by the death of his sister Madame the o f ha s Duchess York . The notification it pleased r Y Maj esty to send me on the sad event increases my sentiments of obligation and gratitude . I wish I could give better proofs by my actions rather than in these lines in order to persuade Yr Majesty that never shall I waver in my earnest desire to remai n till the end o f my life your very humble and aff ectionate “ cousin and servant ,

H N EL . C . EMM A U

M r The next letter is from . Croker, a British S M r . resident at Turin, addressed to Henry mith , ’ at Queen s College in Oxford . It is referred to

1 2 d Offi 2 . d Offi Recor ce, folio 5 Recor ce .