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Mademoiselle de Montpensier； died on Sunday the 5th of April； at her
palace in the Luxembourg； sixty…three years of age； and the richest
private princess in Europe。 She interested herself much in those who
were related to her； even to the lowest degree； and wore mourning for
them； however far removed。 It is well known； from all the memoirs of the
time； that she was greatly in love with M。 de Lauzun； and that she
suffered much when the King withheld his permission to their marriage。
M。 de Lauzun was so enraged； that he could not contain himself； and at
last went so far beyond bounds； that he was sent prisoner to Pignerol；
where he remained； extremely ill…treated； for ten years。 The affection
of Mademoiselle did not grow cold by separation。 The King profited by
it； to make M。 de Lauzun buy his liberty at her expense； and thus
enriched M。 du Maine。 He always gave out that he had married
Mademoiselle； and appeared before the King； after her death； in a long
cloak； which gave great displeasure。 He also assumed ever afterwards a
dark brown livery； as an external expression of his grief for
Mademoiselle； of whom he had portraits everywhere。 As for Mademoiselle；
the King never quite forgave her the day of Saint Antoine； and I heard
him once at supper reproach her in jest； for having fired the cannons of
the Bastille upon his troops。 She was a little embarrassed； but she got
out of the difficulty very well。
Her body was laid out with great state； watched for several days； two
hours at a time； by a duchess or a princess； and by two ladies of
quality。 The Comtesse de Soissons refused to take part in this watching；
and would not obey until the King threatened to dismiss her from the
Court。 A very ridiculous accident happened in the midst of this
ceremony。 The urn containing the entrails fell over； with a frightful
noise and a stink sudden and intolerable。 The ladies； the heralds； the
psalmodists； everybody present fled； in confusion。 Every one tried to
gain the door first。 The entrails had been badly embalmed； and it was
their fermentation which caused the accident。 They were soon perfumed
and put in order； and everybody laughed at this mishap。 These entrails
were in the end carried to the Celestins； the heart to Val de Grace； and
the body to the Cathedral of Saint Denis； followed by a numerous company。
CHAPTER III
On May 3d 1693； the King announced his intention of placing himself at
the head of his army in Flanders； and； having made certain alterations in
the rule of precedence of the marechale of France； soon after began the
campaign。 I have here； however； to draw attention to my private affairs；
for on the above…mentioned day； at ten o'clock in the morning； I had the
misfortune to lose my father。 He was eighty…seven years of age； and had
been in bad health for some time； with a touch of gout during the last
three weeks。 On the day in question he had dined as usual with his
friends； had retired to bed； and； while talking to those around him
there； all at once gave three violent sighs。 He was dead almost before
it was perceived that he was ill； there was no more oil in the lamp。
I learned this sad news after seeing the King to bed； his Majesty was to
purge himself on the morrow。 The night was given to the just sentiments
of nature； but the next day I went early to visit Bontems； and then the
Duc de Beauvilliers； who promised to ask the King； as soon as his
curtains were opened； to grant me theoffices my father had held。 The
King very graciously complied with his request； and in the afternoon said
many obliging things to me； particularly expressing his regret that my
father had not been able to receive the last sacraments。 I was able to
say that a very short time before； my father had retired for several days
to Saint Lazare； where was his confessor； and added something on the
piety of his life。 The King exhorted me to behave well； and promised to
take care of me。 When my father was first taken ill； several persons；
amongst others； D'Aubigne； brother of Madame de Maintenon； had asked for
the governorship of Blaye。 But the King refused them all； and said very
bluntly to D'Aubigne； 〃Is there not a son？〃 He had； in fact； always
given my father to understand I should succeed him； although generally he
did not allow offices to descend from father to son。
Let me say a few words about my father。 Our family in my grandfather's
time had become impoverished； and my father was early sent to the Court
as page to Louis XIII。 It was very customary then for the sons of
reduced gentlemen to accept this occupation。 The King was passionately
fond of hunting； an amusement that was carried on with far less state；
without that abundance of dogs； and followers； and convenience of all
kinds which his successor introduced； and especially without roads
through the forests。 My father； who noticed the impatience of the King
at the delays that occurred in changing horses； thought of turning the
head of the horse he brought towards the crupper of that which the King
quitted。 By this means； without putting his feet to the ground； his
Majesty； who was active； jumped from one horse to another。 He was so
pleased that whenever he changed horses he asked for this same page。
From that time my father grew day by day in favour。 The King made him
Chief Ecuyer； and in course of years bestowed other rewards upon him；
created him Duke and peer of France； and gave him the Government of
Blaye。 My father； much attached to the King； followed him in all his
expeditions； several times commanded the cavalry of the army； was
commander…in…chief of all the arrierebans of the kingdom； and acquired
great reputation in the field for his valour and skill。 With Cardinal
Richelieu he was intimate without sympathy； and more than once； but
notably on the famous Day of the Dupes； rendered signal service to that
minister。 My father used often to be startled out of his sleep in the
middle of the night by a valet； with a taper in his hand； drawing the
curtainhaving behind him the Cardinal de Richelieu； who would often
take the taper and sit down upon the bed and exclaim that he was a lost
man； and ask my father's advice upon news that he had received or on
quarrels he had had with the King。 When all Paris was in consternation
at the success of the Spaniards； who had crossed the frontier； taken
Corbie； and seized all the country as far as Compiegne； the King insisted
on my father being present at the council which was then held。 The
Cardinal de Richelieu maintained that the King should retreat beyond the
Seine； and all the assembly seemed of that opinion。 But the King in a
speech which lasted a quarter of an hour opposed this； and said that to
retreat at such a moment would be to increase the general disorder。 Then
turning to my father he ordered him to be prepared to depart for Corbie
on the morrow； with as many of his men as he could get ready。 The
histories and the memoirs of the time show that this bold step saved the
state。 The Cardinal； great man as he was； trembled； until the first
appearance of success； when he grew bold enough to join the King。 This
is a specimen of the conduct of that weak King governed by that first
minister to whom poets and historians have given the glory they have
stripped from his master； as； for instance； all the works of the siege of
Rochelle； and the invention and unheard…of success of the celebrated
dyke； all solely due to the late King！
Louis XIII。 loved my father； but he could scold him at times。 On two
occasions he did so。 The first； as my father has related to me； was on
account of the Duc de Bellegarde。 The Duke was in disgrace； and had been
exiled。 My father； who was a friend of his； wished to write to him one
day； and for want of other leisure； being then much occupied； took the
opportunity of the King's momentary absence to carry out his desire。
Just as he was finishing his letter； the King came in； my father tried to
hide the paper； but the eyes of the King were too quick for him。 〃What
is that paper？〃 said he。 My father； embarrassed； admitted that it was a
few words he had written to M。 de Bellegarde。
〃Let me see it；〃 said the King； and he took the paper and read it。
〃I don't find fault with you；〃 said he； 〃for writing to your friends；
although in disgrace； for I know you will write nothing improper； but
what displeases me is； that you should fail in the respect you owe to a
duke and peer； in that； because he is exiled； you should omit to address
him as Monseigneur；〃 and then tearing the letter in two； he added； 〃Write
it again after the hunt； and put； Monseigneur； as you ought。〃 My father
was very glad to be let off so easily。
The other reprimand was upon a more serious subject。 The King was really
enamoured of Mademoiselle d'Hautefort。 My father； young and gallant；
could not comprehend why he did not gratify his love。 He believed his
reserve to arise from timidity； and under this impression proposed one
day to the King to be his ambassador and to bring the affair to a
satisfactory conclusion。 The King allowed him to speak to the end； and
then assumed a severe