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We carried this contract to the King； who smiled and bantered M。 de
Lauzun。 M。 de Lauzun replied； that he was only too happy； since it was
the first time since his return that he had seen the King smile at him。
The marriage took place without delay： there were only seven or eight
persons present at the ceremony。 M。 de Lauzun would undress himself
alone with his valet de chambre； and did not enter the apartment of his
wife until after everybody had left it； and she was in bed with the
curtains closed； and nobody to meet him on his passage。 His wife
received company in bed； as mine had done。 Nobody was able to understand
this marriage； and all foresaw that a rupture would speedily be brought
about by the well…known temper of M。 de Lauzun。 In effect； this is what
soon happened。 The Marechal de Lorges； remaining still in weak health；
was deemed by the King unable to take the field again； and his army given
over to the command of another General。 M。 de Lauzun thus saw all his
hopes of advancement at an end； and； discontented that the Marechal had
done nothing for him； broke off all connection with the family； took away
Madame de Lauzun from her mother （to the great grief of the latter； who
doted upon this daughter）； and established her in a house of his own
adjoining the Assumption； in the Faubourg Saint…Honore。 There she had to
endure her husband's continual caprices； but little removed in their
manifestation from madness。 Everybody cast blame upon him； and strongly
pitied her and her father and mother； but nobody was surprised。
A few days after the marriage of M。 de Lauzun； as the King was being
wheeled in his easy chair in the gardens at Versailles； he asked me for
many minute particulars concerning the family of the Marechal de Lorges。
He then set himself to joke with me upon the marriage of M。 de Lauzun
and upon mine。 He said to me； in spite of that gravity which never
quitted him； that he had learnt from the Marechal I had well acquitted
myself； but that he believed the Marechal had still better news。
The loss of two illustrious men about this time； made more noise than
that of two of our grand ladies。 The first of these men was La Fontaine；
so well known by his 〃Fables〃 and stories； and who； nevertheless； was so
heavy in conversation。 The other was Mignardso illustrious by his
pencil： he had an only daughterperfectly beautiful： she is repeated in
several of those magnificent historical pictures which adorn the grand
gallery of Versailles and its two salons； and which have had no slight
share in irritating all Europe against the King； and in leaguing it still
more against his person than his realm。
At the usual time the armies were got ready for active service； and
everybody set out to join them。 That of the Rhine； in which I was； was
commanded by the Marechal de Lorges。 No sooner had we crossed the river
and come upon the enemy； than the Marechal fell ill。 Although we were in
want of forage and were badly encamped； nobody complainednobody wished
to move。 Never did an army show so much interest in the life of its
chief； or so much love for him。 M。 de Lorges was； in truth； at the last
extremity； and the doctors that had been sent for from Strasbourg gave
him up entirely。 I took upon myself to administer to him some 〃English
Drops。〃 One hundred and thirty were given him in three doses： the effect
was astonishing； an eruption burst out upon the Marechal's body； and
saved his life。 His illness was not； however； at an end； and the army；
although suffering considerably； would not hear of moving until he was
quite ready to move also。 There was no extremity it would not undergo
rather than endanger the life of its chief。
Prince Louis of Baden offered by trumpets all sorts of assistance
doctors and remedies； and gave his word that if the army removed from its
General； he and those who remained with him should be provided with
forage and provisionsshould be unmolested and allowed to rejoin the
main body in perfect safety； or go whithersoever they pleased。 He was
thanked； as he merited； for those very kind offers； which we did not
wish； however； to profit by。
Little by little the health of the General was reestablished； and the
army demonstrated its joy by bonfire's all over the camp； and by salvos；
which it was impossible to prevent。 Never was seen testimony of love so
universal or so flattering。 The King was much concerned at the illness
of the Marechal； all the Court was infinitely touched by it。 M。 de
Lorges was not less loved by it than by the troops。 When able to support
the fatigues of the journey； he was removed in a coach to Philipsburg；
where he was joined by the Marechal； who had come there to meet him。 The
next day he went to Landau； and I； who formed one of his numerous and
distinguished escort； accompanied him there； and then returned to the
army； which was placed under the command of the Marechal de Joyeuse。
We found it at about three leagues from Ketsch； its right at Roth； and
its left at Waldsdorff。 We learned that the Marechal de Joyeuse had lost
a good occasion of fighting the enemy； but as I was not in camp at the
time； I will say no more of the matter。 Our position was not good：
Schwartz was on our left； and the Prince of Baden on our right； hemming
us in； as it were； between them。 We had no forage； whilst they had
abundance of everything； and were able to procure all they wanted。 There
was a contest who should decamp the last。 All our communications were
cut off with Philipsburg； so that we could not repass the Rhine under the
protection of that place。 To get out of our position； it was necessary
to defile before our enemies into the plain of Hockenun； and this was a
delicate operation。 The most annoying circumstance was； that M。 de
Joyeuse would communicate with nobody； and was so ill…tempered that none
dared to speak to him。 At last he determined upon his plans； and I was
of the detachment by which they were to be carried out。 We were sent to
Manheim to see if out of the ruins of that place （burned in 1688 by M。 de
Louvois） sufficient； materials could be found to construct bridges； by
which we might cross the Rhine there。 We found that the bridges could be
made； and returned to announce this to M。 de Joyeuse。 Accordingly； on
the 20th of July； the army put itself in movement。 The march was made in
the utmost confusion。 Everything was in disorder； the infantry and
cavalry were huddled together pell…mell； no commands could be acted upon；
and indeed the whole army was so disorganised that it could have been
easily beaten by a handful of men。 In effect； the enemy at last tried to
take advantage of our confusion； by sending a few troops to harass us。
But it was too late； we had sufficiently rallied to be able to turn upon
them； and they narrowly escaped falling into our hands。 We encamped that
night in the plain on the banks of the Neckerour rear at Manheim； and
our left at Seckenheim； while waiting for the remainder of the army；
still very distant。 Indeed； so great had been the confusion； that the
first troops arrived at one o'clock at night； and the last late in the
morning of the next day。
I thought that our headquarters were to be in this village of Seckenheim；
and； in company with several officers took possession of a large house
and prepared to pass the night there。 While we were resting from the
fatigues of the day we heard a great noise； and soon after a frightful
uproar。 It was caused by a body of our men； who； searching for water；
had discovered this village； and after having quenched their thirst had；
under the cover of thick darkness； set themselves to pillage； to violate；
to massacre； and to commit all the horrors inspired by the most unbridled
licence： La Bretesche； a lieutenant…general； declared to me that he had
never seen anything like it； although he had several times been at
pillages and sackings。 He was very grateful that he had not yielded to
my advice； and taken off his wooden leg to be more at ease； for in a
short time we ourselves were invaded； and had some trouble to defend
ourselves。 As we bore the livery of M。 de Lorges； we were respected；
but those who bore that of M。 de Joyeuse were in some cases severely
maltreated。 We passed the rest of the night as well as we could in this
unhappy place； which was not abandoned by our soldiers until long after
there was nothing more to find。 At daylight we went to the camp。
We found the army beginning to move： it had passed the night as well as
it could without order； the troops constantly arriving； and the last
comers simply joining themselves on to the rest。 Our camp was soon；
however； properly formed； and on the 24th July； the bridges being ready；
all the army crossed the Rhine； without any attempt being made by the
enemy to follow us。 On the day after； the Marechal de Joyeuse permitted
me to go to Landau； where I remained with the Marechal and the Marechale
de Lorges until the General was again able to place himself at the head
of his army。
Nothing of importance was done by our other armies； but in Flanders an
interesting adventure occurred。 The Prince of Orange； a