has been so often describ'd, and is so well known to the World, that I
fancy every body knows what sort of Town it is, tho' they have not seen
it. _Frankfort_ is famous for its two yearly Fairs, _viz._ at _Easter_ and
_Michaelmas_. It suffer'd much by a great Fire in 1619, but the whole has
been since rebuilt, and the Houses are finer than before. There are few
Places upon the whole more disagreeable, and few Towns in _Germany_ where
the Common People are more unpolish'd. The Burghers are not to be match'd
for Affectedness, and their Conversation is insupportable. The Magistrates
are all _Lutherans_; nevertheless the principal Churches belong to the
Catholics. The _Calvinists_ may live in the Town, but cannot hold any
Employments, and are oblig'd to go for Worship to _Bockenheim_ in the
County of _Hanau_, and to cause their Children to be baptiz'd in the
_Lutheran_ Churches. The great Church in which the Ceremony of the
Emperor's Coronation is perform'd is dark, and by no means proper for such
an august Solemnity. You know that _Aix la Chapelle_ is properly the Place
set apart for the Coronation of our Emperors, and _Frankfort_ for their
Election. But since _Maximilian_ I. no Emperor has been crown'd at _Aix_.
_Frankfort_ being situate in the Centre of the Empire is much more
commodious for all the Princes, but particularly for the Spiritual
Electors and for the Elector Palatine, who may send for their Equipages by
Water and return them back by the same Convenience. When _Charles_ VI. was
crown'd at _Frankfort_ in 1711, there was an extraordinary Concourse of
Princes and Noblemen. Certain speculative Gentlemen made two Remarks on
this Occasion, from which they presag'd two Things. The one was, that the
Emperor made his Entrance into this City in close Mourning for the Emperor
_Joseph_ his Brother; whereupon they said that _Charles_ wore Mourning
because he foresaw that he should be the last Emperor of his Family. The
second was, that as _Charles_ return'd from the Church invested with all
the Marks of Sovereignty, _Charlemain_'s Sword had like to have dropp'd
out of the Scabbard; which the Elector of _Triers_ of the _Lorrain_ Family
observing, catch'd hold of the Sword, and put it in again before it was
quite fallen out of the Scabbard. Upon this, the same Calculators of
Nativities said it was an Omen that the Emperor would never have a quiet
Reign, and that he would always be in a Situation that would oblige him to
draw his Sword for his Defence[143].
As to Persons of great Distinction at _Frankfort_, they are very few. The
Chief are the Princess-Dowager of _Nassau-Ousingen_, born Princess of
_Lovestein_; the Count _de Degenfeldt_ (_Schomberg_)[144] Major-General of
the King of _Prussia_'s Forces, and a Commander of the Order of the _Black
Eagle_; and finally, Madame _la Raugrave_[145] Daughter of _Charles-Lewis_
Elector Palatine: She is the last of the Blood of the Protestant
_Palatine_ Princes. The Senate of _Frankfort_, in consideration of her
great Age, and in respect to her Birth, has granted her the Liberty of
keeping a _Calvinist_ Chaplain to preach in her own House. Sometimes the
Prince _de la Tour_ and _Taxis_[146] Hereditary Post-Master of the Empire
resides at _Frankfort_. His House is a great Relief to Foreigners. His
Princess[147] is a Lady of very great Merit, and has the Soul and
Sentiments of a Queen. In the Houses of the Persons that I have mention'd
there's an Assembly of both Sexes every Evening; but take them one with
another they are very thin except at the Fairs, when there's a vast Resort
of Nobility and Gentry. Most of the Electors and Princes of the Empire
have their Agents at _Frankfort_, to whom they give the Title of
Residents; but those Gentlemen are not a jot the more respected for it,
most of them being Merchants of the City of _Frankfort_ it self, who
sollicit the Title in order to be exempt from the Authority of the Senate,
and from the Payment of the Customs, and to qualify themselves to place
over their Doors the Arms of the Princes to whom they send the
News-papers.
The Count _de Degenfeldt_ makes such a Figure here that he deserves a more
particular mention. He is a Nobleman of good Extraction. He is a Native of
the _Palatinate_, and spent his Youth in the Service of the Elector
Palatine. He was at that Time a _Calvinist_, but turn'd Catholic. Some
Years after, he was reconcil'd to his former Communion, and married in
_England_ a Cousin of his, the Daughter of the Duke _de Schomberg_, with
whom he had a very great Estate. He has also a considerable Expectancy
from Madame _la Raugrave_ a _Palatine_, his Aunt[148]. The Relation of M.
_de Degenfeldt_ to this Lady, brings to my Mind the History of the Mother
of Madame _la Raugrave_, who as I have observ'd was a _Degenfeldt_. I have
chose to give it you from what was told me by the late Madame of _France_,
and from very good Memoirs that have been put into my hands. I have plac'd
this History as a Transaction in the Time of the ancient _Germans_; and as
I design'd to insert it in a Work which I have undertaken, for want of
something else to employ my Time, I chuse to do it by way of a Discourse
from Madame the late Electress of _Hanover_ to her Daughter-in-law. I
herewith send you the entire History, and at the End of it you will find
the Key. As I fancy you are quite disengag'd in the Country, I don't
apprehend that the reading of it will be Loss of your Time. I rather fear
you won't like it; but in either case 'twill be your own Fault; I don't
force you to read; you may if you please let _Gertrude_ alone.
_History of GERTRUDE a +Marcoman+ Lady._
The History of _Gertrude_, of which I propose to give you, my Princess, a
Relation, is properly the History of the Extinction of my Family; for the
fatal Passion of my Brother King _Malcolm_ for that Lady, is in all
appearance the Reason that there are no more left in my Family than three
Princesses[149], and my self.
There was such a Harmony in Sentiments betwixt my Brother and me, that it
united us in the strictest Friendship. We had been brought up together in
_Belgium_[150], where the King my Father had been oblig'd to take refuge,
that he might be nearer at hand to receive Succours from _Alfred_ King of
_Albion_, Father of the Queen my Mother, against the _Romans_, who after a
long and bloody War had turn'd him out of his Dominions. That King amus'd
him a long while with fair Promises; but the Misunderstanding which there
was at that time between him and the States of his Kingdom, added to a
certain Indolence in his natural Temper, hinder'd him from seeing the
Effect of them; and the King my Father did not live long enough to be
witness of the Peace which the _Romans_ were at length oblig'd by his
Allies to conclude. This was not an advantageous Peace for _Malcolm_ my
Brother, because in order to obtain it he was oblig'd to yield a part of
his Dominions to the Prince of the[151]_Boyens_, an Ally of the _Romans_,
and upon these Terms he was left in quiet possession of the rest.
When my Brother saw himself establish'd on the Throne, he thought of
marrying. His Ministers propos'd the Princess of the _Catti_ as the
fittest Match for him, and assur'd him that besides her illustrious
Extraction he could not marry a more beautiful Princess, or one of a
better Temper. My Brother who only alter'd his Condition for Reasons of
State, was willing enough to follow their Advice, and accordingly espous'd
her. The Marriage at first prov'd very happy; the Queen his Wife had her
share of Beauty, and tho' her Temper was very different from what it had
been represented to my Brother, yet she so cunningly disguis'd it for some
time that this Prince thought himself very happy in his Choice. But their
Agreement was of a short Duration; the Queen's true Humour soon discover'd
it self: It appear'd that she was ill-natur'd, and intolerably
high-spirited; of an odd sullen Temper, always ready to contradict, and
frequently subject to Chagrin, of which she herself knew not the Cause,
and which she vented upon all that approach'd her without distinction. The
King my Brother was of a Temper quite the reverse: He lov'd Diversions,
was civil, affable, naturally gay, beneficent; and I don't speak it out of
Partiality in favour of a Brother whose Memory is still dear to me, but
I'll be bold to say, that if he had not been quite so choleric, he would
have been the most accomplish'd Prince of his Time. Nevertheless he bore
with his Wife's ill Humours very patiently at first, and endeavour'd to
reclaim her by gentle Usage; but when he saw that all the Pains he took
were to no purpose, he resolv'd at length to seek out some other
Amusement.
The Beauty of _Gertrude_, Maid of Honour to the Queen his Wife, had for a
long time smitten him, but hitherto he had only discover'd his Passion to
her by his Glances, for fear of disgusting the Queen. _Gertrude_ who
perceiv'd that my Brother did not look upon her with Indifference,
affected to shun every Opportunity that Prince might take of revealing his
Love to her. But Fortune favour'd my Brother, who being one day with his
Queen in her Apartment, when the Discourse fell upon Jewels, perceiv'd
that the Princess had left off wearing a certain Bracelet of which he had
made her a Present, and asking her what she had done with it, the Queen
told him that she believ'd she had laid it up in a Casket of which she had
the Key in her Pocket. She made one of her Maids fetch it, and open'd it,
but the Bracelet was not there, at which she seem'd uneasy. This my
Brother observ'd, and taking a Pleasure in making her more uneasy, he said
to her, tho' in a manner that shew'd he did not think as he spoke, that
she had undoubtedly some Gallant in a Corner, to whom she had either given
that Bracelet, or who had stole it from her. These Words, tho' deliver'd
in jest, made a deep Impression upon the Queen, and as it was her Nature
soon to take fire, she was stung to the quick at what he had said, and
forgetting the Respect she ow'd to the King her Husband, was in such a
Passion with him that she let fall some Words that were very affronting.
My Brother who was naturally mettlesome and fiery, and far from expecting
any such Treatment, made her answer, that if she continued to forget
herself after that manner, he would find ways and means to humble her.
Upon this he went out of the Room abruptly, and passing through the
Antichamber, met the fair _Gertrude_. Such was his Disgust that instead of
being upon the reserve as he had been, he had a long Conversation with
her, and found her so sprightly and good-natur'd that he was compleatly
charm'd with her. He declar'd his Love to her, and she was so artful that
tho' she gave him no Hopes, yet she did not rebuff him.
When my Brother was retir'd, _Gertrude_ went into the Apartment of the
Queen her Mistress, who plac'd her whole Confidence in her. That Princess
no sooner saw her but she made a thousand Complaints of the King's
Treatment of her. _Gertrude_ seem'd to sympathize in her Resentment, and
believing that the Queen could not fail to know that the King had talk'd
with her in the Antichamber, she told her that the Prince having met her
in her Passage gave her an angry Account of what had passed; and that she
had done all she could to pacify him, but to no purpose: At the same time
she blam'd the King's Proceeding; and encourag'd by the Liberty which the
Queen gave her, told her that if she who was but a private Gentlewoman was
so treated by any Husband, she would never pardon him tho' he were a King.
She added several other Sayings which instead of pacifying this silly
Queen, did but exasperate her the more.
In the mean time, _Malcolm_, who was impatient to know the Success of his
Amour, wrote a Letter to _Gertrude_ which he sent her by one of his chief
Domestics, together with a rich Diamond Equipage. But the artful
_Gertrude_ whose Aim was to draw on his Passion, rather than to gratify
it, was far from yielding to his first Attacks, and sent him back the
Diamonds, tho' with a modest and respectful Answer, wherein she desir'd
him to talk no more to her of Love. My Brother was too deeply smitten to
be repuls'd; he doubled his Presents, was assiduous, and eager in his
Courtship; and as 'tis very rare for a King of his amiable Personage to
meet with long Resistance, _Gertrude_ abated of her Shyness by degrees,
and at length discovered that she was not insensible of Love. Their
Correspondence which did not exceed the Bounds of Honour, was kept secret
for a considerable time, but made the greater Blaze when it was known.
_Malcolm_ being one day with his Wife, happen'd, without perceiving it, to
drop a Letter which the Queen took up, and found to be the Hand-writing of
_Gertrude_. The Letter being written in _Latin_ made the Queen the more
curious to know what was in it; and she gave it to her Cousin, Prince
_Valamir_, desiring him to unfold the Contents of it to her. This Prince
was so unwise as to satisfy her Curiosity, and acquainted her that
_Gertrude_ by this Letter assur'd the King that he had gain'd her Heart.
You will easily imagine how much the Queen was ruffled when she heard of
this Intrigue: She could not contain herself; and without giving ear to
the Arguments made use of by _Valamir_, she ran immediately to
_Gertrude_'s Apartment in the Palace, who by good luck was gone abroad.
The Queen thinking her Casket was in _Gertrude_'s Closet caused it to be
broke open, and finding it there, open'd it, and took out all the Letters,
of which several that appear'd to be from the King her Husband left her no
room to doubt of that Prince's extraordinary Passion for _Gertrude_, and
of the Intimacy there was between them. My Brother was quickly inform'd of
what the Queen had been doing, but conceal'd his Uneasiness, shew'd his
Wife no manner of Resentment, and only sent a Caution to _Gertrude_ not to
return to the Palace. _Malcolm_'s Silence deceiv'd the Queen, who indeed
was not a Lady of very great Penetration, so that she flatter'd herself
the King might possibly be ignorant of the Outrage she had committed; and
upon this Supposition she thought it her best way to dissemble her Hatred
and Wrath against _Gertrude_. She pretended therefore to be very uneasy
for fear of what had happen'd to her, caus'd a Search to be made for her
several days, and seem'd very much dejected at her Absence. She hoped by
all these Demonstrations of Friendship to decoy her back to the Palace, in
order then to be compleatly reveng'd of her.
Thus Matters stood when the King of the _Suevi_, the Brother-in-law of the
Queen my Sister-in-law, came to Court with the Queen his Wife. This Prince
having observ'd the Queen's Melancholy on several occasions, ask'd her the
reason of it one day as they sate at Table. 'You must not be surpriz'd,
said _Malcolm_, to see the Queen my Wife out of temper; 'tis her common
Infirmity, and very often she her self knows not the cause of it. My
Ailment is but too real (reply'd the Queen in a great Pet;) and (then
addressing herself to her Husband) said she, it does not at all become you
whose dishonourable Amours have been the only Cause of my Disorder, to
insinuate as if it were but imaginary.' This Answer made in so public a
manner, so nettled my Brother that he turn'd pale for meer Vexation, and
not being able to curb his Passion, forgot his Dignity so far as to strike
her; upon which the unfortunate Princess rose from Table, and retir'd in
Tears to her own Apartment. My Brother, whose Passion was always as soon
over as it was easily kindled, was sorry in a very few moments after for
what he had done, made his Excuses to the King and Queen of the _Suevi_,
and rising from Table, went with them to his Wife's Apartment, where he
ask'd her pardon for what had pass'd. This Atonement, which the Queen did
not expect so soon, touch'd her to the quick: The King and she embrac'd
each other, and exchang'd their Promises to forget as well as to forgive
every Offence. But would you believe it? that fickle, fantastical Creature
my Sister-in-law chang'd her mind all on a sudden, and when her Husband
came in the Evening with an intention to spend the Night with her, she
absolutely refus'd to let him bed with her unless he would resolve to
deliver up _Gertrude_ to her. _Malcolm_, who was still asham'd at what he
had done in his last Fury, receiv'd so violent a Proposition with more
Patience than he would have done upon another Occasion. He endeavour'd by
fair Words to pacify his Wife, assuring her that nothing criminal had ever
pass'd between him and _Gertrude_, and that tho' he had corresponded with
the Girl by Letters, it was not out of any Love he had for her, so much as
to know whether it was true that she wrote as good _Latin_ as he had been
told she did. Tho' this Speech of his was not very probable, yet as People
are easily inclin'd to believe what they wish to be true, the Queen
suffer'd herself to be at last persuaded, and was reconciled to her
Husband without insisting any farther on the Sacrifice she at first
demanded.
The Emperor being come to spend some Time at _Pluibourg_, summon'd an
Assembly thither of the Princes of the Empire. My Brother went thither
with the Queen his Wife; but the Consequence was that they were more
embroil'd than ever; and my Sister-in-law was so unadvised as to let
_Cæsar_ and his Court be Witnesses of certain Brawls, which for her own
Interest as well as her Husband's, she ought to have carefully confin'd
within the Limits of her own Houshold. 'Tis true that my Brother had no
very great Respect for her, and he lov'd _Gertrude_ more than ever. Being
hindred by a slight Indisposition from going to _Montpayen_ where he kept
her at one of his Houses, not a Day pass'd but he sent an Express to know
how she did, and the Queen's ill Temper, who no doubt had better have
try'd good-natur'd Methods to reclaim him, only incens'd him against her,
and made him the fonder of _Gertrude_.
The Assembly of the Princes of _Germany_ being over, and the Emperor
return'd to _Rome_, my Brother set out for _Montpayen_ the Capital of his
Kingdom, and gave orders for his Queen to follow him next Day. But for a
Reason which I never could dive into, the Princess instead of obeying him
stay'd a Month longer at _Pluibourg_, without vouchsafing to let the King
her Husband know the Reason of her delay; and not only so, but when she
came to _Montpayen_, she had the Assurance to go with a bold Face to her
Husband's Apartment, without knowing how he would take it: But the Prince
who had just Reason to be angry, foreseeing that she was like enough to
take such a step, had given orders to refuse her Entrance; wherefore she
was oblig'd to retire to her Apartment, whither a Captain of the Guards
came in a Moment after, to tell her from the King that she was a Prisoner.
This unhappy Princess bore her Disgrace very weakly. She repented, but too
late, of having been so imprudent as to contravene the Orders of the King
her Husband; and hoping to work upon his Good-nature, she wrote him a most
submissive Letter, begging his pardon for her Disobedience, and intreating
him to restore her to her Liberty. My Brother sent her an Answer, wherein
he only gave her the Title of the Princess of _Cattia_. He told her, 'that
having consider'd the Disagreement there was betwixt his Temper and her's,
he resolved to be divorc'd from her, and that she would do well herself to
give her Consent to it; which if she did with a good Grace, he would
restore her to her Liberty and settle a Revenue on her suitable to her
Rank.'
This Answer was a Thunder-stroke to my Sister-in-law; she rav'd and tore
like a mad Woman. She was for a long while like one out of her Senses, but
recovering them at length by the help of her Women, and consulting with
those that had the greatest share of her Confidence, she sent the King
word that he was Master, and might make use of his Authority, but that
she would never consent to the Divorce.
My Brother who had fix'd his Resolution, and saw no other way to get
possession of _Gertrude_ than by marrying that Girl who had presum'd to
set so high a Price upon her Favours, took off the Mask, notify'd his
Design to the Court, and in a few days after, the Marriage was perform'd
in the manner that you know is practis'd in _Germany_ by Princes who marry
beneath themselves, which excludes the Children by such _Venter_ from
succeeding to the Father's Estate. As soon as he was marry'd, he restor'd
the Queen to her Liberty, and acquainted her, 'That by the Advice and
Consent of the Priests of his Kingdom whom he had caused to be assembled,
he had marry'd _Gertrude_. That the Thing being done and past remedy, he
hoped she would resolve to make her self easy. That however, he would
always treat her as a Princess; that she should be welcome to continue in
her Apartment at the Palace; that she should have her Guards to attend
her, and that he had set apart a sufficient Fund for her Maintenance; but
that he expected she would be so complaisant as to acknowledge _Gertrude_
hereafter for the lawful Queen.'
My Sister-in-law who then saw that her Disgrace was infallible, gave her
self up to Complaints and Tears, wrote to the King her Husband in the most
moving Language, and implor'd the assistance of the King her Brother: But
all was to no purpose; she was oblig'd to submit to her Misfortune, and to
be patient under an Affliction which she had partly brought upon her self
by her Folly.
While all this pass'd, my Brother was at one of his Seats not far[152]
from his Capital, where he caus'd _Gertrude_ to be treated as a Queen,
and not long after carried her to _Montpayen_ where the sight of her
Royalty was a fresh Mortification to the Queen my Sister-in-law. However,
the unfortunate Princess not yet despairing of the means of reclaiming her
Husband, was resolv'd to make the last Attempt to turn that Prince's
Heart. She dress'd herself in the most gay and rich Apparel that she could
get, and taking her Children along with her, went to meet the King her
Husband in the Room next to the Hall where he was at Table with
_Gertrude_, and thro' which he must necessarily return. When he appear'd,
she threw herself with her Children at his Feet, clasp'd his Knees,
conjur'd him with Tears in her Eyes to look with Pity on an unhappy
Princess whom he had formerly thought fit to make his Wife, and to
consider that the Affront he put upon her by divorcing her, would be a
Reproach to those very Children of whom he had been so fond. My Brother
seem'd to be melted at so moving a Spectacle, look'd for some Moments on
his Wife and Children with Tears in his Eyes, and he was just ready to
raise her from the Ground, when _Gertrude_ who was at his Heels, fearing
what might be the Consequence of the Confusion that she saw him in, talk'd
earnestly to him in the _Tuscan_ Language, saying, _Remember_, my Lord,
_what you promis'd me_. These few Words wrought so much on the unsteady
Mind of my Brother that he only lifted up his Hands to Heaven and went on,
shewing by the Trouble he was under, how little he was Master of his
Reason upon this Occasion. The Queen my Sister-in-law remain'd for a while
speechless, but Fury and Despair quickly seiz'd her Soul. She rose up and
ran into her Closet, where snatching up a Dagger[153] she came back again
with an Intention to stick it into her Rival's Heart. But the Rage she
was in having so confounded her that she had not a Thought of concealing
that Instrument of her Revenge, it was perceiv'd by one of the chief
Courtiers who pluck'd it from her just as she was going into the Closet
where my Brother was with _Gertrude_. That Prince hearing a Noise so near
him ran out, and demanded what was the matter. 'Tis I, (said the Queen
very couragiously) 'who was coming to revenge my self and you too on the
Monster which disunites us; but that Traytor there (said she, pointing to
the Man that had wrested the Dagger out of her Hands) has depriv'd me of
the only Opportunity that I could call a Pleasure.--Princess, (said the
King to her very calmly) don't indulge your self any longer in such
extravagant Passions, if you are unwilling that I should use you roughly.'
Then he retir'd with _Gertrude_, and my Sister-in-law return'd to her
Apartment in a Temper which you may easily imagine.
_Clodius_, who now governs the Empire, being at that time proclaim'd
Emperor, this Princess made her Complaints to him, and desir'd him to
reconcile _Malcolm_ to her. But _Cæsar_ having excus'd himself, my
Sister-in-law who could no longer bear the Presence of her Rival, retir'd
to the King her Brother, there to wait the End of her Misfortunes. My
Brother liv'd afterwards very lovingly with his new Spouse, and had by her
four Sons and as many Daughters. But Death having at last robb'd him of a
Person so dear to him, the Prince was so afflicted for the Loss of her,
that he spent two Years in continual Sorrow, and at length himself paid
the same Tribute to Nature.