It was your request, my Lord Archbishop of Vienne[3], that I should
give you in writing an account of what I knew and had heard of the
transactions of the late King Louis XI.[4], our master and benefactor—a
prince, indeed, whose actions well deserve to be remembered. In
compliance with your Lordship’s desire I have done it, as near the truth
as my memory would permit me.
Of the occurrences that happened in his youth I can say little besides
what I have heard his Majesty state in conversation; but, from the time
of my first being entertained in his service to his death, at which I was
present, I was more constantly in attendance on him than any one about
the court, being always one of his chamberlains, and employed in the most
important affairs of the kingdom. In him, and in all the rest of the
princes that I have either served or known, I perceived ever a mixture of
good and bad; for they are but men like us, and perfection belongs only
to God Himself. But when in a prince virtues and good qualities outweigh
vices, he is certainly worthy of more than ordinary commendation and
applause; because persons of such rank are more inclinable to excess in
their actions than other people, by reason that their education in their
younger years is less strict; and when they are grown up to man’s age,
the generality of those who are about them make it their endeavour to
conform themselves to their caprices and humours.
As I have been unwilling to dissemble the matter, I may, perhaps, in
several places have said something that seems to lessen the character
of my master; but I hope the reader will consider the reasons that have
induced me to do so. This I dare affirm in his praise, that I never knew
any prince less faulty in the main, though I have been as conversant
among great princes as any man in my time in France; and not only with
those who have reigned in this kingdom, but in Bretagne, Flanders,
Germany, England, Spain, Portugal, and Italy, princes spiritual as well
as temporal; besides several whom I never saw, but knew by their letters
and instructions, and by my conferences with their ambassadors, which
gave me a sufficient character of their natures and conditions. However,
it is not my intention in the least to detract from the honour and renown
of the rest, by praising my master. I send you only what has readily
occurred to my mind, hoping you have asked for it in order to write it
in some work which it is your design to publish in Latin (a language
which your Lordship understands to perfection), by which will be shown
the learning and abilities of the author, as well as the magnificence and
grandeur of the prince of whom I speak. Where I am defective, you have
the Lord du Bouchage[5] and others to apply to, who can give you a better
account, and in better language; though, considering the honour King
Louis XI. did me, the possessions he gave me, the privacies he admitted
me to, and his never discontinuing any of his favours to me to his dying
day, no person ought to remember him better than myself; and if I could
forget his good actions, my misfortunes and sufferings since his decease
would be sufficient to remind me of them; though it is not unusual upon
the death of such great and powerful princes to see confusion among their
officers, some of them being advanced, whilst others are laid aside;
for honours and preferments are not always distributed according to the
inclination of those who desire them.
Though your Lordship seems only to demand of me an account of such
occurrences as happened during the time that I was near the king’s
person, I am obliged to begin a little earlier; and, having deduced them
from the time of my being first entertained in his service, I shall
continue them in a regular method to his death.