PARIS, Friday, December 3, 1688.
I have to inform you to-day that the king made yesterday seventy-four
knights of the order of the Holy Ghost, of which I send you the list.
As he has done M. de Grignan the honor to include him, and as you will
receive a hundred thousand congratulations upon the occasion, wiser
heads than mine advise you neither to say nor write any thing that
may give offense to any of your companions in this honor. The best
way, perhaps, would be to write to M. de Louvois, and to say that the
honor he had done you of inquiring after you by your courier gives
you the privilege of thanking him; and that wishing to believe, on
the subject of the favor the king has just granted to M. de Grignan,
that he has contributed toward it by his approbation at least, you
return him thanks also for this. You will give this a better turn than
I can do; and it will do no injury to the letter M. de Grignan should
write. The particulars of what passed are these: The king said to M.
le Grand:[228] “The count de Soissons[229] and you must agree among
yourselves with respect to rank.” You must know, that M. le Grand’s
son is in the promotion, which is contrary to the general rules. You
must know, also, that the king said to the dukes that he had read
their memorial, and that he found that the house of Lorraine had taken
precedence of them on several occasions; and so it is decided.[230] M.
le Grand then spoke to the Count de Soissons; they proposed to draw
lots, “provided,” said the count, “that if you win I pass between
you and your son.”[231] M. le Grand would not consent to this, and
so the Count de Soissons is not a chevalier. The king asked M. de la
Tremouille how old he was? he replied that he was thirty-three; the
king excused him two years. This favor, it is said, which has given
some offense to the principality, has not been estimated as it ought to
have been. However, he is the first duke, according to the precedence
of his dukedom.[232]
[228] Louis de Lorraine, Count d’Armagnac, first equerry of
France.
[229] Louis Thomas de Savoy, Count de Soissons.
[230] It is related that the Duke of Luxembourg said aloud upon
this subject: “There is one thing I can not comprehend.” “And
what is that?” said the king. “How a Bourbon can look upon a
Guise.”
[231] Henry de Lorraine, Count de Brionne.
[232] Messieurs de la Tremouille had the highest rank at court,
as being the eldest dukes, and Messieurs d’Uzès the highest rank
in the parliament as being the eldest peers.