PARIS, Friday, December 31, 1688.
_Per torner dunque al nostro proposito_,[238] I must tell you, my
child, that all the uncertainties of the day before yesterday, which
seemed to be fixed by the assurances M. de Lamoignon gave us that the
King of England was at Calais, are now changed into the certainty
that he is detained in England; and that if this ill fortune has not
befallen him, he has perished; for he was to make his escape, and
embark a few hours after the queen. So, that though we have no certain
intelligence of his being arrested, there is not a single person who
does not now credit it. Such is our situation; and such the way in
which we are closing the present year, and entering upon that of ’89;
a year marked out by extraordinary predictions, as pregnant with great
events. Not one, however, will take place that is not agreeable to the
order of Providence, like all our actions, and all our journeyings. We
must submit to every thing, and look boldly in the face of futurity;
this is going a great way.
[238] To return then to our proposition.
In the mean while, count, I address myself to you. Yesterday the
Knights of St. Michael went through the ceremony with several of
those of the order of the Holy Ghost, at the hour I mentioned to you
after vespers, and to-morrow the rest will do the same. The chevalier
will inform you how it is managed with respect to the absentees. You
must make your profession of faith, and give an account of your life
and manners. Of this you will be duly informed; you are not the only
one; and in the mean time _hold off, fair and softly_. Yesterday, M.
de Chevreuse, of the order of St. Michael, passed before M. de la
Rochefoucault, who said to him, “Sir, you pass before me, which you
have no right to do.” M. de Chevreuse replied, “Sir, I have a right,
for I am Duke de Luynes.” “Oh, sir,” rejoined the other, “in this
respect I yield to you.” The gazette will inform you, my dear count,
that M. de Luynes has given this duchy to his son, with the king’s
permission; and M. de Chevreuse, who will henceforward be called M.
de Luynes, the duchy of Chevreuse to his son, who will be styled Duke
de Montfort. Your son’s comrades are highly distinguished by titles.
It is said that some troops are to be sent into Brittany with M. de
Momont, Major-General, to be under the command of M. de Chaulnes;
there will be encampments in all the provinces. You need only refer
to the map, to judge whether we have occasion to be on our guard on
all sides; cast your eyes for a moment over all Europe. Madame de
Barillon is very uneasy respecting her husband;[239] but it is said at
random, for no letters arrive, that he is safe, though the chapel of
the King of England has been pulled down, as well as that belonging to
the embassador’s household. Time will clear up all this. But who am I
speaking to? is it still to this count? My dear child, your good lady,
who swore she would not touch a card till the King of England had won
a battle, will not probably play again for a long time. Poor woman!
The Prince of Orange is in London--this is still the subject of my
letter, as it is of all conversation, for every one considers himself
as concerned in this great scene. The queen is still in a convent at
Boulogne, always in tears at the absence of her husband, whom she
passionately loves.
[239] M. de Barillon was the French Embassador to England.
Madame de Brinon is quite forgotten. A new comedy is said to be in
rehearsal, which is to be represented at St. Cyr, and is called Esther.
The carnival does not promise to be very gay. My son’s letters are
constantly filled with the most affectionate sentiments for you and M.
de Grignan. We expect your letters, but probably shall not answer them
till Monday. The chevalier and I have very long conversations about
you; he is tolerably well, and when your son returns from Chalons, he
intends to accompany him to Versailles. The good Corbinelli exhausts
his rhetoric upon the present situation of affairs, and at the same
time adores you. Adieu, my lovely child; I embrace you a thousand
times, and wish you a happy year in that of 1689.