(Vol. viii., pp. 461. 549.; Vol. ix., pp. 3. 204.)
"Ceste noble race de Grantmont."--_Brantome._
The following are some of the principal events in the life of the Chevalier
de Grammont.
He was born in the year 1621, probably at the family seat of Bidache, in
Gascony.
He was sent to the college at Pau in Bearn, the nearest university to the
family residence. His studies here did not much benefit him; and although
intended for the church, we find him at a later period actually highly
commending the Lord's Prayer, and seriously inquiring by whom it was
written. On his declining a clerical life, he was sent to the French army
in Piedmont in 1643. He served under his brother, the Marshal, and the
Prince de Conde; and was present at the three battles of Fribourg on the
3rd, 5th, and 9th Aug. 1644; and at that of Nordlinguen on the 3rd Aug.
1645. It was at the battle of Fribourg that the Prince de Conde, having
failed in his first attack on the enemy, got off horseback, and placed
himself at the head of the regiment of Conti, whilst all the officers and
volunteers alighted also, amongst whom is mentioned the Chevalier de
Grammont; and this reassuring the soldiers, they charged the enemy, who
fled into a wood under favour of the approaching night. At Nordlinguen, the
Marshal de Grammont was taken prisoner, and nearly murdered by the Germans,
to revenge the death of their General, the great Mercy, who was slain in
the battle. The Marshal was subsequently exchanged against Gen. Gleen.
In 1647 Grammont served again under his brother and the Prince de Conde in
Spain: and in 1648 he was present with them at the battle of Lens on the
20th Aug., where the Archduke Leopold and General Beck were totally
defeated in Flanders.
The troubles of the Fronde now commenced; and in the first instance
Grammont zealously attached himself to the prince. In Dec. 1649, he tested
the accuracy of the report that it was intended to assassinate the prince
by sending his own coach with the prince's liveries over the Pont Neuf, to
see what would occur. The result was, the coach was fired at; but, as no
one was in it, the would-be assassins did no harm. During the imprisonment
of the princes, Grammont, with others, joined the Spanish army which had
advanced into Picardy, in consequence of the treaty the Duchesse de
Longueville and Turenne had made with the King of Spain.
We do not find when Grammont left the prince's party; the prince himself
admitted it was with honour. He seems to have connected himself with
Gaston, Duke of Orleans; and is styled about this time by "la Grande
Mademoiselle" as one of her father's gentlemen. She also relates that when
the royal forces threatened Orleans, the inhabitants sent to the duke for
succour, and he sent the Count de Fiesque and Mons. de Grammont, who
appeased their fears. The duke also advised his daughter to take the
opinion of Fiesque and Grammont in all matters, as they had been in Orleans
long enough to know what ought to be done. When Mademoiselle was trying to
effect an entrance into the city, Grammont incited the inhabitants to
assist in breaking open a gate, which the authorities, under fear of the
royal displeasure, were afraid to direct. The gate was broken open, and she
was borne in triumph along the streets.
It was probably at this period that Grammont sighed for the Countess de
Fiesque (about whom he, and his nephew the Count de Guiche, quarrelled); as
Mademoiselle, in her _Memoirs_, relates that, in the year 1656, on her
interview with Christina, Queen of Sweden, she presented to her, amongst
others, the Countess de Fiesque, one of her ladies of honour. The Queen
observed: "The Countess de Fiesque is not so beautiful as to have made so
much noise; is the Chevalier de Grammont still in love with her?"
In 1654 Grammont accompanied the Court to Peronne; where they anxiously
awaited Turenne's attempt to force the Prince de Conde's lines at Arras, as
related in the _Memoirs_.
On the 25th Nov. 1655, Madame de Sevigne writes to Bussi-Rabutin, relating
an anecdote in which Grammont was a party.
Madame de Motteville relates that Queen Christina rallied the Chevalier de
Grammont on the passion he had then for the Duchesse de Mercoeur, one of
Cardinal Mazarin's nieces; and spared him only on account of the utter
hopelessness of it.
It is about this period we are inclined to place Grammont's first visit to
England; where curiosity, Hamilton informs us, drew him to see so
remarkable a character as Cromwell; but this visit will be a good
starting-place for the next Number.