Produced by David Widger
Written by Herself
Being the Historic Memoirs of the Court of Louis XIV.
Monsieur's Jealousy.—Diplomacy.—Discretion.—The Chevalier de
Lorraine's Revenge.—The King's Suspicions.—His Indignation.—Public
Version of the Matter.—The Funeral Sermon.
After six months of wedlock, Henrietta of England had become so beautifulthat the King drew every one's attention to this change, as if he werenot unmindful of the fact that he had given this charming person to hisbrother instead of reserving her for himself by marrying her.
Between cousins german attentions are permissible. The Court, however,was not slow to notice the attentions paid by the King to this youngEnglish princess, and Monsieur, wholly indifferent though he was asregarded his wife, deemed it a point of honour to appear offendedthereat. Ever a slave to the laws of good breeding, the King showed muchself-sacrifice in curbing this violent infatuation of his. (I wasMadame's maid of honour at the time.) As he contemplated a Dutchexpedition, in which the help of England would have counted for much, heresolved to send a negotiator to King Charles. The young Princess washer brother's pet; it was upon her that the King's choice fell.
She crossed the Channel under the pretext of paying a flying visit to hernative country and her brother, but, in reality, it was to treat ofmatters of the utmost importance.
Upon her return, Monsieur, the most curious and inquisitive of mortals,importuned her in a thousand ways, seeking to discover her secret; butshe was a person both faithful and discreet. Of her interview andjourney he got only such news as was already published on the housetops.At such reticence he took umbrage; he grumbled, sulked, and would notspeak to his wife.
The Chevalier de Lorraine, who in that illustrious and luckless householdwas omnipotent, insulted the Princess in the most outrageous manner.Finding such daily slights and affronts unbearable, Madame complained tothe Kings of France and England, who both exiled the Chevalier.
Monsieur de Lorraine d'Armagnac, before leaving, gave instructions toMorel, one of Monsieur's kitchen officials, to poison the Princess, andthis monster promptly executed the order by rubbing poison on her silvergoblet.
I no longer belonged to Madame's household,—my marriage had caused achange in my duties; but ever feeling deep attachment for this adorableprincess, I hastened to Saint Cloud directly news reached me of herillness. To my horror, I saw the sudden change which had come over hercountenance; her horrible agony drew tears from the most callous, andapproaching her I kissed her hand, in spite of her confessor, who soughtto constrain her to be silent. She then repeatedly told me that she wasdying from the effects of poison.
This she also told the King, whom she perceived shed tears ofconsternation and distress.
That evening, at Versailles, the King said to me, "If this crime is mybrother's handiwork, his head shall fall on the scaffold."
When the body was opened, proof of poison was obtained, and poison of themost corrosive sort, for the stomach was eaten into in three places, andthere was general inflammation.
The King summoned his brother, in order to force him to explain soheinous a crime. On perceiving his mien, Monsieur became pale andconfused. Rush