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diff --git a/42419-8.txt b/42419-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7dd92c3..0000000 --- a/42419-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9081 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The True History of The State Prisoner, -commonly called The Iron Mask, by George Agar Ellis - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The True History of The State Prisoner, commonly called The Iron Mask - Extracted from Documents in the French Archives - -Author: George Agar Ellis - -Release Date: March 27, 2013 [EBook #42419] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TRUE HISTORY *** - - - - -Produced by StevenGibbs, Christoph W. Kluge, Charlene -Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned -images of public domain material from the Google Print -project.) - - - - - - - -Transcriber's Note - - Obvious typographical and printing errors have been corrected. - Variations in hyphenation have been normalized; other spelling - inconsistencies have been retained. - - Additional notes and details of the corrections can be found at - the end of this e-text. - - - - - THE - - TRUE HISTORY - - OF - - THE STATE PRISONER, - - COMMONLY CALLED - - THE IRON MASK, - - - EXTRACTED - FROM DOCUMENTS IN THE FRENCH ARCHIVES. - - - - BY - - THE HON. GEORGE AGAR ELLIS. - - - - LONDON: - JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET - MDCCCXXVI. - - - - - LONDON: - PRINTED BY S. AND R. BENTLEY, DORSET STREET. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -I was led to undertake the following Narrative by the perusal of -a work, lately published at Paris, entitled "Histoire de L'Homme -au Masque de Fer, par J. Delort;" in which the name of that state -prisoner is most clearly and satisfactorily ascertained, by means of -authentic documents. - -Under these circumstances, it may be asked why I was not contented -to leave the question, thus set at rest, in the hands of M. Delort, -who had the original merit of the discovery:--to this I would -answer, that M. Delort's part of the book struck me as peculiarly -ill arranged and confused; besides being unnecessarily filled with -the most fulsome flattery of Lewis the Fourteenth, never, certainly, -more inappropriately bestowed, than while in the act of recording -one of the most cruel and oppressive acts of that Sovereign's cruel -and oppressive reign. - -I have also thought, that the subject was one of sufficient -historical curiosity to interest the English public. - -For these reasons, I have been induced to throw together the -following chain of evidence upon the subject, making use of the same -documents as M. Delort, to which I have added some others previously -published, and printing the whole series in an Appendix. - - G. A. E. - - _April, 1826._ - - - - -CONTENTS. - - Page - - HISTORY OF THE IRON MASK 1 - - - APPENDIX. - - No. 1. Estrades to Lewis the Fourteenth. - Commencement of the Negociation.--State of the - Court of Mantua.--Influence of the Spaniards - there 89 - - No. 2. Matthioli to Lewis the Fourteenth. - Protestations of devotion to Lewis.--Belief in - the good intentions of the Duke of Mantua 101 - - No. 3. Estrades to Pomponne. - Continuation of the negociation.--Intrigues of - the Austrian Party 104 - - No. 4. Estrades to Pomponne. - Intrigues of the Spaniards to form a league in - Italy against France 108 - - No. 5. Pomponne to Estrades 110 - - No. 6. Pomponne to Estrades. - The King's approval of the negociation ib. - - No. 7. Lewis the Fourteenth to Estrades. - Approval of the negociation.--Answer to the - demands of the Duke of Mantua 112 - - No. 8. Lewis the Fourteenth to Matthioli 116 - - No. 9. Estrades to Pomponne 117 - - No. 10. Estrades to Lewis the Fourteenth. - Conference with Matthioli.--Discussion of the - demands of the Duke of Mantua 119 - - No. 11. Estrades to Pomponne. - The Duke of Mantua watched by the Spaniards 126 - - No. 12. Estrades to Pomponne. - Impatience of the Duke of Mantua to conclude the - Negociation 130 - - No. 13. Estrades to Pomponne. - Plans of the Spaniards.--Dispositions of the - Venetian Government 131 - - No. 14. Pomponne to Estrades. - Recommendations of Delay in the Negociation 138 - - No. 15. Estrades to Pomponne. - Information respecting the Dispositions of the - Venetians 140 - - No. 16. Estrades to Pomponne. - Fears of the Duke of Mantua 143 - - No. 17. Estrades to Lewis the Fourteenth. - Account of his Interview with the Duke of - Mantua.--The latter insists upon sending - Matthioli to Paris 146 - - No. 18. Estrades to Pomponne. - Reasons for consenting to the mission of Matthioli - to 151 - - No. 19. Estrades to Pomponne 155 - - No. 20. Pomponne to Estrades. - Approval of Matthioli's Mission to - France.--Permission to Estrades to leave Venice 156 - - No. 21. Estrades to Pomponne. - Conversation with Matthioli 158 - - No. 22. Pomponne to Estrades 160 - - No. 23. Estrades to Pomponne. - Means of protracting the Negociation.--Views of - Matthioli 162 - - No. 24. Estrades to Pomponne. - Delay in Matthioli's Journey to Paris 164 - - No. 25. Estrades to Pomponne. - Interview with Matthioli 166 - - No. 26. Pomponne to Estrades 169 - - No. 27. Pomponne to Estrades 170 - - No. 28. Estrades to Pomponne. - Differences between the Duke of Mantua and the - Spaniards 171 - - No. 29. Estrades to Pomponne. - Excuses for the delay of Matthioli 173 - - No. 30. Pomponne to Estrades 174 - - No. 31. Estrades to Pomponne 175 - - No. 32. Pomponne to Estrades 176 - - No. 33. Estrades to Lewis the Fourteenth. - Good dispositions of the Duke of Mantua, and of - the Garrison of Casale 177 - - No. 34. Pinchesne to Pomponne 179 - - No. 35. Matthioli to Lewis the Fourteenth. - Excuses his own delay ib. - - No. 36. Pinchesne to Pomponne 180 - - No. 37. Pomponne to Pinchesne 181 - - No. 38. Pomponne to Pinchesne 182 - - No. 39. Pinchesne to Pomponne. - Intention of Estrades to leave Venice 183 - - No. 40. Pinchesne to Pomponne. - Continued delay of Matthioli 184 - - No. 41. Pinchesne to Pomponne 185 - - No. 42. Pomponne to Pinchesne 186 - - No. 43. Pomponne to Pinchesne ib. - - No. 44. Pomponne to Pinchesne 187 - - No. 45. Pinchesne to Pomponne 188 - - No. 46. Pinchesne to Pomponne ib. - - No. 47. Pomponne to Pinchesne 189 - - No. 48. - Powers granted to Pomponne, to treat with - Matthioli 190 - - No. 49. Lewis the Fourteenth to the Duke of Mantua. - Promises his protection to the Duke 192 - - No. 50. Pomponne to Pinchesne 193 - - No. 51. Pinchesne to Pomponne. - Interview of Pinchesne with Don Joseph Varano 194 - - No. 52. Pomponne to Pinchesne. - A courier sent to Venice with a new cypher 196 - - No. 53. Louvois to Saint-Mars. - Catinat sent to Pignerol 197 - - No. 54. Pomponne to Pinchesne. - D'Asfeld sent to Venice 198 - - No. 55. Pomponne to Pinchesne 199 - - No. 56. Pinchesne to Pomponne 200 - - No. 57. Pinchesne to Pomponne 201 - - No. 58. Pinchesne to Pomponne 202 - - No. 59. Pinchesne to Pomponne. - Arrival of d'Asfeld at Venice 203 - - No. 60. Pinchesne to Pomponne. - Delays of Matthioli, and of the Duke of Mantua 206 - - No. 61. Pinchesne to Pomponne. - Further Delays of Matthioli 208 - - No. 62. Louvois to Saint-Mars 211 - - No. 63. Pinchesne to Pomponne. - Interviews with Matthioli.--Further Delays in the - Ratification of the Treaty 212 - - No. 64. Louvois to Saint-Mars 215 - - No. 65. Pomponne to Pinchesne ib. - - No. 66. Pinchesne to Pomponne. - Reasons for the Duke of Mantua's delay in going - to Casale 216 - - No. 67. Pomponne to Matthioli 220 - - No. 68. Pinchesne to Pomponne. - Arrangements for the Exchange of the Ratifications - of the Treaty 222 - - No. 69. Pinchesne to Pomponne. - Suspicions of the House of Austria respecting the - Negociations 225 - - No. 70. Pinchesne to Pomponne. - Arrest of d'Asfeld.--Departure of the Duke of - Mantua from Venice 227 - - No. 71. Pomponne to Matthioli. - Letter of Credence to be presented to Matthioli by - Catinat 230 - - No. 72. Estrades to Matthioli. - Complaints of the Delays in the Conclusion of the - Negociation 232 - - No. 73. Louvois to Saint-Mars 235 - - No. 74. Pomponne to Pinchesne 237 - - No. 75. Pomponne to Pinchesne. - Suspicions of the Fidelity of Matthioli 238 - - No. 76. Chanois to Louvois. - Reports of Catinat being at Pignerol.--Different - Rumours respecting the Negociation 239 - - No. 77. Catinat to Louvois 241 - - No. 78. Catinat to Louvois. - Rumours of Catinat's being at Pignerol.--Civilities - of Saint-Mars to him 242 - - No. 79. Pomponne to Pinchesne. - Continued Suspicions of Matthioli 245 - - No. 80. Louvois to Saint-Mars 246 - - No. 81. Pomponne to Pinchesne. - Confirmation of the Suspicions respecting - Matthioli's want of fidelity 247 - - No. 82. Louvois to Saint-Mars. - Order to receive Matthioli as a Prisoner 248 - - No. 83. Pomponne to Pinchesne. - Further confirmation of the Treachery of Matthioli 249 - - No. 84. Catinat to Louvois. - Arrest of Matthioli 250 - - No. 85. Catinat to Louvois. - Intelligence respecting Matthioli's Papers 252 - - No. 86. - Inventory sent by Catinat to Louvois, of the Papers - which Matthioli had about his person 256 - - No. 87. Catinat to Louvois. - First Examination of Matthioli 260 - - No. 88. Pomponne to Pinchesne 271 - - No. 89. Pinchesne to Pomponne. - Interviews between the Duke of Mantua and the - Senator Foscarini 272 - - No. 90. Louvois to Saint-Mars. - Orders to treat Matthioli with severity 275 - - No. 91. Catinat to Louvois. - Plans of Catinat for obtaining possession of Casale 276 - - No. 92. - Second Examination of Matthioli 280 - - No. 93. Louvois to Saint-Mars 293 - - No. 94. Catinat to Louvois. - Further particulars respecting Matthioli ib. - - No. 95. - Third Examination of Matthioli 296 - - No. 96. Louvois to Saint-Mars 302 - - No. 97. Catinat to Louvois. - Concluding Examination of Matthioli 303 - - No. 98. Varengeville to Pomponne. - Proposed recompense to Giuliani 307 - - No. 99. Louvois to Saint-Mars 309 - - No. 100. Louvois to Saint-Mars 310 - - No. 101. Saint-Mars to Louvois ib. - - No. 102. Saint-Mars to Louvois. - Matthioli complains of his Treatment, and gives - Proofs of Insanity 311 - - No. 103. Louvois to Saint-Mars 312 - - No. 104. Louvois to Saint-Mars 313 - - No. 105. Saint-Mars to Louvois. - Matthioli and the Jacobin placed together 314 - - No. 106. Saint-Mars to Louvois 315 - - No. 107. Saint-Mars to Louvois. - Particulars respecting the Ring given by Matthioli - to Blainvilliers 316 - - No. 108. Louvois to Saint-Mars 317 - - No. 109. Louvois to Saint-Mars 318 - - No. 110. Louvois to Saint-Mars 319 - - No. 111. Louvois to Saint-Mars. - Appointment of Saint-Mars to the Government of - Exiles--Measures to be taken by him thereupon 320 - - No. 112. Louvois to Saint-Mars. - Precautions for the Journey of the Prisoners from - Pignerol to Exiles 322 - - No. 113. Louvois to Saint-Mars 325 - - No. 114. Louvois to Saint-Mars 326 - - No. 115. Saint-Mars to Louvois. - Precautions for the Security and Concealment of the - Prisoners at Exiles 327 - - No. 116. Louvois to Saint-Mars. - Departure of Saint-Mars from Pignerol ordered to be - deferred, in order that he might receive Catinat - there 328 - - No. 117. Louvois to Saint-Mars 329 - - No. 118. Louvois to Saint-Mars. - Orders for the Reception of Catinat at Pignerol 330 - - No. 119. Louvois to Saint-Mars 332 - - No. 120. Louvois to Saint-Mars ib. - - No. 121. Saint-Mars to Louvois 333 - - No. 122. Saint-Mars to Louvois. - Description of the Apartment and manner of - Confinement of the Prisoners at Exiles 334 - - No. 123. Saint-Mars to Louvois 336 - - No. 124. Saint-Mars to Louvois. - Saint-Mars is made Governor of the Islands of Saint - Margaret 337 - - No. 125. Saint-Mars to Louvois 338 - - No. 126. Saint-Mars to Louvois. - Arrival of Matthioli at the Islands of Saint - Margaret 340 - - No. 127. Saint-Mars to the Minister. - Relation of the conduct of two Protestant Ministers 341 - - No. 128. - Extract from the Register of the Bastille, published - in the Work entitled, "La Bastille Dévoilée" 342 - - No. 129. - Second Extract from the Register of the Bastille, - published in the Work entitled, "La Bastille - Dévoilée" 343 - - No. 130. - Extract from the Register of Burials of the Church - of Saint Paul, at Paris 345 - - No. 131. - Extract from the Work entitled "La Correspondance - Interceptée," by M. Lewis Dutens, published in - 1789 346 - - No. 132. - Extract from the article on the Iron Mask in the - Work entitled "_Mélanges d'Histoire et de - Littérature_;" by Mr. Quintin Craufurd 347 - - No. 133. - Letter from the Baron de Heiss to the Authors of the - "_Journal Encyclopédique_" on the subject of the - Iron Mask; published in that Journal in 1770 348 - - Letter on the subject of the Man in the Iron Mask, - announced in the preceding one 349 - - - - -HISTORY - -OF - -THE IRON MASK. - - -The curiosity of the public has been now, for above a century, so -much wrought upon by the mystery which has enveloped the name of the -Iron Mask, (or as the French more properly designate him, "_the Man -of the Iron Mask_,"[1]) that the eagerness for discovery has thus -been carried much farther than the real importance of the subject -deserved. Numerous have been the papers written, and the conjectures -hazarded in favour of different theories; almost all presenting, -at first view, some semblance of probability; but all, without -exception, crumbling to nothing when exposed to the researches -of accurate inquiry. Under these circumstances, it is certainly -satisfactory, that the question should be finally set at rest. - -It is singular, that among all the inquiries hitherto made -respecting the Iron Mask, no one seems ever to have thought of -recurring to the only source from whence true information could be -derived--the archives of the French Government, during the reign of -Lewis the Fourteenth. It was reserved for M. Delort to make these -researches; which he did by the permission of the Count d'Hauterive, -Keeper of the Archives of the office of Secretary of State for the -Foreign department, and the result has been perfectly conclusive. -In those archives, he found the continued correspondence of the -French ministers, proving, beyond a doubt, that the Iron Mask was -an Italian of the name of Matthioli; a personage who was first put -on the list of candidates for that honour, in a pamphlet published -in 1801, by M. Roux (Fazillac);[2] who, however, was then unable to -support his opinion with sufficient authorities. - -Hercules Anthony Matthioli[3] was a Bolognese of ancient family, -distinguished in the law. He was the son of Valerian Matthioli and -Girolama Maggi, and was born on the 1st of December 1640. On the -13th of January, 1661, he married Camilla, daughter of Bernard -Paleotti, and widow of Alexander Piatesi. By her he had two sons, -one of whom only had posterity, which has long since been extinct. -Early in life he was public reader in the University of Bologna, but -he soon quitted his native city to enter into the service of Charles -the Third, Duke of Mantua, by whom he was much favoured, and towards -the conclusion of whose reign he was made Secretary of State. His -successor, Ferdinand, Charles the Fourth, the last sovereign of -Mantua, of the house of Gonzaga, created Matthioli Supernumerary -Senator of Mantua, an honour which had formerly been enjoyed by his -great grandfather, and gave him the title of Count. When he ceased -to be Secretary of State at Mantua does not appear; but he was -clearly not in that office when he first, unhappily for himself, -was involved in diplomatic relations with the agents of the French -Government. - -Towards the end of the year 1677, the Abbé d'Estrades,[4] ambassador -from France to the Republic of Venice, conceived the idea, which -he was well aware would be highly acceptable to the insatiable -ambition of his master, of inducing the Duke of Mantua[5] to allow -of the introduction of a French garrison into Casale,[6] a strongly -fortified town, the capital of the Montferrat, and in a great -measure the key of Italy. The cession of the fortress of Pignerol[7] -to the French, by Victor Amadeus,[8] Duke of Savoy, in 1632, had -opened to them the entry of Piedmont, and the possession of Casale -would enable them to invade the Milanese, whenever they were so -inclined. - -At this time the council of the Duke of Mantua, headed by his -mother,[9] an Austrian Archduchess, was entirely in the interests of -the Court of Spain; while the young Duke, plunged in pleasures and -excesses of every kind, took little apparent interest in politicks. -The great difficulty, therefore, which Estrades had to encounter -in the prosecution of this intrigue, was the establishment of a -channel of communication with the Duke; who, as has been stated, -was surrounded by persons in the Spanish interest. If he could once -enter into secret relations with that Prince, he hoped to be able to -bribe him into a concurrence in his designs; for Ferdinand Charles -was both needy and unprincipled. He had, besides, discovered, as -he writes word to Lewis, in his first letter[10] to him, dated -Venice, Dec. 18th, 1677, that the Duke was not so abandoned to his -pleasures, but that he still had some ambition, and much chagrin at -the state of subjection in which he was kept by his mother; joined -to a great distrust of the Spaniards, who were supposed to foment -the divisions of the Court of Mantua, with the view of, eventually, -themselves obtaining possession of Casale and the rest of the -Montferrat. - -The desired channel of communication Estrades thought he had found -in Matthioli, who was a complete master of Italian politicks, -as well as much in the Duke's good graces. Before, however, he -proceeded to enlist him in his service, he deemed it necessary to -discover what was the bent of his inclinations. This he effected -ingeniously enough, by sending a certain Giuliani, in whom he -appears to have placed implicit confidence, to Verona, where -Matthioli then was, to act as a spy upon him. The report of -Giuliani, upon his return to Venice, was so favourable, both with -regard to the discontent of Matthioli against the Spaniards, "who -had always amused him with hopes, and afterwards abandoned him,"[11] -and his wish to enter into the service of the French Monarch, that -Estrades lost no time in sending him (Giuliani) back again for -the purpose of conferring with Matthioli upon the subject of the -proposed negociation. - -Giuliani was instructed by the Ambassador to enlarge to Matthioli -upon the jeopardy which the sovereignty of the Duke of Mantua -was in, in consequence of the different pretensions of various -branches of his family to his territories, which were more or -less countenanced by the Spaniards for the purposes of their own -aggrandizement. These were, among others, those of the Empress -Eleanor[12] to the Montferrat; and those of the Marquis of -Laguna[13] to the Duchy of Guastalla, to the prejudice of the Duke -of Mantua, who was the rightful heir. Giuliani was also to lament -the dependant state of the Duke of Mantua, the revenues of whose -states, as well as all the powers of government, were entirely in -the hands of his mother, and the Monk Bulgarini;[14] and to explain -the necessity which, on these accounts, existed for that Prince -to seek, without delay, the alliance and protection of Lewis the -Fourteenth. He was to assure him, in conclusion, that Estrades had -no doubt of the readiness of Lewis to assist in freeing the Duke of -Mantua from his embarrassments; but that, in order to enable him to -do this effectually, it was absolutely necessary to garrison Casale -with French troops. - -Matthioli concurred entirely in these views of Giuliani, and offered -to sound the Duke of Mantua upon the subject. A few days afterwards, -he sent word to Estrades, that he had managed to have an interview -with that Prince (having previously established himself secretly -in the neighbourhood of Mantua), and had found him generally -well-disposed to the plan. He also requested Estrades to send -Giuliani again to him, in order that they might act in concert; the -said Giuliani being also a person who might, without suspicion, -carry intelligence backwards and forwards,[15] which was not the -case with Matthioli himself. - -Giuliani was accordingly sent, and had an audience of the Duke -of Mantua, who received him very favourably, and acquainted him -with his willingness to enter into an alliance with France, and -to deliver up Casale, upon the understanding that Estrades was to -try to obtain for him any reasonable requests he might make; the -principal of these, in addition to the grant of a sum of money, was -the being made generalissimo of any French army that might be sent -into Italy, "that being," says Estrades, "what he wishes beyond all -things; or rather, that being the only thing he is very anxious for, -in order that he may have the same consideration in Italy the late -Duke of Modena[16] had, and the late Duke of Mantua,[17] who at his -age commanded in chief the Emperor's army, with the title of Vicar -General of the Empire."[18] - -The Duke of Mantua also announced in this conference, that he put -himself, on this occasion, entirely into the hands of Matthioli, -whom he promised to reinstate in his place of Secretary of State, -and to appoint his first minister, as soon as he himself should have -regained his authority, and that the treaty, he was now projecting -with the King of France, had been duly executed. - -To Matthioli were joined in the negociation the two counsellors of -the Duke of Mantua, in whom he had the most confidence; the Marquis -Cavriani and Joseph Varano; and these, together with Giuliani, -Estrades, Pinchesne the French Secretary of Embassy at Venice, and -the Duke himself, were the only persons in Italy acquainted with the -business; so that the Ambassador had certainly very fair grounds -for expressing his hopes "the secrecy, so necessary in this affair, -would remain impenetrable."[19] - -This conference was followed by another, in which the Duke showed -the greatest impatience to conclude the treaty; entreating that -Lewis might be instantly made acquainted with the state it was -at present in, and requesting, or rather imploring, for a French -army; on the arrival of which he hinted much might be done against -the Duchy of Milan. Finally, he promised to have a conference with -Estrades, "as he was soon going to Venice, where they might see one -another conveniently, and without being observed, on account of the -Carnival, during which all the world, even the Doge and the oldest -Senators were accustomed to go about in mask."[20] - -He also requested that the Cardinal d'Estrées[21] might not be -made a party to the negociation; because he was so well known -to be employed generally by Lewis to negociate with the Italian -Sovereigns, that his entering into it would naturally excite the -suspicions of the Spaniards that something secret was going on; and -that they would then ruin him, the Duke of Mantua, before he could -receive the assistance of the French Monarch; and that thus the -hopes of both the contracting parties, from the treaty at present -under discussion, would be frustrated. To this proposition Estrades -agreed, though unwillingly. We cannot but here remark how skilful -a negociator he seems to have been; beginning as he does by making -trial of his tools, and then of his arguments, and afterwards -bringing both of them to bear very judiciously on the negociation, -in the way the most likely to lead to a favourable result. - -When the affair was advanced thus far, Estrades lost no time in -forwarding an account of it to Lewis, to whom, as he says himself, -he had not before ventured to write upon the subject, because at -first he despaired of being able to bring the intrigue to bear: -but he now thought it in so good a train, that upon receiving the -approval of his proceedings from Lewis, he could almost answer for -its success. The letter of Estrades was accompanied by a schedule, -containing the demands of the Duke of Mantua, and by a letter from -Matthioli, also addressed to Lewis, in which he offers to devote -himself to his service, to strive to detach his master, the Duke -of Mantua, from the Austrian interest, and insinuates very plainly -his wish and intention of selling him and his fortress of Casale -to the French Monarch; whom, he says, he "regards and reveres as -a _Demigod_."[22] To these protestations Lewis returned, as was -natural, a very civil answer;[23] generally promising his protection -and favour to Matthioli. - -On the 24th of December of the same year, Estrades[24] writes to M. -de Pomponne,[25] (then one of the Secretaries of State), to inform -him of a discovery he has made from the Duke of Mantua himself, -that the Austrian party have determined, in case any French troops -should arrive in Italy, and that the Duke of Mantua should manifest -any disposition of favouring them, to seize upon Casale and Mantua. -He therefore adds that the Duke, though thoroughly well-disposed -towards the French interests, cannot take any active part in their -favour, unless Lewis will send into Italy a sufficient force to -secure Casale and the rest of the Duke's territories from the -attempts of the House of Austria. He subsequently seems to hint his -fear that the life of the Duke of Mantua may be made away with by -the Austrians, in order the more easily to possess themselves of -his territories. "We must besides, Sir, consider that the Duke of -Guastalla[26] being the nearest relation of the Duke of Mantua, as -well as his heir, there would be danger that, if the Duchess,[27] -his daughter, who is very ill and has no children, should die, -some _misfortune_ might happen to the Duke of Mantua, which would -assure his territories to the Spanish Nobleman, who has married the -second daughter[28] of the Duke of Guastalla, and whose marriage the -Spaniards, _doubtless with this view_, made up at Vienna by means of -Don Vincent."[29] - -To Estrades, Lewis returned a long and detailed statement of his -views; in which he approves generally of the design of putting -a French garrison into Casale; intimates upon what terms it may -be done; rejects a request of the Duke of Mantua to procure for -him the restoration of those parts of the Montferrat, which by -former treaties had been ceded to the Duke of Savoy; objects to the -largeness of his demand of 100,000 pistoles as the price of Casale; -promises to bear him harmless and remunerate him for any injury that -may be done to him by the Spaniards, in consequence of his siding -with the French; and finally instructs Estrades, to entertain the -notion that a French army is about to pass the Alps, and in the -meanwhile to protract the negociation, in order to allow him, Lewis, -time to make his various preparations. Indeed this last point, -the necessity for delay, was so strongly impressed upon Estrades, -upon more than one occasion, that, in a subsequent despatch, he -expresses his regret that the negociation goes on so smoothly and -prosperously, that he cannot find any difficulties[30] to enable him -to protract it till the troops of Lewis are in readiness to march -towards Italy. - -The only point in dispute appears to have been, what the sum of -money should be which was to be given by the French Monarch to the -Duke of Mantua. The stipulation for 100,000 pistoles was decidedly -rejected by Lewis; and at length, after some difficulty, Estrades -reduced the demand of the other party to 100,000 crowns, and those -not to be paid till after the signature of the treaty between the -two sovereigns.[31] - -The next event of importance in the negociation was the interview, -effected at Venice during the Carnival, between the Duke of Mantua -and Estrades. It took place at midnight, on the 18th of March, 1678, -in a small open space, equally distant from the residence of the -Duke and the Ambassador, and lasted a full hour. In it the Duke -dwelt[32] much upon his impatience for the conclusion of the treaty -with France; and for the speedy appearance of the troops of the -latter in Italy, alleging as his reason, the constant and lively -fear he was in of the Spaniards. He also announced his intention -of sending Matthioli, in whom, says Estrades, "He has a blind -confidence, and who governs him absolutely," to the French court; -thinking that his presence there might bring matters to a speedier -issue. - -Estrades, who had now ascertained that his master could not possibly -spare an army for Italy that year (1678), and who therefore was -more than ever anxious to prevent such a consummation, consented -with considerable difficulty to the project; resolving, at the same -time, to obstruct the departure of Matthioli for France as long -as possible; and writing to M. de Pomponne to delay him and his -business, when at length he arrived there, by every means in his -power.[33] - -Subsequently the procrastinating intentions of Estrades were more -easily put into execution than he expected; for Matthioli, of his -own accord, deferred his journey from spring to autumn on various -pleas, of which the principal one was, his unwillingness to leave -his master, exposed to the insinuations, and perhaps menaces, of the -Spanish partizans, by whom he was surrounded.[34] - -Finally, after many delays, Matthioli, accompanied by Giuliani, set -off for Paris in the beginning of November, 1678, and arrived there -towards the end of the same month.[35] He found the Abbé d'Estrades, -who had quitted his Venetian Embassy, arrived there before him, and -had several interviews with him and M. de Pomponne; during which a -treaty was agreed on to the following effect:-- - -1. That the Duke of Mantua should receive the French troops into -Casale. - -2. That if Lewis sent an army into Italy, the Duke of Mantua should -have the command of it. - -3. That immediately after the execution of the treaty, the sum of -100,000 crowns should be paid to the Duke of Mantua.[36] - -The treaty contained also some other articles of minor importance. - -Matthioli himself had the honour of being received in a secret -audience by Lewis,[37] who made him a present of a valuable -ring.[37] He also received a sum of money for himself,[37] and a -promise of a much larger gratification[38] after the ratification -of the treaty. He was also promised that his son should be made one -of the King's Pages; and that his brother, who was in the Church, -should receive a good benefice.[39] He was then sent back to Italy, -with a detailed instruction from Louvois,[40] upon the manner of -executing the articles of the treaty. - -The French Government was thus far so entirely satisfied of -the sincerity and good faith of Matthioli, and so convinced of -the speedy admission of the French troops into Casale, that -they immediately upon his departure took decided measures in -furtherance of their plan.[41] Thus the Marquis de Boufflers,[42] -Colonel-General of the Dragoons, was sent to take the command of -the forces, which were assembling near the frontier of Italy, -at Briançon, in Dauphiny. Catinat,[43] Brigadier of Infantry, -afterwards the celebrated Marshal of that name, who was to serve -under the command of Boufflers, had orders to conceal himself in -the fortress of Pignerol,[44] and to adopt a feigned name, that of -Richemont;[45] while the Baron d'Asfeld,[46] Colonel of Dragoons, -was despatched to Venice, upon a mission for exchanging the -ratifications of the treaty; for which purpose he was to unite with -M. de Pinchesne, the Chargé d'Affaires there, during the absence of -an ambassador.[47] - -Though these measures were taken with the greatest secrecy, it was -impossible but that the report of the assembling of the French -forces so near the territories of the Duke of Savoy,[48] should -reach the ears of the Spaniards, and excite their suspicions; as -well as those of the Venetians, and of the other Italian states. -Accordingly, we find that remonstrances were several times made -by the ambassadors of the Emperor[49] and King of Spain[50] at -Venice, to the Duke of Mantua, upon the rumour of his intention of -delivering the capital of the Montferrat to Lewis. Ferdinand Charles -denied that this was the case;[51] but was not believed. - -As, therefore, the ferment and discontent in the north of Italy -increased, the agents of the French Government were naturally -anxious that the treaty should be ratified and executed as soon as -possible; for which purpose, the Duke of Mantua had promised to meet -the Baron d'Asfeld at Casale, during the month of February, 1679. -In proportion, however, as the French became more impatient for the -conclusion of the affair, the Count Matthioli found fresh excuses -for delaying it. At one moment his own ill health detained him at -Padua, and prevented his coming to Venice to confer with Messrs. de -Pinchesne and d'Asfeld; at another, the Duke of Mantua could not -raise a sufficient sum of money to enable him to transport his court -to Casale; at another, it was necessary to have time to persuade -Don Vincent Gonzaga[52] to accompany the Duke to Casale, as it was -not considered safe to leave him at Mantua; and again, the Duke of -Mantua was obliged to stay at Venice, having promised to hold a -carrousel there.[53] - -In spite of all these difficulties, it was, however, finally -arranged, that the Baron d'Asfeld and Matthioli should meet, on the -9th of March, at Incréa, a village ten miles from Casale, in order -to make the exchange of the ratifications; that the Duke of Mantua -himself, should go to Casale on the 15th of the same month; and -should put the troops of Lewis into possession of the place on the -18th; on which day, being the ninth after the ratification, it was -decided they could without fail be there.[54] - -The various excuses made by Matthioli, for the non-execution of his -agreement, all more or less frivolous, appear first to have given -to the French Government a suspicion of his fidelity. Whether the -reception of Matthioli at the French court had not been such as -he expected, though it would appear to have been most gracious; -or whether, which is more probable, the sum of money there given -to him did not content him;--or whether, which is also probable, -the Spaniards having got some knowledge of the transaction, had -offered him a still larger bribe, it is impossible for us, at -this distance of time, exactly to decide; but it appears evident, -that, from the time of his return from Paris, his conduct with -regard to the negociation became entirely changed; and he was as -anxious to procrastinate, as he had formerly been to advance it. It -was, therefore, natural for the French diplomatists to conclude, -supported as this opinion also was by various circumstantial -evidence, that he had been bought by the other side--a circumstance -of no extraordinary occurrence in the career of a needy Italian -adventurer. - -His weak and timid master followed implicitly his counsels; but -appears to have been himself in the intention of acting fairly and -faithfully by the French Government. The first intimation that -is given in the correspondence of the suspicions, with regard to -the conduct of Matthioli, occurs in a letter from Pomponne[55] to -Matthioli himself, dated February 21st, 1679, in which he says -that Lewis "is unwilling to doubt that the promise which has been -so solemnly made[56] him will not be kept;" an expression which -certainly seems to imply, that some doubt did exist in the mind of -Lewis and of his ministers upon the subject. - -The next is an elaborate and skilful letter of Estrades to -Matthioli, written on the 24th of March, 1679,[57] from Turin, -where he was then awaiting the execution of the treaty, in which -he mingles promises and threats to encourage him to perform his -stipulations; and shows sufficiently his suspicions to the object -of them, to frighten him; at the same time leaving open the hope of -forgiveness in case of future good conduct. - -By the subsequent letters[58] of Pomponne to Pinchesne, it appears, -that the treachery of Matthioli soon became more apparent. Indeed, -Estrades, during his stay at Turin, obtained the most indubitable -evidence of the fact; for the Duchess of Savoy[59] showed to him the -copies of all the documents relative to the negociation respecting -Casale, which Matthioli had given to the President Turki, one of -her ministers who was in the interests of Spain, when he passed -through Turin on his return from Paris.[60] From Turki, as it -subsequently appeared, Matthioli had received a sum of money for his -information.[61] - -Meanwhile Asfeld was arrested by the orders of the Count de Melgar, -the Spanish Governor of the Milanese, as he was on his way to -the rendezvous at Incréa; and Matthioli was the first person who -acquainted the French agents with this misfortune,[62] as well as -with the fact that the Duke of Mantua had been obliged to conclude a -treaty with the Venetians, in a directly contrary sense to the one -he had first entered into with France;[63] "having probably been," -as Pomponne remarks, in a letter to Pinchesne,[64] "himself the sole -author of the accidents and impediments he acquaints us with." - -Upon the arrival of the intelligence at Paris, of the arrest of -Asfeld, the French ministers, though their suspicions of Matthioli -were now changed into certainties, being still anxious, if possible, -to get possession of Casale, empowered Catinat to supply his place, -and to conclude the ratification of the treaty. Intelligence of this -change was conveyed to Matthioli in a letter[65] from Pomponne, of -the date of March 14th, 1679. - -Catinat accordingly went, on the appointed day, from Pignerol to -Incréa, accompanied by St. Mara,[66] the Commandant of that part -of the fortress of Pignerol, which was appropriated for a state -prison, and by a person of confidence, belonging to the embassy -of Estrades. But the appointed day passed over, without bringing -Matthioli to Incréa; and the next morning Catinat was informed -that his arrival there was discovered; that the peasants of the -neighbourhood were in arms; and that a detachment of cavalry was on -its way, for the purpose of seizing upon him and his companions. -What became of the latter does not appear, except that they escaped -the threatened danger; but he himself got away secretly, and in -disguise, to Casale; where he gave himself out as an officer of the -garrison of Pignerol. The Governor there, who was well-disposed -to the French interest, received him with great civility; and, at -a dinner he gave to him, joined in drinking the King of France's -health with enthusiasm.[67] The next day Catinat was too happy to -return undiscovered to Pignerol. - -Matthioli, meanwhile, instead of keeping his engagement at Incréa, -had returned to Venice, and had had several interviews with -Pinchesne, the particulars of which we are unacquainted with, as the -letters containing the accounts of them, though alluded to by M. de -Pomponne[68] in his answers, have not been published. - -Pinchesne was, at this time, convinced of the perfidy of Matthioli, -having, in addition to various other suspicious circumstances, -discovered that he had been secretly at Milan for some days. He, -however, did not think it advisable entirely to break with him; but -advised him to go and confer with Estrades, at Turin; representing -to him the danger to which he exposed himself if this affair failed -of success through his fault.[69] Matthioli followed the advice of -Pinchesne to his own ruin, and going to Turin, presented himself -forthwith to Estrades,[70] to whom he offered many insufficient -excuses for his delay. - -The vindictive Lewis had, meanwhile, determined to satisfy his -wounded pride and frustrated ambition, by taking the most signal -vengeance of Matthioli; as we find by the following note from -Louvois to his creature, St. Mars, dated, St. Germain, April 27th, -1679.--"The King has sent orders to the Abbé d'Estrades, to try -and arrest a man, with whose conduct his Majesty has reason to be -dissatisfied; of which he has commanded me to acquaint you, in order -that you may not object to receiving him when he shall be sent to -you; and that you may guard him in a manner, that not only he may -not have communication with any one, but that also he may have cause -to repent of his bad conduct; and that it may not be discovered that -you have a new prisoner."[71] - -Nothing therefore could be more opportune to Estrades, than the -arrival of Matthioli at Turin, and accident soon enabled him to lay -a successful plan for executing the wishes of the French monarch. -The plan he is said to have communicated to the Duchess of Savoy, -who consented to the arrest taking place, but objected to its -happening on her territories.[72] - -Matthioli complained much of want of money, occasioned by the -expenses of his journies, and the bribes he had been obliged to -offer to the Duke's mistresses. Estrades took this opportunity of -forwarding his scheme, by telling him that Catinat, who, under the -name of Richemont, commanded the troops destined to take possession -of Casale, had considerable sums at his disposal, which he would -be happy to make so good a use of as in ministering to his wants; -provided he, Matthioli, would give him a meeting on the frontier -towards Pignerol, at which also Estrades would be present.[73] Of -course, the reason assigned for naming the frontier as the place of -rendezvous was, that Catinat could not leave the neighbourhood where -his troops were stationed. - -To this proposition Matthioli readily consented; and having first -made a journey to Casale, he returned and met Estrades (who -was accompanied on this expedition by his relation the Abbé de -Montesquiou) by appointment, in a church half a mile from Turin, -from whence they proceeded together to the frontier. At three miles -from the place of rendezvous they were stopped by a river, of -which the banks were overflowed, and the bridge broken. Matthioli -himself assisted in repairing the bridge, which was to convey him -to his captivity;[74] and they then proceeded on foot to the place -where Catinat awaited them accompanied only by two officers, the -Chevaliers de St. Martin and de Villebois, and by four soldiers of -the garrison of Pignerol.[75] - -Before, however, Matthioli was arrested, Estrades held some -conversation with him, and obliged him, in the presence of Catinat, -to confess that he had in his possession all the original papers -regarding the delivery of Casale, and that they were left in the -custody of his wife at Bologna; who was living in the convent -of the nuns of St. Thomas[76] in that city. This was necessary, -because Matthioli had lately refused to give them up to the Duke -his master,[77] alleging that he no longer knew where they were. -His confession, upon this occasion, afterwards turned out to be -false, and that the papers in question were concealed in a wall at -Padua.[78] - -Immediately after this avowal had been extracted from him, he was -arrested; and offered no resistance, though he always carried a -sword and pistols about his person. He was conducted to Pignerol, -where he arrived late at night. - -Catinat, in his letter to Louvois, giving an account of this -seizure, which took place on the 2d of May, 1679, dwells much upon -the secrecy with which it was effected, so that, says he, "no one -knows the name of the rascal, not even the officers who assisted in -arresting him."[79] And he concludes by mentioning, that in order -to perpetuate the mystery in which his prisoner is enveloped, he -has given him the name of "Lestang,"--"not a soul here knowing who -he is." In the subsequent correspondence of Louvois with Catinat -and St. Mars, he is very generally designated by that name. At -first, St. Mars carried his precaution so far as to serve Matthioli -himself, and not allow any of the garrison to approach him; soon -afterwards his valet, who had been arrested by the exertions of -Estrades,[80] was allowed to attend upon him; and subsequently -St. Mars appointed those of his officers, in whom he had the most -confidence, to assist in guarding him. It may be remembered that -Louvois, in his letter to St. Mars, which has been before quoted, -orders that the prisoner, who was to be brought to Pignerol, "should -have intercourse with no one;" and in the subsequent letters from -the same Minister, difficulties are even made to his being permitted -to see either a physician or a confessor.[81] - -These extraordinary precautions against discovery, and the one which -appears to have been afterwards resorted to, of obliging him to -wear a mask, during his journeys, or when he saw any one, are not -wonderful, when we reflect upon the violent breach of the law of -nations, which had been committed by his imprisonment. Matthioli, at -the time of his arrest, was actually the plenipotentiary[82] of the -Duke of Mantua, for concluding a treaty with the King of France; and -for that very sovereign to kidnap him and confine him in a dungeon -was certainly one of the most flagrant acts of violence that could -be committed; one which, if known, would have had the most injurious -effects upon the negociations of Lewis with other sovereigns; nay, -would probably have indisposed other sovereigns from treating at all -with him. It is true the Duke of Mantua was a prince insignificant -both in power and character, but, if in this way might was allowed -to overcome right, who could possibly tell whose turn might be the -next. Besides, it was important for Lewis that the Duke of Mantua -should also be kept in good humour, the delivery of Casale not -having been effected; nor is it to be supposed that he would have -consented to give it up to the French monarch within two years of -this period, had he had a suspicion of the way his diplomatic agent -and intended prime minister had been treated. The same reasons for -concealment existed till the death of Matthioli, since that event -happened while both Lewis XIV. and the Duke of Mantua were still -alive, which accounts for his confinement continuing to be always -solitary and always secret. - -The arrest of Matthioli, certainly appears to have been the effect -of a vindictive feeling against him in the breast of Lewis himself; -for it is impossible to imagine that any minister would have -ventured, of his own free-will, upon a step by which so much was -to be hazarded, and nothing, in fact, was to be gained. The act is -only to be explained in this manner; that the monarch insisted upon -his revenge, which the ministers were obliged to gratify; and, at -the same time, in order to prevent any ill consequences that might -result from it, determined upon burying the whole transaction under -the most impenetrable veil of mystery. - -The confinement of Matthioli is decidedly one of the deadliest -stains that blot the character of Lewis the Fourteenth: for, -granting that Matthioli betrayed the trust reposed in him by -that monarch, one single act of diplomatic treachery was surely -not sufficient to warrant the infliction of the most horrible -of all punishments,--of solitary confinement, for four and -twenty years, in a dungeon!--It was, however, an act of cruel -injustice that was to be expected from the man, who, when the -unhappy Fouquet[83] was condemned by the tribunals of his country -to exile, himself changed his sentence to that of perpetual -imprisonment;--who, to please his mistress, confined his former -favourite, Lauzun,[84] for nine years in the fortress of Pignerol, -and only then released him in order, by that means, to swindle -Mademoiselle de Montpensier[85] out of her fortune, in favour -of his bastard, the Duke du Maine;--who shut up so many other -persons, guilty only of imaginary crimes, in various prisons, where -they died of misery and ill-treatment;--who revoked the Edict of -Nantes;--ordered the burning of the Palatinate;--persecuted the -saints of Port Royal;--and gloried in the Dragonades, and the war -of the Cevennes;--who, in short, whether we regard him as a man or -a sovereign, was one of the most hardened, cruel, and tyrannical -characters transmitted to us in history. Providence doubtless made -use of him as a scourge befitting the crimes of the age he lived in; -and, in this point of view, his existence was most useful. Nor is -his memory less so; which has been left to us and to all posterity, -as a mighty warning of the effects, even in this world, of -overweening ambition; and as a melancholy example of the perversion -of a proud heart, which "gave not God the glory," and was therefore -abandoned by the Almighty to the effects of its own natural and -irretrievable wickedness. - -After the arrest of Matthioli, he underwent several interrogatories,[86] -in which, in spite of his numerous prevarications, his treachery -was still more amply discovered. The examinations were all sent -to Louvois by Catinat, who, as soon as they were concluded, left -Pignerol, and returned to the court.[87] - -At first, Matthioli was, by the direction of Estrades,[88] -well-treated in his prison; but this was not by any means the -intention of Lewis, and accordingly, we find Louvois writing -thus to St. Mars. "It is not the intention of the King that the -Sieur de Lestang should be _well-treated_; nor that, except the -absolute necessaries of life, you should give him any thing that -may make him pass his time agreeably."[89] Again, in the same -strain: "I have nothing to add to what I have already commanded you -respecting the severity with which the individual named Lestang -must be treated."[90] And again; "You must keep the individual -named Lestang, in the severe confinement I enjoined in my preceding -letters, without allowing him to see a physician, unless you know -he is in absolute want of one."[91] These repeated injunctions to -the same effect are a proof, how much importance the rancorous Lewis -attached to his victim's being compelled to drink the bitter cup of -captivity to the very dregs. - -The harshness and hopelessness of his prison seem to have affected -the intellects of Matthioli,[92] for after he had been nearly a year -confined, St. Mars acquaints Louvois, that "The Sieur de Lestang -complains, he is not treated as a man of his quality, and the -minister of a great prince ought to be; notwithstanding which, I -continue to follow your commands most exactly upon this subject, as -well as on all others. I think he is deranged by the way he talks to -me, telling me he converses every day with God and his angels;--that -they have told him of the death of the Duke of Mantua, and of the -Duke of Lorrain;[93] and as an additional proof of his madness, he -says, that he has the honour of being the near relation of the King, -to whom he wishes to write, to complain of the way in which I treat -him. I have not thought it right to give him paper or ink for that -purpose, perceiving him not to be in his right senses."[94] - -The unhappy prisoner, in his phrensy and despair, sometimes used -very violent language to his keepers, and wrote abusive sentences -with charcoal on the walls of his prison; on which account St. -Mars ordered his lieutenant, Blainvilliers, to threaten him with -punishment, and even to show him a cudgel, with which he was to be -beaten, if he did not behave better. - -These menaces so far intimidated Matthioli, that a few days -afterwards, while Blainvilliers was serving him at dinner, he, in -order to propitiate him, took a valuable ring from his finger and -offered it to him. Blainvilliers told him he could accept nothing -from a prisoner, but that he would deliver it to St. Mars; which he -accordingly did.[95] St. Mars estimates the ring at fifty or sixty -pistoles: and M. Delort conjectures it to have been the one given -to him by Lewis the Fourteenth, during his stay at Paris. St. Mars -inquires from Louvois[96] what he is to do in consequence; and the -latter returns for answer, that he "must keep the ring, which the -Sieur Matthioli has given to the Sieur de Blainvilliers, in order to -restore it to him, if it should ever happen that the King ordered -him to be set at liberty."[97] - -Matthioli apparently expressed a wish to confess to a priest; -and Louvois desires that he may be only allowed to do so once in -the year.[98] It appears that St. Mars had at this time in his -custody a Jacobin monk, with whose crime, as well as name, we are -unacquainted; but in the correspondence of St. Mars and Louvois, -he is designated as "the Jacobin in the lower part of the tower." -This man was mad; very possibly had been made so, like Matthioli, -by solitary confinement and ill-usage. St. Mars advised the putting -Matthioli with him, in order to avoid the necessity of sending for -a priest for each prisoner.[99] To this proposal Louvois returned -the following answer: "I have been made acquainted, by your letter -of the 7th of this month (August 1680), with the proposal you make, -to put the Sieur de Lestang with the Jacobin, in order to avoid the -necessity of having two priests. The King approves of your project, -and you have only to execute it when you please."[100] - -St. Mars, in a letter of the 7th of September, 1680, thus details -the results of the execution of his plan:-- - -"Since you permitted me to put Matthioli with the Jacobin in the -lower part of the tower, the aforesaid Matthioli was, for four or -five days, in the belief that the Jacobin was a man that I had -placed with him to watch his actions. Matthioli, who is almost as -mad as the Jacobin, walked about with long strides, with his cloak -over his nose, crying out that he was not a dupe, but that he knew -more than he would say. The Jacobin, who was always seated on his -truckle bed, with his elbows resting upon his knees, looked at him -gravely, without listening to him. The Signior Matthioli remained -always persuaded that it was a spy that had been placed with him, -till he was one day disabused, by the Jacobin's getting down from -his bed, stark naked, and setting himself to preach, without rhyme -or reason, till he was tired. I and my lieutenants saw all their -manoeuvres through a hole over the door."[101] - -It appears to have been very entertaining to St. Mars and his -lieutenants, to witness the ravings of these two unhappy maniacs; -and there are probably many gaolers who would experience the same -feelings upon a similar occasion: what cannot, however, but strike -us with horror, is the fact that there was found a minister, nay, -a king, and that king one who piqued himself upon professing the -Christian religion,[102] to sanction such a proceeding. It is indeed -most painful to think, that power should have been placed in the -hands of men, who could abuse it by such needless acts of cruelty. - -We have no farther particulars of the state of Matthioli's mind: -but, being more than half-mad at the time he was placed with the -Jacobin, who was quite so, it is probable the company of the latter -increased and perpetuated his phrensy. It is even not impossible -that such may have been the intention of St. Mars, as, while -Matthioli continued insane, it was of course more reasonable and -plausible to continue the extraordinary rigour of his confinement. - -Nor were mental sufferings the only ones which the barbarity of -Lewis and his minister obliged Matthioli to undergo. We have before -seen, from the letters of Louvois to St. Mars, that the latter was -desired generally to treat Matthioli with great severity; afterwards -he writes to him upon the subject of his clothing, "You must make -the clothes of such sort of people as he is last three or four -years."[103] Some idea may also be formed of the kind of furniture -of his dungeon, from the circumstance, mentioned by St. Mars, that, -upon the removal of his prisoner from the fort of Exiles to the -Island of St. Margaret in 1687, his bed had been sold, because it -was so old and broken as not to be worth the carriage; and that all -his furniture and linen being added to it, the sum produced by the -sale was only thirteen crowns.[104] - -It may be worth remarking here that the letter of Louvois, -respecting Matthioli's clothes, is a sufficient answer to the absurd -stories with regard to the richness of the lace, &c. worn by the -Iron Mask; and the relations from St. Mars himself of his threats -to his prisoner, of even corporal punishment, no less disprove the -erroneous accounts of the extraordinary respect shown to him. - -In the year 1681, St. Mars was offered the government of the citadel -of Pignerol, which he declined accepting, for what reasons we -are not told: Lewis, who was anxious to recompense his services -as a gaoler of State prisoners, then gave him the government of -Exiles,[105] a strong fortress and pass near Susa, on the frontier -of Piedmont and the Briançonnois, which was vacant by the death of -the Duke de Lesdiguières; at the same time augmenting the salary -attached to that situation, so as to make it equal to that of the -towns in Flanders.[106] Louvois, in a letter dated May 12th, 1681, -acquaints St. Mars with his appointment; and informs him that "the -two prisoners in the lower part of the tower" are the only ones of -those under his care at Pignerol, whom the King wishes to accompany -him to Exiles.[107] "The two prisoners in the lower part of the -tower," signify, as we have before seen, Matthioli and the monk. - -An additional proof indeed, if any were wanted, that Matthioli -was one of the two prisoners conveyed to Exiles, is given in -the following extract from a letter of Louvois, dated June 9th, -1681:--"With regard to the effects belonging to the Sieur Matthioli -which are in your possession, you will have them taken to Exiles, in -order to be given back to him, if ever his Majesty should order him -to be set at liberty."[108] - -It is to be remarked, that this is the last time Matthioli is -mentioned by name in the correspondence between Louvois and St. -Mars--in consequence, it appears, of what is said by the former in -his letter before quoted of the 12th of May, where he desires a -list of the names of all the prisoners then under the guard of St. -Mars to be sent to him, and adds--"with regard to the two who are -in the lower part of the tower, you need only designate them in -that manner, without adding any thing else."[109] This precaution -was evidently enjoined lest the list should fall into other hands, -while it also shows that the necessity for concealment was still -considered as strong as ever. - -This is also proved by the precautions ordered to be taken during -the journey of the two prisoners, lest they should be seen or -spoken to by any one; and by the repeated orders for their strict -confinement.--"The intention of his Majesty is, that, as soon as -the room at Exiles, which you shall judge the most proper for the -secure keeping of the two prisoners in the lower part of the tower, -shall be in a state to receive them, you should send them out of -the citadel of Pignerol in a litter, and conduct them there under -the escort of your troop."[110] "His Majesty expects that you will -guard the two before-mentioned prisoners, with the same exactitude -you have made use of hitherto."[111] To these instructions St. Mars -returned an answer in the same strain, dated from Pignerol, as he -was on the point of setting off for Exiles.--"In order that the -prisoners may not be seen (at Exiles), they will not leave their -chamber when they hear mass; and in order that they may be kept -the more securely, one of my lieutenants will sleep above them, -and there will be two sentinels night and day, who will watch the -whole round of the tower, without its being possible for them and -the prisoners to see and to speak to one another, or even to hear -any thing of one another. They will be the soldiers of my company, -who will be always the sentinels over the prisoners. There is -only a confessor, about whom I have my doubts; but if you do not -disapprove, I will give them the curate of Exiles instead, who is -a good man, and very old; whom I will forbid, on the part of his -Majesty, to inquire who these prisoners are, or their names, or -what they have been, or to speak of them in any way, or to receive -from them by word of mouth, or by writing, either communications or -notes."[112] - -Before St. Mars removed finally to Exiles, he went there to inspect -the fortress, leaving his prisoners under the guard of one of his -lieutenants; which is here mentioned to show the falseness of the -idea that he never quitted his mysterious prisoner. Louvois enjoined -him before he left them, to arrange the guarding of his prisoners -in such a manner, that no accident might happen to them during his -short absence; and "that they might have no intercourse with any -one, any more than they had had during the time they had been under -his charge."[113] Subsequently Louvois desired him not to be more -than one night at a time absent from Pignerol.[114] - -St. Mars found certain repairs to be necessary to that part of the -fortress of Exiles, which he deemed the most proper residence for -"the two prisoners in the lower part of the tower." He demanded -money for this purpose, and Louvois returned for answer that the -King accorded him a thousand crowns, on condition he kept the grant -a profound secret, and gave out that the repairs he was making, were -at his own expense.[115] This again was evidently for the purpose of -concealing from the neighbourhood, that any prisoners of importance -were to be removed from Pignerol to Exiles. - -The repairs of the tower at Exiles first delayed the removal of -St. Mars, and afterwards he was ordered to stay some time longer -at Pignerol, in order to receive Catinat, who was again sent there -secretly, again under the assumed name of Richemont, and again for -the purpose of taking possession of Casale.[116] This time the King -of France was more fortunate than he had been in 1679, as Casale was -actually sold to him by the Duke of Mantua, in the autumn of this -year, 1681. - -Finally, it appears that St. Mars and his prisoners did not move to -Exiles till late in the autumn of 1681. About this time, St. Mars -apparently requested permission to see and converse with Matthioli -occasionally, for Louvois writes, "this word is only to acknowledge -the receipt of your letter. The King does not disapprove of your -visiting from time to time the last prisoner who has been placed in -your charge, after he shall have been established in his new prison, -and shall have left that where he is at present confined."[117] It -is rather curious to observe, from this document, that St. Mars -was permitted to visit his prisoner at Exiles, but not while he -continued at Pignerol. - -The first communication of St. Mars to Louvois after his arrival -at Exiles, which has been published, is dated December the 4th, -1681,[118] and relates to the sickness of his prisoners: and the -next is a letter, dated March 11th, 1682, containing a similar -detail to those already alluded to, of the precautions he took -for the security and solitary confinement of his two prisoners. -He begins, by intimating that he has again received a charge from -Louvois to that effect, and that he continues to guard his two -prisoners as severely and exactly as he has ever done, and as he -did formerly "Messrs. Fouquet and Lauzun, who could not boast that -they had either sent or received any news, while they were in -confinement." He adds, that the two prisoners can hear the people -who pass along the road at the foot of their prison, but that they -cannot be heard by any one; that, in the same way, they can see -the people who are on the hill opposite their windows, but cannot -themselves be seen, on account of the bars placed across their room; -that there are two sentinels always watching them, and who have also -orders to prevent the passengers stopping under their windows--and -that his own room, being joined to the tower, and commanding a view -of the sentinels, the latter are by this means always kept alert. -That, in the inside of the tower, he has made a partition, which -prevents the priest, who says mass, from seeing the prisoners, as -well as the servants who bring their food--which is afterwards -carried in to them by his lieutenant; who, together with himself, -the confessor, and a physician from Pragelas, a town six leagues -distant, are the only persons who speak to them; the physician only -being allowed to do so in the presence of St. Mars himself. He adds, -that equal precautions are taken with regard to their linen, and -other necessaries.[119] - -From this period, we hear no more of St. Mars and his prisoners -in the published documents, for above three years; his next -communication to Louvois being dated Dec. 23d, 1685; in which he -informs him that his prisoners are still ill, and in a course of -medicine. By the expression _still_ being here used, it would seem -as if their malady had been of considerable duration. He continues, -"they are, however, perfectly tranquil."[120] The mention of their -present tranquillity is certainly an indication that their insanity -had continued, at least at intervals. - -Shortly after this, the Jacobin[121] died. Matthioli continued ill; -and St. Mars, also finding his own health failing him, he[122] -became convinced that the air of Exiles was unwholesome, and -petitioned in consequence for a change of government.[123] Lewis -upon this appointed him, in 1687, to that of the Islands of St. -Margaret and St. Honorat, on the coast of Provence, near Antibes, -and ordered him, as before, to take Matthioli with him. - -As in the case of his removal to Exiles, so, upon the present -occasion, St. Mars went first to look at and prepare the prison -at St. Margaret, before he conveyed his prisoner there.[124] -Previously, however, to leaving him for that purpose, he writes -to Louvois, to assure him once more of the secrecy and security -with which he is confined--"I have given such good orders for the -guarding of my prisoner, that I can answer for his entire security; -as well as for his not now, nor ever, holding any intercourse with -my Lieutenant, whom I have forbidden to speak to him, which is -punctually obeyed."[125] - -He afterwards writes again to the same Minister, from the Island -of St. Margaret, "I promise to conduct my prisoner here in all -security, without any one's seeing or speaking to him. He shall -not hear mass after he leaves Exiles, till he is lodged in the -prison which is preparing for him here, to which a chapel is -attached. I pledge my honour to you for the entire security of my -prisoner."[126] - -St. Mars accordingly returned for Matthioli, and conveyed him to his -new abode, in the manner he had proposed doing, in his letter to -Louvois, of January 20th, 1687--"In a chair, covered with oil-cloth, -into which there would enter a sufficiency of air, without its being -possible for any one to see or speak to him during the journey, not -even the soldiers, whom I shall select to be near the chair."[127] - -In spite of the expectations of St. Mars that, in this mode of -conveyance, his prisoner would have air enough, it appears that he -complained of the want of it, and soon fell ill in consequence. This -is mentioned in a letter of St. Mars, dated May 3d, 1687, giving an -account of their arrival at the Island of St. Margaret, and is the -last of the correspondence between Louvois and St. Mars respecting -Matthioli: "I arrived here the 30th of last month. I was only twelve -days on the journey, in consequence of the illness of my prisoner, -occasioned, as he said, by not having as much air as he wished. I -can assure you that no one has seen him, and that the manner in -which I have guarded and conducted him during all the journey, makes -every body try to conjecture who my prisoner is."[128] - -It was probably, during this journey, that St. Mars first made -use of a mask to hide the features of Matthioli.[129] Not as has -been erroneously supposed a mask made of iron, which it will be -evident, upon the slightest reflection, could not have been borne -upon the face for any long continuance of time, but one of black -velvet,[130] strengthened with whalebone, and fastened behind the -head with a padlock, which did not prevent the prisoner from eating -and drinking, or impede his respiration.[131] - -The identity of Matthioli with the prisoner known by the name -of "the Iron Mask," is here very satisfactorily confirmed by -circumstantial evidence. We have seen that Matthioli and the Jacobin -were placed together at Pignerol; we have seen that they were -designated as "the two prisoners in the lower part of the tower;" we -have seen that "the two prisoners in the lower part of the tower" -were the only ones who accompanied St. Mars when his government -was transferred to Exiles; we have seen the death of the Jacobin -at the latter place; and now we find St. Mars conveying a single -prisoner, designated as "_the prisoner_," with him to St. Margaret, -with a repetition of the same precautions and of the same secrecy -as on former occasions, to which are added the celebrated Mask. Who -could this prisoner be but Matthioli? It is also observable, that -in all the various accounts of the Iron Mask, though the dates are -made to vary, he is always said to have been originally confined at -Pignerol, subsequently at the island of St. Margaret, and finally to -have accompanied St. Mars to the Bastille. - -The prison of Matthioli, at the Island of St. Margaret, was a room -lighted by a single window to the north, pierced in a very thick -wall, guarded by bars of iron, and looking upon the sea.[132] During -his residence in this place, his valet, who, as may be remembered, -had been arrested by Estrades, and who had served his master ever -since his confinement, died, and was buried at midnight, and with -great secrecy. To supply his place, a woman of the neighbourhood was -asked if she would undertake to wait upon the prisoner. At first -she consented to accept of the place, imagining it might be a means -of benefiting her family; but afterwards declined it, upon learning -that she was to be cut off from all further intercourse with the -world, and never even to see her family again.[133] Whether any one -was eventually found to undertake the office, does not appear. - -Among the erroneous anecdotes that have obtained credence with -regard to the Iron Mask, there are two, or rather apparently two -versions of one event, which is said to have taken place while -he was at the island of St. Margaret, but which is proved to be -incorrect, by a letter published by M. Roux (Fazillac). - -One version of the story states, that the mysterious prisoner wrote -his name and qualities with the point of a knife upon a silver -plate, and threw it out of his window; that it was picked up by a -fisherman, who could not read, but brought it to St. Mars; and that -the latter, having ascertained that the man could not read, released -him.[134] The other version is, that the prisoner covered one of his -shirts with writing, and then threw it out of window; a Monk found -it, brought it to the Governor, and assured him he had not read -it; but was himself found dead in his bed two days afterwards, and -was supposed to have been assassinated.[135] The origin of these -stories, is evidently to be found in a letter from St. Mars to the -Minister,[136] dated June 4th, 1692; in which he informs him that he -has been obliged to inflict corporal punishment upon a Protestant -minister, named Salves, who was a prisoner under his care, because -_he would write things upon his pewter vessels, and on his linen, -in order to make known that he was imprisoned unjustly, on account -of the purity of his faith_.[137] Thus we see that this anecdote, -which has been twisted into the history of the Iron Mask, had, in -fact, no relation to him. And this circumstance should put us on -our guard with respect to the many other marvellous stories, which -have probably been pressed in the same way into the service. It is -also worthy of remark that the public having determined that the -Iron Mask was a great Prince, every thing was related in a manner to -favour this opinion--and thus the pewter of the obscure Salves was -turned, in the anecdote, into silver plate. - -After eleven years' tedious confinement at the Island of St. -Margaret, Matthioli accompanied St. Mars to the Bastille, to the -government of which the latter was appointed, upon the death of M. -de Bezemaux, which occurred in the last days of 1697.[138] - -Before his departure from St. Margaret, St. Mars wrote to the -Minister to request that secure lodgings might be provided for -him and his prisoner during the journey; to which he received for -answer, "It will be sufficient that you should lodge as conveniently -and securely as you can, by means of payment."[139] - -St. Mars accordingly set forth on his journey to the Bastille, early -in the autumn of 1698, and in the course of it lodged at his own -estate of Palteau, which he probably considered a securer resting -place for his prisoner than any inn could have been. An account of -his visit to Palteau has been given by one of his descendants, of -whose accuracy no reasonable doubt can be entertained. - -It is there stated, that the masked prisoner arrived at Palteau in a -litter, which preceded the one in which St. Mars himself travelled. -They were accompanied by many men on horseback, and by the peasants -who had gone to meet their landlord. St. Mars always ate with his -prisoner, and the latter sat with his back to the windows of the -dining-room, so that the peasants, who were in the court, could not -see whether he kept his mask on while at meals; but they observed -that St. Mars, who sat opposite to him, had two pistols placed by -the side of his plate. They were served by a single servant, who -brought all the dishes from the anti-room, where they were placed, -and always when he came in or went out shut the door very carefully -after him. When the prisoner crossed the court, he always had his -black mask over his face. The peasants also observed, that his teeth -and lips were seen, that he was tall of stature, and had grey hair. -St. Mars slept in a bed, which had been put up close to that of his -prisoner.[140] - -St. Mars and Matthioli arrived at the Bastille on the 18th of -September, 1698, and the former immediately went to the Minister to -apprize him of their arrival.[141] This event is thus commemorated -in the journal of M. Dujonca,[142] who was for many years the -Lieutenant of the King, at the Bastille:--"Thursday, 18th September, -1698, at three o'clock in the afternoon, M. de St. Mars, Governor -of the Bastille, arrived to take possession of his office, coming -from the Islands of St. Margaret and St. Honorat, bringing with -him in his litter an old prisoner, whom he had under his care -at Pignerol, of whom the name is not mentioned; who is always -kept masked, and who was first placed, till night, in the tower -of the Basiniere,[143] and whom I conducted afterwards myself, -at nine o'clock at night, to the third chamber of the tower of -the Bertaudière;[143] which chamber I had taken care to furnish -with all things necessary before his arrival, having received -orders to that effect from M. de St. Mars. When I conducted him -to the before-mentioned chamber, I was accompanied by the Sieur -Rosarges,[144] whom M. de St. Mars also brought with him, and who is -charged to wait upon and take care of the aforesaid prisoner, who is -fed by the Governor."[145] - -Dujonca's account is confirmed by the extracts of the Register -of the Bastille, published in the work entitled "La Bastille -dévoilée."[146] - -The placing of the prisoner, on his first arrival, temporarily in -one part of the Bastille, and afterwards removing him by night to -another, appears to have been done for the sake of greater secrecy; -and we see by this, as well as by the account of his visit to -Palteau, that the precautions against the possibility of discovery -of his name and character were in no way diminished. - -He certainly continued, from all accounts, to wear his mask from -the time of his arrival at the Bastille till his death. We learn -from the persons who saw him at Palteau that he was tall of stature; -and an old physician, who had attended him at the Bastille when -he was ill, described him (if we may credit Voltaire) as well -made, of a brown complexion, and possessing an agreeable voice. -He attended mass occasionally, and was forbid in his way there to -speak to any one. The invalids were ordered to fire upon him if he -disobeyed.[147] He is also said to have occupied himself a good deal -during his confinement with playing on the guitar.[148] - -These are all the particulars, worthy of credit, to be collected -respecting Matthioli during his confinement at the Bastille, which -lasted rather more than five years. He died there after a few hours' -illness, November 19th, 1703. Dujonca's journal gives the following -account of his decease and interment. - -"Monday, 19th November, 1708. The unknown prisoner, who was always -masked with a mask of black velvet, whom M. de St. Mars brought with -him, when he came from the Islands of St Margaret, and whom he had -had the care of for a long time, having found himself rather more -unwell when he came out from mass, died to-day, about ten o'clock -in the evening, without having had any considerable illness. M. -Girault, our chaplain, confessed him yesterday. Death having come -suddenly on, he was not able to receive his sacraments, and our -chaplain only had time to exhort him for a moment before he died. He -was interred on Tuesday the 20th November, at four in the afternoon, -in the church-yard of St. Paul, which is our parish. His interment -cost forty livres." - -This extract is confirmed in its facts by the register of the -Bastille,[149] as well as by the register of burials of the church -of St. Paul, at Paris. The former document also informs us that -he was wrapped in "a winding-sheet of new linen,"[150]--and the -latter, that he was buried in the presence of Rosarges, Major of the -Bastille, and of Reilh, Surgeon-Major of the same prison. - -In the register of the church he is designated by the name of -Marchialy, and his age is entered as forty-five; assertions which -are both of them evidently incorrect, and probably only made in -order to mislead the curious. At the time of his death, Matthioli -was sixty-three years of age, as appears from the date of his birth -before given. Shortly before he died, he told the Apothecary of the -Bastille that he believed he was sixty years[151] old--a degree -of inaccuracy as to his own age, which is easily to be conceived -in a man who had been so long and so rigorously imprisoned. His -confinement had lasted above twenty-four years. - -After the decease of Matthioli, every thing was done to endeavour -to destroy all trace even of his former existence. His clothes were -burnt, as was all the furniture of his room; the silver plate, the -copper, and the pewter, which had been used by him, were melted -down; the walls of his chamber were first scraped, and then fresh -white-washed; the floor was new paved; the old ceiling was taken -away and renewed; the doors and windows were burnt; and every corner -was searched in which it was thought any paper, linen, or other -memorial of him might be concealed.[152] - -Thus were continued, to the very last, the same extraordinary -precautions against discovery, which marked the whole imprisonment -of the mysterious prisoner: a circumstance, which of itself -certainly affords a strong confirmation of the fact, that the _Iron -Mask of the Bastille_, was one and the same person with the _Count -Matthioli_, who had been so secretly introduced into Pignerol, and -so mysteriously conveyed from place to place by St. Mars. But the -actual proof of this is only to be found in the documents which form -the groundwork of the preceding narrative; and which, undoubtedly, -do present a most convincing and satisfactory chain of evidence upon -the subject. - -An important corroboration of this evidence is also derived from the -well-attested fact, that Lewis the Fifteenth, who is allowed, on all -hands, to have known the history of the Iron Mask, affirmed, more -than once, that _he was the minister of an Italian sovereign_. He -told the Duke de Choiseul,[153] on one occasion, that he knew who -the Iron Mask was; and, upon the Duke's questioning him further, -would only add, _that all the conjectures hitherto made upon the -subject were erroneous_.[154] The Duke then begged Madame de -Pompadour[156] to ask the King who it was; she did so, and his -reply was, "_The minister of an Italian prince_!"[157] The Duke -de Choiseul, unsatisfied by this reply, which he considered to be -only an evasion, took another opportunity of again applying to the -King upon the subject, who again answered, "_He believed that the -prisoner was a minister of one of the courts of Italy_!"[158] - -Thus has the ill-fated Matthioli been identified with the Iron Mask, -and traced through his long and dreary prison to his grave. It is -probable that much of the illusion and interest, which accompanied -the mysterious appellation of _the Iron Mask_, will be destroyed by -the certainty of who he really was; as well as by the comparative -insignificance of the personage who has successfully laid claim to -the title. Still it is surely satisfactory that truth, after being -so long overwhelmed by error, should be at length triumphant. - -The lovers of romance, who still wish to know more of the -magnificent conjectures of former days; or who desire to be made -acquainted with the reasons that induced a belief, that the Iron -Mask was either the Duke de Beaufort; or the Count de Vermandois; -or the Duke of Monmouth; or an elder or a twin-brother of Lewis the -Fourteenth; or a son of Oliver Cromwell; or Arwediks, the Armenian -Patriarch; are referred to Voltaire, Dutens, St. Foix, La Grange -Chancel, Gibbon, the Père Papon, the Père Griffet, the Chevalier -de Taulés, and Mr. Quintin Craufurd. Of these accounts, perhaps -Voltaire's is the least curious, find Mr. Craufurd's the most so; -because the first did not seek for truth, but only wished to invent -a moving tale; while the latter was most anxious to arrive at the -truth, and had all the advantage in his researches of the former -writers upon the same subject. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [1] "L'homme au masque de fer." - - [2] M. Roux (Fazillac) published several of the documents, - since republished by M. Delort, but he does not appear to have - seen the whole series; and therefore his reasoning upon the - subject is inconclusive. M. Delort has, however, copied a great - deal from him in his narrative--whole sentences sometimes, word - for word, without any acknowledgment of the plagiarism. - - [3] Delort. - - [4] The Abbé d'Estrades, Ambassador for a considerable time - from Lewis the Fourteenth, to the Republic of Venice, was son - of Godfrey, Count d'Estrades, so long employed in negociations - and embassies in Holland, and who was one of the eight Marshals - of France made upon the death of Turenne. Madame Cornuel called - them, "La Monnoie de M. de Turenne." - - [5] Ferdinand Charles IV., Duke of Mantua, a weak and - unfortunate Prince. Died July the 5th, 1708, as it is said of - poison, administered by a lady he was in love with. - - [6] Casale did not come into the possession of the French till - 1681. In 1695, it was taken by the Allies, and its - fortifications demolished. It was, however, retaken by the - French, and fortified again. The King of Sardinia, (Victor - Amadeus,) made himself master of it in 1706. His successor, - Charles Emmanuel, lost it again to the French in 1745, but - regained it the following year. - - [7] The strong fort of Pignerol, acquired to the Crown of - France by the negociations of Richelieu, continued in their - possession for 68 years. In 1696, it was restored by treaty to - Victor Amadeus II., Duke of Savoy; its fortifications having - been previously dismantled. - - [8] Victor Amadeus I., Duke of Savoy, a prince of great bravery - and considerable talent. He married Christina, daughter of - Henry IV., King of France, by whom he had two sons, Francis - Hyacinth and Charles Emmanuel II., successively Dukes of Savoy. - Died October 7th, 1637. He was the first Duke of Savoy, who - appropriated to himself the title of _Royal Highness_. - - [9] Isabella Clara, of Austria, daughter of the Archduke - Leopold, who was grandson of the Emperor Ferdinand III. Married - June 13th, 1649, to Charles III., Duke of Mantua. - - [10] Appendix, No. 1. - - [11] Appendix, No. 1. - - [12] The Empress Eleanor was daughter of Charles, Duke of - Rhetelois, who died in the life-time of his father, Charles I. - Duke of Mantua, in spite of which he is generally denominated - by historians, Charles II., Duke of Mantua. She became, on the - 30th of April, 1651, the third wife of Ferdinand III., Emperor - of Germany, whom she survived many years, and died December - 5th, 1686. She was the aunt of Ferdinand Charles IV., Duke of - Mantua. - - [13] Thomas de la Cerda, Marquis of Laguna, in Spain, married - April 22, 1672, to Maria Louisa, only daughter of Vespasian - Gonzaga, only brother of Ferdinand III., the reigning Duke of - Guastalla. - - [14] The Monk Bulgarini appears to have been the confessor and - favourite of the Duchess-mother of Mantua; and to have been - entirely devoted to the Spanish interests. - - [15] The profession of Giuliani was, that of an editor of - newspapers, in which capacity he was in the habit of travelling - from town to town, to collect and convey news. See Appendix, - No. 98. - - [16] Alphonso IV., Duke of Modena, succeeded his father Francis - I. in his territories, and in the command in chief of the - French army in Italy, in 1658. Died in the 29th year of his - age, July 16, 1662, having married, May 27, 1655, Laura - Martinozzi, niece of Cardinal Mazarin. - - [17] Charles III., Duke of Mantua, father of Ferdinand Charles - IV., the reigning Duke, had the command of the Imperial Army - in Italy, and took upon himself the office of Vicar General - of the Empire in Italy, during the interregnum which followed - the death of the Emperor Ferdinand III. in 1657, in virtue of - a diploma, lately granted to him by that Prince. His right was - contested by the Duke of Savoy, who, upon the ground of old - usage, claimed the office for himself. The Electors of the - Empire annulled the appointment of the Duke of Mantua. - - [18] Appendix, No. 1. - - [19] Appendix, No. 1. - - [20] Appendix, No. 1. - - [21] Cæsar Bishop of Laon and Cardinal d'Estrées, son of - the first Marshal of France of that name, was employed in - various negociations with the Princes of Italy; but is now - more remembered for his courtier-like reply to Lewis XIV. That - Monarch one day at dinner complained of having lost all his - teeth. "And who is there, Sire, that has any teeth?" said the - Cardinal (Sire, et qui est-ce qui a des dents?) What made the - flattery the more ludicrously gross was, that the Cardinal, - though an old man, had remarkably fine teeth, and showed them - very much whenever he opened his mouth. - - [22] Appendix, No. 2. - - [23] Appendix, No. 8. - - [24] 1677. - - [25] Simon Arnaud de Pomponne, Secretary of State for Foreign - Affairs from 1671 to 1679, when he was dismissed from his - office, but retained the title of Minister of State, with - permission to attend the Council. A man, like so many of his - race, who united considerable talents to great excellence of - character. Madame de Sévigné says, in speaking of the eminent - station he had filled, that "Fortune had wished to make use of - his virtues for the happiness of others." - - [26] Ferdinand III., Duke of Guastalla, descended from a - younger branch of the House of Gonzaga; and the heir to the - Duchy of Mantua, if he survived Ferdinand Charles; which - however was not the case. He died of dropsy, January 11th, - 1678. - - [27] Anne Isabella, eldest daughter of Ferdinand III., Duke of - Guastalla, married August 13th, 1671, to Ferdinand Charles IV., - Duke of Mantua, by whom she had no offspring. - - [28] This is evidently a mistake, and should be read _niece_ - instead of _second daughter_. It alludes to Maria Louisa, - only daughter of Vespasian Gonzaga, only brother of Ferdinand - III., Duke of Guastalla, married to a Spanish nobleman, Thomas - de la Cerda, Marquis of Laguna. At this time neither of the - daughters of Ferdinand had children, and _she_, consequently, - after them, was the heiress of their claims upon the Duchies of - Guastalla and Mantua. The second daughter of Ferdinand III., - Maria Victoria, married June 30th, 1769, Vincent Gonzaga Count - of St. Paul--the person who is here erroneously described as - having been the means of marrying her to another person. - - [29] Vincent Gonzaga, Count of St. Paul, afterwards Duke of - Guastalla, was descended from a younger son of Ferrant II., - first Duke of Guastalla. After contesting for many years his - right to that Duchy with Ferdinand Charles IV., Duke of Mantua; - during which they were both merely made use of, by turns, as - the instruments of the French and Austrian domination; he - was finally successful in establishing himself at Guastalla - in 1706, where he died April 28th, 1714. By his wife, Maria - Victoria, second daughter of Ferdinand III., Duke of Guastalla, - he left two sons, who successively succeeded him in the - sovereignty of that Duchy. - - [30] Appendix, No. 9. - - [31] Appendix, No. 10. - - [32] Appendix, No. 17. - - [33] Appendix, No. 18. - - [34] Appendix, Nos. 24, 28, 29, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40. - - [35] Appendix, No. 47. - - [36] Delort, quoting from an Italian manuscript, in the records - of the office of the French Secretary of State for Foreign - Affairs, which appears to have been written by Giuliani. - - [37] Delort, quoting from the same authority. - - [38] M. Delort says the sum actually given to Matthioli, was - 400 Doubles, and the sum promised him 400,000 Doubles, which, - from its largeness, he conceives must be a mistake; but he adds - that it is so written in the Italian manuscripts before - referred to. - - [39] Delort. - - [40] Francis Michael Le Tellier, Marquis de Louvois, son of - the Chancellor Le Tellier, Secretary of State for the War - department, from 1666, to the time of his death, in 1691, which - occurring suddenly, and just as he was on the point of being - disgraced, gave occasion to a report that he was poisoned: for - which, however, it appears there was no foundation. He was of a - haughty and cruel disposition, and was the minister who planned - and ordered the inhuman ravages of the Palatinate, which have - so indelibly disgraced the reign of his master. - - [41] Delort. - - [42] Lewis Francis, Marquis and afterwards Duc de Boufflers, - Marshal of France in 1693. Died in 1711. One of the best of - Lewis the Fourteenth's generals. - - [43] Nicholas de Catinat, Marshal of France in 1698. "He - united," says Voltaire, "philosophy to great military talents. - The last day he commanded in Italy, he gave for the watch-word, - 'Paris and St. Gratien,' the name of his country house. He died - there in the retirement of a real sage, (having refused the - blue ribbon) in 1712." - - [44] Upon reference to the Mémoires de Catinat, published in - 1819, this event is found to be thus adverted to:--"In 1679, - Catinat was charged with some negociations with the Duke of - Mantua; but the affair failed of success, in consequence of the - treachery of the Secretary of that prince. Catinat, according - to the King's orders, was anxious to punish the traitor. He - remained at Pignerol some days, and having engaged him in a - hunting party, had him arrested." It also appears from these - Memoirs, that both Catinat and Boufflers were again despatched - to Italy on the same errand, in 1681, when Casale was really - given up to Lewis; and on this occasion, Louvois, in his - instruction to Boufflers, mentions Matthioli by name, as the - person whose treachery had prevented the success of the former - negociation. - - [45] Appendix, Nos. 52, 62, 64, 73, 76, 77, 78. - - [46] I am not sure whether I am correct in imagining that this - was the Marshal d'Asfeld, who distinguished himself at the - battle of Almanza, and died at great old age, in 1743. - - [47] Appendix, Nos. 52, 54, 55. - - [48] Victor Amadeus II., at this time a minor, and under the - Regency of his mother, Mary Jane de Nemours. In 1713, he became - King of Sicily, which kingdom he was compelled to exchange for - that of Sardinia, in 1720; abdicated the throne in favour of - his son, in 1730; and died in 1732. This prince possessed in an - eminent degree, the attributes of his race--valour and skill in - military matters, and faithlessness in his treaties and - engagements with his brother sovereigns. - - [49] Leopold I. succeeded Ferdinand III. in 1657, died in 1705. - - [50] Charles II. the last King of Spain of the House of - Austria.--Died in 1700. - - [51] Appendix, Nos. 68, 69, 89. - - [52] See ante, note, page 18. - - [53] Appendix, No. 66. - - [54] Appendix, No. 68. - - [55] Appendix, No. 67. - - [56] Namely, of the delivery of Casale. - - [57] Appendix, No. 72. - - [58] Appendix, Nos. 75, 79, 81, 83, 88. - - [59] Mary Jane Baptista of Savoy, daughter of Charles Amadeus, - Duke of Nemours and Aumale, (who was killed in a duel by his - brother-in-law, the Duke of Beaufort). Married May 11th, 1665, - to Charles Emmanuel II., Duke of Savoy; Regent of the - territories of her son during his minority. Died March 15th, - 1724. - - [60] Delort. Appendix, Nos. 87, 92, 95. - - [61] Appendix, No. 92. - - [62] Appendix, No. 70. - - [63] Delort. - - [64] Appendix, No. 75. - - [65] Appendix, No. 71. - - [66] Benigne d'Auvergne de Saint-Mars, Seigneur of Dimon and - Palteau; Bailli and Governor of Sens; successively Governor of - Exiles, the Island of St. Marguerite, and the Bastille. At - Pignerol he had only the command of the state prisoners, the - Marquis d'Herleville being governor of the fortress. St. Mars - came to Pignerol a short time before the arrival there of - Fouquet, who was the first prisoner confided to his care. - - [67] Roux (Fazillac.) - - [68] Appendix, Nos. 79, 81. - - [69] Delort. - - [70] Appendix, No. 88. - - [71] Appendix, No. 82. - - [72] Delort. - - [73] M. Roux (Fazillac) gives these particulars, upon the - authority of a letter from Estrades to Pomponne, of May 7th, - 1679; and of one from Catinat to Louvois of the same date; - neither of which are published. - - [74] Roux (Fazillac.) - - [75] Appendix, No. 84. - - [76] Ibid. - - [77] Delort. - - [78] Appendix, No. 85. - - [79] Appendix, No. 84. - - [80] Ibid. No. 85. - - [81] Appendix, Nos. 96, 103, 104. - - [82] Ibid. No. 48. - - [83] Nicholas Fouquet, "Surintendant des Finances," in 1653. - The most lavish, but the most amiable of financiers.--Disgraced - in 1664, when he was condemned, by the commissioners appointed - to inquire into his conduct, to banishment. The sentence was - commuted by the King himself to perpetual imprisonment; and - Fouquet died in the citadel of Pignerol, in 1680. On his trial - he defended himself with great spirit and talent. See Madame de - Sévigné's interesting Letters to M. de Pomponne upon the - subject. - - [84] Anthony Nompar de Caumont, Marquis of Peguilhem, and - afterwards Duke of Lauzun: whose adventures and eccentricities - are too well known to require relation here. It is in speaking - of him that La Bruyère says, "Il n'est pas permis aux autres - hommes de rêver, comme il a vécu." - - [85] Anne Mary Louisa, of Orleans, Mademoiselle de Montpensier, - commonly called the "Grande Mademoiselle."--A woman of an - unpleasant character, according to her own showing in her - Memoirs; but who certainly did not deserve to be the victim, as - she was, in different ways, of two such men as Lewis and - Lauzun. - - [86] Appendix, Nos. 85, 87, 91, 92, 94, 95, 97. - - [87] Ibid. No. 97. - - [88] Ibid. Nos. 84, 85. - - [89] Appendix, No. 90. - - [90] Ibid. No. 93. - - [91] Ibid. No. 96. - - [92] Ibid. No. 101. - - [93] Charles IV. or V., for he is sometimes called one and - sometimes the other, was the son of Nicholas Francis, Cardinal, - and afterwards Duke of Lorrain. On the death of his uncle, - Charles IV., he took the barren titles of Duke of Lorrain and - Bar, but never obtained possession of his territories, (which - were usurped by France,) "though his military, political, and - Christian virtues and talents, made him worthy to occupy the - first throne in the universe." He commanded the armies of the - Emperor for some years with the greatest distinction, married - the Archduchess Eleanor, widow of Michael Wiecnowiecki, King of - Poland, and died in 1690. Lewis the Fourteenth, on hearing of - his death, said of him, "that he was the greatest, wisest, and - most generous of his enemies." - - [94] Appendix, No. 102. - - [95] Appendix, No. 107. - - [96] Appendix, No. 106. - - [97] Appendix, No. 108. - - [98] Appendix, No. 103. - - [99] Appendix, No. 104. - - [100] Ibid. - - [101] Appendix, No. 105. - - [102] If we were to judge of the Christian religion by the - manner in which it was professed by Lewis the Fourteenth, we - should indeed have a most perverted idea of its precepts. It - seems as if the pseudo-christianity of that monarch, only - incited him to acts of narrow-minded bigotry and cruelty, - allowing, at the same time, full latitude to every kind of - licentious excess; while it debarred him from the exercise of - humanity and toleration. A good measure of the nature and - extent of his religious knowledge and feelings is acquired, by - the anecdote respecting Fontpertuis and the Duke of Orleans. - When the latter was going into Spain, Lewis objected to his - taking the former with him, because he was a Jansenist; but - withdrew the objection when assured by the duke that he was - only an atheist! - - [103] M. Roux (Fazillac), quoting from an unpublished letter of - Louvois to St. Mars, dated December 14th, 1681. - - [104] About 1_l._ 12_s._ 0_d._ Appendix, No. 126. - - [105] Exiles was taken from the French in 1708, by the Duke of - Savoy, but restored to them by the treaty of Utrecht. - - [106] Appendix, No. 111. - - [107] Appendix, No. 111. - - [108] Appendix, No. 112. - - [109] Appendix, No. 111. - - [110] Appendix, No. 112. - - [111] Ibid. - - [112] Appendix, No. 115. - - [113] Appendix, No. 111. - - [114] Appendix, No. 117. - - [115] Appendix, No. 113. - - [116] Appendix, Nos. 114, 115. - - [117] Appendix, No. 120. - - [118] Appendix, No. 121. - - [119] Appendix, No. 121. - - [120] Appendix, No. 123. - - [121] Roux (Fazillac). - - [122] Ibid. - - [123] Ibid. - - [124] Appendix, Nos. 124, 125. - - [125] Appendix, No. 124. - - [126] Appendix, No. 125. - - [127] Appendix, No. 124. - - [128] Appendix, No. 126. - - [129] Delort. - - [130] Extract of Dujonca's journal, in Mr. Craufurd's article - upon "L'Homme au Masque de fer." - - [131] Delort. - - [132] Papon in his "Histoire générale de Provence" informs us - that he went to see the room. - - [133] "Histoire générale de Provence, du Père Papon." - - [134] See "Mélanges d'Histoire et de Littérature," by Mr. - Quintin Craufurd. - - [135] See the same work of Mr. Quintin Craufurd. - - [136] This must have been Lewis Francis Le Tellier, Marquis de - Barbezieux, who, in the preceding year, had succeeded his - father, Louvois, in the post of Secretary of State for the War - Department. He was an indolent but intelligent Minister.--Died - in 1701, aged 33. - - [137] Appendix, No. 127. - - [138] Delort. - - [139] Delort, quoting from an unpublished letter (probably from - Barbezieux), dated August 4th, 1698.--It may be as well to - mention here that M. Delort frequently quotes portions of - letters from the French Archives, but does not publish them in - his appendix. When in the course of this narrative the name of - M. Delort is given as an authority, it is, for the most part, - under these circumstances. - - [140] Such is the account given by M. de Palteau, the direct - descendant of St. Mars, in a letter to Freron, dated Palteau, - June 19th, 1768. It was published in the "Année Littéraire" for - that year, and has since been republished by Mr. Craufurd, in - his paper on the Iron Mask. - - [141] Delort. - - [142] The place of "Lieutenant de Roi," at the Bastille, was - created by Lewis the Fourteenth, for M. Dujonca, who had been - "Exempt" of one of the regiments of the King's Body-guards. He - acquired great credit by his endeavours to procure the release - of the prisoners under his care, whom, upon inquiry, he found - to be unjustly detained. Some one represented to him that he - would deprive himself of a great portion of his profits by thus - diminishing the number of prisoners--to which he replied, "_I - can only lose my money, but these unhappy people are deprived - of what is more valuable to them than even life itself._" - - [143] These towers are supposed to have been so called from the - names of the architects who built them. - - [144] Rosarges was made Major of the Bastille by St. Mars. - - [145] Extract from the Journal of Dujonca, first published by - Griffet, then by St. Foix, and subsequently by Mr. Craufurd. - - [146] Appendix, No. 128. - - [147] Mr. Craufurd, on the authority of Linguet. - - [148] Delort and Craufurd. - - [149] Appendix, No. 129. - - [150] Appendix, No. 129. - - [151] Delort. - - [152] Mr. Craufurd, on the authority of M. Delaunay, Governor - of the Bastille. Also Register of the Bastille; for which see - Appendix, No. 129. - - [153] Stephen Francis, Duke de Choiseul, Prime Minister under - Lewis the Fifteenth, for above twelve years. A man of some - talent, but an unskilful and extravagant minister; in spite of - which, on his disgrace, (through the means of Madame du Barri, - in 1770) he was turned into a martyr, by the influence of the - ladies of the court, who were angry with the King for choosing - his mistresses from the lower orders, instead of among them. To - do him honour snuff-boxes were made, bearing the head of Sully - on one side, and that of the Duke de Choiseul on the other. One - of them being shown to _Sophie Arnoud_, the actress, celebrated - for her repartees, she looked at the two sides, and said, - "_C'est la recette--et la dépense_." - - [154] This first answer of the king ought not to be entirely - overlooked; as, it will be remembered, that at the time it was - made, the minister of the Duke of Mantua had not been mentioned - by any one as the Iron Mask. He was first suggested to have - been that prisoner, by the Baron de Heiss, in a letter to the - authors of the "Journal Encyclopédique," dated Phalsbourg, June - 28th, 1770; in which he grounded his opinion upon a letter, - published in a work entitled "L'Histoire Abregée de l'Europe;" - published at Leyden in 1687; giving a detailed account of - the arrest, by French agents, of a secretary of the Duke of - Mantua.[155] M. Dutens, in his "Correspondance Interceptée," - published in 1789, held the same opinion, grounded upon the - same authority. He afterwards repeated the same opinion in his - "Mémoires d'un Voyageur, qui se repose." Finally, M. Roux, - (Fazillac) in 1801, published his work upon the Iron Mask; - in which he supported the same opinion; and attached to the - Secretary the name of Matthioli. - - [155] See Appendix, No. 133. - - [156] Jane Antoinette Poisson, married to a financier named Le - Normand d'Etioles; created Marquise de Pompadour by Lewis the - Fifteenth, of whom she was first the mistress, and afterwards - the minister of his disgraceful debauches. At her death, in - 1765, the King showed no signs of grief; and on seeing her - funeral go by his windows on a rainy day, his only remark was, - "La Marquise aura aujourd'hui un mauvais temps pour son - voyage!" - - [157] Appendix, No. 131. - - [158] Appendix, Nos. 131, 132. Madame Campan mentions having - heard Lewis the Sixteenth tell his wife, that the Count de - Maurepas (who, both from his age and situation, was very likely - to know the truth,) had informed him that the _Iron Mask_ was - "a prisoner dangerous from his intriguing disposition, and a - subject of the Duke of Mantua." - - - - - APPENDIX. - - - - -APPENDIX. - - -No. 1. - -ESTRADES TO LEWIS THE FOURTEENTH. - - Commencement of the Negociation.--State of the Court of - Mantua.--Influence of the Spaniards there. - - Venice, Dec 18th, 1677. - - SIRE, - -As the grief I felt at having displeased your Majesty was extreme, -so my joy is not less to learn from M. de Pomponne, that your -Majesty has had the goodness to pardon me my too great facility; -and that you have been graciously pleased to listen to the reasons, -which I took the liberty to offer to you, in justification of -the innocence of my intentions; however, Sire, this misfortune -will oblige me, in future, to act in all things with so great a -circumspection, that your Majesty will, I hope, never have cause to -be dissatisfied with my conduct. - -I have thus far deferred informing your Majesty of a project, which -my anxiety for your service has suggested to me, because the success -of it appeared so difficult that I did not venture to propose it, -till I saw some chance of being able to accomplish it; but, as the -affair is at present in a favourable state, I can almost assure -your Majesty, that the conclusion of it will depend upon yourself. -I shall now give you an exact account of it, in order that I may -receive the orders it shall please you to send me; which I will take -care to execute punctually. About four months ago, having become -more particularly acquainted with the divisions at the Court at -Mantua than before was the case, and having heard that the Duke of -Mantua was not so abandoned to his pleasures, but that he still had -some ambition, and much chagrin at the state to which he was reduced -by his mother, and his suspicions of the Spaniards; I hoped that -it would not be impossible, to detach him entirely from them, to -induce him to enter into the views of your Majesty, and to persuade -him really to treat respecting Casale. I have thought that I could -not employ any one in this affair more proper to conduct it, than a -certain Count Matthioli, who is entirely devoted to that prince; I -had already known him for some time, and he had testified a great -desire of rendering himself agreeable to your Majesty by some -service. I knew that he had been Secretary of State to the late Duke -of Mantua, that the present one had preserved much affection for -him, and that he was well-informed of the different interests of -the Princes of Italy; but as he had been much in the Milanese, and -had had a good deal of access to the Spanish ministers, I would not -put any confidence in him, till I had first tried him. I therefore -charged the individual, named Giuliani, to whom your Majesty had -the goodness to make six months ago a gratification, and who has -a zeal for your service which prevents my having any doubt of his -fidelity, to observe Matthioli attentively and secretly; and after -I had been sufficiently informed that he was much discontented with -the Spaniards, who had always amused him with hopes, and afterwards -abandoned him, I sent Giuliani, in the month of last October, to -Verona, where he went under pretext of his private affairs; but in -fact, to put Matthioli, who was there, upon the subject of the Duke -of Mantua, according to the instruction I had given him, and to -represent to him that those who had an attachment for their prince, -could not but be much afflicted to see him, at his age, still under -the guidance of his mother; without money, without authority, always -in a state of suspicion against those who are habitually about him; -and what is worse, in so insensible a state, that he only thought -of passing his life with actresses and women of the town; which -had made him lose the esteem of every body, and the consideration -which his rank ought to have given him: that so strange a way of -life, as well as the opinion that was prevalent that he would never -have children by his wife, though she was as young as himself, -induced the Spaniards to foment the divisions that existed in this -Court, in order to profit by them, and to try and obtain possession -of Casale and of all the Montferrat; that the said Giuliani had -heard me say, that I was well-informed that the Empress Eleanor -had already declared her pretensions to put herself in possession -of that part of the territories of Mantua; that the king of Spain -supported strongly those of a Spanish nobleman, who, in virtue of -his marriage with the niece of the Duke of Guastalla, by whom he -has children, maintains that he is the sole heir of that duke, to -the prejudice of the Duke of Mantua, who has married his daughter, -and who is besides his nearest relation; that, on the other hand, -the absolute control over all the territories of this prince, and -all the revenues, were in the hands of his mother and of the monk -Bulgarini; that, of all those who serve him as ministers, some are -gained by the Spaniards, others by the Empress Eleanor, and the -rest by the Duke of Guastalla; that his mother has also a part of -them on her side, but that these are the smallest number, and in -short, that it is a sort of miracle that he has not been already -deprived of his territories, but that he runs the risk of it every -day, and that the misfortune may happen to him when he is the least -prepared for it; that he has no choice of the means to be made use -of to guarantee himself against it, but that it is the protection -of your Majesty which is alone able to give him complete security. -Matthioli replied to him, that all he had been saying to him was -quite true, and that he had long, with grief, seen the truth of it; -but that there was still a remedy for so great an evil; that he -was sufficiently acquainted with the Duke of Mantua to know that -he had more talent and ambition than he was thought to have; that, -if I approved of it, he would discover his real sentiments, and -that he would charge himself with whatever negociation I wished. -That, meanwhile, he would go to----[159], in order to be nearer to -Mantua, where he could not go without making himself suspected by -the different parties who governed there, and that there he would -wait till I made known to him my intentions. Some days afterwards, -he sent me word that he had found means to have a secret interview -with the Duke of Mantua; and that he wished me, in order that we -might act in concert, to send him Giuliani, whom I have always made -use of in the different journeys that were to be made, because his -employment of sending the news through the different parts of Italy, -gave him occasion to go from one town to another, and prevented any -suspicion of him, as there would have infallibly been, if I had sent -any one of my household. I despatched him, therefore, with a new -instruction, and not only had he an audience of the Duke of Mantua, -to whom he spoke as I had desired him, but this prince even approved -very much of the proposition that was made him, to deliver him from -the continual inquietudes caused him by the Spaniards, and that, -for this purpose, Casale should be put into your Majesty's hands, -with the understanding that I should try to obtain from you in his -favour all that he could reasonably ask for. Finally, he declared -that his resolution was taken upon this subject, but, that things -might be better adjusted, he wished to communicate it to two of his -counsellors, in whom he had the most confidence, and that he gave -the selection of them to Matthioli, in order that he might be quite -secure of them. Matthioli named the Marquis Cavriani and Joseph -Varano, in whom he has confidence. Meanwhile the Duke of Mantua sent -Giuliani to me, to acquaint me with what had passed, and recommended -him to return as soon as possible, in order to receive the draft of -the plan, which would then be prepared--and to convey it to me. I -was much pleased, Sire, to see the affair in so good a train. I sent -Giuliani back quickly, and ordered him to tell the Duke of Mantua -that I entreated him to allow me to have a conference with him; that -your Majesty had not as yet any knowledge of the proposed treaty, -because I could not venture to go so far as that, without being -certain first that he would not disavow me in what I should have -the honour of writing to your Majesty, and also that he would have -sufficient power to execute what had been arranged. - -Giuliani returned here yesterday, bringing me as favourable answers -as I could possibly desire. He told me that the two counsellors of -the Duke of Mantua had, with every sort of precaution, commenced -their negociation with Matthioli; that they had approved of the -resolution of their master, and that they had put down in the -schedule, with which they had charged him, and which I join to -this letter, what the Duke requests your Majesty to grant to him; -that afterwards the Duke of Mantua called him to him; that he -ordered him to beg me to assure your Majesty of his respect and of -his attachment to your interests, and to acquaint me that he had -entirely put himself into the hands of the Count Matthioli; that he -would soon go to Venice, where we might see one another conveniently -and without being observed, on account of the Carnival, during -which, all the world, even the Doge, and the oldest senators, go -about in mask; that he wished me not to lose any time in acquainting -your Majesty with this affair, because he feared some surprise from -the Spaniards; but that if I wished him to keep his word with me, I -must not, on any account, communicate the project to the Cardinal -d'Estrées, because there was so strong a report in Italy, that he -had your Majesty's orders to negociate with the Princes there, of -which the Spaniards had so great a jealousy, that, upon the least -suspicion they should have of him (the Duke,) they would ruin him -before he could receive assistance from your Majesty, who would, -at the same time, lose all hope of getting possession of Casale; -that he would take measures to tranquillize them, and to prevent -their having any suspicions of his conduct; and that if the Cardinal -d'Estrées made him any propositions, he would only receive them -in full council, and give general answers, which would not render -him suspected by any body. I thus find myself precluded from the -confidence which I intended to make of this business to the Cardinal -d'Estrées, who I believe will soon be here, and am obliged to -keep the secret scrupulously, till I have received the orders of -your Majesty. The Duke of Mantua also offers to raise a regiment, -provided it be at your Majesty's expense, and he represents, that -by recruiting at Mantua and Casale he shall do much injury to the -Spaniards, who are raising troops there daily; that Joseph Varano, -who is one of the two before-mentioned counsellors, promises to -get a good many soldiers from the Ferrarese, where he possesses -interest, being Lord of Camerigo. He also implores your Majesty to -make an effort to send a sufficiently strong army into Italy, to be -able to undertake something considerable; and he assures me, that, -in this case, he will not content himself with having delivered -Casale into the hands of your Majesty, but will obtain for your -Majesty other great advantages, through the means of his intimate -connexions with the other states of Italy; that the Duchy of Milan -was never so feeble, nor so devoid of all means of defence, as at -present; but that, in order to obtain more particular intelligence -upon this head, he has given orders to Matthioli to go to Milan, -to observe every thing there with attention, and especially to -discover the intention of the Genoese, with regard to the report -which has now been for some time afloat in Italy, that your Majesty -intends sending an army there next Spring, at the latest. As some -accident might happen to the packets, I have not ventured to put -into mine the letter that the Count Matthioli, who has certainly -served your Majesty well upon this occasion, does himself the honour -to write to you, but have had it turned into cypher, as well as -the memoir of the demands of the Duke of Mantua; and I keep the -originals, together with the plan of Casale, which I do not send -to your Majesty for the same reason. I can assure your Majesty, -that I have never told either Giuliani or Matthioli that you intend -to march troops towards the Milanese; but the latter speaks of it -in his letter, because he has taken for granted the report which -was purposely spread abroad in order to lead the Duke of Mantua to -the determination I wished him to take; knowing that he desired to -be generalissimo above all things, or rather that it was the only -thing he was very anxious for, in order to be considered in Italy -like the late Duke of Modena, and like the late Duke of Mantua, who -at his age commanded in chief the Emperor's army, with the title -of Vicar-general of the Empire. When this Prince is here, there -will only be at the conference we are to hold together, himself, -Matthioli, (whom he has promised to re-establish in his post of -Secretary of State, and to appoint his first minister, as soon as -he shall see himself restored to his authority, and that the treaty -he intends making with your Majesty shall have been executed,) the -Sieur Giuliani, the Sieur de Pinchesne, (who is secretary of the -embassy, and of whom M. de Pomponne, who placed him with me, can -answer to your Majesty for the fidelity and secrecy,) and myself. -So the secrecy, so necessary in this affair, will certainly remain -impenetrable. - - I have the honour to be, &c. - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[160] - - [159] The name of the place is not stated in the letter. - - [160] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 2. - -MATTHIOLI TO LEWIS THE FOURTEENTH. - - Protestations of devotion to Lewis.--Belief in the good - intentions of the Duke of Mantua. - - December 14th, 1677. - - SIRE, - -I take the liberty of bearing testimony to your Majesty, that among -the great Ministers, whom, in your supreme wisdom, you have sent -at different times into Italy, your ambassador at Venice, the Abbé -d'Estrades, ought to be distinguished for his skill and his zeal to -seize every occasion, which may seem to offer him the improvement or -the aggrandizement of your territories. - -This Ambassador having confided to me, that, in order to succeed in -the enterprize that you meditate against the territories of Milan, -it would be necessary to detach the Duke of Mantua from the Austrian -party, and to draw him into that of your Majesty, I am anxious to -contribute every thing in my feeble power for the success of this -object. Your Majesty will be made acquainted with all that has -passed by the despatches of the Ambassador. For myself, I bless the -destiny, which procures me the honour of serving so great a monarch, -whom I regard and revere as a demi-god. - -I will transmit to your Majesty all that I shall learn respecting -Casale, which has been fortified by one of the most skilful -engineers of the Milanese. This engineer has promised us a plan of -all the fortresses of that State, and even, if your Majesty commands -him, he will separate himself from the service of Spain, who does -not know how to recompense properly the services and the talents -of those who serve her with fidelity. I am convinced it would be -useless in me to enlarge upon the importance of the fortress of -Casale. Your Majesty must remember, that at different times it -has arrested the progress of many armies, and that it is the only -bulwark, upon which depends the loss or the preservation to the -Spaniards of the territories of Milan; territories, which for more -reasons than one, ought to belong to your Majesty's crown. - -It is known that the Austrians are at this moment arming, in order -to obtain possession by surprize of Casale, to the prejudice of the -Duke Ferdinand, my master, the lawful possessor of it. - -This Prince, nephew of Charles[161] the first, (which latter Prince -was rather French than Italian, and by whose intervention the -fortress of Pignerol has remained in the possession of your royal -house); this Prince, I say, Ferdinand, will make known, in fit -time and place, that he has not degenerated from his ancestors; -he has promised to serve you with the greatest fidelity, and -to fight for you in a manner worthy of his birth; and as he is -extremely anxious to acquire glory, I trust your Majesty will have -reason to applaud his conduct in your armies. By the confession -of even the most skilful political observers, he is free from the -suspicions, which may fall upon the other Italian Sovereigns. -The Abbé d'Estrades knows that his Highness has communications -with other great personages, who complain with reason of the -insupportable yoke of the Spaniards, and who will take arms with him -to combat, and to drive as quickly as possible from Italy, a power -which is only established there to oppress it. If destiny willed it -so, I have no doubt that the other Princes of this country would be -happy to enjoy a stable peace under the auspices of your Majesty. I -offer up vows for the progress of your victorious arms, and I pray -God to prolong your days for the consolation of the world, &c. - - HERCULES A. MATTHIOLI.[162] - - [161] Charles the first, Duke de Nevers in France, succeeded to - the sovereignty of Mantua on the death of his cousin Duke - Vincent II. His two sons, Charles Duke de Rhetelois, and - Ferdinand Duke de Mayenne, died during his life-time, and he - was consequently succeeded, at his death in 1637, by his - grandson Charles III. - - [162] This letter exists in cypher, and also written in Italian - and French, in the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs - at Paris. - - - - -No. 3. - -ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. - - Continuation of the negociation.--Intrigues of the Austrian - Party. - - Venice, Dec. 24, 1677. - - SIR, - -I have only some few particulars to add to the letter, which I did -myself the honour to write to the King last week; but as the Duke of -Mantua has made known to me, that they may serve to make you still -more aware how important it is to that Prince to take his measures -secretly, and to use all possible diligence for the conclusion of -the affair, which I have given an account of to his Majesty, I have -thought it necessary, Sir, that you should be informed of them. -Three days ago, the Duke of Mantua informed me that he had found -means to procure a copy of the written orders that the Empress -Eleanor and the Emperor, conjointly with the Spaniards, had given -to the Count Viltaliano Borromei, a Milanese, and the Imperial -Commissary. They are to this effect, that if the French should come -into Italy, and that it should appear to him that the Duke of Mantua -had any intention to be on their side, he should make use of this -pretext to render himself master of Casale without delay, by means -of their partizans, who are there in considerable numbers, and among -others, the Governor of the town, and the Governor of the citadel; -in order to preserve this fortress and all the Montferrat for the -Empress Eleanor. The Marquis Carrossa has received a similar order -with regard to Mantua. He is also an Imperial Commissary, and it -will be easy for him to execute what is ordered him, because the -Governor of the citadel is his brother-in-law, and the Major of the -town his intimate friend. On these accounts, the Duke of Mantua has -sent me word that in his present situation, in which he is besides -watched by his mother, by the Monk Bulgarini, who governs her, and -by the greater part of his Ministers, who are devoted to the House -of Austria, he is obliged to show no ambition, to appear to have no -knowledge of his own affairs, and to excite no suspicions by his -conduct; and also that he cannot declare himself openly in favour of -the King's interests, as he would wish to do, nor deliver up Casale -to his Majesty, unless he will send a sufficient army into Italy to -secure that fortress, and to defend him (the Duke) from the evils -that menace him, and from the designs which the House of Austria -has against him; and that this obliges him to supplicate and exhort -his Majesty to make an effort to that effect, even if he has not -actually resolved to carry the war into the Milanese, since Casale -is an acquisition sufficiently important to determine him to it. -But Matthioli, to whom the Duke of Mantua has given up the entire -conduct of this affair, goes still farther, and is confident, that -even in this case means could be easily found to place a Governor -in the citadel of Mantua, and a Major in the town, who should be as -much attached to the service of the King, as those who at present -occupy these two posts are to the House of Austria. - -We must, besides, Sir, consider that the Duke of Guastalla, being -the nearest relation of the Duke of Mantua, as well as his heir, -there would be danger that, if the Duchess his daughter, who is -very ill, and has no children, should die, some misfortune might -happen to the Duke of Mantua, which would assure his territories -to the Spanish nobleman, who has married the second daughter of -the Duke of Guastalla, and whose marriage the Spaniards, doubtless -with this view, made up at Vienna, by means of Don Vincent, who -returned from thence some time back. You know much better than I do, -Sir, of what consequence it would be to the king, not only to take -away the Mantuan and the Montferrat from the House of Austria, who -will never lose an opportunity of making use of them when they have -once obtained them, but besides to have in his own hands these two -states, by means of which his Majesty can easily bridle the Princes -of Italy. Therefore, I do not take the liberty of entering farther -upon this matter, or of mingling my reflections with those you may -choose to make upon it. - - * * * * * * - - I am, &c. - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[163] - - [163] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 4. - -ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. - - Intrigues of the Spaniards to form a league in Italy against - France. - - Venice, January 1st, 1678. - - SIR, - -I have so little news to send you from hence to-day, that I shall -very soon have told you all I know, and may hope not to fatigue you -with the length of this letter. - -I know that a Senator, who is one of the Pregadi, has said, that -the Emperor and the Spaniards are ardently soliciting the Nuncios -and the Ambassadors from Venice, residing at Madrid and Vienna, -to persuade their masters to unite with them against France, and -to represent to them that they have a common interest to preserve -Italy, and to keep out of it the armies of the King, with which -it is menaced. I do not believe that the Pope[164] will be much -disposed to do them this pleasure; and, Sir, I could almost venture -to assure you, that, if the republic should renounce the advantages -of that neutrality, which she has thus far so exactly observed, -it will not be for the purpose of partaking in the disgraces of -the house of Austria; and indeed it is in this sense that the -before-mentioned Senator talked upon the subject. * * * - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[165] - - [164] Benedict Odescalchi, son of a Milanese banker, elected - Pope, September 21st, 1676, and took the name of Innocent XI. - He was a good Pope, and a virtuous man, and a decided enemy to - _Nepotism_, against which he published a bull. He died August - 12th, 1689, and his memory was venerated as that of a saint by - his subjects. - - [165] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 5. - -POMPONNE TO ESTRADES. - - Saint Germain, January 5th, 1678. - - SIR, - -Not having yet had time to render an account to the King of -your despatch of the 18th of last month, I cannot inform you of -the sentiments of his Majesty as to what you acquaint him with -respecting the dispositions of the Duke of Mantua. I will, however, -do so by the next post. - - * * * * * * - - POMPONNE.[166] - - [166] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 6. - -POMPONNE TO ESTRADES. - - The King's approval of the negociation. - - Saint Germain, January 12th, 1678. - - SIR, - -You will see by the letter of the King which goes herewith, how much -his Majesty approves of the negociation, which you have entered into -with the Duke of Mantua, for an affair undoubtedly very important -at all times, but especially so at this conjuncture: you could not -also have conducted yourself in it with greater prudence, or greater -secrecy than you have done. - -I am very happy to see that you have taken advantage of this -occasion, to testify your zeal for the service of his Majesty; and I -hope that the success of the affair may assist you in procuring the -sooner from his Majesty, the favour that you have asked of him. - -We have not, at present, any news to send you from these parts; the -King's heavy baggage set off Monday morning, for St. Quentin, as I -sent you word; but his Majesty has not, as yet, made any preparation -to follow it. - - I am, &c. - - POMPONNE.[167] - - [167] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 7. - -LEWIS THE FOURTEENTH TO ESTRADES. - - Approval of the negociation.--Answer to the demands of the - Duke of Mantua. - - St. Germain, January 12th, 1678. - - ABBÉ D'ESTRADES, - -I have seen with pleasure, by your letter of the 18th of last month, -the pains you have taken, as well to draw the Duke of Mantua from -the lethargy of debauchery in which he is sunk, as to excite him to -throw off the yoke of the Archduchess, his mother, and of the Monk -Bulgarini; who, without leaving him any part in the government of -his territories, add every day to the shackles and the dependance, -by means of which they have subjected him to the House of Austria. -I take so much a greater interest in the more noble resolutions he -seems disposed to take, on account of his belonging to a family, -which was so long settled in France, and to which the King, my -father, gave such great proofs of his friendship and protection. I -should, therefore, wish you to let him know, by the same channels -as those you made use of to commence this negociation, that I have -learned with much satisfaction, the favourable dispositions he -has manifested for my interests, and for taking himself a part -more worthy of his fame and his birth; that on these accounts, I -receive with pleasure the propositions he has made you of attaching -himself to me by a union of measures, and by admitting my troops -into Casale, upon the same terms as those by which they formerly, -for so long a time, held possession of the place. Experience ought -to have taught him, that the authority of his father was never more -firmly established in the Montferrat, than when that fortress and -those territories were supported by my protection; and the affection -for the French name, which has still remained among the people, is -a sufficient testimony of the advantage and kindness they received -from them. - -In rendering an answer to the articles that he has communicated to -you, I shall commence by replying to the first; that, with regard -to the offer of delivering up to me the citadel and fortress of -Casale, I shall willingly content myself with holding them in the -same manner in which I held them formerly; that is to say, under -the condition of preserving them for the Duke of Mantua, and of -paying the garrisons I shall keep there. I would also, in order to -favour the warlike inclinations of this Prince, take measures with -him respecting the command of the armies I shall send across the -Alps. But he must be aware, that I cannot at all enter into any -consideration of the article, in which he demands, that I should get -restored to him the parts of the Montferrat, which have been ceded -to the Duke of Savoy. These cessions have been recognized by so many -treaties, in which I have been a principal party, that I cannot do -any thing that would invalidate them; all that I could possibly -do, would be to employ myself, as I have several times done, to -accommodate the differences which still exist between them, with -regard to the valuation of those same portions of territory, and the -sums that ought to be paid for them by the Duke of Savoy. - -It is a different case with regard to the losses which the Duke -of Mantua might sustain in the war he may possibly be engaged in -together with me. I would willingly bind myself not to make peace, -unless compensation was made to him; and I would equally enter, with -pleasure, into an agreement to share with him any conquests my arms -might make in the Milanese. - -As for his demand, that I should now make him a present of a hundred -thousand Pistoles, simply as a gift, you must make him understand -that this sum is too large, but that I should be ready to agree to -a more moderate one, according to the engagements he is willing to -enter into with me; and without explaining yourself as to what the -sum should be, you will make him first state what he expects, and -oblige him to keep within reasonable bounds. - -You will still continue to entertain the opinion that I intend -sending a considerable army this year into Italy, and you will keep -principally in view in your negociation, the having it in such -a state as to be able to prolong it without the danger of being -obliged to break it off; since it is for the good of my service -to continue it always in such a manner, that I may be the master -to conduct it as I please, either by enlarging or narrowing the -conditions. It is on this account, that as the Count Matthioli has -thus far been the principal confidant of this affair, and that he -must be the most powerful instrument of it, it is necessary that -you should keep him always in good humour, by the assurance of the -especial good-will I bear him for his conduct, and by the hope of -the marks of it I shall be inclined to give him. This is what I wish -you to say in addition to the letter which I send you for him, in -answer to the one he wrote to me. - - I am, &c. - - LEWIS.[168] - - [168] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 8. - -LEWIS THE FOURTEENTH TO MATTHIOLI. - - January 12th, 1678. - - COUNT MATTHIOLI, - -I have seen by the letter you wrote me, as well as by what my -Ambassador, the Abbé d'Estrades, communicated to me, the affection -that you show for my interests. You cannot doubt but that I am much -obliged to you for it, and that I shall have much pleasure in giving -you proofs of my satisfaction upon every occasion. Referring you, -therefore, for further particulars, to what will be said to you from -me by the Abbé d'Estrades, I shall not lengthen this letter more -than to add, that I pray God to have you, Count Matthioli, in his -holy keeping. - - LEWIS.[169] - - [169] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 9. - -ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. - - Venice, January 29th, 1678. - - SIR, - -I have nothing to add to what I did myself the honour to write -to the King, upon the present state of the affair, which I am -treating of with the Duke of Mantua. It goes on so rapidly, that -I am reduced to be sorry that I cannot find any difficulties, -which, without rendering the eventual success of it doubtful, might -prolong the negociations as long as the King seems to wish; but I -have the greatest difficulty to encourage the Duke of Mantua, under -the fear he is in of the Spaniards, which, to say the truth, is -pretty well founded; nor can he think himself in security, unless -he sees himself supported by all the protection the King can give. -Nevertheless, I will take care that this Prince does not escape -us, even if the affair should not be as quickly concluded as he -desires. I return you a thousand most humble thanks, Sir, for all -the kindness you show me on this occasion; and I can assure you, -that I shall be much more anxious for the success of this affair, -from my pleasure at having made known to the King by it the zeal -I have for his service, and having rendered myself worthy of the -favour you have done me, in procuring for me the situation I at -present hold, than from any hope of thereby bettering my fortune. - - * * * * * * - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[170] - - [170] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 10. - -ESTRADES TO LEWIS THE FOURTEENTH. - - Conference with Matthioli.--Discussion of the demands of the - Duke of Mantua. - - Venice, January 29th, 1678. - - SIRE, - -At the time that I received the letter which your Majesty did me the -honour to write to me on the 12th of this month, having learned that -the Count Matthioli was arrived at Venice, I sent to him to say that -I desired to have a conference with him, in consequence of which he -came to my house with the usual precautions. I first delivered into -his hands the letter with which your Majesty had charged me for him, -which he received with all possible marks of respect and gratitude; -and I told him, as your Majesty had commanded me, that you would not -content yourself with testifying with your own hand the satisfaction -you feel at the zeal he has shown for your interests, but that you -also ordered me expressly to assure him, that you were anxious to -give him other marks of it. I added to this, that he ought to think -himself happy to have found an occasion of meriting the kindness and -favours of your Majesty, which he could easily do through the means -of the implicit confidence placed in him by the Duke of Mantua, -to whom he would also have the satisfaction, at the same time, of -rendering the greatest service in his power. He answered me in a -manner that does not permit me to doubt his being as grateful as -it is possible to be for your Majesty's goodness, and his having a -very strong wish to serve you. Afterwards I read to him the obliging -expressions your Majesty makes use of to mark your affection for the -Duke of Mantua, and those other parts of your Majesty's despatch, -which I thought myself authorized to communicate, that he might know -that you had learned with pleasure the proposals of that Prince, and -that he might be aware of the considerable advantages, which would -be derived from the strict alliance he (the Duke) would enter into -with your Majesty by means of Casale, which you were willing to hold -possession of on the same terms as formerly; that is to say, paying -the garrison you should keep up in the place, and preserving it for -the Duke of Mantua. We afterwards came to talk upon his differences -with the Duke of Savoy, for the restitution claimed by him of the -parts of the Montferrat, which have been ceded to the latter; and -it was not till after some slight disputing, that I made the Count -Matthioli agree, by means of the same reasons you did me the honour -to detail to me, that _you_ could not enter into this affair in any -other way, than by employing yourself to accommodate it; but that -the intercession of your Majesty was sufficiently powerful to obtain -a satisfactory result for the Duke of Mantua. - -The Count Matthioli at length contented himself upon this point, but -he had more difficulty to give way upon the demand of the present -of one hundred thousand pistoles. He was the more obstinate in not -taking off any thing from this sum, because he said that it was to -be made use of for the interests of your Majesty; and that the Duke -of Mantua having taken possession of Guastalla,[171] without giving -notice to the Spaniards, he had judged it necessary to be upon his -guard against the umbrage they might take at this measure; that for -this purpose he had placed in Guastalla and in Casale the troops -he had raised, and whom he was obliged to pay; that he had sent -into the latter town great stores of corn and forage, and that he -could not support this expense in the state to which he was reduced -by his mother, who disposed entirely of his revenues. I answered -him, that the sum of money, which the Duke of Mantua requested your -Majesty to give him at present, was not necessary to him for the -expenses which he alleged; that the augmentation of the garrison -of Casale, and the provisions sent into it, were regarded by the -Spaniards themselves as precautions that he wisely took against -the enterprises of France, at a time when it was no longer doubted -that the latter power intended to carry the war into Italy; and -that therefore neither the partizans of the Spanish faction who are -about him, nor his mother, could refuse him the money he wanted -for that purpose; that I knew that his subjects would contribute -with pleasure, and that they had shown the greatest joy at their -Sovereign's applying himself to his own affairs; that till the -conclusion of the treaty, which was to unite him so firmly with -your Majesty, he would have no occasion for any new expenses, and -that he would then receive all the assistance and succour which -he could expect from your Majesty; that your Majesty, by engaging -yourself to pay and keep up the garrisons in Casale, ceded to the -Duke the entire enjoyment of the property and revenues without any -deduction, and that your Majesty would have no farther advantage -in this affair, than that of delivering him from the yoke which -the House of Austria had imposed upon him; and of facilitating the -conquests in the Milanese, of which you were to give him a share; so -that the present which he asked for, being to be considered purely -in the light of a gratification, a hundred thousand pistoles was a -demand so excessive, that your Majesty had not judged it right to -make any offer in consequence, and that you had only ordered me to -tell him, that you would have no objection to make a present to the -Duke of a more moderate sum; that therefore it was necessary for him -to explain himself clearly upon the subject. - -The Count Matthioli for some time refused to say any thing, taking -a line which was in appearance very civil, which was, that he threw -himself upon the generosity of your Majesty. But seeing that I -continued to desire him to speak, he reduced the sum by little -and little to five hundred thousand livres. I told him, that I -guessed pretty well what the Duke of Mantua might hope for from your -Majesty, and that I could not charge myself to lay _this proposal_ -before you, and that I also could not help telling him, that for a -man who professed to be so well-intentioned, he appeared to me very -unyielding upon a point of small moment, in a negociation from which -he would allow, without doubt, that the Duke of Mantua would derive -great and solid advantages. Finally, Sire, I brought him to content -himself with one hundred thousand crowns, and that on condition -that your Majesty was not to pay them till after the signature of -the treaty, and the exchange of the ratifications; and then, if you -chose not to give the whole sum at once, that the Duke of Mantua -should receive fifty thousand crowns first, and then the other fifty -thousand three months afterwards. Besides this, I declared to the -Count Matthioli that I could not answer for your Majesty's approving -of my having fixed upon so large a sum, but that I promised him to -do all that depended on me, to prevent my being disavowed. - -Not only have the other articles of your Majesty's despatch been -agreed to without difficulty, but they have even served powerfully -to confirm the Count Matthioli in his opinion, that the Duke of -Mantua cannot take a better course than that of abandoning himself -entirely to the protection of your Majesty. He has so firm a belief -in the resolution he is convinced you have taken of sending a -considerable army this year into Italy, that I should have no -difficulty in persuading him still more strongly of it; but I am -a little embarrassed with the anxiety of the Duke of Mantua to -conclude this affair, which is caused to him by his continual -terror of the design, which he understands the Spaniards continue -to have, of seizing upon his fortresses on the least pretext, and -on the first favourable occasion. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to -lengthen the negociation as much as your Majesty shall find useful -to your interests, as you have commanded me, and at the same time I -will take care not to put it in any danger of being broken off. I -implore your Majesty to be persuaded that I shall never be forgetful -of any thing which may be for the good of your service, or which may -testify the zeal and the profound respect, with which I am, Sire, - - Your Majesty's - most humble, most obedient, and - most faithful subject and servant, - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[172] - - [171] On the occasion of the death of Ferdinand III. Duke of - Guastalla, which occurred January 11th, 1678. The Duke of - Mantua had married his eldest daughter. - - [172] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 11. - -ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. - - The Duke of Mantua watched by the Spaniards. - - Venice, February 12th, 1678. - - SIR, - -Though the Duke of Mantua has been for the last fortnight at -Venice, I have not yet been able to see him; but he has sent me -word several times, by the Count Matthioli, that he had still more -impatience than even I have, that we should confer together; that -he only deferred giving himself that satisfaction, in order that he -might first get rid of those of his people whom he has the least -confidence in, and particularly four men, whom his mother has sent -with him here to observe all his actions, which they do with the -greatest care; and that two days before he sets off to return to -his own territories (where he is not afraid of any surprise, when -he shall be once there himself), he will acquaint me with the time -and place at which we may see one another. It is true, that the -step he has taken, of at once seizing upon the territories of the -late Duke of Guastalla, has very much disquieted the Spaniards; -and one sees that they are endeavouring, by all sorts of means, to -ascertain whether the Duke of Mantua has taken any measures to gain -the support of the King. His resident at Venice, who is devoted to -the Duchess his mother, came two days ago to the Sieur de Pinchesne -to ask, on the part of his master, whether I was about to despatch -an extraordinary courier to Paris, because his highness would be -glad to make use of him to convey there a packet of consequence: he -answered him, that affairs were so little of a pressing nature here, -that I always wrote by the usual conveyance, and that I had not at -present any reason for sending a courier; but that, if the Duke -of Mantua wished it, I would send one on his account. I made this -known to the Prince himself, who was surprized that his resident, -in his name, and without his order, should have made a request of -that nature; and as he was of opinion, as well as myself, that the -intention of his resident was by this means to discover whether a -packet, which, it was said, the Duke of Mantua had received from the -Grand Duchess,[173] was of importance, he agreed to the expedient -which I proposed to him, of sending publicly to make him the same -offers as those which had been made to his resident, in order that -he might be able to express before his ministers his disapprobation -of their entering, without his knowledge, into communications with -the French ambassador, being aware of the measures which it was -necessary for him to keep. He charged Matthioli to tell me that he -had had a letter from the Grand Duchess, to which he had sent an -answer, for the purpose of begging her to support his claims to the -King; having heard that the Duke of Modena[174] had complained to -his Majesty of his having taken possession of the succession of the -Duke of Guastalla, to which the Duke of Modena had pretensions. The -Sieur de Pinchesne went to him from me, and the thing was executed -as it had been previously determined upon; but his adventure, as -well as many other things which the Duke of Mantua discovers daily, -convince him that the Spaniards are suspicious of him, on which -account he is so uneasy, that he is more than ever anxious for your -Majesty to secure him quickly against their enterprises. - - * * * * * * - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[175] - - [173] Margaret Louisa, daughter of Gaston, Duke of Orleans; - married in 1661, to Cosmo III., Grand Duke of Tuscany, whom she - quarrelled with, and finally left, and returned to France, - where she established herself in the Abbey of Montmartre. She - died at an advanced age in 1721. - - [174] Francis of Este, Duke of Modena, succeeded his father, - Alphonso IV. in 1662. During his minority, his territories were - wisely and ably governed by his mother, Laura Martinozzi, niece - of Cardinal Mazarin. His only sister, Mary Beatrix, was the - second wife of James II. of England. He died in 1694. - - [175] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 12. - -ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. - - Impatience of the Duke of Mantua to conclude the - Negociation. - - Venice, February 19th, 1678. - - SIR, - -YOU will have seen by the last letters I did myself the honour to -write to you, that I take care to keep up the negociation I have -entered into with the Duke of Mantua, and to hold it always in that -state that it may be terminated in whatever way the King shall judge -most according to his interests. Thus, Sir, I have only to assure -you, that I shall apply myself, as you command me in your last -letter of the 2d of this month, to gain time, and to confirm the -Duke of Mantua in the resolution he has taken of abandoning himself -to the King's protection. He is as thoroughly persuaded as one could -wish, that he cannot take a better course, although the Spaniards -have lately been making him large offers of money and of employment, -in order to oblige him to declare himself openly in their favour, -and to allow of the introduction of a garrison of Germans into -Casale; but as he is always apprehensive, lest his want of affection -for the House of Austria should be discovered, he can never think -himself in security till he shall be supported by a treaty; and it -is this which gives him so much impatience to conclude the one he -intends making with the King. - - * * * * * * - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[176] - - [176] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 13. - -ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. - - Plans of the Spaniards.--Dispositions of the Venetian - Government. - - Venice, February 26th, 1678. - - SIR, - -I HAVE not had the honour of receiving any letters from you this -week. Indeed, I expected that the hurry of the King's departure -would prevent your writing. I have learned from good authority, that -the government here have received intelligence, that the Spaniards -have renewed their proposals to form a league of the Princes of -Italy against France, and that it was at Rome that they concerted -the means to succeed in it: this is, without doubt, what has given -occasion to the report which has been current for some days, that -the Cardinal Porto Carrero[177], in his way to Spain, where he is -going to take possession of the Archbishopric of Toledo, is to visit -the different Courts of Italy, to try to engage them in the party -which they call _the common cause_. It is said, that the Grand -Duke[178] has already made known his opinion, that if they intend -to unite, it ought to be for the maintenance of their liberty, and -that they ought not to engage themselves in an extensive war, or -to assist in enabling one of the two belligerent powers to oppress -them eventually with greater ease. This intelligence has obliged -me to give all my attention to penetrate the sentiments of the -Venetian government upon this subject; and I have been informed, -upon good authority, that thus far the determination is to deliver -themselves from the importunities of the Spaniards, if they should -be too pressing, by a similar reply to that which is said to have -been given at Florence; but it now appears to me, that the fear and -jealousy of the power of the King, which existed here formerly, -is very much reviving, and they are becoming apprehensive that -the designs of his Majesty are not confined to the preservation -of the conquests he has already made, nor even to those he may -make in Flanders. The senate is confirmed in this opinion, by the -letters of M. Contarini,[179] who sends them word that they must -not look for peace, because the King is against it. This way of -talking persuades me, that M. Contarini is either ill-intentioned -or ignorant--and his intelligence is very capable of augmenting the -disquietudes of the senate. I have shewn, as well as I was able, to -those I have spoken to upon the subject, that it is impossible to -act with more sincerity in favour of peace, or to facilitate more -the means of procuring it, than his Majesty has done. There is, -however, no probability that, in the present state of the affairs -of the Republic of Venice, and under the perpetual fear she is -in of the Grand Vizier,[180] she will dare to declare herself in -favour of the enemies of the King; but, Sir, I can assure you, from -the knowledge I have upon the subject, that at the present time, -we must only reckon upon the weakness of the Venetians, and upon -the poverty of their finances, and not upon their good intentions -towards us. If I might be permitted to give my opinion upon the -present conjuncture, I should say that there is not a more ready, -or more certain way of ruining all the measures of the Spaniards in -Italy, and of terminating in the King's favour the irresolutions -of the Senate, than by binding the Duke of Mantua by the treaty -which he is willing to make with his Majesty: not only is he always -in the same resolution of concluding this affair, on account of -the Emperor's having sent word to him that he does not wish to -deprive him of the succession of the Duke[181] his father-in-law, -but that he only desires him to withdraw the garrison he has placed -in Guastalla: but besides, because his Imperial Majesty presses him -to execute a treaty made by the late Duke, his father; which was -an engagement that he should never have any but a German garrison -in Casale. The Duke of Mantua shows me the greatest confidence, -sends me word, by the Count Matthioli, what is deliberating on the -state of affairs, in order to know my opinions before he decides -any thing. You may be sure, Sir, that I omit nothing on my part -to encourage his good dispositions, and to keep the negociation -always in that state, that the King may be the complete master of -it. The Duke of Mantua requested me, ten days ago, to come and see -him ride at the academy. I went accordingly, and found that he was -really very firm on horseback, though he has not a graceful seat, on -account of his leg having been formerly broke, and that it is the -custom here to wear the stirrups very short. As he piques himself -upon being a good horseman, he was much pleased at my praises, which -were repeated to him by the Count Matthioli; and at my promising to -repeat them in the first letter I should have occasion to write to -you. - -Two of the most considerable gentlemen of this republic, whose -names are, Cornaro the elder, called "of the great House," and a -Foscarini, are already intriguing to succeed M. Contarini, in the -embassy to France, although the choice cannot be made till the month -of September; upon whichever of the two it shall fall, he will fill -the situation worthily, above all in the article of expense, as they -are both very rich and very generous. - -Although I took the liberty, Sir, to request, in my last letter, -your protection with M. Colbert,[182] for the payment of my -appointment, and, above all, for the payment of those of the first -six months of the year 1676, for which I have long had the orders, -I have not yet been able to obtain them. I am, however, forced by -my pressing necessities to renew my request, and to supplicate you -most humbly to procure me this favour from M. Colbert. I trust, Sir, -you will be kind enough to afford me this mark of your affection, -which is the greatest I can possibly receive, in the embarrassment -in which I at present find myself; and that you will be always -persuaded that I am, with profound respect, and unalterable -attachment, - - Sir, &c. - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[183] - - [177] Lewis Emmanuel Ferdinand Portocarrero, second son of the - Marquis of Almenara: created a Cardinal in 1669, by Clement - IX.; Archbishop of Toledo and Primate of Spain, 1677; commander - of the order of the St. Esprit, and Bishop of Palestrina. Was - also, at different periods of his life, Viceroy of Sicily, - Ambassador at Rome, Lieutenant-General at sea, and twice - Governor of Spain. Died at Madrid, September 14th, 1709. - - [178] Cosmo III., Grand Duke of Tuscany, son of Ferdinand II. - and Victoria Della Rovere, heiress of the Dukes of Urbino. - Succeeded his father in 1670, and died in 1723, aged 81 years. - He was a weak, narrow-minded, and bigoted Prince; and was the - Duke of Tuscany, whose travels in England, in the reign of - Charles II. have been published. - - [179] At that time Ambassador to France, from the Republic of - Venice. - - [180] The Grand Vizier, at this moment, was Achmet Coprogli, - the most illustrious, perhaps, of all the ministers who have - ever governed the Ottoman Empire. He inherited the eminent - talents of his father, Mahomet Coprogli, whom he succeeded as - Grand Vizier, in 1661; and was superior to him in humanity and - generosity. His military exploits were also more considerable. - In 1669, he successfully concluded the siege of Candia, which - had lasted twenty-two years. He died in 1678; having for - seventeen years sustained the throne, and rendered illustrious - the reign of his feeble and indolent master, Mahomet IV. - - [181] Of Guastalla. - - [182] John Baptist Colbert, one of the most eminent men of - the many who adorned and illustrated the reign of Lewis XIV. - He was an able and honest financier, a great statesman, and - an enlightened patron of letters and arts. The blots in his - character were, his persecution of Fouquet, and his enmity to - the virtuous Arnaud de Pomponne, to the disgrace of whom he - largely contributed. He was made Comptroller-general of the - Finances, in 1664; Secretary of State for the Marine, in 1669; - and died in 1683. - - [183] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - - -No. 14. - -POMPONNE TO ESTRADES. - - Recommendations of Delay in the Negociation. - - Cambray, March 1st, 1678. - - SIR, - -I have rendered an account to the King, during his journey, of -your despatches of the 29th of January and 5th of February. I -shall not now have time enough to send you a long answer to them. -I shall therefore only tell you, that his Majesty saw in them the -continuation of the negociation which you have entered into with the -Count Matthioli; that you had been discussing the points which he -proposed to you, and those which his Majesty wishes neither to grant -nor to refuse; that you had even descended to the detail of the sum -which had been demanded, and that you had reduced it to one hundred -thousand crowns. On these subjects I have to inform you, Sir, that -his Majesty approves entirely of your continuing a negociation, -which may eventually be of very considerable importance; but for -this it is necessary that the opportunities should be favourable, -and the more so, as the basis of whatever treaty is concluded, must -necessarily be the King's sending a powerful army across the Alps. -You, I am sure, are sufficiently aware, that thus far events do not -seem to favour such a project; it is, however, always advisable to -continue to encourage the belief of it, and this is what his Majesty -thinks it will be best for you to do; but he does not see the -necessity for your entering into any engagement upon a point, which -must fail of success, and which would render useless any expense his -Majesty may go to. Therefore, Sir, your best course to pursue is, -to cultivate always the good intentions of the Count Matthioli, and -through him those of his master; not to put an end to the hope they -have to see the arms of France in Italy; but to defer the answer -they expect from you, partly upon the ground of the journey and the -campaign in which his Majesty is at present engaged, which prevents -his writing to you, and partly upon other reasons; but still to -keep the negociation, as much as you are able, in such a state as -his Majesty may be able to take advantage of, according to the -conjuncture of affairs. * * * - - POMPONNE.[184] - - [184] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 15. - -ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. - - Information respecting the Dispositions of the Venetians. - - Venice, March 12, 1678. - - SIR, - -The hurry which I know always prevails on a march, left me but -little hope of hearing from you till you arrived at Metz, and I am -therefore the more obliged to you for your kindness, in writing to -me on the 15th of last month from Vitry. - -I have nothing certain to send you to-day; but next week I shall -have the honour of sending to the King an account of the conference, -which I am decidedly to have to-morrow evening with the Duke of -Mantua. All the measures are taken for this purpose; and that -Prince has sent me word that he will explain to me the reasons -which oblige him to send the Count Matthioli, without delay, to -your Majesty; he will not, however, set off for ten or twelve days, -and I explained to him that it was necessary first that I should -be made acquainted with the subject of his mission. I thought it -necessary to obtain a knowledge of it, in order that his Majesty -may be fully informed before the Count Matthioli waits upon him. -I can only assure you at present, that things could not be better -disposed for the formation of a powerful league in Italy, to drive -the Spaniards entirely out of it, in case the King chooses to turn -his arms to this side. This is what you shall be informed of more in -detail, and more particularly, in my next despatch; because I shall -be able to speak to you upon the subject with certainty, after I -have learned from the Count Matthioli, the success of a negociation -which he has entered into lately with the Republic, in the name of -the Duke of Mantua, to which I am privy. We agreed that the pretext -he should make use of, was the desire of that Prince to regulate -himself by the counsels of the Senate, after having communicated -to them his legitimate rights to Guastalla, and the well-grounded -fears he entertains from the sentiments displayed by the House of -Austria towards him in this affair. M. Matthioli has already had -two conferences with a sage of the _terra firma_, named Lando, a -deputy of the College, and he is to have three more with him this -week; which will discover to us the real dispositions of the Senate -towards his Majesty. It is easy to see by the manner in which this -senator has already spoken, that if a French army was to arrive in -Italy, the Republic would prefer profiting by the misfortunes and -weakness of the House of Austria, by joining her arms to those of -the King, to remaining in a neutrality, which would appear to her -dangerous, while the army of so powerful a prince was carrying on -war at her gates. These political views of the Venetians justify -what I have already had the honour of remarking to you, that we must -expect nothing from them, except what fear or interest may oblige -them to. * * * - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[185] - - [185] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 16. - -ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. - - Fears of the Duke of Mantua. - - Venice, March 19th, 1678. - - SIR, - -I have not had the honour of receiving any letter from you this -week. You will see by the account I send to the King, what passed -at the conference I had with the Duke of Mantua. I will only add to -it, Sir, that, if his Majesty deems it to his advantage, that this -Prince should be united with him, according to the conditions which -have been proposed, it appears to me that it will be necessary, -before the Count Matthioli sets off for Paris, to put this affair -in a situation in which it is no longer liable to be broken off; -because I have seen the Duke of Mantua so alarmed at the menaces of -the Spaniards, and at the protection they afford openly to the Count -de Prades,[186] who pretends that the Duchy of Guastalla belongs -to him, that I have been unable to tranquillize his fears, except -by giving him the hope that the return of the Count Matthioli will -deliver him from all his embarrassments; and if he was to see him -return without bringing the King's consent for the conclusion of the -affair, and without a certain assurance of speedy assistance, I do -not know whether the fear of being stripped of his territories would -not make him change his resolution. I have thought, Sir, that I -ought to inform you faithfully of the situation in which I find the -mind of the Duke of Mantua, in order that you may regulate yourself -accordingly. - -The Senate has discovered that the Pope[187] has let drop, of his -own accord, the affair of the adjustment between the Republic and -Spain, on the occasion of what has passed at Trieste, because His -Holiness wishes to be the only Mediator of the Catholic Princes at -the Assembly of Nimeguen, and that the Ambassador of Venice should -not divide this honour with his Nuncio. * * * - - I am, &c. - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[188] - - [186] This is one of those mistakes into which the French are - so liable to fall from their slovenly way of writing the names - of foreigners. The _Count de Prades_ means Emmanuel _Count - d'Eparêdés_. Viceroy of Valentia, a Spanish nobleman, whose - daughter married Vespasian Gonzaga, only brother of Ferdinand - III., Duke of Guastalla. The sole offspring of this marriage - was Maria Louisa, who, as has before been mentioned, (see note, - page 18,) married Thomas de la Cerda, Marquis of Laguna. - - [187] Innocent the Eleventh (Odescalchi;) see note, page 109. - At this time, the conferences for the peace of Nimeguen had - commenced. That peace was concluded and signed on the 10th of - August of this same year. - - [188] From the archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 17. - -ESTRADES TO LEWIS THE FOURTEENTH. - - Account of his Interview with the Duke of Mantua.--The - latter insists upon sending Matthioli to Paris. - - Venice, March 19th, 1678. - - SIRE, - -A week ago I communicated to M. de Pomponne that I was to have a -conference the next day with the Duke of Mantua. We met, as had been -concerted, at midnight, in a small open place, which is at an equal -distance from his house and mine. I was an entire hour with him, -and not only did I tell him all that your Majesty had desired me -to apprize him of, and which he had already learned from the Count -Matthioli, but besides, I re-assured him, as much as I was able, -upon the subject of the constant, and indeed well-grounded, alarms -he is in with regard to the Spaniards. I did not explain myself to -him with regard to the present your Majesty intends making to him -in money, as soon as the treaty shall be concluded; but contented -myself with promising that he should have reason to be content with -it. He appeared to be much satisfied with our conversation; and, -on my side, I have no less reason to be so; since he has confirmed -to me all that the Count Matthioli told me from him. I have given -so exact an account of these things to your Majesty in the letters -I have had the honour to write to yourself and to M. de Pomponne, -that it is useless for me to enlarge more upon this subject. When we -were upon the point of separating, the Duke of Mantua represented -to me the risk he is in of being overwhelmed by the Spaniards, -whose bad intentions he cannot doubt of, after their late earnest -persuasions to him, to admit the Germans into Casale, to withdraw -his garrison from Guastalla, and to declare himself openly and -without delay in their favour. He added, that I must be aware, that -under the resolution he had taken of serving your Majesty, both with -his person and his territories, he would do nothing prejudicial -to your interests; but that, if the Spaniards did not give him -more money than what they were accustomed to furnish him with, -for the support of the garrison of Casale, as they had declared -to him was their intention, he should not be able to support the -expense of it himself, or to preserve that fortress; that the danger -was so pressing, that no time was to be lost in placing him in -a state of safety, and that affairs went on so slowly by means -of despatches, that he found himself obliged to send the Count -Matthioli to your Majesty, to expose to you the state to which he -finds himself reduced, and to implore you to deliver him from it as -quickly as may be possible. - -I have not dared, Sire, to oppose myself to this journey, because -I perceived that the Duke of Mantua had taken some offence, or at -least that he had some uneasiness at the length of this negociation, -which I have protracted upon different pretexts as much as I was -able, without endangering it, as your Majesty had ordered me; and -because besides I have thought that you would be the more assured -of the firmness of the Duke of Mantua, when the Count Matthioli, -in whom he has a blind confidence, and who governs him absolutely, -should be with you. He will make known to your Majesty, better than -can be done by letters, the facilities you would find in conquering -the Milanese, the intelligences that may be established there, and -the detail of the whole negociation he has had with the Republic of -Venice in the name of the Duke of Mantua, who demanded the advice -of the Senate upon the affair of Guastalla, and its assistance, in -case it was attempted to disturb him by force in the possession of -that Duchy. The Senate has sent word to Matthioli, by a Sage of -_terra firma_, who was deputed for this purpose, that the Duke of -Mantua ought to retain possession of Guastalla; that the Republic -would render him all the good offices she could, and that even if -her intercession should be of no avail, she would still assist -him secretly with advice and money, and not abandon him. This -Senator gave him to understand, that if your Majesty was to send -an army into Italy, and that the Duke of Mantua should be in your -interests, the Republic would not be disinclined to enter into the -same party; and the Procurator Nani,[189] with whom he has also had -two conversations, explained himself upon this subject still more -clearly. - -As the Count Matthioli is not to receive his instructions till the -day after to-morrow, he will not, certainly, set off from hence till -towards the end of the week. I shall have the honour of acquainting -your Majesty with what they contain of most importance, as well as -with the time by which the Count Matthioli can be with you. - - I am, - with every kind of respect and submission, - Sire, - Your Majesty's - most humble, most obedient, and - most faithful Servant and Subject, - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[190] - - [189] John Baptist Felix Gaspar Nani was descended from an - illustrious family at Venice, and was born on the 30th of - August, 1616. He distinguished himself early in diplomacy, and - was for twenty-five years ambassador from the Republic to - France. He was subsequently chosen Procurator of St. Mark, the - next dignity in the Republic to that of Doge. He is best known - to posterity by his "Istoria della Republica Veneta,"--which is - a valuable and useful work, though it has been reprobated as - being partial, and written in a vicious and incorrect Italian. - He died on the 25th of November, 1678. - - [190] From the archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 18. - -ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. - - Reasons for consenting to the mission of Matthioli to Paris. - - Venice, March 26th, 1678. - - SIR, - -My last letters will have shown you that I had forestalled in -some measure, the orders which I received in the one of the 4th -of this month, which you did me the honour to write me. I had -judged that, in the present conjuncture, it would not be easy -for the King to send a powerful army into Italy, so speedily as -was wished. It appeared to me, nevertheless, that His Majesty -considered the negociation which I had commenced with the Duke of -Mantua, through the means of the Count Matthioli, as an affair -which might eventually be of use to him, and which he would wish -to be in a situation to profit by. Therefore, Sir, I have used all -my endeavours to encourage the opinion already entertained, that -the arms of France will appear in the Milanese, and to confirm the -Duke of Mantua in his good dispositions towards His Majesty, and -in his suspicions of the Spaniards. I had even made use of the -same reasons, which you prescribe to me to urge in your letter, -to moderate his impatience to conclude the treaty, which he is -desirous of making with the King. Before His Majesty left St. -Germain, I represented to the Count Matthioli that the negociations -with England occupied him too much, to permit him, in such very -critical times, to apply himself as much as was necessary to a new -enterprize of the importance of the one that was meditated in Italy; -and since that, I have alleged to him the difficulty of getting -answers during the hurry of the journey, and the occupations of the -campaign, which oblige the King to go frequently from one place to -another. I have added, that I was by no means surprized at this, and -that, in preceding years, I had rarely received any letters from -you at those times. He has contented himself, thus far, with the -excuses I have given him; but the Duke of Mantua is so violently -alarmed at the peril in which he believes himself to be, and at the -length of the negociation, that he has absolutely determined upon -sending the Count Matthioli to the King--and I have not dared to -oppose myself to this, from the fear of giving him suspicions, or -of disgusting him with the negociation altogether. It is true, Sir, -that after having well considered the manner in which this journey -could be accomplished, I have thought that it would turn out to be -the most easy and the most infallible method to confirm still more -the dispositions of the Duke of Mantua, and to prolong this affair -as long as the King shall judge for the good of his service. I have -for this purpose persuaded the Count Matthioli that it was important -he should not go immediately to his Majesty, but that he should -first pay a visit to some of the towns in Italy, under the pretext -of his master's interests, and his disputes with the Duke of Modena -respecting the Duchy of Guastalla, in order that there may be no -suspicion of his going into France. He is agreed upon this point -with me; and by the reckoning we have made together of his course, -and the halts he will make, I can assure you, Sir, that you will -not see him for these two months. It will be still easier for you, -when he does arrive, to detain him at least as long; and thus the -campaign will be nearly finished without the Duke of Mantua's being -able to complain of the delay, or to take measures contrary to the -King's intentions. Since this Prince left Venice, he is travelling -about his territories, without ever stopping more than three or -four days in a place, in order to avoid giving audience to the -Spanish envoys, who are waiting for him at Mantua, and to whom he -has sent word that they may address themselves to his Council; that -for himself, he has no answer to give them to their propositions, -because he is waiting for intelligence from Vienna, by which he -intends to regulate his conduct. The Count Matthioli went to him the -beginning of this week, in order to receive his instructions for -his journey to Paris, and to give him an account of his negociation -with the Republic. He will afterwards return here to explain to the -Senate his Master's sentiments; and so, Sir, I shall perhaps have a -further opportunity of deferring his departure for a still longer -time. * * * - - I am, &c. - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[191] - - [191] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 19. - -ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. - - Venice, April 2d, 1678. - - SIR, - - * * * * * * - -I have nothing to add to what I have already had the honour of -writing to you, upon the affair which regards the Duke of Mantua. I -have received this morning a note from the Count Matthioli, in which -he gives me intelligence that he shall be here to-morrow; and that -he will come the same day to me, an hour after sunset. I will not -fail to give you an account, in my next letter, of the conversation -I shall have with him. I am glad that he did not return to Venice so -soon as he originally intended; because his journey to Paris will -be, in consequence, deferred some days longer. I will try to obtain -intelligence why the Resident from Mantua has had such frequent -audiences of the College for the last few days. - - * * * * * * - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[192] - - [192] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 20. - -POMPONNE TO ESTRADES. - - Approval of Matthioli's Mission to France.--Permission to - Estrades to leave Venice. - - April 5th, 1678. - - SIR, - -We are now at the end of our journey, and consequently at the end -of my want of punctuality in writing to you. The being stationary -at St. Germain, will make me more regular. I took an opportunity, -yesterday, to give an account to his Majesty of your letters of -the 5th, 12th, and 19th of last month. He appeared satisfied with -the manner in which you have conducted the business with the -Duke of Mantua; and was made acquainted, by your letter, written -after your interview with that prince, with the resolution he had -taken of sending the Count Matthioli to France. You will have -already seen by my despatches, that there is little probability of -his Majesty's being able to send a considerable army into Italy -this year. Now it appears, that the expectation of his sending -one, forms the foundation of all the designs which the Duke of -Mantua has communicated to you. You must be aware, that it would -answer no good purpose to undeceive him; because this would be to -break off a negociation, which may otherwise have considerable -results. Therefore one of the advantages of the journey of the -Count Matthioli is, that it gains time; besides, perhaps it may -be possible to remove difficulties, and take measures with him in -person, which might be difficult to be arranged at a distance. -Therefore, Sir, you will see that, as the King cannot grant the -principal conditions which have been required, because they all turn -upon an action in Italy, we cannot flatter ourselves with concluding -any thing with this prince, at present. This is what makes me think, -that if it is so particularly necessary for your interests, as you -say, to return to France, there is nothing that need prevent your -executing your wish. His Majesty appears to me so much satisfied -with your services, that, though he has doubtless the intention of -making use of them in a sphere which will give them a wider scope -than Venice does, he will willingly grant you leave of absence. I -have even already made him acquainted with your wish; and it appears -to me, that you are at liberty to do what you choose; either to stay -at Venice, or to come to Paris. * * * - - * * * * * * - - POMPONNE.[193] - - [193] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 21. - -ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. - - Conversation with Matthioli. - - Venice, April 9th, 1678. - - SIR, - -The Count Matthioli arrived here six days ago; I had a conversation -with him the same evening, and the day after he set off for -Bologna, where he was to meet the Duke of Mantua, who will send -him from thence to Paris, after having given him his last orders. -He assured me that he was charged to confirm to his Majesty all -that I have had the honour of acquainting him with, and that his -master had only recommended him not to consent to the putting a -French garrison into Casale, as long as he could fight it off. But, -Sir, he told me at the same time, that he saw too well that this -condition was the actual foundation of the proposed treaty, to wish -to raise a negociation respecting it; and that he had made the -Duke of Mantua understand that it was necessary to act with good -faith towards the King, and not to balance about giving him this -security and satisfaction, if he wished to attach himself to the -interests of his Majesty, as he had determined to do. I perceived -notwithstanding, though he did not speak openly of it, that the -example of Messina[194] had made him reflect upon the consequences -of the engagement his master was about to make with the King, which -obliged me to represent to him how much this fear was ill-founded, -and what a difference there was between a solemn treaty of two -Sovereign Princes, as the one we were now concerting would be, and -the assistance which his Majesty had only given to the Messinese -from pure generosity. - -The Count Matthioli professed to be of my opinion, and to have great -joy at seeing affairs as well-disposed as he could possibly have -wished. - - * * * * * * - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[195] - - [194] In 1674 the people of Messina in Sicily, unable any - longer to bear the harshness of the Spanish Government, - revolted. The French assisted them with a body of troops under - the command of the Chevalier de Valbelle. In 1676 the Marshal - de Vivonne was sent there with a powerful fleet, and gained a - complete victory over those of Spain and Holland. But in the - beginning of 1678, the French, alarmed at the prospect of a - union of England with their enemies, abandoned Sicily to its - fate. It is to this latter event that Estrades alludes. - - [195] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 22. - -POMPONNE TO ESTRADES. - - St. Germain, April 13th, 1678. - - SIR, - -I have already sent you word that the King approves very much of -the manner in which you have carried on the negociation with the -Duke of Mantua, without either breaking it off or advancing it too -much. It is even advantageous, as a very natural means of gaining -time, that that Prince should have taken the part of sending the -Count Matthioli to the King. We may treat with him according to -the propositions he is charged with; but it would be a pity if the -foundation of them was to be the condition of sending a powerful -army into Italy this year, because I can tell you in confidence, -that the King has not yet taken any measures for the purpose. - - * * * * * * - - POMPONNE.[196] - - [196] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 23. - -ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. - - Means of protracting the Negociation.--Views of Matthioli. - - Venice, April 30th, 1678. - - SIR, - -I consider myself very happy, that the King has so much approved of -the manner in which I have conducted myself, in the affair of the -Duke of Mantua, as you have informed me in the letter which you did -me the honour to write to me on the 13th of this month, and that -his Majesty has had the goodness to regard more the zeal I have for -his service than my capacity. I shall have nothing more in future -to tell you on this subject, but the Count Matthioli will give you -ample information, when he arrives at Court, of the sentiments of -his master; of the state of his affairs; and of what may be expected -from them. The disposition in which I have seen him, makes me hope -that it will not be impossible to protract this negociation, without -running the risk of breaking it off, until the season for action is -past, and that, when he shall see the necessity that there is of -waiting till the King can take measures for sending an army into -Italy, he will willingly employ the influence he possesses over the -mind of the Duke of Mantua, to take from him all kind of suspicion, -and to prevent his being impatient at this delay; perhaps even he -might be able to persuade his master, if he should really endeavour -it, to put himself under the declared protection of the King, as he -has thus far been under that of the House of Austria; and to content -himself with his Majesty's paying the garrison he intends to place -in Casale. Finally, Sir, this affair will be in such good hands, -since it is yourself that will manage it, that even what appears the -most difficult in it may very well succeed. I will only add, that I -know that the Count Matthioli has a great desire, and need of making -his fortune, and that there are few things to which his master would -not consent for a considerable sum of money, and from the hope of a -great employment; of which, in fact, the title alone need be given -to him; as was the case with the Duke of Modena in the service of -France, and with the late Duke of Mantua in that of the Emperor, -whose Vicar-general he was in Italy, with the command of an army -there. - - * * * * * * - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[197] - - [197] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 24. - -ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. - - Delay in Matthioli's Journey to Paris. - - Venice, May 21, 1678. - - SIR, - - * * * * * * - -The Count Matthioli has been here for the last four days with his -master. He came to me yesterday, to tell me that the Spaniards -had been, for the last two months, making such great advances to -the Duke of Mantua, that they would, perhaps, have obliged him to -consent to all they desired, which was the removing his garrison -from Guastalla, introducing the Germans into Casale, and declaring -himself openly against France, if he had separated himself for a -single moment from him; the Duchess-mother, and all the council of -this Prince, being devoted to the House of Austria. That it was -necessary he should wait for the return of the Marquis Galerati from -Milan, and that he should remain, besides, three weeks or a month -with the Duke of Mantua, who was to go, during that time, to Casale, -where he had persuaded him to wait for his return from France. That, -therefore, he could not set off till towards the end of June, but -that he would not delay beyond that time. I answered him, that he -had been in the right to remain with his master, at a time when -his presence was so necessary to him; that he ought not to set off -on his journey to Paris, till he was well assured that his absence -would cause no change, either in the sentiments or the affairs of -that Prince, but that I could assure him the King would see him with -pleasure, and that he would receive every kind of satisfaction from -his journey. * * * - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[198] - - [198] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 25. - -ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. - - Interview with Matthioli. - - Venice, June 11, 1678. - - SIR, - - * * * * * * - -The Count Matthioli, who does not lose sight of the Duke of Mantua, -for the reasons that I have already informed you of, is come here to -make a stay of three or four days with that Prince; he has assured -me that he is still in the resolution of setting off, the end of -this month, to go to Paris; and that he will first accompany his -master to Casale, where he has lately discovered the intrigues of -the Spaniards, for the purpose of obtaining possession of that -place. I have taken occasion, Sir, to represent to him, that, even -if the report, which has been spread of a general peace, should be -true, the Duke of Mantua would have still more need of the King's -protection; that the House of Austria will not be in a condition -to do injury to any Prince, as long as she shall have to contend -with the power of his Majesty; but that if she had no longer this -obstacle, it would be easy for her to execute the designs, which -his master could not doubt her having against him; that it was -greatly his interest to put himself in such a state, that he need -not fear being deprived of Casale and the Montferrat, of which the -Court of Vienna had declared its wish to put the Empress Eleanor -in possession, who had no other view than that of leaving it some -day to the Prince of Lorrain,[199] in favour of his marriage with -the widow of the King of Poland; that the Duke of Mantua could not -avoid this misfortune, except by procuring for himself the support -of the King, by means of an intimate connection of interests; as -would be that he would have with him, if his Majesty had a garrison -in Casale, which would be paid at his expense, and kept on the same -conditions as we had already agreed upon; that this would make -him the more secure, from the circumstance of his Majesty's never -having had any claims upon his territories, and from his being -the only sovereign who was capable of defending them successfully -against those, who thought they had well-grounded claims upon them. -I added to this, that if he reflected upon what I told him, he -would, without doubt, perceive, that the Duke of Mantua could not -take a better line, than the one that I proposed to him. The Count -Matthioli answered me, that he was so persuaded of this, and that -he was so assured of the aversion which that Prince had for the -Spaniards, and of his inclination towards France, that even if -at his arrival at Court he should find the peace concluded and -published, and that there should be in consequence no more hope of -seeing the war in the Milanese, which his master so much wished -for there, he would still not hesitate to conclude in his name the -affair which we have commenced here, provided the King wished for -it. Should this agree with his Majesty's designs, you, Sir, will -know better than any body how to make use of the good intentions of -the Count Matthioli, when he shall be with you. - - * * * * * * - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[200] - - [199] Charles V. Duke of Lorrain, married, in the commencement - of this year, Eleanor, daughter of the Emperor Leopold, and - widow of Michael Wiecnowiecki, King of Poland. For an account - of him, see note, page 48. - - [200] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 26. - -POMPONNE TO ESTRADES. - - St. Germain, June 15, 1678. - - SIR, - -I answer your letters of the 21st and 28th of May, and of the 4th -of this month together; the first has made known to the King the -reasons which have delayed the Count Matthioli: if they are really -such as he told you, and that he has thought his presence necessary, -in order to prevent the injurious resolutions to which the Spaniards -might have persuaded his master, it is quite right in him not to -have left him; it would also be advantageous if he could soon -withdraw him from Mantua, and lead him to Casale. It will then be -more easy for him to make his journey into France, and to insure the -success of the measures which he has concerted with you. - - * * * * * * - - POMPONNE.[201] - - [201] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 27. - -POMPONNE TO ESTRADES. - - June 22, 1678. - - SIR, - -The King has seen the letter which you were pleased to write to me, -and his Majesty has learnt from it with pleasure, that the Count -Matthioli is always in the same sentiments of affection and zeal, -which he has already shown for his Majesty. Continue to strengthen -him in them, by the hope of the same advantages which you have -already shown him that the Duke his master will find in the alliance -and protection of the King. The Duke not being in a condition to -preserve Casale, without the assistance of some one more powerful -than himself, he cannot certainly receive it more usefully and more -surely than from the hands of his Majesty. I trust you will labour, -as you have already done, to inspire him with the desire of it, -from the pleasure that you will have in rendering a very agreeable -service to his Majesty. - - * * * * * * - - POMPONNE.[202] - - [202] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 28. - -ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. - - Differences between the Duke of Mantua and the Spaniards. - - Venice, July 2, 1678. - - SIR, - -I see by the letter, which you did me the honour to write to me on -the 15th of last month, that you have approved of the assiduity of -the Count Matthioli about the Duke of Mantua, from the reasons which -I sent you. It will appear to you still more useful, when you are -told that he has obliged that Prince to break off the marriage of -the great-nephew of Don Vincent of Gonzaga, Viceroy of Sicily, with -the second daughter of the late Duke of Guastalla, and sister of the -Duchess of Mantua, which was already concluded, and which had been -contrived by the Spaniards, in the view of putting him more easily -in possession of the Duchy of Guastalla; so that the Duke of Mantua -is at present so much at variance with the Spaniards, that it is not -difficult to make him comprehend that there is no other safe part -for him to take, than that of putting himself under the protection -of the King, and of fulfilling those engagements with his Majesty, -which he has already agreed upon. This is what I represented to the -Count Matthioli at his last visit to this place, and he was the -more easily brought to be of this opinion, because he has a great -interest that this affair should succeed, since the Spaniards, who -are all-powerful in the councils of his master, and who have the -Duchess-mother on their side, have easily discovered that it is -he alone who injures them in the mind of the Duke, and would not -fail to take vengeance on him, if he ever fell into their hands. He -departed yesterday to go and join the Duke of Mantua, whom he does -not quit, and whom he is to accompany to Mantua, and afterwards to -Casale, from whence he will proceed to Paris: but, by the reckoning -that we have made together, he cannot be there before the end of the -next month. - - * * * * * * - -Sir, I am obliged to tell you that the Nuncio is so devoted to the -Spaniards, and that he sees with so much chagrin the power of the -King, and the weakness of the House of Austria, that he would be -capable of inventing to me a story of this nature, even should it -not be true.[203] * * * - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[204] - - [203] As the letter breaks off here abruptly, it is impossible - for us to discover to what transaction Estrades alludes. - - [204] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 29. - -ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. - - Excuses for the delay of Matthioli. - - Venice, July 9, 1678. - - SIR, - -After what I had the honour of acquainting you with in my last -letter, on the subject of the Count Matthioli, I should not have -any thing further to add to-day, if he had not begged me to let you -know that he has only remained at Venice some days longer than he -originally intended, in order to execute some little commissions -which the Duke of Mantua gave him when he left the place; but that -he will go and meet that Prince this week at Mantua, that he will -follow him to Casale, and that from thence he will set off to go to -Paris, where he expects to arrive during the month of September. We -have together calculated the time, and he cannot and ought not to -leave his master sooner. He has, however, been apprehensive that -these delays might give a bad opinion of him, and he has wished, in -order to set his mind at rest, that I would send you the letters he -has written to the King and to you, Sir; although I assured him he -need not take this trouble, and that it would be sufficient if I -bore testimony to his zeal and to his good intentions. * * * - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[205] - - [205] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 30. - -POMPONNE TO ESTRADES. - - July 13, 1678. - - SIR, - -The letter which you were pleased to write to me on the second of -this month, has shown the King that the Count Matthioli continues -in the same good intentions for his service, and in the design of -coming to France. His Majesty sees with pleasure that he is making -preparation, in order to be able to finish there the negociation -which you have commenced with him; and he has also been well -contented that, in order to prevent his master from entering into -more intimate engagements with the Spaniards, he has caused to be -broken off the marriage, which was on the point of taking place, -between the great-nephew of Don Vincent of Gonzaga, Viceroy of -Sicily, and the second daughter of the Duke of Guastalla. - - POMPONNE.[206] - - [206] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 31. - -ESTRADES TO POMPONNE. - - Venice, July 30, 1678. - - SIR, - -I have nothing new to send you, in return for what you tell me, in -the letter which you did me the honour to write to me on the 13th of -this month: but as soon as the Duke of Mantua shall be arrived at -Casale, I shall be able to inform you precisely of the day on which -the Count Matthioli will set off for Paris. - -I have heard that the Duke has brought his mother back to Mantua, -and that she is ill there of a fever. If God was to call her to -himself, without doubt the affair of Casale would be more easy to -conclude, and the execution of the treaty would be less difficult; -though thus far there is no reason to doubt that in any case it -will fail, if his Majesty continues always in the wish of obtaining -possession of that place. - - * * * * * * - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[207] - - [207] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 32. - -POMPONNE TO ESTRADES. - - St. Germain, August 10, 1678. - - SIR, - -As the King continues always in the intention of profiting by the -good dispositions of the Duke of Mantua, His Majesty desires that -you will continue to encourage them, as you have already had so much -part in originating them. His arrival at Casale, and the journey -of the Count Matthioli into France, will show more clearly his -inclinations with regard to delivering up that place to His Majesty. * * * - - POMPONNE.[208] - - [208] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 33. - -ESTRADES TO LEWIS THE FOURTEENTH. - - Good dispositions of the Duke of Mantua, and of the Garrison - of Casale. - - Venice, August 20, 1678. - - SIRE, - - * * * * * * - -The Count Matthioli arrived here the day before yesterday, and he -goes away this evening to Mantua. He only came here to assure me, -that he would set off infallibly in the first week of next month, to -go to your Majesty, as he has done himself the honour of sending you -word himself; that the Duke of Mantua is always firm in his design -of putting himself under the protection of your Majesty; that all -those who have any command in Casale, are devoted to the will of -that Prince, and inclined to the French; and that there is so exact -a guard kept in that place, that nothing can enter or go out of it, -except by the order of the Commandants. I exhorted him not to defer -his departure beyond the time he had stated, and I told him that -he would be as well received by your Majesty, as he could possibly -wish. * * * - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[209] - - [209] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 34. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Venice, September 3, 1678. - - SIR, - - * * * * * * - -The Count Matthioli has sent word to the Ambassador by the Sieur -Giuliani, (whom he had despatched to Padua, to learn news respecting -his health) that his illness begins to diminish, and that he hopes -it will soon permit him to commence his journey to the Court, about -the time he agreed on with him. * * * - - DE PINCHESNE.[210] - - [210] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 35. - -MATTHIOLI TO LEWIS THE FOURTEENTH. - - Excuses his own delay. - - Padua, September 12th, 1678. - - SIRE, - -The illness, which came upon me while I was getting ready for my -departure, has, (as your Majesty has deigned to be informed by the -Abbé d'Estrades, your Ambassador at Venice,) occasioned, to my -extreme grief, the necessity for me to delay my journey to you. The -eagerness I have is extraordinary, to be able with all possible -celerity to throw myself at your Majesty's feet. As soon as I -shall have recovered in some degree my strength, I will not fail -to set off. The present emergency of the Genoese seems to me very -opportune for the designs we have in view. I hope to be able, with -all respect, to suggest upon this subject also to your Majesty some -points of importance. I bow myself before you most humbly. - - Of your Majesty, &c. - - HERCULES A. MATTHIOLI.[211] - - [211] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 36. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Venice, September 17th, 1678. - - SIR, - - * * * * * * - -The Sieur Giuliani, having gone one day this week to gain -information of the state of health of the Count Matthioli, brought -back to the Ambassador the letter which the Count had done -himself the honour of writing to you,[212] and which I take the -liberty, Sir, of sending you. He sent word at the same time to his -Excellency, that now, as he has no more fever, he will return to -Mantua, in order to satisfy the impatience of the Duke of Mantua -to see him; and that as soon as he shall have regained a little -strength, he will not fail to set off, in order that he may arrive -at the Court as soon as possible. * * * - - DE PINCHESNE.[213] - - [212] This letter is not published. - - [213] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 37. - -POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE. - - Fontainebleau, October 6, 1678. - -I have received, Sir, this week, your letter of the 17th, together -with the two others from M. Matthioli, which were joined to it; but -I cannot reply to them till the next post, not having as yet had an -opportunity of rendering an account of them to the King. We shall -wait for the arrival of the aforesaid Sieur Matthioli, to know what -propositions he intends to make. - - I am, &c. - - POMPONNE.[214] - - [214] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 38. - -POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE. - - Paris, October 14, 1678. - -Since the last post, I have found an opportunity to read to the -King your letter of the 17th of September, and he appears to me -to approve of the account, you give in it, of what regards his -interests, in the place where you at present are. - -His Majesty has learnt with pleasure, that the Count Matthioli will -soon be in a state to come here, when he will listen to him with -favour. - - * * * * * * - - POMPONNE.[215] - - [215] Ibid. - - - - -No. 39. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Intention of Estrades to leave Venice. - - Venice, October 15, 1678. - - SIR, - - * * * * * * - -I sent you word, some time back, that the Abbé d'Estrades was gone -into the country, from whence he intended to continue his journey -into France. The uneasiness he felt at the delay of the Count -Matthioli in his departure, (although it only proceeded from his -illness, and from the necessity he had to be near his master,) and -his desire to see him set off before him, or at least at the same -time, are the causes why he has always deferred his own departure; -but having had four days ago a conference with the Count Matthioli, -in which he assured him that he would without doubt set off for -France to-day, and that he had even received the order of the Duke -of Mantua to that effect * * *[216] - - DE PINCHESNE.[217] - - [216] The sentence is left thus unfinished in the letter, as - published by M. Delort. - - [217] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 40. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Continued delay of Matthioli. - - Venice, October 22d, 1678. - - SIR, - - * * * * * * - -WHILE I was in the belief that the Count Matthioli had set out -for the Court, according to the promise he had made to the Abbé -d'Estrades in the last conference, which, as I sent you word, Sir, -they had together, I have been surprised by learning at this moment, -by a letter which he has written to the Sieur Giuliani, who has -just brought it me, that some affairs, which he has had to transact -with the Duke of Mantua, have obliged him to delay his departure -till to-day. He has written to the aforesaid Sieur Giuliani to be -to-morrow evening at Verona, in order to continue his journey to -the Court from thence. He has judged it proper, in order to keep -the whole affair as secret as possible, to take him with him rather -than any other, as he is already informed of all the circumstances -of the case, the Abbé d'Estrades having made use of him in all the -journeys that were necessary during the course of this affair. He -is a very good sort of man, who is already entirely French in his -dispositions, and full of affection for the service and interests of -the King. * * * - - DE PINCHESNE.[218] - - [218] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 41. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Venice, October 29th, 1678. - - SIR, - - * * * * * * - -I have received this instant a letter from the Count Matthioli, -written from Berheta, on the 26th of this month; in which he -acquaints me that he will immediately continue his journey to the -Court with the Sieur Giuliani; where, perhaps, they will be arrived -before you receive this letter. * * * - - DE PINCHESNE.[219] - - [219] Ibid. - - - - -No. 42. - -POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE. - - Versailles, November 4th, 1678. - - * * * * * * - -According to appearances the Abbé d'Estrades will soon arrive here, -and with him the Count Matthioli, through whom we shall be able to -know more distinctly the sentiments of the Duke of Mantua. * * * - - POMPONNE.[220] - - [220] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 43. - -POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE. - - November 11th, 1678. - -I have received your letter of the 22d, the principal point of which -is, the making the King acquainted with the reason, for which the -Count Matthioli did not set off so soon as he had promised the Abbé -d'Estrades. We must wait for his arrival to know what he has to -propose to the King. - - POMPONNE.[221] - - [221] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 44. - -POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE. - - Versailles, November 18th, 1678. - - * * * * * * - -Neither the Count Matthioli, nor the Sieur Giuliani are yet arrived -here. - - * * * * * * - - POMPONNE.[222] - - [222] Ibid. - - - - -No. 45. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Venice, November 19th, 1678. - - SIR, - - * * * * * * - -I have just received a letter from the Count Matthioli, written -from Zurich on the 5th of this month, in which he informs me, that -the bad roads have been the cause, which has prevented him from -travelling as quick as he could wish in his journey to the Court, -but that he hopes to be there in a few days, and perhaps may be -arrived before you receive this. * * * - - DE PINCHESNE.[223] - - [223] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 46. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Venice, November 26th, 1678. - - SIR, - -I have received this week the two letters which you did me the -honour to write to me, on the 4th and on the 7th of this month. -I see by both of them, how much the King is disposed to receive -the Count Matthioli favourably, and to listen willingly to his -propositions, as soon as he shall be arrived at the Court. I think -he must be there at present, as I have again received to-day a -letter from him, from Soleure, dated the 9th of this month, in which -he informs me that he has made as much expedition as possible, in -order to arrive there quickly. * * * - - DE PINCHESNE.[224] - - [224] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 47. - -POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE. - - December 2d, 1678. - - * * * * * * - -I send you only a packet belonging to the Count Matthioli, who -arrived here some days ago, and who acquaints the Duke of Mantua -with the circumstance. You must take great care to send the letters -that are in this packet to their destination. - - I am, &c. - - POMPONNE.[225] - - [225] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 48. - - Powers granted to Pomponne, to treat with Matthioli. - -The Duke of Mantua having testified to his Majesty, through the -medium of the Count Matthioli, the extreme desire he has to make -known his zeal for his interests; and to acquire for himself, by -the most intimate alliances into which he can enter with him, the -same friendship and the same protection, which his predecessors -have received from France on great and important occasions. His -Majesty, therefore, who has always preserved a sincere affection for -the family of the aforesaid Duke and for his person, has received -with pleasure the sentiments that he has manifested to him; and in -order to take the necessary measures with him for an alliance, which -shall be both most intimate and most advantageous to the aforesaid -Duke, he has given full power to the Sieur de Pomponne, counsellor -in ordinary in all his councils, secretary of state and of his -commandments and finances, in order to, with the aforesaid Count -Matthioli, agree, treat, and sign such articles as to him shall -seem good, for this particular alliance with the aforesaid Duke of -Mantua; promising, on the honour and word of a king, to consent to, -and to confirm and establish now and always, all that the aforesaid -Sieur de Pomponne shall, for this effect, conclude and settle, -without contravening, or suffering the contravention of any part of -it, in any manner whatsoever, and to furnish his ratification of -it in proper form, within the time that shall be stipulated by the -treaty. In witness whereof his Majesty has signed the present with -his hand, and has caused to be affixed to it his privy seal. - -Done at Versailles, the 5th day of December, 1678. - - LEWIS.[226] - - [226] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 49. - -LEWIS THE FOURTEENTH TO THE DUKE OF MANTUA. - - Promises his protection to the Duke. - - MY COUSIN, - -The Count Matthioli, will instruct you so particularly, both of the -manner in which he has acquitted himself of the orders with which -you have charged him for me, and of the extreme satisfaction with -which I have received the assurances he has given me of your zeal -for my interests, that I can have nothing further to add upon these -subjects. I am only desirous of testifying to you myself, the entire -confidence which I wish you to place in my friendship. You may -promise yourself, that it will be useful and glorious to you upon -all occasions; and you may always rely with certainty and security -upon my alliance. I hope to be able to give you very evident marks -of this in the sequel; and after having borne testimony to you of -the satisfaction which the conduct of the Count Matthioli, through -the whole of this affair, has given me, I will not lengthen the -present letter any more, except to pray to God that he may have you, -my Cousin, in his holy and worthy keeping. - -Written at Versailles, this 8th Dec. 1678. - - LEWIS. - - (And lower down), - - ARNAUD.[227] - - [227] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 50. - -POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE. - - December 16th, 1678. - - * * * * * * - -I SEND you a letter of the King to the Duke of Mantua, which you -will deliver to the Count Matthioli, as soon as he shall arrive at -Venice, taking care always to keep his journey very secret. - - I am, &c. - - POMPONNE.[228] - - [228] Ibid. - - - - -No. 51. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Interview of Pinchesne with Don Joseph Varano. - - Venice, December 24th, 1678. - - SIR, - -As soon as I had received, together with the letter that you did -me the favour to write me on the second of this month, that which -the Count Matthioli sent to the Duke of Mantua, under cover to Don -Joseph Varano, who is here with that Prince, and who is one of the -two persons to whom his Highness has confided the design he has -to deliver Casale into the hands of the King, I made known to M. -Varano, by the son of the Sieur Giuliani, that I was very desirous -of being able to deliver to him a letter from a French gentleman, -who was one of his friends, and who had begged me to give it into -his own hands. He understood very well what that meant to say; and -at the same time sent me word, that if I would find myself that -evening in mask at the Opera, he would not fail to be there also; -which was executed according to our resolution. He told me, when I -gave it him, that the Duke of Mantua would be delighted to receive -it; because, for some days, he had shown great impatience to hear -of the arrival of the Count Matthioli at the court, and to know in -what state the affair was, which he was gone there to negociate. He -asked me, at the same time, if I could not give him some news upon -the subject; but as I know nothing about it, I contented myself -with only telling him that I did not doubt but it was in a good -train, and that I was persuaded his Highness would receive, on this -occasion, the marks of that esteem and friendship which His Majesty -has for him. I thought, Sir, I might be permitted to speak to him in -these terms; because what I told him was from my own head, and not -as if I had received any order to that effect. We afterwards agreed -together, that, during the stay of the Duke of Mantua at Venice, we -would make use of the same means to deliver to him the letters which -might come to me from the Count Matthioli. * * * - - DE PINCHESNE.[229] - - [229] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 52. - -POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE. - - A courier sent to Venice with a new cypher. - - St. Germain, December 25th, 1678. - -THIS courier, whom I despatch to you, has orders not to come to your -house as a courier, but to enter Venice as a tradesman, or a private -French individual, who comes there on his own business: he brings -for you a cypher, which you will only make use of in what regards -the affairs of the Duke of Mantua, according to the occasions which -you may deem necessary after the return of the Count Matthioli. We -have been afraid that, for so important an affair, the cypher of -the Abbé d'Estrades was too old, and had probably been discovered, -in the many times it has passed through the territories of Milan. -You will make use of it as usual in your ordinary despatches; but -you will only write on the affairs of Mantua in the new one, which -this courier brings to you. Take care to inform us exactly, of the -arrival of the Count Matthioli, and of all that he shall communicate -to you on the subject of his journey. - - I am, &c. - - POMPONNE.[230] - - [230] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 53. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - Catinat sent to Pignerol. - - St. Germain-en-Laye, December 29, 1678. - -THESE few words are to let you know, that it is necessary for the -King's service, that the person who will send you this note, should -enter into the citadel of Pignerol, without any body's knowing it. -To this effect, cause the Gate of Aid[231] to remain open till -night-fall, and send him one of your servants; or even, if you are -able, go yourself to meet him, at the place to which his valet will -conduct you; in order that he may enter in your suite into the -aforesaid citadel, and into the aforesaid dungeon, without any one's -perceiving it. - - I am truly yours, - - DE LOUVOIS.[232] - - [231] "Porte du Secours." - - [232] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 54. - -POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE. - - D'Asfeld sent to Venice. - - St. Germain, Dec. 30, 1678. - -The King has despatched this day the Sieur d'Asfeld, Colonel of -Dragoons, who is to go to Venice, under pretext of a journey of -curiosity and pleasure. He will not come directly to your house, -but will appear as a stranger, whom curiosity alone leads to the -place where you are. He will afterwards come to see you, as if on -account of the natural obligation which all Frenchmen have to visit -those who are placed in a country for His Majesty's service. He -will deliver to you, from me, a short letter, as of introduction -for him, in which I request you to contribute to the success of -his particular interests at Venice. He will communicate to you the -orders he has received; and you will take the necessary measures -to make known his arrival to the Count Matthioli, and to arrange a -meeting between them, if necessary. - - I am, &c. - - POMPONNE.[233] - - [233] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 55. - -POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE. - - St. Germain, Dec. 30, 1678. - - SIR, - -You will receive this letter by the hands of M. d'Asfeld, who -goes to Venice, for an affair which he will communicate to you -himself, and of which you will have had, before his arrival, a more -particular instruction by my letters. All that I will therefore add -is, that you will put an entire reliance on what he tells you, and -that you will contribute, in every way that depends on you, to the -success of his particular interests at the place where you are. - - I am, &c. - - POMPONNE.[234] - - [234] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 56. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Venice, Dec. 31, 1678. - - SIR, - -In order to deliver to Don Joseph Varano the letter, which I have -received for him from the Count Matthioli, at the same time with -that which you did me the favour to write on the 9th of this month, -I have made use of the same means which I had the honour to acquaint -you with in my last letter, and which we had agreed upon together, -for the time during which the Duke of Mantua should remain at -Venice. He told me, when he received it, that this prince had -experienced great pleasure by learning from the first, that the -affair was in a good state; and that he was most impatient to hear -of the conclusion of it; to which I answered him in two words, that -that was a hope which his Highness might, with reason, flatter -himself to see realized. * * * - - DE PINCHESNE.[235] - - [235] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 57. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Venice, Jan. 7, 1679. - - SIR, - - * * * * * * - -As soon as the Count Matthioli shall arrive at Venice, I will -immediately deliver into his hands the letter which the King has -done the Duke of Mantua the honour of writing to him. That prince -left this place the day before yesterday, to return to his own -States; but he is to come back to Venice towards the end of this -month, to pass the rest of the Carnival there. I will keep the -journey of the Count Matthioli secret, as you order me; but I beg -you to believe, Sir, that it was not necessary you should take the -trouble to recommend this to me, since I know very well of what -importance it is to preserve an inviolable secrecy in this affair. - - * * * * * * - - DE PINCHESNE.[236] - - [236] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 58. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Venice, Jan. 15th, 1679. - - SIR, - - * * * * * * - -I shall execute with all the punctuality possible, every order which -it shall please you to give me on this affair; and as soon as the -Count Matthioli shall be returned to this place, I will not fail to -acquaint you with it, and to give you an exact account of all he -shall tell me respecting the business which he has been negociating -at the Court. - - * * * * * * - - DE PINCHESNE.[237] - - [237] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 59. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Arrival of d'Asfeld at Venice. - - Venice, Jan. 21st, 1679. - - SIR, - -Before I received the letter, which you did me the honour to write -to me on the 30th of last month, and by which you informed me that -the King intended to send here the Count d'Asfeld, Colonel of a -regiment of Dragoons, he was already arrived, and had been to -see me, to communicate to me the orders he had received from his -Majesty; but as he was not charged with any letter from you, for -me, I should have had some difficulty in opening my plans to him, -in an affair of this consequence, if M. Giuliani, who happened to -be with me just then, and who was come to see me for the first time -since his return, had not told me, a few moments before, that there -would shortly arrive here a gentleman from the King; and if I had -not found him himself so well-informed of the whole of this affair, -that I could have no doubt of the truth of what he told me; since -it appeared to me impossible that he could know so much upon the -subject without having learnt it from you, or from those who are -alone acquainted with it. He told me that M. de Louvois had obliged -him, before his departure, to burn the letter which you had given -him to deliver to me, from fear lest, if he was stopped in the -Milanese, it might give some ground of suspicion to the Spaniards. -He even detailed to me so precisely all that it contained, that I -could have no farther cause for fear, after I had seen that what he -told me, tallied so well with all that you have done me the favour -to write to me upon his subject. We have not been able to agree -upon any thing together since he has been here, because the Count -Matthioli is not yet arrived; but as he has written to me and to -M. Giuliani, from whom he separated himself near Turin, in order -to excite less observation, that he will be here in a few days, I -hope to be able, by the next post, to give you an account of all -we shall have settled with him. I will not fail, Sir, to represent -strongly to him, according to the order which M. d'Asfeld has given -me, on the part of the King, to that effect, that it is absolutely -necessary for the Duke of Mantua to be at Casale by the 20th of next -month, to make the exchange of the treaties; and I will make him so -clearly understand that diligence is most necessary in an affair of -this importance, lest, from delay, it should be discovered, that I -am almost bold enough to promise, that he will persuade his master -to go there at that time. However, Sir, if this prince, who is -accustomed to pass the last days of the Carnival here every year, -wished also to do so this year, in order not to make his conduct -appear extraordinary; and that he should think that from the 15th -of February, which is the first day of Lent, to the 20th, there -will be too little time for his journey to Casale, without showing -an anxiety which might occasion suspicions; and that, therefore, he -might wish to defer for some days the exchange of the treaties, I -think you will approve of my sending you an extraordinary courier to -inform you of it; it being impossible for me to do so sufficiently -quickly by the post. - - DE PINCHESNE.[238] - - [238] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 60. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Delays of Matthioli, and of the Duke of Mantua. - - Venice, Jan. 28th, 1679. - - SIR, - - * * * * * * - -According to the letters which M. Giuliani and I received last week -from the Count Matthioli, we thought he would, without doubt, be -this week at Venice, with the Duke of Mantua. However, neither one -nor the other are yet arrived, on account of a slight illness which -the Duchess dowager of Mantua has had, which has obliged that prince -to remain with her; but the Sieur Giuliani has received to-day a -letter from Don Joseph Varano, in which he informs him, that the -Count Matthioli is at present at Padua, where he is waiting for -the Duke of Mantua, in order that they may come here together, on -Monday, or Tuesday at the latest. This has obliged M. d'Asfeld -and myself to send Giuliani this evening to Padua, to the Count -Matthioli, to give him intelligence of the arrival of M. d'Asfeld at -Venice, and to represent to him that it is of the last importance, -on account of the shortness of the time, for us to have, as soon as -possible, a conference together, in order to take all the measures -that shall be necessary to induce the Duke of Mantua to be at Casale -the 20th or 25th of next month, according to the wish of the King. - -I think I can say to-day more securely than I did last week, that I -shall inform you by the next post of all we shall have arranged with -the Count Matthioli, since certainly the next week will not pass -away without our meeting. - - DE PINCHESNE.[239] - - [239] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 61. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Further Delays of Matthioli. - - Venice, February 4th, 1679. - - SIR, - - * * * * * * - -The Duke of Mantua has been here since Tuesday. The Count Matthioli -was to have come with him, but the fever he has been suffering from -for the last ten or twelve days prevented him, and obliged him -to remain at Padua, where he still is, for the purpose of going -through a course of remedies. Nevertheless, Sir, as time presses, -M. d'Asfeld and I have sent M. Giuliani to him twice this week, to -represent to him the necessity we have of seeing him, to arrange -together the day when the Duke of Mantua is to be at Casale. He -has sent us word for answer, that to-morrow he will certainly be -at Venice, whatever his state of health may be, and that on Monday -or Tuesday, at the latest, we may see one another, to conclude -all things; after which, M. d'Asfeld can set off for Pignerol: -that, besides, he could assure us, that in all the conversations -he had had with the Duke of Mantua, since his return from France, -he had found that Prince in the best possible dispositions for -the success of the affair, within the time that had been fixed -upon with you, and that he had even done himself the honour of -acquainting you with this in a letter which he had written you. I -have also seen, within the last two days, Don Joseph Varano, who -has also given me assurances to the same effect on the part of his -master. So, Sir, there is every reason to hope, that the King will -soon receive the satisfaction that he expects from this business. -When M. d'Asfeld and myself shall see the Count Matthioli, we will -represent to him the diligence that is necessary to be made use -of in this affair; which is the more so, because the march of the -troops towards Pignerol begins to give suspicion to the Spaniards -in the Milanese, although thus far they are persuaded that they are -only sent to that place to work at the fortifications. M. d'Asfeld, -who, as well as myself, is rendered uneasy by the delay of the Count -Matthioli, had made a resolution, on Friday evening, to go and pay -him a visit at Padua, and to take as a pretext his wish to go and -see some of the towns of the Terra Ferma; but we reflected, that two -days, more or less, was not of great consequence; and that, besides -the uselessness of this journey, since it is necessary that the -Count Matthioli should speak to the Duke of Mantua before he can -settle any thing with us, it might also cause some suspicion in his -inn, where there are many strangers, if he was seen to leave Venice -during the time when the diversions there are at their height, to -go and make a tour in towns where there are none. Therefore we -have thought, that it was better to wait the arrival of the Count -Matthioli in this city, in order not to risk any thing by too much -precipitation, in an affair in which secrecy is so necessary, and -respecting which one can never take too many precautions. - - * * * * * * - - DE PINCHESNE.[240] - - [240] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 62. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - St. Germain, Feb. 7th, 1679. - -I SEND you a letter for the same person[241] to whom you were to -deliver the two packages, which the individual named Barrere ought -to have brought you by this time. I beg that you will give it to -him, and send me by the return of the same courier, who will deliver -to you this letter, whatever answer he shall make to it. The person -who despatches this courier from Lyons, has orders to tell him, that -he is the bearer of the letters of Madame Fouquet. It will be right -for you to tell him the same thing when you send him back. You will -observe, if you please, to put an envelope over your letter to me, -addressed to the Sieur Du Bois, Clerk of the Foreign Post at Lyons. - -If the person to whom you have to deliver this letter is not -arrived, you will send me word of it by the return of the courier, -and will keep the letter till his arrival. - - DE LOUVOIS.[242] - - [241] This person was Catinat, who was now on his way to - Pignerol, under the assumed name of Richemont. - - [242] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 63. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Interviews with Matthioli.--Further Delays in the - Ratification of the Treaty. - - Feb. 7th, 1679. - -WE had hoped, M. d'Asfeld and I, according to the promises which -had been given us to this effect by the Count Matthioli, through M. -Giuliani, as often as we sent him to Padua, that we might be able to -dispose the Duke of Mantua to go to Casale the 25th of this month, -according to the King's intentions; but notwithstanding all that we -have been able to allege to the Count in the two conferences we have -had with him, last Thursday and this morning, we have not been able -to succeed, and we have therefore been obliged to defer the day of -the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty till the 10th of -next March; on which day the Duke of Mantua promises to be, most -assuredly, and without any further delay, at Casale. - -We have despatched you this extraordinary courier, Sir, to give you -intelligence of this; and we have so strongly recommended diligence -to him, that we hope our letters will still arrive soon enough at -court, to afford the King sufficient time to give whatever orders -his Majesty shall judge necessary, for the delaying of the march of -the troops towards Pignerol. - -M. d'Asfeld writes in this intention, to M. de Louvois; but I will -take the liberty to request you, Sir, in case the King has any new -orders to give us on this affair, to order them to be sent directly -to me; because, as it is possible that M. d'Asfeld may be obliged -to depart before they arrive, I could not be made acquainted with -them if they were sent to him, the cypher he has received from M. de -Louvois being different to that which you have sent me. We think, -nevertheless, we can assure you, Sir, that we do not see, from this -delay of time, any reason to doubt the sincerity of the sentiments -of the Duke of Mantua; who has again assured us, through the Count -Matthioli, that he is more than ever in the intention of executing -the treaty he has just made with his Majesty, and of keeping the -promise he has given to him. - -The Count Matthioli had written to you; but as his letter was not in -cypher, and did not contain any thing but what I have sent you word -of in this, I have not thought it necessary to send it to you. - - DE PINCHESNE.[243] - - [243] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 64. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - St. Germain, February 15th, 1679. - - * * * * * * - -WHEN the affairs for which the Sieur de Richemont is with you shall -be concluded, you may, &c.[244] * * * - - - DE LOUVOIS.[245] - - [244] The sentence is left thus imperfect in M. Delort's - publication. The whole letter, however, is published in the - work entitled, "Les philosophes et les gens de lettres des - XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles à la Bastille." The rest of the letter - does not refer to Matthioli's affair. - - [245] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 65. - -POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE. - - February 17th, 1679. - -I HAVE given an account to the King of what you tell me, in your -last letter of the 28th of January, you have done concerning the -affair which is entrusted to you, and of your expecting the Count -Matthioli soon, from the assurance that the Sieur Giuliani had given -you to that effect. His Majesty was very glad to see that you still -have hopes both of the success of the affair, and of prevailing -upon the Duke of Mantua to leave Venice on the 20th or 25th of this -month. - -I have nothing particular to acquaint you with, beyond what you -already know. You will continue, if you please, to inform me exactly -of all that shall pass on this subject; even despatching me an -extraordinary courier if you shall deem it necessary. - - POMPONNE.[246] - - [246] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 66. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Reasons for the Duke of Mantua's delay in going to Casale. - - Venice, February 18th, 1679. - - SIR, - - * * * * * * - -THE necessity, which M. d'Asfeld and myself were under a week ago, -of sending off in all haste the courier whom we despatched to the -Court, prevented me, Sir, from being able to acquaint you in the -letter, which I then did myself the honour to write to you, with the -reasons, which the Count Matthioli has alleged to us, to make us -understand that the Duke of Mantua cannot be at Casale the 25th of -this month, according to the wishes of the King expressed to him by -us. He told us three: the first was, that this Prince, wishing to -send to Casale, as soon as he should be arrived there, his guards -and the greater part of his court, (intending to make some stay -there after the conclusion of the affair,) it became necessary for -him for this purpose to have some money, which could not be got in -so short a time. The second, that it was absolutely necessary first -to persuade Don Vincent Gonzaga,[247] who is at present at Mantua, -to make this journey with his Highness, since, being the presumptive -heir of the Duke of Mantua, it would be very dangerous to leave him -at Mantua, at the time when the affair of Casale would be known; -because the Mantuans regarding him as likely to be their future -sovereign, there would be danger that they might allow themselves -to be persuaded by him to rebel against the Duke of Mantua, which, -without doubt, he would not fail to try to make them do, when he -should see that his Highness was attaching himself to the party of -France, and abandoning that of the House of Austria, to which Don -Vincent is absolutely devoted. And the third, the obligation under -which the Duke of Mantua found himself of holding here a sort of -carousel with several Venetian gentlemen, to whom he had given his -promise to that effect, which he could not now retract, without -occasioning some suspicion here. This last reason, Sir, although the -least considerable of the three, appears to me notwithstanding to be -a truer one than the others; because this Prince is so much attached -to all pleasures, of whatever kind they may be, that when he finds -an occasion of indulging in them, the most important affairs cannot -turn him away from them. This little carousel is certainly to take -place some day next week; after which the Count Matthioli has -assured us that the Duke of Mantua will, without doubt, leave this -place, in order to be at Casale the 10th of next month, as he has -promised us; his people are even to set off to-day to return to -Mantua. To-morrow we are to have another conference with the Count -Matthioli, to regulate in what manner M. d'Asfeld is to open the -business at Casale with the Duke of Mantua, for the purpose of -making the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty. Meanwhile, -Sir, I think it right to inform you, that the march of the troops -to Pignerol, and the munitions and money which are carried there, -cause great fear through the whole of Italy; and that it is said -publicly here, that the King has some great plan, without its being -possible to penetrate what it is, suspicions falling upon Casale, -upon Geneva, upon Savoy, and more particularly upon the Republic -of Genoa, on account of what has lately passed there: I even know -that M. Contarini[248] has written in these terms to Venice. There -are also two couriers, arrived during the last eight or ten days -from Turin, at Milan; the one despatched by _Madame Royale_[249] -to her envoy, and the other by the Duke of Gioninazze[250] to the -government of Milan, to give them intelligence of these movements. -The Count Matthioli has told us, that the Duke of Mantua intended -to make an excuse for his journey to Casale, by saying, that the -fear he is in of the designs of France, obliges him to go to that -place, to give the necessary orders for its security. I have just -now learnt, that a courier is arrived to the Spanish Ambassador from -Milan. I am persuaded he is sent for the same reasons I have before -stated. - - * * * * * * - - DE PINCHESNE.[251] - - [247] See note, page 18. - - [248] Contarini was at this time Ambassador from the Republic - of Venice to the Court of Lewis the Fourteenth. - - [249] The Duchess of Savoy. For an account of her, see note, - page 32. - - [250] The Spanish Envoy at the Court of Turin. - - [251] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 67. - -POMPONNE TO MATTHIOLI. - - February 21st, 1679. - - SIR, - -I have received the letters, that you have taken the trouble to -write to me, and I think I cannot do better than address my answer -to them to the care of the Abbé d'Estrades, as you intend making -a journey to Turin. I have not failed to give an account to the -King of your sorrow at the long delay of an affair, which was -commenced and is to be concluded through your means. His Majesty -is still willing to promise himself a good success in it, and will -not entertain any doubt of the promise which has been so solemnly -given to him being kept. You know how much you may promise yourself -from his goodness when you shall have accomplished the success of -the project, of which you yourself laid the foundation. Upon this -subject the Abbé d'Estrades will speak to you still more in detail, -and therefore I will not lengthen this letter any more than to -assure you, that I am, &c. - - POMPONNE.[252] - - [252] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 68. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Arrangements for the Exchange of the Ratifications of the - Treaty. - - Venice, February 25th, 1679. - - SIR, - - * * * * * * - -I SENT you word in my last letter of the reports, which the march of -the troops to Pignerol caused through the whole of Italy: these have -much increased this week from the news which has been received that -M. de Vauban[253] is gone there by the King's order; which makes it -be believed more than ever, that his Majesty certainly meditates -some great design on that side, although the strongest suspicion -falls always on Genoa, and, next to that, on Casale. The Spanish -Ambassador, and the Abbé Frederic, the resident of the Emperor, went -together on Wednesday to the Duke of Mantua, to tell him they had -heard from Turin that he wished to give Casale and the Montferrat to -the King, and to represent to him the disadvantages that would arise -to all Italy from this measure, and particularly to the House of -Austria, on account of the Duchy of Milan. That Prince answered them -that he was astonished they could believe in reports of this nature, -which had no solid foundation. This answer was all they could draw -from him on the subject. Nevertheless, Sir, as he is always in the -intention of executing the treaty he has made with the King, which -he has again assured us through the Count Matthioli, M. d'Asfeld and -I have had two more conferences this week with the aforesaid Count, -the last of which was yesterday evening; in which we arranged that -M. d'Asfeld and he should find themselves on the 9th of next month -at Notre-Dame d'Incréa, which is a village ten miles from Casale, in -order to make there the exchange of the ratifications; and that the -Duke of Mantua should arrive without fail at Casale on the evening -of the 15th, to wait there for the troops of his Majesty, and to -put them in possession of the place when they should arrive there -on the 18th, which is the day that M. d'Asfeld has said they would -be there, having, according to the order of M. de Louvois, demanded -nine days between that of the exchange of the ratifications and that -of their arrival at Casale. M. d'Asfeld left this place yesterday -after this conference to go to Pignerol, and the Count Matthioli is -to set off this evening for Incréa: but as the Duke of Mantua wishes -to remain only a single day at Mantua, and intends to travel post -to Casale, he will remain here till the 11th or 12th of next month: -it is even better he should do so, because as long as they shall -see him amusing himself here with a carousel and similar trifles, -there will be less suspicion of him than if they saw him take his -departure. * * * - - DE PINCHESNE.[254] - - [253] Sebastian Le Prêtre, Marquis of Vauban, the celebrated - Engineer; Marshal of France in 1703; Died in 1707. - - [254] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 69. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Suspicions of the House of Austria respecting the - Negociations. - - Venice, March 4th, 1679. - - SIR, - - * * * * * * - -All the advices that come from France and from Turin declare so -positively that the Duke of Mantua has made a treaty with the King -for the cession of Casale and of the Montferrat, that they are -beginning here to change into certainties those suspicions which I -mentioned to you, Sir, in my two last letters, they had had, ever -since the first news arrived at Milan by the couriers which Madame -Royale and the Duke of Gioninazze despatched there. The Governor -of Milan immediately sent two others to Madrid and Vienna to give -intelligence to the Emperor and the King of Spain. The courier, who -was sent to Vienna, returned here on Wednesday evening, with express -orders to the Marquis Canozza, the Imperial Vicar, in Italy, to -speak strongly to the Duke of Mantua, and to try and deter him from -doing a thing so contrary to the interests of the whole House of -Austria; and to go afterwards to Turin and Milan, to concert there -the means of preventing it, in case the news proved true. This same -Marquis Canozza having been, for the last five or six months, in -the prisons of Venice, accused of having had a gentleman of Verona -assassinated, the Emperor has also written by the same Courier to -the Republic, to beg that he may be enlarged, which was done on -Thursday evening. He has not been able as yet to see the Duke of -Mantua, who defers, as much as he can, giving him audience, in order -to gain time. The fear I have been in, Sir, lest what he has to say -to this Prince, from the Emperor, might be capable of producing some -change in him, has obliged me to charge M. Giuliani to go, as from -me, to Don Joseph Varano, who is at present, since the departure -of Count Matthioli, the only confidant of the Duke of Mantua, to -try to know from him what are the sentiments of his master upon -the subject of this mission. He has answered me, that his master -would assuredly execute the treaty he has made with His Majesty, -notwithstanding the obstacles which the House of Austria puts in -the way of it, and that he would leave this place on Wednesday or -Thursday, in order to arrive at Casale within the time at which he -has promised to be there. All that we have to fear is, that the -Spaniards, who are extremely suspicious, may watch him, and oppose -his passage,[255] and that of the Count Matthioli, of whom they have -an equal distrust. * * * - - DE PINCHESNE.[256] - - [255] Through the Duchy of Milan. - - [256] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 70. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Arrest of d'Asfeld.--Departure of the Duke of Mantua from - Venice. - - Venice, March 11th, 1679. - - SIR, - -The Courier, whom we sent you a month ago, not having complied with -the order I had given him to write to me as soon as he should be -arrived at Lyons, in order to acquaint me whether he had passed -through the Milanese without being arrested, I was under great -uneasiness until I received the letter, in which you do me the -favour to inform me that you have received the despatch which I sent -you by him. You may believe, Sir, that when M. d'Asfeld and I were -obliged to defer the day of the exchange of the ratifications till -the 10th of this month, we did not do so, till we saw that it was -impossible to persuade the Duke of Mantua to perform his part within -the period desired by the King. - -All the world says here, that he is to go away this evening, or -to-morrow, without his suite; and he has always told us, through -the Count Matthioli, that when he left this place, he would only -pass through Mantua, and travel post from thence to Casale. He has -still more time than is necessary for him to be there before the -18th of this month, which is the day when the troops of the King are -to enter the place, according to what we agreed upon with the Count -Matthioli. - -M. Giuliani has received a letter from him[257] this week, in -which he writes him word that M. d'Asfeld has been arrested at -La Canonica, which is a village beyond Bergamo, but that he was -released shortly after. - -I do not know, Sir, if this news is really true, it having been -impossible for me to verify it, and the Count Matthioli only writing -word of it because a _Voiturier_, whom he met on the road, told -him that a gentleman whom he had conducted three or four days ago -from Verona to La Canonica, had been arrested at the latter place, -and released afterwards. In any case, I cannot doubt but that you -are already informed of it, since the Count mentions, in the same -letter, that it has been written to the Abbé d'Estrades, who will -not certainly have failed to make you acquainted with it. - - * * * * * * - -I have just this moment heard, Sir, that the Duke of Mantua set -off yesterday evening at four o'clock at night,[258] and that the -Marquis Canozza is also gone to Verona, which is his country, from -whence it is believed he will be very likely to go to Milan. - - DE PINCHESNE.[259] - - [257] Matthioli. - - [258] According to the Italian mode of reckoning the hours. - - [259] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 71. - -POMPONNE TO MATTHIOLI. - - Letter of Credence to be presented to Matthioli by Catinat. - - St. Germain, March 14, 1679. - - SIR, - -The King has been informed by the Sieur de Pinchesne, of all the -measures which you have taken with him and with M. d'Asfeld, for the -execution of the affair, which has been conducted by your labours, -and of the time which the Duke of Mantua has arranged for being at -Casale. He is, besides, aware that M. d'Asfeld was to leave Venice -some days earlier, according to the agreement that you had made -together; but as he learns by his letters from Piedmont, that it -is very possible he may have been arrested in his passage through -the Milanese, and placed in the Castle of Milan, he has judged it -right to supply his place with the person who will deliver you this -letter; it is the same whom he has honoured principally with his -confidence for the execution and the conduct of all that shall be to -be done with you and the Duke of Mantua, after the arrival of that -Prince at Casale. Therefore you will, if you please, place entire -confidence in him, and particularly in the assurances which he will -give you of the good-will of his Majesty for you, and of his sense -of the service you are rendering to him. - -For myself, Sir, I intreat you to believe me with the most perfect -truth, &c. - - POMPONNE.[260] - - [260] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 72. - -ESTRADES TO MATTHIOLI. - - Complaints of the Delays in the Conclusion of the - Negociation. - - Turin, March 24th, 1679. - -I have thought it my duty, Sir, to give you advice of my arrival at -this court, in order that you may be able to let me know whatever -you shall judge necessary; and that whatsoever remains to be done, -for the termination of what has been already resolved, may be the -more easy of execution, from the proximity of the places at which we -respectively are. You cannot doubt its being with this view, that -the wish has been expressed for my coming here; and I have been -the more glad to come, because I hoped that I should not be long -without seeing the effect of the engagements which you have entered -into with the king. If I was not aware of your probity and of your -zeal for the interests of His Majesty, and for the advantage of -the Prince to whom you are attached, I should have been dreadfully -uneasy at the delay of our affair, which ought without fail, and -at the latest, to have been concluded at the commencement of this -month. But though we are already at the 24th, and that all you can -desire on our part is entirely ready, I cannot persuade myself that -the intentions of his Highness and your own are other than they -always were. You have been so well aware, how much this affair -would be useful to him at present, and glorious for the future, and -you have made him so well comprehend this, that I cannot have any -suspicions on this head; neither can I, when I represent to myself -the very considerable interest you have in completing an affair -of this importance, of which the conclusion will be considered so -great a merit on your part in the eyes of the most generous and -the greatest King in the world, who has testified to you himself -the good-will he bears you for it; who has praised the address -with which you have conducted the negociation; who has begun by -giving you several marks of his esteem and liberality; and who has -promised you besides such great advantages as would be sufficient -to establish all your family, and to make you happy for the rest -of your days. As his word has always been inviolable, you no doubt -rely upon it implicitly: you must be aware, also, how dangerous -it would be to deceive him, and that, after all the steps he has -taken, and the measures he has agreed upon, you would expose his -Highness, and yourself, to very great misfortunes, if his Majesty -had reason to think that bad faith had been made use of towards him, -after a treaty concluded in all the proper forms with himself, and -founded upon a full power; the inexecution of which would only serve -to ruin a Prince, who abandons himself to your councils, and who -would be infallibly stripped by the Spaniards, who would be willing -once for all to deliver themselves from the alarms which they have -received from the reports spread about on all sides respecting -this affair. I have already told you, Sir, that I believe you as -well-intentioned as ever, and that it is not for the purpose of -exciting you to return to these good sentiments, or to strengthen -them, that I speak to you in this manner; but only lest a longer -delay should diminish the good opinion entertained of you, and lest -umbrage should be taken that an affair in which secrecy was so -important, has been made public, although the King, and those who -have the honour to serve him, have kept the secret so well that it -cannot have been got at through them. I hope, nevertheless, that we -shall soon be satisfied; and that I shall have the pleasure to see -you worthily recompensed for your zeal: I assure you, Sir, that your -interest, more than my own, though I have much in this affair, makes -me desirous of it. - - THE ABBÉ D'ESTRADES.[261] - - [261] From the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 73. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - St. Germain, March 26th, 1679. - -I have received your letter of the 21st of this month. You will -have seen by my former ones, that the King approves of the officers -of the citadel of Pignerol visiting your prisoners, and passing -the mornings and afternoons with them when they desire it, in the -presence of one of your own officers.[262] I can only now repeat the -same thing to you, and tell you, that with regard to the governor, -the officers, and the inhabitants of the town, you may act in the -same manner by them, when you shall judge fit: not, however, until -after the affair, for which the Sieur de Richemont is at Pignerol, -shall have succeeded or failed. - -I address to you a packet for the Abbé d'Estrades, which you will -send him, if you please, by one of your officers, with a direction -in your hand-writing; and when he shall have despatched to you his -answer, you will send it to me by the return of the same courier, -whom, in the meanwhile, you will keep concealed in the prison. - - DE LOUVOIS.[263] - - [262] Saint-Mars only commanded in that part of the citadel of - Pignerol which was appropriated to the use of a State-prison. - - [263] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 74. - -POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE. - - St. Germain, March 26th, 1679. - -The King is extremely anxious for the success of the affair of -the Duke of Mantua. We have heard nothing from M. d'Asfeld, and, -therefore, can have no doubt of his being prisoner in the Milanese. -The news which you received of his being arrested at La Canonica, -was doubtless as true as that of his being released again was the -reverse. We shall now see if the firmness of the Duke of Mantua, -which has thus far resisted the efforts of the Count Carrossa, and -of the Republic of Venice, will continue to the end: we cannot -be long without having this point cleared up, if, as you mention -in your letter of the 11th, he had set off the night before to -go to Casale. Your next letters will, of course, bring us fresh -intelligence upon the subject. - - POMPONNE.[264] - - [264] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 75. - -POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE. - - Suspicions of the Fidelity of Matthioli. - - St. Germain, April 5th, 1679. - -I have received your letter of the 18th of March, which shows the -bad state in which, according to the Count Matthioli's own accounts, -the affair of Mantua is: he is very possibly, as you say, the sole -author of all the accidents and impediments in it, which he writes -word, in his letter to Giuliani, have happened. Your next letters -will give us still clearer intelligence on this subject; but we have -many reasons for apprehending that this negociation, which appeared -so much advanced, may fail at last, when we were in the immediate -expectation of seeing it happily concluded. * * * - - POMPONNE.[265] - - [265] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 76. - -CHANOIS TO LOUVOIS. - - Reports of Catinat being at Pignerol.--Different Rumours - respecting the Negociation. - - Pignerol, April 5th, 1679. - -As I have discovered, Sir, since the last post, that the Marquis -d'Herleville (governor of Pignerol) is aware that M. de Richemont -is incognito in the citadel of this town, and that, in fact, he -knows his real name; I do myself the honour of acquainting you with -the circumstance. M. de Saint-André even sends word, that he has -been told at Turin that M. de Catinat is to take him with him to -Casale. I do not know how they can have discovered so much, unless -it is, that the absence of M. de Catinat has given occasion to some -of the Guards[266] to write from Paris, that he is in these parts. -These reports also mention the days on which he has gone out of the -citadel, and the spot where the Abbé d'Estrades came to speak to him -the last time from Turin. I have answered nothing when I have heard -these things said, except that I knew of no one in the citadel, and -nothing upon the subject. - -The Marquis of Saint-Maurice told several people that the French -Ambassador wished to be very cunning; but that _he_ knew very well -that there had been a treaty made between the King and the Duke -of Mantua, on the subject of Casale; and that he also knew that -during the last ten days it had been absolutely broken off. The -retrograde movements of the troops cantoned in the Briançonnois -and the valley of Chaumont, on the side of Dauphiny and Provence, -seem to confirm the report of the Marquis of Saint-Maurice; but the -arrival of the battalion of the regiment of Piedmont in this town -two days ago, makes the people of the country, who love to reason -upon every thing, suspend their judgments; their reasonings will be -of no importance, if the Duke's sentiments are always well-disposed, -for between this place and Casale there is no fortress, nor any -obstacle which can delay the march of the King's troops. - -I am always with profound respect, &c. - - DE CHANOIS.[267] - - [266] The Officers of the French Guards, of whom Catinat, at - this time, was one. - - [267] Chanois was a French Commissary at Pignerol. This letter - is extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 77. - -CATINAT TO LOUVOIS. - - Pignerol, April 8th, 1679. - - SIR, - -The roads being good, and the days as long as they are at present, -a body of cavalry can go in less than thirty hours from Pignerol -to Casale. There is no fortified place through which we should be -obliged to pass, and I am not aware of any difficulty that we could -find on the passage, provided we took the country by surprise in our -march. I have thought it right to state this to you, Sir, because -the possibility of using this degree of diligence may materially -assist the measures you may wish to take. The Duke of Mantua has -never been at Casale, which seems to me an obstacle to the finding -good excuses for his going there, at a time when his conduct is so -much watched and suspected. But we could do very well without him, -if he is always well-intentioned, and if he is the master of a good -part of his garrison. The Governor is of Mantua, and therefore his -actual subject; which is perhaps a favourable circumstance. - - I am, &c. - - CATINAT.[268] - - [268] From the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 78. - -CATINAT TO LOUVOIS. - - Rumours of Catinat's being at Pignerol.--Civilities of - Saint-Mars to him. - - April 15th, 1679. - - SIR, - -M. d'Herleville must have received some letters from Paris by the -last post, which have given him the suspicion that I might be here; -at least, he has put some leading questions on the subject to M. -de Chanois: he is not a man without curiosity, and he thought by -these means to gain certain intelligence. As I have been now a long -while absent, and there has been no doubt at Paris of some design -in agitation in these parts, on account of the troops which have -been sent here, it is probable that some reasoner of the regiment of -Guards, or some other person, may have given him this idea. - -I did myself the honour to send you word, Sir, of all that passed -in my journey to Incréa. I have received letters from the Abbé -d'Estrades, in which he informs me that the troops have retired a -little, in order to get into quarters where they can subsist more -conveniently; and also of the accounts he has received respecting -the delay in the execution of the affair you are acquainted with. -I am treated here with so much attention and civility, that a long -residence, while waiting for intelligence, ought not to give me -any impatience, nor can I complain of any, except that which is -caused by my anxiety and zeal to see the conclusion of an affair -which His Majesty is anxious about, and for the conduct of which -you, Sir, have thought proper to honour me with your confidence. I -should have some uneasiness at being for so long a time a burden -and an inconvenience to M. de Saint-Mars; but he executes with so -much pleasure the orders which he receives from you, that all the -care he takes of me does not distress me. I receive it all as a very -evident mark of the kindness with which you, Sir, write to him on -my subject, for which I am infinitely obliged to you; as well as -for the honour you do me in permitting me to remain, with all the -respect that is due to you, - -Your very humble and very obedient Servant, - - DE RICHEMONT.[269] - - [269] In his correspondence with Louvois, Catinat sometimes - signs with his real name, and sometimes with his assumed one of - Richemont. This letter is extracted from the work of M. Roux - (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 79. - -POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE. - - Continued Suspicions of Matthioli. - - St. Germain, April 18th, 1679. - -THE account you gave me in your letter of the 25th of last month of -the conversation you had had with the Count Matthioli, could not be -more exact. It is still very difficult to discover what is the real -case with this affair, and whether the good faith that was to be -desired in it has been kept to. Try to discover this adroitly, but -without showing any suspicions; and be careful to inform me of every -thing that shall come to your knowledge upon the subject. - -This is all I have to reply to your letter. The rest does not -require any particular answer. - - - POMPONNE.[270] - - [270] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 80. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - St. Germain, April 18th, 1679. - -I HAVE received your letter of the 8th of this month. The period of -time during which M. de Richemont will have to remain in the place -where he is at present being uncertain, I advise you to let him walk -with your prisoners, even if it should only be in the dungeon. You -may even permit him to pay them visits, and to converse with them, -which will assist in enabling him to pass the time of his stay, -which, whether it will be long or short, I cannot at present tell -you. - - * * * * * * - - DE LOUVOIS.[271] - - [271] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 81. - -POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE. - - Confirmation of the Suspicions respecting Matthioli's want - of Fidelity. - - St. Germain, April 19th, 1679. - -THE account you have given in your letter of the first of this -month, of your interview with the Count Matthioli, of the assurances -he gave you of his good intentions, and of the journey he was -preparing to make to the Abbé d'Estrades, does not prevent his being -suspected with great reason of want of fidelity. Do not, however, -let him discover, in case you see him again, the knowledge we have -upon this subject, but tell him always that we cannot doubt but that -the Duke of Mantua will execute the promises he has so solemnly -given through him. In truth, this Prince ought not to be allowed -to believe, that it is permitted to him to fail in a treaty he has -made with His Majesty; and if the occasion presents itself, make it -appear to him that you can have no doubt of the promises which have -been made to the King being kept, and of the engagements which have -been once entered into with him being executed. Take care to inform -us exactly, as you have already done, of all that shall take place -in this affair, and of the manner in which it shall continue to be -regarded at Venice. - - I am, &c. - - POMPONNE.[272] - - [272] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 82. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - Order to receive Matthioli as a Prisoner. - - Saint Germain, April 27th, 1679. - -THE King has sent orders to the Abbé d'Estrades, to try and arrest a -man, with whose conduct His Majesty has reason to be dissatisfied; -of which he has commanded me to acquaint you, in order that you -may not object to receiving him, when he shall be sent to you, and -that you may guard him in a manner, that not only he may not have -communication with any one, but that also he may have cause to -repent of his bad conduct; and that it may not be discovered that -you have a new prisoner. - - DE LOUVOIS.[273] - - [273] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 83. - -POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE. - - Further confirmation of the Treachery of Matthioli. - - St. Germain, May 3d, 1679. - -THE letter you wrote me on the 15th of last month, has confirmed to -the King the treachery of the Count Matthioli, which already was but -too much suspected. There never was so signal a piece of perfidy. -We must hope that the sentiments of his master will not be of the -same kind, and that he will not wish to break the promises he has -given to his Majesty. Meanwhile we hear that this Count has arrived -at Turin, where he thinks, without doubt, to impose again upon the -Abbé d'Estrades. It is important always not to show that you are -acquainted with his conduct. - - POMPONNE.[274] - - [274] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 84. - -CATINAT TO LOUVOIS. - - Arrest of Matthioli. - - Pignerol, May 3d, 1679. - -I ARRESTED Matthioli yesterday, three miles from hence, upon the -King's territories, during an interview which the Abbé d'Estrades -had ingeniously contrived between him, Matthioli, and myself, to -facilitate the scheme. For the purpose of arresting him, I only made -use of the Chevalier de Saint-Martin and de Villebois, two officers -of M. de Saint-Mars, and of four men of his company: it was effected -without any violence, and no one knows the name of the rascal, not -even the officers who assisted in his arrest: he is in the chamber -which the individual named Dubreuil occupied, where he will be -treated civilly, according to the request of the Abbé d'Estrades, -until the wishes of the King, with regard to him, are known. I do -not write any thing to you, Sir, respecting the certain conviction -we have acquired of the villanies of this man, the Abbé d'Estrades -having already given his Majesty all the information possible upon -this subject. In the interview we had together before his arrest, -we talked of various things, and among others of the place in which -he had placed the essential and original papers respecting the -affair in question, which consist in a letter of the Duke of Mantua -to the King, the full powers he himself had for negociating, the -treaty of his Majesty, executed by M. de Pomponne, the ratification -of the aforesaid treaty signed by the Duke of Mantua, and a letter -of the Duke of Mantua to the Governor of Casale, ordering him to -receive the troops of the King in conformity with the treaty. All -these papers are in a box at Bologna, in the hands of his wife, who -is retired into the convent of the Nuns of Saint Lewis. The Abbé -d'Estrades is of opinion that no time should be lost in obtaining -these papers. As I only brought this man here yesterday very late, -and that the post goes early this morning, I have not as yet had -any conversation with him, for the purpose of obtaining his papers; -but two hours hence I will go to his room, and I do not doubt the -menaces I shall make to him, which his criminal conduct will render -more terrific to him, will oblige him to do all that I wish. I -have chosen M. de Blainvilliers, a choice approved of also by M. -de Saint-Mars, to go to Bologna, considering him as very capable -to conduct himself well in such a business. I will try to give him -a route by which he will avoid passing over the territories of the -King of Spain. I will give an account to you, Sir, the next post, of -all that I shall have done on this subject with Matthioli, to whom -I have given here the name of Lestang, no one here knowing who he -really is. - - I am, &c. - - RICHEMONT.[275] - - [275] From the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 85. - -CATINAT TO LOUVOIS. - - Intelligence respecting Matthioli's Papers. - - Pignerol, May 6th, 1679. - - SIR, - -Since I did myself the honour of writing to you, I have taken down -shortly in writing all the information I have been able to draw -from the Sieur de Lestang. By making him perceive, and roughly -too, the misery to which his bad conduct exposed him, I induced -him to seek for the means of avoiding it, by doing readily and -frankly all that was desired of him. I have not said any thing to -him which could make him discover the means by which we have been -so certainly informed of his treachery; but I have spoken to him in -such a manner on that subject, that he cannot doubt that we know -it, and are convinced of it. He is a rascal; but I believe him to -be honest in his desire of delivering up the papers, either from -the fear which his present condition causes him, or with the view -of rendering a service to the King, which may be agreeable to him, -and may make him forget what is past. The original papers are at -Padua, concealed in a hole in the wall of a room, which is in his -father's lodging, and which he says is known to him alone. These -papers are the treaty made by M. de Pomponne, signed by him and by -Matthioli, signed below by the Duke of Mantua, a blank being left -for the insertion of the ratification, when the exchange should -be made for that of the King; a blank paper signed by the Duke of -Mantua, intended for a letter to the Governor of Casale, to order -him to receive the troops of the King; the full power given to M. -de Pomponne to treat with him respecting Casale; and a list of -the troops destined to the execution of this affair. If we once -have possession of these papers, the affair is concluded as far -as regards negociation; but this is a fact that we need only make -known when we think proper. As I am aware of what importance it is -to have possession of these original papers, I have acquainted the -Abbé d'Estrades with the expedients I thought might be made use of -for this purpose, in order that I may be assisted by his advice. I -do not detail them at present to you, Sir, because I expect to-day -the Sieur Giuliani, whom the Abbé d'Estrades is to send to me, -together with the Abbé de Montesquiou, his relation, for the purpose -of the former's being confronted with the Sieur de Lestang. As this -interview will probably suggest to me more certain means of getting -possession of these papers, I will not, as yet, acquaint you, Sir, -with those that I had proposed to myself. There are, besides, other -papers at Bologna, which are only letters and papers we have, as it -seems to me, little need of; knowing, as we do, by the list of those -which are at Padua, that it is these alone which particularly regard -the affair in question. I will do myself the honour to send you -word, Sir, by the next post, what shall have been the issue of the -interview between the Sieur de Lestang and Giuliani. - -The Abbé d'Estrades, by his care and address, has found means to -send to Pignerol the servant of the Sieur de Lestang, with his goods -and all his papers. I have made an inventory of the latter; they -consist in tables of cyphers, and letters, which I have docketted, -and extracted the substance of; they are of no importance. I will -send to you, Sir, by the next post, a copy of what I have extracted, -and a short summary of what I have been able to learn from the -Sieur de Lestang in the conversations that I have had with him; -respecting which he tells me he has already sent information to the -King, or to the Abbé d'Estrades, which has diminished the impatience -I should otherwise have had of acquainting you, Sir, with them. M. -de Saint-Mars treats the Sieur de Lestang very kindly in all that -regards cleanliness and food; but very rigorously in preventing him -from holding intercourse with any one - - I am, with all respect, &c. - - C.[276] - - [276] Catinat. This letter is extracted from the work of M. - Roux (Fazillac) - - - - -No. 86. - - Inventory sent by Catinat to Louvois, of the Papers which - Matthioli had about his person. - -1. A Memorandum of what he had to do at Turin, at the place where he -expected to receive letters from Carbonini. - -2. A little note of the papers of consequence he has at Padua, among -which are those which the King is desirous of having, and which the -Sieur Giuliani is gone to take possession of. - -3. A note of the road he was to take in his way to Casale. - -4. Another note, which states that he has sent four blank papers, -signed by the Duke of Mantua, to the governor of Casale; also the -dates of the departure from Venice of M. d'Asfeld, and of the day, -on which he, the Sieur de Lestang, and the Sieur d'Asfeld were to -meet at Incréa. - -5. A memorandum, to make him recollect the name of a man living at -Placentia, to whom he owes five hundred livres. - -6. A little memorandum, of the places where he had bought some -small barrels of good wine, which he intended to make a present of -to M. de Varengeville,[277] the new ambassador at Venice; and of -his intention to write to the Governor of Navarre the news of what -should happen in the affairs regarding Casale. - -7. A note, stating that the Marquis de Rebouf can give intelligence -to the King of what passes at Genoa; and his reasons to the Marquis -de Cavetto for the pretensions to Savona. - -8. Another, stating that the Duke of Mantua had taken poison on the -22d of February, at Venice, which was suspected to have been given -him by an individual, named George Hacquet, a man about his person, -and the minister of his pleasures. - -9. Another memorandum, by which it appears that the Duke of Mantua -received, on the 14th of January, 2,500 pistoles from his mother; -and on the 10th of February, 3,000 pistoles from the Abbé Frederic, -the resident of the Emperor at Venice; also containing an account -of the communication which he, the Sieur de Lestang, has with the -Governor of Casale. - -10. Memorandum, by which it appears that he had an interview, on the -26th of April, near Moncalvo, with the Governor of Casale; that he -told him he must return once again to Mantua, or to Venice, because -he had written him word that he would come to him on Ascension-day; -that the aforesaid Governor was content with the expedients that -he had proposed to him for the purpose of delivering the place to -the King, by means of which his honour appeared to him to be saved; -that for this purpose, at the return of the Sieur de Lestang, it -was necessary there should be an interview between him, the Sieur -de Lestang, the Governor, and some man on the part of the King, to -execute this affair, and to agree upon means that should make it -infallible; that he would deliver up the gate of the Citadel which -goes into the country, to which Panissa, who is the Governor of it, -would offer no opposition; that the Count Vialardo, Governor of the -Castle, is entirely devoted to the Spaniards; that the Governor of -Casale requests that this affair may be quickly concluded, fearing -always lest he should be removed; that he (Lestang) will make known -to the aforesaid Governor what he shall have done, when he is with -the Duke of Mantua, through the Father Viveti, a Jacobin living at -Padua; that he will continue to write to all the Courts that the -affair of Casale has failed, and that it will not be completed. - -11. A small piece of paper, about as large as a card, upon which he -has written four or five reasons, to be inserted in the manifesto, -when the troops of the King shall be introduced into Casale. Also -a statement that all that has been done has been in virtue of the -Duke's orders, grounded upon a treaty, signed and ratified by -him; but that he (the Duke) now wished to make another with the -Spaniards, contrary to the promise he had given, and that he has -even received money to that effect.[278] - - [277] He had succeeded the Abbé d'Estrades as French Ambassador - at Venice. - - [278] From the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 87. - -CATINAT TO LOUVOIS. - - First Examination of Matthioli. - - Pignerol, May 10th, 1679. - -I HAVE delivered to the Abbé d'Estrades, by the hands of his -relation, the Abbé de Montesquiou, all the letters and papers of -the Sieur de Lestang, which consisted in many letters, of which I -have kept a list, containing shortly the subject of each letter. -These letters only show his journeys backwards and forwards; there -are some of them in which he is advised to take care of himself; -one, among others, is from the Ministers of Mantua, informing him -of the joy of the Duke at his prosperous return from France, and of -his having sent a boat to Placentia for him, in order that he may -come to him more securely and more conveniently. He had many other -papers, among which I have seen nothing of consequence, except a -Spanish cypher, which he confesses to have come from the Count de -Melgar.[279] - -I made him relate before me to the Abbé de Montesquiou, all that he -had done since his return from France, without interrupting him; -having, nevertheless, let him know, before I permitted him to speak, -that we were perfectly well-informed of his villainy, in order to -see what colour he would give to his bad conduct. He says, that on -his return from France, he went to Turin, where, from gratitude to -that court, which had done him the honour of making use of him in -many affairs, he thought himself obliged, on account of civility, to -see the President Turki;[280] that it was true, in talking of news -and of the state of affairs at present, he allowed him to discover -that something new was about to take place in Italy; and that the -aforesaid President, in the course of the conversation he had with -him, gave him to understand that he had no doubt there had been a -treaty made respecting Casale. It is thus that the Sieur de Lestang -relates what he did at Turin, in order to excuse his treachery -there, of which you, Sir, are already perfectly well-informed, -as well as of the money he received for it. This was the first -discovery that had been made of this affair, which hitherto had been -conducted so secretly. - -From Turin he went, by Placentia, to Mantua, to join his master, -whom he found still well-intentioned for the completion of the -affair. Even two days after his return, having fallen ill, the -Duke of Mantua came to see him; and he took this occasion to make -him sign the ratification, and to write a letter to the Governor -of Casale, in which he recommended him to do all that should be -told him by the Sieur de Lestang. Another letter, in form of a -command, was written to the aforesaid Governor, to receive the -troops of the King; in a word, he was provided at this moment with -all things necessary for the entire conclusion of this affair. A -few days afterwards, he was informed that his master had changed -his resolution; and that it was even his intention to take out of -his hands all that he had done and signed, which could render the -treaty valid. That the Duke of Mantua began by saying that nothing -had been done in this business with his participation; and that he -disavowed entirely all that he, the Sieur de Lestang, had done. This -prince could not then do otherwise, the Spaniards and his mother -being so particularly informed of this transaction, that they showed -him exact copies of the whole treaty. (These they had acquired, -either by a second piece of treachery of the Sieur de Lestang, or -through the court of Savoy.) The Sieur de Lestang says, that, under -divers pretexts, he always eluded giving up the originals to the -Duke of Mantua, in order that he might himself remain master of the -affair; and that he had not despaired of being able to complete it, -by contriving expedients to enable him to surmount the obstacles -that had occurred; as well as through the intelligence that existed -between him and the Governor of Casale. - -He says, that the Spaniards, knowing he was master of these papers, -had made him considerable offers in order to obtain them. That the -Spaniards being so well-informed, he thought it necessary to make -a false confidence to them on the subject, in order to amuse them, -by telling them that the affair had entirely failed; hoping by -this confidence, to diminish their suspicions, and the precautions -they might have taken to prevent his profiting by the advantages -which his intelligence with the Governor of Casale gave him for -the conclusion of the business. That he even took this cypher, of -which I have before spoken, from M. de Melgar, in order to make this -false confidence the more credible to him. Thus it is that this -rascal pretends to escape the accusation that has been made against -him on account of the Spanish cypher, which has been found in his -possession. - -He has told us positively, that the Duke of Mantua was poisoned at -the house of an individual named Le Romain, at Venice, where he -went to drink iced water; that the deed was done by the Spaniards, -and the poison administered by one of his own domestics; that this -prince could not live more than three or four months. He says -that he learnt this from the Spaniards, with whom he kept up a -communication, for the purpose of amusing them. - -In the midst of these events, he says that he agreed upon the -rendezvous of Incréa, where he was to meet d'Asfeld, on the 7th -March, for the exchange of the ratifications; after which he did -not doubt but he should be able to conclude the affair, having all -the orders necessary, besides his intelligence with the Governor, -so that he could not have found any obstacle, nor any difficulty; -that in going to the before-mentioned Incréa, he had been searched -and robbed, on the frontiers of the Brescian and the Milanese; that, -notwithstanding, having remained master of his papers, which were -concealed in a saddle, he had afterwards continued his journey as -far as Buffacore, where the arrest of d'Asfeld was confirmed to him -in a manner he could no longer doubt; that M. de Villars, who was -still Ambassador at Turin, having no knowledge of this affair, and -being doubtful himself, whether, if he came to Pignerol, I[281] -should place confidence in him, he took the resolution of going back -to Venice, to inform M. de Pinchesne of all that had happened, and -to concert new measures with him; that upon a simple letter of the -Abbé d'Estrades, who sent him word it was necessary they should have -an interview, he had not lost a moment of time in going to Turin; -that with the consent of the aforesaid Abbé d'Estrades, he had been -at Asti, for the purpose of managing a secret interview with the -Governor of Casale, at a mile from Moncalvo, in order, by promising -him great recompenses, to engage him to receive the troops, when, -for the saving of his honour, he should have received an order from -his master, and been shown that he had made a treaty with the King. -He says that he left him in a very good disposition. That afterwards -he returned to Turin, where the Abbé d'Estrades proposed to him an -interview with me, in which I arrested him. - -This, Sir, is the simple and true recital of what the Sieur de -Lestang has told me, which confirms me in the belief that he is a -thorough rascal; not having been able to give me any good reason -why he discovered this affair to the President Turki, when he -passed through Turin; or why he concealed from M. de Pinchesne his -communication with the Spaniards, his acceptation of their cypher, -and his interviews with an Inquisitor of State at Venice; if, as he -says, he only did these things in order the better to advance the -affair in question. - -I have made him write three letters for the purpose of getting -possession of the original papers which are at Padua, which have -been put into the hands of the Sieur Giuliani, by the advice of -the Abbé d'Estrades, who places an entire confidence in him: -he will make use of these three letters as he shall judge most -fit, according to the disposition in which he shall find the -father of the Sieur de Lestang. The first is only a letter of the -Sieur de Lestang to his father, in which he acquaints him, that -there are reasons which oblige him to remain at Turin, or in the -neighbourhood, but that he may place an entire confidence in the -Sieur Giuliani, and deliver to him such and such papers, of which -I have made him give the inventory to the Sieur Giuliani. The -second acquaints his father with the real state in which he is, -and that it is important, as well for his life as his honour, that -his papers should be immediately delivered into the hands of the -Sieur Giuliani. In the third, which is the last to be made use of, -in case the two first have no effect, he desires him to come to -Turin; and tells him that at the house of the Abbé d'Estrades he -will be instructed where he is, and the means to be employed to -speak with him. The Sieur de Lestang has no doubt of being able, -in this interview between him and his father, to persuade him to -all he may wish. I have inspired him with so great a fear of the -punishments due to his bad conduct, that I find no repugnance in -him to do all that I require of him, and he appears sincere in the -wish of obtaining the delivery of the papers, which will be sent -to M. de Pinchesne at Venice, in order to avoid any accidents that -might happen to them in so long a journey as that from Padua to this -place, or to Turin. - -I place no confidence in what this rascal tells me; nevertheless I -think it right to inform you, Sir, that he declares positively that -the Governor of Casale is his friend, and that, by promising him a -considerable recompense, and by furnishing him with a pretext to -save his honour, which may be done by giving him the order of his -master, (which the Sieur de Lestang says is at Padua,) to receive -the King's troops, we can make him do whatever we wish. That he -can deliver up the town, and that the Governor of the citadel is -his intimate friend, whom he can persuade to do whatever he shall -order him. As for the castle, which I saw when I was passing through -Casale, it is rather a sort of little citadel than a simple castle. -The Sieur de Lestang says, that assuredly the governor of it will -not submit himself to the orders of the Governor of Casale, although -the latter has the command over him, because the aforesaid governor, -whose name is Vialardo, is entirely devoted to the Spaniards; that -this is a thing which he has heard from the Spaniards themselves, -and that on the least change at Casale, or the march of troops -towards it, the Governors of Valenza, Novara, and Pavia, have orders -to send detachments of their garrisons to the aforesaid Casale, and -that they will be infallibly let into the place through the castle. -This Vialardo is brother of a secretary of the Duke of Mantua, -who bears the same name, and who is also entirely in the Spanish -faction. - -However, when we shall have obtained possession of the papers, it -is not impossible but we may be able to contrive something with the -Governor of Casale, if he is in those sentiments that the Sieur de -Lestang ascribes to him, and if he is the master to receive troops -in the town and citadel. This affair, if conducted very secretly, -and with the rapid march of a regiment or two of dragoons, might -take the Spaniards so much by surprise, that they might not have -any sufficient means in their power to be able to counteract it. -If we were masters of the town and citadel, and had as large a -number of troops as that which was destined to the execution of -this affair, I am certain that the castle could not prevent any -resolutions that we might wish to take. We might receive upon this -subject important intelligence from an interview with the Governor -of Casale. The difficulty is how to contrive it so as to discover -his intentions, without the negociations passing through the hands -of our rascal, in whom we cannot place any reliance. But, when we -have the papers, if this affair was despaired of as far as regards -the Duke of Mantua, and that the King thought that the plan I send -to you, Sir, was worth trying, I would concert what was to be done -with the Abbé d'Estrades, according to the orders I should receive -upon the subject. I beg pardon, Sir, for troubling you with so long -a letter; but I could not acquaint you in fewer words with the -conduct of the Sieur de Lestang, and with what has passed between -him and me. - - I am, - With all the respect which is due to you, &c. - - C.[282] - - [279] The Governor of Milan. - - [280] One of the ministers of Mary Jane Baptista of Nemours, - Duchess of Savoy; he was in the interests of the House of - Austria. - - [281] Catinat. - - [282] Catinat. From the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 88. - -POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE. - - St. Germain, May 10, 1679. - -YOUR letter, Sir, of the 22d of last month serves still more to -confirm the treachery of the Count Matthioli, of which we had even -before had too many proofs. He was, in fact, arrived in Piedmont, -and had seen the Abbé d'Estrades. It is impossible to conceive the -insolence of his daring to show himself, at a moment when all Italy -rings with his perfidy. However, it is to be wished that he should -deliver up the ratification of the Duke of Mantua, if it is true, as -that Prince states, that he has still got it in his hands; If the -Sieur Tarani[283] has more fidelity than him, it would be desirable -he should have the confidence of his master, and should dispose him -to satisfy His Majesty, by showing him that it is dangerous to break -promises which have been so solemnly made to him. * * * - - I am, &c. - - POMPONNE.[284] - - [283] This probably is a mistake for Varano, whose name has - been frequently mentioned in the former part of this - correspondence. - - [284] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 89. - -PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE. - - Interviews between the Duke of Mantua and the Senator - Foscarini. - - Venice, May 13th, 1679. - - SIR, - -I BESEECH you very humbly to be persuaded that I will not fail to -execute, with all the exactitude and zeal possible, the orders which -it has pleased you to give me, (in the letter which you have done -me the honour to write to me on the 26th of last month,) to inform -you of all that shall come to my knowledge respecting the affair of -Casale, and on the subject of the Count Matthioli. The annoyance I -had, at not being able to discover what brought the Duke of Mantua -to Venice, the last time when, as I sent you word, he came there, -obliged me to redouble my endeavours to try and learn something -upon the subject; and at last they have not been in vain, since -I know at present, so certainly that I cannot doubt of it, that -this prince had, during that time, two long conversations, in the -Convent of the Capuchins, with M. Foscarini, a sage and a grandee, -who is the person named by the Republic, to continue the history -which the Procurator Nani was about, and who is one of the most able -men of this state: in which this senator represented to him very -strongly how dangerous it would be for him and for all Italy if he -gave up Casale to the King, as it was said he had the intention to -do, and had even made a treaty for that purpose with His Majesty, -and that the Republic hoped he would not take a step so prejudicial -to all the princes of Italy; to which I know that the Duke of Mantua -answered, that he knew his own interests, and that assuredly he -would never voluntarily give up Casale to the King; but that His -Majesty was the most powerful Prince in Europe, and in a condition -to attempt every thing, without its being easy to prevent him; that -it would be therefore necessary to seek for the most proper means -to do this, which, however, could not be hoped for, without having -considerable troops to oppose to his, in case he wished to attempt -some enterprise; that of himself he was not sufficiently powerful to -resist His Majesty; that it was for those, who had as much interest -as himself in the preservation of that place, to find the means of -preserving it, without which he would not answer for what might -happen; and that the fault even could not be attributed to him, but -to his bad fortune and to his want of aid. - -I know, besides, that the ministers of the Republic consider it -certain that Casale is to be attacked by the King, and that they -say they have this intelligence from such good authority, that they -cannot doubt of it. - - * * * * * * - -I cannot, Sir, refrain from testifying to you the joy I felt in -learning this week, by a letter of the Abbé d'Estrades, that the -Count Matthioli has been carried prisoner to Pignerol, and that thus -this rogue will no more be in a condition to execute, every day, -fresh perfidies. - -I am, with the most respectful submission, and all the attachment -possible, - - Sir, - Your very humble and very obedient Servant, - - DE PINCHESNE.[285] - - [285] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 90. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - Orders to treat Matthioli with severity. - - St. Germain, May 15th, 1679. - -I have received your letter of the 6th of this month, which requires -no answer, except to say that you will have sufficiently seen by -my former letters, that it is not the intention of the King that -the Sieur de Lestang should be well-treated, nor that, except the -absolute necessaries of life, you should give him any thing that may -make him pass his time agreeably. - -I address to you a packet of importance for M. de Richemont, which -I beg of you to give into his own hands, and to tell the Commissary -du Channoy, not to send away the courier who carries him this, until -you shall have given him the answers he is to bring back. - - DE LOUVOIS.[286] - - [286] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 91. - -CATINAT TO LOUVOIS. - - Plans of Catinat for obtaining possession of Casale. - - Pignerol, May 16th, 1679. - -I send you, Sir, the second examination of M. Matthioli, according -to the order which I received to that effect, by the extraordinary -courier you sent to this place. You will find it little different -from the first. I put him into the greatest possible fear of the -torture, if he did not tell the truth. One sees very well by his -answers that his conduct has been infamous. I see no good reason -which can excuse him for having had such intimate communication -with the Court of Savoy, with the Abbé Frederic (the resident of -the Emperor at Venice), and with Don Francis Visconti, one of the -partizans of Spain, without any participation or correspondence -upon the subject with M. de Pomponne, the Abbé d'Estrades, or M. -de Pinchesne; this fact prevents my having any confidence in him. -Nevertheless he persists, with the utmost obstinacy, in declaring, -that the Governor of Casale is well-intentioned; that this Governor -sees very well that the Duke of Mantua is a lost man; that he -sees also that there cannot happen any change in the Court of -Mantua, without his being removed from Casale; and that he is a -man who would be accessible to any offers that might be made him; -this is what he, Matthioli, is willing to stake his life upon; -that if he is furnished with a specious excuse for receiving the -troops of the King, he will assuredly do it, which will be easy, -when we have the original papers which his father is to deliver -into the hands of Giuliani; that provided the Governor is not -absent from Casale, he, Matthioli, will find means to contrive an -interview between this Governor, me, and himself; and that I shall -both see and understand the means of rendering the King master of -Casale. As I know beforehand that I am conversing with a rascal, and -that it is almost of necessity, if his propositions are adopted, -that he should himself be again employed in this affair, I cannot -bring myself to answer for him in any thing; nevertheless I have -thought it right to communicate all this, Sir, to you. When the -King once has possession of the papers, my having an interview -with this Governor is a step that would not hazard any thing; I do -not see any inconvenience in it, except the chance of the Sieur -Matthioli's escaping, on account of the degree of liberty which must -in that case be permitted to him, however vigilant I might be in -watching him. I should be obliged to go with him to Asti, where he -is acquainted with a Dominican monk, who would carry to Moncalvo a -note to a physician whose name is Viveti; this Viveti would go to -Casale to inform the Governor of the place of rendezvous, which had -been settled for our interview with him. But it is almost impossible -in all these proceedings to answer for the person of Matthioli: -as there is, therefore, this inconvenience in the plan, the Abbé -d'Estrades could, if it is the King's wish that any proposition -should be made to this Governor, according to the orders he should -receive, have him spoken to, and his intentions sounded by some one. -I beseech you, Sir, to be persuaded that in this affair I place my -own interest beneath my feet, and that I only venture to make you -proposals upon the subject, from the desire I have that the affair -should succeed to the satisfaction of the King. - - * * * * * * - -As the papers which are at Padua are to be sent, at least I believe -so, to M. de Pinchesne, in order to avoid any accidents that might -happen to them by bringing them straight to this place or to Turin, -I will take measures to set off from hence as soon as I shall know -they are delivered to M. de Pinchesne. As you, Sir, may perhaps wish -to send me word of any new determinations that may have been come -to with regard to this affair, in consequence of which I might be -of some utility here, I take the liberty of informing you, that I -shall remain at Pignerol till the 9th or 10th of June. If you do -not honour me with any order between this time and then, I shall -execute that you have already given me of returning to France. I -should be obliged to you to let me know where I am to go, whether -straight to the Court, or to Dunkirk, where my company is, or to -any other place where it shall please you to order me. I shall take -great precautions to conceal myself, and not to appear before the -relations of Messrs. Fouquet and Lauzun.[287] I cannot, however, -answer for it, Sir, that they will not write word of my being here. -I did not take any measures for the Ambassador being present at this -last examination, because I had been before particularly informed by -him of all the proofs there were against Matthioli. - - I am with all the respect, &c. - C.[288] - - [287] Fouquet and Lauzun were at this time still prisoners at - Pignerol. The former died in 1680, and the latter was released - from his confinement the same year. - - [288] Catinat. This letter is extracted from the work of M. - Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 92. - - Second Examination of Matthioli. - -The Count Matthioli being asked what happened to him when he passed -through Turin, replied, that he had been to visit the Marquis -of Saint-Thomas; that as he was ill, he could not see him; that -afterwards he went to the President Turki, whom he found full of -suspicions respecting his journey into France; and that as he is an -insinuating and adroit man, he engaged him insensibly to talk of -the affairs of the Duke of Mantua and of Casale; that it is true, -that being taken by surprise by the ingenuity and cunning of the -aforesaid President, and by the affection which he pretended to show -for the interests of France, he confided so much in the aforesaid -President, that it was impossible for him to doubt but that there -was some treaty made respecting Casale; that it is true, that he -received two thousand livres from that Court,[289] but that it was -rather as a mark of gratitude for some services he had formerly had -the honour of performing for it, than as a recompense for any thing -he then confided. - -He says that the President Turki begged him, when he left Turin, to -write to him carefully all the progress of this affair; that he, the -President, had written to him several times after this to Venice, -asking for intelligence upon the subject; to which he had always -answered that the affair would not take place, in order to diminish -the opinion he might have had, from his former answers to him, of -there being a treaty respecting that place. - -Being asked where he went from Turin, he replied, that he took -the road to Placentia, where he found letters from Don Nevani -and Cabriani,[290] which were only to testify their joy at his -return, and to tell him that the Duke of Mantua waited for him with -impatience, and that they had sent a boat to meet him, in order that -he might be able to embark upon the Po. - -From Placentia he went straight to Mantua, where he found the Duke -of Mantua; who, the very day of his arrival, took the trouble of -coming to see him at his own house, where he was lying down, being -very ill; this interview was passed in civilities respecting his -malady. Two days afterwards he came again to see him, and asked him -for a copy of all that he had done in France, which he gave him very -exactly, but with great pain to himself, on account of his illness. -That same day he made the Duke sign all the papers necessary for -the entire completion of the treaty, as far as regarded the form. -Three or four days afterwards, having received intelligence from the -Sieur Carbonini, that there was a plan to poison him, and having -even perceived that they had put poison into a medicine, which he -had pretended to take, but had found the means of throwing away, -he had taken the resolution, under the pretext of recovering his -health, of going to Padua, whither he had taken all the original -papers with him. - -On the 24th or 25th of January, the Duke of Mantua, in his way -to Venice, passed through Padua; where he went to see the Sieur -Matthioli, who was ill, and where he told the Sieur Matthioli, -that he had not been able to avoid talking of this affair to his -Mother, and that it was an affair which means must be found to break -off, because it was not for his advantage. To which, the aforesaid -Matthioli answered several things, and among others, that he had -again written quite lately to the court to say that all was signed; -and that these were the sort of engagements that it was not easy to -get released from. The Duke of Mantua afterwards asked him for the -original papers, to which he replied that they were locked up, and -that it would be a great inconvenience to him, being as ill as he -was, to go and look for them; but that he would come as soon as he -was able to Venice, where he would deliver the whole into his hands. - -He says that the Sieur Giuliani came to see him at Padua from the -Duke of Mantua, to give him intelligence that the Inquisitors of -State at Venice were making search for him, and that he must take -his measures accordingly, in order not to be seized with the papers; -which obliged him to mix them with many others, and to place them in -a separate house from the one he lived in. - -After having been three weeks at Padua, he set off for Venice, -leaving the original papers, and not taking them with him. He -arrived ill at Venice; went to bed as soon as he arrived there, -where he remained three days; afterwards he went to see the Duke of -Mantua, who told him that the Abbé Frederic, the Resident of the -Emperor at Venice, was acquainted with all the affair respecting -Casale; to which the aforesaid Matthioli answered that he was not -surprised at it, and that assuredly his Mother, to whom he had -told all himself, had had no reserve upon the subject with the -aforesaid Abbé Frederic. He asked him afterwards for the original -papers, which he told him he could not give him, having left them -at Padua, upon the advice which Giuliani had given him from him, to -take care that the Venetians, who were looking out for him, should -not find them in his possession. The Duke of Mantua told him that -it was absolutely necessary to break off this affair; to which he -answered that he ought to take care how he behaved with regard -to the King; that he had entered into engagements from which he -could not extricate himself without breaking his word, which would -be very dangerous to do with so powerful a Prince. The Duke of -Mantua obliged him afterwards to have an interview with him and the -Abbé Frederic, which took place in the chamber of a Monk of Saint -George; they were masked there, in order not to be known. The Duke -of Mantua said to the Sieur Matthioli, "I leave you with the Abbé -Frederic, with whom you will hold a conversation; you must do all -that he shall bid you." The aforesaid Abbé Frederic showed him a -copy of the treaty; and appeared so particularly instructed upon -the subject, that there was no possibility of his denying it. The -aforesaid Abbé told him that it was an affair which must be broken -off; that it would be the ruin of Italy and of his master also, and -that it was absolutely necessary to think of some means which would -make it certain not to happen; and that he might expect a great deal -of gratitude from the House of Austria, if he conducted himself -well. He confesses that he appeared to enter into his sentiments, -not being able to do otherwise; but that remaining master of the -original papers, he thought he should be always able to complete the -affair, which he intended to do in this manner. - -The Governor of Casale being his friend, he did not doubt but that -he should be able to make him do all that he wished. To this end, -he made a packet of the four blank papers signed by the Duke of -Mantua, which he had made him sign at Mantua when he first arrived -there, and while this Prince was still well-intentioned. That in -order to inspire more confidence to the Governor of Casale, that he, -the Sieur Matthioli, would do nothing, except with the order of his -master, he had had this packet addressed to him by another Secretary -of the Duke of Mantua, named Magnus, who has for his department -the management of the affairs of the Montferrat, to whom he said, -"Here is a packet which his Highness has told me to send to Casale: -as you administer the affairs of that country, write a letter to -the Governor, ordering him to execute all that is to be enjoined -by this packet." That this proceeding procured for him the entire -confidence of the Governor, by making him see that he would not ask -any thing of him which he could not execute with honour; that he -had made d'Asfeld set off from Venice two or three days afterwards, -in order to arrive about the same time with him at Incréa, where he -intended to have taken all the necessary measures with the aforesaid -Governor, for the completion of the affair. - -Being asked why he had acted in this indirect manner, (since it -had been agreed in the interview which he, M. de Pinchesne, and M. -d'Asfeld had had together on the 24th of February, that the Duke -of Mantua should go to Casale on the 15th of March, which was a -decided mark of the good intentions of his Master), he replied, -that his Master was truly well-intentioned, from the fear he had -inspired him with of the King's resentment; but that knowing the -natural uncertainty of his disposition, he had thought it right to -take measures to enable him to complete the affair, even in case -he (the Duke) had not kept to his engagement of coming to Casale. -Being asked why he did not confide this to the Sieurs de Pinchesne -and d'Asfeld, he said that he did not wish to discover to them the -intelligence that existed between him and the Governor, or to give -them any idea of uncertainty in this affair, which might perhaps -have made them suspend the execution of it; that as he himself -regarded it as the means of making his fortune, if he could bring -it to a conclusion, and as he did not doubt that such would be the -event, from the measures he had taken, he wished to avoid all that -might retard the execution of it. That the Sieur de Pinchesne can -say whether he, the Sieur Matthioli, did not always answer to him -for the success of the affair, without, however, being ever willing -to communicate to him the means to be employed in it. - -Being asked whether he did not speak of the affair of Casale with -certain Venetians, he answered that they were so well-informed -upon the subject, that it is very likely he may have conversed -with some of them upon it, but in the way of telling them that it -was an affair which was broken off, and had failed; that he had -seen the Chevalier Cornaro, Inquisitor of State, only once, for -the purpose of asking his permission to carry arms, as the Duke -of Mantua wished to have him assassinated, in order the better to -authorize his disavowal of all that he, the Sieur Matthioli, had -done in France, which was certainly a very unjust reason on the part -of his Master for wishing to have him killed; that as he was of a -fickle disposition, his sentiments would change upon this subject -as upon every thing else; and that by making use of precautions for -some time, he should escape this misfortune: this permission was -promised, but was never given to him. - -Being asked whether he had not conversed at Venice with some one of -the partisans of Spain, he answered, no; that he left that place on -the 28th of February, two days after M. d'Asfeld, to go to Incréa. - -Being asked whether he had not known beforehand, that the Sieur -d'Asfeld was to be arrested, he answered that he had had no -knowledge of it, and that he had even only known with certainty his -detention at Buffacore, as far as which place he had gone on his -road to the rendezvous at Incréa, having with him all the papers -necessary for the conclusion of the affair of Casale, which he had -concealed so well in a saddle, that they were not found, though he -was very minutely searched upon the frontiers of the Brescian and -the Milanese; that from Buffacore he returned straight to Venice, -not having any doubt of the arrest of d'Asfeld, from the news he had -received respecting it; that he only remained there two days, in -order to inform M. de Pinchesne of the accidents that had happened. - -Being asked whether he conversed with other persons at Venice, he -answered, no. - -When he left Venice he returned to Padua, where he remained always, -except some short visits to Venice, of a day at the longest, to -confer with M. de Pinchesne. - -Being asked if, at Padua, he had not held intercourse with some one -of the partisans of Spain; he answered, yes; with the individual -named Don Francis Visconti, natural son of the Count Visconti, -Commissary-General of the Milanese, who had spoken to him on the -part of his father and of the Count de Melgar, and who having in -his possession a copy of the treaty, and being perfectly instructed -of the whole transaction, it was not possible for him to deny it; -but he spoke of it as an affair that had failed, and gained the -confidence of the aforesaid Francis, who offered him a thousand -pistoles, and a fief in the Milanese, if he would deliver to M. de -Melgar the original papers which were in his possession. He answered -him that this affair having appeared to him to have failed, he had -given them to M. de Pinchesne, and was no longer master of them. The -aforesaid Francis persuaded him to enter into communication with M. -de Melgar, in order, for the future, to prevent the execution of -this affair, and took measures with him, about the 10th or 12th of -March, for acquainting M. de Melgar with every thing; and to this -end agreed with him upon the Spanish cypher found among his papers. -He says that he did all this only to deceive them, and to prevent -their taking other means, than through him, of being informed of the -resolutions of the King in this affair. - -Being asked whether he did not know, through the means of Francis, -of the arrest of d'Asfeld, he answered, yes, and that the aforesaid -Francis told him he had been arrested at Canonica, twenty-five miles -from Milan, on the side of Bergamo, and that they had been waiting -for him there more than a fortnight. - -Being asked if he knew who were the people that arrested him, he -answered, that he did not know precisely, but that Don Francis had -told him they were people employed by M. de Melgar, and that they -had been placed upon various routes in order not to miss him. Don -Francis told him besides that he was a prisoner in the castle of -Milan; that he was very civilly treated there; and that he had not -been interrogated, nor found charged with any papers. - -Being asked whether he had not given any body a copy of the treaty; -he swore distinctly that he had given it to no one, and that those -copies which have got about could only have come from the mother of -the Duke of Mantua, to whom her son had confided the whole affair. - -He came from Padua to Turin, upon receiving the letter of the Abbé -d'Estrades, in order to contrive an interview with the Governor of -Casale; which he had done, and had found the Governor well inclined -to contribute to the completion of the business. From thence he -returned to Turin, where the Abbé d'Estrades persuaded him to have -an interview with me, during which I arrested him. I send this -last fact to you, Sir, shortly, because I have already given you a -sufficiently exact detail respecting it.[291] - - [289] Of Turin. - - [290] Two of the Ministers of the Duke of Mantua. - - [291] Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 93. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - St. Germain, May 20th, 1679. - -Your letter of the 10th of this month has been delivered to me; I -have nothing to add to what I have already commanded you respecting -the severity with which the individual named Lestang must be -treated. - -With regard to the man who conducted M. de Richemont into Piedmont, -you may let him go, after having recompensed him sufficiently, -taking care to let me know what you have given him. - - DE LOUVOIS.[292] - - [292] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 94. - -CATINAT TO LOUVOIS. - - Further particulars respecting Matthioli. - - Pignerol, May 21st, 1679. - -I only send you, Sir, the answers which the Sieur Lestang has made -to me upon the points, on which you have ordered me to interrogate -him; the preceding examinations, which I took the liberty of -sending you, having already informed you upon other subjects, and -generally upon every thing which I have been able to learn from the -aforesaid Sieur de Lestang. He is a man whose conduct has been so -infamous, that one cannot answer for the truth of any thing he says; -nevertheless, I believe him to be sincere in the desire he shows -that the original papers should be in the King's possession. He sees -very well, that he has only this way of getting out of the affair. I -have already, Sir, made you acquainted with the means we are making -use of to obtain them. I am also persuaded that he has had intimate -communications with the Governor of Casale; perhaps, though, the -detention of the Sieur de Lestang may have changed the dispositions -of the latter. The Sieur de Lestang has told me, that at their -last interview near Moncalvo, the aforesaid Governor pressed him -to conclude this affair, saying, that any delay in the execution -of it was dangerous; that the four black papers signed, which he -had sent him, were sufficient, if they were filled up with what -was necessary, so that he might appear to act according to orders; -that it was also necessary to let him have an interview with some -confidential man on the part of the King, with whom he might agree -upon every thing; he told him even that the civilities he had shown -me when I was at Casale, were only because he thought I was a man -employed in this affair, although I called myself an officer going -to Vercelli, and that for the chance of this, he was determined -to treat me with great distinction. Lestang has told me that he -related all this to the Abbé d'Estrades. I have asked him why, as -the Governor was so well-intentioned, he, Lestang, had eluded a -prompt execution, when it was proposed to him? He answers to this, -that he had engaged himself by letter to the Duke of Mantua to be -at Venice on Ascension-day, where he still hoped to have sufficient -influence over him to extract from him a last consent. That he -should immediately after this have brought back the original papers, -and that having already taken his measures with the Governors of the -town and of the citadel, the execution of the affair would not have -had to encounter any further difficulty; that Vialardo, Governor of -the castle, being of the Spanish faction, might have been a small -obstacle, but not to signify, when the town and the citadel should -have been in our possession. I send you, Sir, all that this man has -told me, without being answerable for the truth of it. I shall set -off the 2d of next month, as I have already done myself the honour -of acquainting you, Sir, if between this time and then, I hear that -the papers have been delivered to M. de Pinchesne. - - I am, with all the respect, &c. - (Signed) C.[293] - - [293] Catinat. This letter is extracted from the work of M. - Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 95. - - Third Examination of Matthioli. - - May 21st, 1679. - -Being asked whether at his return from France he had not seen the -president Turki; he answered, that it is true he had told him there -was a treaty respecting Casale, and that he had even told him the -conditions of it, but that he could not have given him an exact -copy of it, because he had not his papers with him, having sent -them from Lyons to Placentia, addressed to one of his friends named -M. Rigueti-Cannevavi, Chancellor-general of the posts, in order to -avoid having them with him in his journey through Italy. - -Being asked why he made this confidence to the President Turki; he -answered, that he had known the President for four or five years; -and that in the course of conversation, from indiscretion and quick -talking, he had allowed himself to tell too much. - -Being asked what the aforesaid President said to him, when he had -told him that there was a treaty respecting Casale; he answered, -that M. Turki explained to him that it would disturb the whole of -Italy, and that it would cause a war there; that the aforesaid -President gave him several good reasons for this. - -Being asked why he, who had the honour of being the head of so great -and important a negociation, had commenced it with the intention -of preventing the execution of it, as he had said at Turin; he -answered, that this was never his design; that it was very true that -he had said to the President Turki, that there was no appearance of -this treaty being executed, because it depended upon the peace, and -that if the war was at an end, he was persuaded they should never -manage to arrive at the execution of it. The aforesaid President -upon this told him, that peace would certainly be made; but that, -if under any circumstances a change was to take place at Casale, he -would rather prefer that the French should be the masters of it than -the Spaniards. - -Being asked why he wrote so regularly from Venice and from Padua, -upon the subject of this affair, to the aforesaid President; he -answered, that the aforesaid President begged him, when he left -Turin, to do so, and to acquaint him exactly with all that should be -done in relation to this affair; that in pursuance of the promise -he had made him to that effect, he had always sent him accounts of -it, but written in the sense as if it would not take place, the -peace being at present concluded, and the affair of Guastalla being -settled, which was one of the most powerful motives that had urged -the Duke of Mantua to put himself under the protection of the King. -That he persuaded the aforesaid President that this affair would -not take place, in order that the intelligence he gave him might -agree with what he told the Duke of Mantua himself, and the Abbé -Frederic, resident of the Emperor at Venice; and that he encouraged -this opinion in the mind of every body, the better to arrive at his -ends, and to succeed in the plan he had of introducing the troops of -the King into Casale, through the means of his intelligence with the -Governor. That this intention never quitted him for a moment, and -that what now was considered as his crime, would appear a most able -contrivance, if the whole of this affair was ever thoroughly known. -That his obstinacy in keeping possession of the original papers, -and his understanding with the Governor of Casale, are proofs of -the truth of this; that if he had not had a well-grounded intention -of serving the King, he should not have taken such care of these -papers, the retaining of which brought upon him the indignation of -his master, and even put his life into great jeopardy; and that his -secret intelligence with the Governor was perfectly useless to him, -unless his intentions were true and faithful. - -Being asked what were the contents of the letters he received from -the President; he answered, that he had received one among others, -in which the aforesaid President wrote him word that he was sure -he was deceiving him, by always telling him that the affair of -Casale would not take place; because of the arrival of troops in -the quarters behind Pignerol, which could only be for the affair of -Casale. - -Being asked whether the President Turki had not shown to him a -desire that this affair should fail; he answered, no; that he had -always conversed upon it without delivering an opinion, at the same -time showing a great deal of curiosity to be informed exactly of all -that might happen relating to this affair. - -Being asked whether he had seen the Marquis of Saint-Maurice: he -answered, no. - -Being asked, through whom the Court of Savoy could have received -such particular information; he answered, that it must have been -through the Count of Juvenasque, the Resident from Spain at that -Court, who has a great deal of intercourse with the Monk Bulgarini; -and that the aforesaid Bulgarini had known every thing from the -mother of the Duke of Mantua. - -Being asked why he had acquainted the Count Hercules Visconti of -the departure from Venice of the Sieur d'Asfeld; he answered, -that he had had no intercourse with him, till his return from -Buffacore to Padua, after the arrest of the Sieur d'Asfeld, when -Don Francis, the natural son of the Count Hercules Visconti, saw -him, and held intercourse with him; which he had confessed to in his -first examinations. - -Being asked whether the original papers were at Padua, he answered -affirmatively, yes; and that it is his real intention they should -be delivered up to the King, as he sees this is the only means of -atoning for his conduct. - -Being asked whether on his arrival at Turin, he had not asked the -President Turki to be allowed to speak to _Madame Royale_,[295] -as he had affairs of great consequence to communicate to her; he -answered, no; and that he had neither desired, nor asked to speak to -any one, except the aforesaid President. - -Being asked whether he had not written to _Madame Royale_ from -Padua, to request that she would send him a man to whom he could -confide the real state of things, he answered readily, no; but that -he would tell it as freely, if it had been the case, as he had -avowed that he had always held communication upon the subject of -this affair with the President Turki, from his wish to deceive him, -by sending him word that it would not succeed. - -His answers elude, but do not deny all that has been said of him. In -order to account for the communications he has held, he makes use of -the continual pretext, that he was obliged to hold them, in order to -deceive, and to obtain the success of the affair by taking the other -side by surprise; making use, as the means of this surprise, of his -intelligences with the Governor.[294] - - [294] The Duchess Regent of Savoy.--See Note, Page 32. - - [295] Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 96. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - St. Germain, May 22d, 1679. - -I have received your last letter without a date. You must keep the -individual named Lestang in the severe confinement I enjoined in my -preceding letters, without allowing him to see a physician, unless -you know he is in absolute want of one. - -One cannot but approve of your plan for preventing the Sieur de -Pressigny from being aware of the residence at Pignerol of M. de -Richemont, to whom I beg you to deliver the letter I send with this. - - DE LOUVOIS[296] - - [296] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 97. - -CATINAT TO LOUVOIS. - - Concluding examination of Matthioli. - - Pignerol, June 3d, 1679. - - SIR, - -The original papers have been delivered to Giuliani, who has taken -them to Venice to M. de Pinchesne: they consist of the treaty which -the aforesaid Lestang had made with the Court, which is signed by -him and by M. de Pomponne: an instruction which was given to the -aforesaid Lestang, when he left the Court: the full power given -to M. de Pomponne to treat with him, which is signed by you: and -a letter from his Majesty to the Duke of Mantua. All these papers -were in a box which had been placed in the Convent of Capuchins. -Giuliani performed his duty very well, and so completely persuaded -the father of the aforesaid Lestang, that the papers were delivered -into his hands with all confidence. The ratification of the Duke -of Mantua is not to be found, although the Sieur de Lestang said -it was amongst them: whereupon I interrogated him; having first -obtained all the advantage over him I could, by abusing him, and -bringing soldiers into his room, as if preparatory to administering -the question to him, which made him so much afraid, that he promised -really to tell the truth. Being asked whether the Duke of Mantua -had ratified the treaty; he answered that he had never subscribed -to all the articles, but that he had got from him four blank papers -signed, one of which was a blank paper of two sheets, at the top of -which he had written: _Ratification of the treaty made with his most -Christian Majesty_. That there were three other blank papers signed, -of one sheet each, of which he intended to make use to write in the -name of his master to the three Governors, of the town, citadel, -and castle, to order them to receive the King's troops. Being asked -where these blank papers signed are at present, he answered, that -they are in the hands of the Governor of Casale, to whom he sent -them at the time that d'Asfeld left Venice. Being asked why he had -sent them, without their being filled up, to the Governor of Casale; -he answered, he had sent them to him in a letter of Magnus, the -Secretary of the Duke of Mantua, in which the Governor was ordered -to do without hesitation, all that should be told him, regarding the -execution of the orders contained in that packet,--that they were -left blank, because he wished to make the ratification according -to that of the King, not knowing, as he says, exactly the form -in which it ought to have been made out. Being asked why in his -first examination he had said that this ratification was at Padua; -he answered, that he had not wished to tell where it was before -Giuliani, in order not to make him acquainted in any way with his -intelligence with the Governor: he added that he had never had any -other ratification except that one; and that whatever tortures -should be inflicted on him, he could never tell any thing more. -He has not told me any thing new relating to the imprisonment of -d'Asfeld, and he says that he has no further knowledge of it than -what I have already, Sir, sent word of to you. - -I have taken leave of the Abbé d'Estrades, as we were both agreed -of my inutility here at present. I shall, therefore, set off the -6th, to come to the Court, as you, Sir, have ordered me; where I -shall have the honour of testifying to you my lively gratitude for -the favours, which your protection has gained for me; and for the -kindness with which you acquainted me with the last you had procured -for me. - - I am, - With all the respect that is due to you, - Sir, - Your very humble, &c. - - C.[297] - - [297] Catinat. This letter is extracted from the work of M. - Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 98. - -VARENGEVILLE TO POMPONNE. - - Proposed recompense to Giuliani. - - Venice, July 1, 1679. - - SIR, - -In answer to the letter which you were pleased to write to me on -the 14th of last month, I shall do myself the honour to tell you -that, although I am aware that Giuliani has performed services -which have been useful to the King, and that I am persuaded of -his fidelity, and of his good inclinations towards France, which -may render him still very useful for the future, I cannot forbear -representing to you, that the recompense which the Abbé d'Estrades -wished to procure for him, is not a fitting one; and I feel myself -the more obliged to say this, because you do me the honour to inform -me that his Majesty wishes to receive further information on this -subject. I shall therefore, Sir, take the liberty to tell you, that -he is a little editor of newspapers, in whose shop the letters of -news are written, as it is not the custom here to print them: he -works at this himself, as well as copying for the public; and his -situation in this town answers to that of the Secretaries of St. -Innocent, at Paris. Therefore, it would be a very improper thing -to give a Secretaryship of Embassy to a man of this profession, -who, besides, in other respects, does not appear to me fit to fill -properly such an employment. He would even cease to be able to -give intelligence, as soon as he should be publicly recognized -to be attached to France, because the persons whom he now holds -communication with, would no longer wish, nor dare, to continue it -with him. But as he is a sort of _ferret_, who works out, and gets -at all that is passing, I think it is necessary to encourage his -zeal by some such gratification as forty or fifty pistoles a year, -or whatever shall be approved of by his Majesty. I think even that -this sort of recompense would have a greater effect upon him than -the other, and would make him act with the same zeal he has already -shown in the affairs he has been employed in. - - VARENGEVILLE.[298] - - * * * * * * - - [298] Varengeville was now Ambassador at Venice. This letter - exists in the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at - Paris. - - - - -No. 99. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - St. Germain, July 25, 1679. - -I HAVE received your letter of the 2d of this month. I wrote by -yesterday's post to M. de Rissan,[299] that it is the King's -intention that he should have the gate of the citadel of Pignerol -opened, whenever you shall have occasion for it. - -You may give paper and ink to the Sieur de Lestang, with the -understanding that he is to put into writing whatever he wishes to -say; which you will send to me, and I will let you know whether it -deserves any consideration. - - DE LOUVOIS.[300] - - [299] M. de la Motte de Rissan held the post of "Lieutenant de - Roi," in the citadel of Pignerol. - - [300] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 100. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - St. Germain, August 21, 1679. - - * * * * * * - -With regard to the Sieur de Lestang, you may give him paper whenever -he wishes to write; and afterwards send it to me. - - DE LOUVOIS.[301] - - [301] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 101. - -SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS. - - Pignerol, Jan. 6, 1680. - - * * * * * * - -I am obliged, Sir, to inform you that the Sieur de Lestang is become -like the Monk I have the care of; that is to say, subject to fits of -raving madness; from which the Sieur Dubreuil also is not exempt. - - DE SAINT-MARS.[302] - - [302] Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 102. - -SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS. - - Matthioli complains of his Treatment, and gives Proofs of - Insanity. - - Pignerol, Feb. 24, 1680. - -THE Sieur de Lestang, who has been nearly a year in my custody, -complains that he is not treated as a man of his quality, and the -minister of a great prince ought to be. Notwithstanding this, I -continue to follow your commands, Sir, most exactly upon this -subject, as well as upon all others: I think he is deranged, by the -way he talks to me; telling me he converses every day with God and -his angels; that they have told him of the death of the Duke of -Mantua, and of the Duke of Lorrain;[303] and, as an additional proof -of his madness, he says that he has the honour of being the near -relation of the King, to whom he wishes to write, to complain of the -way in which I treat him. I have not thought it right to give him -paper or ink for that purpose, perceiving him not to be in his right -senses. - - DE SAINT-MARS.[304] - - [303] See Note, page 48. - - [304] Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 103. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - St. Germain, July 10th, 1680. - -I HAVE received, together with your letter of the 4th of this month, -that which was joined with it, of which I shall make the proper use. -It will be sufficient to make the prisoners in the lower part of the -tower confess once a year. - -With regard to the Sieur de Lestang, I wonder at your patience, -and that you should wait for an order to treat such a rascal as he -deserves, when he is wanting in respect to you. Send me word how it -has happened that the individual named Eustache has been able to do -what you have sent me word of, and where he got the drugs necessary -for the purpose, as I cannot think you would have furnished them to -him. - - DE LOUVOIS.[305] - - [305] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 104. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - Philippeville, August 16th, 1680. - -I HAVE been made acquainted, by your letter of the 7th of this -month, with the proposal you make of placing the Sieur de Lestang -with the Jacobin Monk, in order to avoid the necessity of having two -priests. The King approves of your project, and you have only to -execute it when you please. - - DE LOUVOIS.[306] - - [306] Ibid. - - - - -No. 105. - -SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS. - - Matthioli and the Jacobin placed together. - - September 7th, 1680. - -SINCE you, Sir, permitted me to put Matthioli with the Jacobin in -the lower part of the tower, the aforesaid Matthioli was for four -or five days in the belief that the Jacobin was a man that I had -placed with him to watch his actions. Matthioli, who is almost as -mad as the Jacobin, walked about with long strides, with his cloak -over his nose, crying out that he was not a dupe, but that he knew -more than he would say. The Jacobin, who was always seated on his -truckle bed, with his elbows resting upon his knees, looked at him -gravely, without listening to him. The Signor Matthioli remained -always persuaded that it was a spy that had been placed with him, -till he was one day disabused, by the Jacobin's getting down from -his bed, stark naked, and setting himself to preach, without rhyme -or reason, till he was tired. I and my lieutenants saw all their -manoeuvres through a hole over the door. - - DE SAINT-MARS.[307] - - [307] Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 106. - -SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS. - - October 9th, 1680. - -I HAVE only further, Sir, to acquaint you with the circumstance of -the Sieur Matthioli's having given a ring to Blainvilliers, who -immediately delivered it to me. I will keep it, till it shall please -you, Sir, to give me orders what to do with it. - - I am, &c. - - DE SAINT-MARS.[308] - - [308] Ibid. - - - - -No. 107. - -SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS. - - Particulars respecting the Ring given by Matthioli to - Blainvilliers. - - October 26th, 1680. - -IN order to explain to you, Sir, more amply than I have hitherto -done, the story of the diamond ring which the Sieur Matthioli gave -to Blainvilliers, I shall begin by taking the liberty to tell you -that I believe he made him this present as much from fear as from -any other cause: this prisoner having previously used very violent -language to him, and written abusive sentences with charcoal on -the wall of his room, which had obliged that officer to menace him -with severe punishment, if he was not more decorous and moderate -in his language for the future. When he was put in the tower with -the Jacobin, I charged Blainvilliers to tell him, at the same time -showing him a cudgel, that it was with that the unruly were rendered -manageable, and that if he did not speedily become the latter, he -could easily be compelled to it. This message was conveyed to him, -and some days afterwards, as Blainvilliers was waiting on him at -dinner, he said to him; _Sir, here is a little ring which I wish -to give you, and I beg you to accept of it_. Blainvilliers replied -to him that _he only took it to deliver it to me, as he could not -receive any thing himself from the prisoners_. I think it is well -worth fifty or sixty pistoles. - - DE SAINT-MARS.[309] - - [309] Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 108. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - Versailles, Nov. 2d, 1680. - -I HAVE received your letter of the 26th of last month. I am writing -to the Sieur du Channoy to make the necessary repairs to the -barracks of the citadel of Pignerol: with regard to the brambles -which are in the walls, I think it will be better to wait till the -spring to have them rooted up, because that will make them die more -certainly, and then at the same time mortar might be inserted into -the fissures. - -You must keep the ring, which the Sieur Matthioli has given to the -Sieur de Blainvilliers, in order to restore it to him, if it should -ever happen that the King ordered him to be set at liberty. - - DE LOUVOIS.[310] - - [310] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 109. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - Versailles, Nov. 11th, 1680. - -THE King has been informed that the Governor of Milan has received -the plan of the town and citadel of Pignerol, from an individual -named Quadro, who was some time in the prison, to explain the -fortifications to one of your nephews; and as it is important for -the service of His Majesty, that the Italians should never have any -communication with the citadel of Pignerol, nor with the prison -there, His Majesty has commanded me to let you know, that he wishes -you not to allow any one to enter there, without his express order; -and his intention is, if you have any soldiers or servants who are -Piedmontese, Savoyards, or Italians, that you should get rid of them -as quietly as possible, under pretext of their not serving you well. - - DE LOUVOIS.[311] - - [311] From the Archives of France - - - - -No. 110. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - St. Germain, December 5th, 1680. - -YOUR letter of the 27th of last month has reached me. The King -does not wish you to have any soldiers in your company who are -Piedmontese, Savoyards, Italians, or natives of the Government of -Pignerol. With regard to the three servants of this nation, who have -been with you for six or seven years, you may keep them, since you -are certain of their fidelity. - - DE LOUVOIS.[312] - - [312] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 111. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - Appointment of Saint-Mars to the Government of - Exiles--Measures to be taken by him thereupon. - - Versailles, May 12th, 1681. - -I READ to the King your letter of the 3d of this month, by which -his Majesty having discovered the extreme repugnance you have to -accept the command of the citadel of Pignerol, he has thought proper -to accord to you that of Exiles, vacant by the death of the Duke -of Lesdiguières; whither he wishes you to transport those of the -prisoners who are under your care, whom he shall think it important -not to entrust to any other hands but yours. I shall take care to -solicit at the office of M. de Croissy[313] for the grants of the -aforesaid government, of which, as the salary does not exceed four -thousand livres, His Majesty will continue to you the five hundred -livres a month he gave you at Pignerol, by means of which your -emoluments will be as considerable as those of the Governors of the -great places in Flanders. - -I have requested the Sieur du Channoy to go with you to visit -the buildings at Exiles, and to make there a list of the repairs -absolutely necessary for the lodging of the two prisoners in the -lower part of the tower, who are, I think, the only ones His Majesty -will have transferred to Exiles. - -Send me a list of all the prisoners under your care, and write -opposite to each name all that you know of the reasons why they were -arrested. - -With regard to the two in the lower part of the tower, you need only -designate them by this name, without adding any thing else. - -The King expects that, during the little time you will be absent -from the citadel of Pignerol, when you go with the Sieur du Channoy -to Exiles, you will arrange the guarding of your prisoners in such a -manner, that no accident may happen to them, and that they may have -no intercourse with any one, any more than they have hitherto had -during the time they have been under your charge. - - DE LOUVOIS.[314] - - [313] Charles Colbert, Marquis de Croissi, brother of the great - Colbert, was employed in many embassies, which he conducted - with ability and success. In 1679 he succeeded Arnaud de - Pomponne as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. He died in - 1696. - - [314] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 112. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - Precautions for the Journey of the Prisoners from Pignerol - to Exiles. - - Versailles, June 9th, 1681. - -I SEND you the necessary grants, as Governor of Exiles, which the -King has thought good to have sent to you. The intention of His -Majesty is, that as soon as the room at Exiles, which you shall -judge the most proper for the secure keeping of the two prisoners in -the lower part of the tower, shall be in a state to receive them, -you will send them out of the citadel of Pignerol in a litter, and -conduct them there under the escort of your troop, for the march -of whom the orders are hereunto joined: and immediately after the -departure of the aforesaid prisoners, it is His Majesty's intention -that you should go to Exiles, to take possession of the government, -and to make it, for the future, your residence. - -And because His Majesty does not wish that the remainder of the -prisoners at present under your charge, who are to remain in the -citadel of Pignerol should be left to the care of a Captain of a -Battalion, who may be changed from day to day, I address to you an -order from the King to have the Sieur de Villebois recognized as -Commandant of the aforesaid citadel of Pignerol, until the return -of M. de Rissan, or the arrival of the person whom His Majesty -shall entrust with the command of the aforesaid citadel. In case -the health of the aforesaid Sieur de Rissan does not permit him to -return there, you will, if you please, acquaint the aforesaid Sieur -de Villebois with it, to whom the Sieur du Channoy has orders to pay -two crowns a day, for the support of those three prisoners. - -You will see by the orders of the King hereunto joined, that your -company is to be reduced to forty-five men, to commence from the -15th of this month; and by the statement which accompanies them, -the footing upon which it is to be paid, as well as what the -King has ordered you for the subsistence of the two before-named -prisoners, whom His Majesty expects that you will guard with the -same exactitude you have made use of hitherto. Therefore, it only -remains for me to recommend you to give me, from time to time, -intelligence respecting them. - -With regard to the effects belonging to the Sieur Matthioli, which -are in your possession, you will have them taken to Exiles, in order -to be given back to him, if ever His Majesty should order him to be -set at liberty. - -You will receive the orders I have mentioned by the first occasion. - - DE LOUVOIS.[315] - - [315] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 113. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - Versailles, June 11th, 1681. - -I HAVE acquainted the King with the contents of your letter of the -13th of last month, and with the list of the repairs necessary to -be made to the tower at Exiles, which you deem the most proper -residence for the prisoners whom His Majesty leaves under your care. -The King has thought fit to grant you a thousand crowns, as well for -the aforesaid repairs, as for those which you shall judge necessary -to make in your own lodging; which, as soon as you receive this, -you will take care to have done immediately, as if the expense was -to come out of your own pocket: and as soon as the prison shall be -in a fit state, it is the intention of His Majesty that you should -transfer the aforesaid two prisoners to it, according to what I have -already commanded you in my last letter; and in conformity with that -and the order which was joined to it, you will then deliver to the -Sieur de Villebois the command of the citadel of Pignerol. - - DE LOUVOIS.[316] - - [316] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 114. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - Versailles, July 9th, 1681. - -I HAVE received your letter of the 29th of last month. You may have -the doors you have need of, for the security of your prisoners, made -at Exiles, without taking the trouble of having them carried from -Pignerol. - -I have written to the _Père Lachaise_ for the benefice, which you -ask of the King for one of your children, to whom I trust His -Majesty will grant it. - - DE LOUVOIS.[317] - - [317] Ibid. - - - - -No. 115. - -SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS. - - Precautions for the Security and Concealment of the - Prisoners at Exiles. - - Pignerol, July 12th, 1681. - Just setting off for Exiles. - -IN order that the prisoners may not be seen (at Exiles,) they will -not leave their chamber when they hear mass; and in order that they -may be kept the more securely, one of my lieutenants will sleep -above them, and there will be two sentinels night and day, who will -watch the whole round of the tower, without its being possible for -them and the prisoners to see and to speak to one another, or even -to hear any thing of one another. They will be the soldiers of my -company, who will be always the sentinels over the prisoners. There -is only a confessor, about whom I have my doubts; but if you do not -disapprove, I will give them the curate of Exiles instead, who is -a good man, and very old, whom I will forbid, on the part of His -Majesty, to enquire who these prisoners are, or their names, or -what they have been, or to speak of them in any way, or to receive -from them by word of mouth, or by writing, either communications or -notes. - - I am, &c. - - DE SAINT-MARS.[318] - - [318] Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 116. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - Departure of Saint-Mars from Pignerol ordered to be - deferred, in order that he might receive Catinat there. - - Versailles, July 22d, 1681. - -I HAVE received your letter of the 12th of this month, by which I -see that the repairs which you have ordered to be made at Exiles -will not permit you to leave Pignerol before the end of next -month. As the service of the King will perhaps require that you -should remain there all the following month, it would be well that -you should advance the aforesaid repairs of Exiles as little as -possible, in order that you may have a pretext for not leaving -Pignerol till the first days of the month of October; taking care to -act in such a manner, that your continuing to remain there may not -appear to be the result of voluntary delay. - -I am about to send the necessary order for the repayment of the -money you have expended for your prisoners, and you will receive it -by the next post. - -You will find joined with this letter a packet for M. de -Pianesse,[319] which I request you to deliver to him without fail. - - DE LOUVOIS.[320] - - [319] The Marquis de Pianesse was one of the Ministers of the - Court of Turin. - - [320] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 117. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - Fontainebleau, August 3d, 1681. - -YOUR letter of the 23rd of last month has been delivered to me. The -King approves of your going to see the Marquis de Pianesse at his -country house, and of your making a journey to Turin, if you desire -it, provided you do not sleep out of the citadel of Pignerol more -than one night at a time. With regard to the journey to Exiles, and -the leave of absence you ask for the Sieur Tourtebat, whom you wish -to take with you, you will have seen by my former letters, that the -intention of the King is that you should not go there. - - DE LOUVOIS.[321] - - [321] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 118. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - Orders for the Reception of Catinat at Pignerol. - - Fontainebleau, August 13th, 1681. - -THE King having ordered M. de Catinat to go as soon as possible to -Pignerol, for the same affair which before took him there at the -commencement of the year 1679, I send you these few lines by order -of His Majesty, to give you intelligence thereof, in order that you -may prepare an apartment for him, in which he can remain concealed -for three weeks or a month; and also to tell you that when he shall -send to let you know that he is arrived at the place where you went -to meet him in the aforesaid year 1679, it is the intention of His -Majesty that you should go there again to meet him, and that you -should conduct him into the prison of the citadel of the aforesaid -Pignerol, with every kind of precaution, in order that no one may -know he is with you. I do not say any thing to you about assisting -him with your servants, your horses, and whatever carriages he may -have occasion for, because I have no doubt but you will do with -pleasure on these heads, whatever he shall ask you. - -If between this time and his arrival any packet for him should be -addressed to you either from Piedmont or from Italy, you will keep -it, if you please, to deliver to him. - - DE LOUVOIS.[322] - - [322] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 119. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - Fontainebleau, August 23d, 1681. - -I HAVE received your letter of the 13th of this month, which -requires no answer, except to say that I have given orders for a -French clerk to be sent, to have the direction of the Post-office -at Pignerol; by means of whom we shall be assured that no further -abuses can be committed with regard to the letters. - - DE LOUVOIS.[323] - - [323] From the Archives of France. - - - - -No. 120. - -LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS. - - Fontainebleau, Sept. 20th, 1681. - -THIS word is only for the purpose of acknowledging the receipt of -your letter of the 16th of last month. The King will not disapprove -of your visiting, from time to time, the last prisoner who has -been placed in your charge, after he shall have been established -in his new prison, and shall have left that where he is at present -confined. His Majesty desires that you will execute the order he has -sent you for your establishment at Exiles. I beg you to deliver the -packet hereunto joined into M. de Richemont's own hands. - - DE LOUVOIS.[324] - - [324] From the Archives of France. To the name of Richemont - is appended in the original the following note, in the - hand-writing of Saint-Mars; "This name means M. de Catinat, - whom I had then shut up with me at Pignerol." - - - - -No. 121. - -SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS. - - Exiles, Dec 4th, 1681. - -As there is always one of my two prisoners ill, they give me as much -occupation as I have ever had with any of those I have hitherto -guarded. - -Although, Sir, you have the kindness to give me permission to go, -from time to time, to Casale, I dare not do it, lest during my -absence, you should address any packets to me for M. de Pianesse. - - DE SAINT-MARS.[325] - - [325] Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 122. - -SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS. - - Description of the Apartment and manner of Confinement of - the Prisoners at Exiles. - - Exiles, March 11th, 1682. - - SIR, - -I have received the letter which you were pleased to do me the -honour to write to me on the 27th of last month, in which you -acquaint me, Sir, that it is important my two prisoners should have -no communication with any one. Since the first time that you, Sir, -gave me this order, I have guarded these two prisoners, who are -under my care, as severely and exactly as I formerly did Messieurs -Fouquet and Lauzun, who could not boast that they had either sent or -received any news, while they were in confinement. These prisoners -can hear the people speak as they pass along the road which is at -the bottom of the tower; but they, if they wished it, could not make -themselves heard; they can see the persons on the hill which is -before their windows, but cannot themselves be seen on account of -the bars which are placed across their room. There are two sentinels -of my company always night and day, on each side of the tower, at -a reasonable distance, who can see the window of the prisoners -obliquely. They are ordered to take care that no one speaks to them, -and that they do not cry out from their windows; and to make the -passengers walk on if they wish to stop in the path, or on the side -of the hill. My own room being joined to the tower, and having no -other look-out except towards this path, I hear and see every thing, -even my two sentinels, who are by this means always kept alert. - -As for the inside of the tower, I have divided it in such a manner, -that the priest who says mass to them cannot see them, on account -of a curtain I have made, which covers their double doors. The -servants, who bring their food, put whatever is necessary for the -prisoners upon a table on the outside, and my lieutenant takes it -and carries it in to them. No one speaks to them except myself, my -officer, M. Vigneron (the confessor), and physician from Pragelas, -which is six leagues from hence, who only sees them in my presence. -With regard to their linen and other necessaries, I take the same -precautions which I did with my former prisoners. - - I am, &c. - - DE SAINT-MARS.[326] - - [326] Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 123. - -SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS. - - Exiles, Dec. 23d, 1685. - -MY prisoners are still ill and in a course of medicine; they are, -however, perfectly tranquil. - - DE SAINT-MARS.[327] - - [327] Ibid. - - - - -No. 124. - -SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS. - - Saint-Mars is made Governor of the Islands of Saint - Margaret. - - Exiles, January 20th, 1687. - - SIR, - -I am most grateful for the new favour, which I have just received -from his Majesty, (the government of the Islands of Saint Margaret). -If you order me to go there without delay, I would request to be -permitted to take the road through Piedmont, on account of the great -quantity of snow that there is between this place and Embrun; and, -on my return, which shall be as quick as I can possibly make it, I -hope you will approve of my going by the way, to take leave of the -Duke of Savoy, from whom I have always received so much kindness. -I will give such good orders for the guarding of my prisoner, that -I can answer to you, Sir, for his entire security, as well as for -his not now, nor ever, holding intercourse with my Lieutenant, whom -I have forbid to speak to him, which is punctually obeyed. If I -take him with me to the Islands, I think the most secure conveyance -will be a chair covered with oil-cloth, in which there would enter -a sufficiency of air, without its being possible for any one to -see or speak to him during the journey, not even the soldiers whom -I shall select to be near the chair. This conveyance will be less -embarrassing than a litter, which is liable often to break. - - I am, &c. - - DE SAINT-MARS.[328] - - [328] Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 125. - -SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS. - - From the Islands of Saint Margaret, - March 23d, 1687. - - * * * * * * - -I have been here for the last thirty days, of which I have passed -twenty-six in bed, with a continual fever. I have taken so much -powder of bark, that, for the last three days, I have been free from -fever. I have sent to Toulon for my litter, in order to go from -hence the 26th of this month, and I hope to be at Exiles in eight -days, by the Embrun and Briançon road. As soon as I shall have had -the honour of receiving your commands, Sir, I shall set forth again -with my prisoner, whom I promise to conduct here in all security, -without any one seeing or speaking to him. He shall not hear mass -after he leaves Exiles, till he is lodged in the prison which is -preparing for him here, to which a chapel is attached. - - * * * * * * - -I pledge my honour to you for the entire security of my prisoner. - - I am, &c. - - DE SAINT-MARS.[329] - - [329] Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 126. - -SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS. - - Arrival of Matthioli at the Islands of Saint Margaret. - - From the Islands of Saint Margaret, - May 3d, 1687. - - SIR, - -I arrived here the 30th of last month: I was only twelve days on the -journey, in consequence of the illness of my prisoner, occasioned, -as he said, by not having as much air as he wished. I can assure -you, Sir, that no one has seen him, and that the manner in which I -have guarded and conducted him during all the journey, makes every -body try to conjecture who he is. - -My prisoner's bed was so old and worn out, as well as every thing he -made use of, both table linen and furniture, that it was not worth -while to bring them here; they only sold for thirteen crowns. * * * - -I have given to the eight porters, who brought the chair from Turin, -and my prisoner to this place, (including the hire of the aforesaid -chair) two hundred and three livres, which I have paid out of my own -pocket. - - DE SAINT-MARS.[330] - - [330] Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 127. - -SAINT-MARS TO THE MINISTER.[331] - - Relation of the conduct of two Protestant Ministers. - - From the Islands of Saint Margaret, - June 4th, 1692. - - * * * * * * - -The first of the ministers, who have been sent here, sings psalms -night and day with a loud voice, expressly to make it be known who -he is. I desired him, in vain, several times to discontinue this, on -pain of severe punishment; which I have at length been obliged to -inflict upon him, as well as on his comrade, named Salves, who write -things upon his pewter vessels, and upon his linen, in order to make -known that he is imprisoned unjustly, on account of the purity of -his faith. - - DE SAINT-MARS.[332] - - [331] Probably Barbezieux. - - [332] Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). - - - - -No. 128. - - Extract from the Register of the Bastille, published in the - Work entitled, "La Bastille Dévoilée." - - Names and qualities of the Prisoners. - -An old prisoner from Pignerol, obliged always to wear a mask of -black velvet, whose name and quality have never been known. - - Dates of their Entries. - -September 18th, 1698. At three o'clock in the afternoon. - - Reference to the Journal. - -Dujonca, Volume 87. - - Reasons for their detention. - -It was never known. - - OBSERVATIONS. - -This is the famous Man in the Mask, whom no one has ever seen or -known. - -This prisoner was brought to the Bastille by M. de Saint-Mars in his -litter, when he took possession of the Government of the Bastille, -coming from his Government of the Islands of Saint Margaret and -Saint Honorat, and whom he had before had with him at Pignerol. - -This prisoner was treated with great distinction by the Governor, -and was only seen by him and M. de Rosarges, Major of the Fortress, -who alone had the care of him. - - - - -No. 129. - - Second Extract from the Register of the Bastille, published - in the Work entitled, "La Bastille Dévoilée." - - Dates of the Deaths. - -November 19th, 1703. - - Reference to the Journal. - -Dujonca, Volume 8th. - - OBSERVATIONS. - -Died November 19th, 1703, aged 45, or thereabouts; buried at St. -Paul's the next day at four in the afternoon, under the name of -Marchiali, in the presence of M. de Rosarges, Major of the Fortress, -and of M. Reilh, Surgeon-Major of the Bastille, who signed their -names to the extract of the Burial Register of St. Paul's. His -burial cost forty livres. - -This prisoner remained at the Bastille five years and sixty-two -days, the day of his burial not included. - -He was only ill for some hours, and died almost suddenly; he was -buried in a winding-sheet of new linen; and for the most part every -thing that was found in his chamber was burnt, such as every part -of his bed, including the mattresses, his tables, chairs, and other -utensils, which were all reduced to powder and to cinders, and -thrown into the drains. The rest of the things, such as the silver, -copper, and pewter, were melted. This prisoner was lodged in the -third chamber of the tower _Bertaudière_, which room was scraped and -filed quite to the stone, and fresh white-washed from the top to the -bottom. The doors and windows were burnt like the rest. - -It is remarkable that, in the name of Marchiali, which was given -him in the Burial Register of St. Paul's, are to be found the exact -letters of these two words, the one Latin, the other French, _Hic -Amiral_, here is the Admiral.[333] - - [333] The discovery of this ridiculous and strained anagram was - one of the causes which led to the false supposition, that the - Iron Mask was either the Duke de Beaufort, or the Count de - Vermandois, both of whom were great Admirals of France. - - - - -No. 130. - - Extract from the Register of Burials of the Church of Saint - Paul, at Paris. - -The year one thousand seven hundred and three, on the nineteenth of -November, died at the Bastille, Marchiali, aged forty-five years or -thereabouts; whose body was interred in the burial-ground of this -parish, the twentieth of the aforesaid month, in the presence of M. -Rosarges, Major of the Bastille, and of M. Reilh, Surgeon-Major of -the Bastille, who have affixed their signatures. - -Collated exactly with the original, and delivered by us the -undersigned, Bachelor in Theology, and Vicar of Saint Paul, at -Paris, this Tuesday the ninth of February, 1790. - - Signed, POITEVIN. - - - - -No. 131. - - Extract from the Work entitled "_La Correspondance - Interceptée_," by M. Lewis Dutens, published in 1789. - -In order to treat this subject (that of the Iron Mask) methodically, -I will begin with what the Duke de Choiseul has often related to me. -Lewis the Fifteenth one day told him, that he was acquainted with -the history of the prisoner with the Mask. The Duke begged the King -to tell him who he was, but he could get no other answer from him, -except, that all the conjectures which had been hitherto made with -regard to the prisoner, were false. Some time afterwards, Madame de -Pompadour, at the request of the Duke, pressed the King to explain -himself upon this subject. Lewis the Fifteenth upon this told her, -that he believed he was the Minister of an Italian Prince. - - - - -No. 132. - - Extract from the article on the Iron Mask in the Work - entitled "_Mélanges d'Histoire et de Littérature_;" by Mr. - Quintin Craufurd. - -BEFORE the publication of the "_Correspondance Interceptée_," I had -heard it said, that M. de Choiseul had spoken to Lewis the Fifteenth -on the subject of the masked prisoner; but that he had not been able -to obtain any satisfactory answer. I addressed myself to the Abbé -Barthelemi and to the Abbé Beliardi, who had both lived in intimacy -with M. de Choiseul: they acquainted me that it was at their request -the Duke de Choiseul had spoken upon this subject to Lewis the -Fifteenth; that the King had answered him, that he believed the -prisoner was a minister of one of the courts of Italy; but that the -Duke observed that this conversation appeared to embarrass him. The -Abbé Beliardi told me in proper terms, that the King wished to evade -the subject. They then begged M. de Choiseul to engage Madame de -Pompadour to speak to the King. She did so; but the answer of Lewis -the Fifteenth to his mistress was not more instructive, than that -which he had given to his Minister. - - - - -No. 133 - - Letter from the Baron de Heiss to the Authors of the - "_Journal Encyclopédique_," on the subject of the Iron Mask; - published in that Journal, in 1770. - - GENTLEMEN, - -Since the publication of the anecdote respecting the Man in the Iron -Mask, which M. de Voltaire has given us in his "_Siècle de Louis_ -XIV.," I have been always very curious to discover who this prisoner -could be; but all my researches had hitherto failed in giving me -any information which could content me; chance has placed in my -hands a detached number of a work, of which the title is "_Histoire -abrégée de l'Europe_," for the month of August 1687, printed that -same year at Leyden, by "_Claude Jordan_." At the article Mantua, -I found the letter, which I have the honour to send you a copy of, -translated from the Italian. It appears that this Secretary of the -Duke of Mantua, who is there mentioned, might very well be the -Man in the Iron Mask, transferred from Pignerol to the Islands of -Saint Margaret, and from thence to the Bastille, in 1690, when M. -de Saint-Mars was made governor of it. I am the more inclined to -believe this, because, as M. de Voltaire, and all those who have -made researches on this subject, have remarked, there did not at -that time disappear any prince, or person of consequence in any part -of Europe. - -If you, Gentlemen, find any appearance of probability in my remark, -and if you think it can interest the public, you are welcome to -insert it in your Journal, &c. - - THE BARON DE HEISS. - - Formerly Captain of the Regiment of Alsace. - Phalsbourg, - June 28, 1770. - - - Letter on the subject of the Man in the Iron Mask, announced - in the preceding one. - - GENTLEMEN, - -One of my friends tells me, that he has read in the "_Histoire -abrégée de l'Europe_," (Vol. ii. p. 33.), that it was said, that the -Duke of Mantua had had the intention of selling his capital town; -but that the author of this History did not believe it. - -You are ill-informed; it is certain that this affair was negociated, -and that it was much advanced towards a conclusion. The secretary of -the Duke, who had much influence with his master, dissuaded him from -this design; but the doing so cost him very dear, as you shall soon -learn. - -This faithful Minister made the Duke understand, that it was -necessary for his interest and his honour to preserve his Duchy, and -thus made him change his intention; he did still more, he obliged -him to unite himself with the other Princes of Italy, in order to -oppose the designs of France. It was he who negociated the interview -of the different princes, which took place at Venice last winter, -during the Carnival: this time was chosen in order the better to -conceal the plans which were in agitation. You are without doubt -aware, that it is not an extraordinary circumstance to see many -princes and persons of condition at Venice during that period. This -Secretary went afterwards to Rome, where he remained some time; he -then visited almost all the Courts of Italy; he went to Venice and -Genoa, and he succeeded every where so well, that he had almost -entirely detached all those powers from the interests of France. -Finally he went to Turin with the same intention. As he believed his -negociations to be very secret he often visited the Marquis D'Arcy, -the French Ambassador at the Court of Savoy; but what can escape -the penetrating eyes of France? The minister of that crown had been -informed of all the designs of the Secretary, before his arrival at -Turin. He, however, paid him many civilities, asked him very often -to dinner, and finally invited him to come and hunt with him, at -some distance from Turin. The Secretary, who had no time to lose, -and who thought the moment of the absence of the French ambassador -very proper for his negociations, excused himself at first upon -the plea of his having no horses; the Ambassador offered to lend -them to him, and the Secretary dared no longer refuse, from fear -lest some portion of the truth should be suspected. The day for the -hunting being arrived, they set off together; but they were hardly -at the distance of a league from the town, when the Secretary was -surrounded by ten or twelve horsemen, who seized him, disguised -him, masked him, and conducted him to Pignerol. Without doubt he -was well aware who had played him this trick, but he had no means -of resistance. At Pignerol he was thought to be too near Italy, -and, though he was guarded very carefully, it was feared that the -walls might tell tales; he was therefore removed from thence, and -conducted to the Islands of Saint Margaret, where he at present is, -under the care of M. de Saint-Mars, who is the Governor. This is a -piece of news doubtless very surprising, but not on that account the -less true. - - I am, &c. - -To this letter are joined these reflections:--There are reports -respecting a journey made by the Duke of Mantua to Vienna. Some -politicians think that it is the affair which happened to his -Secretary which is the cause of his journey, and that he has a -design of making an alliance with the Emperor and the King of -Spain.[334] - - [334] To this letter M. Delort adds the following note, "In - 1782 or 1783, there died at Turin a Marquis de Pancalier de - Prie, among whose manuscripts was also found the anecdote of - this Secretary of the Duke of Mantua. All the Italian - newspapers published it; but although it was considered as a - new idea, it did not make a great sensation." - - - - THE END. - - LONDON: - PRINTED BY S. AND R. BENTLEY, DORSET STREET. - - - - -Transcriber's Notes: - - - Footnotes in the first part "History Of The Iron Mask" have been - moved to the end of that part; footnotes in appendix have been - moved to the end of the respective appendix. - - Page 18, footnote 28, Maria Victoria (Maria Vittoria), second - daughter of Ferdinand III. (Ferrante III Gonzaga), Duke of - Guastalla, married her cousin Vincent Gonzaga (Vincenzo I - Gonzaga) June 30th, 1679 and died September 5th, 1707 in Venice. - Although the year 1769 for the marriage date is believed to be an - unambiguous mis-print in the original, the author's version has - been retained. - - Page 149, footnote 189, John Baptist Felix Gaspar Nani's (Giovan - Battista Nani) work was published under the title "Historia - della Republica Veneta," starting with part I in 1662; the - author's spelling of "Istoria" has been maintained. - - The following corrections have been made to the printed original: - - Page iv, "Cassale" corrected to "Casale" (going to Casale). - Page viii, "Dévoillée" amended to "Dévoilée" ("La Bastille - Dévoilée"). - Page viii, "Melanges" amended to "Mélanges" (Mélanges d'Histoire). - Page 14, "Soreigns" corrected to "Sovereigns" (the Italian - Sovereigns). - Page 31, footnote 58, "No." corrected to "Nos." (Appendix, Nos. 75, - 79, 81, 83, 88.) - Page 44, footnote 83, "Sevigné's" corrected to "Sévigné's" (Madame - de Sévigné). - Page 44, footnote 84, "vecu" corrected to "vécu" (comme il a vécu). - Page 46, footnote 88, "No." amended to "Nos." (Ibid. Nos. 84, 85.) - Page 51, footnote 99, "Appendix, 104." amended to "Appendix, No. - 104." - Page 52, footnote 101, "Appendix, 105." amended to "Appendix, No. - 105." - Page 76, "Bertaudiere" amended to "Bertaudière" (tower of the - Bertaudière). - Page 83, "Correspondence" amended to "Correspondance" - (Correspondance Interceptée). - Page 83 "aujourdhui" amended to "aujourd'hui" (La Marquise aura - aujourd'hui). - Page 83, footnote 155, (footnote to footnote 154,) "138" corrected - to "133" (Appendix, No. 133.) - Page 144, "necesary" amended to "necessary" (will be necessary, - before the Count). - Page 173, "Estradés" amended to "Estrades" (transaction Estrades - alludes). - Page 184, "to day" corrected to "to-day" (departure till to-day). - Page 197, "December," amended to "December" (December 29, 1678.) - Page 202, "Jan 15th," amended to "Jan. 15th," (Venice, Jan. 15th, - 1679.) - Page 210, "were" corrected to "where" (where there are none). - Page 215, footnote 244, "siécles" corrected to "siècles" (XVIIIe - siècles). - Page 230, "No" amended to "No." (No. 71.) - Page 236, "mean while" corrected to "meanwhile" (whom, in the - meanwhile). - Page 252, the missing locator for footnote 275 has been supplied. - Page 280, "Ambassador's" amended to "Ambassador" (the Ambassador - being present). - Page 348, "Encyclopèdique" corrected to "Encyclopédique" (Journal - Encyclopédique). - Page 349, "Vol. ii. p. 33.)" amended to "(Vol. ii. p. 33.)" - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The True History of The State -Prisoner, commonly called The, by George Agar Ellis - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TRUE HISTORY *** - -***** This file should be named 42419-8.txt or 42419-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/4/1/42419/ - -Produced by StevenGibbs, Christoph W. 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