Memoirs of the court of Charles II

Introduction

Rather curiously, these "Memoirs" of a Frenchman were written by an Enghshman in the French language, their largest portion being devoted to the gay doings of English courtiers in England during the reign of Charles II.

Philibert, the Chevalier de Gramont, born in 1621, was the younger son of the French duke of that name. Like most European younger sons, he had to depend chiefly upon his natural gifts for advancement. Destined for the Church, he early revolted against that and devoted himself to the careers of the army and the Court — in brief, to a life of gallantry, in all the senses of that word.

Notably handsome, of high birth, brilliantly witty, gay under all circumstances, fertile in story, sport, or genial talk, keen and merrily unscrupulous in gaming, attractive to and attracted by women of high and low degree, and indomitably courageous, his early army service under the great Generals Conde and Turenne opened to him a career of adventure. He was admired as a soldier, prized as a comrade, popular everywhere ; so that when he returned from camp to Court he was an instant favourite. From King Louis XIV. down to the lackeys, every one sought to please him and forward his fortunes. These dazzling successes seem to have turned his head somewhat, since he was venturesome enough to make love to one of the King's own favourites, and early in 1662 was banished.

Before this, De Gramont had visited the English 1 — Memoirs 3 VoL 4

4 INTRODUCTION

Court during Cromwell's Protectorate, and had found it exceedingly dull. But Charles 11. was now in power, and the liveliness, festivities, and social laxities of the Court of the Restoration offered him a congenial refuge, and he betook himself thither.

Of course, so blithe and attractive a cavalier found welcome in court circles, and De Gramont was promptly installed in favour. Here he pursued his customary courses — gambled with the men, gave and received splendid hospitalities ( for he seems to have been usually well supplied with money, and when that failed was even more lavish in his hospitalities until the gaming-table replenished his purse), found time to galantiser variously among the frail beauties of the Court, and had a dashing career during the few years of his sojourn. It is with this period that the "Memoirs" are chiefly concerned. They are certainly startling reminiscences of that profligate Court, giving witty and graphic details of the lives of many individuals of note, men and women, with their ambitions, intrigues, loves and hatreds, entertainments and cruelties, practical jokes, doings and undoings.

Among the most winsome of the ladies was Miss Eliza Hamilton, daughter of Anthony, Count Hamilton, niece of the Duke of Ormonde. With her, De Gramont seems to have genuinely fallen in love. Amid his other feminine pursuits he held more constantly to her than, to any other, persistently seeking her in marriage. She evidently favoured him, although to what extent is uncertain, since in mid-December, 1663, De Gramont received what he thought to be a recall to the French Court, authorised by the King, and started for France. The story goes — although not chronicled in the "Memoirs" — that on his way to the coast he was overtaken by George and Anthony, Miss Hamilton's brothers, who asked him whether he had not forgotten

INTRODUCTION 5

something in London. "Yes," he replied, "I forgot to marry your sister." Forthwith he returned, performed that pleasant duty on December 22, and according to his lights — which were variable — made the new countess a fairly steady husband.

Here the ^'Memoirs" end. But in 1664 De Gramont returned to France with his wife, being graciously received by the King, and served in the army in the Low Countries, while his Countess was accepted among the attendants upon Maria Theresa, Queen Consort of Louis XIV. Of his two daughters, one married Henry Howard, Marquis of Stratford, and the other became Abbess of Poussay, in Lorraine.

Into De Gramont's life now came again his brother-in-law, Anthony. The Hamilton family having taken refuge in France after the execution of Charles I., Anthony had spent his youth in that country, and became almost a Frenchman. After various experiences in English Court and army life under the Restoration and the reign of James II., ending with the disastrous battle of the Boyne, July i, 1690, he returned to France. Here he published divers romantic tales, which had considerable vogue. He also sought De Gramont, for whom he evidently had a great admiration, and who was at that time eighty years of age, but as unconquerably gay and adventurous as in earlier years. Either at the Count's dictation (as he claimed) or with his cooperative revision, Hamilton wrote these vivid "Memoirs." Probably he was himself the chief author, since De Gramont, with all his wit, had no literary skill, while his wife's brother was a graceful writer as well as an intimate of the English court, familiar with all the persons and events described. The "Memoirs" were published in the original French in 1 71 3, about five years after De Gramont's death, and appeared the following year in an English trans-

B INTRODUCTION

lation. The essential value of this chronique scandaleuse is that it is true, and presents a genuine depiction of a phase of English Court life during the reign of the second Charles, in contrast to the severities of Puritanism before it and the general course of English royal history thereafter.

De Gramont died in 1707, at the age of eighty-six. Except during a brief interval where a serious illness caused his formal reconciliation with the Church (which on his recovery soon slipped his mind), he was festive and debonair to the last. Ninon de I'Enclos, the famous Parisian, is reported to have said of him : **He was the only man who could affect the follies of youth without being ridiculous." While his utter freedom from the restraints of principle would have wrecked most men over and again, De Gramont's extraordinary gifts maintained him successfully, and have left him uniquely representative of that wantonness of aristocratic life that practically ended the Stuarts in England and finally whelmed the French monarchy in revolution.

MEMOIRS OF THE COUNT DE GRAMONT

Chapter I

AS those who read only for amusement are, in my opinion, more worthy of attention than ^ those who open a book merely to find fault, to the former I address myself, and for their entertainment commit the following pages to press, without being in the least concerned about the severe criticisms of the latter. I further declare, that the order of time and disposition of the facts, which give more trouble to the writer than pleasure to the reader, shall not much embarrass me in these Memoirs. It being my design to convey a just idea of my hero, those circumstances which most tend to illustrate and distinguish his character shall find a place in these fragments just as they present themselves to my imagination, without paying any particular attention to their arrangement. For, after all, what does it signify where the portrait is begun, provided the assemblage of the parts forms a whole which perfectly expresses the original? The celebrated Plutarch, who treats his heroes as he does his readers, commences the life of the one just as he thinks fit, and diverts the attention of the other with digressions into antiquity, or agreeable passages of literature, which frequently have no reference to the subject; for instance, he tells us that Demetrius Poliorcetes was far from being so tall as his father^ Antigonus; and afterwards, that his reputed father, Antigonus, was only his uncle; but this is not until he has begun his life with a short account of his death, his various exploits, his good and bad qualities ; and at last, out of compassion to his failings, brings forward a comparison between him and the unfortunate Mark Antony.

In the life of Numa Pompilius, he begins by a dissertation upon his preceptor Pythagoras; and, as if he thought the reader would be anxious to know whether it was the ancient philosopher, or one of the same name, who, after being victorious at the Olympic games, went full speed into Italy to teach Numa philosophy, and instruct him in the arts of government, he gives himself much trouble to explain this difficulty, and, after all leaves it undetermined.

What I have said upon this subject is not meant to reflect upon this historian, to whom, of all the ancients, we are most obliged; it is only intended to authorise the manner in which I have treated a life far more extraordinary than any of those he has transmitted to us. It is my part to describe a man whose inimitable character casts a veil over those faults which I shall neither palliate nor disguise ; a man distinguished by a mixture of virtues and vices so closely linked together as in appearance to form a necessary dependence, glowing with the greatest beauty when united, shining with the brightest lustre when opposed.

It is this indefinable brilliancy, which, in war, in love, in gaming, and in the various stages of a long life, has rendered the Count de Gramont the admiration of his age, and the delight of every country wherein he has displayed his engaging wit, dispensed his generosity and magnificence, or practised his inconstancy: it is owing to this that the sallies of a sprightly imagination have produced those admirable hon mots which have been with universal applause transmitted to posterity. It is owing to this that he preserved his judgment free and unembarrassed in the most trying situations, and enjoyed an uncommon presence of mind and facetiousness of temper in the most imminent dangers of war. I shall not attempt to draw his portrait: his person has been described by Bussi and Saint-Evremond/ authors more entertaining than faithful. The former has represented the Chevalier Gramont as artful, fickle, and even somewhat treacherous in his amours, and indefatigable and cruel in his jealousies. Saint-Evremond has used other colours to express the genius and describe the general manners of the Count ; whilst both in their different pictures, have done greater honour to themselves than justice to their hero.

It is, therefore, to the Count we must listen, in the agreeable relation of the sieges and battles wherein he

* Voltaire, in the Age of Louis XIV. ch. xxiv., speaking of that monarch, says : " Even at the same time when he began to encourage genius by his liberahty, the Count de Bussi was severely punished for the use he made of his; he was sent to the Bastille in 1664. The Amours of the Gauls was the pretence of his imprisonment; but the true cause was the song in which the king was treated with too much freedom, and which, upon this occasion, was brought to remembrance to ruin Bussi, the reputed author of it.

" See Deodatus with his billing dear, Whose amorous mouth breathes love from ear to ear!

" His works were not good enough to compensate for the mischief they did him. H'e spoke his own language with purity : he had some merit, but more conceit: and he made no use of the merit he had, but to make himself enemies." Voltaire adds: "Bussi was released at the end of eighteen months; but he was in disgrace all the rest of his life, in vain protesting a regard for Louis XIV." Bussi died 1693. Of Saint-Evremond, see note, postea.

lo THE COURT OF CHARLES II

distinguished himself under another hero; and it is on him we must rely for the truth of passages the least glorious of his life, and for the sincerity with which he relates his address, vivacity, frauds, and the various stratagems he practised either in love or gaming. These express his true character, and to himself we owe these Memoirs, since I only hold the pen, while he directs it to the most remarkable and secret passages of his life.

Chapter II

IN those days affairs were not managed in France as at present. Louis XIII/ then sat upon the throne, but the Cardinal de RicheHeu'' governed the kingdom ; great men commanded Httle armies, and little ^ armies did great things : the fortune of great men depended solely upon ministerial favour, and blind devotion to the will of the minister was the only sure method of advancement. Vast designs were then laying in the heart of neighbouring states the foundation of that formidable greatness to which France has now risen : the police was somewhat neglected ; the highways Avere impassable by day, and the streets by night; but robberies were committed elsewhere with greater impunity. Young men, on their first entrance into the

* Son and successor of Henry IV. He began to reign 14th May 1610, and died 14th May 1643.

^ Of this great minister Hume gives the following character : " This man had no sooner, by suppleness and intrigue, gotten possession of the reins of government, than he formed at once three mighty projects : to subdue the turbulent spirits of the great ; to reduce the rebellious Huguenots ; and to curb the encroaching power of the house of Austria. Undaunted and implacable, prudent and active, he braved all the opposition of the French princes and nobles in the prosecution of his vengeance ; he discovered and dissipated all their secret cabals and conspiracies. His sovereign himself he held in subjection, while he exalted the throne. The people, while they lost their liberties, acquired, by means of his administration, learning, order, discipline, and renown. That confused and inaccurate genius of government, of which France partook in common with' other European kingdoms, he changed Into a simple monarchy, at the very time when the incapacity of Buckingham encouraged the free spirit of the comm.ons to establish in England a regular system of liberty" (History of England, vol. iv. p. 232). Cardinal Richelieu died 1642.

II world, took what course they thought proper. Whoever would, was a chevaHer, and whoever could, an abbe : I mean a beneficed abbe : dress made no distinction between them; and I believe the Chevalier Gramont was both the one and the other at the siege of Trino.*

This was his first campaign, and here he displayed those attractive graces which so favourably prepossess, and require neither friends nor recommendations in any company to procure a favourable reception. The siege was already formed when he arrived, which saved him some needless risks ; for a volunteer cannot rest at ease until he has stood the first fire; he went therefore to reconnoitre the generals, having no occasion to reconnoitre the place. Prince Thomas* commanded the army; and as the post of lieutenant-general was not then known,' Du Plessis Pralin" and the famous Viscount Turenne' were his major-generals. Fortified

•Trino was taken 4th May 1639.

*0f Savoy, uncle of the reigning duke. H'e died 1656.

^The rank of lieutenant-general was (according to the Memoirs of Turenne) given to that general in the year 1638,

® Afterwards Marechal and Duke de Choiseul. He retired from the army in 1672. Monsieur Henault, in his History of France, under that year, says : " Le Marechal du Plessis ne fit pas cette campagne a cause de son grand age; il dit au roi qu'il portoit fenvie a ses enfans, qui avoient I'honneur de servir sa majesty que pour lui il souhaitoit la mort, puisqu'il n'etoit plus bon a rien : le roi I'embrassa, et lui dit : 'M. le Marechal, on ne travaille que pour approcher de la reputation que vous aves acquise: il est agreahle de se reposer apres touts de victoires."

''This great general was killed, 27th July 1675, by a cannon-shot, near the village of Salzbach, in going to choose a place whereon to erect a battery, " No one," says Voltaire, " is ignorant of the circumstances of his death; but we cannot here refrain from a review of the principal of them, 'for the same reason that they are still talked of every day. It seems as if one could not too often repeat, that the same bullet which killed him, having shot off the arm of St. Hilaire, lieutenant-general of the artillery, his son came and bewailed his misfortune with many tears; but the father, looking towards Turenne said: 'It is not I, but that great man, who should be lamented.' These places were treated with some respect, before a power which nothing can withstand had found means to destroy them by dreadful showers of bombs, and by destructive batteries of hundreds of pieces of cannon. Before these furious storms which drive governors under ground and reduce their garrisons to powder, repeated sallies bravely repulsed, and vigorous attacks nobly sustained, signalised both the art of the besiegers and the courage of the besieged; consequently, sieges were of some length, and young men had an opportunity of gaining some knowledge. Many brave actions were performed on each side during the siege of Trino; a great deal of fatigue was endured, and considerable losses sustained; but fatigue was no more considered, hardships were no more felt in the trenches, gravity was at an end with the generals, and the troops were no longer dispirited after the arrival of the Chevalier Gramont. Pleasure was his pursuit, and he made it universal.

Among the officers in the army, as in all other

words may be compared with the most heroic sayings recorded in all history, and are the best eulogy that can be bestowed upon Turenne. It is uncommon, under a despotic government, where people are actuated only by their private interests, for those who have served their country to die regretted by the public. Nevertheless, Turenne was lamented both by the soldiers and people; and Louvois was the only one who rejoiced at his death. The honours which the King ordered to be paid to his memory are known to every one; and that he was interred at St. Denis, in the same manner as the Constable du Guesclin, above whom he was elevated by the voice of the public, as much as the age of Turenne was superior to the age of the Constable."

It appears, from the Memoirs of St. Hilaire, where Voltaire found his anecdote, that Count Hamilton was present at the death of Turenne. Monsieur de Boze had twice sent to Turenne, to beg him to come to the place where the battery was to be erected, which Turenne, as if by presentiment, declined. Count Hamilton brought the third anxious request from De Boze ; and in riding to the place where he was, Turenne received his death-blow. The horse of Montecuculi, the opposite general, was, in the course of the same day, killed by a cannon-shot.

places, there are men of real merit, or pretenders to it. The latter endeavoured to imitate the Chevalier Gramont in his most shining qualities, but without success ; the former admired his talents and courted his friendship. Of this number was Matta." He was agreeable in his person, but still more by the natural turn of his wit ; he was plain and simple in his manners, but endued with a quick discernment and refined delicacy, and full of candour and integrity in all his actions. The Chevalier Gramont was not long in discovering his amiable qualities ; an acquaintance was soon formed, and was succeeded by the strictest intimacy.

Matta insisted that the Chevalier should take up his quarters with him ; to which he only consented on con- ' dition of equally contributing to the expense. As they were both liberal and magnificent, at their common cost they gave the best designed and most luxurious entertainments that had ever yet been seen. Play was wonderfully productive at first, and the Chevalier restored by a hundred different ways that which he obtained only by one. The generals, being entertained by turns, admired their magnificence, and were dissatisfied with their own officers for not keeping such good tables and attendance. The Chevalier had the talent of setting off the most indifferent things to advantage; and his wit was so generally acknowledged, that it was a kind of disgrace not to submit to his taste. To him Matta resigned the care of furnishing the table and

^The Count de Matta (b. 1614, ob. 1674) was the son of Claude de Bourdeille, Baron de Mastas, d'Aumargne and de Beaulieu. , He had served some time in the army when Gramont joined the forces at the siege of Trino. The combination of indolence and talent, of wit and simplicity, of bluntness and irony, with which the Count de Matta is represented, may have been derived from tradition, but could only have been united into the inimitable whole by the pen of Hamilton. He was like Gramont in many respects, particularly in regard to his stories and repartees. Several of his bon mots have been preserved; but the spirit evapodoing its honours ; and, charmed with the general applause, persuaded himself that nothing could be more honourable than their way of living, and nothing more easy than to continue it. But he soon perceived that the greatest prosperity is not the most lasting. Good living, bad economy, dishonest servants, and ill-luck, all uniting together to disconcert their housekeeping, their table was going to be gradually laid aside, when the Chevalier's genius, fertile in resources, undertook to support his former credit by the following expedient. They had never yet conferred about the state of their finances, although the steward had acquainted each, separately, that he must either receive money to continue the expenses, or give in his accounts. One day, when the Chevalier came home sooner than usual, he found Matta fast asleep in an easy-chair, and, being unwilling to disturb his rest, he began musing on his project. Matta awoke without his perceiving it; and having, for a short time, observed the deep contemplation he seemed involved in, and the profound silence between two persons who had never held their tongues for a moment when together before, he broke it by a sudden fit of laughter, which increased in proportion as the other stared at him. " A merry way of waking, and ludicrous enough," said the Chevalier ; * Vhat is the

rates in translation. "Where could I get this nose?" said Madame D'Albret, observing a slight tendency to a flush in that feature. "At the sideboard, Madame," answered Matta. When the same lady, in despair at her brother's death, refused all nourishment, Matta administered this blunt consolation : " If you are resolved, Madame, never again to swallow food, you do well ; but if ever you mean to eat upon any future occasion, believe me, you may as well begin just now." Madame Caylus, in her Souvenirs, commemorates the simple and natural humour of Matta as rendering him the most delightful society in the world. Mademoiselle de Montpensier, in her Memoirs, alludes to his pleasantry in conversation, and turn for deep gaming. For fuller particulars of the Count, see Notes and Queries, Series i. vol. x. pp. 138 and 157.

matter, and whom do you laugh at?'' "Faith, Chevalier," said Matta, "I am laughing at a dream I had just now, which is so natural and diverting, that I must make you laugh at it also. I was dreaming that we had dismissed our maitre-d'hotel, our cook, and our confectioner, having resolved, for the remainder of the campaign, to live upon those as others have lived upon us : this was my dream. Now tell me. Chevalier, on what were you musing?" "Poor fellow!" said the Chevalier, shrugging up his shoulders, "you are knocked down at once, and thrown into the utmost consternation and despair at some silly stories which the maitre-d'hotel has been telling you as well as me. What! after the figure we have made In the face of the nobility and foreigners in the army, shall we give it up, and like fools and beggars sneak off, upon the first failure of our money! Have you no sentiments of honour? Where is the dignity of France?" "And where is the money?" said Matta; "for my men say, the devil may take them, if there be ten crowns in the house; and believe you have not much more, for it is above a week since I have seen you pull out your purse, or count your money, an amusement you were very fond of in prosperity." "I own all this," said the Chevalier, "but yet I will force you to confess, that you are but a mean-spirited fellow upon this occasion. What would have become of you If you had been reduced to the situation I was In at Lyons, four days before I arrived here? I will tell you the story."

Chapter III

**fT^HIS/' said Matta, "smells strongly of romance, I except that it should have been your squire's I -*- part to tell your adventures." "True," said

the Chevalier; "however, I may acquaint you with my first exploits without offending my modesty; besides, my squire's style borders too much upon the burlesque for an heroic narrative.

"You must know, then, that upon my arrival at

Lyons " "Is it thus you begin?" said Matta.

"Pray give us your history a little farther back. The most minute particulars of a life like yours are worthy of relation; but, above all, the manner in which you first paid your respects to Cardinal Richelieu: I have often laughed at it. However, you may pass over the unlucky pranks of your infancy, your genealogy, name and quality of your ancestors, for that is a subject with which you must be utterly unacquainted."

"Pooh!" said the Chevalier; "you think that all the world is as ignorant as yourself ; — you think that I am a stranger to the Mendores* and the Corisandes. So, perhaps I don't know that it was my father's own fault that he was not the son of Henry IV. The King would by all means have acknowledged him for his son, but the traitor would never consent to it. See what the Gramonts would have been now, but for this cross-grained fellow ! They would have had precedence of the Caesars de Vendome." You may laugh, if you like,

'M'enad d'Aure.

'Caesar, Duke de Vendome, was the eldest son of Henry IV., by the celebrated Gabrielle d'Estre'es. He died in 1665.

yet it is as true as the gospel : but let us come to the point.

'T was sent to the college at Pau,* with the intention of being brought up to the Church; but as I had quite different views, I made no manner of improvement : gaming was so much in my head, that both my tutor and the master lost their labour in endeavouring to teach me Latin. Old Brinon, who served me both as valet-de-chambre and governor, in vain threatened to acquaint my mother. I only studied when I pleased, that is to say, seldom or never : however, they treated me as is customary with scholars of my quality ; I was raised to all the dignities of the forms, without having merited them, and left college nearly in the same state in which I entered it; nevertheless, I was thought to have more knowledge than was requisite for the abbacy which my brother had solicited for me. He had just married the niece of a minister," to whom every one cringed : he was desirous to present me to him. I felt but little regret to quit the country, and great impatience to see Paris. My brother having kept me some time with him, in order to polish me, let me loose upon the town to shake off my rustic air, and learn the manners of the world. I so thoroughly gained them, that I could not be persuaded to lay them aside when I was introduced at Court in the character of an Abbe. You know what kind of dress was then the fashion. All that they could obtain of me was to put a cassock over my other clothes, and my brother, ready to die with laughing at my ecclesiastical habit, made others laugh

* Pau was the capital of the principality of Beanie, and lies on an eminence on the Gave Bearnois, being indeed small and well built, and formerly the seat of a parliament, a bailiwick, and a chamber of accounts. In the palace here was born Henry IV. Exclusive of an academy of sciences and liberal arts, there was in it a college of Jesuits, with five convents and two hospitals. ^ Richelieu.

"She suffered me to depart, under the protection of the Lord and the sage Brinon."

— p. 20 From the painting by C. Delort.

too. I had the finest head of hair in the world, well curled and powdered, above my cassock, and below were white buskins and gilt spurs. The Cardinal,^ who had a quick discernment, could not help laughing. This elevation of sentiment gave him umbrage; and he foresaw what might be expected from a genius that already laughed at the shaven crown and cowl.

*'When my brother had taken me home, 'Well, my little parson,' said he, 'you have acted your part to admiration, and your parti-coloured dress of the ecclesiastic and soldier has greatly diverted the Court; but this is not all : you must now choose, my little knight. Consider then, whether, by sticking to the Church, you will possess great revenues, and have nothing to do; or, with a small portion, you will risk the loss of a leg or arm, and be the fructus belli of an insensible court, to arrive in your old age at the dignity of a major-general, with a glass eye and a wooden leg/ *I know,' said I, 'that there is no comparison between these two situations, with regard to the conveniences of life; but as a man ought to secure his future state in preference to all other considerations, I am resolved to renounce the Church for the salvation of my soul, upon condition, however, that I keep my abbacy.' Neither the remonstrances nor authority of my brother could induce me to change my resolution ; and he was forced to agree to this last article in order to keep me at the academy. You know that I am the most adroit man in France, so that I soon learned all that is taught at such places, and, at the same time, I also learnt that which gives the finishing stroke to a young fellow's education, and makes him a gentleman, viz., all sorts of games, both at cards and dice; but the truth is, I thought, at first, that I had more skill in them than I really had, as experience proved. When my mother knew the choice I had made, she was inconsolable; for she reckoned, that had I been a clergyman I should have been a saint; but now she was certain that I should either be a devil in the world, or be killed in the wars. And indeed I burned with impatience to be a soldier ; but being yet too young, I was forced to make a campaign at Bidache^ before I made one in the army. When I returned to my mother's house, I had so much the air of a courtier and a man of the world, that she began to respect me instead of chiding me for my infatuation towards the army. I became her favourite, and finding me inflexible, she only thought of keeping me with her as long as she could, while my little equipage was preparing. The faithful Brinon, who was to attend me as valet-de-chambre, was likewise to discharge the office of governor and equerry, being, perhaps, the only Gascon who was ever possessed of so much gravity and ill-temper. He passed his word for my good behaviour and morality, and promised my mother that he would give a good account of my person in the dangers of the war ; but I hope he will keep his word better as to this last article than he has done as to the former.