Part 24 (2/2)
The little Principality of Orange, which once formed the estate of this now outlandish family, is situate close to the Rhone, ah decorated with the title of Sovereignty, like its neighbour the Principality of Dombes, it is no less a fief-land of the Crown In this capacity it has to contribute to the Crown revenues, and owes hon
Such petty, for Prince of Orange, for he is one of those men who desire, at all cost, to make a noise in the world, and ould set fire to Solomon's Te as they made people talk about theood deal of rivalry aenerals This proved harmful to the service The Goddess of Victory discovered this, and at times forsook us Many possessions that were conquered had to be given up, and we had to bow before those whoe was never restored--[This ritten in 1677]
When, in Novee Bonn, the residence of our ally, the Prince Elector of Cologne, and to reduce that prelate to the last extre pro planted the French flag upon every building, he published a general decree, strictly forbidding the inhabitants to hold any con,” and ordering prayers to be said for him, Louis, in all their churches This is a positive fact
The Roman Catholics readily complied with this royal decree, which was in conformity with their sympathies and their interests; but the Protestants waxed furious thereat Some of them even carried their devotion to such a pitch that they paid taxes to two masters; that is to say, to Stadtholder Williauenot ”ministers,” or priests, issued pastoral letters in praise of the Calvinist Prince and in abuse of the Most Christian King They also preached against the new oath of fealty, and committed several most imprudent acts, which the Jesuits were not slow to remark and report in Court circles
Such audacity, and the need for its repression, rankled deep in the King's heart; and I believe he is quite disposed to pass measures of such extreme severity as will soon deprive the Protestants and Lutherans of any privileges derived from the Edict of Nantes
From various sources I receive the assurance that he is preparing to deal a heavy blow anent this; but the King's character is impenetrable Time alone will show
CHAPTER LVI
The Castle of Bleink-Elmeink--Romantic and Extraordinary Discovery--An Innocent and Persecuted Wife--Madae and surrender of Maestricht, when the King had no other end in view than the entire conquest of Dutch Brabant, he took us to this country, which had suffered greatly by the war Soly difficult to find lodging and shelter for the Court
The grooe chateau, situated in a woody ravine, old-fashi+oned in structure, and surrounded by a e, flanked by two tall towers, surmounted by turrets and culverins Its oas in residence at the ti them in French, placed his entire property at their disposal
It had rained in torrents for two days without ceasing Despite the season, everybody et through and benue fireplaces; and when the castle's vast rooreed that the architect had not lacked grandeur of conception nor good taste when building such large corridors, massive staircases, lofty vestibules, and spacious, resounding rooiven to the Queen was like an alcove, decorated by six large h enough to lean upon The four-post bed was of azure blue velvet, with flowered work and rich gold and silver tasselling Over the chie Bleink-Elmeink coat-of-ar's apart at Jerusalem in the time of Saint Louis; this was explained by inscriptions and devices in Gothic or Celtic
My room was supposed to be an exact copy of the famous Pilate's chamber, and it was named so; and for three days my eyes were rejoiced by the detailed spectacle of our Lord's Passion, froony on Calvary
The Queen ca envious of so char an apartment
The fourth day, when the weather becae our quarters and take to our carriages again, when an extraordinary event obliged us to send a one forward to join the arood health, perforloomy castle the duties of a housekeeper In this capacity she frequently visited our roo that the Queen's boxes were being closed, and that our departure was at hand, she can Lord of Heaven has willed it thus; that the officers of the French King should have discovered as the residence of his Court this castle areat prince has come hither and has stayed here for a brief while, and we have sought to welcoave the Comte de Bleink-Elmeink, lord of this place and my master, his portrait set in diamonds; he had far better have cut his throat”
”Good heavens, woman! What is this you tell uilty? He seems to ood renown, and all sorts of good things have been, told concerning it to the King and Queen”
”Madaher voice, ”do you see at the far end of yonder court an old dungeon of eon lies the good Couished there for five years”