Part 31 (1/2)

The fisherht a sal for four or five days; they had intended to offer it to Made inspired thee and pretty basket of reeds, garnished it with foliage, young grass, and flowers, and ca in the basket

The fishered with the address only uttered a feords; they were quite evidently iave more pleasure and effect than those of academicians, or persons of importance The fisherood fortune, Sire, by your presence, as you bring fortune to your generals You arrive on the Monday; on the Tuesday the town is taken We coreatest sal desired this speech to be instantly transcribed; and, after having bountifully rewarded the sailors, his Majesty said to Mademoiselle:

”This er, I would place hie There is wit at Choisy in every rank of life”

CHAPTER VI

Departure of the King--Ghent Reduced in Five Days--Taking of Ypres--Peace Signed--The Prince of Orange Is at Pains Not to Know of It--Horrible Cruelties

I have related in whatin favour of his nephew, the Prince of Orange, had signed a league with his old enemies, the Dutch, in order to counteract the success of the King of France and co and entirely inad left Versailles suddenly on the 4th of February, 1678, taking, with his whole Court, the road to Lorraine, while waiting for the troops which had wintered on the frontiers, and were investing at once Luxeest and best provisioned places in the Low Countries By this enerals, ere very far fro that Ghent was the point towards which the Conqueror's intentions were directed

In effect, hardly had the King seen the the defence of the above nareeable town of Metz, he rapidly traversed sixty leagues of country, and laid siege to the town of Ghent, which was scarcely expecting hi but a weak garrison and little artillery, decided upon releasing the waters and inundating the country; but certain heights remained which could not be covered, and from here the French artillery started to store was comates, and two days later the citadel Ypres was carried at the end of a week, in spite of the ies, and lost all their officers, without exception I lost there one of my nephews, the one hope of his fa, therefore, were soon made

He went to Versailles to take back the Queen, and returned to Ghent with the speed and pro he sent an order to a detacharrison of Maestricht to hasten and seize the town and citadel of Leuwe, in Brabant, which was executed on the instant It was then that the Dutch sent their deputation, charged to plead for a suspension of hostilities for six weeks The King granted it, although these blunderers hardly merited it They undertook that Spain should join them in the peace, and finally, after sohtly, the treaty was signed on the 10th of August, just as the six weeks were about to expire

The Prince of Orange, naturally bellicose, and, above all things, passionately hostile to France, pretended to ignore the existence of this peace, which he disapproved The Marechal de Luxeave himself up to the security of the moment; he was actually at table with his nue was advancing against him The alarm was quickly sounded; such troops and cavalry as could be were assembled, and a terrible action ensued

At first ere repulsed, but soon the Marshal rallied histo thee, and after a terrible lish bit the dust, the Marechal de Luxe remained master of the field

He was victorious, but in this unfortunate action we lost, ourselves, the entire regiuards, that of Feuquieres, and several others besides, with an incredible quantity of officers, killed or wounded

The nae, since that day, was held in horror in both arrace with the States General theland, to who day, this enerals to inforht official news of the peace had reached him

CHAPTER VII

Mission of Madame de Maintenon to Choisy--Mademoiselle Gives the Principalities of Eu and Doe for M de Lauzun--He Is Set at Liberty

The four or five words which had escaped Made's recollection He said to me: ”If you had more patience, and a sweeter and o and have a little talk with Mademoiselle, in order to induce her to explain what intentions she may have relative to my son”