230 



AVEETISSEMENT. 



" Quoique je puisse dire en faveur de ces Memoires, on ne doit rien 

 croire qu'apres les avoir lus ; il m'est impossible de m'antoriser du nom 

 de leur Auteiir puisqiie je 1' ignore, et il importe pen de quelle main 

 vienne un ouvrage pourvu qu'il soit bon ; celui que je presente au public 

 a paru tel a plusieurs personnes de gout qui m'en ont conseille 1' impres- 

 sion apres 1' avoir examine tres-scrupuleusement ; je souhaite que ceux 

 qui le liront, pensent de memo; on a toujours aime les Memoires, cette 

 fagon d'ecrire FHistoire a paru toujours plus propre qu'aucune autre 

 aux details, souvent plus interessants que le fonds meme de I'Histoire ; 

 sur ce principe le Public doit me so avoir gre de I'intention que j'ai eue 

 et me pardonner d' avoir hazarde un ouvrage inconnu en faveur de 

 I'esperance que je devois avoir de lui plaire." 



The"' 'Appr oh atton,^^ signed '' Geos de Boze," and the " Privilege du 

 JRoy,''^ signed Sainson," with the docket of registration signed "G, 

 Martin, Syndic," do not call for any particular description. 



From the whole of this introductory matter, it will be seen that the 

 same consultations, the same inquiries, and the same forgetfulness of 

 collateral circumstances which preceded the publication of Mr. Stirling's 

 volume in 1861 attended the appearance of the same work 129 years 

 before. 



The differences existing between the Paris edition of the ''Me- 

 moires de la Cour d'Espagne," 1733, and the manuscript and printed 

 ''Memoires" of Mr. Stiiiing, consist principally in frequent transposi- 

 tions of words and sentences ; in the punctuation, which varies consi- 

 derably tlu-oughout; in numerous substitutions of small but nearly 

 corresponding words, easily mistakeable by the copjdst or compositor, 

 and in occasional omissions or additions, seldom extending beyond a 

 few words, except at p. 198 of the Paris edition, where 14 lines in the 

 Stirling " Memoirs," p. 190, reflecting on the zeal of the monks who as- 

 sisted at the "Auto daFe" of 1680, are omitted.'^' 



These minute differences are so numerous and so unimportant that 

 it would be wearisome and useless to point them out. They occur in 

 almost every sentence. " Sa" for " la," "ce" for "le," " six" for " dix," 

 are perpetually replacing each otiier. A few that involve substantial 

 differences may be noted. In Mr. Stirling's edition, p. 52, speaking of 

 the king's journey towards the frontier to meet his bride, we read, " Le 

 Roy etant parti de Madrid le 21 Octobre, arriva le 31 a Burgos." A jour- 

 ney of less than forty-three miles in ten days seems rather slow even for the 

 most careless of lovers, which Charles II. of Spain, though very different 



* These fourteen lines, as given in the Stirling MS., p. 210, and in the printed *' Me- 

 moires de Villars," p. 190, commences thus : — " On voyoit des moins d'une extreme igno- 

 rance haranguant impunement ces juifs," &c. The Arsenal MS. gives the passage entire 

 (folios 58 and 59 ; but reads " impetueusemenf'' for " impunement,^'' which is clearly more 

 correct. 



