247 



the Queen's character and conduct formed by the writer of the MS. 

 ''Memoires de la Cour d'Espagne," and Madame de Villars, they are 

 so striking, as to render it scarcely possible that they could have 

 been written by a husband and wife so united, so intelligent, and so ob- 

 servant. This subject will be best treated when I give the last crown- 

 ing passages of the MS., where the writer accumulates such a torrent of 

 invective against the poor queen as to suggest some motive more excit- 

 ing than the aesthetic pleasure of painting an historical character. 



Among the most curious episodes which are given in the printed 

 Memoires de la Cour d'Espagne," there is one which in all the copies 

 is called by its Spanish name ^'Los Galanteos de Palacio." Along with 

 what is given in the other books, the Arsenal MS. contains the follow- 

 ing story, which, under the circumstances, has perhaps no rival for ef- 

 frontery and audacity. It occurs at folio 102, and is in continuation of 

 p. 311 of the "■ Yillars' Memoires," after the line ^' a regaler leurs mat- 

 tresses et les servir." 



^'Peu de jours avantle depart pourAranjuez il arriva sur ce sujet 

 une affaire qui fist bien voir jusques ou pouvoit alter Tinsolence des 

 courtisans et la foiblesse du Roy. Le jour de jeudy Saint que la Keyne 

 sert les pauvres, on avait, suivant la coutume, laisse entrer quelques fem- 

 mes plus curieuses de voir la Reyne que la ceremonie. Comme le 

 nombre s'en augmentoit, le grand maistre d'hotel fit deffense d'en lais- 

 ser entrer davantage. Le Comte de Baiios vinst peu apres a la porte 

 voulut faire entrer des femmes qu' il y rencontra. L' huissier Pen 

 voulut empescher suivant I'ordre qu'il en avoit, mais le Comte I'aj^ant 

 repousse fist passer les femmes de force, il trouva aupres de la Reyne 

 une de ses filles^ d'honneur dont il estoit I'amant, et sans respect ny du 

 lieu ny de sa Majeste qui estoit presente il commenca avec cette fiUe une 

 conversation libre jusqu' a I'etFronterie. Le guarda Damars voulut le 

 faire retirer, mais il en recut des injures, et sur ce qu'il insista encore a 

 le presser de se retirer, le Comte mist la main sur son poignard le 

 menaqant de luy en donner dans le corps. Le guarda Damars ne pou- 

 vant se faire obeir, alia se plaindre au grand maistre qui en fit une con- 

 suite an Eoy pleine de considerations capables de se porter a faire justice 

 de cette insolence, mais le Comte de Baiios estoit proche parent du pre- 

 mier ministre, et n'en eust pas seulement une reprimande." 



The most important, and the longest of the suppressed or omitted 

 passages in the printed books and in Mr. Stirling's MS., follows im- 

 mediately after the above. It is a general summing up of the entire 

 evidence, but done more in the angry spirit of an accuser than with the 

 calm dispassion of a judge. The character of the weak young king 

 may be left without much compunction in the hands of this merciless 

 manipulator. Probing knife and forceps in the hands of historical prac- 

 titioners have left so little sensibility in this poor victim, as to render the 

 most humane sceptic of the received diagnosis in his case indifferent to 

 the effect which this new, though old, operator may produce upon him. 

 Indeed, some of the pictures in this new sketch it would be a pity to 



