'Charles II: August 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 516-565. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
@@@ Aug. 5. 1668 London. Lewis Herault, French minister in London, to Henry, Bishop of St. Asaph.
Thanks for a mention of me in a letter to Lord Arlington. I gratefully accept what you offer, and will take the requisite oaths and subscriptions to yourself or your delegate. I receive this as a pledge of something better promised, and wait the effect of your further benevolence. [Latin. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 93.] --- In 1667 Rev. Henry Glemham was made Bishop of St. Asaph, and also became rector of Llandrinio. The Bishop of St. Asaph heads the Church in Wales diocese of St. Asaph. The diocese covers the counties of Conwy and Flintshire, Wrexham county borough, the eastern part of Merioneth in Gwynedd and part of northern Powys. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of St. Asaph in the city of St. Asaph in Denbighshire, north Wales. The Bishop's residence is Esgobty, St. Asaph. Barbara Villiers Palmer, Countess of Castlemaine’s great-grandfather was Thomas Sackville KG PC (1536 - 1608), so they were remotely related, and she helped him get this appointment. Bishop Glemham died in 1670, at Glemham Hall, Little Glemham, Suff.
I wonder what he's up to with the French????????????
@@@ Aug. 5. 1668 Ipswich. Chr. Ludkin to Williamson.
I am quite willing to open a correspondence, and acquaint you with whatever happens in Ipswich.
The failing of Mr. Keene, one of the head collectors of the Royal aid in the county, has caused some disturbance, he being 5,000l. behind, and the question is whether — as most of the money has been paid in, the county discharged of it, and receipts given — it can be again assessed; and if so, whether upon the whole, or only on that part of the county for which Mr. Keene was receiver; or whether the King must lose it.
They have seized Mr. Keene’s estate, and are making money of it as fast as may be.
The conventicles increase in number and boldness daily, having encouragement from examples above.
The price of corn is rising; the countryman may sell his wheat at 5s. or 6s. the bushel this year. [1-½ pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 95.]
'Charles II: August 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 516-565. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
@@@ Aug. 4. 1668 The Monmouth, Spithead. Sir Thos. Allin to the Navy Commissioners.
Again urges the sending down some colours, that they may not be the cause of his stay; wants a store of glass for mending the windows.
Believes the Sovereign will set sail to-day, she having fired a ???? hauled home her foretopsail sheets. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 84.]
@@@ Aug. 4. 1668 St. James's Palace. M. Wren to the Navy Commissioners.
Sends a document, by order of his Royal Highness, and desires them to provide the Tiger with such sails as she needs, and to hasten aboard the victuals for Sir Thos. Allin’s fleet. Sir Jer. Smith complains that the provisions for the ships that are to join that fleet come slowly down.
Asks whether the Assurance and Dover shall be laid up at Chatham or in the Thames; both are in the Downs, and in so ill condition that the remainder of their voyage should be as short as possible. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 85.]
@@@ Aug. 4. 1668 Downs. Capt. Ch. O. Bryen to the Navy Commissioners.
I send a list of tickets belonging to men aboard my ship, with an account of men remaining of those turned over from the Charles.
I hope if I am to receive money for them here, you will order it speedily, as my Lord Ambassador has just come aboard, and desires to sail with all expedition.
The master, Mr. Rogers, having fallen sick, shall I proceed with him, or wait until you send another? [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 86.] *** Which Ambassador would this be? Several seem to be on the move.
@@@ Aug. 4. 1668 Deal. Rich. Watts to [Williamson].
The Duke of Lenox, Lieutenant-General of Kent, came to Canterbury, where he was met at the city gates by the trained companies and some persons of quality. He is staying at Deal Castle, and intends for Dover to-morrow.
The harvest is begun and comes in apace. The corn is good and plentiful everywhere.
The merchant ships that came home are all gone up. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 92.] --- Curious, Charles Stuart, the 6th “Duke of Lennox” is generally referred to as the 3rd “Duke of Richmond”.
Aug. 3. 1668 Portsmouth. Thos. Hayter to Sam. Pepys.
I have turned over fitting men from the Kent, Reserve, and Diamond to Sir Thos. Allin’s fleet, and paid off the remainder; I will go to Spithead to pay off the men taken out of these ships for the Straits fleet, and others that have tickets which fall within my orders.
I shall then return, unless ships arrive from the Downs, and orders for paying them. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 83.]
@@@ Aug. 3. 1668 Warrant to pay to Thos. Warren, merchant, from the customs of the Port of London, 5,500/., for services in procuring a peace between the King and the King of Morocco. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 81.] *** Al-Rashid Ben Ali Al-Charif, Sultan of Morocco. See https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl… But it doesn’t mention any 1668 peace treaty with Charles II. --- What’s the betting this is the same Thomas Warren that L&M tells us was a merchant of St. Olave's parish; brother of Sir William Warren? As the former Consul at Sallee (1654-56 and possibly later); in the 60's he traded with Tangier and Madeira. He was possibly the Thomas Warren who traded to the Baltic, where in 1664 he represented Eastland Company at Danzig. So this Thomas Warren would know the right people. https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
@@@ Aug. 3. 1668 Lyme. Anth. Thorold to Hickes.
The Concord arrived from Barbados in 6 weeks, with 20 other merchantmen, and reports that they are fitting again for rebuilding Bridgetown, having employed many vessels to fetch timber from New England;
also that St. Christopher’s was not surrendered, but that the Bonadventure had been sent again to demand it.
An English man-of-war was plundered by the French at St. Thomas’s Island, and the crew had been all put to death, but for some Dutch who prevented it. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 81.]
'Charles II: August 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 516-565. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
@@@ Aug. 3. 1668 The Royal Katherine, Downs. Sir Jer. Smyth to Williamson.
The Resolution and 2 others have sailed for Portsmouth, to be paid off and laid up. Several merchantmen have passed through the Downs outward bound, and upwards of 30 sail homewards. The Susan has arrived with 11 sail under her convoy,
and the Dover with 13 from Barbados; the French refuse to surrender St. Christopher’s.
The Montague and two others will be ready to sail, to join with the rest of Sir Thos. Allin’s squadron, so soon as their provisions come down. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 76.]
@@@ Aug. 3. 1668 Leatherseller's Hall. Sir Thos. Davies to Williamson.
I send my letter by Ralph Smith, warden of the Stationers’ Company; we have preferred indictments against 3 illegal printers, and doubt not the next sessions to convict them; but as they will still retain their printing implements, the company suggests that some way should be found to buy off these, and all other materials belonging to illegal printers; for the number of printers having to be reduced by the Act, there will hardly be a customer for them; and if the printers to be convicted shall be entrusted with them again, they will set them up in secret places, as has been found by experience, and hazard anything to gain a livelihood, being generally mean people.
We think that this would much conduce to prevent the printing of unlicensed books, and beg that you will signify his Majesty’s pleasure thereon to the company, who will diligently obey his commands. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 77.]
@@@ Aug. 3. 1668 Scarborough. Earl of Carlisle to Williamson.
I got to Cromer Saturday, and have now reached Scarborough. The 20 ships that went out with me, and the 60 that came before, are in sight of this castle; I will go to sea tomorrow if the wind permits;
I have come partly from curiosity to see the castle.
Let me be supplied with the weekly notice how affairs go at Carlisle, as I shall not stay at Newcastle. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 79.]
@@@ Aug. 3. 1668 Sir John Bennet to Williamson.
I send letters for the Spanish Ambassador and the King, and ask you to pay the postage, or say where it shall be demanded, as I sent Baron de Lyzala’s, and nobody would pay for them;
I also send the Dutch news of an encounter in Jocosa, and desire you to return it Englished. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 80.] --- Jocosa – please Englished that also.
Aug. 2. 1668 The Monmouth, Spithead. Sir Thos. Allin to Williamson.
The ships that are to proceed with me to the Straits are at Spithead, and the Nightingale is ready to sail for Algiers when the Duke orders her.
I will use my utmost endeavour to redeem your friend, who is a slave in Algiers, but I believe his first price, with other charges, will amount to double the sum you have proposed.
An East Indiaman has arrived at Cowes, and the Eagle is turning into Spithead. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 67.]
'Charles II: August 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 516-565. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/… @@@
Aug. 2. 1668 St. James's Palace. M. Wren to Sam. Pepys.
Believes the Portsmouth ketch is in the Downs.
Asks the nature and profits of the place of housekeeper at the Hill House, Chatham; the last that had it being dead, several people apply for it; shall not else know how to inform his Royal Highness which way to bestow it. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 63.]
@@@ Aug. 2. 1668 Portsmouth. Capt. Ant. Deane to the Navy Commissioners.
If any shift could have been made to build the boat, you would not have been desired to provide the timber; if you wish her to be put in hand with such stuff as I have, I will do so, but a good boat is not to be built without quarter stuff, or wainscot. [1-¼ pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 64.] --- I wonder if this is the ship Deane and Pepys discussed on https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
@@@ Aug. 2. 1668 The Mary, Spithead. John Fowler to the Navy Commissioners.
Edward Hodges, late boatswain of the Portland, was found guilty, by the court-martial held on board the Monmouth, of drunkenness, swearing, cursing, and reviling, and abusing his superior officers, and thereby lapsed under the 2nd and 23rd Articles of the Marine Laws of War;
he was sentenced to be conveyed in a boat to the side of each of the King’s ships in the road, his mouth gagged, his body fastened, with his hands bound behind him, to the boat’s mast, a drum beating in the boat’s head, his faults written on paper, on his breast, the same to be read by each ship’s side, and then he is to be cashiered from any office of command for the future.
But in regard of his great family, his salary and pay for himself and servants were reserved to him, when he has passed his accounts of stores, up to the day of his sentence, 31 July.
He underwent his punishment yesterday. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 65.]
@@@ Aug. 2. 1668 The Monmouth, Spithead. Sir Thos. Allin to the Navy Commissioners.
I desire the colours may be sent with all speed, being the only things I want.
All are in forwardness for the voyage, but I fear we shall stay for the ships in the Downs.
I do not think the Emsworth a fit vessel for the coast of Barbary, those seas being deep and dangerous. A good fast ketch or a sixth-rate frigate would be more serviceable. [Capt. Walter] Perry is a very fit man to command her, knowing that coast very well. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 66.]
James, I searched the annotations for "coat-of-arms" using the SEARCH box (top right) and found this which seems comprehensive on the subject: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
'Charles II: August 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 516-565. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/… . @@@
Aug. 1. 1668 Edinburgh. News
that the Council are ordered to raise more forces, and will raise a regiment of foot and 3 troops of horse, and perhaps more forces, and dispense with the militia.
The King ordered the quartering of guards in Edinburgh for its security, but the Lord Provost prevented that trouble by entering bond to the Council to clear the city of all rebels and conventicles, or forfeit 100/. sterling for every conventicle, and 50/. for every rebel found in the city.
A close search is making after them, and 40 are imprisoned, some of whom are sentenced to a fine and banishment to Virginia. [Dom. Papers, Charles II., Vol. 243, No. 154.] @@@
Aug. 1. 1668 Portsmouth. Thos. Hayter to Sam. Pepys.
Is detained through the backwardness of the ships for payment.
Sends notes in answer to his inquiry concerning tickets. Particulars as to payment of Sir Thos. Allin’s squadron at Spithead. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 58.] @@@
Aug. 1. 1668 Victualling Office, London. Sir Denis Gauden to the Navy Commissioners.
Hearing that Mr. Fitzmaurice, executor to Thos. Amory, had neglected to supply the ships on the coast of Ireland with victuals as promised, gave order for their supply other ways, and with some difficulty remitted some moneys; hopes there will be no further complaint. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 59.] @@@
Aug. 1. 1668 The Merlin, Hung Road, Bristol. Capt. John Clements to the Navy Commissioners.
I went to Sir John Knight for the necessary materials for tallowing, when Sir John told me to buy tallow, &c. with the 5/. which you ordered him to pay me; but I have spent it in cordage, according to your command.
I would not trouble Sir John if I had money of my own, but I am in a strange place where I have no acquaintance to borrow from; the deck and sides are so leaky that we cannot lie dry in our beds. The 2 state-rooms want canvas over them.
Being ordered to continue, and winter coming on, I desire a supply of things needed [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 61.] @@@
Aug. 1. 1668 Bristol. Capt. John Wettwang to the Navy Commissioners.
Particulars of the launching of the Edgar. The fall being great, she broke 3 of the lowermost ways, and gave way a little in the midships; she draws 2 feet astern, 10 feet 10 inches of water ahead, and swims well. Shall buy things at the best hand; hopes that what volunteers come may be entered. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 62.]
Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich's sister, Elizabeth Montagu, married Sir Gilbert Pickering MP (1613 - October 17, 1668), who was faithful to Cromwell before 1640; one of their dozen offspring, Betty Pickering, was the wife of Pepys’ rival, John Creed.
On October 21, 1668, Pepys will tell us that Gilbert Pickering MP “... his being long expected to die, having been in a lethargy long."
Sad to say, friends and relatives do tend to disappear when someone is sick for a long time. Plus, for political/employment reasons, Pepys wouldn't want to visit the home of a Regicide, especially if it was somewhere the loathed Puritan Creed might also be visiting.
The nasty undertone may come from actions/attitudes the Pickerings embraced before the Diary. The tailor and his family may not be people the wealthy Pickerings had to dinner very often, if you get my drift.
"Dr. Butler was designed by the Prince to attend him as his chaplain in this summer's expedition at sea."
Considering how much trouble Adm. Allin has had getting a fleet together and equipped to go to the Straights and the Med., I think Rupert's chances of sailing this summer are slim to nill. Perhaps he knows something we don't ... ?
From the Directory of National Biography (you need a subscription):
‘Scott, Anna [Anne], duchess of Monmouth and suo jure duchess of Buccleuch (1651–1732), noblewoman, was born in Dundee on 11 February, 1651 ...
The Monmouths had in common only financial extravagance and a particular excellence in dancing, which was unhappily ended in May 1668 when Anna sustained a dislocated hip which lamed her for life.
That she had no influence over the malleable ‘Prince Perkin’ was ultimately to her advantage. Her priority following her husband's 1685 rebellion was to protect the interests of her sons and more broadly the Buccleuch inheritance, with which she identified in a manner that echoed the determination and intelligence that had characterized her mother.
Having spent the duration of Monmouth's rebellion in the Tower, and with the injured monarch, James II, predisposed in her favor, she finally secured her husband's confirmation that she had known ‘nothing of his last design’, thereby freeing her sons — and thus the Buccleuch inheritance — from the penalties of attainder. Attainder having forfeited Monmouth's English titles, the Buccleuch honors, now a dukedom, and estates were formally restored to Anna and thence her eldest son, restoring the original entail, on 17 November 1687 ...
... contemporary commentators remark on her wit rather than her beauty. In character she was confessedly self-sufficient and reserved.
... in 1698 ... she retired to Scotland. There she oversaw the lavish rebuilding of Dalkeith Castle and maintained a quasi-regal status, but returned to London upon the Hanoverian succession. She resisted all pressure to relinquish the Buccleuch title during her lifetime in favor of her son, preferring to be ‘a man in my own family’.
She died in London in February 1732, short of her 81st birthday.‘
Monsieur Cosnac was recognized and seized before he could meet Madame. He was exiled again, Madame de Saint-Chaumont with him, as a letter written by her was found on his person. But Monsieur Cosnac had managed to hide the Chevalier letters before he was taken. {Sorry, I have no idea what became of them.}
Madame protested once again, in vain. She asked Louis XIV to get involved, but he said he would not interfere in the matters of his brother’s household.
Minette turned to Charles II, and told him all about how badly she was treated in long letters. They exchanged letters nearly every week, in which they discussed everything. Charles II wrote in English, Minette replied in French, because her English was awful. He teased her about her admirers, and encouraged her not to give in to the “fantastical humours” of her husband (meaning Monsieur’s fits of jealously).
Madame’s letters convinced Charles II that Monsieur was a good-for-nothing and a pervert who chased young boys. But Charles could not help her … yet. Monsieur had won the early battles, but the war was far from over.
Minette held the weakest cards in this game, but that changed as she once more became important to Louis XIV. The King and his Ministers were secretly working on a treaty that would ally England to France. Louis wanted to go to war with the Dutch and for that he wanted the assistance of the English. …
And that's what was going on behind the scenes as not reported in the Diary. You can read up on the outrageous goings on at Versailles and what happens next at https://partylike1660.com/henriet…
Minette changed her attitude and gathered her forces, which was not easy. Monsieur had full control over her household, including who served in it and on what money was spent. Madame had to follow Monsieur wherever he went, no matter if she wanted to go or not, and she had to ask for his permission before she could go somewhere without him.
In the past, Monsieur had not been strict about that, but he changed now, and Madame was not pleased.
Nor did she have many supporters. The courtiers sided with Monsieur: after all, he could dismiss them with an elegant wave of a be-ringed hand, without any reason.
Minette could not trust her ladies or maids, because some were acting as spies for the Chevalier. If the ladies and maids did not cooperate, Monsieur had them replaced with women who would.
She could not count on the Comtesse de Soissons or the Princesse de Monaco anymore, and they both distanced themselves from her. The Comtesse did so because Madame was involved in the exile of Monsieur de Vardes, the Comtesse’s lover. The Princesse, who had been a good friend to Madame, did so because she liked the Chevalier, which led to plenty of arguments between them.
Madame could count on Daniel Cosnac, Monsieur’s former confessor. But Monsieur Cosnac fell into disgrace because he failed to talk Louis XIV into granting Monsieur a governorship, and rushed to Madame’s defense when an indecent pamphlet about her affair with Armand de Gramont, Comte de Guiche made the rounds.
Then Philippe, Chevalier of Lorraine, took over his responsibilities and did them better than Cosnac.
At the behest of Madame, Monsieur Cosnac asked Monsieur to make peace with his wife and to dismiss the Chevalier. That was a big mistake, because the Chevalier had little difficulty discrediting Monsieur Cosnac.
The Chevalier acquired some letters, most likely forged, and presented them to Monsieur, who may have known they were forged, which said Cosnac was plotting to have the Chevalier removed from Monsieur’s presence. Cosnac was stripped of all offices he held in Monsieur’s Household and ordered to relocate to his diocese in Valence.
Madame protested furiously, but in vain.
The timing was awful because Monsieur Cosnac possessed letters written by the Chevalier of a compromising nature. The letters left with Cosnac and Madame needed to reclaim them. Madame de Saint-Chaumont, someone Minette could trust, remained in contact with Cosnac and they agreed he would sneak into Saint-Denis, where he would meet Minette and give her the letters. A visit to Saint-Denis, where Queen Mother Henrietta Maria was buried, was something Monsieur could not deny to Minette.
In July, 1668 the flirtations and jealousies reached new heights. James Scot, Duke of Monmouth, was staying in France and was bold in the display of his affections for Madame his aunt, who was flattered by his attention.
When Moliére’s “George Dandin” was performed at Versailles, half the court was openly laughing about Monsieur, whose wife was cuckolding him. (George Dandin is a rich peasant, who married the daughter of a poor nobleman, in exchange for some money, and bought himself a title afterwards. The daughter married him against her will and sees herself thus not inclined to act as a good wife should, instead she flirts and makes merry with other gentlemen. George asks his parents-in-law to help him and call their daughter to reason, but they make fun of him, as does his wife, his servants and the court. The latter because Monsieur George is unable to keep his wife from flirting. The play has a tragic end, as the wife and her lover treat him worse and worse, until he considers suicide because, with such an evil wife, it seems to be the only thing to do.)
So Monsieur and Madame were caught in an unhappy marriage with no escape, Monsieur accusing Madame of having lovers, Madame accusing Monsieur of treating her unfairly. The situation grew more and more tense.
Then Philippe, Chevalier de Lorraine entered the circus. He encouraged the humiliated Monsieur to make an end to Madame’s flirting. Spies were installed in her household and the Palais-Royal became the place of intrigues.
Madame Minette did not like the Chevalier because, as he became more important to Monsieur, Monsieur in turn became more distant to her.
On August 27, 1668, Madame Minette gave birth to her fourth and last child. She was a daughter, Anne-Marie, who later became the first Queen of Sardinia.
Minette did not show too much interest in her children, partly because that was unfashionable, and partly because there were so many other things to do – like entertainments, and Monsieur hosted a lot of them, each better than the last and so elaborate and decadent that the Paris Gazette and Mercure lacked words to describe their gloriousness properly. Madame shone brightly at these entertainments, dressed in the finest gowns and decked out in diamonds.
After each pregnancy, although they and the miscarriages had taken a toll on her looks and had weakened her health, Madame Minette was praised and admired.
The admiration of Armand de Gramont, Comte de Guiche was so obvious that Louis XIV noticed and asked his mistress, Louise de La Baume Le Blanc, Mademoiselle de La Vallière was what was going on. (She was a lady in waiting to Minette.) Louise, Mademoiselle de Valliere knew all about Madame and Armand de Gramont, Comte de Guiche, but refused to tell, which led to the first big argument between the King and his mistress, and to Guiche being exiled. Part of the problem was that Guiche also dared to ogle Louise. (Minette’s flirtation with Guiche began in 1661 and lasted until Guiche was exiled in 1665.)
Madame Minette also had public flirtations with François VII de La Rochefoucauld, a good friend of Louis XIV. Then there was Louis de Lorraine, Monsieur le Grand, another very good friend to the King. His attentions towards Madame nearly ended his marriage. The Marquis the Vardes was eager to take Armand de Gramont, Comte de Guiche’s place, and even a member of the clergy, the Archbishop of Sens, showed quite an interest in Minette, as did Louis-Henri de Pardaillan de Gondrin, Louis de Rohan-Montbazon and the future Duc de Lauzun.
It became a sport for courtiers to note every glance Madame received, every glance she returned, and every fit of anger by Monsieur on the subject. The whole court talked about those flirtations, about lovers hidden behind screens when Monsieur surprisingly visited Madame, and how the gentlemen secretly entered her chambers disguised as servant women or left via the windows.
Monsieur and Princess Henrietta Anne “Minette” signed their marriage contract in the Palais Royal on 30 March, 1661. The ceremony took place the next day in front of selected members of the court. The bride came with a promised dowry of 840,000 livres.
Madame Élisabeth-Charlotte du Palatinat, AKA Liselotte von der Pfalz, wrote after 1702: “The Queen Mother of England had not brought up her children well: she at first left them in the society of femmes de chambre, who gratified all their caprices; and having afterwards married them at a very early age, they followed the bad example of their mother.” [Minette was 17, a fairly late marriage for royalty in those days. And as to "their caprices", should that read "they had minds of their own"?]
Monsieur treated Madame with great respect at the beginning of their marriage and was even proud to show her off at court, in the finest and most fashionable gowns adorned with jewels. Minette, as she was nicknamed by her brother Charles II, enjoyed the attention greatly which everyone bestowed upon her and was the jewel of many festivities.
The idyll did not last long. The English chronicler Bishop Gilbert Burnet described Monsieur as ‘a poor-spirited and voluptuous prince; monstrous in his vices and effeminate in his luxury in more senses than one. He had not one good quality, but courage; so that he became both odious and contemptible.’ He was a cross-dresser and bisexual. He claimed he no longer loved Madame after two weeks of marriage. However, the couple maintained regular marital relations at first and Madame had several pregnancies which took their toll on her health. https://thefreelancehistorywriter…
Madame Minette’s flirting with Louis XIV started early in the summer of 1661 while the newly-weds were staying at Fontainebleau for the summer. Monsieur complained to Queen Mother Anne of Austria about the intimacy that the King and Henriette displayed, which led Anne to reprimand both son and daughter-in-law. This brought tension into the brothers’ relationship.
Madame Minette also started a friendship with Guy-Armand de Gramont, Comte de Guiche in 1661, while he was still her husband’s official favorite, and soon he also became her lover. [The Comte de Guiche was the brother of the Count de Gramont who wrote such a fanciful Memoir.]
"Mr. Sidney, lately come from France, who is growne a little, and a pretty youth he is; but not so improved as they did give him out to be, but like a child still. But yet I can perceive he hath good parts and good inclinations."
L&M: "Sidney Montagu [1650-1727], second (and favorite) son, was given what his father called 'a liberal breeding' -- his schooling in Paris 1661 - 1664.
Today I found out about some French Court activities in June, 1664, which give me a different take on the sort of 'liberal breeding' was intended by Lord Sandwich for his favorite son:
"26 June, it is said, the exile of the Duchesse de Navailles has to do with her opposition against his Majesty’s private matters. His Majesty had already reprimanded her for it. The Duchesse, being dame d’honneur to her Majesty and responsible for her Majesties ladies, was annoyed about the gallants visiting her Majesties ladies in secret. She thus had passages blocked and windows barred to prevent the gallants from entering. It is said, that by doing this she also prevented his Majesty from seeing Mademoiselle de La Vallière, which angered his Majesty very much. "It being not the first time the Duchesse has angered him, he decided to exile her. Her poor husband, it is said, has nothing to do with it all, but was ordered to share her fate." https://partylike1660.com/chronol…
Hard to imagine Louis XIV crawling through windows, but you never know ...
Roger de Bussy-Rabutin tried to save himself by sending a copy of the original manuscript to Louis XIV, but it was still too scandalous for the King, who particularly didn’t like the way Madame Henriette d’Angleterre was portraited.
Roger de Bussy-Rabutin was therefore rewarded with another visit to the Bastille. He was arrested on 17 April, 1665. --- I wonder what Pepys made of that. Perhaps he was resigned to the Stuarts' uninhibited lifestyles by now. Learning about the French Court exploits makes it clear to me that the English Court of Charles II was in step with his contemporaries in France at least.
"AND WHERE HAS HE [James Scot, Duke of Monmouth] BEEN?"
During a fete in summer of 1668, Moliére amused everyone with a new play at Versailles. At that time, Madame Minette was being followed everywhere by James Scot, Duke of Monmouth, a rather handsome fellow, and it was hard to hide from the gossip of Madame having a new affair.
Then came Moliére with his play, featuring a horned-husband. Some thought this husband resembled that of Madame de Montespan, with whom Louis XIV was making merry. Others, including Philippe d’Orleans, saw it as a joke on the King’s brother.
Comments
Second Reading
About Wednesday 5 August 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
'Charles II: August 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 516-565. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
@@@
Aug. 5. 1668
London.
Lewis Herault, French minister in London, to Henry, Bishop of St. Asaph.
Thanks for a mention of me in a letter to Lord Arlington.
I gratefully accept what you offer, and will take the requisite oaths and subscriptions to yourself or your delegate.
I receive this as a pledge of something better promised, and wait the effect of your further benevolence.
[Latin. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 93.]
---
In 1667 Rev. Henry Glemham was made Bishop of St. Asaph, and also became rector of Llandrinio.
The Bishop of St. Asaph heads the Church in Wales diocese of St. Asaph.
The diocese covers the counties of Conwy and Flintshire, Wrexham county borough, the eastern part of Merioneth in Gwynedd and part of northern Powys. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of St. Asaph in the city of St. Asaph in Denbighshire, north Wales. The Bishop's residence is Esgobty, St. Asaph.
Barbara Villiers Palmer, Countess of Castlemaine’s great-grandfather was Thomas Sackville KG PC (1536 - 1608), so they were remotely related, and she helped him get this appointment.
Bishop Glemham died in 1670, at Glemham Hall, Little Glemham, Suff.
I wonder what he's up to with the French????????????
@@@
Aug. 5. 1668
Ipswich.
Chr. Ludkin to Williamson.
I am quite willing to open a correspondence, and acquaint you with whatever happens in Ipswich.
The failing of Mr. Keene, one of the head collectors of the Royal aid in the county, has caused some disturbance, he being 5,000l. behind, and the
question is whether — as most of the money has been paid in, the county
discharged of it, and receipts given — it can be again assessed;
and if so, whether upon the whole, or only on that part of the county for which Mr. Keene was receiver;
or whether the King must lose it.
They have seized Mr. Keene’s estate, and are making money of it as fast as
may be.
The conventicles increase in number and boldness daily, having encouragement from examples above.
The price of corn is rising; the countryman may sell his wheat at 5s. or 6s. the
bushel this year.
[1-½ pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 95.]
About Tuesday 4 August 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
'Charles II: August 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 516-565. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
@@@
Aug. 4. 1668
The Monmouth, Spithead.
Sir Thos. Allin to the Navy Commissioners.
Again urges the sending down some colours, that they may not be the cause
of his stay;
wants a store of glass for mending the windows.
Believes the Sovereign will set sail to-day, she having fired a ???? hauled home her foretopsail sheets.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 84.]
@@@
Aug. 4. 1668
St. James's Palace.
M. Wren to the Navy Commissioners.
Sends a document, by order of his Royal Highness,
and desires them to provide the Tiger with such sails as she needs,
and to hasten aboard the victuals for Sir Thos. Allin’s fleet.
Sir Jer. Smith complains that the provisions for the ships that are to join that
fleet come slowly down.
Asks whether the Assurance and Dover shall be laid up at Chatham or in the
Thames;
both are in the Downs, and in so ill condition that the remainder of their
voyage should be as short as possible.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 85.]
@@@
Aug. 4. 1668
Downs.
Capt. Ch. O. Bryen to the Navy Commissioners.
I send a list of tickets belonging to men aboard my ship,
with an account of men remaining of those turned over from the Charles.
I hope if I am to receive money for them here, you will order it speedily,
as my Lord Ambassador has just come aboard, and desires to sail with all
expedition.
The master, Mr. Rogers, having fallen sick, shall I proceed with him, or wait until you send another?
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 86.]
***
Which Ambassador would this be? Several seem to be on the move.
@@@
Aug. 4. 1668
Deal.
Rich. Watts to [Williamson].
The Duke of Lenox, Lieutenant-General of Kent, came to Canterbury, where he was met at the city gates by the trained companies and some persons of quality.
He is staying at Deal Castle, and intends for Dover to-morrow.
The harvest is begun and comes in apace.
The corn is good and plentiful everywhere.
The merchant ships that came home are all gone up.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 92.]
---
Curious, Charles Stuart, the 6th “Duke of Lennox” is generally referred to as
the 3rd “Duke of Richmond”.
About Monday 3 August 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
Aug. 3. 1668
Portsmouth.
Thos. Hayter to Sam. Pepys.
I have turned over fitting men from the Kent, Reserve, and Diamond to Sir Thos. Allin’s fleet, and paid off the remainder;
I will go to Spithead to pay off the men taken out of these ships for the Straits fleet,
and others that have tickets which fall within my orders.
I shall then return, unless ships arrive from the Downs, and orders for paying them.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 83.]
@@@
Aug. 3. 1668
Warrant
to pay to Thos. Warren, merchant,
from the customs of the Port of London, 5,500/.,
for services in procuring a peace between the King and the King of Morocco.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 81.]
***
Al-Rashid Ben Ali Al-Charif, Sultan of Morocco. See https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
But it doesn’t mention any 1668 peace treaty with Charles II.
---
What’s the betting this is the same Thomas Warren that L&M tells us was a
merchant of St. Olave's parish; brother of Sir William Warren?
As the former Consul at Sallee (1654-56 and possibly later); in the 60's he traded with Tangier and Madeira.
He was possibly the Thomas Warren who traded to the Baltic, where in 1664 he represented Eastland Company at Danzig. So this Thomas Warren would know the right people.
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
@@@
Aug. 3. 1668
Lyme.
Anth. Thorold to Hickes.
The Concord arrived from Barbados in 6 weeks, with 20 other merchantmen,
and reports that they are fitting again for rebuilding Bridgetown,
having employed many vessels to fetch timber from New England;
also that St. Christopher’s was not surrendered,
but that the Bonadventure had been sent again to demand it.
An English man-of-war was plundered by the French at St. Thomas’s Island,
and the crew had been all put to death, but for some Dutch who prevented it.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 81.]
About Monday 3 August 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
'Charles II: August 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 516-565. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
@@@
Aug. 3. 1668
The Royal Katherine, Downs.
Sir Jer. Smyth to Williamson.
The Resolution and 2 others have sailed for Portsmouth, to be paid off and laid up.
Several merchantmen have passed through the Downs outward bound,
and upwards of 30 sail homewards.
The Susan has arrived with 11 sail under her convoy,
and the Dover with 13 from Barbados;
the French refuse to surrender St. Christopher’s.
The Montague and two others will be ready to sail, to join with the rest of Sir Thos. Allin’s squadron, so soon as their provisions come down.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 76.]
@@@
Aug. 3. 1668
Leatherseller's Hall.
Sir Thos. Davies to Williamson.
I send my letter by Ralph Smith, warden of the Stationers’ Company;
we have preferred indictments against 3 illegal printers, and doubt not the next sessions to convict them;
but as they will still retain their printing implements, the company suggests that some way should be found to buy off these, and all other materials belonging to illegal printers;
for the number of printers having to be reduced by the Act, there will hardly be a customer for them;
and if the printers to be convicted shall be entrusted with them again, they will set them up in secret places, as has been found by experience, and hazard anything to gain a livelihood, being generally mean people.
We think that this would much conduce to prevent the printing of unlicensed books, and beg that you will signify his Majesty’s pleasure thereon to the company, who will diligently obey his commands.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 77.]
@@@
Aug. 3. 1668
Scarborough.
Earl of Carlisle to Williamson.
I got to Cromer Saturday, and have now reached Scarborough.
The 20 ships that went out with me, and the 60 that came before, are in sight of this castle;
I will go to sea tomorrow if the wind permits;
I have come partly from curiosity to see the castle.
Let me be supplied with the weekly notice how affairs go at Carlisle, as I shall not stay at Newcastle.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 79.]
@@@
Aug. 3. 1668
Sir John Bennet to Williamson.
I send letters for the Spanish Ambassador and the King,
and ask you to pay the postage, or say where it shall be demanded,
as I sent Baron de Lyzala’s, and nobody would pay for them;
I also send the Dutch news of an encounter in Jocosa, and desire you to return it Englished.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 80.]
---
Jocosa – please Englished that also.
About Sunday 2 August 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
Aug. 2. 1668
The Monmouth, Spithead.
Sir Thos. Allin to Williamson.
The ships that are to proceed with me to the Straits are at Spithead,
and the Nightingale is ready to sail for Algiers when the Duke orders her.
I will use my utmost endeavour to redeem your friend, who is a slave in Algiers, but I believe his first price, with other charges, will amount to double the sum you have proposed.
An East Indiaman has arrived at Cowes, and the Eagle is turning into Spithead.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 67.]
About Sunday 2 August 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
'Charles II: August 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 516-565. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
@@@
Aug. 2. 1668
St. James's Palace.
M. Wren to Sam. Pepys.
Believes the Portsmouth ketch is in the Downs.
Asks the nature and profits of the place of housekeeper at the Hill House, Chatham;
the last that had it being dead, several people apply for it;
shall not else know how to inform his Royal Highness which way to bestow it.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 63.]
@@@
Aug. 2. 1668
Portsmouth.
Capt. Ant. Deane to the Navy Commissioners.
If any shift could have been made to build the boat, you would not have been desired to provide the timber;
if you wish her to be put in hand with such stuff as I have, I will do so, but a good boat is not to be built without quarter stuff, or wainscot.
[1-¼ pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 64.]
---
I wonder if this is the ship Deane and Pepys discussed on https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
@@@
Aug. 2. 1668
The Mary, Spithead.
John Fowler to the Navy Commissioners.
Edward Hodges, late boatswain of the Portland, was found guilty, by the court-martial held on board the Monmouth, of drunkenness, swearing, cursing, and reviling, and abusing his superior officers,
and thereby lapsed under the 2nd and 23rd Articles of the Marine Laws of
War;
he was sentenced to be conveyed in a boat to the side of each of the King’s
ships in the road, his mouth gagged, his body fastened, with his hands bound
behind him, to the boat’s mast,
a drum beating in the boat’s head, his faults written on paper, on his breast,
the same to be read by each ship’s side,
and then he is to be cashiered from any office of command for the future.
But in regard of his great family, his salary and pay for himself and servants
were reserved to him, when he has passed his accounts of stores, up to the day of his sentence, 31 July.
He underwent his punishment yesterday.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 65.]
@@@
Aug. 2. 1668
The Monmouth, Spithead.
Sir Thos. Allin to the Navy Commissioners.
I desire the colours may be sent with all speed, being the only things I want.
All are in forwardness for the voyage, but I fear we shall stay for the ships in
the Downs.
I do not think the Emsworth a fit vessel for the coast of Barbary, those seas
being deep and dangerous.
A good fast ketch or a sixth-rate frigate would be more serviceable.
[Capt. Walter] Perry is a very fit man to command her, knowing that coast
very well.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 66.]
About Tuesday 21 July 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
James, I searched the annotations for "coat-of-arms" using the SEARCH box (top right) and found this which seems comprehensive on the subject:
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Saturday 1 August 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
'Charles II: August 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 516-565. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/… .
@@@
Aug. 1. 1668
Edinburgh.
News
that the Council are ordered to raise more forces, and will raise a regiment of foot and 3 troops of horse, and perhaps more forces,
and dispense with the militia.
The King ordered the quartering of guards in Edinburgh for its security,
but the Lord Provost prevented that trouble by entering bond to the Council to clear the city of all rebels and conventicles,
or forfeit 100/. sterling for every conventicle,
and 50/. for every rebel found in the city.
A close search is making after them, and 40 are imprisoned,
some of whom are sentenced to a fine and banishment to Virginia.
[Dom. Papers, Charles II., Vol. 243, No. 154.]
@@@
Aug. 1. 1668
Portsmouth.
Thos. Hayter to Sam. Pepys.
Is detained through the backwardness of the ships for payment.
Sends notes in answer to his inquiry concerning tickets.
Particulars as to payment of Sir Thos. Allin’s squadron at Spithead.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 58.]
@@@
Aug. 1. 1668
Victualling Office, London.
Sir Denis Gauden to the Navy Commissioners.
Hearing that Mr. Fitzmaurice, executor to Thos. Amory, had neglected to supply the ships on the coast of Ireland with victuals as promised,
gave order for their supply other ways, and with some difficulty remitted some moneys;
hopes there will be no further complaint.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 59.]
@@@
Aug. 1. 1668
The Merlin, Hung Road, Bristol.
Capt. John Clements to the Navy Commissioners.
I went to Sir John Knight for the necessary materials for tallowing,
when Sir John told me to buy tallow, &c. with the 5/. which you ordered him to pay me;
but I have spent it in cordage, according to your command.
I would not trouble Sir John if I had money of my own, but I am in a strange
place where I have no acquaintance to borrow from;
the deck and sides are so leaky that we cannot lie dry in our beds.
The 2 state-rooms want canvas over them.
Being ordered to continue, and winter coming on, I desire a supply of things needed
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 61.]
@@@
Aug. 1. 1668
Bristol.
Capt. John Wettwang to the Navy Commissioners.
Particulars of the launching of the Edgar.
The fall being great, she broke 3 of the lowermost ways, and gave way a little in the midships;
she draws 2 feet astern, 10 feet 10 inches of water ahead, and swims well.
Shall buy things at the best hand; hopes that what volunteers come may be entered.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 62.]
About Tuesday 14 July 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich's sister, Elizabeth Montagu, married Sir Gilbert Pickering MP (1613 - October 17, 1668), who was faithful to Cromwell before 1640;
one of their dozen offspring, Betty Pickering, was the wife of Pepys’ rival, John Creed.
On October 21, 1668, Pepys will tell us that Gilbert Pickering MP “... his being long expected to die, having been in a lethargy long."
Sad to say, friends and relatives do tend to disappear when someone is sick for a long time. Plus, for political/employment reasons, Pepys wouldn't want to visit the home of a Regicide, especially if it was somewhere the loathed Puritan Creed might also be visiting.
The nasty undertone may come from actions/attitudes the Pickerings embraced before the Diary. The tailor and his family may not be people the wealthy Pickerings had to dinner very often, if you get my drift.
About Tuesday 14 July 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Dr. Butler was designed by the Prince to attend him as his chaplain in this summer's expedition at sea."
Considering how much trouble Adm. Allin has had getting a fleet together and equipped to go to the Straights and the Med., I think Rupert's chances of sailing this summer are slim to nill. Perhaps he knows something we don't ... ?
About Anne Scott (1st Duchess of Buccleuch)
San Diego Sarah • Link
From the Directory of National Biography (you need a subscription):
‘Scott, Anna [Anne], duchess of Monmouth and suo jure duchess of Buccleuch (1651–1732), noblewoman, was born in Dundee on 11 February, 1651 ...
The Monmouths had in common only financial extravagance and a particular excellence in dancing, which was unhappily ended in May 1668 when Anna sustained a dislocated hip which lamed her for life.
That she had no influence over the malleable ‘Prince Perkin’ was ultimately to her advantage. Her priority following her husband's 1685 rebellion was to protect the interests of her sons and more broadly the Buccleuch inheritance, with which she identified in a manner that echoed the determination and intelligence that had characterized her mother.
Having spent the duration of Monmouth's rebellion in the Tower, and with the injured monarch, James II, predisposed in her favor, she finally secured her husband's confirmation that she had known ‘nothing of his last design’, thereby freeing her sons — and thus the Buccleuch inheritance — from the penalties of attainder.
Attainder having forfeited Monmouth's English titles, the Buccleuch honors, now a dukedom, and estates were formally restored to Anna and thence her eldest son, restoring the original entail, on 17 November 1687 ...
... contemporary commentators remark on her wit rather than her beauty.
In character she was confessedly self-sufficient and reserved.
... in 1698 ... she retired to Scotland. There she oversaw the lavish rebuilding of Dalkeith Castle and maintained a quasi-regal status, but returned to London upon the Hanoverian succession.
She resisted all pressure to relinquish the Buccleuch title during her lifetime in favor of her son, preferring to be ‘a man in my own family’.
She died in London in February 1732, short of her 81st birthday.‘
About Thursday 27 August 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
PART 4
Monsieur Cosnac was recognized and seized before he could meet Madame. He was exiled again, Madame de Saint-Chaumont with him, as a letter written by her was found on his person.
But Monsieur Cosnac had managed to hide the Chevalier letters before he was taken. {Sorry, I have no idea what became of them.}
Madame protested once again, in vain.
She asked Louis XIV to get involved, but he said he would not interfere in the matters of his brother’s household.
Minette turned to Charles II, and told him all about how badly she was treated in long letters. They exchanged letters nearly every week, in which they discussed everything.
Charles II wrote in English, Minette replied in French, because her English was awful.
He teased her about her admirers, and encouraged her not to give in to the “fantastical humours” of her husband (meaning Monsieur’s fits of jealously).
Madame’s letters convinced Charles II that Monsieur was a good-for-nothing and a pervert who chased young boys. But Charles could not help her … yet.
Monsieur had won the early battles, but the war was far from over.
Minette held the weakest cards in this game, but that changed as she once more became important to Louis XIV.
The King and his Ministers were secretly working on a treaty that would ally England to France.
Louis wanted to go to war with the Dutch and for that he wanted the assistance of the English. …
And that's what was going on behind the scenes as not reported in the Diary.
You can read up on the outrageous goings on at Versailles and what happens next at
https://partylike1660.com/henriet…
About Thursday 27 August 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
PART 3
Minette changed her attitude and gathered her forces, which was not easy. Monsieur had full control over her household, including who served in it and on what money was spent. Madame had to follow Monsieur wherever he went, no matter if she wanted to go or not, and she had to ask for his permission before she could go somewhere without him.
In the past, Monsieur had not been strict about that, but he changed now, and Madame was not pleased.
Nor did she have many supporters. The courtiers sided with Monsieur: after all, he could dismiss them with an elegant wave of a be-ringed hand, without any reason.
Minette could not trust her ladies or maids, because some were acting as spies for the Chevalier. If the ladies and maids did not cooperate, Monsieur had them replaced with women who would.
She could not count on the Comtesse de Soissons or the Princesse de Monaco anymore, and they both distanced themselves from her. The Comtesse did so because Madame was involved in the exile of Monsieur de Vardes, the Comtesse’s lover. The Princesse, who had been a good friend to Madame, did so because she liked the Chevalier, which led to plenty of arguments between them.
Madame could count on Daniel Cosnac, Monsieur’s former confessor. But Monsieur Cosnac fell into disgrace because he failed to talk Louis XIV into granting Monsieur a governorship, and rushed to Madame’s defense when an indecent pamphlet about her affair with Armand de Gramont, Comte de Guiche made the rounds.
Then Philippe, Chevalier of Lorraine, took over his responsibilities and did them better than Cosnac.
At the behest of Madame, Monsieur Cosnac asked Monsieur to make peace with his wife and to dismiss the Chevalier. That was a big mistake, because the Chevalier had little difficulty discrediting Monsieur Cosnac.
The Chevalier acquired some letters, most likely forged, and presented them to Monsieur, who may have known they were forged, which said Cosnac was plotting to have the Chevalier removed from Monsieur’s presence.
Cosnac was stripped of all offices he held in Monsieur’s Household and ordered to relocate to his diocese in Valence.
Madame protested furiously, but in vain.
The timing was awful because Monsieur Cosnac possessed letters written by the Chevalier of a compromising nature. The letters left with Cosnac and Madame needed to reclaim them.
Madame de Saint-Chaumont, someone Minette could trust, remained in contact with Cosnac and they agreed he would sneak into Saint-Denis, where he would meet Minette and give her the letters.
A visit to Saint-Denis, where Queen Mother Henrietta Maria was buried, was something Monsieur could not deny to Minette.
But of course things went terribly wrong.
About Thursday 27 August 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
PART 2
In July, 1668 the flirtations and jealousies reached new heights. James Scot, Duke of Monmouth, was staying in France and was bold in the display of his affections for Madame his aunt, who was flattered by his attention.
When Moliére’s “George Dandin” was performed at Versailles, half the court was openly laughing about Monsieur, whose wife was cuckolding him.
(George Dandin is a rich peasant, who married the daughter of a poor nobleman, in exchange for some money, and bought himself a title afterwards. The daughter married him against her will and sees herself thus not inclined to act as a good wife should, instead she flirts and makes merry with other gentlemen. George asks his parents-in-law to help him and call their daughter to reason, but they make fun of him, as does his wife, his servants and the court. The latter because Monsieur George is unable to keep his wife from flirting. The play has a tragic end, as the wife and her lover treat him worse and worse, until he considers suicide because, with such an evil wife, it seems to be the only thing to do.)
Monmouth had to leave the court the next day. SEE https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
So Monsieur and Madame were caught in an unhappy marriage with no escape, Monsieur accusing Madame of having lovers, Madame accusing Monsieur of treating her unfairly. The situation grew more and more tense.
Then Philippe, Chevalier de Lorraine entered the circus. He encouraged the humiliated Monsieur to make an end to Madame’s flirting. Spies were installed in her household and the Palais-Royal became the place of intrigues.
Madame Minette did not like the Chevalier because, as he became more important to Monsieur, Monsieur in turn became more distant to her.
About Thursday 27 August 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
On August 27, 1668, Madame Minette gave birth to her fourth and last child. She was a daughter, Anne-Marie, who later became the first Queen of Sardinia.
Minette did not show too much interest in her children, partly because that was unfashionable, and partly because there were so many other things to do – like entertainments, and Monsieur hosted a lot of them, each better than the last and so elaborate and decadent that the Paris Gazette and Mercure lacked words to describe their gloriousness properly.
Madame shone brightly at these entertainments, dressed in the finest gowns and decked out in diamonds.
After each pregnancy, although they and the miscarriages had taken a toll on her looks and had weakened her health, Madame Minette was praised and admired.
The admiration of Armand de Gramont, Comte de Guiche was so obvious that Louis XIV noticed and asked his mistress, Louise de La Baume Le Blanc, Mademoiselle de La Vallière was what was going on. (She was a lady in waiting to Minette.)
Louise, Mademoiselle de Valliere knew all about Madame and Armand de Gramont, Comte de Guiche, but refused to tell, which led to the first big argument between the King and his mistress, and to Guiche being exiled.
Part of the problem was that Guiche also dared to ogle Louise.
(Minette’s flirtation with Guiche began in 1661 and lasted until Guiche was exiled in 1665.)
Madame Minette also had public flirtations with François VII de La Rochefoucauld, a good friend of Louis XIV.
Then there was Louis de Lorraine, Monsieur le Grand, another very good friend to the King. His attentions towards Madame nearly ended his marriage.
The Marquis the Vardes was eager to take Armand de Gramont, Comte de Guiche’s place, and even a member of the clergy, the Archbishop of Sens, showed quite an interest in Minette, as did Louis-Henri de Pardaillan de Gondrin, Louis de Rohan-Montbazon and the future Duc de Lauzun.
It became a sport for courtiers to note every glance Madame received, every glance she returned, and every fit of anger by Monsieur on the subject. The whole court talked about those flirtations, about lovers hidden behind screens when Monsieur surprisingly visited Madame, and how the gentlemen secretly entered her chambers disguised as servant women or left via the windows.
About Sunday 31 March 1661
San Diego Sarah • Link
Monsieur and Princess Henrietta Anne “Minette” signed their marriage contract in the Palais Royal on 30 March, 1661. The ceremony took place the next day in front of selected members of the court. The bride came with a promised dowry of 840,000 livres.
Madame Élisabeth-Charlotte du Palatinat, AKA Liselotte von der Pfalz, wrote after 1702: “The Queen Mother of England had not brought up her children well: she at first left them in the society of femmes de chambre, who gratified all their caprices; and having afterwards married them at a very early age, they followed the bad example of their mother.” [Minette was 17, a fairly late marriage for royalty in those days. And as to "their caprices", should that read "they had minds of their own"?]
Monsieur treated Madame with great respect at the beginning of their marriage and was even proud to show her off at court, in the finest and most fashionable gowns adorned with jewels. Minette, as she was nicknamed by her brother Charles II, enjoyed the attention greatly which everyone bestowed upon her and was the jewel of many festivities.
The idyll did not last long. The English chronicler Bishop Gilbert Burnet described Monsieur as ‘a poor-spirited and voluptuous prince; monstrous in his vices and effeminate in his luxury in more senses than one. He had not one good quality, but courage; so that he became both odious and contemptible.’ He was a cross-dresser and bisexual. He claimed he no longer loved Madame after two weeks of marriage. However, the couple maintained regular marital relations at first and Madame had several pregnancies which took their toll on her health. https://thefreelancehistorywriter…
Madame Minette’s flirting with Louis XIV started early in the summer of 1661 while the newly-weds were staying at Fontainebleau for the summer. Monsieur complained to Queen Mother Anne of Austria about the intimacy that the King and Henriette displayed, which led Anne to reprimand both son and daughter-in-law. This brought tension into the brothers’ relationship.
Madame Minette also started a friendship with Guy-Armand de Gramont, Comte de Guiche in 1661, while he was still her husband’s official favorite, and soon he also became her lover.
[The Comte de Guiche was the brother of the Count de Gramont who wrote such a fanciful Memoir.]
https://partylike1660.com/the-two…
About Monday 20 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Mr. Sidney, lately come from France, who is growne a little, and a pretty youth he is; but not so improved as they did give him out to be, but like a child still. But yet I can perceive he hath good parts and good inclinations."
L&M: "Sidney Montagu [1650-1727], second (and favorite) son, was given what his father called 'a liberal breeding' -- his schooling in Paris 1661 - 1664.
Today I found out about some French Court activities in June, 1664, which give me a different take on the sort of 'liberal breeding' was intended by Lord Sandwich for his favorite son:
"26 June, it is said, the exile of the Duchesse de Navailles has to do with her opposition against his Majesty’s private matters. His Majesty had already reprimanded her for it. The Duchesse, being dame d’honneur to her Majesty and responsible for her Majesties ladies, was annoyed about the gallants visiting her Majesties ladies in secret. She thus had passages blocked and windows barred to prevent the gallants from entering. It is said, that by doing this she also prevented his Majesty from seeing Mademoiselle de La Vallière, which angered his Majesty very much.
"It being not the first time the Duchesse has angered him, he decided to exile her. Her poor husband, it is said, has nothing to do with it all, but was ordered to share her fate."
https://partylike1660.com/chronol…
Hard to imagine Louis XIV crawling through windows, but you never know ...
About Rabutin's 'L'histoire amoureuse des Gaules'
San Diego Sarah • Link
Roger de Bussy-Rabutin tried to save himself by sending a copy of the original manuscript to Louis XIV, but it was still too scandalous for the King, who particularly didn’t like the way Madame Henriette d’Angleterre was portraited.
Roger de Bussy-Rabutin was therefore rewarded with another visit to the Bastille. He was arrested on 17 April, 1665.
---
I wonder what Pepys made of that. Perhaps he was resigned to the Stuarts' uninhibited lifestyles by now. Learning about the French Court exploits makes it clear to me that the English Court of Charles II was in step with his contemporaries in France at least.
A Bussy-Rabutin's biography written by a Frenchwoman is at
https://partylike1660.com/roger-d…
About Friday 31 July 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
"AND WHERE HAS HE [James Scot, Duke of Monmouth] BEEN?"
During a fete in summer of 1668, Moliére amused everyone with a new play at Versailles. At that time, Madame Minette was being followed everywhere by James Scot, Duke of Monmouth, a rather handsome fellow, and it was hard to hide from the gossip of Madame having a new affair.
Then came Moliére with his play, featuring a horned-husband.
Some thought this husband resembled that of Madame de Montespan, with whom Louis XIV was making merry.
Others, including Philippe d’Orleans, saw it as a joke on the King’s brother.
The Duke of Monmouth left court the next day.
https://partylike1660.com/philipp…
About Tuesday 14 July 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
Good catch, Kew Gardener