The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz Volume I Part 16

The Countess _de Wurben_ is the first Lady at Court next to her Royal Highness. She has been the Duke's sole Favourite for a long time. She is _Gravenitz_ by Name, and is descended of a n.o.ble Family in _Mecklembourg_.

The Duke first fell in love with her when she was but a Girl. She had the a.s.surance after she had been some Years in Favour to insist that the Duke should get a Divorce from the d.u.c.h.ess his Wife, by whom he had a Son, and marry her. When the d.u.c.h.ess was inform'd of her Rival's Demand she sued for the Emperor's Protection, and obtain'd it. That Monarch signified to the Duke that he would do well to remove his Favourite, who was therefore oblig'd to retire to _Swisserland_. The Duke who could not bear her out of his sight, followed her thither and stay'd there with her for some time, but at last being oblig'd to return to his Dominions, and not being able to take Madamoiselle _de Gravenitz_ to him without reviving the just Suspicions of the d.u.c.h.ess, he look'd out for a Husband for his Mistress.

The Count _de Wurben_ a Gentleman of a good Family, and in mean Circ.u.mstances, but a very eager Stickler for the Favours of Fortune at any rate whatsoever, made an offer to marry Madamoiselle _de Gravenitz_. She was bestowed upon him with a Pension of 24000 Florins, and the Character of the Duke's Envoy Extraordinary to the Imperial Court. He engag'd never to make use of the Husband's Prerogative and never to require of his Wife to leave the Court. Upon this Condition he obtain'd even before he set out for _Vienna_ the Office of _Landthoffmeister_ or Lord Lieutenant of _Wirtemberg_, which is the highest Dignity in the Country. When the Marriage was concluded, Madam _de Wurben_ returned to _Stutgard_, where she had Lodgings in the Palace. All her Aim was to insult the d.u.c.h.ess, in hopes of provoking her to commit something so outragious as might embroil her with the Duke, and make him resolve never to forgive her; but this Princess equally virtuous and prudent, and always patient, bore all this Mortification without murmuring. The Mistress, who could not endure to see her in the Palace, obtain'd an Order from the Duke for her Retirement to the Estate which was settled on her for her Jointure; but the d.u.c.h.ess would never comply to it, saying, that if she had not been unfortunate enough in the Loss of her Husband she would not retire to her Jointure.

This Refusal, how reasonable soever it was, affronted the Duke, who acquainted the d.u.c.h.ess that he did not look upon her any longer as his Wife, and gave orders that she should be treated no longer as a Sovereign.

During this, Madam _de Wurben_ became a Widow; whereupon all the Hopes reviv'd that she had presumed to entertain when a Maid. She persuaded the Duke to leave _Stutgard_, and to found _Ludwigsbourg_. As soon as this House was in a Condition to be occupy'd, the Duke and his Mistress came and liv'd in it. There's no sort of Intrigue which this Favourite has not try'd to put herself in the d.u.c.h.ess's Rank, but hitherto she has not been able to succeed. Mean-while she enjoys all the Honours of a Sovereign.

'Tis at her Apartments that the Court is kept. Whenever the Duke plays 'tis there, and there it is he diets. In short she is treated in every thing upon a par with her Royal Highness. Her Excellency (which is the only t.i.tle given to this imperious Favourite since the Death of her Husband) is drawing on to fifty Years of Age, and yet carries a mighty Sway. She employs all the Remedies imaginable to cancel the Injuries which Time has done to her Complexion, and also to conceal her natural Temper; for Artifice and Dissimulation are the Compounds of her Character. She is so eager in ama.s.sing of Riches that she makes it her chief Business. While she pretends a mighty Respect for the Duke, she expects like another _Astarte_ that every Knee should bend and tremble before her. As she is the Reservoir of Favour, greater Court is made to her than to the Duke himself, and Woe be to those that dare to disoblige her! I must own however that she knows how to behave as well as any Woman in _Germany_, when she has a mind to shew her Politeness. The worst on't is, that she is not always so inclin'd; for she has been so long us'd to give herself great Airs that they are become habitual to her. The princ.i.p.al Offices of the Court are distributed among her Kindred or Creatures. Her Brother the Count _de Gravenitz_ is Grand Marshal and Prime Minister. I hardly ever saw a handsomer Man: I must also do him the justice to declare that he is as civil as his Sister is haughty. Some Years ago the Duke obtain'd for him the Dignity of a Count of the Empire, in which Quality he was admitted also at the Dyet, and he has a Seat there on the Bench of the Counts of _Swabia_. His Authority is never oppos'd but by his Sister, to whom he will not always be obedient. 'Tis said their Divisions have sometimes gone so far that the Favourite has done all in her power to turn out her Brother, and he has try'd all Ways in his turn to remove his Sister, but the Duke has always been so good as to reconcile them. The Prime Minister and his eldest Son are honour'd with the Order of _Prussia_. There is no Court in _Europe_ where there's such a Variety of Orders and Ribbons. The Duke bears alternatively the _Danish_ Order of the _Elephant_, the _Prussian_ Order of the _Black Eagle_, and his own Order which is that of St. _Hubert_.

The Hereditary Prince has the Order of _Prussia_ and that of the Duke his Father.

The Prince _Charles-Alexander_ wears the _Fleece_, and the Order of _Wirtemberg_[120]. Prince _Lewis_ his Brother wears the _Polish_ Order of the _White Eagle_.

The Baron _de Schunck_ heretofore the Duke's Minister of State, and at present Great Bailiff of a Bailywic, is Knight of the Order of _Dannebrog_.

I should never have done were I to give you the Names of all the Knights of the Order of St. _Hubert_, and the many petty Sovereigns that have been the Grand Masters.

The Duke's particular or Cabinet-Council is compos'd of the Hereditary Prince and the Counts _de Gravenitz_, Father and Son, the Baron _de Schutz_, and M. _de Pollnitz_[121]. There are many other Counsellors of State, but not being admitted to the Cabinet-Council they are not in so much Esteem as the others.

His most Serene Highness keeps the Estimate of his Forces to himself. I think that he has now 4000 Men without reckoning his Life-Guards, which are two Companies, the finest of all the Guards in _Germany_. One of these Companies is commanded by the Lieutenant-General Baron _de Phul_, and the other by a Count of _Witgenstein_. They are dress'd in yellow, and are only distinguish'd by the Facing of their Clothes and their Bandeliers, one of which is Black and the other Red. Their Regimental Clothes are Yellow with Silver Lace. The Duke has also a Company of Cadets on Horseback, all Gentlemen. They are dress'd in Red, with black Velvet Facings and Silver Lace. They mount Guard at the Duke's Apartment only.

Two of them always stand Centry before his Highness's Chamber-Door.

The Court of _Wirtemberg_ is one of the most numerous in _Germany_.

There's a Grand Marshal, who as I have told you is the Count _de Gravenitz_, Brother to the Favourite.

A Marshal of the Court, who is second Son to the Grand Marshal.

A Travelling Marshal, who is Brother-in-law to the Prime Minister.

A Great Cup-bearer, who is the Baron _de Frakenberg_.

A Master of the Horse.

A Great Huntsman.

Four Chamberlains.

A Number of Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber, and Gentlemen of the Court.

Two Captains of the Guards.

A considerable number of Counsellors of State and Aulic Counsellors.

Twenty Pages, all Men of good Families.

And finally a great many Footmen, and Officers of the Kitchen, Pantry, and b.u.t.tery.

The Duke's Stables are the best furnish'd of any in _Europe_. One shall not see finer Horses, or any that are better manag'd. The Hunting Equipage is also very magnificent; and I don't know one thing that is wanting. His Highness keeps a Company of _French_ Comedians to whose Performance every body is admitted _gratis_. We have often b.a.l.l.s, Masquerades, and Concerts of Music. There is an a.s.sembly at the Favourite's House every day, where the Company plays at Piquet, Quadrille, and Pharo; so that here are all the Pleasures of a great Court. The Duke's Table is serv'd with very great Cost and Delicacy, and is commonly spread for sixteen Guests. The Duke sits at the upper end, between her Royal Highness and her Excellency. The Gentlemen are plac'd according to the Rank which they derive from their Employments, and the Ladies according to the Offices which are borne by their Husbands.

There's a Ceremonial observ'd here which is not known in any other Court, _viz._ the Duke's Ministers give place to no Foreigner, unless he be a Minister like themselves to some Prince, or unless he be a Count of the Empire. These have so distinguish'd a Rank at this Court that all who are not Counts must give place to them. A Count of the Empire, tho' he be a Cadet in the hundredth Generation, a Lieutenant or an Ensign, as it sometimes happens, in the Duke's Service, takes place of all Ministers and great Officers who are not Counts. This is a Regulation which her Excellency made after her Brother was created a Count, to the end that her Family might have the more Honour, and that the greater Respect might be paid to her own Dignity of Countess without a County.

I have told you that the Duke had transferr'd his Residence from _Stutgard_ to _Ludwigsbourg_, and the reason which made him abandon the Capital of his Dominions; but why he preferr'd the Situation of his new Town to a hundred others that he might have chose more agreeable, is what I cannot account for.

LUDWIGSBOURG is remote from any River, great Roads and Forests. The Duke at first only built a small Mansion-House with two advanced Wings, so disposed that the Court lay between the House and the Garden; but he has since made great Additions to it, and is actually building a large Mansion between the Court and the Garden, to which the Wings of the former Building are to be joined. One _Frisoni_, an _Italian_, has the direction of these Works; in which it appears that he is a much better Mason than an Architect. The new Building runs so far out that it discovers all the Effects of it. The Front of the Mansion consists of three Stories, including the Ground-Floor; but on the Garden side there are only two of a moderate Height, so that one wou'd take this Building rather for an Orangerie than for the Palace of a Sovereign. The great Stair-Case is dark, the Apartments want Light, the Chambers are long and narrow, and have very few Outlets. However, this single Building was undertaken by _Frisoni_ for 700000 Florins, exclusive of several sorts of Materials with which he was furnished.

The old Mansion, which fronts the new, is not near so large, tho' it is three Stories high every way. The Apartments are small and too inconvenient to live in, yet no Cost has been spar'd to adorn them; Carving, Gilding, and Painting being employ'd in them with more Profusion than Judgment. The Furniture is rich, but of a very odd Fancy. The best thing in all the Palace is the Chapel, which would every where be reckon'd a fine n.o.ble Structure. But notwithstanding all the Faults which are observ'd in the Palace, it must be allow'd that whoever lives to see it finish'd will find it a magnificent Piece of Work. In the Gardens there are several Terra.s.ses, which rising by degrees one above another, intirely bound the Prospect of the Palace. 'Tis certain that when the Duke's Architects saw this Prince resolutely determin'd to build at _Ludwigsbourg_, they ought at least to have advis'd him to place his Palace at the very spot where his Gardens end: In this case it would have stood in the middle of a Plain, the Apartments would not have been cramp'd by the b.u.t.tresses, with which the Palace is encompa.s.s'd, and the Gardens wou'd have had a gentle Descent; and for a very little Expence there might have been a fine Piece of Water at one end, betwixt them and a Coppice, which is a Walk for Pheasants.

The City of _Ludwigsbourg_ is as irregular as the Palace; and its Scituation, which is very disadvantageous, will always render it a very incommodious Town, because of the unevenness of the Ground. Most of the Houses are of Timber, and slightly built; for those who build them do it with an Ill-will, either out of Necessity, or to please the Duke who seems to be fond of building. This Prince has ruin'd _Stutgard_, and will never make a good Town of _Ludwigsbourg_; for if the Court was absent from it but one Year, 'twou'd be one of the meanest Villages in _Wirtemberg_. This Town is in no respect very agreeable. The n.o.bility here don't seem very fond of Strangers, and there are no Entertainments but what are made by the Duke. No body here, not even the Prime Minister keeps a Table; and all the Expence of the Courtiers is in their Dress, and their Horses. Yet there is not a Prince of the Empire who gives handsomer Salaries, except the Electors; so that the Case is the very reverse here to what it is at almost all other Courts, for here People grow rich, whereas elsewhere they are beggar'd. I have known Persons that came to this Court in mean Circ.u.mstances, and in a few Years got Estates. The Duke is by nature generous and beneficent, and wou'd be more so if his Liberality was not curb'd. He has given several Gentlemen Materials for building _gratis_; and the Houses were no sooner up but he purchas'd them, and paid as dear for 'em as if he had not contributed a Shilling towards raising them. I have been a.s.sur'd that his most Serene Highness's Revenues amounted to four Millions of Florins. 'Tis certain that he is Master of one of the finest Countries in all _Germany_; a Country which has plenty of every thing, but Money is scarce by reason of the Fertility of the neighbouring Provinces, _viz._ the _Palatinate_, _Bavaria_, _Franconia_, and _Alsace_.

The People are desirous of a War upon the Upper _Rhine_, in hopes of putting off their Commodities.

The _Lutheran_ is the only Religion tolerated in the Duchy of _Wirtemberg_, tho' the Duke has permitted _Frisoni_ the Director of his Buildings to erect a Chapel for the Use of the Catholic Workmen whom he has sent for from _Italy_ to build the Palace; which Chapel however is design'd to be demolish'd as soon as the Works are finish'd: But I am rather inclin'd to think that the Court itself will one day have a Catholic Chapel; for if the hereditary Prince shou'd happen to die without Male-Issue, _Wirtemberg_ will fall to the Share of Prince _Alexander_, (Cousin-german to the Duke) who has embraced our Religion; and who having Children by the Princess of _Tour_ and _Taxis_ whom he marry'd at _Brussels_, sees them brought up in the Catholic Faith.

_I kiss your hand, and am_, &c.

_POSTSCRIPT._

Since I wrote the above, the Countess _de Wurben_ is fallen under Disgrace, which I have been told happen'd by this means.

The Duke's Carriage to his Mistress had been cold for some time, when the King of _Prussia_ came to _Ludwigsbourg_ and exhorted him to be reconcil'd to his Wife, in order to get Heirs. The Duke cou'd not persuade himself to take the d.u.c.h.ess again; but however the King's Representations prevail'd so far, as to put him quite out of conceit with his Mistress. He just kept up a bare Acquaintance with her, and that was all; which she perceiv'd, and made no scruple to try the most extraordinary Methods to maintain herself in Favour. The Duke having been blooded in her Presence, she secreted a Napkin stain'd with his Blood. What Use she propos'd to make of it I know not, but she carry'd it to her Apartment. The Duke's _Valets de Chambre_ missing the Napkin acquainted their Master of it. M. _de Roder_, a Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber, and a Favourite of his Highness, said that no body cou'd possibly take it but the Countess, and that to be sure she did it for no good. The Duke order'd M. _de Roder_ to go to the Countess's Apartment and enquire into the Fact. _Roder_ ask'd for the Napkin. The Countess deny'd her having it; but _Roder_ affirm'd he saw her take it, upon which she was in a Pa.s.sion with him, and told him she wou'd make him repent of his Ill-manners to her. _Roder_ made answer, that all the Airs she gave herself were out of season, that her Reign was over, and that he wou'd oblige her to return the Napkin. The Countess not us'd to be talk'd to at such a rate, was frighten'd, and restor'd the fatal Napkin, which completed her Ruin. The Duke, when inform'd by his Favourite of what had pa.s.s'd, sent an Order to the Countess not to stir from her Apartment: And this Prince setting out soon after for _Berlin_, charged the hereditary Prince his Son to command Madamoiselle _de Wurben_ to retire to her Estate. The Countess obey'd, and being indulg'd to carry what she had a mind to along with her, retir'd to a Territory of hers depending immediately on the Empire, not many Leagues from _Ludwigsbourg_. There it was that she heard of the Duke's Reconciliation with the d.u.c.h.ess, upon the Duke's return from _Berlin_. This News extremely shock'd her, because she always flatter'd herself that the Prince wou'd return to her: And perceiving now that she had no Hopes of being restor'd to Favour by the power of her own Charms, she had a mind to try what she cou'd do by I know not what Charm in the Magic Art. To carry her Point she was under a necessity of having a little of the Duke's Blood; and she wrote to his _Valet de Chambre_, promising him great Rewards if he cou'd procure her some. What does the Domestic but carry the Letter to the Duke? who immediately gave Orders to Colonel _Streithorst_ to arrest the Countess, and carry her to some Place of Security. The Colonel taking a Detachment of Soldiers along with him, contriv'd it so that he came to the Countess's Seat at Night, and immediately surrounding the House, knock'd at the Gate, but no body making answer he thunder'd so hard at the Gate, that at length Madame _de Sultman_ the Countess's Sister put her Head out at the Window, and ask'd who it was that dar'd to make such a Noise. _Streithorst_ told her his Name, and said he came thither by Order of the Duke. Madame _de Sultman_ made answer that the Countess was not well, and cou'd not be spoke with. The Colonel, who knew the contrary, said, that if they did not let him in he wou'd break open the Doors; upon which they thought fit to open them. During this the Countess was got to Bed; and _Streithorst_ entring her Chamber found her there with her Sister and her two Brothers-in-law, the General _N----_ and _Sultman_, who was formerly at _Berlin_ Equerry to the Countess of _Wartenberg_, and afterwards Privy-Counsellor to the Duke of _Wirtemberg_. The Colonel having signify'd his Order to the Countess, she affected to be in a dying Condition; but said that if she was able enough to get up she did not intend it, she being at home, and in a free House of the Circle of _Swabia_, from whence she did not think the Duke had Authority to remove her. The Colonel threaten'd that his Grenadiers shou'd pull her out of Bed; and the Lady seeing that she must obey, thought fit to rise. She fell on her Knees to _Streithorst_; but the hard-hearted Officer was deaf to her Cries, and conducted her to a place of Security where she is closely confin'd, and like to be a Prisoner as long as the Duke lives.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

LETTER XVII.

_SIR_, _Carlsrouhe, Feb. 15, 1730._

I Deny that any Man can be happier than I am at this Juncture. You have wrote an excellent long Letter to me; you a.s.sure me that you are well, and that you have still an Affection for me; what more is there wanting to compleat my Joy? I am preparing to make you the best amends I can, and instead of a Letter to write you a Volume.

I came in one Day from _Ludwigsbourg_ to CARLSROUHE, which is the Residence of the Margrave of _Baden-Dourlach_. The Name _Carlsrouhe_ signifies _Charles_'s Rest. The present Margrave _Charles_ of _Baden-Dourlach_ was the very Man that laid both the Plan and Foundation of this City, and its Castle. Nothing is so pretty as the Disposition of the whole: I wish I were able to give you an Idea of it. Imagine the Margrave's House to be at the Entrance of a great Forest, in the Center of a Star form'd by thirty two Walks, the chief of which behind the Palace is three _German_ Leagues in length. Two large Wings advance from the main Body of the House, which deviating from each other in proportion as they lengthen, the whole together looks like a Theatre. Behind the princ.i.p.al Building there's a very high Octogon Tower which commands all the Walks.

The s.p.a.ce between the two Wings forms the Court, and then come the Gardens and Parterres, at the end of which there's a Semi-Circle of Houses of an equal Height, built Arch-wise, and three Stories high including the Ground-Floor. Between these Houses there run five Streets, the middlemost of which fronts the Palace. At the end of the three chief Streets opposite to the Palace are three Churches; one belonging to the _Lutherans_, another to the _Calvinists_, and a third to the _Roman_ Catholics; to which three prevailing Religions of the Empire the Margrave gave equal Liberty of Conscience when he founded the new Town.

The chief part of the Town lies behind the Houses that front the Palace.

This properly speaking consists but of one Street, which is of a prodigious Length. All these Houses as well as the Margrave's are of Timber, so that you are not to look for fine or substantial Buildings at _Carlsrouhe_; but the Contrivance and Distribution of the whole taken together is really wonderful. I took the Freedom to tell the Margrave that I was surpriz'd that he had not at least employ'd Brick in the building of his Palace, and of the Houses which form the Half-Moon about his Gardens.

'I was wil'ing, _said the Prince_, to make myself a Place of Retirement, and to build without putting the Burthen on my Subjects. I chose moreover to have the Comfort of enjoying what I built. If I had us'd Bricks it wou'd have cost me a great deal more Money; and I cou'd not have finish'd my Buildings without laying an extraordinary Impost upon my Country. It wou'd have taken me up abundance of Time too, and perhaps I shou'd never have had the Satisfaction of seeing an end to my Labours. Another Reason was, that my Country is so scituate as to be liable to be the Theatre of Wars, and I am not in a Condition to make this a strong Place, nor cou'd I encompa.s.s it with Walls. Do you think therefore that I shou'd have been justified in laying out a great deal of Money on a Place to see it burnt down before my Face, as I did my House at _Dourlach_, and my other Houses which the _French_ reduc'd to Ashes. I am but a petty Sovereign; I have built a House according to my Condition, and I had rather it shou'd be said of me that I have but a mean Habitation, and owe no Money, than that I have a stately Palace and am over Head and Ears in Debt.'

I have given you this account of what the Margrave said to me, because I thought it wou'd let you into an Idea of his Character. This Prince, to whom I was introduc'd on the very day of my Arrival here, took the trouble himself to shew me his Palace, and all about it. I thought the Apartments very well laid out, but there is not room enough to lodge the hereditary Prince, who lives in one of the Houses in the Semi-Circle fronting the Palace.

The Pheasant-Walk, which joins to the Castle, is the prettiest thing in the World. 'Tis a very large Inclosure, dispos'd in various Walks planted with Fir-Trees cut in the shape of a Fan. There's a great Basin in the Center always full of wild Ducks. 'Tis encompa.s.s'd with four Pavilions, made in the Form of _Turkish_ Tents. Two of the Pavilions are Volarys, and the two others Summer-Houses, with Window-Curtains of Green Cloth. There are Sofas and Couches, after the manner of the Eastern Countries. In this Place of Retirement and Rest the Margrave spends some Hours every Day, and he is generally accompany'd by some young Ladies whom he teaches Music; so that they perform agreeable Concerts.

The Margrave was in the right to give his House the Name of _Charles's Rest_, for he leads the most tranquil Life here that can be. Far from being infatuated with vain Grandeur, he has the Charms of it, without the Check and Constraint of it. This Prince is of a very robust Const.i.tution, and tho' he underwent a vast deal of Fatigue in his Youth, he is as fresh-colour'd and as vigorous as if he was but forty Years of Age. He travell'd when he was a young Man into the princ.i.p.al parts of _Europe_; and during his Father's Life-time was several Years in the Service of _Sweden_. When he return'd to his Dominions he serv'd in the Army of the Empire on the Upper _Rhine_, under his Cousin Prince _Lewis_ of _Baden_.

Tho' the Margrave is very fat, yet he uses a great deal of Exercise. He rises in Summer at five o'Clock in the Morning, and walks in his Gardens till the Heat of the Weather obliges him to retire within doors; then he does Business with his Counsellors, or else employs himself in Experiments of Chymistry, and sometimes he draws. He commonly dines at four o'clock, and is attended by Waiting-Women, of whom there are no less than threescore, tho' no more than eight wait upon one Day. These, when the Margrave goes abroad, attend him on horseback, dress'd like _Hussurs_. The Generality of these Damsels understand Music and Dancing; they also perform Operas at the Theatre of the Palace, and are Musicians of the Chappel. They have all Lodgings in the Palace. After Dinner is over the Margrave grants Audience to his Subjects; and upon particular Days of the Week hears all that come. Few Princes render Justice more speedily, and more punctually. Sometimes he goes a Hunting. He makes very light Suppers, and retires early to Bed. He delights in Agriculture, and is one of the greatest Florists living. This Prince is never unemploy'd. There are few things which he does not know, and very many which he understands to Perfection. His Conversation is as agreeable as any I know. He speaks several Languages well. His Behaviour is obliging and courteous. He loves Foreigners, treats them with Distinction, and loads them with Civilities.

Upon Sundays and Holidays he eats with the Prince his Son, and the Princess his Daughter-in-law. His Table, which is then spread for sixteen Guests, is serv'd with more Delicacy than Profusion.

The hereditary Prince[122], only Son to the Margrave, is pretty short, and has not the Life and Spirit of his Father. He is very complaisant and civil, and seems to me of a good-natur'd Disposition. He has been at _Paris_, in _England_, and in _Holland_, where he marry'd the Daughter of the unfortunate Prince of _Na.s.sau_, who was drown'd in 1711, as he was pa.s.sing the _Maerd.y.k.e_ to the _Hague_, to adjust with _Frederic_ I. King of _Prussia_, such Differences as related to the Succession of the late King _William_ of _Great Britain_, to which they both laid Claim. The hereditary Princess seems to me to be well behav'd; and she makes very handsome Entertainments. The Court a.s.sembles at her House every day, _viz._ at Noon, and at five o'clock in the Evening; and there they dine, game, and sup. Foreigners are very well receiv'd there, and both the Ladies and Gentlemen are very civil and complaisant.

The Grand Marshal, and his Brother the Great Huntsman, are Persons capable of making a Figure with Distinction in the greatest Courts. The first marry'd a legitimated Daughter of the Margrave.