The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz Volume I Part 19

The City of _Worms_ stands in the middle of a fine s.p.a.cious Plain, abounding with Corn, Vineyards, and Fruit-Trees. A Wine is produced here which is call'd _Lieben-Frauen-Milch_, i. e. _Our Lady's Milk_. The _Rhine_ is about three or four hundred Paces from the Town, but 'tis said it formerly ran close by the Walls of it. Which way soever one comes to _Worms_, one perceives at a great Distance the four Towers of the Cathedral which are all built of red Freestone. Two drunken Fellows mistook those Towers one day for Capuchin Fryars. Being in the Country at a pretty good Distance from the Town, as the Sun was going down, one of them said to his Comrade, _We have no Time to lose, the Gates are going to be shut.--No matter_, said the other, pointing to the Towers; _Don't you see those Capuchins there before us? They are of the Town, and are going thither as well as we. You are in the right_, reply'd the former, _let us drink the good Fryar's Health_. They had a Gourd Bottle full of Wine, of which they drank every Drop, so that they did not overtake the imaginary Capuchins till next Day.

There is not a finer Country than that between _Worms_ and OPPENHEIM, a little Town upon an Eminence, on the left Side of the _Rhine_, to which we pa.s.s over a flying Bridge. The Road from _Oppenheim_ is unpa.s.sable for near two Leagues, because 'tis commonly overflown by that River; but afterwards the Way is perfectly good to _Frankfort_. 'Twas very late when I came to this City, but by good luck the People of _Frankfort_ who formerly shut their Gates at Sun-set have lately chose to keep them open till ten o'clock, so that for paying a Trifle one may enter the Town.

I know not whether I need give any Account of the City of FRANKFORT. It has been so often describ'd, and is so well known to the World, that I fancy every body knows what sort of Town it is, tho' they have not seen it. _Frankfort_ is famous for its two yearly Fairs, _viz._ at _Easter_ and _Michaelmas_. It suffer'd much by a great Fire in 1619, but the whole has been since rebuilt, and the Houses are finer than before. There are few Places upon the whole more disagreeable, and few Towns in _Germany_ where the Common People are more unpolish'd. The Burghers are not to be match'd for Affectedness, and their Conversation is insupportable. The Magistrates are all _Lutherans_; nevertheless the princ.i.p.al Churches belong to the Catholics. The _Calvinists_ may live in the Town, but cannot hold any Employments, and are oblig'd to go for Worship to _Bockenheim_ in the County of _Hanau_, and to cause their Children to be baptiz'd in the _Lutheran_ Churches. The great Church in which the Ceremony of the Emperor's Coronation is perform'd is dark, and by no means proper for such an august Solemnity. You know that _Aix la Chapelle_ is properly the Place set apart for the Coronation of our Emperors, and _Frankfort_ for their Election. But since _Maximilian_ I. no Emperor has been crown'd at _Aix_.

_Frankfort_ being situate in the Centre of the Empire is much more commodious for all the Princes, but particularly for the Spiritual Electors and for the Elector Palatine, who may send for their Equipages by Water and return them back by the same Convenience. When _Charles_ VI. was crown'd at _Frankfort_ in 1711, there was an extraordinary Concourse of Princes and n.o.blemen. Certain speculative Gentlemen made two Remarks on this Occasion, from which they presag'd two Things. The one was, that the Emperor made his Entrance into this City in close Mourning for the Emperor _Joseph_ his Brother; whereupon they said that _Charles_ wore Mourning because he foresaw that he should be the last Emperor of his Family. The second was, that as _Charles_ return'd from the Church invested with all the Marks of Sovereignty, _Charlemain_'s Sword had like to have dropp'd out of the Scabbard; which the Elector of _Triers_ of the _Lorrain_ Family observing, catch'd hold of the Sword, and put it in again before it was quite fallen out of the Scabbard. Upon this, the same Calculators of Nativities said it was an Omen that the Emperor would never have a quiet Reign, and that he would always be in a Situation that would oblige him to draw his Sword for his Defence[143].

As to Persons of great Distinction at _Frankfort_, they are very few. The Chief are the Princess-Dowager of _Na.s.sau-Ousingen_, born Princess of _Lovestein_; the Count _de Degenfeldt_ (_Schomberg_)[144] Major-General of the King of _Prussia_'s Forces, and a Commander of the Order of the _Black Eagle_; and finally, Madame _la Raugrave_[145] Daughter of _Charles-Lewis_ Elector Palatine: She is the last of the Blood of the Protestant _Palatine_ Princes. The Senate of _Frankfort_, in consideration of her great Age, and in respect to her Birth, has granted her the Liberty of keeping a _Calvinist_ Chaplain to preach in her own House. Sometimes the Prince _de la Tour_ and _Taxis_[146] Hereditary Post-Master of the Empire resides at _Frankfort_. His House is a great Relief to Foreigners. His Princess[147] is a Lady of very great Merit, and has the Soul and Sentiments of a Queen. In the Houses of the Persons that I have mention'd there's an a.s.sembly of both s.e.xes every Evening; but take them one with another they are very thin except at the Fairs, when there's a vast Resort of n.o.bility and Gentry. Most of the Electors and Princes of the Empire have their Agents at _Frankfort_, to whom they give the t.i.tle of Residents; but those Gentlemen are not a jot the more respected for it, most of them being Merchants of the City of _Frankfort_ it self, who sollicit the t.i.tle in order to be exempt from the Authority of the Senate, and from the Payment of the Customs, and to qualify themselves to place over their Doors the Arms of the Princes to whom they send the News-papers.

The Count _de Degenfeldt_ makes such a Figure here that he deserves a more particular mention. He is a n.o.bleman of good Extraction. He is a Native of the _Palatinate_, and spent his Youth in the Service of the Elector Palatine. He was at that Time a _Calvinist_, but turn'd Catholic. Some Years after, he was reconcil'd to his former Communion, and married in _England_ a Cousin of his, the Daughter of the Duke _de Schomberg_, with whom he had a very great Estate. He has also a considerable Expectancy from Madame _la Raugrave_ a _Palatine_, his Aunt[148]. The Relation of M.

_de Degenfeldt_ to this Lady, brings to my Mind the History of the Mother of Madame _la Raugrave_, who as I have observ'd was a _Degenfeldt_. I have chose to give it you from what was told me by the late Madame of _France_, and from very good Memoirs that have been put into my hands. I have plac'd this History as a Transaction in the Time of the ancient _Germans_; and as I design'd to insert it in a Work which I have undertaken, for want of something else to employ my Time, I chuse to do it by way of a Discourse from Madame the late Electress of _Hanover_ to her Daughter-in-law. I herewith send you the entire History, and at the End of it you will find the Key. As I fancy you are quite disengag'd in the Country, I don't apprehend that the reading of it will be Loss of your Time. I rather fear you won't like it; but in either case 'twill be your own Fault; I don't force you to read; you may if you please let _Gertrude_ alone.

_History of GERTRUDE a +Marcoman+ Lady._

The History of _Gertrude_, of which I propose to give you, my Princess, a Relation, is properly the History of the Extinction of my Family; for the fatal Pa.s.sion of my Brother King _Malcolm_ for that Lady, is in all appearance the Reason that there are no more left in my Family than three Princesses[149], and my self.

There was such a Harmony in Sentiments betwixt my Brother and me, that it united us in the strictest Friendship. We had been brought up together in _Belgium_[150], where the King my Father had been oblig'd to take refuge, that he might be nearer at hand to receive Succours from _Alfred_ King of _Albion_, Father of the Queen my Mother, against the _Romans_, who after a long and b.l.o.o.d.y War had turn'd him out of his Dominions. That King amus'd him a long while with fair Promises; but the Misunderstanding which there was at that time between him and the States of his Kingdom, added to a certain Indolence in his natural Temper, hinder'd him from seeing the Effect of them; and the King my Father did not live long enough to be witness of the Peace which the _Romans_ were at length oblig'd by his Allies to conclude. This was not an advantageous Peace for _Malcolm_ my Brother, because in order to obtain it he was oblig'd to yield a part of his Dominions to the Prince of the[151]_Boyens_, an Ally of the _Romans_, and upon these Terms he was left in quiet possession of the rest.

When my Brother saw himself establish'd on the Throne, he thought of marrying. His Ministers propos'd the Princess of the _Catti_ as the fittest Match for him, and a.s.sur'd him that besides her ill.u.s.trious Extraction he could not marry a more beautiful Princess, or one of a better Temper. My Brother who only alter'd his Condition for Reasons of State, was willing enough to follow their Advice, and accordingly espous'd her. The Marriage at first prov'd very happy; the Queen his Wife had her share of Beauty, and tho' her Temper was very different from what it had been represented to my Brother, yet she so cunningly disguis'd it for some time that this Prince thought himself very happy in his Choice. But their Agreement was of a short Duration; the Queen's true Humour soon discover'd it self: It appear'd that she was ill-natur'd, and intolerably high-spirited; of an odd sullen Temper, always ready to contradict, and frequently subject to Chagrin, of which she herself knew not the Cause, and which she vented upon all that approach'd her without distinction. The King my Brother was of a Temper quite the reverse: He lov'd Diversions, was civil, affable, naturally gay, beneficent; and I don't speak it out of Partiality in favour of a Brother whose Memory is still dear to me, but I'll be bold to say, that if he had not been quite so choleric, he would have been the most accomplish'd Prince of his Time. Nevertheless he bore with his Wife's ill Humours very patiently at first, and endeavour'd to reclaim her by gentle Usage; but when he saw that all the Pains he took were to no purpose, he resolv'd at length to seek out some other Amus.e.m.e.nt.

The Beauty of _Gertrude_, Maid of Honour to the Queen his Wife, had for a long time smitten him, but hitherto he had only discover'd his Pa.s.sion to her by his Glances, for fear of disgusting the Queen. _Gertrude_ who perceiv'd that my Brother did not look upon her with Indifference, affected to shun every Opportunity that Prince might take of revealing his Love to her. But Fortune favour'd my Brother, who being one day with his Queen in her Apartment, when the Discourse fell upon Jewels, perceiv'd that the Princess had left off wearing a certain Bracelet of which he had made her a Present, and asking her what she had done with it, the Queen told him that she believ'd she had laid it up in a Casket of which she had the Key in her Pocket. She made one of her Maids fetch it, and open'd it, but the Bracelet was not there, at which she seem'd uneasy. This my Brother observ'd, and taking a Pleasure in making her more uneasy, he said to her, tho' in a manner that shew'd he did not think as he spoke, that she had undoubtedly some Gallant in a Corner, to whom she had either given that Bracelet, or who had stole it from her. These Words, tho' deliver'd in jest, made a deep Impression upon the Queen, and as it was her Nature soon to take fire, she was stung to the quick at what he had said, and forgetting the Respect she ow'd to the King her Husband, was in such a Pa.s.sion with him that she let fall some Words that were very affronting.

My Brother who was naturally mettlesome and fiery, and far from expecting any such Treatment, made her answer, that if she continued to forget herself after that manner, he would find ways and means to humble her.

Upon this he went out of the Room abruptly, and pa.s.sing through the Antichamber, met the fair _Gertrude_. Such was his Disgust that instead of being upon the reserve as he had been, he had a long Conversation with her, and found her so sprightly and good-natur'd that he was compleatly charm'd with her. He declar'd his Love to her, and she was so artful that tho' she gave him no Hopes, yet she did not rebuff him.

When my Brother was retir'd, _Gertrude_ went into the Apartment of the Queen her Mistress, who plac'd her whole Confidence in her. That Princess no sooner saw her but she made a thousand Complaints of the King's Treatment of her. _Gertrude_ seem'd to sympathize in her Resentment, and believing that the Queen could not fail to know that the King had talk'd with her in the Antichamber, she told her that the Prince having met her in her Pa.s.sage gave her an angry Account of what had pa.s.sed; and that she had done all she could to pacify him, but to no purpose: At the same time she blam'd the King's Proceeding; and encourag'd by the Liberty which the Queen gave her, told her that if she who was but a private Gentlewoman was so treated by any Husband, she would never pardon him tho' he were a King.

She added several other Sayings which instead of pacifying this silly Queen, did but exasperate her the more.

In the mean time, _Malcolm_, who was impatient to know the Success of his Amour, wrote a Letter to _Gertrude_ which he sent her by one of his chief Domestics, together with a rich Diamond Equipage. But the artful _Gertrude_ whose Aim was to draw on his Pa.s.sion, rather than to gratify it, was far from yielding to his first Attacks, and sent him back the Diamonds, tho' with a modest and respectful Answer, wherein she desir'd him to talk no more to her of Love. My Brother was too deeply smitten to be repuls'd; he doubled his Presents, was a.s.siduous, and eager in his Courtship; and as 'tis very rare for a King of his amiable Personage to meet with long Resistance, _Gertrude_ abated of her Shyness by degrees, and at length discovered that she was not insensible of Love. Their Correspondence which did not exceed the Bounds of Honour, was kept secret for a considerable time, but made the greater Blaze when it was known.

_Malcolm_ being one day with his Wife, happen'd, without perceiving it, to drop a Letter which the Queen took up, and found to be the Hand-writing of _Gertrude_. The Letter being written in _Latin_ made the Queen the more curious to know what was in it; and she gave it to her Cousin, Prince _Valamir_, desiring him to unfold the Contents of it to her. This Prince was so unwise as to satisfy her Curiosity, and acquainted her that _Gertrude_ by this Letter a.s.sur'd the King that he had gain'd her Heart.

You will easily imagine how much the Queen was ruffled when she heard of this Intrigue: She could not contain herself; and without giving ear to the Arguments made use of by _Valamir_, she ran immediately to _Gertrude_'s Apartment in the Palace, who by good luck was gone abroad.

The Queen thinking her Casket was in _Gertrude_'s Closet caused it to be broke open, and finding it there, open'd it, and took out all the Letters, of which several that appear'd to be from the King her Husband left her no room to doubt of that Prince's extraordinary Pa.s.sion for _Gertrude_, and of the Intimacy there was between them. My Brother was quickly inform'd of what the Queen had been doing, but conceal'd his Uneasiness, shew'd his Wife no manner of Resentment, and only sent a Caution to _Gertrude_ not to return to the Palace. _Malcolm_'s Silence deceiv'd the Queen, who indeed was not a Lady of very great Penetration, so that she flatter'd herself the King might possibly be ignorant of the Outrage she had committed; and upon this Supposition she thought it her best way to dissemble her Hatred and Wrath against _Gertrude_. She pretended therefore to be very uneasy for fear of what had happen'd to her, caus'd a Search to be made for her several days, and seem'd very much dejected at her Absence. She hoped by all these Demonstrations of Friendship to decoy her back to the Palace, in order then to be compleatly reveng'd of her.

Thus Matters stood when the King of the _Suevi_, the Brother-in-law of the Queen my Sister-in-law, came to Court with the Queen his Wife. This Prince having observ'd the Queen's Melancholy on several occasions, ask'd her the reason of it one day as they sate at Table. 'You must not be surpriz'd, said _Malcolm_, to see the Queen my Wife out of temper; 'tis her common Infirmity, and very often she her self knows not the cause of it. My Ailment is but too real (reply'd the Queen in a great Pet;) and (then addressing herself to her Husband) said she, it does not at all become you whose dishonourable Amours have been the only Cause of my Disorder, to insinuate as if it were but imaginary.' This Answer made in so public a manner, so nettled my Brother that he turn'd pale for meer Vexation, and not being able to curb his Pa.s.sion, forgot his Dignity so far as to strike her; upon which the unfortunate Princess rose from Table, and retir'd in Tears to her own Apartment. My Brother, whose Pa.s.sion was always as soon over as it was easily kindled, was sorry in a very few moments after for what he had done, made his Excuses to the King and Queen of the _Suevi_, and rising from Table, went with them to his Wife's Apartment, where he ask'd her pardon for what had pa.s.s'd. This Atonement, which the Queen did not expect so soon, touch'd her to the quick: The King and she embrac'd each other, and exchang'd their Promises to forget as well as to forgive every Offence. But would you believe it? that fickle, fantastical Creature my Sister-in-law chang'd her mind all on a sudden, and when her Husband came in the Evening with an intention to spend the Night with her, she absolutely refus'd to let him bed with her unless he would resolve to deliver up _Gertrude_ to her. _Malcolm_, who was still asham'd at what he had done in his last Fury, receiv'd so violent a Proposition with more Patience than he would have done upon another Occasion. He endeavour'd by fair Words to pacify his Wife, a.s.suring her that nothing criminal had ever pa.s.s'd between him and _Gertrude_, and that tho' he had corresponded with the Girl by Letters, it was not out of any Love he had for her, so much as to know whether it was true that she wrote as good _Latin_ as he had been told she did. Tho' this Speech of his was not very probable, yet as People are easily inclin'd to believe what they wish to be true, the Queen suffer'd herself to be at last persuaded, and was reconciled to her Husband without insisting any farther on the Sacrifice she at first demanded.

The Emperor being come to spend some Time at _Pluibourg_, summon'd an a.s.sembly thither of the Princes of the Empire. My Brother went thither with the Queen his Wife; but the Consequence was that they were more embroil'd than ever; and my Sister-in-law was so unadvised as to let _Caesar_ and his Court be Witnesses of certain Brawls, which for her own Interest as well as her Husband's, she ought to have carefully confin'd within the Limits of her own Houshold. 'Tis true that my Brother had no very great Respect for her, and he lov'd _Gertrude_ more than ever. Being hindred by a slight Indisposition from going to _Montpayen_ where he kept her at one of his Houses, not a Day pa.s.s'd but he sent an Express to know how she did, and the Queen's ill Temper, who no doubt had better have try'd good-natur'd Methods to reclaim him, only incens'd him against her, and made him the fonder of _Gertrude_.

The a.s.sembly of the Princes of _Germany_ being over, and the Emperor return'd to _Rome_, my Brother set out for _Montpayen_ the Capital of his Kingdom, and gave orders for his Queen to follow him next Day. But for a Reason which I never could dive into, the Princess instead of obeying him stay'd a Month longer at _Pluibourg_, without vouchsafing to let the King her Husband know the Reason of her delay; and not only so, but when she came to _Montpayen_, she had the a.s.surance to go with a bold Face to her Husband's Apartment, without knowing how he would take it: But the Prince who had just Reason to be angry, foreseeing that she was like enough to take such a step, had given orders to refuse her Entrance; wherefore she was oblig'd to retire to her Apartment, whither a Captain of the Guards came in a Moment after, to tell her from the King that she was a Prisoner.

This unhappy Princess bore her Disgrace very weakly. She repented, but too late, of having been so imprudent as to contravene the Orders of the King her Husband; and hoping to work upon his Good-nature, she wrote him a most submissive Letter, begging his pardon for her Disobedience, and intreating him to restore her to her Liberty. My Brother sent her an Answer, wherein he only gave her the t.i.tle of the Princess of _Cattia_. He told her, 'that having consider'd the Disagreement there was betwixt his Temper and her's, he resolved to be divorc'd from her, and that she would do well herself to give her Consent to it; which if she did with a good Grace, he would restore her to her Liberty and settle a Revenue on her suitable to her Rank.'

This Answer was a Thunder-stroke to my Sister-in-law; she rav'd and tore like a mad Woman. She was for a long while like one out of her Senses, but recovering them at length by the help of her Women, and consulting with those that had the greatest share of her Confidence, she sent the King word that he was Master, and might make use of his Authority, but that she would never consent to the Divorce.

My Brother who had fix'd his Resolution, and saw no other way to get possession of _Gertrude_ than by marrying that Girl who had presum'd to set so high a Price upon her Favours, took off the Mask, notify'd his Design to the Court, and in a few days after, the Marriage was perform'd in the manner that you know is practis'd in _Germany_ by Princes who marry beneath themselves, which excludes the Children by such _Venter_ from succeeding to the Father's Estate. As soon as he was marry'd, he restor'd the Queen to her Liberty, and acquainted her, 'That by the Advice and Consent of the Priests of his Kingdom whom he had caused to be a.s.sembled, he had marry'd _Gertrude_. That the Thing being done and past remedy, he hoped she would resolve to make her self easy. That however, he would always treat her as a Princess; that she should be welcome to continue in her Apartment at the Palace; that she should have her Guards to attend her, and that he had set apart a sufficient Fund for her Maintenance; but that he expected she would be so complaisant as to acknowledge _Gertrude_ hereafter for the lawful Queen.'

My Sister-in-law who then saw that her Disgrace was infallible, gave her self up to Complaints and Tears, wrote to the King her Husband in the most moving Language, and implor'd the a.s.sistance of the King her Brother: But all was to no purpose; she was oblig'd to submit to her Misfortune, and to be patient under an Affliction which she had partly brought upon her self by her Folly.

While all this pa.s.s'd, my Brother was at one of his Seats not far[152]

from his Capital, where he caus'd _Gertrude_ to be treated as a Queen, and not long after carried her to _Montpayen_ where the sight of her Royalty was a fresh Mortification to the Queen my Sister-in-law. However, the unfortunate Princess not yet despairing of the means of reclaiming her Husband, was resolv'd to make the last Attempt to turn that Prince's Heart. She dress'd herself in the most gay and rich Apparel that she could get, and taking her Children along with her, went to meet the King her Husband in the Room next to the Hall where he was at Table with _Gertrude_, and thro' which he must necessarily return. When he appear'd, she threw herself with her Children at his Feet, clasp'd his Knees, conjur'd him with Tears in her Eyes to look with Pity on an unhappy Princess whom he had formerly thought fit to make his Wife, and to consider that the Affront he put upon her by divorcing her, would be a Reproach to those very Children of whom he had been so fond. My Brother seem'd to be melted at so moving a Spectacle, look'd for some Moments on his Wife and Children with Tears in his Eyes, and he was just ready to raise her from the Ground, when _Gertrude_ who was at his Heels, fearing what might be the Consequence of the Confusion that she saw him in, talk'd earnestly to him in the _Tuscan_ Language, saying, _Remember_, my Lord, _what you promis'd me_. These few Words wrought so much on the unsteady Mind of my Brother that he only lifted up his Hands to Heaven and went on, shewing by the Trouble he was under, how little he was Master of his Reason upon this Occasion. The Queen my Sister-in-law remain'd for a while speechless, but Fury and Despair quickly seiz'd her Soul. She rose up and ran into her Closet, where s.n.a.t.c.hing up a Dagger[153] she came back again with an Intention to stick it into her Rival's Heart. But the Rage she was in having so confounded her that she had not a Thought of concealing that Instrument of her Revenge, it was perceiv'd by one of the chief Courtiers who pluck'd it from her just as she was going into the Closet where my Brother was with _Gertrude_. That Prince hearing a Noise so near him ran out, and demanded what was the matter. 'Tis I, (said the Queen very couragiously) 'who was coming to revenge my self and you too on the Monster which disunites us; but that Traytor there (said she, pointing to the Man that had wrested the Dagger out of her Hands) has depriv'd me of the only Opportunity that I could call a Pleasure.--Princess, (said the King to her very calmly) don't indulge your self any longer in such extravagant Pa.s.sions, if you are unwilling that I should use you roughly.'

Then he retir'd with _Gertrude_, and my Sister-in-law return'd to her Apartment in a Temper which you may easily imagine.

_Clodius_, who now governs the Empire, being at that time proclaim'd Emperor, this Princess made her Complaints to him, and desir'd him to reconcile _Malcolm_ to her. But _Caesar_ having excus'd himself, my Sister-in-law who could no longer bear the Presence of her Rival, retir'd to the King her Brother, there to wait the End of her Misfortunes. My Brother liv'd afterwards very lovingly with his new Spouse, and had by her four Sons and as many Daughters. But Death having at last robb'd him of a Person so dear to him, the Prince was so afflicted for the Loss of her, that he spent two Years in continual Sorrow, and at length himself paid the same Tribute to Nature.

He left but one Son and a Daughter by his lawful Spouse who surviv'd him some Years. The King my Nephew was marry'd, but he was of such a melancholy Temper, his Humour was so different from the Queen's, and there was so little Love betwixt them, that he died without Issue. With him I have seen my Family utterly extinct, its Dominions transferr'd to the Power of a Prince who is hardly related to us, and my Country abandon'd to the most dismal Desolation. For my Niece having marry'd _Meroveus_, Brother to _Ariovisto_ King of the _Gauls_, the latter who is an ambitious Prince and goes to War upon every the least Pretence, a.s.serted the Rights of his Sister-in-law without Delay, and pleading that she ought to succeed to the Inheritance of the King her Brother, notwithstanding the _Salic_ Law establish'd in _Germany_, he sent a formidable Army into the Dominions of my deceased Nephew, where the _Gauls_ at first meeting with no Resistance, committed enormous Cruelties, and extended their Fury even to the Violation of the Tomb of the Kings my Ancestors, whose dead Bodies were stripp'd and exposed to the Caprice of the unruly Soldiers: Calamities, which perhaps would never have happen'd, had it not been for my Brother's fatal Pa.s.sion for _Gertrude_; because in all Appearance if he had liv'd in a good Understanding with his lawful Spouse; he would have had more Children by her, and I would not have had the Vexation to see the Throne of my Fathers posses'd by a foreign Family.

_KEY to the History of GERTRUDE_.

_Albion_, England.

_Alfrede I._ James I. _King of_ England.

_Ariovisto_, Lewis XIV.

_Belgium_, Holland.

_Boyens, (Prince of) the Elector of_ Bavaria.

_Catti, (Princess of) the Princess of_ Hesse-Ca.s.sel.

_Caesar, the_ Emperor.

_Clodius, the Emperor_ Leopold.

_Germania_, Germany.

_Gertrude, the Baroness of_ Degenfeldt.

_Malcolm_, Charles-Lewis _Elector_ Palatine.

_Meroveus_, Philip _of_ France, _Duke of_ Orleans, _Brother to_ Lewis XIV.

_Montpayen_, Heidelberg.

_Pluibourg_, Ratisbon.

_Romans, the_ Imperialists.

_Rome_, Vienna.

_Suevi, (King of) the Margrave of_ Baden-Dourlach.

_End of the History of_ Gertrude.

I have not scrupled to give you this History, because all the Persons who are Subjects of it are dead. I wrote it very much in haste, for the Diversion of the Princess _d'A----_, so that you must not be surpriz'd if you don't meet with all that Exactness which there ought to be in this little Narrative; tho' I must tell you again that every t.i.ttle of it is true, so that you may read it as a History, and not as a Romance.

I have fix'd my Resolution, and now am setting out for _Rome_; therefore please to direct to me at _Venice_. I go to-morrow to a great Hunting-Match that is to be at _Darmstadt_, where I shall stay two Days: From thence I shall go and spend two more with the Count _de Hanau_; and then will I begin my Pilgrimage to the Holy Places. I am most entirely, &c.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

LETTER XXII.

_SIR_, _Munich, April_ 2, 1730.

Since you received my last I have done and seen a great many Things. On the 23d of _March_ I set out from _Frankfort_ for DARMSTADT, the Capital of the upper County of _Catzenellenbogen_, and the Residence of _Ernest-Lewis_ Landgrave of _Hesse-Darmstadt_[154].

This Town is extremely small, and only enclosed with Pallisadoes. If the Prince's Palace had been finish'd according to its Model, it would have been one of the greatest and most magnificent in _Europe_, and there might have been Lodgings for the Emperor, and all the nine Electors of the Empire. It would have been bigger than the Town, and have cost immense Sums: That Part which is finish'd makes a very grand Appearance. But all those magnificent Works which the Landgrave Regent at first carried on with very great Vigour are entirely discontinu'd, and there's no Appearance that they will ever be taken in hand again. The old Palace is much more commodious than it seems to be; its Apartments being convenient, and richly furnish'd. The Landgrave does not live in the Palace, but leads a very retir'd Life in a little House upon the Square, where he is never seen but upon Sundays and Holidays. He amuses himself in turning of Ivory, making Chymical Experiments, and in Drawing. He loves Hunting above all things whatsoever. He delights in Agriculture, and in Music, and it may strictly be said that he is never unemploy'd. He has very great Knowledge natural and acquir'd. He has seen a great many Countries, and tho' sixty Years of Age he still looks well, and his grey Hairs, not to call them white, give him a venerable Air. He sits a Horse very well, walks well, and seems to enjoy perfect Health. His Wife was _Dorothy_ of _Brandenbourg-Onoltzbach_, who died in 1705. They say that he lately married _N---- de Spiegel_ the Widow of Count _Seibelsdorf_ a Lieutenant-General in the Service of _Bavaria_. Be that as it will, the Marriage is not public, and the Lady still goes by the Name of her former Husband by whom she has Children. 'Tis true that the Landgrave pays her very great Distinction, and indeed she is very amiable.

This Prince commonly dines at a little Table spread only for four People; but on Sundays and Holidays he goes to the Palace, and dines with his Son at a Table cover'd for sixteen Guests, and sups with the Ladies who are never seen at Court but upon those Days. 'Tis a very hard matter to come at the Speech of the Landgrave, and much more to that of his only Son the hereditary Prince. The Hunting-Officers are the only Persons that have the Privilege of Access to them; for which reason this is not one of the most entertaining Courts; and a Man is under a necessity of throwing himself into the Town, where indeed there are a great many People of Merit who are civil to Foreigners.