Victor after this observed no Measures, and said publicly, that he would reascend the Throne. To this End, he thought it necessary for him to be nearer Turin. He therefore wrote to the King his Son, that the Air of Chamberry was bad for his Health, and desir’d him to let him go and reside at the Castle of Montcallier. Charles was return’d to Turin when he receiv’d this Letter; but before he had Time to answer it, he understood that the King his Father, and Madame de St. Sebastian, were already come to Montcallier.
He was not at all sorry for it, because, as he knew King Victor’s Designs, he cou’d better observe his Motions, when so near him: And King Victor, on his Part, was glad that he was at Montcallier, in Hopes that the Neighbourhood of Turin might give him a better Opportunity of tampering with the Garison, and the commanding Officer of the Place. He did all that was in his Power to gain them, and gave such publick[29] Proofs of his Intention to reascend the Throne, that Charles’s Ministers[30], fearing lest he should call in Foreigners to his Assistance, unanimously advis’d the King to confine him. The young Prince exclaim’d several times against this Proposition. What! said he, make my Father a Prisoner! No, I can never consent to that: And indeed, it was a long time ere he cou’d agree to it; but at length he was prevail’d on by the strenuous Solicitations of his Council; tho’, when he sign’d the Order for confining him, his Hand shook to such a Degree, that the Secretary of State was obliged to guide it.
The Count de la Perouse, Lieutenant-General of his Forces, was charged with the Execution of the Warrant for arresting King Victor, and had a Detachment given him of three thousand Men, drawn out of the Garisons of Turin, and other neighbouring Places, to support him at the Undertaking. They all march’d out at the same
Hour from their Quarters, without knowing whither they were to go; and at Two o’Clock next Morning they all came to the Place appointed at Montcallier. The Count de la Perouse, attended by the Chevalier de Solare, Lieutenant Colonel of the Guards, at the Head of a Detachment of Grenadiers, with their Bayonets screw’d to their Musquets, went up to the great Stair-case of the Palace, which led to King Victor’s Apartment, while the Marquis d’Ormea, Secretary of State, who carry’d the Order sign’d by King Charles, secur’d the Back-stairs with another Detachment of the Grenadiers. M. de la Perouse, finding the Apartment shut, broke open the Door; and, after seizing a Page in waiting, that was asleep in the first Anti-chamber, he made his Way farther, and forc’d open all the Doors, till he came to the Chamber where the King was a-bed with Madame de St. Sebastian. This Lady, hearing a Noise, arose immediately, and having only Time to slip on a Night-gown, ran to the Door; when seeing so many arm’d Men, she cry’d out, Oh! Sir, we are betray’d! They gave her no Time to say more; but two Officers carry’d her into the next Chamber, where they caus’d her to be dress’d, and afterwards conducted her to Ceve, a Fortress of Piedmont.
Neither the Outcry of Madame de St. Sebastian, nor all the Noise that was made, had awak’d King Victor, who always slept sound. The Chevalier de Solare seiz’d the King’s Sword, which he saw lying on a Table; and the Count de la Perouse went to the Bed-side, and open’d the Curtains. Upon that, the King started out of his Sleep, and ask’d what was the Matter. The Count de la Perouse said to him, That he had Orders from the King to arrest him. What King do you mean? said Victor: ’Tis I that am your King and Master; you ought to acknowledge no other. Your Majesty has been so, reply’d
the Count, but you are so no longer; and since it has pleas’d you to give us King Charles for our Lord and Master, and to command us to obey him, I hope you yourself will set us an Example of such Obedience. The King was in a violent Passion, threaten’d the Officers, and refus’d to rise. The Chevalier de Solare coming too near the Bed, the King punched him with his Elbow in the Belly, and commanded him in Wrath to withdraw. As he still continued obstinate in his Refusal to rise, the Officers lifted him. up, and dress’d him. The King was heard to say, in the mean time, that he only wish’d to sit two Hours on the Throne, that he might hang up the Rascals that had misled his Son; and he nam’d the principal Lords of the Court.
As soon as he was dress’d, the Officers surrounded him, and conducted him down the great Stair-case to his Coach, that waited for him in the Yard. The King, seeing the Anti-chamber full of Grenadiers, seem’d surpriz’d at it; and the Soldiers, who as yet knew not on what Errand they were sent, seem’d no less surpriz’d, when they saw their old King was to be carry’d off a Prisoner. What! Our King! said they softly to each other, What has he done? What is the Matter? The Count de la Perouse, fearing a Mutiny, call’d out Silence, in the King’s Name, on Pain of Death. The old King found drawn-up in the Court-yard a Regiment of Dragoons, which he had always valu’d above the rest of his Troops. The Sight of it affected him, and he wou’d have spoke to it; but no Time was allow’d him, and he was oblig’d to go into the Coach. The Count de la Perouse, and the Chevalier de Solare, ask’d his Leave to sit with him; but the King answer’d, That he would not suffer it: So they mounted their Horses, rode by the Sides of the Coach, which was surrounded by the Soldiers, and conducted him to Rivoli. I
had almost forgot to tell you, that when he went from Montcallier, he ask’d for three Things; his Wife, his Papers, and his Snuff-Box, the last of which was all he obtain’d.
The Day after he came to Rivoli, as they were clapping iron Bars, and double Shutters, to the Windows of his Apartment, the King ask’d the Glazier what he was going to do! I am going, said the Man, to put on double Shutters to your Windows that you mayn’t catch Cold this Winter. How now, Varlet! said the King, Do you think I shall spend all the Winter here? Ah! by my Faith, reply’d the Glazier, you will pass this winter here, and I believe many more.
This Prince is attended with Care, and treated with all the Respect due to his Person; and they say, he begins to be sedate. The Chevalier de Solare, and two Captains of the Guards, are set over him, with whom he sometimes plays at Billiards. They have Orders to treat him with all manner of Respect; but to give no Answer to any of his Complaints[31].