to whom she gave an Invitation by a Gentleman when they were in the Circle.
'Twas at the time of the King's Marriage that I lost my Father-in-law: I was very much concern'd for his Death, especially on account of the Trouble it gave my Mother, who could never get over it as long as she liv'd. The very day that the News of it was brought to me, the King declar'd me a Gentleman of his Bed-chamber. I have had the Honor to tell you, Madame, that I was taken out of the Army in hopes of being plac'd near the Queen, but when I came to Court I found all her Houshold settled, and my Name not in the List. I spoke of this to the Grand Marshal, who bid me not be vexed, for that he would shortly get me a Post about the King, and that was the Office of Gentleman of the Bed-chamber, to which I was nominated some time after, i. e. about the latter end of the Year 1708.
You know, Madame, and one can hardly forget the prodigious cold Weather we had the Winter following. It began on the Feast of Epiphany, 1709, and was universal all over Europe. The Corn and Vines suffer'd so much by it that there was a scarcity which lasted long enough to starve a number of poor People, who cou'd not get Bread, it was so excessive dear. Never was there a more melancholy Year; and there was such a poor melancholy Court all the while, that it seem'd as if the severe cold Weather had chill'd our Spirits. But when the fine Weather return'd they began to revive, and every one prepar'd to set out for the Army. The Prince Royal went to make the Campaign in Flanders as a Voluntier, and M. d'Arnheim departed to rejoin the Troops of which he had the
Command in Piedmont. This Campaign was very glorious to the Allies, but 'twas a very bloody one. The famous Battle of Malplaquet was one of those Victories which procured us Laurels cover'd with Funeral Scutcheons, and two more such Victories would have ruin'd the Infantry of the Allies. The Prince Royal was Witness of the Bravery of our Troops, which distinguish'd themselves in this Campaign, wherein they had been great Sufferers. The Enemy on their part besides the Battle lost also Mons and Tournay.
I could have wish'd to have made this Campaign, but when I ask'd the King's Leave to go, his Majesty refus'd me, saying, that he design'd me for some other Business than that of Arms. This Answer pleas'd me to the Life, and as I was young and by consequence apt enough to be vain, I was so simple as to believe my self for a while in the highest Favor. But I was soon convinc'd of my mistake. What serv'd to open my Eyes was this. The Post of Gentleman of the Bed-chamber, with which the King had honor'd me, made it my duty to attend the King's Coach on horseback as often as his Majesty went abroad; but being one day so much out of order that 'twas impossible for me to ride a Horse, as ill luck would have it, the King happen'd to go that very day from[10]Charlottenbourg to Berlin, and perceiv'd that I was not upon Duty. This incens'd him so much against me, that when I attended to receive his Hat and Cane upon his Return, he said the harshest things that cou'd be to me, the least of which was, that if I ever fail'd in my Duty again, he would deprive me of the Honor of serving him. Guess,
Madame, how much I was mortify'd at such a Reprimand given in presence of eight or ten Persons that were in the King's Chamber. Indeed I had much ado to brook it, and at first dash I really had a Thought of resigning my Post. I spoke of it to the Count de Witgenstein, who pacify'd me a little by giving me to understand, that if I did not abate of my Fire I had nothing to do but to renounce all Advancement in the Service of my King, a Service always preferable to any Fortunes that can be made at the Court of any Foreign Prince. He promis'd to set me right in the King's Opinion, and he kept his Word; for two or three Days afterwards as the King return'd to Charlottenbourg, when I happen'd to be all alone in his Chamber with the Chamberlain in waiting, his Majesty did me the Honor to ask me, If I was still in a Pet? I return'd no other Answer but a profound Obeisance. The King said to me a second time, I ask you if you are out of humor because I chid you t'other day? I made Answer with all the Respect possible, That indeed I was vex'd to my heart that I had given his Majesty any Cause to be out of Temper with me; that no body was more ambitious than I was of serving him faithfully; and that tho' I had the Misfortune lately to be wanting in my Duty, it was owing to a very sad Indisposition. But, said the King, you should have let me know it then, and I should not have reprimanded you. After all, I did so only to try you, for in the main I was not so angry as I seem'd to be. Jackel the King's Jester, who was present at this Conversation, took up the Discourse and said to the King, But, good Sir, the Indisposition he talks of, is of his own making; for the true Cause is, he has no Saddle-Horses, and the reason of this, is
because he has not wherewithal to feed them. Why then, said the King, I will give him wherewithal: The Great Chamberlain, said he to me, shall dispatch you a Warrant for that purpose; go to him. I then advanc'd to kiss the King's Robe, but he drew back, and as I was stooping he laid his Hand upon my Head, and said to me, You are young, be good, and I will take care of you. In a few days after, I had my Warrant dispatch'd to send for Forage to Michlenhoff, where the like was distributed to other Courtiers who had obtain'd the same Favor.
At the same time the Duke of Meckelbourg the Queen's Brother came to Berlin, where he had a magnificent Reception, yet he was not very well pleas'd with his Journey; for this Prince expected, as he was a Sovereign, to have Precedency of the Margraves the King's Brothers, which was deny'd him. He eat in private with the King, but the Margraves were not present, and he stay'd at Court but three or four days, during which he was lodg'd at the Palace and serv'd by the King's Officers.
As for our new Queen she became so devout in a little time after her Marriage, that every body was surpriz'd, and the Courtiers very much disgusted. Nothing was talk'd of in her presence but Religion, and in the Morning her Anti-chamber was frequented by Ministers, by Dr. Francke whom she had sent for on purpose from Hall, and by Borst her Confessor. It look'd as if one was in the Anti-chamber of some Governess of a Convent, rather than in the Palace of a great Queen. Under pretence of Prayers for Deliverance from the Plague which infected some of our Provinces, there was nothing to be heard in her Apartments but Litanies. The King
did not like all this Cant; for tho' he had a great deal of Religion, he did not love Bigotry. He made the Queen sensible that her manner of living was not suitable to one that sate upon a Throne, and got her content to the Removal of those Persons from about her who had exhorted her to embrace the Party of the Pietists. Francke was sent back to Hall to the great College which the Queen had newly founded for Orphans, and whereof that Doctor had the Direction. Then there was only Borst her Majesty's Confessor left at Court, and he was advis'd not to give himself so much Trouble about the Queen's Salvation. This Princess was so zealous for her Religion, that she did not believe those who profess'd a contrary one could be saved. I remember that one day as she was talking about Religion to the King, she told him that she was very much grieved to find him a Calvinist, and by that means out of the Road to Salvation. The King who seem'd in an amaze at the Compliment, said to her, What, do you think then that I shall be damn'd? And what will you say then when you speak of me after Death? For you could not say der SEELIGE Konig, (an Expression us'd in the German Tongue, speaking of a Person deceas'd, and which signifies, the King is sav'd.) The Queen was a little puzzled how to reply, but after a few Moments Reflection she said, I will say, der liebe verstorbene Konig, which signifies the Dear King deceas'd. This Answer made the King uneasy, who return'd soon after to his Apartment. I was that day in Waiting, and by consequence in his Majesty's Apartment with some of the Court-Nobility, when the King told us with a deal of Concern upon his Mind of the Conversation he had with the Queen, which affected