The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume IV / Being the Observations He Made in His Late Travels from Prussia thro' Germany, Italy, France, Flanders, Holland, England, &C. in Letters to His Friend. Discovering Not Only the Present State of the Chief Cities and Towns; but the Characters of the Principal Persons at the Several Courts.

by Freiherr von Karl Ludwig Pöllnitz

empty, and was forc’d, whether I would or no, to renounce that Sort of Negociation.

While the domestic Affairs of the Kingdom were in this Fluctuation, the Army of France press’d the Spaniards very hard. The Campaign in Navarre prov’d very successful. I have already had the Honour to acquaint you of the Taking of Fontarabia, which was follow’d soon after by the Conquest of St. Sebastian. The Germans on their Part made themselves Masters of almost all Sicily, so that the King of Spain seem’d almost reduced to a Necessity of demanding Peace, and that very soon. Cardinal Alberoni was not disturb’d at the Advantages of his Enemy, and had a very great Dependence on the Uneasiness of the People of Bretagne, where he had a Party actually form’d, that was to declare openly against Spain, upon the first Motion which that Crown should make towards the Coasts of that Province. The Cardinal caus’d the Duke of Ormond to sail to that Province, but ’twas to no Purpose; for the Regent had been appriz’d of all these Schemes, and so well concerted his Measures, that ’twas impossible for the Duke of Ormond to undertake any thing on that Side. Nevertheless, some Malecontent Bretons, who were Refugees in Spain, assur’d me, that if the Duke had arriv’d sooner, the Blow would not have fail’d, the whole Province would have revolted, and caus’d the States General to assemble, and declare the King of Spain Regent. For my Part, who knew all the Leaders of this Party full well, I did not think the Success of this Affair so very sure. Those Gentlemen were indeed Persons of a great deal of Sense, but of stronger Passions; and to say all in a few Words, they play’d at high Game, to think of surprizing the

Regent! His Wisdom prevented all the Calamities which the Kingdom was threaten’d with: He sent a Sovereign Court to Bretagne, of which M. de Chateauneuf was President, and he supported its Authority by a Body of Troops under the Command of the Marshal de Montesquiou. They began to make a Search after the Authors of the Rebellion, and ’twas expected that a great deal of Blood would be spilt, yet there were only a few Gentlemen, who paid for all with the Loss of their Heads. They say, that among those Gentlemen One might have escap’d, if he had thought fit; but when he was going on board, and saw the Waves very swelling, he remember’d that some body had told him, he should perish par la Mer, i. e. by Sea, and the Fear of Drowning made him turn back, so that he was apprehended, and had his Head cut off by a Hangman, whose Name was la Mer. A great Matter of Triumph this was to the Fortune-tellers!

Besides these, Warrants were issued against several other Gentlemen, but they being not afraid of the Sea, made no Scruple to expose themselves to it: Some fled to Spain, and some to Hanover, where the King of England granted them an Asylum, without violating the Alliance made with France, which imported, that the Two Kings should give no Shelter in their Kingdoms to the revolted Subjects of either; for the Duchy of Hanover being an Electorate, was not included in this Treaty.

’Twas well for a great many People of Bretagne, that Warrants were issued out against them; for most of them had but little to leave behind, and they were receiv’d in Spain as Persons that had sacrific’d their All for that Crown.

Most of these were made Colonels by the Cardinal, tho’ he knew not whether they had ever been in the Service, while others, that had really abandoned considerable Estates, were so unfortunate as to have the least Reward.

These were the Transactions at Paris during the little time I stay’d there; for as soon as I found myself able to walk, I set out in good earnest for Sicily; but not being quite well enough to ride Post, I made but short Days journeys. I lay the first Night at Melun, and din’d the next Day at Moret, which is a Village near Fontainebleau, with a Convent, where they say, that the Negro Princess, of whom the Queen Mary Theresa was deliver’d, is a Nun.

From Moret I went to Sens, and from thence to Auxerre, which City I found in an Uproar, on account of a very tragical Adventure: A Baker having been very familiar for some time with the Wife of a Pastry-cook, was reproach’d for it by his own Wife, who even threaten’d she would make him smart for it; but the Baker, not at all terrify’d by her Menaces, proceeded in his Amour as usual; while his Wife being desperate, and raging with Jealousy to find herself depriv’d of conjugal Duty, was resolv’d her Rival should not have the Pleasure of his Company any longer; and therefore, as he was one Night in Bed with her, she took a Razor, and shav’d him so close, that it was no more in his Power to give her any Jealousy. The poor Man was in a very bad way when I happen’d to be at Auxerre. I had this Story from my Landlady, where I quarter’d, who told it me not without great Lamentation.

From Auxerre I went to Dijon[12], the Capital of Burgundy, and the Seat of the Parliament and of the Governor of the Province. In this City the States of Burgundy hold their Assemblies, and the Duke of Burgundy, who is Governor of the Province, commonly presides there in the King’s Name. The Parliament of the Province was establish’d here by Philip Duke of Burgundy, and confirm’d by Lewis XI. Here is also a Chamber of Accompts, a Mint, and a Presidial Court.