Saturday, June 3. 1704.

Numb. 26.
[117]

OUR last Papers brought the Line of Towns, Strengthned for the Defence of the French Monarchy from Dunkirk, on the Sea-shoar, to the edge of Lorrain.

And here to have a good Barrier, the French has always thought fit to keep the Duke of Lorrain under his foot.

The two Famous High-Ways made about the Year 1676, thro’ the whole Country of Lorrain, are Monuments of the entire Submission of the Duke of Lorrain: these traverse his whole Country, for the March of the King’s Armies to Alsace and the Middle Rhine; and as they are always kept in repair, and are broad enough for the Horse to March a full Squadron in Front; it mightily facilitates the March of the French Forces that way.

On the East of Lorrain, the Kingdom of France, which is openest on this side, always preserved the Possession of the Saar and the Moselle; here Saar Louis and Montroyal were wholly built by his Majesty’s Directions, the last Demolished by the late Peace; besides this he has the Castle of Traerback, the Cities of Mets, Thionville, Saar-bruck, Saar-alb, and a whole Line of small Places, from the City of Treves, on the Moselle, to Saarburgh, on the edge of Burgundy. Continue reading Saturday, June 3. 1704.

Tuesday, May 2. 1704.

Numb. 17.
[81]

THe Conquest the King of France has made over the Duelling Humour of his Subjects, is the Theme we are upon, and some Digression on that Head has been made to our English Affairs, which as it is what I shall very seldom do, I hope the Reader will excuse.

I might Enlarge here on the vulgar Errors of Behaviour, and the Mistaken Notions Men have Entertain’d by the Folly of Custom, concerning Honour, Gallantry, and Courage; but History is rather my Business, and I shall make as few Excursions as Possible.

I have met with some that will alledge, The King of France has several times broken his Oath in the matter of Duelling, and the Severity with which he Threatn’d his Subjects, has been Mitigated frequently, and in particular in the Case of Monsieur de St. A.–, who, at the Intercession of Madam de Montespan, and just at the time when his Majesty was more particularly a Captive to that Lady, was recall’d from Banishment, and admitted to his Favour. – But those who defend the King’s Honour in this Case, tell us, The King was acquainted, that this Gentleman tho’ he fled, was not Actually in the Affair. The Business in short was thus: There had been two or three Families Embroiled in the Quarrel, and in spight of all the Terror of the King’s Edict and Oath, they met in an Island of the Sein, and Fought rather a little Battail, than a Duel, for they met six or eight of a side, and two or three were kill’d, the rest shifted.

This Gentleman having so strong an Intercessor, obtain’d his Majesty’s License to come Home and take his Tryal, in Order to Convince his Majesty that he was Innocent: I won’t say but things might be subtilly manag’d, and that Powerful Lady Order’d all things in such manner, that tho’ it was too well known he was Wounded in the Action, yet before the Judges it was made very clear, that he was Innocent of all the matter. ’Twas prov’d that he advis’d the Gentleman not to meet, and refus’d to be concern’d, and several such Circumstances, by Dexterity of Management, and no body coming in to Prosecute, he was absolutely clear’d of the Fact, by the Process of the Law. Continue reading Tuesday, May 2. 1704.