The True History of the State Prisoner, commonly called the Iron Mask

187

John Baptist Felix Gaspar Nani was descended from an illustrious family at Venice, and was born on the 30th of August, 1616. He distinguished himself early in diplomacy, and was for twenty-five years ambassador from the Republic to France. He was subsequently chosen Procurator of St. Mark, the next dignity in the Republic to that of Doge. He is best known to posterity by his “Istoria della Republica Veneta,” – which is a valuable and useful work, though it has been reprobated as being partial, and written in a vicious and incorrect Italian. He died on the 25th of November, 1678.

188

From the archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

189

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

190

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

191

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

192

In 1674 the people of Messina in Sicily, unable any longer to bear the harshness of the Spanish Government, revolted. The French assisted them with a body of troops under the command of the Chevalier de Valbelle. In 1676 the Marshal de Vivonne was sent there with a powerful fleet, and gained a complete victory over those of Spain and Holland. But in the beginning of 1678, the French, alarmed at the prospect of a union of England with their enemies, abandoned Sicily to its fate. It is to this latter event that Estrades alludes.

193

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

194

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

195

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

196

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris

197

Charles V. Duke of Lorrain, married, in the commencement of this year, Eleanor, daughter of the Emperor Leopold, and widow of Michael Wiecnowiecki, King of Poland. For an account of him, see note, page 48.

198

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

199

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

200

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

201

As the letter breaks off here abruptly, it is impossible for us to discover to what transaction Estrades alludes.

202

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

203

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

204

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

205

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

206

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

207

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

208

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

209

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

210

This letter is not published.

211

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

212

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

213

Ibit.

214

The sentence is left thus unfinished in the letter, as published by M. Delort.

215

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

216

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

217

Ibit.

218

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

219

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

220

Ibit.

221

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

222

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

223

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

224

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

225

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

226

Ibit.

227

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

228

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

229

“Porte du Secours.”

230

From the Archives of France.

231

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

232

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

233

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

234

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

235

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

236

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

237

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

238

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

239

This person was Catinat, who was now on his way to Pignerol, under the assumed name of Richemont.

240

From the Archives of France.

241

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

242

The sentence is left thus imperfect in M. Delort’s publication. The whole letter, however, is published in the work entitled, “Les philosophes et les gens de lettres des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles à la Bastille.” The rest of the letter does not refer to Matthioli’s affair.

243

From the Archives of France.

244

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

245

See note, page 18.

246

Contarini was at this time Ambassador from the Republic of Venice to the Court of Lewis the Fourteenth.

247

The Duchess of Savoy. For an account of her, see note, page 32.

248

The Spanish Envoy at the Court of Turin.

249

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

250

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

251

Sebastian Le Prêtre, Marquis of Vauban, the celebrated Engineer; Marshal of France in 1703; Died in 1707.

252

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

253

Through the Duchy of Milan.

254

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

255

Matthioli.

256

According to the Italian mode of reckoning the hours.

257

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

258

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

259

From the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

260

Saint-Mars only commanded in that part of the citadel of Pignerol which was appropriated to the use of a State-prison.

261

From the Archives of France.

262

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

263

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

264

The Officers of the French Guards, of whom Catinat, at this time, was one.

265

Chanois was a French Commissary at Pignerol. This letter is extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

266

From the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

267

In his correspondence with Louvois, Catinat sometimes signs with his real name, and sometimes with his assumed one of Richemont. This letter is extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

268

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

269

From the Archives of France.

270

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

271

From the Archives of France.

272

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

273

From the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

274

Catinat. This letter is extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac)

275

He had succeeded the Abbé d’Estrades as French Ambassador at Venice.

276

From the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

277

The Governor of Milan.

278

One of the ministers of Mary Jane Baptista of Nemours, Duchess of Savoy; he was in the interests of the House of Austria.

279

Catinat.

280

The Governor of Milan.

281

This probably is a mistake for Varano, whose name has been frequently mentioned in the former part of this correspondence.

282

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

283

From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

284

From the Archives of France.

285

Fouquet and Lauzun were at this time still prisoners at Pignerol. The former died in 1680, and the latter was released from his confinement the same year.

286

Catinat. This letter is extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

287

Of Turin.

288

Two of the Ministers of the Duke of Mantua.

289

Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

290

From the Archives of France.

291

Catinat. This letter is extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

292

Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

293

The Duchess Regent of Savoy. – See Note, Page 32.

294

From the Archives of France.

295

Catinat. This letter is extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

296

Varengeville was now Ambassador at Venice. This letter exists in the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.

297

M. de la Motte de Rissan held the post of “Lieutenant de Roi,” in the citadel of Pignerol.

298

From the Archives of France.

299

From the Archives of France.

300

Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

301

See Note, page 48.

302

Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

303

From the Archives of France.

304

Ibid.

305

Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

306

Ibid.

307

Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

308

From the Archives of France.

309

From the Archives of France

310

From the Archives of France.

311

Charles Colbert, Marquis de Croissi, brother of the great Colbert, was employed in many embassies, which he conducted with ability and success. In 1679 he succeeded Arnaud de Pomponne as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. He died in 1696.

312

From the Archives of France.

313

From the Archives of France.

314

From the Archives of France.

315

Ibid.

316

Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

317

The Marquis de Pianesse was one of the Ministers of the Court of Turin.

318

From the Archives of France.

319

From the Archives of France.

320

From the Archives of France.

321

From the Archives of France.

322

From the Archives of France. To the name of Richemont is appended in the original the following note, in the hand-writing of Saint-Mars; “This name means M. de Catinat, whom I had then shut up with me at Pignerol.”

323

Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

324

Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

325

Ibid.

326

Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

327

Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

328

Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

329

Probably Barbezieux.

330

Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

331

The discovery of this ridiculous and strained anagram was one of the causes which led to the false supposition, that the Iron Mask was either the Duke de Beaufort, or the Count de Vermandois, both of whom were great Admirals of France.

332

To this letter M. Delort adds the following note, “In 1782 or 1783, there died at Turin a Marquis de Pancalier de Prie, among whose manuscripts was also found the anecdote of this Secretary of the Duke of Mantua. All the Italian newspapers published it; but although it was considered as a new idea, it did not make a great sensation.”