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Historical Illustrations.

FRANCE is very rich in her native early historians, who, though they may not perhaps equal our own annalists of "olden times" in their simplicity and minuteness, yet interest us deeply in their narratives, by their sprightliness and vivacity, the shrewdness of their remarks, and the richness of their incidents. Of these writers, no one is more entertaining than the Sieur d'Argenton, Philip de Comines, the guide which our author has selected in the general construction of his story, and the historian to whom he has resorted for almost all his events, as far as they have any authority in recorded accounts.* Du Haillan,† it is true, accuses the lively annalist of a want of historical fidelity. He says, that Philip de

The Memoirs of The edition which we London, 1674.

Philip de Comines, &c. &c. refer to hereafter is that of

+ Bayle's Dictionary. Du Haillan, vol. iii, 336.

Comines has concealed many things (he means injurious to the character of Louis XI.), being moved thereto either by his affection towards his master (Louis), or the benefactions he had received from him, or the fear of his successor; but, be this as it may, De Comines, in his little volume, has told us much, and told it well; and, however cautious he might intend to be, of conveying to posterity a bad impression of his royal patron, he either directly, or incidentally, makes us acquainted with features of his character, which will immortalize the French monarch as a precious

* It was, probably, a sense of gratitude which induced Philip de Comines to throw a veil over the deformities of Louis's character; for, to say the truth, the monarch was a most munificent patron to him. Letters patent still remain, under the royal hand, in behalf of Philip, conferring certain grants upon him, "because" (as the documents state)" by his good advice and other services which he did us," (meaning Louis's detention in the castle of Peronne,) "he was the chief means of preserving our royal person from danger." The gifts conferred were, the principality, lands, and seignory of Talmont-sur-tonne, Brutonne, Chateau-goutier, Cutzon, La Chevres Berre, and other lordships.

example of combined craftiness, cruelty, and superstition.

Our author's sketch of the state of France, at the epoch of the novel, and the views which he has given of the various conflicting interests of the king and his vassal princes, and of the dark intrigues and crooked politics by which the different parties pursued them, are true to the accounts of history; but (as may be supposed) many of his incidents are altogether imaginary, and several real events have been made subservient to the purposes of his beautiful fiction, by a change in their chronological order, and by their adaptation to circumstances with which they were not actually associated. Among the former creations of fancy may be classed, the hero and all his adventures, including those of Isabella countess of Croye, and Madame Hamelin, her aunt; the Zingaro, Hayraddin Maugrebin, his intrigues and death, &c. &c. : and of the latter description are the scenes in the Castle of Peronne; the period of the murder, and the personal character, of the Bishop of Liege; and the mission of the mock herald. The

transcription of Comines' account of these transactions will at once shew the deviations from historical fact, and the anachronisms, which our author has injudiciously (we think) committed, in weaving the thread of his complicated narrative.

Louis, having cajoled Charles with respect to his operations in Brittany, and conceived that he might obtain still further political advantages to himself, by a personal interview with his impetuous but unsuspecting vassal, proposed a visit to the Duke of Burgundy at his court at Peronne. "The Duke," says Comines, "had no great fancy to the meeting, for the Liegeois made a shew of rebelling again, at the instigation of two ambassadors, which the said King had sent to them, to that purpose, before the truce, which was made for certain dayes betwixt the King, the said Duke, and their allies. The Cardinal and his friends replied, that the Liegeois durst not attempt any such thing, seeing the King had not only dismantled their works the year before, but thrown down their walls; and if any such design were in their heads, the news

of this agreement would be sufficient to discuss it. In this manner it was concluded, that the King should repair to Peronne, (which was the place he had recommended,) and the Duke having writ to him, with his own hand, and delivered an ample passport (for his better security) to the ambassadors, they took their leaves, and departed towards the King, who was at that time at Noyon. But to make all sure at Liege, the Duke sent thither the Bishop, (upon whose score those tumults had happened,) and with him the Seigneur d'Hymbercourt, the said duke's lieutenant in that country, with considerable forces."

"You have now heard how it was agreed the king should come to Peronne. Thither he came, without any guard, more than the passport and parole of the said duke; only he desired, that the said duke's archers, under the command of Monsieur de Cordes, (who was then in the said duke's service,) might meet and conduct him; and so it was done, very few of his own train coming along with him. Nevertheless there were some great persons attended him, and among the rest the

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