Chantilly in History and Art

acquired much personal popularity. The history of this town and of its Parlement is of considerable interest. In 1653 the people of Bordeaux sent envoys to England to inquire into the det

rise, that a Republican spirit had developed amongst her former friends, and that they wished to see in Condé an ally rather than a chief. Nor did Condé, although a Prince of the Blood, and well known for his pride of birth, object to signing a Declaration before the Parlement o

and with the help of the Grande Mademoiselle (Gaston's notorious daughter), who boldly opened the gates to him, he entered the town with his troops at the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, making himself for a moment master of the situation. Unfortunately, however, the bloodshed

tween these two parties, but in the middle of it all her health broke down and she was obliged to retire, leaving to Condé's brother Conti and to his sister, Madame de Longueville, the task of managing public affairs. On hearing, however, that the C

ity was decorated to celebrate this auspicious event; and there still exists in the archives at Chantilly a letter of Condé's, wherein he writes as fo

but Richelieu's niece could not get over the fact that the "Hero of Rocroy" had actually gone over to the enemy. To fill her cup of tribulation Condé found himself in terrible financial difficulties since he had to feed his own troops whilst receiving insufficient support from his allies, the Spaniards, who were themselves unable to offer him material aid.

vide her husband with necessary material help she ordered her own mode of living with strictest economy and reduced her household. But Madame de Longueville and Conti, reali

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d'Enghien, whose education was committed into the hands of the Jesuits at Antwerp. Broken in health and spirits, she left for Valenciennes, accompanied only by her secretary, the faithful Lenet, and a small suite. Nor was the news which she received from her husband of a nature to restore her health. The success which had hitherto always accompanied him when fighting for his country seemed to have entirely abandoned

croy, so famous for his own strategic powers, as he surveyed the two armies, was struck by the excellent dispositions of Turenne. Addressing himself to a young Englishman who was in his camp, he said, "Have you ever seen how a battle is lost?" "No," answered

tion made by Spain was that Condé should be allowed to return to France, and be reinstated in all his rights as a Prince of the Blood. His implacable enemy Mazarin opposed this at first, but through the prayers of his wife and his sister Geneviève de Bourbon the Grand Condé was finally allowed to return home. After having exercised so pernic

or her brother's return to Court; whilst Conti, who, as already mentioned, had meantime married one of Mazarin's nieces, arranged the first meeting between the Prince and the powerful Min

country, is proved by the following remark: "When Mazarin had me impris

sed on seeing him. Condé, however, at once addressed his rival in a most friendly manner, and asked his advice reg

Condé and the Duc d'Enghien appeared amongst the Royal retinue, w

ould regain the entire confidence of the King. Nor did Mazarin ever cease to distrust him. And when, before his death, the Minister presented him with a valuable diamond ring, assuring him of h

was mistaken; for the young King, himself full of ambition, announced at the outset that he meant hencefo

ong abandoned and unoccupied. The financial difficulties in which he found himself on his return were happily overcome by Gourville, who acted energetically as his agent. The celebrated Le N?tre was called in to lay out the gardens; the vast grounds were converted into parks, interspersed by the charming pieces of water which still exist. With great ingenuity a

neur que je receu d'embraser nostre Saint Pere, le pape, et de baiser sa mule ne m'a fait tant de bien ny donne tant de joie que celle que je ressenty par la bonté que vous avez eu de me donner le be

erations. When the visitor passes through these apartments to-day, he can feel that they are in the same state as when the Grand Condé dwelt there. The Grand Cabinet with its exquisite Beauvais tapestry, its Boulle table, and its Louis XVI consoles and lustres, and the Petit Cabinet where the victor of Rocroy came to rest from his labours, still exist, to recall their former owner. In an adjacent apartment we m

ture which combined so well with Montmorency's Petit Chateau, creating an inordinately lofty building, with a straight line of innumerable windows and attics all precisely simil