Note 142 — Chapter VI
Henry Vizetelly translation
The letter which we extract is from a learned article of Baron de Hautecloque, ex-mayor of Arras, published in the Chroniques Artésiennes of M. P. Roger, member of the Society of Antiquarians of Picardy; of the Count d’Allonville, Councillor of State, and of M. Dusevel, Inspector of Historical Monuments for the Department of the Somme:—
“Very dear and well-beloved—Having learnt with very sensible sorrow, that our very dear and well-beloved son, the Duke de Vermandois,[A] Admiral of France, has lately died in the town of Courtray in Flanders, and desiring him to be placed in the cathedral church of our town of Arras, we send word to the Sieur Bishop of Arras to receive the body of our said son, when it is brought to the said church, and to have it buried in the choir of the said church with the ceremonies observed at the burial of persons of his birth.
[A] This title may appear singular, but an old and curious book “Les Estats de France,” which contains the genealogies of all the nobles of this period, describes him as “the Count de Vermandois, duke and peer of France.”—Trans.
“All of which we have desired to make known to you by this letter, and to state that our intention is that you should conform to our will in this and assist in a body at this ceremony as is customary, on such occasions; and assuring ourselves that you will satisfy us in this, we do not make this present letter longer or more express; do not fail; for such is our pleasure.
“Given at Versailles, the xix[B] November, 1683. Signed, “Louis,” and lower down, “Le Tellier.”
[B] We think, with M. de Hautecloque, that this date should be the 21st. In the registers of the chapter it is in Roman figures, and there is reason to suppose that a clumsy copyist has inverted the order of them and put xix for xxi. The comparison of dates and the very expressions of the King’s letter indicate it sufficiently.