Produced by David Widger
Being the Secret Memoirs of the Mother of the Regent,
MADAME ELIZABETH-CHARLOTTE OF BAVARIA, DUCHESSE D'ORLEANS.
Henrietta of England, Monsieur's First Consort
The Due de Berri
The Duchesse de Berri
Mademoiselle d'Orleans, Louise-Adelaide de Chartres
Mademoiselle de Valois, Consort of the Prince of Modena
The Illegitimate Children of the Regent, Duc d'Orleans
The Chevalier de Lorraine
Philip V., King of Spain
The Duchess, Consort of the Duc de Bourbon
The Younger Duchess
Duc Louis de Bourbon
Francois-Louis, Prince de Conti
La Grande Princesse de Conti
The Princess Palatine, Consort of Prince Francois-Louis de Conti
The Princesse de Conti, Louise-Elizabeth, Consort of Louis-Armand
Louis-Armand, Prince de Conti
The Abbe Dubois
Mr. Law
It is true that the late Madame was extremely unhappy; she confided toomuch in people who betrayed her: she was more to be pitied than blamed,being connected with very wicked persons, about whom I could give someparticulars. Young, pretty and gay, she was surrounded by some of thegreatest coquettes in the world, the mistresses of her bitterest foes,and who sought only to thrust her into some unfortunate situation and toembroil her with Monsieur. Madame de Coetquen was the Chevalier deLorraine's mistress, although Madame did not know it; and she contrivedthat the Marechal de Turenne should become attached to her. Madamehaving told the Marshal all her secrets respecting the negotiations withEngland, he repeated them to his mistress, Madame de Coetquen, whom hebelieved to be devoted to his mistress. This woman went every night tothe Chevalier de Lorraine and betrayed them all. The Chevalier used thisopportunity to stir up Monsieur's indignation against Madame, telling himthat he passed with the King for a simpleton, who could not hold histongue; that he would lose all confidence, and that his wife would haveeverything in her own hand. Monsieur wished to know all the particularsfrom Madame; but she refused to tell him her brother's secrets, and thiswidened the breach between them. She became enraged, and had theChevalier de Lorraine and his brother driven away, which in the end costher own life; she, however, died with the consciousness of never havingdone her husband any harm. She was the confidante of the King, to whomit had been hinted that it might be expedient to give some employment toMonsieur, who might otherwise make himself beloved in the Court and inthe city. For this reason the King assisted Madame in her affairs ofgallantry, in order to occupy his brother. I have this from the Kinghimself. Madame was besides in great credit with her brother, CharlesII. (of England). Louis XIV. wished to gain him over through his sister,wherefore it was necessary to take part with her, and she was alwaysbetter treated than I have been. The late Monsieur never suspected hiswife of infidelity with the King, her brother-in-law, he told me, all herlife, and would not have been silent with respect to this intrigue if hehad believed it. I think that with respect to this great injustice isdone to Madame. It would have been too much to deceive at once thebrother and the nephew, the father and the son.
The late Monsieur was very much disturbed at his wife's coquetry; but hedared not behave ill to her, because she was protected by