Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-06-03
nlisfelloup.
Romantic Breach of Promise.

pu1 lestlVals, tournaments, carnlValS, masquef-
AIDES, and 50 forth, one incident occurred to sup
ply the town-folks with talk This was no other
than the action for breach of pr omise Of mar
riage, brought by the Marquis Jehan-Loys of
Saluces, against Madame Philippes de Montes-
pedon, widow Of Marshall Monte Jan, who had
been governing .Hiedmonte Some OF the de-
tails of thiscaso are singular enough to deserve
a narrative on their own account Others are
amusing, chiefly because of their odd Similarity
with sentimental passages in the livCs of our
own country-folks, from time to time revealed
to lis in courts Of law
Marshall Monte-Jan died in Piedmont, leav-
ing no children. His wife was instantly besle-
ged with offers of marriage by various great
lords of that state--a circumstance at which
we are requested by the chroniclers " not to
MARVEL For, Madame Philippes was very
respectable and virtuous lady, adorned with
great beauty, and in the flower of her youth !;
she possessed, moreover, in addition to all these
perfections, sixty thousand livres of revenue in
her own right, bes ide considerable expectations.
First among the suitors, who followed SO close
ly on the funeral, was the aforementioned Mar
quis of Saluces, who seems to have been fool
ish fellow, and who was certainly most scandal
ously treated. The narrator was on the lady S
side, but he naively states very damaging facts.
Madame Philippes feigned to accept the Mar
quiss service, because it would be convenient
to make use of his escort on the way back to
France whittier he was going by express order
of the king. Despite of her riches, the fair
widow seems to have been accidentally without
ready cash. She allowed her suitor to pay her
expenses all the way from Turin to Paris and
these expenses were by no means light All the
household of her late husband, besides her own
accompanied her. The marquis thought he had
the game in his own hands, and assumed the
tone of master by ticipation-intimated that
the gentlemen servants and officers of the de-
ceased should be dismissed, item half those Of
the lady hersllf, especially the woman-for she
had besides danes and demoiselles, femmes de
chambre, and others for different kinds of work
as many as fifteen or sixteen But Madame
Philippes was so prudent that she never, it is
alledged, allowed a word to escape that would
bind her and yet 50 clever that she obtained
all the assistance she wanted.
The marquis, as soon as they got upon French
ground, had ordered Qtalian that he was) al
his people to be on the watch to prevent any
communication being brought from rival
for, he did not doubt that such rare pear
would be eagerly sought after. Yet, in spite
of all precautions, as soon as the party arrived
at Lyons, courier came from M. de Vieille
vile, relative of the lady, and delivered hi
letters so secretly that no one ever suspected
their existence. These letters contained the in
formation that the court had heard of the pro
posed marriage with the Marquis of Saluces
and believed the couple were coming to Pari
for the wedding. The news had much pleased
the king, because he hadalways heard that low
bound man to country more than anything
and thought that the marquis, having become
Frenchman by this alliance, would be NOR
faithful ever afterwards. This was a sentimen
tality not to have been expected from Franci
the First. However, said the correspondent
81 think you are going to marry more for tn
good of your own country than your own goo
If what hear be true but cannot yet be
leve it for it is not likely that you woul(
after having been so happy in your first mai
riage, enter another SO hurriedly without eve
warning your friends.
Madame de Monte-Jan in reply wrote ver
characteristic letter. Among other things, 81
said {" would rather die than do anything
which | might have reason to repent; yet
will confess that the extreme necessity in whiC
the death Of the late marshall left me, almo
made me trip in words. But heaven has
helped me, that here am arrived in Franc
without being alhanced, promised or contractt
to living man. am very much surprised Il
king should think am going to bring him Sc
wants at the expense Of my good fortune, al
against my tastes. will never be an Italiar
and if | were, the last man should choose
make me 50 would be the Marquis Jehan-L Lo,
for reasons which will give you when '
meet, but especially, because he is not, al
never will be true Frenchman."
But in spite of this declaration, the beau
full Madame Phippes remained at Lyons, u
der the charge Of this marquis, who spent twel
days in making the preparations, intending
arrive at court in magnificent style. When
party at length set out, their baggage was
enormous, and their train 50 numerous, that
great boats were filled, They did all tn
cooking on board. With them they took
band of fddlers, engaged by the marquis
amuse him on the river, and alleviate the enr
of the lady for the loss of her husband Th
embarked on the Loire at Ronanne, and sent
land the horses and mules, which arrived
soon as they did at Briare.
NJ. de Veileville had news of their mo
ments nearly every day, by the couriers W
passed on their way from Piedmont to the Cou
he went out from Paris as far as Cornell W
about eighty hors,, on the evening WI
the travellers arrived at Ersonne. He sen
messenger directly to Madame Philippcs,
forming her of his movements, and got back
answer not to show himself until the next d
at the dinner that was q take place at Juir
The lady appears to have been afraid that if
slightest suspicion of his intention had comt
!. tho marquis, he would have seized her and m
ricd her ut once.