Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1851 edition. Excerpt: ... and Catherine, it is not to be supposed that she could remain in ignorance of the envy, the duplicity, and hypocrisy, that prevailed in their polished circles; and the scandal of the day, however embellished or disguised, must have made its way to her apartments. It is, however, but fair to add, that an unequivocal proof of female frailty was uniformly visited with obloquy and contempt; and in the younger part of the sex, in some instances, punished with unsparing rigour. To account for this, it should be recollected, that the majority of the female nobility were transplanted from the provinces, where the primitive system of manners had not been superseded; and there were even some distinguished statesmen, whose female relatives had never been permitted to approach the capital, and who continued to occupy the castles and retain the habits of their ancestors. Of this number was the Marquis do Vieilleville, of whose character and conduct an admirable account has been transmitted by his secretary. Vincent Carloix, one of the most agreeable narrators of the age, and whose work is the more worthy of attention, as his illustrious hero will be found to represent a numerous class of nobles, who, during the reign of Henry the Second, persisted in a sort the little Princess, loaded with gold and jewels, to church; the Constable complied with an ill grace, and his visible vexation and awkwardness diverted the whole court.--Brantome.--Vabillas. MARQUIS DE VIEILLEVILLE. 179 of religious neutrality, apparently as little disposed to encourage innovation, as to sanction persecution; too patriotic not to prefer the interests of the commonwealth to the pretensions of the church; yet too cautious, perhaps even too superstitious, not to shrink from the...
