Alberoni, who, as I have said, was one of M. de Vendome’s creatures, published a deceitful and impudent letter, in which he endeavoured to prove that M. de Vendome had acted throughout like a good general, but that he had been thwarted by Monseigneur le Duc de Bourgogne.  This letter was distributed everywhere, and well served the purpose for which it was intended.  Another writer, Campistron—–­a poor, starving poet, ready to do anything to live—­went further.  He wrote a letter, in which Monseigneur le Duc de Bourgogne was personally attacked in the tenderest points, and in which Marechal Matignon was said to merit a court-martial for having counselled retreat.  This letter, like the other, although circulated with more precaution, was shown even in the cafes and in the theatres; in the public places of gambling and debauchery; on the promenades, and amongst the news-vendors.  Copies of it were even shown in the provinces, and in foreign countries; but always with much circumspection.  Another letter soon afterwards appeared, apologising for M. de Vendome.  This was written by Comte d’Evreux, and was of much the same tone as the two others.

A powerful cabal was in fact got up against Monseigneur de Bourgogne.  Vaudeville, verses, atrocious songs against him, ran all over Paris and the provinces with a licence and a rapidity that no one checked; while at the Court, the libertines and the fashionables applauded; so that in six days it was thought disgraceful to speak with any measure of this Prince, even in his father’s house.

Madame de Bourgogne could not witness all this uproar against her husband, without feeling sensibly affected by it.  She had been made acquainted by Monseigneur de Bourgogne with the true state of the case.  She saw her own happiness and reputation at stake.  Though very gentle, and still more timid, the grandeur of the occasion raised her above herself.  She was cruelly wounded by the insults of Vendome to her husband, and by all the atrocities and falsehoods his emissaries published.  She gained Madame de Maintenon, and the first result of this step was, that the King censured Chamillart for not speaking of the letters in circulation, and ordered him to write to Alberoni and D’Evreux (Campistron, strangely enough, was forgotten), commanding them to keep silence for the future.

The cabal was amazed to see Madame de Maintenon on the side of Madame de Bourgogne, while M. du Maine (who was generally in accord with Madame de Maintenon) was for M. de Vendome.  They concluded that the King had been led away, but that if they held firm, his partiality for M. de Vendome, for M. du Maine, and for bastardy in general, would bring him round to them.  In point of fact, the King was led now one way, and now another, with a leaning always towards M. de Vendome.