the countess of saint geran-第12节
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the trouble he had taken to give them a suitable reception; over and
above the worry of his own affairs。
During his illness; which only lasted a week; he made in his will a
new acknowledgment of his son; naming his executors M。 de Barriere;
intendant of the province; and the sieur Vialet; treasurer of France;
desiring them to bring the lawsuit to an end。 His last words were
for his wife and child; his only regret that he had not been able to
terminate this affair。 He died on the 31st of January 1659。
The maternal tenderness of the countess did not need stimulating by
the injunctions of her husband; and she took up the suit with energy。
The ladies de Ventadour and du Lude obtained by default letters of
administration as heiresses without liability; which were granted out
of the Chatelet。 At the same time they appealed against the judgment
of the lieutenant…general of the Bourbonnais; giving the tutelage of
the young count to the countess his mother; and his guardianship to
sieur de Bompre。 The countess; on her side; interpleaded an appeal
against the granting of letters of administration without liability;
and did all in her power to bring back the case to the Tournelle。
The other ladies carried their appeal to the high court; pleading
that they were not parties to the lawsuit in the Tournelle。
It would serve no purpose to follow the obscure labyrinth of legal
procedure of that period; and to recite all the marches and
countermarches which legal subtlety suggested to the litigants。 At
the end of three years; on the 9th of April 1661; the countess
obtained a judgment by which the king in person
〃Assuming to his own decision the civil suit pending at the
Tournelle; as well as the appeals pled by both parties; and the
last petition of Mesdames du Lude and de Ventadour; sends back
the whole case to the three assembled chambers of the States
General; to be by them decided on its merits either jointly or
separately; as they may deem fit。〃
The countess thus returned to her first battlefield。 Legal science
produced an immense quantity of manuscript; barristers and attorneys
greatly distinguishing themselves in their calling。 After an
interminable hearing; and pleadings longer and more complicated than
ever; which however did not bamboozle the court; judgment was
pronounced in Conformity with the summing up of the attorney…general;
thus
〃That passing over the petition of Mesdames Marie de la Guiche and
Eleonore de Bouille; on the grounds;〃 etc。 etc。;
〃Evidence taken;〃 etc。;
〃Appeals; judgments annulled;〃 etc。;
〃With regard to the petition of the late Claude de la Guiche and
Suzanne de Longaunay; dated 12th August 1658;〃
〃Ordered;
〃That the rule be made absolute;
〃Which being done; Bernard de la Guiche is pronounced; maintained;
and declared the lawfully born and legitimate son of Claude de la
Guiche and Suzanne de Longaunay; in possession and enjoyment of the
name and arms of the house of Guiche; and of all the goods left by
Claude de la Guiche; his father; and Marie de la Guiche and Eleonore
de Bouille are interdicted from interfering with him;
〃The petitions of Eleonore de Bouille and Marie de la Guiche; dated
4th June 1664; 4th August 1665; 6th January; l0th February; 12th
March; 15th April; and 2nd June; 1666; are dismissed with costs;
〃Declared;
〃That the defaults against la Pigoreau are confirmed; and that she;
arraigned and convicted of the offences imputed to her; is condemned
to be hung and strangled at a gallows erected in the Place de Greve
in this city; if taken and apprehended; otherwise; in effigy at a
gallows erected in the Place de Greve aforesaid; that all her
property subject to confiscation is seized and confiscated from
whomsoever may be in possession of it; on which property and other
not subject to confiscation; is levied a fine of eight hundred Paris
livres; to be paid to the King; and applied to the maintenance of
prisoners in the Conciergerie of the Palace of justice; and to the
costs。〃
Possibly a more obstinate legal contest was never waged; on both
sides; but especially by those who lost it。 The countess; who played
the part of the true mother in the Bible; had the case so much to
heart that she often told the judges; when pleading her cause; that
if her son were not recognised as such; she would marry him; and
convey all her property to him。
The young Count de la Palice became Count de Saint…Geran through the
death of his father; married; in 1667; Claude Francoise Madeleine de
Farignies; only daughter of Francois de Monfreville and of Marguerite
Jourdain de Carbone de Canisi。 He had only one daughter; born in
1688; who became a nun。 He died at the age of fifty…five years; and
thus this illustrious family became extinct。
End