but by a witness in a position to know everything, infers that the Admiral was dead?[217] How can one have any further doubts, above all, when the circumstances just related, and the courage displayed by this bold adventurer, render this end so probable? That the age of Beaufort, born in 1616, which would make the mysterious corpse of 1703 a nonagenarian, almost suffices to overthrow the system of Lagrange-Chancel and Langlet-Dufresnoy, is incontestable. But this proof not having appeared sufficiently decisive to these writers, it became essential to seek for every kind of testimony, in order, so far as was just, to restore to this grandson of Henri IV. the glory of having died with arms in his hand on the field of battle, and of having thus crowned a life of adventures by an end worthy of his valour, his race, and his country. FOOTNOTES: [190] M. Camille Rousset, _Histoire de Louvois_, already quoted, vol. i. p. 257. [191] Letter from the Abbé Bigorre to De Lionne, December 28, 1668:--Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, section Rome, 1669. [192] Letters from the Abbé Bigorre to De Lionne, December 28, 1668. After the expedition to Candia, M. d’Albret alone received the hat. See despatches from the Abbé Bigorre to De Lionne, July 9, 1669, and from the Abbé de Bourlemont to De Lionne, August 9, 1669:--Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, section Rome, 1669. [193] _Instruction que le roi a résolu être envoyée à M. le duc de Beaufort, pair, grand maître, chef et surintendant général de la navigation et commerce du royaume, sur l’emploi de l’armée navale que S. M. met en mer sous son commandement pendant la présente campagne:_--Imperial Library, Manuscripts, Colbert’s Papers. [194] Letters from De Lionne to the Cardinal Rospigliosi upon the troops promised by Louis XIV., January 11 and February 26, 1669:--Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, section Rome. _État des armées de mer et de terre envoyées par le roi très-chrétien en Candie, en la présente année_ 1669:--Archives of the Ministry of Marine. Letter from Louvois to the Governors, February 20, 1669:--Archives of the Ministry of War. [195] Among them were the Count de Choiseul, MM. de Castellan and de Dampierre, Marquis de Saint-Vallier, Duke de Château-Thierry, Marquises d’O, d’Huxelles, and de Sevigné, &c. &c.:--Letter from Madame de Sevigné to Bussy-Rabutin, August 18, 1669. At the end of 1668, Count de Saint-Paul and Count de la Feuillade had gone to succour Candia at the head of three hundred volunteers. But they returned after a very murderous sally, having lent the Venetians an assistance more brilliant than actually efficacious. [196] [These were small vessels of light draught, without any foremast.--_Trans._] The galleys, to the number of thirteen, commanded by Vivonne, were delayed several days off the coasts of Italy, and only arrived a week after Beaufort:--Archives of the Ministry of Marine.