The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume II: Being the Observations He Made in His Late Travels from Prussia Thro' Germany, Italy, France, Flanders, Holland, England, &c. in Letters to His Friend. Discovering Not Only the Present State of the Chief Cities and Towns; but the Characters of the Principal Persons at the Several Courts. — John Shaqi
The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume II: Being the Observations He Made in His Late Travels from Prussia Thro' Germany, Italy, France, Flanders, Holland, England, &c. in Letters to His Friend. Discovering Not Only the Present State of the Chief Cities and Towns; but the Characters of the Principal Persons at the Several Courts.Pöllnitz, Karl Ludwig, Freiherr von
History
The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume II: Being the Observations He Made in His Late Travels from Prussia Thro' Germany, Italy, France, Flanders, Holland, England, &c. in Letters to His Friend. Discovering Not Only the Present State of the Chief Cities and Towns; but the Characters of the Principal Persons at the Several Courts.
Pöllnitz, Karl Ludwig, Freiherr von
Europe -- Description and travel; Saxony (Germany) -- Court and courtiers
Indeed all that go to the Audience of the Holy Father fare no better than
I did, unless they are Princes, and even the Catholics must all kiss the
Pope’s Toe. The Prince Regent of _Waldeck_, who was here not long ago,
went to an Audience of his Holiness, and was receiv’d in the same manner
as the Princes of _Brunswic_ had been formerly: He waited some Moments in
the Antichamber, and without being oblig’d to leave his Sword and Hat, as
those of his Retinue were, he was introduc’d by the _Major Domo_ to the
Pope, who receiv’d him seated on his Throne. The Prince did not kneel as
he enter’d, nor did the Pope, who ask’d him several Questions, and was
inform’d that he was a _Lutheran_, give him his Blessing: Before he
withdrew, the Prince desir’d the Pope, that he would give him leave to
introduce his Retinue to him; when one of his Gentlemen, scrupulous to the
last Degree, neither kneel’d, nor kiss’d the Pope’s Foot. At _Geneva_
indeed he deserv’d to have his Statue erected, tho’ here his Politeness
was call’d in question; but as for the Prince of _Waldeck_, all ROME was
charm’d with his obliging and polite Behaviour: He spent four or five
Months here, and liv’d handsomely. He apply’d himself to the Knowledge of
Antiques, and made a Collection of Stones finely cut, which, tho’ not so
large as some are, is not the worse chosen; for he has discover’d a very
great Taste and Skill in Curiosities; and happy would it be for _Germany_
if all its Princes were like him.
The Prince of _Waldeck_ leads me to give you an Account of those
unfortunate Princes who are here call’d the King and Queen of _England_.
Perhaps you will not dislike to know what they are doing, and on what Foot
they stand here. That unfortunate Prince, which is a Title I think no body
can envy him, lives a very melancholy Life; and I question whether the
Pension which the Pope allows him of 12000 Crowns, is enough to make him
easy under his Afflictions: He lodges in the Palace of the Marquis
_Monti_, and has a great Number of Domestics, but few in his Service that
are Persons of Quality. My Lord _Dunbar_ is the chief Man at his Court,
since Mr. _Hayes_, to whom the Pretender gave the Title of my Lord
_Inverness_, retir’d to _Avignon_: This Gentleman is intrusted with the
Education of the young Princes, who are here styl’d the Prince of _Wales_,
and the Duke of _York_, and as lovely Children they both are as one shall
see.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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