Lives of the last four princesses of the royal house of Stuart

1669.] BISHOP OP VALENCE IN DISGEACE. 273
The only consolation she enjoyed was the friendship of
Madame la Fayette, who had, some time previously, com-
menced, at her request, the biography of Henrietta of
England, under her own eye, and to which Henrietta had
at various times contributed occasional passages, with her
own hand. Of this life, which, was left in a fragmentary
state at Henrietta's death, we, like all her previous bio-
graphers, have availed ourselves largely.
Unfortunately for her, the Bishop of Valence, Monsieur's
almoner, who was her firm friend and wise counsellor, had
offended the King, in his manner of preferring a request
from Monsieur, that his royal brother would give him the
government of Languedoc, vacated by the death of the
Prince de Conti. The King told him that the Princes of
the blood, in France, were never happy, but at court, and
begged to remind Monsieur, that they had agreed he
should never have any government. He sent a letter to
Monsieur, refusing his request, but so kindly worded, that
captious, as he was, he could not take offence.
The bishop, next advised Monsieur to request admission
to the royal councils. The King returned a direct negative.
Monsieur, highly offended, vented his displeasure on the
bishop, who had been the unsuccessful medium, through
whom both his requests had been preferred. He behaved
with such unprecedented surliness, that the bishop, finding
his duties were rendered unpleasant to him, expressed to
Madame, his wish to resign his post. She entreated him to
look over Monsieur's ill manners, and remain, for her sake.
Monsieur, finding himself tolerated, redoubled his inso-
lence to the bishop, till at last the unfortunate almoner took
the first moment of privacy, with Henrietta, to say, " For
Heaven's sake, Madame, let me go out honestly by the
door, to save Monsieur the trouble of throwing me out of
the window."
T