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Article THE IRON MASK. ← Page 2 of 2
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The Iron Mask.
even Voltaire , bold as he was in his writings , durst not divulge the secret , as it would tend to bring in question the right which Louis the XVth ancl his successors had to the Crown of France—for if the fact be true , Louis the XlVth might be considered as an usurper . The secret of the birth of this son was at first only confided to Cardinal Mazarin , if indeed the Cardinal ( which seems not improbable ) was not himself the father . On the death of the Queen
he was conveyed to the state prison of the Isle of St . Marguerite , and guarded there with all the precaution and respect which Voltaire so particularly describes . It was not , however , a mask of iron , but one of black velvet , with which his face was covered . This he was obliged to wear , when in the presence of any one besides the Governor , that his rank and birth might not be discovered by the
resemblance he bore to the King his brother . The precautions taken to conceal him were indeed so great as to shew that there was no common interest in preventing a discovery . The unfortunate prisoner was himself sensible of his pretensions , and acquainted with his situation : but he was undoubtedly made to understand , that it was only on condition of his keeping himself unknown , that he was suffered to continue in existence . Some Princes , in such circumstances , would have had so
dangerous a rival cut off : but Louis the XlVth , who , though a despot , was not void of humanity , contented himself with banishing , this elder brother to a distant island , and confining him in a strong fortress , situated in a remote comer of his dominions , where , from thc measures taken , it seemed impossible that he could ever be heard of or known . Yet to make assurance double sure , after the battle of La Hoguewhen the English fleets were riding triumphant in the
, Channel , he was conveyed from the Isle St . Marguerite to the Bastille . ' Cinq . Mars , the Governor , and Louvois , the Minister , were among the few persons in the secret .. It is said to have been divulged by Barbesieux , the son of Louvois , to Mademoiselle St . Quentin , his mistress .
A French writer accounts for the ambiguity or silence of Voltair © upon this subject , in the following terms : " He would have had cause to fear for his' own life , if he had divulged a mystery which might destroy the title of the Grand Monarque to the throne . For the man in the iron mask , being the elder brother of Louis the XlVth , had a right to the Crown of France , notwithstanding his apparent illegitimacy , which was covered by the rule followed in France in all doubtful cases ,
Pater est is quem nuptis demonstrant : Whence it must follow , that Louis was an usurper , and that his descendants possessed the Crown only by usurpation . That was the . truth , which at all times was terrible , which Voltaire did not dare to utter , and which the . King strove to wrap up in darkness , by every possible means , even the most iniquitous . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Iron Mask.
even Voltaire , bold as he was in his writings , durst not divulge the secret , as it would tend to bring in question the right which Louis the XVth ancl his successors had to the Crown of France—for if the fact be true , Louis the XlVth might be considered as an usurper . The secret of the birth of this son was at first only confided to Cardinal Mazarin , if indeed the Cardinal ( which seems not improbable ) was not himself the father . On the death of the Queen
he was conveyed to the state prison of the Isle of St . Marguerite , and guarded there with all the precaution and respect which Voltaire so particularly describes . It was not , however , a mask of iron , but one of black velvet , with which his face was covered . This he was obliged to wear , when in the presence of any one besides the Governor , that his rank and birth might not be discovered by the
resemblance he bore to the King his brother . The precautions taken to conceal him were indeed so great as to shew that there was no common interest in preventing a discovery . The unfortunate prisoner was himself sensible of his pretensions , and acquainted with his situation : but he was undoubtedly made to understand , that it was only on condition of his keeping himself unknown , that he was suffered to continue in existence . Some Princes , in such circumstances , would have had so
dangerous a rival cut off : but Louis the XlVth , who , though a despot , was not void of humanity , contented himself with banishing , this elder brother to a distant island , and confining him in a strong fortress , situated in a remote comer of his dominions , where , from thc measures taken , it seemed impossible that he could ever be heard of or known . Yet to make assurance double sure , after the battle of La Hoguewhen the English fleets were riding triumphant in the
, Channel , he was conveyed from the Isle St . Marguerite to the Bastille . ' Cinq . Mars , the Governor , and Louvois , the Minister , were among the few persons in the secret .. It is said to have been divulged by Barbesieux , the son of Louvois , to Mademoiselle St . Quentin , his mistress .
A French writer accounts for the ambiguity or silence of Voltair © upon this subject , in the following terms : " He would have had cause to fear for his' own life , if he had divulged a mystery which might destroy the title of the Grand Monarque to the throne . For the man in the iron mask , being the elder brother of Louis the XlVth , had a right to the Crown of France , notwithstanding his apparent illegitimacy , which was covered by the rule followed in France in all doubtful cases ,
Pater est is quem nuptis demonstrant : Whence it must follow , that Louis was an usurper , and that his descendants possessed the Crown only by usurpation . That was the . truth , which at all times was terrible , which Voltaire did not dare to utter , and which the . King strove to wrap up in darkness , by every possible means , even the most iniquitous . "