Frederick Schiller - The Other Historical Essays

Since then, Lord Chateaubriand, his relative, who was Governor and General Lieutenant of the King in Brittany, offered him to take over his company of fifty men (Gendarmes) as it otherwise must remain in Brittany and did not have any occasion to distinguish itself. He wanted, at the same time, to propose, that he should be the King's Lieutenant in Brittany during his absence. Vieilleville took over, in truth, the company of gendarmes, but he refused the position of Province Lieutenant, as he hoped to lead his own government.

It seems peculiar that Vieilleville did not want a company of gendarmes for himself; but it was then not so easy to keep it; and his delicate attention was reluctant to thank favour for this position which he hoped to acquire through merit. The proof of such reluctance is the answer which he gave to the King who offered him this company after Lord Chateaubriand's death: he said that he has done nothing yet to deserve such a honour; on which the King, very admirative and yet almost irritated, said: “Vieilleville, you have deceived me, for I believed that if you were two hundred miles away, you would ride day and night to demand this company, and now that I give it to you by myself, I know not what a more favourable occasion you have been waiting for!?” “The occasion of a battle, Sir!” answered Vieilleville, “If Your Majesty will see that I deserve it. Should I take it now; hence, my comrades could ridicule this honour and say that I have only received it as a relative of Lord Chateaubriand; however, I would rather risk my life than obtain even just a promotion through something else than my merit!”

A few hours before the death of Francis I, this Monarch who still remembered Vieilleville's merit, called for the Dauphin to recommend him the same Marshall: “I know well, my son, you would rather promote Saint Andrew than Vieilleville; your inclination determines you to that. If you, however, want to make a reasonable comparison between both; then, do not hurry yourself to make the decision. At least, I ask you, if you will not promote both, at least may the promotion of the last one be followed soon by that of the other. The Dauphin made the promise, only with the reserve to give Saint Andrew the preference. The King called immediately Vieilleville, tendered him the hand and said these words to him: “Vieilleville, in the weakness in which I find myself, I cannot say nothing else than that I die too early for you; however, here is my son who has promised to me never to forget you. His father was never ungrateful, and still today he wants to give to you the second available position of Marshall of France, for I know well to whom the first is already determined. However, I pray God, that he never gives it than to someone who is worthy of it, like you. Is this not also your opinion, my son?” The Dauphin answered yes. Then, the King threw his arms around Vieilleville; all three of them had tears in their eyes. Shortly afterwards, the doctors told the Dauphin and all the others to leave the room, and soon afterwards, the King gave his last breath.

Then Henry, the former Duke of Orleans and Dauphin of France after the death of his older brother, became King, and Vieilleville, as envoy, received the commission to go to England to make peace with the under-aged Edward and his council only seven days afterwards; a mission which he, as envoy, undertook with much dignity and performed with the greatest satisfaction.

Soon after the old King's funerals, the trial of Marshall Biez and his son-in-law Vervin who has delivered to the English the port of Boulogne, would be undertaken; the last one would be condemned to death and the first one, however, to imprisonment and loss of his possessions and title. The King, by his own initiative, wanted to give Vieilleville fifty of the hundred lancers whom Marshall Biez commanded; Vieilleville thanked him very much for this graciousness; however, refused it because he did not want to be the successor of such a man. “And why not?” asked the King to him. “Sir,” answered Vieilleville, “it would be as if I have married the widow of a condemned criminal. My advancement does also not demand any haste; for I know that Your Majesty, immediately after His solemn entry in Paris, has decided to take Boulogne again from the Englishmen. Maybe there is still a Captain there, a man of honour, whose place You will give to me; or, I may remain at my current position; for in order to serve my King, I will not spare myself, and therefore, I need not any more company.” This took place in presence of Marshall Saint Andrew. The King convinced him again, only that Vieilleville remained firm in his answer. “I would rather be the Lieutenant of the Marshall who is present here, than receiving the company of Lord Biez who is a betrayer.”

Marshall Saint Andrew who previously has already expressed the same wish to the King, was most extremely happy with this declaration. “Remind yourself, my best friend, of this instance whereby the King was witness to your speech!”. Vieilleville saw himself, now, forced to accept the position of Lieutenant; even if he has made this proposition only in the intention of refusing the King's original request.

This company of gendarmes was put together very negligently by the Marshall's father. It consisted mostly of the sons of inn- and tavern- keepers, and as the emblems of these places represented usually saints; hence, these people called these servicemen according to these saints. For that reason, this company was ridiculed in the whole Lyon. Some thanked God for sending a company of saints from paradise to watch over them; others called them the litany gendarmes. Hence, people did not even find fifty horses in the whole company. In addition to that, because of a favour from their chef, they have never been on the battlefield: they were indispensable to the Governor to keep in bridle such a great city as Lyon. Through this trick, people deprived them of their necessary horses and weaponry, and hence, this disorder lasted nine to ten years until the old Saint Andrew died; and now, his son received the commandment of these gendarmes, but left them in the same condition, because he did not want to cover their shame. Precisely for that reason, however, it was dear to him to have Vieilleville as Lieutenant, because he knew him as a severe and unforgivable man in terms of discipline and honour.

Vieilleville has ordered this company to go to Clermont in Auvergne, so it could not be so easily deprived of its weapons and horses. He then appeared there with sixty to eighty brave noblemen from the best houses of Brittany, Anjou and Maine, who mostly have taken part in war in Piedmont. Hardly has he arrived, that people gave to him a list of thirty to forty gendarmes who, by the means of an attestation from the doctor, have remained home, whom he therefore stripped off the company immediately. He did the same with the recruits issued from the commissioners, servants and the same, who have been accepted in the company as a favour to their excellent masters and mistresses. He allowed the remaining people who were left still in the ranks, to maneuver on horse, and as they really did not manage well, hence they were laughed at by the experienced soldiers. He sent them, however, also immediately back to their inns to wait guests there, advising that only noblemen belonged to the gendarmes' corps. Some of them complained, in truth, about it and used inappropriate expressions; however, seeing how the noblemen fell upon them with their stabs, the others simply fled, to the great amusement of society. And hence did Vieilleville sever himself of these rascals who have never used their weapons in the King's service, and filled their vacant positions with good noblemen who kept their honour and could equip themselves decently. Then, they would also recruit many other noble people from Gascony, Perigord and Limousin, who previously would never want to serve under disgraceful condition, so that this company, in the next army inspection, was counting five hundred horses and was one of the best among the whole gendarmes' corps.