and ridding himself of the faults which spoilt his conduct. 'I do not
doubt,' he concludes, 'that you will be all the more grateful to me for
this mark of my benevolence towards you, when you reflect how few kings
have ever shown their goodwill in a similar manner.'" ( 'Oeuvres de Louis
XIV', vol. v. p. 388). Several calamities in the royal navy are known to
have been brought about by the Duc de Beaufort. M. Eugene Sue, in his
'Histoire de la Marine', which is full of new and curious information,
has drawn a very good picture of the position of the "roi des halles,"
the "king of the markets," in regard to Colbert and Louis XIV. Colbert
wished to direct all the manoeuvres of the fleet from his study, while it
was commanded by the naval grandmaster in the capricious manner which
might be expected from his factious character and love of bluster (Eugene
Sue, vol. i., 'Pieces Justificatives'). In 1699 Louis XIV sent the Duc
de Beaufort to the relief of Candia, which the Turks were besieging.
Seven hours after his arrival Beaufort was killed in a sortie. The Duc
de Navailles, who shared with him the command of the French squadron,
simply reported his death as follows: "He met a body of Turks who were
pressing our troops hard: placing himself at the head of the latter, he
fought valiantly, but at length his soldiers abandoned him, and we have
not been able to learn his fate" ('Memoires du Duc de Navailles', book
iv. P. 243)

The report of his death spread rapidly through France and Italy;
magnificent funeral services were held in Paris, Rome, and Venice, and
funeral orations delivered. Nevertheless, many believed that he would
one day reappear, as his body had never been recovered.

Guy Patin mentions this belief, which he did not share, in two of his
letters:--