Philosophical Dictionary (Vol. 2)

To these ridiculous stories succeed the most gross calumnies against the king, against his son, his grandson, the Duke of Orléans his nephew, all the princes of the blood, the ministers, and the generals. It is thus that boldness, animated by hunger, produces monsters (1).

One cannot sufficiently warn readers against this crowd of atrocious libels that have flooded Europe for so long.

HAZARDOUS ANECDOTE OF DU HAILLAN.

Du Haillan claims, in one of his short works, that Charles VIII was not the son of Louis XI. This is perhaps the secret reason for which Louis XI neglected his education and always kept him at a distance. Charles VIII did not resemble Louis XI, neither in spirit nor in body. Finally, tradition could serve as an excuse for Du Haillan; but this tradition was very uncertain, as almost all are.

The dissimilarity between fathers and children is even less a proof of illegitimacy than the resemblance is a proof of the contrary. That Louis XI hated Charles VIII, that concludes nothing. Such a bad son could easily be a bad father.

Even if twelve Du Haillans had assured me that Charles VIII was born of someone other than Louis XI, I should not believe them blindly. A wise reader should, it seems to me, pronounce judgment like the judges; pater est is quem nuptiæ demonstrant he is the father whom the marriage proves.

(1) See HISTORY.