diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 3860.txt | 4155 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 3860.zip | bin | 0 -> 83867 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/cm23b10.txt | 4221 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/cm23b10.zip | bin | 0 -> 86171 bytes |
7 files changed, 8392 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/3860.txt b/3860.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a795e1d --- /dev/null +++ b/3860.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4155 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of Louis XIV., Volume 1 +by Duc de Saint-Simon + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Memoirs of Louis XIV., Volume 1 + And His Court and of The Regency + +Author: Duc de Saint-Simon + +Release Date: December 3, 2004 [EBook #3860] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV., *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + + MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV AND HIS COURT AND OF THE REGENCY + + BY THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON + + + + + CONTENTS OF THE 15 VOLUMES + + + VOLUME 1. + +CHAPTER I + +Birth and Family.--Early Life.--Desire to join the Army.--Enter the +Musketeers.--The Campaign Commences.--Camp of Gevries.--Siege of Namur. +--Dreadful Weather.--Gentlemen Carrying Corn.--Sufferings during the +Siege.--The Monks of Marlaigne.--Rival Couriers.--Naval Battle.-- +Playing with Fire-arms.--A Prediction Verified. + + +CHAPTER II + +The King's Natural Children.--Proposed Marriage of the Duc de Chartres.-- +Influence of Dubois.--The Duke and the King.--An Apartment.--Announcement +of the Marriage.--Anger of Madame.--Household of the Duchess.--Villars +and Rochefort.--Friend of King's Mistresses.--The Marriage Ceremony.-- +Toilette of the Duchess.--Son of Montbron.--Marriage of M. du Maine.-- +Duchess of Hanover.--Duc de Choiseul.--La Grande Mademoiselle. + + +CHAPTER III + +Death of My Father.--Anecdotes of Louis XIII.--The Cardinal de +Richelieu.--The Duc de Bellegarde.--Madame de Hautefort.--My Father's +Enemy.--His Services and Reward.--A Duel against Law.--An Answer to a +Libel.--M. de la Rochefoucauld.--My Father's Gratitude to Louis XIII. + + +CHAPTER IV + +Position of the Prince of Orange.--Strange Conduct of the King.--Surprise +and Indignation.--Battle of Neerwinden.--My Return to Paris.--Death of La +Vauguyon.--Symptoms of Madness.--Vauguyon at the Bastille.--Projects of +Marriage.--M. de Beauvilliers.--A Negotiation for a Wife.--My Failure.-- +Visit to La Trappe. + + +CHAPTER V + +M. de Luxemhourg's Claim of Precedence.--Origin of the Claim.--Duc de +Piney.--Character of Harlay.--Progress of the Trial.--Luxembourg and +Richelieu.--Double-dealing of Harlay.--The Duc de Gesvres.--Return to the +Seat of War.--Divers Operations.--Origin of These Memoirs. + + +CHAPTER VI + +Quarrels of the Princesses.--Mademoiselle Choin.--A Disgraceful Affair.-- +M. de Noyon.--Comic Scene at the Academie.--Anger and Forgiveness of +M. de Noyon.--M. de Noailles in Disgrace.--How He Gets into Favour Again. +--M. de Vendome in Command.--Character of M. de Luxembourg.-- The Trial +for Precedence Again.--An Insolent Lawyer.--Extraordinary Decree. + + +CHAPTER VII + +Harlay and the Dutch.--Death of the Princess of Orange.--Count +Koenigsmarck.--A New Proposal of Marriage.--My Marriage.--That of M. de +Lauzun.--Its Result.--La Fontaine and Mignard.--Illness of the Marechal +de Lorges.--Operations on the Rhine.--Village of Seckenheim.--An Episode +of War.--Cowardice of M. du Maine.--Despair of the King, Who Takes a +Knave in the Act.--Bon Mot of M. d'Elboeuf. + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The Abbe de Fenelon.--The Jansenists and St. Sulpice.--Alliance with +Madame Guyon.--Preceptor of the Royal Children.--Acquaintance with Madame +de Maintenon.--Appointment to Cambrai.--Disclosure of Madame Guyon's +Doctrines.--Her Disgrace.--Bossuet and Fenelon.--Two Rival Books.-- +Disgrace of Fenelon. + + + + + VOLUME 2. + +CHAPTER IX + +Death of Archbishop Harlay.--Scene at Conflans.--"The Good Langres."-- +A Scene at Marly.--Princesses Smoke Pipes!--Fortunes of Cavoye.-- +Mademoiselle de Coetlogon.--Madame de Guise.--Madame de Miramion.--Madame +de Sevigne.--Father Seraphin.--An Angry Bishop.--Death of La Bruyere.-- +Burglary by a Duke.--Proposed Marriage of the Duc de Bourgogne.--The +Duchesse de Lude.--A Dangerous Lady.--Madame d'O.--Arrival of the +Duchesse de Bourgogne. + + +CHAPTER X + +My Return to Fontainebleau.--A Calumny at Court.--Portrait of M. de La +Trappe.--A False Painter.--Fast Living at the "Desert."--Comte +d'Auvergne.--Perfidy of Harlay.--M. de Monaco.--Madame Panache.--The +Italian Actor and the "False Prude". + + +CHAPTER XI + +A Scientific Retreat.--The Peace of Ryswick.--Prince of Conti King of +Poland.--His Voyage and Reception.--King of England Acknowledged.--Duc de +Conde in Burgundy.--Strange Death of Santeuil.--Duties of the Prince of +Darmstadt in Spain.--Madame de Maintenon's Brother.--Extravagant Dresses. +Marriage of the Duc de Bourgogne.--The Bedding of the Princesse.--Grand +Balls.--A Scandalous Bird. + + +CHAPTER XII + +An Odd Marriage.--Black Daughter of the King.--Travels of Peter the +Great.--Magnificent English Ambassador.--The Prince of Parma.-- +A Dissolute Abbe.--Orondat.--Dispute about Mourning.--M. de Cambrai's +Book Condemned by M. de La Trappe.--Anecdote of the Head of Madame de +Montbazon.--Condemnation of Fenelon by the Pope.--His Submission. + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Charnace.--An Odd Ejectment.--A Squabble at Cards.--Birth of My Son.-- +The Camp at Compiegne.--Splendour of Marechal Boufflers.--Pique of the +Ambassadors.--Tesse's Grey Hat.--A Sham Siege.--A Singular Scene.-- +The King and Madame de Maintenon.--An Astonished Officer.-- +Breaking-up of the Camp. + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Gervaise Monk of La Trappe.----His Disgusting Profligacy.--The Author of +the Lord's Prayer.--A Struggle for Precedence.--Madame de Saint-Simon.-- +The End of the Quarrel.--Death of the Chevalier de Coislin.--A Ludicrous +Incident.--Death of Racine.--The King and the Poet.--King Pays Debts of +Courtiers.--Impudence of M. de Vendome.--A Mysterious Murder.-- +Extraordinary Theft. + + +CHAPTER XV + +The Farrier of Salon.--Apparition of a Queen.--The Farrier Comes to +Versailles.--Revelations to the Queen.--Supposed Explanation.-- +New Distinctions to the Bastards.--New Statue of the King.-- +Disappointment of Harlay.--Honesty of Chamillart.--The Comtesse de +Fiesque.--Daughter of Jacquier.--Impudence of Saumery.--Amusing Scene.-- +Attempted Murder. + + +CHAPTER XVI + +Reform at Court.--Cardinal Delfini.--Pride of M. de Monaco.--Early Life +of Madame de Maintenon.--Madame de Navailles.--Balls at Marly.--An Odd +Mask.--Great Dancing--Fortunes of Langlee.--His Coarseness.--The Abbe de +Soubise.--Intrigues for His Promotion.--Disgrace and Obstinacy of +Cardinal de Bouillon. + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A Marriage Bargain.--Mademoiselle de Mailly.--James II.--Begging +Champagne.--A Duel.--Death of Le Notre.--His Character.--History of +Vassor.--Comtesse de Verrue and Her Romance with M. de Savoie.--A Race of +Dwarfs.--An Indecorous Incident.--Death of M. de La Trappe. + + + + + VOLUME 3. + +CHAPTER XVIII + +Settlement of the Spanish Succession.--King William III.--New Party in +Spain.--Their Attack on the Queen.--Perplexity of the King.--His Will.-- +Scene at the Palace.--News Sent to France.--Council at Madame de +Maintenon's.--The King's Decision.--A Public Declaration.--Treatment of +the New King.--His Departure for Spain.--Reflections.--Philip V. Arrives +in Spain.--The Queen Dowager Banished. + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Marriage of Phillip V.--The Queen's Journey.--Rival Dishes.-- +A Delicate Quarrel.--The King's journey to Italy.--The Intrigues against +Catinat.--Vaudemont s Success.--Appointment of Villeroy.--The First +Campaign.--A Snuffbox.--Prince Eugene's Plan.--Attack and Defence of +Cremona.--Villeroy Made Prisoner.--Appointment of M. de Vendome. + + +CHAPTER XX + +Discontent and Death of Barbezieux.--His Character.--Elevation of +Chamillart.--Strange Reasons of His Success.--Death of Rose.--Anecdotes. +--An Invasion of Foxes.--M. le Prince.--A Horse upon Roses.--Marriage of +His Daughter: His Manners and Appearance + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Monseigneur's Indigestion.--The King Disturbed.--The Ladies of the +Halle.--Quarrel of the King and His Brother.--Mutual Reproaches.-- +Monsieur's Confessors.--A New Scene of Wrangling.--Monsieur at Table.-- +He Is Seized with Apoplexy.--The News Carried to Marly.--How Received by +the King.--Death of Monsieur.--Various Forms of Grief.--The Duc de +Chartres. + + +CHAPTER XXII + +The Dead Soon Forgotten.--Feelings of Madame de Maintenon.--And of the +Duc de Chartres.--Of the Courtiers.--Madame's Mode of Life.--Character of +Monsieur.--Anecdote of M. le Prince.--Strange Interview of Madame de +Maintenon with Madame.--Mourning at Court.--Death of Henriette +d'Angleterre.--A Poisoning Scene.--The King and the Accomplice. + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +Scandalous Adventure of the Abbesse de la Joye.--Anecdote of Madame de +Saint-Herem.--Death of James II. and Recognition of His Son.--Alliance +against France.--Scene at St. Maur.--Balls and Plays.--The "Electra" of +Longepierre--Romantic Adventures of the Abbe de Vatterville. + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +Changes in the Army.--I Leave the Service.--Annoyance of the King.--The +Medallic History of the Reign.--Louis XIII.--Death of William III.-- +Accession of Queen Anne.--The Alliance Continued.--Anecdotes of Catinat. +--Madame de Maintenon and the King. + + + + + + VOLUME 4. + +CHAPTER XXV + +Anecdote of Canaples.--Death of the Duc de Coislin.--Anecdotes of His +Unbearable Politeness.--Eccentric Character.--President de Novion.-- +Death of M. de Lorges.--Death of the Duchesse de Gesvres. + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +The Prince d'Harcourt.--His Character and That of His Wife.--Odd Court +Lady.--She Cheats at Play.--Scene at Fontainebleau.--Crackers at Marly.-- +Snowballing a Princess.--Strange Manners of Madame d'Harcourt.-- +Rebellion among Her Servants.--A Vigorous Chambermaid. + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +Madame des Ursins.--Her Marriage and Character.--The Queen of Spain.-- +Ambition of Madame de Maintenon.--Coronation of Philip V.--A Cardinal +Made Colonel.--Favourites of Madame des Ursins.--Her Complete Triumph.-- +A Mistake.--A Despatch Violated.--Madame des Ursins in Disgrace. + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +Appointment of the Duke of Berwick.--Deception Practised by Orry.--Anger +of Louis XIV.--Dismissal of Madame des Ursins.--Her Intrigues to Return. +--Annoyance of the King and Queen of Spain.--Intrigues at Versailles.-- +Triumphant Return of Madame des Ursins to Court.--Baseness of the +Courtiers.--Her Return to Spain Resolved On. + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +An Honest Courtier.--Robbery of Courtin and Fieubet.--An Important +Affair.--My Interview with the King.--His Jealousy of His Authority.-- +Madame La Queue, the King's Daughter.--Battle of Blenheim or Hochstedt.-- +Our Defeat.--Effect of the News on the King.--Public Grief and Public +Rejoicing.--Death of My Friend Montfort. + + +CHAPTER XXX + +Naval Battle of Malaga.--Danger of Gibraltar.--Duke of Mantua in Search +of a Wife.--Duchesse de Lesdiguieres.--Strange Intrigues.--Mademoiselle +d'Elboeuf Carries off the Prize.--A Curious Marriage.--Its Result.-- +History of a Conversion to Catholicism.--Attempted Assassination. -- +Singular Seclusion + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +Fascination of the Duchesse de Bourgogne.--Fortunes of Nangis.--He Is +Loved by the Duchesse and Her Dame d'Atours.--Discretion of the Court.-- +Maulevrier.--His Courtship of the Duchess.--Singular Trick.--Its Strange +Success.--Mad Conduct of Maulevrier--He Is Sent to Spain.--His Adventures +There.--His Return and Tragical Catastrophe. + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +Death of M. de Duras.--Selfishness of the King.--Anecdote of Puysieux.-- +Character of Pontchartrain.--Why He Ruined the French Fleet.--Madame des +Ursins at Last Resolves to Return to Spain.--Favours Heaped upon Her.-- +M. de Lauzun at the Army.--His bon mot.--Conduct of M. de Vendome.-- +Disgrace and Character of the Grand Prieur. + + + + + + VOLUME 5. + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +A Hunting Adventure.--Story and Catastrophe of Fargues.--Death and +Character of Ninon de l'Enclos.--Odd Adventure of Courtenvaux.--Spies at +Court.--New Enlistment.--Wretched State of the Country.--Balls at Marly. + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +Arrival of Vendome at Court.--Character of That Disgusting Personage.-- +Rise of Cardinal Alberoni.--Vendome's Reception at Marly.--His Unheard-of +Triumph.--His High Flight.--Returns to Italy.--Battle of Calcinato.-- +Condition of the Army.--Pique of the Marechal de Villeroy.--Battle of +Ramillies.--Its Consequences. + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +Abandonment of the Siege of Barcelona.--Affairs of Italy.-- +La Feuillade.--Disastrous Rivalries.--Conduct of M. d'Orleans.--The Siege +of Turin.--Battle.--Victory of Prince Eugene.--Insubordination in the +Army.--Retreat.--M. d'Orleans Returns to Court.--Disgrace of La Feuillade + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +Measures of Economy.--Financial Embarrassments.--The King and +Chamillart.--Tax on Baptisms and Marriages.--Vauban's Patriotism.-- +Its Punishment.--My Action with M. de Brissac.--I Appeal to the King.-- +The Result.--I Gain My Action. + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +My Appointment as Ambassador to Rome.--How It Fell Through.--Anecdotes of +the Bishop of Orleans.--A Droll Song.--A Saint in Spite of Himself.-- +Fashionable Crimes.--A Forged Genealogy.--Abduction of Beringhen.-- +The 'Parvulos' of Meudon and Mademoiselle Choin. + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +Death and Last Days of Madame de Montespan.--Selfishness of the King.-- +Death and Character of Madame de Nemours.--Neufchatel and Prussia.-- +Campaign of Villars.--Naval Successes.--Inundations of the Loire.--Siege +of Toulon.--A Quarrel about News.--Quixotic Despatches of Tesse. + + + + + VOLUME 6. + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +Precedence at the Communion Table.--The King Offended with Madame de +Torcy.--The King's Religion.--Atheists and Jansenists.--Project against +Scotland.--Preparations.--Failure.--The Chevalier de St. George.--His +Return to Court. + + +CHAPTER XL + +Death and Character of Brissac.--Brissac and the Court Ladies.--The +Duchesse de Bourgogne.--Scene at the Carp Basin.--King's Selfishness.-- +The King Cuts Samuel Bernard's Purse.--A Vain Capitalist.--Story of Leon +and Florence the Actress.--His Loves with Mademoiselle de Roquelaure.-- +Run--away Marriage.--Anger of Madame de Roquelaure.--A Furious Mother.-- +Opinions of the Court.--A Mistake.--Interference of the King.-- +Fate of the Couple . + + +CHAPTER XLI + +The Duc d'Orleans in Spain.--Offends Madame des Ursins and Madame de +Maintenon.--Laziness of M. de Vendome in Flanders.--Battle of Oudenarde. +--Defeat and Disasters.--Difference of M. de Vendome and the Duc de +Bourgogne. + + +CHAPTER XLII + +Conflicting Reports.--Attacks on the Duc de Bourgogne.--The Duchesse de +Bourgogne Acts against Vendome.--Weakness of the Duke.--Cunning of +Vendome.--The Siege of Lille.--Anxiety for a Battle.--Its Delay.--Conduct +of the King and Monseigneur.--A Picture of Royal Family Feeling.--Conduct +of the Marechal de Boufflers. + + +CHAPTER XLIII + +Equivocal Position of the Duc de Bourgogne.--His Weak Conduct.-- +Concealment of a Battle from the King.--Return of the Duc de Bourgogne to +Court.--Incidents of His Reception.--Monseigneur.--Reception of the Duc +de Berry.--Behaviour of the Duc de Bourgogne.--Anecdotes of Gamaches.-- +Return of Vendome to Court.--His Star Begins to Wane.--Contrast of +Boufflers and Vendome.--Chamillart's Project for Retaking Lille.--How It +Was Defeated by Madame de Maintenon. + + +CHAPTER XLIV + +Tremendous Cold in France.--Winters of 1708-1709--Financiers and the +Famine.--Interference of the Parliaments of Paris and Dijon.--Dreadful +Oppression.--Misery of the People.--New Taxes.--Forced Labour.--General +Ruin.--Increased Misfortunes.--Threatened Regicide.--Procession of Saint +Genevieve.--Offerings of Plate to the King.--Discontent of the People.-- +A Bread Riot, How Appeased. + + +CHAPTER XLV + +M. de Vendome out of Favour.--Death and Character of the Prince de +Conti.--Fall of Vendome.--Pursegur's Interview with the King.--Madame de +Bourgogne against Vendome.--Her Decided Conduct.--Vendome Excluded from +Marly.--He Clings to Meudon.--From Which He is also Expelled.--His Final +Disgrace and Abandonment.--Triumph of Madame de Maintenon. + + +CHAPTER XLVI + +Death of Pere La Chaise.--His Infirmities in Old Age.--Partiality of the +King.--Character of Pere La Chaise.--The Jesuits.--Choice of a New +Confessor.--Fagon's Opinion.--Destruction of Port Royal.--Jansenists and +Molinists.--Pascal.--Violent Oppression of the Inhabitants of Port Royal. + + + + + VOLUME 7. + +CHAPTER XLVII + +Death of D'Avaux.--A Quarrel about a Window.--Louvois and the King.-- +Anecdote of Boisseuil.--Madame de Maintenon and M. de Beauvilliers.-- +Harcourt Proposed for the Council.--His Disappointment.--Death of M. le +Prince.--His Character.--Treatment of His Wife.--His Love Adventures.-- +His Madness.--A Confessor Brought.--Nobody Regrets Him. + + +CHAPTER XLVIII + +Progress of the War.--Simplicity of Chamillart.--The Imperialists and the +Pope.--Spanish Affairs.--Duc d'Orleans and Madame des Ursins.--Arrest of +Flotte in Spain.--Discovery of the Intrigues of the Duc d'Orleans.--Cabal +against Him.--His Disgrace and Its Consequences. + + +CHAPTER XLIX + +Danger of Chamillart.--Witticism of D'Harcourt.--Faults of Chamillart.-- +Court Intrigues against Him.--Behaviour of the Courtiers.--Influence of +Madame de Maintenon.--Dignified Fall of Chamillart.--He is Succeeded by +Voysin.--First Experience of the New Minister.--The Campaign in +Flanders.--Battle of Malplaquet. + + +CHAPTER L. + +Disgrace of the Duc d'Orleans.--I Endeavor to Separate Him from Madame +d'Argenton.--Extraordinary Reports.--My Various Colloquies with Him.--The +Separation.--Conduct of Madame d'Argenton.--Death and Character of M. le +Duc.--The After-suppers of the King. + + +CHAPTER LI + +Proposed Marriage of Mademoiselle.--My Intrigues to Bring It About.--The +Duchesse de Bourgogne and Other Allies.--The Attack Begun.--Progress of +the Intrigue.--Economy at Marly.--The Marriage Agreed Upon.--Scene at +Saint-Cloud.--Horrible Reports.--The Marriage.--Madame de Saint-Simon.-- +Strange Character of the Duchesse de Berry + + +CHAPTER LII + +Birth of Louis XV.--The Marechale de la Meilleraye.--Saint-Ruth's +Cudgel.--The Cardinal de Bouillon's Desertion from France.--Anecdotes of +His Audacity. + + +CHAPTER LIII + +Imprudence of Villars.--The Danger of Truthfulness.--Military Mistakes.-- +The Fortunes of Berwick.--The Son of James.--Berwick's Report on the +Army.--Imprudent Saying of Villars.--"The Good Little Fellow" in a +Scrape.--What Happens to Him. + + +CHAPTER LIV + +Duchesse de Berry Drunk.--Operations in Spain.--Vendome Demanded by +Spain.--His Affront by the Duchesse de Bourgogne.--His Arrival.-- +Staremberg and Stanhope.--The Flag of Spain Leaves Madrid.--Entry of the +Archduke.--Enthusiasm of the Spaniards--The King Returns.--Strategy, of +Staremberg.--Affair of Brighuega.--Battle of Villavciosa.--Its +Consequences to Vendome and to Spain. + + + + + VOLUME 8. + +CHAPTER LV + +State of the Country.--New Taxes.--The King's Conscience Troubled.-- +Decision of the Sorbonne.--Debate in the Council.--Effect of the Royal +Tithe.--Tax on Agioteurs.--Merriment at Court.--Death of a Son of +Marechal Boufflers.--The Jesuits. + + +CHAPTER LVI + +My Interview with Du Mont.--A Mysterious Communication. --Anger of +Monseigneur against Me.--Household of the Duchesse de Berry.--Monseigneur +Taken Ill of the Smallpox.--Effect of the News.--The King Goes to +Meudon.--The Danger Diminishes.--Madame de Maintenon at Meudon.--The +Court at Versailles.--Hopes and Fears.--The Danger Returns.--Death of +Monseigneur.--Conduct of the King. + + +CHAPTER LVII + +A Rumour Reaches Versailles.--Aspect of the Court.--Various Forms of +Grief.--The Duc d'Orleans.--The News Confirmed at Versailles.--Behaviour +of the Courtiers.--The Duc and Duchesse de Berry.--The Duc and Duchesse +de Bourgogne.--Madame.--A Swiss Asleep.--Picture of a Court.--The Heir- +Apparent's Night.--The King Returns to Marly.--Character of Monseigneur. +--Effect of His Death. + + +CHAPTER LVIII + +State of the Court at Death of Monseigneur.--Conduct of the Dauphin and +the Dauphine.--The Duchesse de Berry.--My Interview with the Dauphin.-- +He is Reconciled with M. d'Orleans. + + +CHAPTER LIX + +Warnings to the Dauphin and the Dauphine.--The Dauphine Sickens and +Dies.--Illness of the Dauphin.--His Death.--Character and Manners of the +Dauphine.--And of the Dauphin. + + +CHAPTER LX + +Certainty of Poison.--The Supposed Criminal.--Excitement of the People +against M. d'Orleans.--The Cabal.--My Danger and Escape.--The Dauphin's +Casket. + + + + + VOLUME 9. + +CHAPTER LXI + +The King's Selfishness.--Defeat of the Czar.--Death of Catinat.--Last +Days of Vendome.--His Body at the Escurial.--Anecdote of Harlay and the +Jacobins.--Truce in Flanders.--Wolves. + + +CHAPTER LXII + +Settlement of the Spanish Succession.--Renunciation of France.--Comic +Failure of the Duc de Berry.--Anecdotes of M. de Chevreuse.--Father +Daniel's History and Its Reward. + + +CHAPTER LXIII + +The Bull Unigenitus.--My Interview with Father Tellier.--Curious +Inadvertence of Mine.--Peace.--Duc de la Rochefoucauld.--A Suicide in +Public.--Charmel.--Two Gay Sisters. + + +CHAPTER LXIV + +The King of Spain a Widower.--Intrigues of Madame des Ursins.--Choice of +the Princes of Parma.--The King of France Kept in the Dark.--Celebration +of the Marriage.--Sudden Fall of the Princesse des Ursins.--Her Expulsion +from Spain. + + +CHAPTER LXV + +The King of Spain Acquiesces in the Disgrace of Madame des Ursins.--Its +Origin.--Who Struck the Blow.--Her journey to Versailles.--Treatment +There.--My Interview with Her.--She Retires to Genoa.--Then to Rome.-- +Dies. + + +CHAPTER LXVI + +Sudden Illness of the Duc de Berry--Suspicious Symptoms.--The Duchess +Prevented from Seeing Him.--His Death.--Character.--Manners of the +Duchesse de Berry. + + +CHAPTER LXVII + +Maisons Seeks My Acquaintance.--His Mysterious Manner.--Increase of the +Intimacy.--Extraordinary News.--The Bastards Declared Princes of the +Blood.--Rage of Maisons and Noailles.--Opinion of the Court and Country. + + +CHAPTER LXVIII + +The King Unhappy and Ill at Ease.--Court Paid to Him.--A New Scheme to +Rule Him.--He Yields.--New Annoyance.--His Will.--Anecdotes Concerning +It.--Opinions of the Court.--M. du Maine + + +CHAPTER LXIX + +A New Visit from Maisons.--His Violent Project.--My Objections.--He +Persists.--His Death and That of His Wife. --Death of the Duc de +Beauvilliers.--His Character.--Of the Cardinal d'Estrees.--Anecdotes.-- +Death of Fenelon. + + + + + VOLUME 10. + +CHAPTER LXX + +Character and Position of the Duc d'Orleans--His Manners, Talents, and +Virtues.--His Weakness.--Anecdote Illustrative Thereof.-- +The "Debonnaire"--Adventure of the Grand Prieur in England.--Education +of the Duc d'Orleans.--Character of Dubois.--His Pernicious Influence.-- +The Duke's Emptiness.--His Deceit.--His Love of Painting.--The Fairies at +His Birth.--The Duke's Timidity.--An Instance of His Mistrustfulness. + + +CHAPTER LXXI + +The Duke Tries to Raise the Devil.--Magical Experiments.--His Religious +Opinions.--Impiety.--Reads Rabelais at Church.--The Duchesse d'Orleans.-- +Her Character.--Her Life with Her Husband.--My Discourses with the Duke +on the Future.--My Plans of Government.--A Place at Choice Offered Me.-- +I Decline the Honour.--My Reason.--National Bankruptcy.--The Duke's Anger +at My Refusal.--A Final Decision. + + +CHAPTER LXXII + +The King's Health Declines.--Bets about His Death.--Lord Stair.--My New +Friend.--The King's Last Hunt.--And Last Domestic and Public Acts.-- +Doctors.--Opium.--The King's Diet.--Failure of His Strength.--His Hopes +of Recovery.--Increased Danger.--Codicil to His Will.--Interview with the +Duc d'Orleans.--With the Cardinal de Noailles.--Address to His +Attendants.--The Dauphin Brought to Him.--His Last Words.-- +An Extraordinary Physician.--The Courtiers and the Duc d'Orleans.-- +Conduct of Madame de Maintenon.--The King's Death. + + +CHAPTER LXXIII + +Early Life of Louis XIV.--His Education.--His Enormous Vanity.--His +Ignorance.--Cause of the War with Holland.--His Mistakes and Weakness in +War.--The Ruin of France.--Origin of Versailles.--The King's Love of +Adulation, and Jealousy of People Who Came Not to Court.--His Spies.-- +His Vindictiveness.--Opening of Letters.--Confidence Sometimes Placed in +Him--A Lady in a Predicament. + + +CHAPTER LXXIV + +Excessive Politeness.--Influence of the Valets.--How the King Drove +Out.--Love of magnificence.--His Buildings. --Versailles.--The Supply of +Water.--The King Seeks for Quiet.--Creation of Marly.--Tremendous +Extravagance. + + +CHAPTER LXXV + +Amours of the King.--La Valliere.--Montespan.--Scandalous Publicity.-- +Temper of Madame de Montespan.--Her Unbearable Haughtiness.--Other +Mistresses.--Madame de Maintenon.--Her Fortunes.--Her Marriage with +Scarron.--His Character and Society.--How She Lived After His Death.-- +Gets into Better Company.--Acquaintance with Madame de Montespan.-- +The King's Children.--His Dislike of Widow Scarron.--Purchase of the +Maintenon Estate.--Further Demands.--M. du Maine on His Travels.-- +Montespan's Ill--humour.--Madame de Maintenon Supplants Her.--Her Bitter +Annoyance.--Progress of the New Intrigue.--Marriage of the King and +Madame de Maintenon. + + +CHAPTER LXXVI + +Character of Madame de Maintenon.--Her Conversation.--Her Narrow- +mindedness.--Her Devotion.--Revocation of the Edict of Nantes.--Its Fatal +Consequences.--Saint Cyr.--Madame de Maintenon Desires Her Marriage to be +Declared.--Her Schemes.--Counterworked by Louvois.--His Vigorous Conduct +and Sudden Death.--Behaviour of the King.--Extraordinary Death of Seron. + + +CHAPTER LXXVII + +Daily Occupations of Madame de Maintenon.--Her Policy--How She Governed +the King's Affairs.--Connivance with the Ministers.--Anecdote of +Le Tellier.--Behaviour of the King to Madame de Maintenon.-- +His Hardness.--Selfishness.--Want of Thought for Others.--Anecdotes.-- +Resignation of the King.--Its Causes.--The Jesuits and the Doctors.--The +King and Lay Jesuits. + + + + + VOLUME 11. + +CHAPTER LXXVIII + +External Life of Louis XIV.--At the Army.--Etiquette of the King's +Table.--Court Manners and Customs.--The Rising of the King.--Morning +Occupations.--Secret Amours.--Going to Mass.--Councils.--Thursdays.-- +Fridays.--Ceremony of the King's Dinner.--The King's Brother.--After +Dinner.--The Drive.--Walks at Marly and Elsewhere.--Stag--hunting.--Play- +tables.--Lotteries.--Visits to Madame de Maintenon.--Supper.--The King +Retires to Rest.--Medicine Days.--Kings Religious Observances.--Fervency +in Lent.--At Mass.--Costume.--Politeness of the King for the Court of +Saint-Germain.--Feelings of the Court at His Death.--Relief of Madame de +Maintenon.--Of the Duchesse d'Orleans.--Of the Court Generally.--Joy of +Paris and the Whole of France.--Decency of Foreigners.--Burial of the +King. + + +CHAPTER LXXIX + +Surprise of M. d'Orleans at the King's Death.--My Interview with Him.-- +Dispute about Hats.--M. du Maine at the Parliament.--His Reception.-- +My Protest.--The King's Will.--Its Contents and Reception.--Speech of the +Duc d'Orleans.--Its Effect.--His Speech on the Codicil.--Violent +Discussion.--Curious Scene.--Interruption for Dinner.--Return to the +Parliament.--Abrogation of the Codicil.--New Scheme of Government.-- +The Regent Visits Madame de Maintenon.--The Establishment of Saint-Cyr.-- +The Regent's Liberality to Madame de Maintenon. + + +CHAPTER LXXX + +The Young King's Cold.--'Lettres des Cachet' Revived.--A Melancholy +Story.--A Loan from Crosat.--Retrenchments.--Unpaid Ambassadors.--Council +of the Regency.--Influence of Lord Stair.--The Pretender.--His Departure +from Bar.--Colonel Douglas.--The Pursuit.--Adventure at Nonancourt.--Its +Upshot.--Madame l'Hospital.--Ingratitude of the Pretender. + + +CHAPTER LXXXI + +Behaviour of the Duchesse de Berry.--Her Arrogance Checked by Public +Opinion.--Walls up the Luxembourg Garden.--La Muette.--Her Strange Amour +with Rion.--Extraordinary Details.--The Duchess at the Carmelites.-- +Weakness of the Regent.--His Daily Round of Life.--His Suppers.-- +How He Squandered His Time.--His Impenetrability.--Scandal of His Life.-- +Public Balls at the Opera. + + +CHAPTER LXXXII + +First Appearance of Law.--His Banking Project Supported by the Regent.-- +Discussed by the Regent with Me.--Approved by the Council and Registered. +--My Interviews with Law.--His Reasons for Seeking My Friendship.-- +Arouet de Voltaire + + +CHAPTER LXXXIII + +Rise of Alberoni.--Intimacy of France and England.--Gibraltar Proposed to +be Given Up.--Louville the Agent.--His Departure.--Arrives at Madrid.-- +Alarm of Alberoni.--His Audacious Intrigues.--Louville in the Bath.-- +His Attempts to See the King.--Defeated.--Driven out of Spain.--Impudence +of Alberoni.--Treaty between France and England.--Stipulation with +Reference to the Pretender. + + +CHAPTER LXXXIV + +The Lieutenant of Police.--Jealousy of Parliament.--Arrest of Pomereu +Resolved On.--His Imprisonment and Sudden Release.--Proposed Destruction +of Marly.--How I Prevented It.--Sale of the Furniture.--I Obtain the +'Grandes Entrees'.--Their Importance and Nature.--Afterwards Lavished +Indiscriminately.--Adventure of the Diamond called "The Regent."--Bought +for the Crown of France. + + +CHAPTER LXXXV + +Death of the Duchesse de Lesdiguieres.--Cavoye and His Wife.--Peter the +Great.--His Visit to France.--Enmity to England.--Its Cause.--Kourakin, +the Russian Ambassador.--The Czar Studies Rome.--Makes Himself the Head +of Religion.--New Desires for Rome--Ultimately Suppressed.--Preparations +to Receive the Czar at Paris.--His Arrival at Dunkerque.--At Beaumont.-- +Dislikes the Fine Quarters Provided for Him.--His Singular Manners, and +Those of His Suite. + + +CHAPTER LXXXVI + +Personal Appearance of the Czar.--His Meals.--Invited by the Regent.-- +His Interview with the King--He Returns the Visit.--Excursion in Paris.-- +Visits Madame.--Drinks Beer at the Opera.--At the Invalides.--Meudon.-- +Issy.--The Tuileries.--Versailles.--Hunt at Fontainebleau.--Saint--Cyr.-- +Extraordinary Interview with Madame de Maintenon.--My Meeting with the +Czar at D'Antin's.--The Ladies Crowd to See Him.--Interchange of +Presents.--A Review.--Party Visits.--Desire of the Czar to Be United to +France. + + +CHAPTER LXXXVII + +Courson in Languedoc.--Complaints of Perigueux.--Deputies to Paris.-- +Disunion at the Council.--Intrigues of the Duc de Noailles.--Scene.-- +I Support the Perigueux People.--Triumph.--My Quarrel with Noailles.-- +The Order of the Pavilion. + + + + + VOLUME 12. + +CHAPTER LXXXVIII + +Policy and Schemes of Alberoni.--He is Made a Cardinal.--Other Rewards +Bestowed on Him.--Dispute with the Majordomo.--An Irruption into the +Royal Apartment.--The Cardinal Thrashed.--Extraordinary Scene. + + +CHAPTER LXXXIX + +Anecdote of the Duc d'Orleans.--He Pretends to Reform --Trick Played upon +Me.--His Hoaxes.--His Panegyric of Me.--Madame de Sabran.--How the Regent +Treated His Mistresses. + + +CHAPTER XC + +Encroachments of the Parliament.--The Money Edict.--Conflict of Powers-- +Vigorous Conduct of the Parliament.--Opposed with Equal Vigour by the +Regent.--Anecdote of the Duchesse du Maine.--Further Proceedings of the +Parliament.--Influence of the Reading of Memoirs.--Conduct of the +Regent.--My Political Attitude.--Conversation with the Regent on the +Subject of the Parliament.--Proposal to Hang Law.--Meeting at My House.-- +Law Takes Refuge in the Palais Royal. + + +CHAPTER XCI + +Proposed Bed of Justice.--My Scheme.--Interview with the Regent.-- +The Necessary Seats for the Assembly.--I Go in Search of Fontanieu.-- +My Interview with Hini.--I Return to the Palace.--Preparations.-- +Proposals of M. le Duc to Degrade M. du Maine.--My Opposition.--My Joy +and Delight.--The Bed of Justice Finally Determined On.--A Charming +Messenger.--Final Preparations.--Illness of the Regent.--News Given to +M. du Maine.--Resolution of the Parliament.--Military Arrangements.--I Am +Summoned to the Council.--My Message to the Comte de Toulouse. + + +CHAPTER XCII + +The Material Preparations for the Bed of Justice--Arrival of the Duc +d'Orleans:--The Council Chamber.--Attitude of the Various Actors.--The +Duc du Maine.--Various Movements.--Arrival of the Duc de Toulouse.-- +Anxiety of the Two Bastards.--They Leave the Room.--Subsequent +Proceedings.--Arrangement of the Council Chamber.--Speech of the Regent. +--Countenances of the Members of Council.--The Regent Explains the Object +of the Bed of Justice.--Speech of the Keeper of the Seals.--Taking the +Votes.--Incidents That Followed.--New Speech of the Duc d'Orleans.-- +Against the Bastards.--My Joy.--I Express My Opinion Modestly.--Exception +in Favour of the Comte de Toulouse.--New Proposal of M. le Duc.--Its +Effect.--Threatened Disobedience of the Parliament.--Proper Measures.-- +The Parliament Sets Out. + + +CHAPTER XCIII + +Continuation of the Scene in the Council Chamber.--Slowness of the +Parliament.--They Arrive at Last.--The King Fetched.--Commencement of the +Bed of Justice.--My Arrival.--Its Effect.--What I Observed.--Absence of +the Bastards Noticed.--Appearance of the King. The Keeper of the Seals.-- +The Proceedings Opened.--Humiliation of the Parliament.--Speech of the +Chief-President.--New Announcement.--Fall of the Duc du Maine Announced. +--Rage of the Chief-President.--My Extreme joy.--M. le Duc Substituted +for M. du Maine.--Indifference of the King.--Registration of the Decrees. + + +CHAPTER XCIV + +My Return Home.--Wanted for a New Commission.--Go to the Palais Royal.-- +A Cunning Page.--My journey to Saint-Cloud.--My Reception.--Interview +with the Duchesse d'Orleans.--Her Grief.--My Embarrassment.--Interview +with Madame.--Her Triumph.--Letter of the Duchesse d'Orleans.--She Comes +to Paris.--Quarrels with the Regent. + + +CHAPTER XCV + +Intrigues of M. du Maine.--And of Cellamare, the Spanish Ambassador.-- +Monteleon and Portocarrero.--Their Despatches.--How Signed.--The +Conspiracy Revealed.--Conduct of the Regent.--Arrest of Cellamare.--His +House Searched.--The Regency Council.--Speech of the Duc d'Orleans.-- +Resolutions Come To.--Arrests.--Relations with Spain.--Alberoni and +Saint-Aignan.--Their Quarrel.--Escape of Saint-Aignan. + + +CHAPTER XCVI + +The Regent Sends for Me.--Guilt of the Duc de Maine.--Proposed Arrest.-- +Discussion on the Prison to Be Chosen.--The Arrest.--His Dejection.-- +Arrest of the Duchess.--Her Rage.--Taken to Dijon.--Other Arrests.-- +Conduct of the Comte de Toulouse.--The Faux Sauniers.--Imprisonment of +the Duc and Duchesse du Maine.--Their Sham Disagreement.--Their +Liberation.--Their Reconciliation. + + + + VOLUME 13. + +CHAPTER XCVII + +Anecdote of Madame de Charlus.--The 'Phillippaques'.--La Grange.-- +Pere Tellier.--The Jesuits.--Anecdote----Tellier's Banishment.--Death of +Madame de Maintenon.--Her Life at Saint-Cyr. + + +CHAPTER XCVIII + +Mode of Life of the Duchesse de Berry.--Her Illness.--Her Degrading +Amours.--Her Danger Increases.--The Sacraments Refused.--The Cure Is +Supported by the Cardinal de Noailles.--Curious Scene.--The Duchess +Refuses to Give Way.--She Recovers, and Is Delivered.--Ambition of Rion. +--He Marries the Duchess.--She Determines to Go to Meudon.--Rion Sent to +the Army.--Quarrels of Father and Daughter.--Supper on the Terrace of +Meudon.--The Duchess Again Ill.--Moves to La Muette.--Great Danger.-- +Receives the Sacrament.--Garus and Chirac.--Rival Doctors.--Increased +Illness.--Death of the Duchess.--Sentiments on the Occasion.--Funeral +Ceremonies.--Madame de Saint-Simon Fails Ill.--Her Recovery.--We Move to +Meudon.--Character of the Duchesse de Berry. + + +CHAPTER XCIX + +The Mississippi Scheme.--Law Offers Me Shares.--Compensation for Blaye.-- +The Rue Quincampoix.--Excitement of the Public.--Increased Popularity of +the Scheme.--Conniving of Law.--Plot against His Life--Disagreement with +Argenson.--Their Quarrel.--Avarice of the Prince de Conti.--His +Audacity.--Anger of the Regent.--Comparison with the Period of Louis +XIV.--A Ballet Proposed.--The Marechal de Villeroy.--The Young King Is to +Dance.--Young Law Proposed.--Excitement.--The Young King's Disgust.-- +Extravagant Presents of the Duc d'Orleans. + + +CHAPTER C + +System of Law in Danger.--Prodigality of the Duc d'Orleans.--Admissions +of Law.--Fall of His Notes.--Violent Measures Taken to Support Them.-- +Their Failure.--Increased Extravagance of the Regent.--Reduction of the +Fervour.--Proposed Colonies.--Forced Emigration.--Decree on the Indian +Company.--Scheming of Argenson. Attitude of the Parliament.--Their +Remonstrance.--Dismissal of Law.--His Coolness--Extraordinary Decree of +Council of State.--Prohibition of jewellery.--New Schemes. + + +CHAPTER CI + +The New Edict.--The Commercial Company.--New Edict.--Rush on the Bank.-- +People Stifled in the Crowd.--Excitement against Law.--Money of the +Bank.--Exile of the Parliament to Pontoise.--New Operation.--The Place +Vendome.--The Marechal de Villeroy.--Marseilles.--Flight of Law.-- +Character of Him and His Wife.--Observations on His Schemes.--Decrees of +the Finance. + + +CHAPTER CII + +Council on the Finances.--Departure of Law--A Strange Dialogue.--M. le +Duc and the Regent.--Crimes Imputed to Law during His Absence.--Schemes +Proposed.--End, of the Council. + + +CHAPTER CIII + +Character of Alberoni.--His Grand Projects.--Plots against Him.--The +Queen's Nurse.--The Scheme against the Cardinal.--His Fall.--Theft of a +Will.--Reception in Italy.--His Adventures There. + + +CHAPTER CIV + +Meetings of the Council.--A Kitten.--The Archbishopric of Cambrai.-- +Scandalous Conduct of Dubois.--The Consecration.--I Persuade the Regent +Not to Go.--He Promises Not.--Breaks His Word.--Madame de Parabere.--The +Ceremony.--Story of the Comte de Horn. + + + + + VOLUME 14 + +CHAPTER CV + +Quarrel of the King of England with His Son.--Schemes of Dubois.-- +Marriage of Brissac.--His Death.--Birth of the Young Pretender.-- +Cardinalate of Dubois.--Illness of the King.--His Convalescence.-- +A Wonderful Lesson.--Prudence of the Regent.--Insinuations against Him. + + +CHAPTER CVI + +Projected Marriages of the King and of the Daughter of the Duc d'Orleans_ +--How It Was Communicated to Me.--I Ask for the Embassy to Spain.--It Is +Granted to Me.--Jealousy of Dubois.--His Petty Interference.-- +Announcement of the Marriages. + + +CHAPTER CVII + +Interview with Dubois.--His Singular Instructions to Ale.--His Insidious +Object.--Various Tricks and Manoeuvres.--My Departure for Spain.--Journey +by Way of Bordeaux and Bayonne.--Reception in Spain.--Arrival at Madrid. + + +CHAPTER CVIII + +Interview in the Hall of Mirrors.--Preliminaries of the Marriages.-- +Grimaldo.--How the Question of Precedence Was Settled.--I Ask for an +Audience.--Splendid Illuminations.--A Ball.--I Am Forced to Dance. + + +CHAPTER CIX + +Mademoiselle de Montpensier Sets out for Spain.--I Carry the News to the +King.--Set out for Lerma.--Stay at the Escurial.--Take the Small--pox.-- +Convalescence. + + +CHAPTER CX + +Mode of Life of Their Catholic Majesties.--Their Night.--Morning.-- +Toilette.--Character of Philippe V.--And of His Queen.--How She Governed +Him. + + +CHAPTER CXI + +The King's Taste for Hunting.--Preparations for a Battue.--Dull Work.-- +My Plans to Obtain the Grandesse.--Treachery of Dubois.--Friendship of +Grimaldo.--My Success. + + +CHAPTER CXII + +Marriage of the Prince of the Asturias.--An Ignorant Cardinal.--I Am Made +Grandee of Spain.--The Vidame de Chartres Named Chevalier of the Golden +Fleece.--His Reception--My Adieux.--A Belching Princess.-- +Return to France. + + + + + VOLUME 15. + +CHAPTER CXIII + +Attempted Reconciliation between Dubois and Villeroy.--Violent Scene.-- +Trap Laid for the Marechal.--Its Success.--His Arrest. + + +CHAPTER CXIV + +I Am Sent for by Cardinal Dubois.--Flight of Frejus.--He Is Sought and +Found.--Behaviour of Villeroy in His Exile at Lyons.--His Rage and +Reproaches against Frejus.--Rise of the Latter in the King's Confidence. + + +CHAPTER CXV + +I Retire from Public Life.--Illness and Death of Dubois. --Account of His +Riches.--His Wife.--His Character.--Anecdotes.--Madame de Conflans.-- +Relief of the Regent and the King. + + +CHAPTER CXVI + +Death of Lauzun.--His Extraordinary Adventures.--His Success at Court.-- +Appointment to the Artillery.--Counter--worked by Louvois.--Lauzun and +Madame de Montespan.--Scene with the King.--Mademoiselle and Madame de +Monaco. + + +CHAPTER CXVII + +Lauzun's Magnificence.--Louvois Conspires against Him.--He Is +Imprisoned.--His Adventures at Pignerol.--On What Terms He Is Released.-- +His Life Afterwards.--Return to Court. + + +CHAPTER CXVIII + +Lauzun Regrets His Former Favour.--Means Taken to Recover It.--Failure.-- +Anecdotes.--Biting Sayings.--My Intimacy with Lauzun.--His Illness, +Death, and Character. + + +CHAPTER CXIX + +Ill-Health of the Regent.--My Fears.--He Desires a Sudden Death.-- +Apoplectic Fit.--Death.--His Successor as Prime Minister.--The Duc de +Chartres.--End of the Memoirs. + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +No library of Court documents could pretend to be representative which +ignored the famous "Memoirs" of the Duc de Saint-Simon. They stand, by +universal consent, at the head of French historical papers, and are the +one great source from which all historians derive their insight into the +closing years of the reign of the "Grand Monarch," Louis XIV: whom the +author shows to be anything but grand--and of the Regency. The opinion +of the French critic, Sainte-Beuve, is fairly typical. "With the Memoirs +of De Retz, it seemed that perfection had been attained, in interest, in +movement, in moral analysis, in pictorial vivacity, and that there was no +reason for expecting they could be surpassed. But the 'Memoirs' of +Saint-Simon came; and they offer merits . . . which make them the most +precious body of Memoirs that as yet exist." + +Villemain declared their author to be "the most original of geniuses in +French literature, the foremost of prose satirists; inexhaustible in +details of manners and customs, a word-painter like Tacitus; the author +of a language of his own, lacking in accuracy, system, and art, yet an +admirable writer." Leon Vallee reinforces this by saying: "Saint-Simon +can not be compared to any of his contemporaries. He has an +individuality, a style, and a language solely his own.... Language he +treated like an abject slave. When he had gone to its farthest limit, +when it failed to express his ideas or feelings, he forced it--the result +was a new term, or a change in the ordinary meaning of words sprang forth +from has pen. With this was joined a vigour and breadth of style, very +pronounced, which makes up the originality of the works of Saint-Simon +and contributes toward placing their author in the foremost rank of +French writers." + +Louis de Rouvroy, who later became the Duc de Saint-Simon, was born in +Paris, January 16, 1675. He claimed descent from Charlemagne, but the +story goes that his father, as a young page of Louis XIII., gained favour +with his royal master by his skill in holding the stirrup, and was +finally made a duke and peer of France. The boy Louis had no lesser +persons than the King and Queen Marie Therese as godparents, and made his +first formal appearance at Court when seventeen. He tells us that he was +not a studious boy, but was fond of reading history; and that if he had +been given rein to read all he desired of it, he might have made "some +figure in the world." At nineteen, like D'Artagnan, he entered the +King's Musketeers. At twenty he was made a captain in the cavalry; and +the same year he married the beautiful daughter of the Marechal de +Larges. This marriage, which was purely political in its inception, +finally turned into a genuine love match--a pleasant exception to the +majority of such affairs. He became devoted to his wife, saying: "she +exceeded all that was promised of her, and all that I myself had hoped." +Partly because of this marriage, and also because he felt himself +slighted in certain army appointments, he resigned his commissim after +five years' service, and retired for a time to private life. + +Upon his return to Court, taking up apartments which the royal favour had +reserved for him at Versailles, Saint-Simon secretly entered upon the +self-appointed task for which he is now known to fame--a task which the +proud King of a vainglorious Court would have lost no time in terminating +had it been discovered--the task of judge, spy, critic, portraitist, and +historian, rolled into one. Day by day, henceforth for many years, he +was to set down upon his private "Memoirs" the results of his personal +observations, supplemented by the gossip brought to him by his +unsuspecting friends; for neither courtier, statesman, minister, nor +friend ever looked upon those notes which this "little Duke with his +cruel, piercing, unsatisfied eyes" was so busily penning. Says Vallee: +"He filled a unique position at Court, being accepted by all, even by the +King himself, as a cynic, personally liked for his disposition, enjoying +consideration on account of the prestige of his social connections, +inspiring fear in the more timid by the severity and fearlessness of his +criticism." Yet Louis XIV. never seems to have liked him, and Saint- +Simon owed his influence chiefly to his friendly relations with the +Dauphin's family. During the Regency, he tried to restrain the +profligate Duke of Orleans, and in return was offered the position of +governor of the boy, Louis XV., which he refused. Soon after, he retired +to private life, and devoted his remaining years largely to revising his +beloved "Memoirs." The autograph manuscript, still in existence, reveals +the immense labour which he put into it. The writing is remarkable for +its legibility and freedom from erasure. It comprises no less than 2,300 +pages in folio. + +After the author's death, in 1755, the secret of his lifelong labour was +revealed; and the Duc de Choiseul, fearing the result of these frank +revelations, confiscated them and placed them among the state archives. +For sixty years they remained under lock and key, being seen by only a +few privileged persons, among them Marmontel, Duclos, and Voltaire. A +garbled version of extracts appeared in 1789, possibly being used as a +Revolutionary text. Finally, in 1819, a descendant of the analyst, +bearing the same name, obtained permission from Louis XVIII. to set this +"prisoner of the Bastille" at liberty; and in 1829 an authoritative +edition, revised and arranged by chapters, appeared. It created a +tremendous stir. Saint-Simon had been merciless, from King down to +lady's maid, in depicting the daily life of a famous Court. He had +stripped it of all its tinsel and pretension, and laid the ragged +framework bare. "He wrote like the Devil for posterity!" exclaimed +Chateaubriand. But the work at once became universally read and quoted, +both in France and England. Macaulay made frequent use of it in his +historical essays. It was, in a word, recognised as the chief authority +upon an important period of thirty years (1694-1723). + +Since then it has passed through many editions, finally receiving an +adequate English translation at the hands of Bayle St. John, who has been +careful to adhere to the peculiarities of Saint-Simon's style. It is +this version which is now presented in full, giving us not only many +vivid pictures of the author's time, but of the author himself. "I do +not pride myself upon my freedom from prejudice--impartiality," he +confesses--"it would be useless to attempt it. But I have tried at all +times to tell the truth." + + + + +VOLUME 1. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +I was born on the night of the 15th of January, 1675, of Claude Duc de +Saint-Simon, Peer of France, and of his second wife Charlotte de +l'Aubepine. I was the only child of that marriage. By his first wife, +Diana de Budos, my father had had only a daughter. He married her to the +Duc de Brissac, Peer of France, only brother of the Duchesse de Villeroy. +She died in 1684, without children,--having been long before separated +from a husband who was unworthy of her--leaving me heir of all her +property. + +I bore the name of the Vidame de Chartres; and was educated with great +care and attention. My mother, who was remarkable for virtue, +perseverance, and sense, busied herself continually in forming my mind +and body. She feared for me the usual fate of young men, who believe +their fortunes made, and who find themselves their own masters early in +life. It was not likely that my father, born in 1606, would live long +enough to ward off from me this danger; and my mother repeatedly +impressed on, me how necessary it was for a young man, the son of the +favourite of a King long dead,--with no new friends at Court,--to acquire +some personal value of his own. She succeeded in stimulating my courage; +and in exciting in me the desire to make the acquisitions she laid stress +on; but my aptitude for study and the sciences did not come up to my +desire to succeed in them. However, I had an innate inclination for +reading, especially works of history; and thus was inspired with ambition +to emulate the examples presented to my imagination,--to do something and +become somebody, which partly made amends for my coldness for letters. +In fact, I have always thought that if I had been allowed to read history +more constantly, instead of losing my time in studies for which I had no +aptness, I might have made some figure in the world. + +What I read of my own accord, of history, and, above all, of the personal +memoirs of the times since Francis I., bred in me the desire to write +down what I might myself see. The hope of advancement, and of becoming +familiar with the affairs of my time, stirred me. The annoyances I might +thus bring upon myself did not fail to present themselves to my mind; but +the firm resolution I made to keep my writings secret from everybody, +appeared to me to remedy all evils. I commenced my memoirs then in July, +1694, being at that time colonel of a cavalry regiment bearing my name, +in the camp of Guinsheim, upon the old Rhine, in the army commanded by +the Marechal Duc de Lorges. + +In 1691 I was studying my philosophy and beginning to learn to ride at an +academy at Rochefort, getting mightily tired of masters and books, and +anxious to join the army. The siege of Mons, formed by the King in +person, at the commencement of the spring, had drawn away all the young +men of my age to commence their first campaign; and, what piqued me most, +the Duc de Chartres was there, too. I had been, as it were, educated +with him. I was younger than he by eight months; and if the expression +be allowed in speaking of young people, so unequal in position, +friendship had united us. I made up my mind, therefore, to escape from +my leading-strings; but pass lightly over the artifices I used in order +to attain success. I addressed myself to my mother. I soon saw that she +trifled with me. I had recourse to my father, whom I made believe that +the King, having led a great siege this year, would rest the next. +I said nothing of this to my mother, who did not discover my plot until +it was just upon the point, of execution. + +The King had determined rigidly to adhere to a rule he had laid down-- +namely, that none who entered the service, except his illegitimate +children, and the Princes of the blood royal, should be exempt from +serving for a year in one of his two companies of musketeers; and passing +afterwards through the ordeal of being private or subaltern in one of the +regiments of cavalry or infantry, before receiving permission to purchase +a regiment. My father took me, therefore, to Versailles, where he had +not been for many years, and begged of the King admission for me into the +Musketeers. It was on the day of St. Simon and St. Jude, at half-past +twelve, and just as his Majesty came out of the council. + +The King did my father the honour of embracing him three times, and then +turned towards me. Finding that I was little and of delicate appearance, +he said I was still very young; to which my father replied, that I should +be able in consequence to serve longer. Thereupon the King demanded in +which of the two companies he wished to put me; and my father named that +commanded by Maupertuis, who was one of his friends. The King relied +much upon the information given him by the captains of the two companies +of Musketeers, as to the young men who served in them. I have reason for +believing, that I owe to Maupertuis the first good opinion that his +Majesty had of me. + +Three months after entering the Musketeers, that is to say, in the March +of the following year, the King held a review of his guards, and of the +gendarmerie, at Compiegne, and I mounted guard once at the palace. +During this little journey there was talk of a much more important one. +My joy was extreme; but my father, who had not counted upon this, +repented of having believed me, when I told him that the King would no +doubt rest at Paris this year. My mother, after a little vexation and +pouting at finding me enrolled by my father against her will, did not +fail to bring him to reason, and to make him provide me with an equipment +of thirty-five horses or mules, and means to live honourably. + +A grievous annoyance happened in our house about three weeks before my +departure. A steward of my father named Tesse, who had been with him +many years, disappeared all at once with fifty thousand francs due to +various tradesfolk. He had written out false receipts from these people, +and put them in his accounts. He was a little man, gentle, affable, and +clever; who had shown some probity, and who had many friends. + +The King set out on the 10th of May, 1692, with the ladies; and I +performed the journey on horseback with the soldiers and all the +attendants, like the other Musketeers, and continued to do so through the +whole campaign. I was accompanied by two gentlemen; the one had been my +tutor, the other was my mother's squire. The King's army was formed at +the camp of Gevries; that of M. de Luxembourg almost joined it: The +ladies were at Mons, two leagues distant. The King made them come into +his camp, where he entertained them; and then showed them, perhaps; the +most superb review which had ever been seen. The two armies were ranged +in two lines, the right of M. de Luxembourg's touching the left of the +King's,--the whole extending over three leagues of ground. + +After stopping ten days at Gevries, the two armies separated and marched. +Two days afterwards the seige of Namur was declared. The King arrived +there in five days. Monseigneur (son of the King); Monsieur (Duc +d'Orleans, brother of the King); M. le Prince (de Conde) and Marechal +d'Humieres; all four, the one under the other, commanded in the King's +army under the King himself. The Duc de Luxembourg, sole general of his +own army, covered the siege operations, and observed the enemy. The +ladies went away to Dinant. On the third day of the march M. le Prince +went forward to invest the place. + +The celebrated Vauban, the life and soul of all the sieges the King made, +was of opinion that the town should be attacked separately from the +castle; and his advice was acted upon. The Baron de Bresse, however, +who had fortified the place, was for attacking town and castle together. +He was a humble down-looking man, whose physiognomy promised nothing, but +who soon acquired the confidence of the King, and the esteem of the army. + +The Prince de Conde, Marechal d'Humieres, and the Marquis de Boufflers +each led an attack. There was nothing worthy of note during the ten days +the siege lasted. On the eleventh day, after the trenches had been +opened, a parley was beaten and a capitulation made almost as the +besieged desired it. They withdrew to the castle; and it was agreed that +it should not be attacked from the town-side, and that the town was not +to be battered by it. During the siege the King was almost always in his +tent; and the weather remained constantly warm and serene. We lost +scarcely anybody of consequence. The Comte de Toulouse received a slight +wound in the arm while quite close to the King, who from a prominent +place was witnessing the attack of a half-moon, which was carried in +broad daylight by a detachment of the oldest of the two companies of +Musketeers. + +The siege of the castle next commenced. The position of the camp was +changed. The King's tents and those of all the Court were pitched in a +beautiful meadow about five hundred paces from the monastery of +Marlaigne. The fine weather changed to rain, which fell with an +abundance and perseverance never before known by any one in the army. +This circumstance increased the reputation of Saint Medard, whose fete +falls on the 8th of June. It rained in torrents that day, and it is said +that when such is the case it will rain for forty days afterwards. By +chance it happened so this year. The soldiers in despair at this deluge +uttered many imprecations against the Saint; and looked for images of +him, burning and breaking as many as they could find. The rains sadly +interfered with the progress of the siege. The tents of the King could +only be communicated with by paths laid with fascines which required to +be renewed every day, as they sank down into the soil. The camps and +quarters were no longer accessible; the trenches were full of mud and +water, and it took often three days to remove cannon from one battery to +another. The waggons became useless, too, so that the transport of +bombs, shot, and so forth, could not be performed except upon the backs +of mules and of horses taken from the equipages of the Court and the +army. The state of the roads deprived the Duc de Luxembourg of the use +of waggons and other vehicles. His army was perishing for want of grain. +To remedy this inconvenience the King ordered all his household troops to +mount every day on horseback by detachments, and to take sacks of grain +upon their cruppers to a village where they were to be received and +counted by the officers of the Duc de Luxembourg. Although the household +of the King had scarcely any repose during this siege, what with carrying +fascines, furnishing guards, and other daily services, this increase of +duty was given to it because the cavalry served continually also, and was +reduced almost entirely to leaves of trees for provender. + +The household of the King, accustomed to all sorts of distinctions, +complained bitterly of this task. But the King turned a deaf ear to +them, and would be obeyed. On the first day some of the Gendarmes and of +the light horse of the guard arrived early in the morning at the depot of +the sacks, and commenced murmuring and exciting each other by their +discourses. They threw down the sacks at last and flatly refused to +carry them. I had been asked very politely if I would be of the +detachment for the sacks or of some other. I decided for the sacks, +because I felt that I might thereby advance myself, the subject having +already made much noise. I arrived with the detachment of the Musketeers +at the moment of the refusal of the others; and I loaded my sack before +their eyes. Marin, a brigadier of cavalry and lieutenant of the body +guards, who was there to superintend the operation, noticed me, and full +of anger at the refusal he had just met with, exclaimed that as I did not +think such work beneath me, the rest would do well to imitate my example. +Without a word being spoken each took up his sack; and from that time +forward no further difficulty occurred in the matter. As soon as the +detachment had gone, Marin went straight to the King and told him what +had occurred. This was a service which procured for me several obliging +discourses from his Majesty, who during the rest of the siege always +sought to say something agreeable every time he met me. + +The twenty-seventh day after opening the trenches, that is, the first of +July, 1692, a parley was sounded by the Prince de Barbanqon, governor of +the place,--a fortunate circumstance for the besiegers, who were worn +out with fatigue; and destitute of means, on account of the wretched +weather which still continued, and which had turned the whole country +round into a quagmire. Even the horses of the King lived upon leaves, +and not a horse of all our numerous cavalry ever thoroughly recovered +from the effects of such sorry fare. It is certain that without the +presence of the King the siege might never have been successful; but he +being there, everybody was stimulated. Yet had the place held out ten +days longer, there is no saying what might have happened. Before the end +of the siege the King was so much fatigued with his exertions, that a new +attack of gout came on, with more pain than ever, and compelled him to +keep his bed, where, however, he thought of everything, and laid out his +plans as though he had been at Versailles. + +During the entire siege, the Prince of Orange (William III. of England) +had unavailingly used all his science to dislodge the Duc de Luxembourg; +but he had to do with a man who in matters of war was his superior, and +who continued so all his life. Namur, which, by the surrender of the +castle, was now entirely in our power, was one of the strongest places in +the Low Countries, and had hitherto boasted of having never changed +masters. The inhabitants could not restrain their tears of sorrow. Even +the monks of Marlaigne were profoundly moved, so much so, that they could +not disguise their grief. The King, feeling for the loss of their corn +that they had sent for safety into Namur, gave them double the quantity, +and abundant alms. He incommoded them as little as possible, and would +not permit the passage of cannon across their park, until it was found +impossible to transport it by any other road. Notwithstanding these acts +of goodness, they could scarcely look upon a Frenchman after the taking +of the place; and one actually refused to give a bottle of beer to an +usher of the King's antechamber, although offered a bottle of champagne +in exchange for it! + +A circumstance happened just after the taking of Namur, which might have +led to the saddest results, under any other prince than the King. Before +he entered the town, a strict examination of every place was made, +although by the capitulation all the mines, magazines, &c., had to be +shown. At a visit paid to the Jesuits, they pretended to show +everything, expressing, however, surprise and something more, that their +bare word was not enough. But on examining here and there, where they +did not expect search would be made, their cellars were found to be +stored with gunpowder, of which they had taken good care to say no word. +What they meant to do with it is uncertain. It was carried away, and as +they were Jesuits nothing was done. + +During the course of this siege, the King suffered a cruel +disappointment. James II. of England, then a refugee in France, had +advised the King to give battle to the English fleet. Joined to that of +Holland it was very superior to the sea forces of France. Tourville, our +admiral, so famous for his valour and skill, pointed this circumstance +out to the King. But it was all to no effect. He was ordered to attack +the enemy. He did so. Many of his ships were burnt, and the victory was +won by the English. A courier entrusted with this sad intelligence was +despatched to the King. On his way he was joined by another courier, who +pressed him for his news. The first courier knew that if he gave up his +news, the other, who was better mounted, would outstrip him, and be the +first to carry it to the King. He told his companion, therefore, an idle +tale, very different indeed from the truth, for he changed the defeat +into a great victory. Having gained this wonderful intelligence, the +second courier put spurs to his horse, and hurried away to the King's +camp, eager to be the bearer of good tidings. He reached the camp first, +and was received with delight. While his Majesty was still in great joy +at his happy victory, the other courier arrived with the real details. +The Court appeared prostrated. The King was much afflicted. +Nevertheless he found means to appear to retain his self-possession, and +I saw, for the first time, that Courts are not long in affliction or +occupied with sadness. I must mention that the (exiled) King of England +looked on at this naval battle from the shore; and was accused of +allowing expressions of partiality to escape him in favour of his +countrymen, although none had kept their promises to him. + +Two days after the defeated garrison had marched out, the King went to +Dinant, to join the ladies, with whom he returned to Versailles. I had +hoped that Monseigneur would finish the campaign, and that I should be +with him, and it was not without regret that I returned towards Paris. +On the way a little circumstance happened. One of our halting-places was +Marienburgh, where we camped for the night. I had become united in +friendship with Comte de Coetquen, who was in the same company with +myself. He was well instructed and full of wit; was exceedingly rich, +and even more idle than rich. That evening he had invited several of us +to supper in his tent. I went there early, and found him stretched out +upon his bed, from which I dislodged him playfully and laid myself down +in his place, several of our officers standing by. Coetquen, sporting +with me in return, took his gun, which he thought to be unloaded, and +pointed it at me. But to our great surprise the weapon went off. +Fortunately for me, I was at that moment lying flat upon the bed. Three +balls passed just above my head, and then just above the heads of our two +tutors, who were walking outside the tent. Coetquen fainted at thought +of the mischief he might have done, and we had all the pains in the world +to bring him to himself again. Indeed, he did not thoroughly recover for +several days. I relate this as a lesson which ought to teach us never +to play with fire-arms. + +The poor lad,--to finish at once all that concerns him,--did not long +survive this incident. He entered the King's regiment, and when just +upon the point of joining it in the following spring, came to me and said +he had had his fortune told by a woman named Du Perehoir, who practised +her trade secretly at Paris, and that she had predicted he would be soon +drowned. I rated him soundly for indulging a curiosity so dangerous and +so foolish. A few days after he set out for Amiens. He found another +fortune-teller there, a man, who made the same prediction. In marching +afterwards with the regiment of the King to join the army, he wished to +water his horse in the Escaut, and was drowned there, in the presence of +the whole regiment, without it being possible to give him any aid. I felt +extreme regret for his loss, which for his friends and his family was +irreparable. + +But I must go back a little, and speak of two marriages that took place +at the commencement of this year the first (most extraordinary) on the +18th February the other a month after. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +The King was very anxious to establish his illegitimate children, whom he +advanced day by day; and had married two of them, daughters, to Princes +of the blood. One of these, the Princesse de Conti, only daughter of the +King and Madame de la Valliere, was a widow without children; the other, +eldest daughter of the King and Madame de Montespan, had married Monsieur +le Duc (Louis de Bourbon, eldest son of the Prince de Conde). For some +time past Madame de Maintenon, even more than the King, had thought of +nothing else than how to raise the remaining illegitimate children, and +wished to marry Mademoiselle de Blois (second daughter of the King and of +Madame de Montespan) to Monsieur the Duc de Chartres. The Duc de +Chartres was the sole nephew of the King, and was much above the Princes +of the blood by his rank of Grandson of France, and by the Court that +Monsieur his father kept up. + +The marriages of the two Princes of the blood, of which I have just +spoken, had scandalised all the world. The King was not ignorant of +this; and he could thus judge of the effect of a marriage even more +startling; such as was this proposed one. But for four years he had +turned it over in his mind and had even taken the first steps to bring it +about. It was the more difficult because the father of the Duc de +Chartres was infinitely proud of his rank, and the mother belonged to a +nation which abhorred illegitimacy and, misalliances, and was indeed of a +character to forbid all hope of her ever relishing this marriage. + +In order to vanquish all these obstacles, the King applied to M. le Grand +(Louis de Lorraine). This person was brother of the Chevalier de +Lorraine, the favourite, by disgraceful means, of Monsieur, father of the +Duc de Chartres. The two brothers, unscrupulous and corrupt, entered +willingly into the scheme, but demanded as a reward, paid in advance, to +be made "Chevaliers of the Order." This was done, although somewhat +against the inclination of the King, and success was promised. + +The young Duc de Chartres had at that time for teacher Dubois (afterwards +the famous Cardinal Dubois), whose history was singular. He had formerly +been a valet; but displaying unusual aptitude for learning, had been +instructed by his master in literature and history, and in due time +passed into the service of Saint Laurent, who was the Duc de Chartres' +first instructor. He became so useful and showed so much skill, that +Saint Laurent made him become an abbe. Thus raised in position, he +passed much time with the Duc de Chartres, assisting him to prepare his +lessons, to write his exercises, and to look out words in the dictionary. +I have seen him thus engaged over and over again, when I used to go and +play with the Duc de Chartres. As Saint Laurent grew infirm, Dubois +little by little supplied his place; supplied it well too, and yet +pleased the young Duke. When Saint Laurent died Dubois aspired to +succeed him. He had paid his court to the Chevalier de Lorraine, by +whose influence he was much aided in obtaining his wish. When at last +appointed successor to Saint Laurent, I never saw a man so glad, nor with +more reason. The extreme obligation he was under to the Chevalier de +Lorraine, and still more the difficulty of maintaining himself in his new +position, attached him more and more to his protector. + +It was, then, Dubois that the Chevalier de Lorraine made use of to gain +the consent of the young Duc de Chartres to the marriage proposed by the +King. Dubois had, in fact, gained the Duke's confidence, which it was +easy to do at that age; had made him afraid of his father and of the +King; and, on the other hand, had filled him with fine hopes and +expectations. All that Dubois could do, however, when he broke the +matter of the marriage to the young Duke, was to ward off a direct +refusal; but that was sufficient for the success of the enterprise. +Monsieur was already gained, and as soon as the King had a reply from +Dubois he hastened to broach the affair. A day or two before this, +however, Madame (mother of the Duc de Chartres) had scent of what was +going on. She spoke to her son of the indignity of this marriage with +that force in which she was never wanting, and drew from him a promise +that he would not consent to it. Thus, he was feeble towards his +teacher, feeble towards his mother, and there was aversion on the one +hand and fear on the other, and great embarrassment on all sides. + +One day early after dinner I saw M. de Chartres, with a very sad air, +come out of his apartment and enter the closet of the King. He found his +Majesty alone with Monsieur. The King spoke very obligingly to the Duc +de Chartres, said that he wished to see him married; that he offered him +his daughter, but that he did not intend to constrain him in the matter, +but left him quite at liberty. This discourse, however, pronounced with +that terrifying majesty so natural to the King, and addressed to a timid +young prince, took away his voice, and quite unnerved him. He, thought +to escape from his slippery position by throwing himself upon Monsieur +and Madame, and stammeringly replied that the King was master, but that a +son's will depended upon that of his parents. "What you say is very +proper," replied the King; "but as soon as you consent to my proposition +your father and mother will not oppose it." And then turning to Monsieur +he said, "Is this not true, my brother? "Monsieur consented, as he had +already done, and the only person remaining to consult was Madame, who +was immediately sent for. + +As soon as she came, the King, making her acquainted with his project, +said that he reckoned she would not oppose what her husband and her son +had already agreed to. Madame, who had counted upon the refusal of her +son, was tongue-tied. She threw two furious glances upon Monsieur and +upon the Duc de Chartres, and then said that, as they wished it, she had +nothing to say, made a slight reverence, and went away. Her son +immediately followed her to explain his conduct; but railing against him, +with tears in her eyes, she would not listen, and drove him from her +room. Her husband, who shortly afterwards joined her, met with almost +the same treatment. + +That evening an "Apartment" was held at the palace, as was customary +three times a week during the winter; the other three evenings being set +apart for comedy, and the Sunday being free. An Apartment as it was +called, was an assemblage of all the Court in the grand saloon, from +seven o'clock in the evening until ten, when the King sat down to table; +and, after ten, in one of the saloons at the end of the grand gallery +towards the tribune of the chapel. In the first place there was some +music; then tables were placed all about for all kinds of gambling; there +was a 'lansquenet'; at which Monsieur and Monseigneur always played; also +a billiard-table; in a word, every one was free to play with every one, +and allowed to ask for fresh tables as all the others were occupied. +Beyond the billiards was a refreshment-room. All was perfectly lighted. +At the outset, the King went to the "apartments" very often and played, +but lately he had ceased to do so. He spent the evening with Madame de +Maintenon, working with different ministers one after the other. But +still he wished his courtiers to attend assiduously. + +This evening, directly after the music had finished, the King sent for +Monseigneur and Monsieur, who were already playing at 'lansquenet'; +Madame, who scarcely looked at a, party of 'hombre' at which she had +seated herself; the Duc de Chartres, who, with a rueful visage, was +playing at chess; and Mademoiselle de Blois, who had scarcely begun to +appear in society, but who this evening was extraordinarily decked out, +and who, as yet, knew nothing and suspected nothing; and therefore, being +naturally very timid, and horribly afraid of the King, believed herself +sent for in order to be reprimanded, and trembled so that Madame de +Maintenon took her upon her knees, where she held her, but was scarcely +able to reassure her. The fact of these royal persons being sent for by +the King at once made people think that a marriage was in contemplation. +In a few minutes they returned, and then the announcement was made +public. I arrived at that moment. I found everybody m clusters, and +great astonishment expressed upon every face. Madame was walking in the +gallery with Chateauthiers--her favourite, and worthy of being so. +She took long strides, her handkerchief in her hand, weeping without +constraint, speaking pretty loudly, gesticulating; and looking like Ceres +after the rape of her daughter Proserpine, seeking her in fury, and +demanding her back from Jupiter. Every one respectfully made way to let +her pass. Monsieur, who had returned to 'lansquenet', seemed overwhelmed +with shame, and his son appeared in despair; and the bride-elect was +marvellously embarrassed and sad. Though very young, and likely to be +dazzled by such a marriage, she understood what was passing, and feared +the consequences. Most people appeared full of consternation. + +The Apartment, which, however heavy in appearance, was full of interest +to, me, seemed quite short. It finished by the supper of the King. His +Majesty appeared quite at ease. Madame's eyes were full of tears, which +fell from time to time as she looked into every face around, as if in +search of all our thoughts. Her son, whose eyes too were red, she would +not give a glance to; nor to Monsieur: all three ate scarcely anything. +I remarked that the King offered Madame nearly all the dishes that were +before him, and that she refused with an air of rudeness which did not, +however, check his politeness. It was furthermore noticeable that, after +leaving the table, he made to Madame a very marked and very low +reverence, during which she performed so complete a pirouette, that the +King on raising his head found nothing but her back before him, removed +about a step further towards the door. + +On the morrow we went as usual to wait in the gallery for the breaking-up +of the council, and for the King's Mass. Madame came there. Her son +approached her, as he did every day, to kiss her hand. At that very +moment she gave him a box on the ear, so sonorous that it was heard +several steps distant. Such treatment in presence of all the Court +covered with confusion this unfortunate prince, and overwhelmed the +infinite number of spectators, of whom I was one, with prodigious +astonishment. + +That day the immense dowry was declared; and on Sunday there was a grand +ball, that is, a ball opened by a 'branle' which settled the order of the +dancing throughout the evening. Monseigneur the Duc de Bourgogne danced +on this occasion for the first time; and led off the 'branle' with +Mademoiselle. I danced also for the first time at Court. My partner was +Mademoiselle de Sourches, daughter of the Grand Prevot; she danced +excellently. I had been that morning to wait on Madame, who could not +refrain from saying, in a sharp and angry voice, that I was doubtless +very glad of the promise of so many balls--that this was natural at my +age; but that, for her part, she was old, and wished they were well over. +A few days after, the contract of marriage was signed in the closet of +the King, and in the presence of all the Court. The same day the +household of the future Duchesse de Chartres was declared. The King gave +her a first gentleman usher and a Dame d'Atours, until then reserved to +the daughters of France, and a lady of honour, in order to carry out +completely so strange a novelty. I must say something about the persons +who composed this household. + +M. de Villars was gentleman usher; he was grandson of a recorder of +Coindrieu, and one of the best made men in France. There was a great +deal of fighting in his young days, and he had acquired a reputation for +courage and skill. To these qualities he owed his fortune. M. de +Nemours was his first patron, and, in a duel which he had with M. de +Beaufort, took Villars for second. M. de Nemours was killed; but Villars +was victorious against his adversary, and passed into the service of the +Prince de Conti as one of his gentlemen. He succeeded in gaining +confidence in his new employment; so much so, that the marriage which +afterwards took place between the Prince de Conti and the niece of +Cardinal Mazarin was brought about in part by his assistance. He became +the confidant of the married pair, and their bond: of union with the +Cardinal. His position gave him an opportunity of mixing in society much +above him; but on this he never presumed. His face was his, passport +with the ladies: he was gallant, even discreet; and this means was not +unuseful to him. He pleased Madame Scarron, who upon the throne never +forgot the friendships of this kind, so freely intimate, which she had +formed as a private person. Villars was employed in diplomacy; and from +honour to honour, at last reached the order of the Saint Esprit, in 1698. +His wife was full of wit, and scandalously inclined. Both were very +poor--and always dangled about the Court, where they had many powerful +friends. + +The Marechale de Rochefort was lady of honour. She was of the house of +Montmorency--a widow--handsome--sprightly; formed by nature to live at +Court--apt for gallantry and intrigues; full of worldly cleverness, from +living much in the world, with little cleverness of any other kind, +nearly enough for any post and any business. M. de Louvois found her +suited to his taste, and she accommodated herself very well to his purse, +and to the display she made by this intimacy. She always became the +friend of every new mistress of the King; and when he favoured Madame de +Soubise, it was at the Marechale's house that she waited, with closed +doors, for Bontems, the King's valet, who led her by private ways to his +Majesty. The Marechale herself has related to me how one day she was +embarrassed to get rid of the people that Madame de Soubise (who had not +had time to announce her arrival) found at her house; and how she most +died of fright lest Bontems should return and the interview be broken off +if he arrived before the company had departed. The Marechale de +Rochefort was in this way the friend of Mesdames de la Valliere, de +Montespan, and de Soubise; and she became the friend of Madame de +Maintenon, to whom she attached herself in proportion as she saw her +favour increase. She had, at the marriage of Monseigneur, been made Dame +d'Atours to the new Dauphiness; and, if people were astonished at that, +they were also astonished to see her lady of honour to an "illegitimate +grand-daughter of France." + +The Comtesse de Mailly was Dame d'Atours. She was related to Madame de +Maintenon, to whose favour she owed her marriage with the Comte de +Mailly. She had come to Paris with all her provincial awkwardness, and, +from want of wit, had never been able to get rid of it. On the contrary, +she grafted thereon an immense conceit, caused by the favour of Madame de +Maintenon. To complete the household, came M. de Fontaine-Martel, poor +and gouty, who was first master of the horse. + +On the Monday before Shrove Tuesday, all the marriage party and the bride +and bridegroom, superbly dressed, repaired, a little before mid-day, to +the closet of the King, and afterwards to the chapel. It was arranged, +as usual, for the Mass of the King, excepting that between his place and +the altar were two cushions for the bride and bridegroom, who turned +their backs to the King. Cardinal de Bouillon, in full robes, married +them, and said Mass. From the chapel all the company went to table: it +was of horse-shoe shape. The Princes and Princesses of the blood were +placed at the right and at the left, according to their rank, terminated +by the two illegitimate children of the King, and, for the first time, +after them, the Duchesse de Verneuil; so that M. de Verneuil, +illegitimate son of Henry IV., became thus "Prince of the blood" so many +years after his death, without having ever suspected it. The Duc d'Uzes +thought this so amusing that he marched in front of the Duchess, crying +out, as loud as he could--"Place, place for Madame Charlotte Seguier!" +In the afternoon the King and Queen of England came to Versailles with +their Court. There was a great concert; and the play-tables were set +out. The supper was similar to the dinner. Afterwards the married +couple were led into the apartment of the new Duchesse de Chartres. The +Queen of England gave the Duchess her chemise; and the shirt of the Duke +was given to him by the King, who had at first refused on the plea that +he was in too unhappy circumstances. The benediction of the bed was +pronounced by the Cardinal de Bouillon, who kept us all waiting for a +quarter of an hour; which made people say that such airs little became a +man returned as he was from a long exile, to which he had been sent +because he had had the madness to refuse the nuptial benediction to +Madame la Duchesse unless admitted to the royal banquet. + +On Shrove Tuesday, there was a grand toilette of the Duchesse de +Chartres, to which the King and all the Court came; and in the evening a +grand ball, similar to that which had just taken place, except that the +new Duchesse de Chartres was led out by the Duc de Bourgogne. Every one +wore the same dress, and had the same partner as before. + +I cannot pass over in silence a very ridiculous adventure which occurred +at both of these balls. A son of Montbron, no more made to dance at +Court than his father was to be chevalier of the order (to which however, +he was promoted in 1688), was among the company. He had been asked if he +danced well; and he had replied with a confidence which made every one +hope that the contrary was the case. Every one was satisfied. From the +very first bow, he became confused, and he lost step at once. He tried +to divert attention from his mistake by affected attitudes, and carrying +his arms high; but this made him only more ridiculous, and excited bursts +of laughter, which, in despite of the respect due to the person of the +King (who likewise had great difficulty to hinder himself from laughing), +degenerated at length into regular hooting. On the morrow, instead of +flying the Court or holding his tongue, he excused himself by saying that +the presence of the King had disconcerted him; and promised marvels for +the ball which was to follow. He was one of my friends, and I felt for +him, I should even have warned him against a second attempt, if the very +indifferent success I had met with had not made me fear that my advice +would be taken in ill part. As soon as he began to dance at the second +ball, those who were near stood up, those who were far off climbed +wherever they could get a sight; and the, shouts of laughter were mingled +with clapping of hands. Every one, even the King himself, laughed +heartily, and most of us quite loud, so that I do not think any one was +ever treated so before. Montbron disappeared immediately afterwards, and +did not show himself again for a long time, It was a pity he exposed +himself to this defeat, for he was an honourable and brave man. + +Ash Wednesday put an end to all these sad rejoicings by command, and only +the expected rejoicings were spoken of. M. du Maine wished to marry. +The King tried to turn him from it, and said frankly to him, that it was +not for such as he to make a lineage. But pressed M. by Madame de +Maintenon, who had educated Maine; and who felt for him as a nurse the +King resolved to marry him to a daughter of the Prince de Conde. The +Prince was greatly pleased at the project. He had three daughters for +M. du Maine to choose from: all three were extremely little. An inch of +height, that the second had above the others, procured for her the +preference, much to the grief of the eldest, who was beautiful and +clever, and who dearly wished to escape from the slavery in which her +father kept her. The dignity with which she bore her disappointment was +admired by every one, but it cost her an effort that ruined her health. +The marriage once arranged, was celebrated on the 19th of March; much in +the same manner as had been that of the Duc de Chartres. Madame de +Saint-Vallery was appointed lady of honour to Madame du Maine, and M. de +Montchevreuil gentleman of the chamber. This last had been one of the +friends of Madame de Maintenon when she was Madame Scarron. +Montchevreuil was a very honest man, modest, brave, but thick-headed. +His wife was a tall creature, meagre, and yellow, who laughed sillily, +and showed long and ugly teeth; who was extremely devout, of a compassed +mien, and who only wanted a broomstick to be a perfect witch. Without +possessing any wit, she had so captivated Madame de Maintenon, that the +latter saw only with her eyes. All the ladies of the Court were under +her surveillance: they depended upon her for their distinctions, and +often for their fortunes. Everybody, from the ministers to the daughters +of the King, trembled before her. The King himself showed her the most +marked consideration. She was of all the Court journeys, and always with +Madame de Maintenon. + +The marriage of M. du Maine caused a rupture between the Princess de +Conde and the Duchess of Hanover her sister, who had strongly desired +M. du Maine for one of her daughters, and who pretended that the Prince +de Conde had cut the grass from under her feet. She lived in Paris, +making a display quite unsuited to her rank, and had even carried it so +far as to go about with two coaches and many liveried servants. With +this state one day she met in the streets the coach of Madame de +Bouillon, which the servants of the German woman forced to give way to +their mistress's. The Bouillons, piqued to excess, resolved to be +revenged. One day, when they knew the Duchess was going to the play, +they went there attended by a numerous livery. Their servants had orders +to pick a quarrel with those of the Duchess. They executed these orders +completely; the servants of the Duchess were thoroughly thrashed--the +harness of her horses cut--her coaches maltreated. The Duchess made a +great fuss, and complained to the King, but he would not mix himself in +the matter. She was so outraged, that she resolved to retire into +Germany, and in a very few months did so. + +My year of service in the Musketeers being over, the King, after a time, +gave me, without purchase, a company of cavalry in the Royal Roussillon, +in garrison at Mons, and just then very incomplete. I thanked the King, +who replied to me very obligingly. The company was entirely made up in a +fortnight. This was towards the middle of April. + +A little before, that is, on the 27th of March, the King made seven new +marechals of France. They were the Comte de Choiseul, the Duc de +Villeroy, the Marquis de Joyeuse, Tourville, the Duc de Noailles, the +Marquis de Boufllers, and Catinat. These promotions caused very great +discontent. Complaint was more especially made that the Duc de Choiseul +had not been named. The cause of his exclusion is curious. His wife, +beautiful, with the form of a goddess--notorious for the number of her +gallantries--was very intimate with the Princess de Conti. The King, not +liking such a companion for his daughter, gave the Duc de Choiseul to +understand that the public disorders of the Duchess offended him. If the +Duke would send her into a convent, the Marechal's baton would be his. +The Duc de Choiseul, indignant that the reward of his services in the war +was attached to a domestic affair which concerned himself alone, refused +promotion on such terms. He thus lost the baton; and, what was worse for +him, the Duchess soon after was driven from Court, and so misbehaved +herself, that at last he could endure her no longer, drove her away +himself, and separated from her for ever. + +Mademoiselle la grande Mademoiselle, as she was called, to distinguish +her from the daughter of Monsieur--or to call her by her name, +Mademoiselle de Montpensier, died on Sunday the 5th of April, at her +palace in the Luxembourg, sixty-three years of age, and the richest +private princess in Europe. She interested herself much in those who +were related to her, even to the lowest degree, and wore mourning for +them, however far removed. It is well known, from all the memoirs of the +time, that she was greatly in love with M. de Lauzun, and that she +suffered much when the King withheld his permission to their marriage. +M. de Lauzun was so enraged, that he could not contain himself, and at +last went so far beyond bounds, that he was sent prisoner to Pignerol, +where he remained, extremely ill-treated, for ten years. The affection +of Mademoiselle did not grow cold by separation. The King profited by +it, to make M. de Lauzun buy his liberty at her expense, and thus +enriched M. du Maine. He always gave out that he had married +Mademoiselle, and appeared before the King, after her death, in a long +cloak, which gave great displeasure. He also assumed ever afterwards a +dark brown livery, as an external expression of his grief for +Mademoiselle, of whom he had portraits everywhere. As for Mademoiselle, +the King never quite forgave her the day of Saint Antoine; and I heard +him once at supper reproach her in jest, for having fired the cannons of +the Bastille upon his troops. She was a little embarrassed, but she got +out of the difficulty very well. + +Her body was laid out with great state, watched for several days, two +hours at a time, by a duchess or a princess, and by two ladies of +quality. The Comtesse de Soissons refused to take part in this watching, +and would not obey until the King threatened to dismiss her from the +Court. A very ridiculous accident happened in the midst of this +ceremony. The urn containing the entrails fell over, with a frightful +noise and a stink sudden and intolerable. The ladies, the heralds, the +psalmodists, everybody present fled, in confusion. Every one tried to +gain the door first. The entrails had been badly embalmed, and it was +their fermentation which caused the accident. They were soon perfumed +and put in order, and everybody laughed at this mishap. These entrails +were in the end carried to the Celestins, the heart to Val de Grace, and +the body to the Cathedral of Saint Denis, followed by a numerous company. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +On May 3d 1693, the King announced his intention of placing himself at +the head of his army in Flanders, and, having made certain alterations in +the rule of precedence of the marechale of France, soon after began the +campaign. I have here, however, to draw attention to my private affairs, +for on the above-mentioned day, at ten o'clock in the morning, I had the +misfortune to lose my father. He was eighty-seven years of age, and had +been in bad health for some time, with a touch of gout during the last +three weeks. On the day in question he had dined as usual with his +friends, had retired to bed, and, while talking to those around him +there, all at once gave three violent sighs. He was dead almost before +it was perceived that he was ill; there was no more oil in the lamp. + +I learned this sad news after seeing the King to bed; his Majesty was to +purge himself on the morrow. The night was given to the just sentiments +of nature; but the next day I went early to visit Bontems, and then the +Duc de Beauvilliers, who promised to ask the King, as soon as his +curtains were opened, to grant me the--offices my father had held. The +King very graciously complied with his request, and in the afternoon said +many obliging things to me, particularly expressing his regret that my +father had not been able to receive the last sacraments. I was able to +say that a very short time before, my father had retired for several days +to Saint Lazare, where was his confessor, and added something on the +piety of his life. The King exhorted me to behave well, and promised to +take care of me. When my father was first taken ill; several persons, +amongst others, D'Aubigne, brother of Madame de Maintenon, had asked for +the governorship of Blaye. But the King refused them all, and said very +bluntly to D'Aubigne, "Is there not a son?" He had, in fact, always +given my father to understand I should succeed him, although generally he +did not allow offices to descend from father to son. + +Let me say a few words about my father. Our family in my grandfather's +time had become impoverished; and my father was early sent to the Court +as page to Louis XIII. It was very customary then for the sons of +reduced gentlemen to accept this occupation. The King was passionately +fond of hunting, an amusement that was carried on with far less state, +without that abundance of dogs, and followers, and convenience of all +kinds which his successor introduced, and especially without roads +through the forests. My father, who noticed the impatience of the King +at the delays that occurred in changing horses, thought of turning the +head of the horse he brought towards the crupper of that which the King +quitted. By this means, without putting his feet to the ground, his +Majesty, who was active, jumped from one horse to another. He was so +pleased that whenever he changed horses he asked for this same page. +From that time my father grew day by day in favour. The King made him +Chief Ecuyer, and in course of years bestowed other rewards upon him, +created him Duke and peer of France, and gave him the Government of +Blaye. My father, much attached to the King, followed him in all his +expeditions, several times commanded the cavalry of the army, was +commander-in-chief of all the arrierebans of the kingdom, and acquired +great reputation in the field for his valour and skill. With Cardinal +Richelieu he was intimate without sympathy, and more than once, but +notably on the famous Day of the Dupes, rendered signal service to that +minister. My father used often to be startled out of his sleep in the +middle of the night by a valet, with a taper in his hand, drawing the +curtain--having behind him the Cardinal de Richelieu, who would often +take the taper and sit down upon the bed and exclaim that he was a lost +man, and ask my father's advice upon news that he had received or on +quarrels he had had with the King. When all Paris was in consternation +at the success of the Spaniards, who had crossed the frontier, taken +Corbie, and seized all the country as far as Compiegne, the King insisted +on my father being present at the council which was then held. The +Cardinal de Richelieu maintained that the King should retreat beyond the +Seine, and all the assembly seemed of that opinion. But the King in a +speech which lasted a quarter of an hour opposed this, and said that to +retreat at such a moment would be to increase the general disorder. Then +turning to my father he ordered him to be prepared to depart for Corbie +on the morrow, with as many of his men as he could get ready. The +histories and the memoirs of the time show that this bold step saved the +state. The Cardinal, great man as he was, trembled, until the first +appearance of success, when he grew bold enough to join the King. This +is a specimen of the conduct of that weak King governed by that first +minister to whom poets and historians have given the glory they have +stripped from his master; as, for instance, all the works of the siege of +Rochelle, and the invention and unheard-of success of the celebrated +dyke, all solely due to the late King! + +Louis XIII. loved my father; but he could scold him at times. On two +occasions he did so. The first, as my father has related to me, was on +account of the Duc de Bellegarde. The Duke was in disgrace, and had been +exiled. My father, who was a friend of his, wished to write to him one +day, and for want of other leisure, being then much occupied, took the +opportunity of the King's momentary absence to carry out his desire. +Just as he was finishing his letter, the King came in; my father tried to +hide the paper, but the eyes of the King were too quick for him. "What +is that paper?" said he. My father, embarrassed, admitted that it was a +few words he had written to M. de Bellegarde. + +"Let me see it," said the King; and he took the paper and read it. +"I don't find fault with you," said he, "for writing to your friends, +although in disgrace, for I know you will write nothing improper; but +what displeases me is, that you should fail in the respect you owe to a +duke and peer, in that, because he is exiled, you should omit to address +him as Monseigneur;" and then tearing the letter in two, he added, "Write +it again after the hunt, and put, Monseigneur, as you ought." My father +was very glad to be let off so easily. + +The other reprimand was upon a more serious subject. The King was really +enamoured of Mademoiselle d'Hautefort. My father, young and gallant, +could not comprehend why he did not gratify his love. He believed his +reserve to arise from timidity, and under this impression proposed one +day to the King to be his ambassador and to bring the affair to a +satisfactory conclusion. The King allowed him to speak to the end, and +then assumed a severe air. "It is true," said he, "that I am enamoured +of her, that I feel it, that I seek her, that I speak of her willingly, +and think of her still more willingly; it is true also that I act thus in +spite of myself, because I am mortal and have this weakness; but the more +facility I have as King to gratify myself, the more I ought to be on my +guard against sin and scandal. I pardon you this time, but never address +to me a similar discourse again if you wish that I should continue to +love you." This was a thunderbolt for my father; the scales fell from +his eyes; the idea of the King's timidity in love disappeared before the +display of a virtue so pure and so triumphant. + +My father's career was for a long time very successful, but unfortunately +he had an enemy who brought it to an end. This enemy was M. de Chavigny: +he was secretary of state, and had also the war department. Either from +stupidity or malice he had left all the towns in Picardy badly supported; +a circumstance the Spaniards knew well how to profit by when they took +Corbie in 1636. My father had an uncle who commanded in one of these +towns, La Capelle, and who had several times asked for ammunition and +stores without success. My father spoke upon this subject to Chavigny, +to the Cardinal de Richelieu, and to the King, but with no good effect. +La Capelle, left without resources, fell like the places around. As I +have said before, Louis XIII. did not long allow the Spaniards to enjoy +the advantages they had gained. All the towns in Picardy were soon +retaken, and the King, urged on by Chavigny, determined to punish the +governors of these places for surrendering them so easily. My father's +uncle was included with the others. This injustice was not to be borne. +My father represented the real state of the case and used every effort, +to save his uncle, but it was in vain. Stung to the quick he demanded +permission to retire, and was allowed to do so. Accordingly, at the +commencement of 1637, he left for Blaye; and remained there until the +death of Cardinal Richelieu. During this retirement the King frequently +wrote to him, in a language they had composed so as to speak before +people without being understood; and I possess still many of these +letters, with much regret that I am ignorant of their contents. + +Chavigny served my father another ill turn. At the Cardinal's death my +father had returned to the Court and was in greater favour than ever. +Just before Louis XIII. died he gave my father the place of first master +of the horse, but left his name blank in the paper fixing the +appointment. The paper was given into the hands of Chavigny. At the +King's death he had the villainy, in concert with the Queen-regent, to +fill in the name of Comte d'Harcourt, instead of that the King had +instructed him of. The indignation of my father was great, but, as he +could obtain no redress, he retired once again to his Government of +Blaye. Notwithstanding the manner in which he had been treated by the +Queen-regent, he stoutly defended her cause when the civil war broke out, +led by M. le Prince. He garrisoned Blaye at his own expense, incurring +thereby debts which hung upon him all his life, and which I feel the +effects of still, and repulsed all attempts of friends to corrupt his +loyalty. The Queen and Mazarin could not close their eyes to his +devotion, and offered him, while the war was still going on, a marechal's +baton, or the title of foreign prince. But he refused both, and the +offer was not renewed when the war ended. These disturbances over, and +Louis XIV. being married, my father came again to Paris, where he had +many friends. He had married in 1644, and had had, as I have said, one +only daughter. His wife dying in 1670, and leaving him without male +children, he determined, however much he might be afflicted at the loss +he had sustained, to marry again, although old. He carried out his +resolution in October of the same year, and was very pleased with the +choice he had made. He liked his new wife so much, in fact, that when +Madame de Montespan obtained for her a place at the Court, he declined it +at once. At his age--it was thus he wrote to Madame de Montespan, he had +taken a wife not for the Court, but for himself. My mother, who was +absent when the letter announcing the appointment was sent, felt much +regret, but never showed it. + +Before I finish this account of my father, I will here relate adventures +which happened to him, and which I ought to have placed before his second +marriage. A disagreement arose between my father and M. de Vardes, and +still existed long after everybody thought they were reconciled. It was +ultimately agreed that upon an early day, at about twelve o'clock, they +should meet at the Porte St. Honore, then a very deserted spot, and that +the coach of M. de Vardes should run against my father's, and a general +quarrel arise between masters and servants. Under cover of this quarrel, +a duel could easily take place, and would seem simply to arise out of the +broil there and then occasioned. On the morning appointed, my father +called as usual upon several of his friends, and, taking one of them for +second, went to the Porte St. Honore. There everything fell out just as +had been arranged. The coach of M. de Vardes struck against the other. +My father leaped out, M. de Vardes did the same, and the duel took place. +M. de Vardes fell, and was disarmed. My father wished to make him beg +for his life; he would not do this, but confessed himself vanquished. +My father's coach being the nearest, M. de Vardes got into it. He +fainted on the road. They separated afterwards like brave people, and +went their way. Madame de Chatillon, since of Mecklenburg, lodged in one +of the last houses near the Porte St. Honore, and at the noise made by +the coaches, put, her head to the window, and coolly looked at the whole +of the combat. It soon made a great noise. My father was complimented +everywhere. M. de Vardes was sent for ten or twelve days to the +Bastille. My father and he afterwards became completely reconciled to +each other. + +The other adventure was of gentler ending. The Memoirs of M. de la +Rochefoucauld appeared. They contained certain atrocious and false +statements against my father, who so severely resented the calumny, that +he seized a pen, and wrote upon the margin of the book, "The author has +told a lie." Not content with this, he went to the bookseller, whom he +discovered with some difficulty, for the book was not sold publicly at +first. He asked to see all the copies of the work, prayed, promised, +threatened, and at last succeeded in obtaining them. Then he took a pen +and wrote in all of them the same marginal note. The astonishment of the +bookseller may be imagined. He was not long in letting M. de la +Rochefoucauld know what had happened to his books: it may well be +believed that he also was astonished. This affair made great noise. My +father, having truth on his side, wished to obtain public satisfaction +from M. de la Rochefoucauld. Friends, however, interposed, and the +matter was allowed to drop. But M. de la Rochefoucauld never pardoned my +father; so true it is that we less easily forget the injuries we inflict +than those that we receive. + +My father passed the rest of his long life surrounded by friends, and +held in high esteem by the King and his ministers. His advice was often +sought for by them, and was always acted upon. He never consoled himself +for the loss of Louis XIII., to whom he owed his advancement and his +fortune. Every year he kept sacred the day of his death, going to Saint- +Denis, or holding solemnities in his own house if at Blaye. Veneration, +gratitude, tenderness, ever adorned his lips every time he spoke of that +monarch. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +After having paid the last duties to my father I betook myself to Mons to +join the Royal Roussillon cavalry regiment, in which I was captain. The +King, after stopping eight or ten days with the ladies at Quesnoy, sent +them to Namur, and put himself at the head of the army of M. de +Boufflers, and camped at Gembloux, so that his left was only half a +league distant from the right of M. de Luxembourg. The Prince of Orange +was encamped at the Abbey of Pure, was unable to receive supplies, and +could not leave his position without having the two armies of the King to +grapple with: he entrenched himself in haste, and bitterly repented +having allowed himself to be thus driven into a corner. We knew +afterwards that he wrote several times to his intimate friend the Prince +de Vaudemont, saying that he was lost, and that nothing short of a +miracle could save him. + +We were in this position, with an army in every way infinitely superior +to that of the Prince of Orange, and with four whole months before us to +profit by our strength, when the King declared on the 8th of June that he +should return to Versailles, and sent off a large detachment of the army +into Germany. The surprise of the Marechal de Luxembourg was without +bounds. He represented the facility with which the Prince of Orange +might now be beaten with one army and pursued by another; and how +important it was to draw off detachments of the Imperial forces from +Germany into Flanders, and how, by sending an army into Flanders instead +of Germany, the whole of the Low Countries would be in our power. But +the King would not change his plans, although M. de Luxembourg went down +on his knees and begged him not to allow such a glorious opportunity to +escape. Madame de Maintenon, by her tears when she parted from his +Majesty, and by her letters since, had brought about this resolution. + +The news had not spread on the morrow, June 9th. I chanced to go alone +to the quarters of M. de Luxembourg, and was surprised to find not a soul +there; every one had gone to the King's army. Pensively bringing my +horse to a stand, I was ruminating on a fact so strange, and debating +whether I should return to my tent or push on to the royal camp, when up +came M. le Prince de Conti with a single page and a groom leading a +horse. "What are you doing there?" cried he, laughing at my surprise. +Thereupon he told me he was going to say adieu to the King, and advised +me to do likewise. "What do you mean by saying Adieu?" answered I. +He sent his servants to a little distance, and begged me to do the same, +and with shouts of laughter told me about the King's retreat, making +tremendous fun of him, despite my youth, for he had confidence in me. +I was astonished. We soon after met the whole company coming back; +and the great people went aside to talk and sneer. I then proceeded to +pay my respects to the King, by whom I was honourably received. +Surprise, however, was expressed by all faces, and indignation by some. + +The effect of the King's retreat, indeed, was incredible, even amongst +the soldiers and the people. The general officers could not keep silent +upon it, and the inferior officers spoke loudly, with a license that +could not be restrained. All through the army, in the towns, and even at +Court, it was talked about openly. The courtiers, generally so glad to +find themselves again at Versailles, now declared that they were ashamed +to be there; as for the enemy, they could not contain their surprise and +joy. The Prince of Orange said that the retreat was a miracle he could +not have hoped for; that he could scarcely believe in it, but that it had +saved his army, and the whole of the Low Countries. In the midst of all +this excitement the King arrived with the ladies, on the 25th of June, at +Versailles. + +We gained some successes, however, this year. Marechal de Villeroy took +Huy in three days, losing only a sub-engineer and some soldiers. On the +29th of July we attacked at dawn the Prince of Orange at Neerwinden, and +after twelve hours of hard fighting, under a blazing sun, entirely routed +him. I was of the third squadron of the Royal Roussillon, and made five +charges. One of the gold ornaments of my coat was torn away, but I +received no wound. During the battle our brigadier, Quoadt, was killed +before my eyes. The Duc de Feuillade became thus commander of the +brigade. We missed him immediately, and for more than half an hour saw +nothing of him; he had gone to make his toilette. When he returned he +was powdered and decked out in a fine red surtotxt, embroidered with +silver, and all his trappings and those of his horse were magnificent; he +acquitted himself with distinction. + +Our cavalry stood so well against the fire from the enemy's guns, that +the Prince of Orange lost all patience, and turning away, exclaimed-- +"Oh, the insolent nation!" He fought until the last, and retired with +the Elector of Hanover only when he saw there was no longer any hope. +After the battle my people brought us a leg of mutton and a bottle of +wine, which they had wisely saved from the previous evening, and we +attacked them in good earnest, as may be believed. + +The enemy lost about twenty thousand men, including a large number of +officers; our loss was not more than half that number. We took all their +cannon, eight mortars, many artillery waggons, a quantity of standards, +and some pairs of kettle-drums. The victory was complete. + +Meanwhile, the army which had been sent to Germany under the command of +Monseigneur and of the Marechal de Lorges, did little or nothing. The +Marechal wished to attack Heilbronn, but Monseigneur was opposed to it; +and, to the great regret of the principal generals and of the troops, the +attack was not made. Monseigneur returned early to Versailles. + +At sea we were more active. The rich merchant fleet of Smyrna was +attacked by Tourville; fifty vessels were burnt or sunk, and twenty-seven +taken, all richly freighted. This campaign cost the English and Dutch +dear. It is believed their loss was more than thirty millions of ecus. + +The season finished with the taking of Charleroy. On the 16th of +September the Marechal de Villeroy, supported by M. de Luxembourg, laid +siege to it, and on the 11th of October, after a good defence, the place +capitulated. Our loss was very slight. Charleroy taken, our troops went +into winter-quarters, and I returned to Court, like the rest. The roads +and the posting service were in great disorder. Amongst other adventures +I met with, I was driven by a deaf and dumb postillion, who stuck me fast +in the mud when near Quesnoy. At Pont Saint-Maxence all the horses were +retained by M. de Luxembourg. Fearing I might be left behind, I told the +postmaster that I was governor (which was true), and that I would put him +in jail if he did not give me horses. I should have been sadly puzzled +how to do it; but he was simple enough to believe me, and gave the +horses. I arrived, however, at last at Paris, and found a change at the +Court, which surprised me. + +Daquin--first doctor of the King and creature of Madame de Montespan--had +lost nothing of his credit by her removal, but had never been able to get +on well with Madame de Maintenon, who looked coldly upon all the friends +of her predecessor. Daquin had a son, an abbe, and wearied the King with +solicitations on his behalf. Madame de Maintenon seized the opportunity, +when the King was more than usually angry with Daquin, to obtain his +dismissal: it came upon him like a thunderbolt. On the previous evening +the King had spoken to him for a long time as usual, and had never +treated him better. All the Court was astonished also. Fagon, a very +skilful and learned man, was appointed in his place at the instance of +Madame de Maintenon. + +Another event excited less surprise than interest. On Sunday, the 29th +of November, the King learned that La Vauguyon had killed himself in his +bed, that morning, by firing twice into his throat. I must say a few +words about this Vauguyon. He was one of the pettiest and poorest +gentlemen of France: he was well-made, but very swarthy, with Spanish +features, had a charming voice, played the guitar and lute very well, and +was skilled in the arts of gallantry. By these talents he had succeeded, +in finding favour with Madame de Beauvais, much regarded at the Court as +having been the King's first mistress. I have seen her--old, blear-eyed, +and half blind,--at the toilette of the Dauphiness of Bavaria, where +everybody courted her, because she was still much considered by the King. +Under this protection La Vauguyon succeeded well; was several times sent +as ambassador to foreign countries; was made councillor of state, and to +the scandal of everybody, was raised to the Order in 1688. Of late +years, having no appointments, he had scarcely the means of living, and +endeavoured, but without success, to improve his condition. + +Poverty by degrees turned his brain; but a long time passed before it was +perceived. The first proof that he gave of it was at the house of Madame +Pelot, widow of the Chief President of the Rouen parliament. Playing at +brelan one evening, she offered him a stake, and because he would not +accept it bantered him, and playfully called him a poltroon. He said +nothing, but waited until all the rest of the company had left the room; +and when he found himself alone with Madame Pelot, he bolted the door, +clapped his hat on his head, drove her up against the chimney, and +holding her head between his two fists, said he knew no reason why he +should not pound it into a jelly, in order to teach her to call him +poltroon again. The poor woman was horribly frightened, and made +perpendicular curtseys between his two fists, and all sorts of excuses. +At last he let her go, more dead than alive. She had the generosity to +say no syllable of this occurrence until after his death; she even +allowed him to come to the house as usual, but took care never to be +alone with him. + +One day, a long time after this, meeting, in a gallery, at Fontainebleau, +M. de Courtenay, La Vauguyon drew his sword, and compelled the other to +draw also, although there had never been the slightest quarrel between +them. They were soon separated and La Vauguyon immediately fled to the +King, who was just then in his private closet, where nobody ever entered +unless expressly summoned. But La Vauguyon turned the key, and, in spite +of the usher on guard, forced his way in. The King in great emotion +asked him what was the matter. La Vauguyon on his knees said he had been +insulted by M. de Courtenay and demanded pardon for having drawn his +sword in the palace. His Majesty, promising to examine the matter, with +great trouble got rid of La Vauguyon. As nothing could be made of it, M. +de Courtenay declaring he had been insulted by La Vauguyon and forced to +draw his sword, and the other telling the same tale, both were sent to +the Bastille. After a short imprisonment they were released, and +appeared at the Court as usual. + +Another adventure, which succeeded this, threw some light upon the state +of affairs. Going to Versailles, one day, La Vauguyon met a groom of the +Prince de Conde leading a saddled horse, he stopped the man, descended +from his coach, asked whom the horse belonged to, said that the Prince +would not object to his riding it, and leaping upon the animal's back, +galloped off. The groom, all amazed, followed him. La Vauguyon rode on +until he reached the Bastille, descended there, gave a gratuity to the +man, and dismissed him: he then went straight to the governor of the +prison, said he had had the misfortune to displease the King, and begged +to be confined there. The governor, having no orders to do so, refused; +and sent off an express for instructions how to act. In reply he was +told not to receive La Vauguyon, whom at last, after great difficulty, he +prevailed upon to go away. This occurrence made great noise. Yet even +afterwards the King continued to receive La Vauguyon at the Court, and to +affect to treat him well, although everybody else avoided him and was +afraid of him. His poor wife became so affected by these public +derangements, that she retired from Paris, and shortly afterwards died. +This completed her husband's madness; he survived her only a month, dying +by his own hand, as I have mentioned. During the last two years of his +life he carried pistols in his carriage, and frequently pointed them at +his coachman and postilion. It is certain that without the assistance of +M. de Beauvais he would often have been brought to the last extremities. +Beauvais frequently spoke of him to the King; and it is inconceivable +that having raised this man to such a point; and having always shown him +particular kindness, his Majesty should perseveringly have left him to +die of hunger and become mad from misery. + +The year finished without any remarkable occurrence. + +My mother; who had been much disquieted for me during the campaign, +desired strongly that I should not make another without being married. +Although very young, I had no repugnance to marry, but wished to do so +according to my own inclinations. With a large establishment I felt very +lonely in a country where credit and consideration do more than all the +rest. Without uncle, aunt, cousins-German, or near relatives, I found +myself, I say, extremely solitary. + +Among my best friends, as he had been the friend of my father; was the +Duc de Beauvilliers. He had always shown me much affection, and I felt a +great desire to unite myself to his family: My mother approved of my +inclination, and gave me an exact account of my estates and possessions. +I carried it to Versailles, and sought a private interview with M. de +Beauvilliers. At eight o'clock the same evening he received me alone in +the cabinet of Madame de Beauvilliers. After making my compliments to +him, I told him my wish, showed him the state of my affairs, and said +that all I demanded of him was one of his daughters in marriage, and that +whatever contract he thought fit to draw up would be signed by my mother +and myself without examination. + +The Duke, who had fixed his eyes upon me all this time, replied like a +man penetrated with gratitude by the offer I had made. He said, that of +his eight daughters the eldest was between fourteen and fifteen years +old; the second much deformed, and in no way marriageable; the third +between twelve and thirteen years of age, and the rest were children: the +eldest wished to enter a convent, and had shown herself firm upon that +point. He seemed inclined to make a difficulty of his want of fortune; +but, reminding him of the proposition I had made, I said that it was not +for fortune I had come to him, not even for his daughter, whom I had +never seen; that it was he and Madame de Beauvilliers who had charmed me, +and whom I wished to marry! + +"But," said he, "if my eldest daughter wishes absolutely to enter a +convent?" + +"Then," replied I, "I ask the third of you." To this he objected, on the +ground that if he gave the dowry of the first to the third daughter, and +the first afterwards changed her mind and wished to marry, he should be +thrown into an embarrassment. I replied that I would take the third as +though the first were to be married, and that if she were not, the +difference between what he destined for her and what he destined for the +third, should be given to me. The Duke, raising his eyes to heaven, +protested that he had never been combated in this manner, and that he was +obliged to gather up all his forces in order to prevent himself yielding +to me that very instant. + +On the next day, at half-past three, I had another interview with M. de +Beauvilliers. With much tenderness he declined my proposal, resting his +refusal upon the inclination his daughter had displayed for the convent, +upon his little wealth, if, the marriage of the third being made, she +should change her mind--and upon other reasons. He spoke to me with much +regret and friendship, and I to him in the same manner; and we separated, +unable any longer to speak to each other. Two days after, however, I had +another interview with him by his appointment. I endeavoured to overcome +the objections that he made, but all in vain. He could not give me his +third daughter with the first unmarried, and he would not force her, he +said, to change her wish of retiring from the world. His words, pious +and elevated, augmented my respect for him, and my desire for the +marriage. In the evening, at the breaking up of the appointment, I could +not prevent myself whispering in his ear that I should never live happily +with anybody but his daughter, and without waiting for a reply hastened +away. I had the next evening, at eight o'clock, an interview with Madame +de Beauvilliers. I argued with her with such prodigious ardor that she +was surprised, and, although she did not give way, she said she would be +inconsolable for the loss of me, repeating the same tender and flattering +things her husband had said before, and with the same effusion of +feeling. + +I had yet another interview with M. de Beauvilliers. He showed even more +affection for me than before, but I could not succeed in putting aside +his scruples. He unbosomed himself afterwards to one of our friends, and +in his bitterness said he could only console himself by hoping that his +children and mine might some day intermarry, and he prayed me to go and +pass some days at Paris, in order to allow him to seek a truce to his +grief in my absence. We both were in want of it. I have judged it +fitting to give these details, for they afford a key to my exceeding +intimacy with M. de Beauvilliers, which otherwise, considering the +difference in our ages, might appear incomprehensible. + +There was nothing left for me but to look out for another marriage. One +soon presented itself, but as soon fell to the ground; and I went to La +Trappe to console myself for the impossibility of making an alliance with +the Duc de Beauvilliers. + +La Trappe is a place so celebrated and so well known, and its reformer so +famous, that I shall say but little about it. I will, however, mention +that this abbey is five leagues from La Ferme-au-Vidame, or Arnold, which +is the real distinctive name of this Ferme among so many other Fetes in +France, which have preserved the generic name of what they have been, +that is to say, forts or fortresses ('freitas'). My father had been very +intimate with M. de la Trappe, and had taken me to him. + +Although I was very young then, M. de la Trappe charmed me, and the +sanctity of the place enchanted me. Every year I stayed some days there, +sometimes a week at a time, and was never tired of admiring this great +and distinguished man. He loved me as a son, and I respected him as +though he were any father. This intimacy, singular at my age, I kept +secret from everybody, and only went to the convent clandestinely. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +On my return from La Trappe, I became engaged in an affair which made a +great noise, and which had many results for me. + +M. de Luxembourg, proud of his successes, and of the applause of the +world at his victories, believed himself sufficiently strong to claim +precedence over seventeen dukes, myself among the number; to step, in +fact, from the eighteenth rank, that he held amongst the peers, to the +second. The following are the names and the order in precedence of the +dukes he wished to supersede: + +The Duc d'Elboeuf; the Duc de Montbazon; the Duc de Ventadour; the Duc de +Vendome; the Duc de la Tremoille; the Duc de Sully; the Duc de Chevreuse, +the son (minor) of the Duchesse de Lesdiguieres-Gondi; the Duc de +Brissac; Charles d'Albert, called d'Ailly; the Duc de Richelieu; the Duc +de Saint-Simon; the Duc de la Rochefoucauld; the Duc de la Force; the Duc +de Valentinois; the Duc de Rohan; the Duc de Bouillon. + +To explain this pretension of M. de Luxembourg, I must give some details +respecting him and the family whose name he bore. He was the only son of +M. de Bouteville, and had married a descendant of Francois de Luxembourg, +Duke of Piney, created Peer of France in 1581. It was a peerage which, +in default of male successors, went to the female, but this descendant +was not heir to it. She was the child of a second marriage, and by a +first marriage her mother had given birth to a son and a daughter, who +were the inheritors of the peerage, both of whom were still living. The +son was, however, an idiot, had been declared incapable of attending to +his affairs, and was shut up in Saint Lazare, at Paris. The daughter had +taken the veil, and was mistress of the novices at the Abbaye-aux-Bois. +The peerage had thus, it might almost be said, become extinct, for it was +vested in an idiot, who could not marry (to prevent him doing so, he had +been made a deacon, and he was bound in consequence to remain single), +and in a nun, who was equally bound by her vows to the same state of +celibacy. + +When M. de Bouteville, for that was his only title then, married, he took +the arms and the name of Luxembourg. He did more. By powerful +influence--notably that of his patron the Prince de Conde--he released +the idiot deacon from his asylum, and the nun from her convent, and +induced them both to surrender to him their possessions and their titles. +This done, he commenced proceedings at once in order to obtain legal +recognition of his right to the dignities he had thus got possession of. +He claimed to be acknowledged Duc de Piney, with all the privileges +attached to that title as a creation of 1581. Foremost among these +privileges was that of taking precedence of all dukes whose title did not +go back so far as that year. Before any decision was given either for or +against this claim, he was made Duc de Piney by new letters patent, +dating from 1662, with a clause which left his pretensions to the title +of 1581 by no means affected by this new creation. M. de Luxembourg, +however, seemed satisfied with what he had obtained, and was apparently +disposed to pursue his claim no further. He was received as Duke and +Peer in the Parliament, took his seat in the last rank after all the +other peers, and allowed his suit to drop. Since then he had tried +successfully to gain it by stealth, but for several years nothing more +had been heard of it. Now, however, he recommenced it, and with every +intention, as we soon found, to stop at no intrigue or baseness in order +to carry his point. + +Nearly everybody was in his favour. The Court, though not the King, was +almost entirely for him; and the town, dazzled by the splendour of his +exploits, was devoted to him. The young men regarded him as the +protector of their debauches; for, notwithstanding his age, his conduct +was as free as theirs. He had captivated the troops and the general +officers. + +In the Parliament he had a staunch supporter in Harlay, the Chief +President, who led that great body at his will, and whose devotion he had +acquired to such a degree, that he believed that to undertake and succeed +were only the same things, and that this grand affair would scarcely cost +him a winter to carry. + +Let me say something more of this Harlay. + +Descended from two celebrated magistrates, Achille d'Harlay and +Christopher De Thou, Harlay imitated their gravity, but carried it to a +cynical extent, affected their disinterestedness and modesty, but +dishonoured the first by his conduct, and the second by a refined pride +which he endeavoured without success to conceal. He piqued himself, +above all things, upon his probity and justice, but the mask soon fell. +Between Peter and Paul he maintained the strictest fairness, but as soon +as he perceived interest or favour to be acquired, he sold himself. This +trial will show him stripped of all disguise. He was learned in the law; +in letters he was second to no one; he was well acquainted with history, +and knew how, above all, to govern his company with an authority which +suffered no reply, and which no other chief president had ever attained. + +A pharisaical austerity rendered him redoubtable by the license he +assumed in his public reprimands, whether to plaintiffs, or defendants, +advocates or magistrates; so that there was not a single person who did +not tremble to have to do with him. Besides this, sustained in all by +the Court (of which he was the slave, and the very humble servant of +those who were really in favour), a subtle courtier, a singularly crafty +politician, he used all those talents solely to further his ambition, his +desire of domination and his thirst of the reputation of a great man. +He was without real honour, secretly of corrupt manners, with only +outside probity, without humanity even; in one word, a perfect hypocrite; +without faith, without law, without a God, and without a soul; a cruel +husband, a barbarous father, a tyrannical brother, a friend of himself +alone, wicked by nature--taking pleasure in insulting, outraging, and +overwhelming others, and never in his life having lost an occasion to do +so. His wit was great, but was always subservient to his wickedness. +He was small, vigorous, and thin, with a lozenge-shaped face, a long +aquiline nose--fine, speaking, keen eyes, that usually looked furtively +at you, but which, if fixed on a client or a magistrate, were fit to make +him sink into the earth. He wore narrow robes, an almost ecclesiastical +collar and wristband to match, a brown wig mimed with white, thickly +furnished but short, and with a great cap over it. He affected a bending +attitude, and walked so, with a false air, more humble than modest, and +always shaved along the walls, to make people make way for him with +greater noise; and at Versailles worked his way on by a series of +respectful and, as it were, shame-faced bows to the right and left. He +held to the King and to Madame de Maintenon by knowing their weak side; +and it was he who, being consulted upon the unheard-of legitimation of +children without naming the mother, had sanctioned that illegality in +favour of the King. + +Such was the man whose influence was given entirely to our opponent. + +To assist M. de Luxembourg's case as much as possible, the celebrated +Racine, so known by his plays, and by the order he had received at that +time to write the history of the King, was employed to polish and +ornament his pleas. Nothing was left undone by M. de Luxembourg in order +to gain this cause. + +I cannot give all the details of the case, the statements made on both +sides, and the defences; they would occupy entire volumes. We maintained +that M. de Luxembourg was in no way entitled to the precedence he +claimed, and we had both law and justice on our side. To give +instructions to our counsel, and to follow the progress of the case, +we met once a week, seven or eight of us at least, those best disposed +to give our time to the matter. Among the most punctual was M. de la +Rochefoucauld. I had been solicited from the commencement to take part +in the proceedings, and I complied most willingly, apologising for so +doing to M. de Luxembourg, who replied with all the politeness and +gallantry possible, that I could not do less than follow an example my +father had set me. + +The trial having commenced, we soon saw how badly disposed the Chief +President was towards us. He obstructed us in every way, and acted +against all rules. There seemed no other means of defeating his evident +intention of judging against us than by gaining time, first of all; and +to do this we determined to get the case adjourned, There were, however, +only two days at our disposal, and that was not enough in order to comply +with the forms required for such a step. We were all in the greatest +embarrassment, when it fortunately came into the head of one of our +lawyers to remind us of a privilege we possessed, by which, without much +difficulty, we could obtain what we required. I was the only one who +could, at that moment, make use of this privilege. I hastened home, at +once, to obtain the necessary papers, deposited them with the procureur +of M. de Luxembourg, and the adjournment was obtained. The rage of M. de +Luxembourg was without bounds. When we met he would not salute me, and +in consequence I discontinued to salute him; by which he lost more than +I, in his position and at his age, and furnished in the rooms and the +galleries of Versailles a sufficiently ridiculous spectacle. In addition +to this he quarrelled openly with M. de Richelieu, and made a bitter +attack upon him in one of his pleas. But M. de Richelieu, meeting him +soon after in the Salle des Gardes at Versailles, told him to his face +that he should soon have a reply; and said that he feared him neither on +horseback nor on foot--neither him nor his crew--neither in town nor at +the Court, nor even in the army, nor in any place in the world; and +without allowing time for a reply he turned on his heel. In the end, M. +de Luxembourg found himself so closely pressed that he was glad to +apologise to M. de Richelieu. + +After a time our cause, sent back again to the Parliament, was argued +there with the same vigour, the same partiality, and the same injustice +as before: seeing this, we felt that the only course left open to us was +to get the case sent before the Assembly of all the Chambers, where the +judges, from their number, could not be corrupted by M. de Luxembourg, +and where the authority of Harlay was feeble, while over the Grand +Chambre, in which the case was at present, it was absolute. The +difficulty was to obtain an assembly of all the Chambers, for the power +of summoning them was vested solely in Harlay. However, we determined to +try and gain his consent. M. de Chaulnes undertook to go upon this +delicate errand, and acquitted himself well of his mission. He pointed +out to Harlay that everybody was convinced of his leaning towards M. de +Luxembourg, and that the only way to efface the conviction that had gone +abroad was to comply with our request; in fine, he used so many +arguments, and with such address, that Harlay, confused and thrown off +his guard, and repenting of the manner in which he had acted towards us +as being likely to injure his interests, gave a positive assurance to M. +de Chaulnes that what we asked should be granted. + +We had scarcely finished congratulating ourselves upon this unhoped-for +success, when we found that we had to do with a man whose word was a very +sorry support to rest upon. M. de Luxembourg, affrighted at the promise +Harlay had given, made him resolve to break it. Suspecting this, M. de +Chaulnes paid another visit to the Chief President, who admitted, with +much confusion, that he had changed his views, and that it was impossible +to carry out what he had agreed to. After this we felt that to treat any +longer with a man so perfidious would be time lost; and we determined, +therefore, to put it out of his power to judge the case at all. + +According to the received maxim, whoever is at law with the son cannot be +judged by the father. Harlay had a son who was Advocate-General. We +resolved that one among us should bring an action against him. + +After trying in vain to induce the Duc de Rohan, who was the only one of +our number who could readily have done it, to commence a suit against +Harlay's sort, we began to despair of arriving at our aim. Fortunately +for us, the vexation of Harlay became so great at this time, in +consequence of the disdain with which we treated him, and which we openly +published, that he extricated us himself from our difficulty. We had +only to supplicate the Duc de Gesvres in the cause (he said to some of +our people), and we should obtain what we wanted; for the Duc de Gesvres +was his relative. We took him at his word. The, Duc de Gesvres received +in two days a summons on our part. Harlay, annoyed with himself for the +advice he had given, relented of it: but it was too late; he was declared +unable to judge the cause, and the case itself was postponed until the +next year. + +Meanwhile, let me mention a circumstance which should have found a place +before, and then state what occurred in the interval which followed until +the trial recommenced. + +It was while our proceedings were making some little stir that fresh +favours were heaped upon the King's illegitimate sons, at the instance of +the King himself, and with the connivance of Harlay, who, for the part he +took in the affair, was promised the chancellorship when it should become +vacant. The rank of these illegitimate sons was placed just below that +of the princes, of the blood, and just above that of the peers even of +the oldest creation. This gave us all exceeding annoyance: it was the +greatest injury the peerage could have received, and became its leprosy +and sore. All the peers who could, kept themselves aloof from the +parliament, when M. du Maine, M. de Vendome, and the Comte de Toulouse, +for whom this arrangement was specially made, were received there. + +There were several marriages at the Court this winter and many very fine +balls, at which latter I danced. By the spring, preparations were ready +for fresh campaigns. My regiment (I had bought one at the close of the +last season) was ordered to join the army of M. de Luxembourg; but, as I +had no desire to be under him, I wrote to the King, begging to be +exchanged. In a short time, to the great vexation, as I know, of M. de +Luxembourg, my request was granted. The Chevalier de Sully went to +Flanders in my place, and I to Germany in his. I went first to Soissons +to see my regiment, and in consequence of the recommendation of the King, +was more severe with it than I should otherwise have been. I set out +afterwards for Strasbourg, where I was surprised with the magnificence of +the town, and with the number, beauty, and grandeur of its +fortifications. As from my youth I knew and spoke German perfectly, I +sought out one of my early German acquaintances, who gave me much +pleasure. I stopped six days at Strasbourg and then went by the Rhine to +Philipsburg. On the next day after arriving there, I joined the cavalry, +which was encamped at Obersheim. + +After several movements--in which we passed and repassed the Rhine--but +which led to no effective result, we encamped for forty days at Gaw- +Boecklheim, one of the best and most beautiful positions in the world, +and where we had charming weather, although a little disposed to cold. +It was in the leisure of that long camp that I commenced these memoirs, +incited by the pleasure I took in reading those of Marshal Bassompierre, +which invited me thus to write what I should see in my own time. + +During this season M. de Noailles took Palamos, Girone, and the fortress +of Castel-Follit in Catalonia. This last was taken by the daring of a +soldier, who led on a small number of his comrades, and carried the place +by assault. Nothing was done in Italy; and in Flanders M. de Luxembourg +came to no engagement with the Prince of Orange. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +After our long rest at the camp of Gaw-Boecklheim we again put ourselves +in movement, but without doing much against the enemy, and on the 16th of +October I received permission to return to Paris. Upon my arrival there +I learnt that many things had occurred since I left. During that time +some adventures had happened to the Princesses, as the three illegitimate +daughters of the King were called for distinction sake. Monsieur wished +that the Duchesse de Chartres should always call the others "sister," but +that the others should never address her except as "Madame." The +Princesse de Conti submitted to this; but the other (Madame la Duchesse, +being the produce of the same love) set herself to call the Duchesse de +Chartres "mignonne." But nothing was less a mignonne than her face and +her figure; and Monsieur, feeling the ridicule, complained to the King. +The King prohibited very severely this familiarity. + +While at Trianon these Princesses took it into their heads to walk out +at night and divert themselves with crackers. Either from malice or +imprudence they let off some one night under the windows of Monsieur, +rousing him thereby out of his sleep. He was so displeased, that he +complained to the King, who made him many excuses (scolding the +Princesses), but had great trouble to appease him. His anger lasted a +long time, and the Duchesse de Chartres felt it. I do not know if the +other two were very sorry. Madame la Duchesse was accused of writing +some songs upon the Duchesse de Chartres. + +The Princesse de Conti had another adventure, which made considerable +noise, and which had great results. She had taken into her favour +Clermont, ensign of the gensdarmes and of the Guard. He had pretended to +be enamoured of her, and had not been repelled, for she soon became in +love with him. Clermont had attached himself to the service of M. de +Luxembourg, and was the merest creature in his hands. At the instigation +of M. de Luxembourg, he turned away his regards from the Princesse de +Conti, and fixed them upon one of her maids of honour--Mademoiselle +Choin, a great, ugly, brown, thick-set girl, upon whom Monseigneur had +lately bestowed his affection. Monseigneur made no secret of this, nor +did she. Such being the case, it occurred to M. de Luxembourg (who knew +he was no favourite with the King, and who built all his hopes of the +future upon Monseigneur) that Clermont, by marrying La Choin, might thus +secure the favour of Monseigneur, whose entire confidence she possessed. +Clermont was easily persuaded that this would be for him a royal road to +fortune, and he accordingly entered willingly into the scheme, which had +just begun to move, when the campaign commenced, and everybody went away +to join the armies. + +The King, who partly saw this intrigue, soon made himself entirely master +of it, by intercepting the letters which passed between the various +parties. He read there the project of Clermont and La Choin to marry, +and thus govern Monseigneur; he saw how M. de Luxembourg was the soul of +this scheme, and the marvels to himself he expected from it. The letters +Clermont had received from the Princesse de Conti he now sent to +Mademoiselle la Choin, and always spoke to her of Monseigneur as their +"fat friend." With this correspondence in his hands, the King one day +sent for the Princesse de Conti, said in a severe tone that he knew of +her weakness for Clermont; and, to prove to her how badly she had placed +her affection, showed her her own letters to Clermont, and letters in +which he had spoken most contemptuously of her to La Choin. Then, as a +cruel punishment, he made her read aloud to him the whole of those +letters. At this she almost died, and threw herself, bathed in tears, at +the feet of the King, scarcely able to articulate. Then came sobs, +entreaty, despair, and rage, and cries for justice and revenge. This was +soon obtained. Mademoiselle la Choin was driven away the next day; and +M. de Luxembourg had orders to strip Clermont of his office, and send him +to the most distant part of the kingdom. The terror of M. de Luxembourg +and the Prince de Conti at this discovery may be imagined. Songs +increased the notoriety of this strange adventure between the Princess +and her confidant. + +M. de Noyon had furnished on my return another subject for the song- +writers, and felt it the more sensibly because everybody was diverted at +his expense, M. de Noyon was extremely vain, and afforded thereby much +amusement to the King. A Chair was vacant at the Academic Francaise. +The King wished it to be given to M. de Noyon, and expressed himself to +that effect to Dangeau, who was a member. As may be believed, the +prelate was elected without difficulty. His Majesty testified to the +Prince de Conde, and to the most distinguished persons of the Court, that +he should be glad to see them at the reception. Thus M. de Noyon was the +first member of the Academia chosen by the King, and the first at whose +reception he had taken the trouble to invite his courtiers to attend. + +The Abbe de Caumartin was at that time Director of the Academie. He knew +the vanity of M. de Noyon, and determined to divert the public at his +expense. He had many friends in power, and judged that his pleasantry +would be overlooked, and even approved. He composed, therefore, a +confused and bombastic discourse in the style of M. de Noyon, full of +pompous phrases, turning the prelate into ridicule, while they seemed to +praise him. After finishing this work, he was afraid lest it should be +thought out of all measure, and, to reassure himself, carried it to M. de +Noyon himself, as a scholar might to his master, in order to see whether +it fully met with his approval. M. de Noyon, so far from suspecting +anything, was charmed by the discourse, and simply made a few corrections +in the style. The Abbe de Caumartin rejoiced at the success of the snare +he had laid, and felt quite bold enough to deliver his harangue. + +The day came. The Academie was crowded. The King and the Court were +there, all expecting to be diverted. M. de Noyon, saluting everybody +with a satisfaction he did not dissimulate, made his speech with his +usual confidence, and in his usual style. The Abbe replied with a modest +air, and with a gravity and slowness that gave great effect to his +ridiculous discourse. The surprise and pleasure were general, and each +person strove to intoxicate M. de Noyon more and more, making him believe +that the speech of the Abbe was relished solely because it had so +worthily praised him. The prelate was delighted with the Abbe and the +public, and conceived not the slightest mistrust. + +The noise which this occurrence made may be imagined, and the praises M. +de Noyon gave himself in relating everywhere what he had said, and what +had been replied to him. M. de Paris, to whose house he went, thus +triumphing, did not like him, and endeavoured to open his eyes to the +humiliation he had received. For some time M. de Noyon would not be +convinced of the truth; it was not until he had consulted with Pere la +Chaise that he believed it. The excess of rage and vexation succeeded +then to the excess of rapture he had felt. In this state he returned to +his house, and went the next day to Versailles. There he made the most +bitter complaints to the King, of the Abbe de Caumartin, by whose means +he had become the sport and laughing-stock of all the world. + +The King, who had learned what had passed, was himself displeased. He +ordered Pontchartrain (who was related to Caumartin) to rebuke the Abbe, +and to send him a lettre de cachet, in order that he might go and ripen +his brain in his Abbey of Busay, in Brittany, and better learn there how +to speak and write. Pontchartrain executed the first part of his +commission, but not the second. He pointed out to the King that the +speech of the Abbe de Caumartin had been revised and corrected by M. de +Noyon, and that, therefore, this latter had only himself to blame in the +matter. He declared, too, that the Abbe was very sorry for what he had +done, and was most willing to beg pardon of M. de Noyon. The lettre de +cachet thus fell to the ground, but not the anger of the prelate. He was +so outraged that he would not see the Abbe, retired into his diocese to +hide his shame, and remained there a long time. + +Upon his return to Paris, however, being taken ill, before consenting to +receive the sacraments, he sent for the Abbe, embraced him, pardoned him, +and gave him a diamond ring, that he drew from his finger, and that he +begged him to keep in memory of him. Nay, more, when he was cured, he +used all his influence to reinstate the Abbe in the esteem of the King. +But the King could never forgive what had taken place, and M. de Noyon, +by this grand action, gained only the favour of God and the honour of the +world. + +I must finish the account of the war of this year with a strange +incident. M. de Noailles, who had been so successful in Catalonia, was +on very bad terms with Barbezieux, secretary of state for the war +department. Both were in good favour with the King; both high in power, +both spoiled. The successes in Catalonia had annoyed Barbezieux. They +smoothed the way for the siege of Barcelona, and that place once taken, +the very heart of Spain would have been exposed, and M. de Noailles would +have gained fresh honours and glory. M. de Noailles felt this so +completely that he had pressed upon the King the siege of Barcelona; and +when the fitting time came for undertaking it, sent a messenger to him +with full information of the forces and supplies he required. Fearing +that if he wrote out this information it might fall into the hands of +Barbezieux, and never reach the King, he simply gave his messenger +instructions by word of mouth, and charged him to deliver them so. But +the very means he had taken to ensure success brought about failure. +Barbezieux, informed by his spies of the departure of the messenger, +waylaid him, bribed him, and induced him to act with the blackest +perfidy, by telling the King quite a different story to that he was +charged with. In this way, the project for the siege of Barcelona was +entirely broken, at the moment for its execution, and with the most +reasonable hopes of success; and upon M. de Noailles rested all the +blame. What a thunderbolt this was for him may easily be imagined. But +the trick had been so well played, that he could not clear himself with +the King; and all through this winter he remained out of favour. + +At last he thought of a means by which he might regain his position. He +saw the inclination of the King for his illegitimate children; and +determined to make a sacrifice in favour of one of them; rightly judging +that this would be a sure means to step back into the confidence he had +been so craftily driven from. His scheme, which he caused to be placed +before the King, was to go into Catalonia at the commencement of the next +campaign, to make a semblance of falling ill immediately upon arriving, +to send to Versailles a request that he might be recalled, and at the +same time a suggestion that M. de Vendome (who would then be near Nice, +under Marechal Catinat) should succeed him. In order that no time might +be lost, nor the army left without a general, he proposed to carry with +him the letters patent; appointing M. de Vendome, and to send them to him +at the same time that he sent to be recalled. + +It is impossible to express the relief and satisfaction with which this +proposition was received. The King was delighted with it, as with +everything tending to advance his illegitimate children and to put a +slight upon the Princes of the blood. He could not openly have made this +promotion without embroiling himself with the latter; but coming as it +would from M. de Noailles, he had nothing to fear. M. de Vendome, once +general of an army, could no longer serve in any other quality; and would +act as a stepping-stone for M. du Maine. + +From this moment M. de Noailles returned more than ever into the good +graces of the King. Everything happened as it had been arranged. But +the secret was betrayed in the execution. Surprise was felt that at the +same moment M. de Noailles sent a request to be recalled, he also sent, +and without waiting for a reply, to call M. de Vendame to the command. +What completely raised the veil were the letters patent that he sent +immediately after to M. de Vendome, and that it was known he could not +have received from the King in the time that had elapsed. M. de Noailles +returned from Catalonia, and was received as his address merited. He +feigned being lame with rheumatism, and played the part for a long time, +but forgot himself occasionally, and made his company smile. He fixed +himself at the Court, and gained there much more favour than he could +have gained by the war; to the great vexation of Barbezieux. + +M. de Luxembourg very strangely married his daughter at this time to the +Chevalier de Soissons (an illegitimate son of the Comte de Soissons), +brought out from the greatest obscurity by the Comtesse de Nemours, and +adopted by her to spite her family: M. de Luxembourg did not long survive +this fine marriage. At sixty-seven years of age he believed himself +twenty-five, and lived accordingly. The want of genuine intrigues, from +which his age and his face excluded him, he supplied by money-power; and +his intimacy, and that of his son, with the Prince de Conti and +Albergotti was kept up almost entirely by the community of their habits, +and the secret parties of pleasure they concocted together. All the +burden of marches, of orders of subsistence, fell upon a subordinate. +Nothing could be more exact than the coup d'oeil of M. de Luxembourg-- +nobody could be more brilliant, more sagacious, more penetrating than he +before the enemy or in battle, and this, too, with an audacity, an ease, +and at the same time a coolness, which allowed him to see all and foresee +all under the hottest fire, and in the most imminent danger: It was at +such times that he was great. For the rest he was idleness itself. He +rarely walked unless absolutely obliged, spent his time in gaming, or in +conversation With his familiars; and had every evening a supper with a +chosen few (nearly always the same); and if near a town, the other sex +were always agreeably mingled with them. When thus occupied, he was +inaccessible to everybody, and if anything pressing happened, it was his +subordinate who attended to it. Such was at the army the life of this +great general, and such it was at Paris, except that the Court and the +great world occupied his days, and his pleasures the evenings. At last, +age, temperament, and constitution betrayed him. He fell ill at +Versailles. Given over by Fagon, the King's physician, Coretti, an +Italian, who had secrets of his own, undertook his cure, and relieved +him, but only for a short time. His door during this illness was +besieged by all the Court. The King sent to inquire after him, but it +was more for appearance' sake than from sympathy, for I have already +remarked that the King did not like him. The brilliancy of his +campaigns, and the difficulty of replacing him, caused all the +disquietude. Becoming worse, M. de Luxembourg received the sacraments, +showed some religion and firmness, and died on the morning of the 4th of +January, 1695, the fifth day of his illness, much regretted by many +people, but personally esteemed by none, and loved by very few. + +Not one of the Dukes M. de Luxembourg had attacked went to see him during +his illness. I neither went nor sent, although at Versailles; and I must +admit that I felt my deliverance from such an enemy. + +Here, perhaps, I may as well relate the result of the trial in which we +were engaged, and which, after the death of M. de Luxembourg, was +continued by his son. It was not judged until the following year. +I have shown that by our implicating the Duc de Gesvres, the Chief +President had been declared incapable of trying the case. The rage he +conceived against us cannot be expressed, and, great actor that he was, +he could not hide it. All his endeavour afterwards was to do what he +could against us; the rest of the mask fell, and the deformity of the +judge appeared in the man, stripped of all disguise. + +We immediately signified to M. de Luxembourg that he must choose between +the letters patent of 1581 and those of 1662. If he abandoned the first +the case fell through; in repudiating the last he renounced the certainty +of being duke and peer after us; and ran the risk of being reduced to an +inferior title previously granted to him. The position was a delicate +one; he was affrighted; but after much consultation he resolved to run +all risks and maintain his pretensions. It thus simply became a question +of his right to the title of Duc de Piney, with the privilege attached to +it as a creation of 1581. + +In the spring of 1696 the case was at last brought on, before the +Assembly of all the Chambers. Myself and the other Dukes seated +ourselves in court to hear the proceedings. The trial commenced. +All the facts and particulars of the cause were brought forward. +Our advocates spoke, and then few doubted but that we should gain the +victory. M. de Luxembourg's advocate, Dumont, was next heard. He was +very audacious, and spoke so insolently of us, saying, in Scripture +phraseology, that we honoured the King with our lips, whilst our hearts +were far from him, that I could not contain myself. I was seated between +the Duc de la Rochefoucauld and the Duc d'Estrees. I stood up, crying +out against the imposture of this knave, and calling for justice on him. +M. de la Rochefoucauld pulled me back, made me keep silent, and I plunged +down into my seat more from anger against him than against the advocate. +My movement excited a murmur. We might on the instant have had justice +against Dumont, but the opportunity had passed for us to ask for it, and +the President de Maisons made a slight excuse for him. We complained, +however, afterwards to the King, who expressed his surprise that Dumont +had not been stopped in the midst of his speech. + +The summing up was made by D'Aguesseau, who acquitted himself of the task +with much eloquence and impartiality. His speech lasted two days. This +being over, the court was cleared, and the judges were left alone to +deliberate upon their verdict. Some time after we were called in to hear +that verdict given. It was in favour of M. de Luxembourg in so far as +the title dating from 1662 was concerned; but the consideration of his +claim to the title of 1581 was adjourned indefinitely, so that he +remained exactly in the same position as his father. + +It was with difficulty we could believe in a decree so unjust and so +novel, and which decided a question that was not under dispute. I was +outraged, but I endeavoured to contain myself. I spoke to M. de la +Rochefoucauld; I tried to make him listen to me, and to agree that we +should complain to the King, but I spoke to a man furious, incapable of +understanding anything or of doing anything. Returning to my own house, +I wrote a letter to the King, in which I complained of the opinion of the +judges. I also pointed out, that when everybody had been ordered to +retire from the council chamber, Harlay and his secretary had been +allowed to remain. On these and other grounds I begged the King to grant +a new trial. + +I carried this letter to the Duc de la Tremoille, but I could not get him +to look at it. I returned home more vexed if possible than when I left. +The King, nevertheless, was exceedingly dissatisfied with the judgment. +He explained himself to that effect at his dinner, and in a manner but +little advantageous to the Parliament, and prepared himself to receive +the complaints he expected would be laid before him. But the obstinacy +of M. de la Rochefoucauld, which turned into vexation against himself, +rendered it impossible for us to take any steps in the matter, and so +overwhelmed me with displeasure, that I retired to La Trappe during +Passion Week in order to recover myself. + +At my return I learned that the King had spoken of this judgment to the +Chief President, and that that magistrate had blamed it, saying the cause +was indubitably ours, and that he had always thought so! If he thought +so, why oppose us so long? and if he did not think so, what a +prevaricator was he to reply with this flattery, so as to be in accord +with the King? The judges themselves were ashamed of their verdict, and +excused themselves for it on the ground of their compassion for the state +in which M. de Luxembourg would have been placed had he lost the title of +1662, and upon its being impossible that he should gain the one of 1581, +of which they had left him the chimera. M. de Luxembourg was accordingly +received at the Parliament on the 4th of the following May, with the rank +of 1662. He came and visited all of us, but we would have no intercourse +with him or with his judges. To the Advocate-General, D'Aguesseau, we +carried our thanks. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Thus ended this long and important case; and now let me go back again to +the events of the previous year. + +Towards the end of the summer and the commencement of the winter of 1695, +negotiations for peace were set on foot by the King. Harlay, son-in-law +of our enemy, was sent to Maestricht to sound the Dutch. But in +proportion as they saw peace desired were they less inclined to listen to +terms. They had even the impudence to insinuate to Harlay, whose +paleness and thinness were extraordinary, that they took him for a sample +of the reduced state of France! He, without getting angry, replied +pleasantly, that if they would give him the time to send for his wife, +they would, perhaps, conceive another opinion of the position of the +realm. In effect, she was extremely fat, and of a very high colour. He +was rather roughly dismissed, and hastened to regain our frontier. + +Two events followed each other very closely this winter. The first was +the death of the Princess of Orange, in London, at the end of January. +The King of England prayed our King to allow the Court to wear no +mourning, and it was even prohibited to M. de Bouillon and M. de Duras, +who were both related to the Prince of Orange. The order was obeyed, and +no word was said; but this sort of vengeance was thought petty. Hopes +were held out of a change in England, but they vanished immediately, and +the Prince of Orange appeared more accredited there and stronger than +ever. The Princess was much regretted, and the Prince of Orange, who +loved her and gave her his entire confidence, and even most marked +respect, was for some days ill with grief. + +The other event was strange. The Duke of Hanover, who, in consequence of +the Revolution, was destined to the throne of England after the Prince +and Princess of Orange and the Princess of Denmark, had married his +cousin-german, a daughter of the Duke of Zell. She was beautiful, and he +lived happily with her for some time. The Count of Koenigsmarck, young +and very well made, came to the Court, and gave him some umbrage. The +Duke of Hanover became jealous; he watched his wife and the Count, and at +length believed himself fully assured of what he would have wished to +remain ignorant of all his life. Fury seized him: he had the Count +arrested and thrown into a hot oven. Immediately afterwards he sent his +wife to her father, who shut her up in one of his castles, where she was +strictly guarded by the people of the Duke of Hanover. An assembly of +the Consistory was held in order to break off his marriage. It was +decided, very singularly, that the marriage was annulled so far as the +Duke was concerned, and that he could marry another woman; but that it +remained binding on the Duchess, and that she could not marry. The +children she had had during her marriage were declared legitimate. The +Duke of Hanover did not remain persuaded as to this last article. + +The King, entirely occupied with the aggrandisement of his natural +children, had heaped upon the Comte de Toulouse every possible favour. +He now (in order to evade a promise he had made to his brother, that the +first vacant government should be given to the Duc de Chartres) forced M. +de Chaulnes to give up the government of Brittany, which he had long +held, and conferred it upon the Comte de Toulouse, giving to the friend +and heir of the former the successorship to the government of Guyenne, by +way of recompense. + +M. de Chaulnes was old and fat, but much loved by the people of Brittany. +He was overwhelmed by this determination of the King, and his wife, who +had long been accustomed to play the little Queen, still more so; yet +there was nothing for them but to obey. They did obey, but it was with a +sorrow and chagrin they could not hide. + +The appointment was announced one morning at the rising of the King. +Monsieur, who awoke later, heard of it at the drawing of his curtains, +and was extremely piqued. The Comte de Toulouse came shortly afterwards, +and announced it himself. Monsieur interrupted him, and before everybody +assembled there said, "The King has given you a good present; but I know +not if what he has done is good policy." Monsieur went shortly +afterwards to the King, and reproached him for giving, under cover of a +trick, the government of Brittany to the Comte de Toulouse, having +promised it to the Duc de Chartres. The King heard him in silence: he +knew well how to appease him. Some money for play and to embellish Saint +Cloud, soon effaced Monsieur's chagrin. + +All this winter my mother was solely occupied in finding a good match for +me. Some attempt was made to marry me to Mademoiselle de Royan. It +would have been a noble and rich marriage; but I was alone, Mademoiselle +de Royan was an orphan, and I wished a father-in-law and a family upon +whom I could lean. During the preceding year there had been some talk of +the eldest daughter of Marechal de Lorges for me. The affair had fallen +through, almost as soon as suggested, and now, on both sides, there was a +desire to recommence negotiations. The probity, integrity, the freedom +of Marechal de Lorges pleased me infinitely, and everything tended to +give me an extreme desire for this marriage. Madame de Lorges by her +virtue and good sense was all I could wish for as the mother of my future +wife. Mademoiselle de Lorges was a blonde, with a complexion and figure +perfect, a very amiable face, an extremely noble and modest deportment, +and with I know not what of majesty derived from her air of virtue, and +of natural gentleness. The Marechal had five other daughters, but I +liked this one best without comparison, and hoped to find with her that +happiness which she since has given me. As she has become my wife, I +will abstain here from saying more about her, unless it be that she has +exceeded all that was promised of her, and all that I myself had hoped. + +My marriage being agreed upon and arranged the Marechal de Lorges spoke +of it to the King, who had the goodness to reply to him that he could not +do better, and to speak of me very obligingly. The marriage accordingly +took place at the Hotel de Lorges, on the 8th of April, 1695, which I +have always regarded, and with good reason, as the happiest day of my +life. My mother treated me like the best mother in the world. On the +Thursday before Quasimodo the contract was signed; a grand repast +followed; at midnight the cure of Saint Roch said mass, and married us in +the chapel of the house. On the eve, my mother had sent forty thousand +livres' worth of precious stones to Mademoiselle de Lorges, and I six +hundred Louis in a corbeille filled with all the knick-knacks that are +given on these occasions. + +We slept in the grand apartment of the Hotel des Lorges. On the morrow, +after dinner, my wife went to bed, and received a crowd of visitors, who +came to pay their respects and to gratify their curiosity. The next +evening we went to Versailles, and were received by Madame de Maintenon +and the King. On arriving at the supper-table, the King said to the new +Duchess:--"Madame, will you be pleased to seat yourself?" + +His napkin being unfolded, he saw all the duchesses and princesses still +standing; and rising in his chair, he said to Madame de Saint-Simon-- +"Madame, I have already begged you to be seated;" and all immediately +seated themselves. On the morrow, Madame de Saint-Simon received all the +Court in her bed in the apartment of the Duchesse d'Arpajon, as being +more handy, being on the ground floor. Our festivities finished by a +supper that I gave to the former friends of my father, whose acquaintance +I had always cultivated with great care. + +Almost immediately after my marriage the second daughter of the Marechal +de Lorges followed in the footsteps of her sister. She was fifteen years +of age, and at the reception of Madame de Saint-Simon had attracted the +admiration of M. de Lauzun, who was then sixty-three. Since his return +to the Court he had been reinstated in the dignity he had previously +held. He flattered himself that by marrying the daughter of a General he +should re-open a path to himself for command in the army. Full of this +idea he spoke to M. de Lorges, who was by no means inclined towards the +marriage. M. de Lauzun offered, however, to marry without dowry; and M. +de Lorges, moved by this consideration, assented to his wish. The affair +concluded, M. de Lorges spoke of it to the King. "You are bold," said +his Majesty, "to take Lauzun into your family. I hope you may not repent +of it." + +The contract was soon after signed. M. de Lorges gave no dowry with his +daughter, but she was to inherit something upon the death of M. Fremont. +We carried this contract to the King, who smiled and bantered M. de +Lauzun. M. de Lauzun replied, that he was only too happy, since it was +the first time since his return that he had seen the King smile at him. +The marriage took place without delay: there were only seven or eight +persons present at the ceremony. M. de Lauzun would undress himself +alone with his valet de chambre, and did not enter the apartment of his +wife until after everybody had left it, and she was in bed with the +curtains closed, and nobody to meet him on his passage. His wife +received company in bed, as mine had done. Nobody was able to understand +this marriage; and all foresaw that a rupture would speedily be brought +about by the well-known temper of M. de Lauzun. In effect, this is what +soon happened. The Marechal de Lorges, remaining still in weak health, +was deemed by the King unable to take the field again, and his army given +over to the command of another General. M. de Lauzun thus saw all his +hopes of advancement at an end, and, discontented that the Marechal had +done nothing for him, broke off all connection with the family, took away +Madame de Lauzun from her mother (to the great grief of the latter; who +doted upon this daughter), and established her in a house of his own +adjoining the Assumption, in the Faubourg Saint-Honore. There she had to +endure her husband's continual caprices, but little removed in their +manifestation from madness. Everybody cast blame upon him, and strongly +pitied her and her father and mother; but nobody was surprised. + +A few days after the marriage of M. de Lauzun, as the King was being +wheeled in his easy chair in the gardens at Versailles, he asked me for +many minute particulars concerning the family of the Marechal de Lorges. +He then set himself to joke with me upon the marriage of M. de Lauzun-- +and upon mine. He said to me, in spite of that gravity which never +quitted him, that he had learnt from the Marechal I had well acquitted +myself, but that he believed the Marechal had still better news. + +The loss of two illustrious men about this time, made more noise than +that of two of our grand ladies. The first of these men was La Fontaine, +so well known by his "Fables" and stories, and who, nevertheless, was so +heavy in conversation. The other was Mignard--so illustrious by his +pencil: he had an only daughter--perfectly beautiful: she is repeated in +several of those magnificent historical pictures which adorn the grand +gallery of Versailles and its two salons, and which have had no slight +share in irritating all Europe against the King, and in leaguing it still +more against his person than his realm. + +At the usual time the armies were got ready for active service, and +everybody set out to join them. That of the Rhine, in which I was, was +commanded by the Marechal de Lorges. No sooner had we crossed the river +and come upon the enemy, than the Marechal fell ill. Although we were in +want of forage and were badly encamped, nobody complained--nobody wished +to move. Never did an army show so much interest in the life of its +chief, or so much love for him. M. de Lorges was, in truth, at the last +extremity, and the doctors that had been sent for from Strasbourg gave +him up entirely. I took upon myself to administer to him some "English +Drops." One hundred and thirty were given him in three doses: the effect +was astonishing; an eruption burst out upon the Marechal's body, and +saved his life. His illness was not, however, at an end; and the army, +although suffering considerably, would not hear of moving until he was +quite ready to move also. There was no extremity it would not undergo +rather than endanger the life of its chief. + +Prince Louis of Baden offered by trumpets all sorts of assistance-- +doctors and remedies, and gave his word that if the army removed from its +General, he and those who remained with him should be provided with +forage and provisions--should be unmolested and allowed to rejoin the +main body in perfect safety, or go whithersoever they pleased. He was +thanked, as he merited, for those very kind offers, which we did not +wish, however, to profit by. + +Little by little the health of the General was reestablished, and the +army demonstrated its joy by bonfire's all over the camp, and by salvos, +which it was impossible to prevent. Never was seen testimony of love so +universal or so flattering. The King was much concerned at the illness +of the Marechal; all the Court was infinitely touched by it. M. de +Lorges was not less loved by it than by the troops. When able to support +the fatigues of the journey, he was removed in a coach to Philipsburg, +where he was joined by the Marechal, who had come there to meet him. The +next day he went to Landau, and I, who formed one of his numerous and +distinguished escort, accompanied him there, and then returned to the +army, which was placed under the command of the Marechal de Joyeuse. + +We found it at about three leagues from Ketsch, its right at Roth, and +its left at Waldsdorff. We learned that the Marechal de Joyeuse had lost +a good occasion of fighting the enemy; but as I was not in camp at the +time, I will say no more of the matter. Our position was not good: +Schwartz was on our left, and the Prince of Baden on our right, hemming +us in, as it were, between them. We had no forage, whilst they had +abundance of everything, and were able to procure all they wanted. There +was a contest who should decamp the last. All our communications were +cut off with Philipsburg, so that we could not repass the Rhine under the +protection of that place. To get out of our position, it was necessary +to defile before our enemies into the plain of Hockenun, and this was a +delicate operation. The most annoying circumstance was, that M. de +Joyeuse would communicate with nobody, and was so ill-tempered that none +dared to speak to him. At last he determined upon his plans, and I was +of the detachment by which they were to be carried out. We were sent to +Manheim to see if out of the ruins of that place (burned in 1688 by M. de +Louvois) sufficient, materials could be found to construct bridges, by +which we might cross the Rhine there. We found that the bridges could be +made, and returned to announce this to M. de Joyeuse. Accordingly, on +the 20th of July, the army put itself in movement. The march was made in +the utmost confusion. Everything was in disorder; the infantry and +cavalry were huddled together pell-mell; no commands could be acted upon, +and indeed the whole army was so disorganised that it could have been +easily beaten by a handful of men. In effect, the enemy at last tried to +take advantage of our confusion, by sending a few troops to harass us. +But it was too late; we had sufficiently rallied to be able to turn upon +them, and they narrowly escaped falling into our hands. We encamped that +night in the plain on the banks of the Necker--our rear at Manheim, and +our left at Seckenheim, while waiting for the remainder of the army, +still very distant. Indeed, so great had been the confusion, that the +first troops arrived at one o'clock at night, and the last late in the +morning of the next day. + +I thought that our headquarters were to be in this village of Seckenheim, +and, in company with several officers took possession of a large house +and prepared to pass the night there. While we were resting from the +fatigues of the day we heard a great noise, and soon after a frightful +uproar. It was caused by a body of our men, who, searching for water, +had discovered this village, and after having quenched their thirst had, +under the cover of thick darkness, set themselves to pillage, to violate, +to massacre, and to commit all the horrors inspired by the most unbridled +licence: La Bretesche, a lieutenant-general, declared to me that he had +never seen anything like it, although he had several times been at +pillages and sackings. He was very grateful that he had not yielded to +my advice, and taken off his wooden leg to be more at ease; for in a +short time we ourselves were invaded, and had some trouble to defend +ourselves. As we bore the livery of M. de Lorges, we were respected, +but those who bore that of M. de Joyeuse were in some cases severely +maltreated. We passed the rest of the night as well as we could in this +unhappy place, which was not abandoned by our soldiers until long after +there was nothing more to find. At daylight we went to the camp. + +We found the army beginning to move: it had passed the night as well as +it could without order, the troops constantly arriving, and the last +comers simply joining themselves on to the rest. Our camp was soon, +however, properly formed, and on the 24th July, the bridges being ready, +all the army crossed the Rhine, without any attempt being made by the +enemy to follow us. On the day after, the Marechal de Joyeuse permitted +me to go to Landau, where I remained with the Marechal and the Marechale +de Lorges until the General was again able to place himself at the head +of his army. + +Nothing of importance was done by our other armies; but in Flanders an +interesting adventure occurred. The Prince of Orange, after playing a +fine game of chess with our army, suddenly invested Namur with a large +force, leaving the rest of his troops under the command of M. de +Vaudemont. The Marechal de Villeroy, who had the command of our army in +Flanders, at once pressed upon M. de Vaudemont, who, being much the +weaker of the two, tried hard to escape. Both felt that everything was +in their hands: Vaudemont, that upon his safety depended the success of +the siege of Namur; and Villeroy, that to his victory was attached the +fate of the Low Countries, and very likely a glorious peace, with all the +personal results of such an event. He took his measures so well that on +the evening of the 13th of July it was impossible for M. de Vaudemont to +escape falling into his hands on the 14th, and he wrote thus to the King. +At daybreak on the 14th M. de Villeroy sent word to M. du Maine to +commence the action. Impatient that his orders were not obeyed, he sent +again five or six times. M. du Maine wished in the first instance to +reconnoitre, then to confess himself, and delayed in effect so long that +M. de Vaudemont was able to commence his retreat. The general officers +cried out at this. One of them came to M. du Maine and reminded him of +the repeated orders of the Marechal de Villeroy, represented the +importance of victory, and the ease with which it could be obtained: with +tears in his eyes he begged M. du Maine to commence the attack. It was +all in vain; M. du Maine stammered, and could not be prevailed upon to +charge, and so allowed M. de Vaudemont's army to escape, when by a single +movement it might have been entirely defeated. + +All our army was in despair, and officers and soldiers made no scruple of +expressing their anger and contempt. M. de Villeroy, more outraged than +anybody else, was yet too good a courtier to excuse himself at the +expense of M. du Maine. He simply wrote to the King, that he had been +deceived in those hopes of success which appeared certain the day before, +entered into no further details, and resigned himself to all that might +happen. The King, who had counted the hours until news of a great and +decisive victory should reach him, was very much surprised when this +letter came: he saw at once that something strange had happened of which +no intelligence had been sent: he searched the gazettes of Holland; in +one he read of a great action said to have been fought, and in which M. +du Maine had been grievously wounded; in the next the news of the action +was contradicted, and M. du Maine was declared to have received no wounds +at all. In order to learn what had really taken place, the King sent for +Lavienne, a man he was in the habit of consulting when he wanted to learn +things no one else dared to tell him. + +This Lavienne had been a bath-keeper much in vogue in Paris, and had +become bath-keeper to the King at the time of his amours. He had pleased +by his drugs, which had frequently put the King in a state to enjoy +himself more, and this road had led Lavienne to become one of the four +chief valets de chambre. He was a very honest man, but coarse, rough, +and free-spoken; it was this last quality which made him useful in the +manner I have before mentioned. From Lavienne the King, but not without +difficulty, learned the truth: it threw him into despair. The other +illegitimate children were favourites with him, but it was upon M. du +Maine that all his hopes were placed. They now fell to the ground, and +the grief of the King was insupportable: he felt deeply for that dear son +whose troops had become the laughing stock of the army; he felt the +railleries that, as the gazettes showed him, foreigners were heaping upon +his forces; and his vexation was inconceivable. + +This Prince, so equal in his manners, so thoroughly master of his +lightest movements, even upon the gravest occasions, succumbed under this +event. On rising from the table at Marly he saw a servant who, while +taking away the dessert, helped himself to a biscuit, which he put in his +pocket. On the instant, the King forgets his dignity, and cane in hand +runs to this valet (who little suspected what was in store for him), +strikes him; abuses him, and breaks the cane upon his body! The truth +is, 'twas only a reed, and snapped easily. However, the stump in his +hand, he walked away like a man quite beside himself, continuing to abuse +this valet, and entered Madame de Maintenon's room, where he remained +nearly an hour. Upon coming out he met Father la Chaise. "My father," +said the King to him, in a very loud voice, "I have beaten a knave and +broken my cane over his shoulders, but I do not think I have offended +God." Everybody around trembled at this public confession, and the poor +priest muttered a semblance of approval between his teeth, to avoid +irritating the King more. The noise that the affair made and the terror +it inspired may be imagined; for nobody could divine for some time the +cause; and everybody easily understood that that which had appeared could +not be the real one. To finish with this matter, once for all, let us +add here the saying of M. d'Elboeuf. Courtier though he was, the upward +flight of the illegitimate children weighed upon his heart. As the +campaign was at its close and the Princes were about to depart, he begged +M. du Maine before everybody to say where he expected to serve during the +next campaign, because wherever it might be he should like to be there +also. + +After being pressed to say why, he replied that "with him one's life was +safe." This pointed remark made much noise. M. du Maine lowered his +eyes, and did not reply one word. As for the Marechal de Villeroy he +grew more and more in favour with the King and with Madame de Maintenon. +The bitter fruit of M. du Maine's act was the taking of Namur, which +capitulated on August 4th (1695). The Marechal de Villeroy in turn +bombarded Brussels, which was sorely maltreated. The Marechal de +Boufflers, who had defended Namur, was made Duke, and those who had +served under him were variously rewarded. This gave occasion for the +Prince of Orange to say, that the King recompensed more liberally the +loss of a place than he could the conquest of one. The army retired into +winter-quarters at the end of October, and the Generals went to Paris. + +As for me, I remained six weeks at Landau with M. and Madame de Lorges. +At the end of that time, the Marechal, having regained his health, +returned to the army, where he was welcomed with the utmost joy: he soon +after had an attack of apoplexy, and, by not attending to his malady in +time, became seriously ill again. When a little recovered, he and Madame +de Lorges set out for Vichy, and I went to Paris. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Before speaking of what happened at Court after my return, it will be +necessary to record what had occurred there during the campaign. + +M. de Brias, Archbishop of Cambrai, had died, and the King had given that +valuable preferment to the Abbe de Fenelon, preceptor of the children of +France. Fenelon was a man of quality, without fortune, whom the +consciousness of wit--of the insinuating and captivating kind--united +with much ability, gracefulness of intellect, and learning, inspired with +ambition. He had been long going about from door to door, knocking for +admission, but without success. Piqued against the Jesuits, to whom he +had addressed himself at first, as holding all favours in their hands, +and discouraged because unable to succeed in that quarter, he turned next +to the Jansenists, to console himself by the reputation he hoped he +should derive from them, for the loss of those gifts of fortune which +hitherto had despised him. + +He remained a considerable time undergoing the process of initiation, and +succeeded at last in being of the private parties that some of the +important Jansenists then held once or twice a week at the house of the +Duchesse de Brancas. I know not if he appeared too clever for them, or +if he hoped elsewhere for better things than he could get among people +who had only sores to share; but little by little his intimacy with them +cooled; and by dint of turning around Saint Sulpice, he succeeded in +forming another connection there, upon which he built greater +expectations. This society of priests was beginning to distinguish +itself, and from a seminary of a Paris parish to extend abroad. +Ignorance, the minuteness of their practices, the absence of all patrons +and of members at all distinguished in any way, inspired them with a +blind obedience to Rome and to all its maxims; with a great aversion for +everything that passed for Jansenism, and made them so dependent upon the +bishops that they began to be considered an acquisition in many dioceses. +They appeared a middle party, very useful to the prelates; who equally +feared the Court, on account of suspicions of doctrine, and the Jesuits +for as soon as the latter had insinuated themselves into the good graces +of the prelates, they imposed their yoke upon them, or ruined them +hopelessly;--thus the Sulpicians grew apace. None amongst them could +compare in any way with the Abbe de Fenelon; so that he was able easily +to play first fiddle, and to make for himself protectors who were +interested in advancing him, in order that they might be protected in +turn. + +His piety, which was all things to all men, and his doctrine that he +formed upon theirs (abjuring, as it were, in whispers, the impurities he +might have contracted amongst those he had abandoned)--the charms, the +graces, the sweetness, the insinuation of his mind, rendered him a dear +friend to this new congregation, and procured for him what he had long +sought, people upon whom he could lean, and who could and would serve. +Whilst waiting opportunities, he carefully courted these people, without +thinking, however, of positively joining them, his views being more +ambitious; so that he ever sought to make new acquaintances and friends. +His was a coquettish mind, which from people the most influential down to +the workman and the lackey sought appreciation and was determined to +please; and his talents for this work perfectly seconded his desires. + +At this time, and while still obscure, he heard speak of Madame Guyon, +who has since made so much noise in the world, and who is too well known +to need that I should dwell upon her here. He saw her. There was an +interchange of pleasure between their minds. Their sublimes amalgamated. +I know not if they understood each other very clearly in that system, and +that new tongue which they hatched subsequently, but they persuaded +themselves they did, and friendship grew up between them. Although more +known than he, Madame Guyon was nevertheless not much known, and their +intimacy was not perceived, because nobody thought of them; Saint Sulpice +even was ignorant of what was going on. + +The Duc de Beauvilliers became Governor of the children of France almost +in spite of himself, without having thought of it. He had to choose a +preceptor for Monseigneur le Duc de Bourgogne. He addressed himself to +Saint Sulpice, where for a long time he had confessed, for he liked and +protected it. He had heard speak of Fenelon with eulogy: the Sulpicians +vaunted his piety, his intelligence, his knowledge, his talents; at last +they proposed him for preceptor. The Duc de Beauvilliers saw him, was +charmed with him, and appointed him to the office. + +As soon as installed, Fenelon saw of what importance it would be to gain +the entire favour of the Duc de Beauvilliers, and of his brother-in-law +the Duc de Chevreuse, both very intimate friends, and both in the highest +confidence of the King and Madame de Maintenon. This was his first care, +and he succeeded beyond his hopes, becoming the master of their hearts +and minds, and the director of their consciences. + +Madame de Maintenon dined regularly once a week at the house of one or +other of the two Dukes, fifth of a little party, composed of the two +sisters and the two husbands,--with a bell upon the table, in order to +dispense with servants in waiting, and to be able to talk without +restraint. Fenelon was at last admitted to this sanctuary, at foot of +which all the Court was prostrated. He was almost as successful with +Madame de Maintenon as he had been with the two Dukes. His spirituality +enchanted her: the Court soon perceived the giant strides of the +fortunate Abbe, and eagerly courted him. But, desiring to be free and +entirely devoted to his great object, he kept himself aloof from their +flatteries--made for himself a shield with his modesty and his duties of +preceptor--and thus rendered himself still more dear to the persons he +had captivated, and that he had so much interest in retaining in that +attachment. + +Among these cares he forgot not his dear Madame Guyon; he had already +vaunted her to the two Dukes and to Madame de Maintenon. He had even +introduced her to them, but as though with difficulty and for a few +moments, as a woman all in God, whose humility and whose love of +contemplation and solitude kept her within the strictest limits, and +whose fear, above all, was that she should become known. The tone of her +mind pleased Madame de Maintenon extremely; her reserve, mixed with +delicate flatteries, won upon her. Madame de Maintenon wished to hear +her talk upon matters of piety; with difficulty she consented to speak. +She seemed to surrender herself to the charms and to the virtue of Madame +de Maintenon, and Madame de Maintenon fell into the nets so skilfully +prepared for her. + +Such was the situation of Fenelon when he became Archbishop of Cambrai; +increasing the admiration in which he was held by taking no step to gain +that great benefice. He had taken care not to seek to procure himself +Cambrai; the least spark of ambition would have destroyed all his +edifice; and, moreover, it was not Cambrai that he coveted. + +Little by little he appropriated to himself some distinguished sheep of +the small flock Madame Guyon had gathered together. He only conducted +them, however, under the direction of that prophetess, and, everything +passed with a secrecy and mystery that gave additional relish to the +manna distributed. + +Cambrai was a thunderbolt for this little flock. It was the +archbishopric of Paris they wished. Cambrai they looked upon with +disdain as a country diocese, the residence in which (impossible to avoid +from time to time) would deprive them of their pastor. Their grief was +then profound at what the rest of the world took for a piece of amazing +luck, and the Countess of Guiche was so affected as to be unable to hide +her tears. The new prelate had not neglected such of his brethren as +made the most figure; they, in turn, considered it a distinction to +command his regard. Saint Cyr, that spot so valuable and so +inaccessible, was the place chosen for his consecration; and M. de Meaux, +dictator then of the episcopacy and or doctrine, consecrated him. The +children of France were among the spectators, and Madame de Maintenon was +present with her little court of familiars. No others were invited; the +doors were closed to those who sought to pay their court. + +The new Archbishop of Cambrai, gratified with his influence over Madame +de Maintenon and with the advantages it had brought him, felt that unless +he became completely master of her, the hopes he still entertained could +not be satisfied. But there was a rival in his way--Godet, Bishop of +Chartres, who was much in the confidence of Madame de Maintenon, and had +long discourses with her at Saint Cyr. As he was, however, of a very ill +figure, had but little support at Court, and appeared exceedingly simple, +M. de Cambrai believed he could easily overthrow him. To do this, he +determined to make use of Madame Guyon, whose new spirituality had +already been so highly relished by Madame de Maintenon. He persuaded +this latter to allow Madame Guyon to enter Saint Cyr, where they could +discourse together much more at their ease than at the Hotel de Chevreuse +or Beauvilliers. Madame Guyon went accordingly to Saint Cyr two or three +times. Soon after, Madame de Maintenon, who relished her more and more, +made her sleep there, and their meetings grew longer. Madame Guyon +admitted that she sought persons proper to become her disciples, and in a +short time she formed a little flock, whose maxims and language appeared +very strange to all the rest of the house, and, above all, to M. de +Chartres. That prelate was not so simple as M. de Cambrai imagined. +Profound theologian and scholar, pious, disinterested, and of rare +probity, he could be, if necessary, a most skilful courtier; but he +rarely exerted this power, for the favour of Madame de Maintenon sufficed +him of itself. As soon as he got scent of this strange doctrine, he +caused two ladies, upon whom he could count, to be admitted to Saint Cyr, +as if to become disciples of Madame Guyon. He gave them full +instructions, and they played their parts to perfection. In the first +place they appeared to be ravished, and by degrees enchanted, with the +new doctrine. Madame Guyon, pleased with this fresh conquest, took the +ladies into her most intimate confidence in order to gain them entirely. +They communicated everything to M. de Chartres, who quietly looked on, +allowed things to take their course, and, when he believed the right +moment had arrived, disclosed all he had learnt to Madame de Maintenon. +She was strangely surprised when she saw the extraordinary drift of the +new doctrine. Troubled and uncertain, she consulted with M. de Cambrai, +who, not suspecting she had been so well instructed, became, when he +discovered it, embarrassed, and thus augmented her suspicions. + +Suddenly Madame Guyon was driven away from Saint Cyr, and prohibited from +spreading her doctrine elsewhere. But the admiring disciples she had +made still gathered round her in secret, and this becoming known, she was +ordered to leave Paris. She feigned obedience, but in effect went no +further than the Faubourg Saint Antoine, where, with great secrecy, she +continued to receive her flock. But being again detected, she was sent, +without further parley, to the Bastille, well treated there, but allowed +to see nobody, not even to write. Before being arrested, however, she +had been put into the hands of M. de Meaux, who used all his endeavours +to change her sentiments. Tired at last of his sermons, she feigned +conviction, signed a recantation of her opinions, and was set at liberty. +Yet, directly after, she held her secret assemblies in the Faubourg Saint +Antoine, and it was in consequence of this abuse of freedom that she was +arrested. These adventures bring me far into the year 1696, and the +sequel extends into the following year. Let us finish this history at +once, and return afterwards to what happened meanwhile. + +Monsieur de Cambrai, stunned but not overpowered by the reverse he had +sustained, and by his loss of favour with Madame de Maintenon, stood firm +in his stirrups. After Madame Guyon's abuse of her liberty, and the +conferences of Issy, he bethought himself of confessing to M. de Meaux, +by which celebrated trick he hoped to close that prelate's mouth. These +circumstances induced M. de Meaux to take pen in hand, in order to expose +to the public the full account of his affair, and of Madame Guyon's +doctrine; and he did so in a work under the title of 'Instruction sur les +Etats d'Oyaison'. + +While the book was yet unpublished, M. de Cambrai was shown a copy. He +saw at once the necessity of writing another to ward off the effect of +such a blow. He must have had a great deal of matter already prepared, +otherwise the diligence he used would be incredible. Before M. de +Meaux's book was ready, M. de Cambrai's, entitled 'Maximes des Saints', +was published and distributed. M. de Chevreuse, who corrected the +proofs, installed himself at the printer's, so as to see every sheet as +soon as printed. + +This book, written in the strangest manner, did M. de Cambrai little +service. If people were offended to find it supported upon no authority, +they were much more so with its confused and embarrassed style, its +precision so restrained and so decided, its barbarous terms which seemed +as though taken from a foreign tongue, above all, its high-flown and far- +fetched thoughts, which took one's breath away, as in the too subtle air +of the middle region. Nobody, except the theologians, understood it, and +even they not without reading it three or four times. Connoisseurs found +in it a pure Quietism, which, although wrapped up in fine language, was +clearly visible. I do not give my own judgment of things so much beyond +me, but repeat what was said everywhere. Nothing else was talked about, +even by the ladies; and a propos of this, the saying of Madame de Sevigne +was revived: "Make religion a little more palpable; it evaporates by dint +of being over-refined." + +Not a word was heard in praise of the book; everybody was opposed to it, +and it was the means of making Madame de Maintenon more unfavourable to +M. de Cambrai than ever. He sent the King a copy, without informing her. +This completed her annoyance against him. M. de Cambrai, finding his +book so ill-received by the Court and by the prelates, determined to try +and support it on the authority of Rome, a step quite opposed to our +manners. In the mean time, M. de Meaux's book appeared in two volumes +octavo, well written, clear, modest, and supported upon the authority of +the Scriptures. It was received with avidity, and absolutely devoured. +There was not a person at the Court who did not take a pleasure in +reading it, so that for a long time it was the common subject of +conversation of the Court and of the town. + +These two books, so opposed in doctrine and in style, made such a stir on +every side that the King interposed, and forced M. de Cambrai to submit +his work to an examination by a council of prelates, whom he named. +M. de Cambrai asked permission to go to Rome to defend his cause in +person, but this the King refused. He sent his book, therefore, to the +Pope, and had the annoyance to receive a dry, cold reply, and to see +M. de Meaux's book triumph. His good fortune was in effect at an end. +He remained at Court some little time, but the King was soon irritated +against him, sent him off post-haste to Paris, and from there to his +diocese, whence he has never returned. He left behind him a letter for +one of his friends, M. de Chevreuse it was generally believed, which +immediately after became public. It appeared like the manifesto of a man +who disgorges his bile and restrains himself no more, because he has +nothing more to hope. The letter, bold and bitter in style, was besides +so full of ability and artifice, that it was extremely pleasant to read, +without finding approvers; so true it is that a wise and disdainful +silence is difficult to keep under reverses. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +Aptitude did not come up to my desire +Believed that to undertake and succeed were only the same things +Exceeded all that was promised of her, and all that I had hoped +He had pleased (the King) by his drugs +King was being wheeled in his easy chair in the gardens +Less easily forget the injuries we inflict than those received +Make religion a little more palpable +Manifesto of a man who disgorges his bile +Mightily tired of masters and books +More facility I have as King to gratify myself +My wife went to bed, and received a crowd of visitors +People who had only sores to share +Persuaded themselves they understood each other +Received all the Court in her bed +Saw peace desired were they less inclined to listen to terms +Spark of ambition would have destroyed all his edifice +Sulpicians +The safest place on the Continent +Wise and disdainful silence is difficult to keep under reverses +With him one's life was safe + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of Louis XIV., Volume 1 +by Duc de Saint-Simon + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV., *** + +***** This file should be named 3860.txt or 3860.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/6/3860/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/3860.zip b/3860.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5ddbafe --- /dev/null +++ b/3860.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ef6a6c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #3860 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3860) diff --git a/old/cm23b10.txt b/old/cm23b10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..924f5fe --- /dev/null +++ b/old/cm23b10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4221 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Memoirs Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, v1 +#1 in our series by the Duc de Saint-Simon +#23 in our series Historic Court Memoirs + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. The words +are carefully chosen to provide users with the information they +need about what they can legally do with the texts. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These Etexts Are Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below, including for donations. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a 501(c)(3) +organization with EIN [Employee Identification Number] 64-6221541 + + + +Title: The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, v1 + +Author: Duc de Saint-Simon + +Official Release Date: March, 2003 [Etext #3860] +[Yes, we are about one year ahead of schedule] +[The actual date this file first posted = 07/08/01] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Memoirs of Louis XIV. and The Regency, v1 +**********This file should be named cm23b10.txt or cm23b10.zip********** + +Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, cm23b11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, cm23b10a.txt + +This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + +Project Gutenberg Etexts are usually created from multiple editions, +all of which are in the Public Domain in the United States, unless a +copyright notice is included. Therefore, we usually do NOT keep any +of these books in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our books one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to send us error messages even years after +the official publication date. + +Please note: neither this list nor its contents are final till +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our sites at: +http://gutenberg.net +http://promo.net/pg + + +Those of you who want to download any Etext before announcement +can surf to them as follows, and just download by date; this is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 +or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. This +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If our value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour this year as we release fifty new Etext +files per month, or 500 more Etexts in 2000 for a total of 3000+ +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +should reach over 300 billion Etexts given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext +Files by December 31, 2001. [10,000 x 100,000,000 = 1 Trillion] +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +At our revised rates of production, we will reach only one-third +of that goal by the end of 2001, or about 3,333 Etexts unless we +manage to get some real funding. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of June 16, 2001 contributions are only being solicited from people in: +Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, +Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, +Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, +Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, +Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in nearly all states now, and these are the ones +that have responded as of the date above. + +As the requirements for other states are met, +additions to this list will be made and fund raising +will begin in the additional states. Please feel +free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork +to legally request donations in all 50 states. If +your state is not listed and you would like to know +if we have added it since the list you have, just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in +states where we are not yet registered, we know +of no prohibition against accepting donations +from donors in these states who approach us with +an offer to donate. + + +International donations are accepted, +but we don't know ANYTHING about how +to make them tax-deductible, or +even if they CAN be made deductible, +and don't have the staff to handle it +even if there are ways. + +All donations should be made to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a 501(c)(3) +organization with EIN [Employee Identification Number] 64-6221541, +and has been approved as a 501(c)(3) organization by the US Internal +Revenue Service (IRS). Donations are tax-deductible to the maximum +extent permitted by law. As the requirements for other states are met, +additions to this list will be made and fund raising will begin in the +additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +hart@pobox.com forwards to hart@prairienet.org and archive.org +if your mail bounces from archive.org, I will still see it, if +it bounces from prairienet.org, better resend later on. . . . + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +*** + + +Example command-line FTP session: + +ftp ftp.ibiblio.org +login: anonymous +password: your@login +cd pub/docs/books/gutenberg +cd etext90 through etext99 or etext00 through etext02, etc. +dir [to see files] +get or mget [to get files. . .set bin for zip files] +GET GUTINDEX.?? [to get a year's listing of books, e.g., GUTINDEX.99] +GET GUTINDEX.ALL [to get a listing of ALL books] + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this etext if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +etext, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this etext by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this etext on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etexts, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this etext +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other etext medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this etext, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the etext, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + etext or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this etext in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The etext may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the etext (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.06/12/01*END* +[Portions of this header are copyright (C) 2001 by Michael S. Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + + + + + +This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + + + + + +[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of the +file for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making an +entire meal of them. D.W.] + + + + + + MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV AND HIS COURT AND OF THE REGENCY + + BY THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON + + + + + CONTENTS OF THE 15 VOLUMES + + VOLUME 1. + + +CHAPTER I + +Birth and Family.--Early Life.--Desire to join the Army.--Enter the +Musketeers.--The Campaign Commences.--Camp of Gevries.--Siege of Namur. +--Dreadful Weather.--Gentlemen Carrying Corn.--Sufferings during the +Siege.--The Monks of Marlaigne.--Rival Couriers.--Naval Battle.-- +Playing with Fire-arms.--A Prediction Verified. + + +CHAPTER II + +The King's Natural Children.--Proposed Marriage of the Duc de Chartres.-- +Influence of Dubois.--The Duke and the King.--An Apartment.--Announcement +of the Marriage.--Anger of Madame.--Household of the Duchess.--Villars +and Rochefort.--Friend of King's Mistresses.--The Marriage Ceremony.-- +Toilette of the Duchess.--Son of Montbron.--Marriage of M. du Maine.-- +Duchess of Hanover.--Duc de Choiseul.--La Grande Mademoiselle. + + +CHAPTER III + +Death of My Father.--Anecdotes of Louis XIII.--The Cardinal de +Richelieu.--The Duc de Bellegarde.--Madame de Hautefort.--My Father's +Enemy.--His Services and Reward.--A Duel against Law.--An Answer to a +Libel.--M. de la Rochefoucauld.--My Father's Gratitude to Louis XIII. + + +CHAPTER IV + +Position of the Prince of Orange.--Strange Conduct of the King.--Surprise +and Indignation.--Battle of Neerwinden.--My Return to Paris.--Death of La +Vauguyon.--Symptoms of Madness.--Vauguyon at the Bastille.--Projects of +Marriage.--M. de Beauvilliers.--A Negotiation for a Wife.--My Failure.-- +Visit to La Trappe. + + +CHAPTER V + +M. de Luxemhourg's Claim of Precedence.--Origin of the Claim.--Duc de +Piney.--Character of Harlay.--Progress of the Trial.--Luxembourg and +Richelieu.--Double-dealing of Harlay.--The Duc de Gesvres.--Return to the +Seat of War.--Divers Operations.--Origin of These Memoirs. + + +CHAPTER VI + +Quarrels of the Princesses.--Mademoiselle Choin.--A Disgraceful Affair.-- +M. de Noyon.--Comic Scene at the Academie.--Anger and Forgiveness of +M. de Noyon.--M. de Noailles in Disgrace.--How He Gets into Favour Again. +--M. de Vendome in Command.--Character of M. de Luxembourg.-- The Trial +for Precedence Again.--An Insolent Lawyer.--Extraordinary Decree. + + +CHAPTER VII + +Harlay and the Dutch.--Death of the Princess of Orange.--Count +Koenigsmarck.--A New Proposal of Marriage.--My Marriage.--That of M. de +Lauzun.--Its Result.--La Fontaine and Mignard.--Illness of the Marechal +de Lorges.--Operations on the Rhine.--Village of Seckenheim.--An Episode +of War.--Cowardice of M. du Maine.--Despair of the King, Who Takes a +Knave in the Act.--Bon Mot of M. d'Elboeuf. + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The Abbe de Fenelon.--The Jansenists and St. Sulpice.--Alliance with +Madame Guyon.--Preceptor of the Royal Children.--Acquaintance with Madame +de Maintenon.--Appointment to Cambrai.--Disclosure of Madame Guyon's +Doctrines.--Her Disgrace.--Bossuet and Fenelon.--Two Rival Books.-- +Disgrace of Fenelon. + + + + + VOLUME 2. + +CHAPTER IX + +Death of Archbishop Harlay.--Scene at Conflans.--"The Good Langres."-- +A Scene at Marly.--Princesses Smoke Pipes!--Fortunes of Cavoye.-- +Mademoiselle de Coetlogon.--Madame de Guise.--Madame de Miramion.--Madame +de Sevigne.--Father Seraphin.--An Angry Bishop.--Death of La Bruyere.-- +Burglary by a Duke.--Proposed Marriage of the Duc de Bourgogne.--The +Duchesse de Lude.--A Dangerous Lady.--Madame d'O.--Arrival of the +Duchesse de Bourgogne. + + +CHAPTER X + +My Return to Fontainebleau.--A Calumny at Court.--Portrait of M. de La +Trappe.--A False Painter.--Fast Living at the "Desert."--Comte +d'Auvergne.--Perfidy of Harlay.--M. de Monaco.--Madame Panache.--The +Italian Actor and the "False Prude". + + +CHAPTER XI + +A Scientific Retreat.--The Peace of Ryswick.--Prince of Conti King of +Poland.--His Voyage and Reception.--King of England Acknowledged.--Duc de +Conde in Burgundy.--Strange Death of Santeuil.--Duties of the Prince of +Darmstadt in Spain.--Madame de Maintenon's Brother.--Extravagant Dresses. +Marriage of the Duc de Bourgogne.--The Bedding of the Princesse.--Grand +Balls.--A Scandalous Bird. + + +CHAPTER XII + +An Odd Marriage.--Black Daughter of the King.--Travels of Peter the +Great.--Magnificent English Ambassador.--The Prince of Parma.-- +A Dissolute Abbe.--Orondat.--Dispute about Mourning.--M. de Cambrai's +Book Condemned by M. de La Trappe.--Anecdote of the Head of Madame de +Montbazon.--Condemnation of Fenelon by the Pope.--His Submission. + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Charnace.--An Odd Ejectment.--A Squabble at Cards.--Birth of My Son.-- +The Camp at Compiegne.--Splendour of Marechal Boufflers.--Pique of the +Ambassadors.--Tesse's Grey Hat.--A Sham Siege.--A Singular Scene.-- +The King and Madame de Maintenon.--An Astonished Officer.-- +Breaking-up of the Camp. + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Gervaise Monk of La Trappe.----His Disgusting Profligacy.--The Author of +the Lord's Prayer.--A Struggle for Precedence.--Madame de Saint-Simon.-- +The End of the Quarrel.--Death of the Chevalier de Coislin.--A Ludicrous +Incident.--Death of Racine.--The King and the Poet.--King Pays Debts of +Courtiers.--Impudence of M. de Vendome.--A Mysterious Murder.-- +Extraordinary Theft. + + +CHAPTER XV + +The Farrier of Salon.--Apparition of a Queen.--The Farrier Comes to +Versailles.--Revelations to the Queen.--Supposed Explanation.-- +New Distinctions to the Bastards.--New Statue of the King.-- +Disappointment of Harlay.--Honesty of Chamillart.--The Comtesse de +Fiesque.--Daughter of Jacquier.--Impudence of Saumery.--Amusing Scene.-- +Attempted Murder. + + +CHAPTER XVI + +Reform at Court.--Cardinal Delfini.--Pride of M. de Monaco.--Early Life +of Madame de Maintenon.--Madame de Navailles.--Balls at Marly.--An Odd +Mask.--Great Dancing--Fortunes of Langlee.--His Coarseness.--The Abbe de +Soubise.--Intrigues for His Promotion.--Disgrace and Obstinacy of +Cardinal de Bouillon. + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A Marriage Bargain.--Mademoiselle de Mailly.--James II.--Begging +Champagne.--A Duel.--Death of Le Notre.--His Character.--History of +Vassor.--Comtesse de Verrue and Her Romance with M. de Savoie.--A Race of +Dwarfs.--An Indecorous Incident.--Death of M. de La Trappe. + + + + + VOLUME 3. + +CHAPTER XVIII + +Settlement of the Spanish Succession.--King William III.--New Party in +Spain.--Their Attack on the Queen.--Perplexity of the King.--His Will.-- +Scene at the Palace.--News Sent to France.--Council at Madame de +Maintenon's.--The King's Decision.--A Public Declaration.--Treatment of +the New King.--His Departure for Spain.--Reflections.--Philip V. Arrives +in Spain.--The Queen Dowager Banished. + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Marriage of Phillip V.--The Queen's Journey.--Rival Dishes.-- +A Delicate Quarrel.--The King's journey to Italy.--The Intrigues against +Catinat.--Vaudemont s Success.--Appointment of Villeroy.--The First +Campaign.--A Snuffbox.--Prince Eugene's Plan.--Attack and Defence of +Cremona.--Villeroy Made Prisoner.--Appointment of M. de Vendome. + + +CHAPTER XX + +Discontent and Death of Barbezieux.--His Character.--Elevation of +Chamillart.--Strange Reasons of His Success.--Death of Rose.--Anecdotes. +--An Invasion of Foxes.--M. le Prince.--A Horse upon Roses.--Marriage of +His Daughter: His Manners and Appearance + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Monseigneur's Indigestion.--The King Disturbed.--The Ladies of the +Halle.--Quarrel of the King and His Brother.--Mutual Reproaches.-- +Monsieur's Confessors.--A New Scene of Wrangling.--Monsieur at Table.-- +He Is Seized with Apoplexy.--The News Carried to Marly.--How Received by +the King.--Death of Monsieur.--Various Forms of Grief.--The Duc de +Chartres. + + +CHAPTER XXII + +The Dead Soon Forgotten.--Feelings of Madame de Maintenon.--And of the +Duc de Chartres.--Of the Courtiers.--Madame's Mode of Life.--Character of +Monsieur.--Anecdote of M. le Prince.--Strange Interview of Madame de +Maintenon with Madame.--Mourning at Court.--Death of Henriette +d'Angleterre.--A Poisoning Scene.--The King and the Accomplice. + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +Scandalous Adventure of the Abbesse de la Joye.--Anecdote of Madame de +Saint-Herem.--Death of James II. and Recognition of His Son.--Alliance +against France.--Scene at St. Maur.--Balls and Plays.--The "Electra" of +Longepierre--Romantic Adventures of the Abbe de Vatterville. + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +Changes in the Army.--I Leave the Service.--Annoyance of the King.--The +Medallic History of the Reign.--Louis XIII.--Death of William III.-- +Accession of Queen Anne.--The Alliance Continued.--Anecdotes of Catinat. +--Madame de Maintenon and the King. + + + + + + VOLUME 4. + +CHAPTER XXV + +Anecdote of Canaples.--Death of the Duc de Coislin.--Anecdotes of His +Unbearable Politeness.--Eccentric Character.--President de Novion.-- +Death of M. de Lorges.--Death of the Duchesse de Gesvres. + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +The Prince d'Harcourt.--His Character and That of His Wife.--Odd Court +Lady.--She Cheats at Play.--Scene at Fontainebleau.--Crackers at Marly.-- +Snowballing a Princess.--Strange Manners of Madame d'Harcourt.-- +Rebellion among Her Servants.--A Vigorous Chambermaid. + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +Madame des Ursins.--Her Marriage and Character.--The Queen of Spain.-- +Ambition of Madame de Maintenon.--Coronation of Philip V.--A Cardinal +Made Colonel.--Favourites of Madame des Ursins.--Her Complete Triumph.-- +A Mistake.--A Despatch Violated.--Madame des Ursins in Disgrace. + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +Appointment of the Duke of Berwick.--Deception Practised by Orry.--Anger +of Louis XIV.--Dismissal of Madame des Ursins.--Her Intrigues to Return. +--Annoyance of the King and Queen of Spain.--Intrigues at Versailles.-- +Triumphant Return of Madame des Ursins to Court.--Baseness of the +Courtiers.--Her Return to Spain Resolved On. + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +An Honest Courtier.--Robbery of Courtin and Fieubet.--An Important +Affair.--My Interview with the King.--His Jealousy of His Authority.-- +Madame La Queue, the King's Daughter.--Battle of Blenheim or Hochstedt.-- +Our Defeat.--Effect of the News on the King.--Public Grief and Public +Rejoicing.--Death of My Friend Montfort. + + +CHAPTER XXX + +Naval Battle of Malaga.--Danger of Gibraltar.--Duke of Mantua in Search +of a Wife.--Duchesse de Lesdiguieres.--Strange Intrigues.--Mademoiselle +d'Elboeuf Carries off the Prize.--A Curious Marriage.--Its Result.-- +History of a Conversion to Catholicism.--Attempted Assassination. -- +Singular Seclusion + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +Fascination of the Duchesse de Bourgogne.--Fortunes of Nangis.--He Is +Loved by the Duchesse and Her Dame d'Atours.--Discretion of the Court.-- +Maulevrier.--His Courtship of the Duchess.--Singular Trick.--Its Strange +Success.--Mad Conduct of Maulevrier--He Is Sent to Spain.--His Adventures +There.--His Return and Tragical Catastrophe. + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +Death of M. de Duras.--Selfishness of the King.--Anecdote of Puysieux.-- +Character of Pontchartrain.--Why He Ruined the French Fleet.--Madame des +Ursins at Last Resolves to Return to Spain.--Favours Heaped upon Her.-- +M. de Lauzun at the Army.--His bon mot.--Conduct of M. de Vendome.-- +Disgrace and Character of the Grand Prieur. + + + + + + VOLUME 5. + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +A Hunting Adventure.--Story and Catastrophe of Fargues.--Death and +Character of Ninon de l'Enclos.--Odd Adventure of Courtenvaux.--Spies at +Court.--New Enlistment.--Wretched State of the Country.--Balls at Marly. + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +Arrival of Vendome at Court.--Character of That Disgusting Personage.-- +Rise of Cardinal Alberoni.--Vendome's Reception at Marly.--His Unheard-of +Triumph.--His High Flight.--Returns to Italy.--Battle of Calcinato.-- +Condition of the Army.--Pique of the Marechal de Villeroy.--Battle of +Ramillies.--Its Consequences. + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +Abandonment of the Siege of Barcelona.--Affairs of Italy.-- +La Feuillade.--Disastrous Rivalries.--Conduct of M. d'Orleans.--The Siege +of Turin.--Battle.--Victory of Prince Eugene.--Insubordination in the +Army.--Retreat.--M. d'Orleans Returns to Court.--Disgrace of La Feuillade + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +Measures of Economy.--Financial Embarrassments.--The King and +Chamillart.--Tax on Baptisms and Marriages.--Vauban's Patriotism.-- +Its Punishment.--My Action with M. de Brissac.--I Appeal to the King.-- +The Result.--I Gain My Action. + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +My Appointment as Ambassador to Rome.--How It Fell Through.--Anecdotes of +the Bishop of Orleans.--A Droll Song.--A Saint in Spite of Himself.-- +Fashionable Crimes.--A Forged Genealogy.--Abduction of Beringhen.-- +The 'Parvulos' of Meudon and Mademoiselle Choin. + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +Death and Last Days of Madame de Montespan.--Selfishness of the King.-- +Death and Character of Madame de Nemours.--Neufchatel and Prussia.-- +Campaign of Villars.--Naval Successes.--Inundations of the Loire.--Siege +of Toulon.--A Quarrel about News.--Quixotic Despatches of Tesse. + + + + + VOLUME 6. + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +Precedence at the Communion Table.--The King Offended with Madame de +Torcy.--The King's Religion.--Atheists and Jansenists.--Project against +Scotland.--Preparations.--Failure.--The Chevalier de St. George.--His +Return to Court. + + +CHAPTER XL + +Death and Character of Brissac.--Brissac and the Court Ladies.--The +Duchesse de Bourgogne.--Scene at the Carp Basin.--King's Selfishness.-- +The King Cuts Samuel Bernard's Purse.--A Vain Capitalist.--Story of Leon +and Florence the Actress.--His Loves with Mademoiselle de Roquelaure.-- +Run--away Marriage.--Anger of Madame de Roquelaure.--A Furious Mother.-- +Opinions of the Court.--A Mistake.--Interference of the King.-- +Fate of the Couple . + + +CHAPTER XLI + +The Duc d'Orleans in Spain.--Offends Madame des Ursins and Madame de +Maintenon.--Laziness of M. de Vendome in Flanders.--Battle of Oudenarde. +--Defeat and Disasters.--Difference of M. de Vendome and the Duc de +Bourgogne. + + +CHAPTER XLII + +Conflicting Reports.--Attacks on the Duc de Bourgogne.--The Duchesse de +Bourgogne Acts against Vendome.--Weakness of the Duke.--Cunning of +Vendome.--The Siege of Lille.--Anxiety for a Battle.--Its Delay.--Conduct +of the King and Monseigneur.--A Picture of Royal Family Feeling.--Conduct +of the Marechal de Boufflers. + + +CHAPTER XLIII + +Equivocal Position of the Duc de Bourgogne.--His Weak Conduct.-- +Concealment of a Battle from the King.--Return of the Duc de Bourgogne to +Court.--Incidents of His Reception.--Monseigneur.--Reception of the Duc +de Berry.--Behaviour of the Duc de Bourgogne.--Anecdotes of Gamaches.-- +Return of Vendome to Court.--His Star Begins to Wane.--Contrast of +Boufflers and Vendome.--Chamillart's Project for Retaking Lille.--How It +Was Defeated by Madame de Maintenon. + + +CHAPTER XLIV + +Tremendous Cold in France.--Winters of 1708-1709--Financiers and the +Famine.--Interference of the Parliaments of Paris and Dijon.--Dreadful +Oppression.--Misery of the People.--New Taxes.--Forced Labour.--General +Ruin.--Increased Misfortunes.--Threatened Regicide.--Procession of Saint +Genevieve.--Offerings of Plate to the King.--Discontent of the People.-- +A Bread Riot, How Appeased. + + +CHAPTER XLV + +M. de Vendome out of Favour.--Death and Character of the Prince de +Conti.--Fall of Vendome.--Pursegur's Interview with the King.--Madame de +Bourgogne against Vendome.--Her Decided Conduct.--Vendome Excluded from +Marly.--He Clings to Meudon.--From Which He is also Expelled.--His Final +Disgrace and Abandonment.--Triumph of Madame de Maintenon. + + +CHAPTER XLVI + +Death of Pere La Chaise.--His Infirmities in Old Age.--Partiality of the +King.--Character of Pere La Chaise.--The Jesuits.--Choice of a New +Confessor.--Fagon's Opinion.--Destruction of Port Royal.--Jansenists and +Molinists.--Pascal.--Violent Oppression of the Inhabitants of Port Royal. + + + + + VOLUME 7. + +CHAPTER XLVII + +Death of D'Avaux.--A Quarrel about a Window.--Louvois and the King.-- +Anecdote of Boisseuil.--Madame de Maintenon and M. de Beauvilliers.-- +Harcourt Proposed for the Council.--His Disappointment.--Death of M. le +Prince.--His Character.--Treatment of His Wife.--His Love Adventures.-- +His Madness.--A Confessor Brought.--Nobody Regrets Him. + + +CHAPTER XLVIII + +Progress of the War.--Simplicity of Chamillart.--The Imperialists and the +Pope.--Spanish Affairs.--Duc d'Orleans and Madame des Ursins.--Arrest of +Flotte in Spain.--Discovery of the Intrigues of the Duc d'Orleans.--Cabal +against Him.--His Disgrace and Its Consequences. + + +CHAPTER XLIX + +Danger of Chamillart.--Witticism of D'Harcourt.--Faults of Chamillart.-- +Court Intrigues against Him.--Behaviour of the Courtiers.--Influence of +Madame de Maintenon.--Dignified Fall of Chamillart.--He is Succeeded by +Voysin.--First Experience of the New Minister.--The Campaign in +Flanders.--Battle of Malplaquet. + + +CHAPTER L. + +Disgrace of the Duc d'Orleans.--I Endeavor to Separate Him from Madame +d'Argenton.--Extraordinary Reports.--My Various Colloquies with Him.--The +Separation.--Conduct of Madame d'Argenton.--Death and Character of M. le +Duc.--The After-suppers of the King. + + +CHAPTER LI + +Proposed Marriage of Mademoiselle.--My Intrigues to Bring It About.--The +Duchesse de Bourgogne and Other Allies.--The Attack Begun.--Progress of +the Intrigue.--Economy at Marly.--The Marriage Agreed Upon.--Scene at +Saint-Cloud.--Horrible Reports.--The Marriage.--Madame de Saint-Simon.-- +Strange Character of the Duchesse de Berry + + +CHAPTER LII + +Birth of Louis XV.--The Marechale de la Meilleraye.--Saint-Ruth's +Cudgel.--The Cardinal de Bouillon's Desertion from France.--Anecdotes of +His Audacity. + + +CHAPTER LIII + +Imprudence of Villars.--The Danger of Truthfulness.--Military Mistakes.-- +The Fortunes of Berwick.--The Son of James.--Berwick's Report on the +Army.--Imprudent Saying of Villars.--"The Good Little Fellow" in a +Scrape.--What Happens to Him. + + +CHAPTER LIV + +Duchesse de Berry Drunk.--Operations in Spain.--Vendome Demanded by +Spain.--His Affront by the Duchesse de Bourgogne.--His Arrival.-- +Staremberg and Stanhope.--The Flag of Spain Leaves Madrid.--Entry of the +Archduke.--Enthusiasm of the Spaniards--The King Returns.--Strategy, of +Staremberg.--Affair of Brighuega.--Battle of Villavciosa.--Its +Consequences to Vendome and to Spain. + + + + + VOLUME 8. + +CHAPTER LV + +State of the Country.--New Taxes.--The King's Conscience Troubled.-- +Decision of the Sorbonne.--Debate in the Council.--Effect of the Royal +Tithe.--Tax on Agioteurs.--Merriment at Court.--Death of a Son of +Marechal Boufflers.--The Jesuits. + + +CHAPTER LVI + +My Interview with Du Mont.--A Mysterious Communication. --Anger of +Monseigneur against Me.--Household of the Duchesse de Berry.--Monseigneur +Taken Ill of the Smallpox.--Effect of the News.--The King Goes to +Meudon.--The Danger Diminishes.--Madame de Maintenon at Meudon.--The +Court at Versailles.--Hopes and Fears.--The Danger Returns.--Death of +Monseigneur.--Conduct of the King. + + +CHAPTER LVII + +A Rumour Reaches Versailles.--Aspect of the Court.--Various Forms of +Grief.--The Duc d'Orleans.--The News Confirmed at Versailles.--Behaviour +of the Courtiers.--The Duc and Duchesse de Berry.--The Duc and Duchesse +de Bourgogne.--Madame.--A Swiss Asleep.--Picture of a Court.--The Heir- +Apparent's Night.--The King Returns to Marly.--Character of Monseigneur. +--Effect of His Death. + + +CHAPTER LVIII + +State of the Court at Death of Monseigneur.--Conduct of the Dauphin and +the Dauphine.--The Duchesse de Berry.--My Interview with the Dauphin.-- +He is Reconciled with M. d'Orleans. + + +CHAPTER LIX + +Warnings to the Dauphin and the Dauphine.--The Dauphine Sickens and +Dies.--Illness of the Dauphin.--His Death.--Character and Manners of the +Dauphine.--And of the Dauphin. + + +CHAPTER LX + +Certainty of Poison.--The Supposed Criminal.--Excitement of the People +against M. d'Orleans.--The Cabal.--My Danger and Escape.--The Dauphin's +Casket. + + + + + VOLUME 9. + +CHAPTER LXI + +The King's Selfishness.--Defeat of the Czar.--Death of Catinat.--Last +Days of Vendome.--His Body at the Escurial.--Anecdote of Harlay and the +Jacobins.--Truce in Flanders.--Wolves. + + +CHAPTER LXII + +Settlement of the Spanish Succession.--Renunciation of France.--Comic +Failure of the Duc de Berry.--Anecdotes of M. de Chevreuse.--Father +Daniel's History and Its Reward. + + +CHAPTER LXIII + +The Bull Unigenitus.--My Interview with Father Tellier.--Curious +Inadvertence of Mine.--Peace.--Duc de la Rochefoucauld.--A Suicide in +Public.--Charmel.--Two Gay Sisters. + + +CHAPTER LXIV + +The King of Spain a Widower.--Intrigues of Madame des Ursins.--Choice of +the Princes of Parma.--The King of France Kept in the Dark.--Celebration +of the Marriage.--Sudden Fall of the Princesse des Ursins.--Her Expulsion +from Spain. + + +CHAPTER LXV + +The King of Spain Acquiesces in the Disgrace of Madame des Ursins.--Its +Origin.--Who Struck the Blow.--Her journey to Versailles.--Treatment +There.--My Interview with Her.--She Retires to Genoa.--Then to Rome.-- +Dies. + + +CHAPTER LXVI + +Sudden Illness of the Duc de Berry--Suspicious Symptoms.--The Duchess +Prevented from Seeing Him.--His Death.--Character.--Manners of the +Duchesse de Berry. + + +CHAPTER LXVII + +Maisons Seeks My Acquaintance.--His Mysterious Manner.--Increase of the +Intimacy.--Extraordinary News.--The Bastards Declared Princes of the +Blood.--Rage of Maisons and Noailles.--Opinion of the Court and Country. + + +CHAPTER LXVIII + +The King Unhappy and Ill at Ease.--Court Paid to Him.--A New Scheme to +Rule Him.--He Yields.--New Annoyance.--His Will.--Anecdotes Concerning +It.--Opinions of the Court.--M. du Maine + + +CHAPTER LXIX + +A New Visit from Maisons.--His Violent Project.--My Objections.--He +Persists.--His Death and That of His Wife. --Death of the Duc de +Beauvilliers.--His Character.--Of the Cardinal d'Estrees.--Anecdotes.-- +Death of Fenelon. + + + + + VOLUME 10. + +CHAPTER LXX + +Character and Position of the Duc d'Orleans--His Manners, Talents, and +Virtues.--His Weakness.--Anecdote Illustrative Thereof.-- +The "Debonnaire"--Adventure of the Grand Prieur in England.--Education +of the Duc d'Orleans.--Character of Dubois.--His Pernicious Influence.-- +The Duke's Emptiness.--His Deceit.--His Love of Painting.--The Fairies at +His Birth.--The Duke's Timidity.--An Instance of His Mistrustfulness. + + +CHAPTER LXXI + +The Duke Tries to Raise the Devil.--Magical Experiments.--His Religious +Opinions.--Impiety.--Reads Rabelais at Church.--The Duchesse d'Orleans.-- +Her Character.--Her Life with Her Husband.--My Discourses with the Duke +on the Future.--My Plans of Government.--A Place at Choice Offered Me.-- +I Decline the Honour.--My Reason.--National Bankruptcy.--The Duke's Anger +at My Refusal.--A Final Decision. + + +CHAPTER LXXII + +The King's Health Declines.--Bets about His Death.--Lord Stair.--My New +Friend.--The King's Last Hunt.--And Last Domestic and Public Acts.-- +Doctors.--Opium.--The King's Diet.--Failure of His Strength.--His Hopes +of Recovery.--Increased Danger.--Codicil to His Will.--Interview with the +Duc d'Orleans.--With the Cardinal de Noailles.--Address to His +Attendants.--The Dauphin Brought to Him.--His Last Words.-- +An Extraordinary Physician.--The Courtiers and the Duc d'Orleans.-- +Conduct of Madame de Maintenon.--The King's Death. + + +CHAPTER LXXIII + +Early Life of Louis XIV.--His Education.--His Enormous Vanity.--His +Ignorance.--Cause of the War with Holland.--His Mistakes and Weakness in +War.--The Ruin of France.--Origin of Versailles.--The King's Love of +Adulation, and Jealousy of People Who Came Not to Court.--His Spies.-- +His Vindictiveness.--Opening of Letters.--Confidence Sometimes Placed in +Him--A Lady in a Predicament. + + +CHAPTER LXXIV + +Excessive Politeness.--Influence of the Valets.--How the King Drove +Out.--Love of magnificence.--His Buildings. --Versailles.--The Supply of +Water.--The King Seeks for Quiet.--Creation of Marly.--Tremendous +Extravagance. + + +CHAPTER LXXV + +Amours of the King.--La Valliere.--Montespan.--Scandalous Publicity.-- +Temper of Madame de Montespan.--Her Unbearable Haughtiness.--Other +Mistresses.--Madame de Maintenon.--Her Fortunes.--Her Marriage with +Scarron.--His Character and Society.--How She Lived After His Death.-- +Gets into Better Company.--Acquaintance with Madame de Montespan.-- +The King's Children.--His Dislike of Widow Scarron.--Purchase of the +Maintenon Estate.--Further Demands.--M. du Maine on His Travels.-- +Montespan's Ill--humour.--Madame de Maintenon Supplants Her.--Her Bitter +Annoyance.--Progress of the New Intrigue.--Marriage of the King and +Madame de Maintenon. + + +CHAPTER LXXVI + +Character of Madame de Maintenon.--Her Conversation.--Her Narrow- +mindedness.--Her Devotion.--Revocation of the Edict of Nantes.--Its Fatal +Consequences.--Saint Cyr.--Madame de Maintenon Desires Her Marriage to be +Declared.--Her Schemes.--Counterworked by Louvois.--His Vigorous Conduct +and Sudden Death.--Behaviour of the King.--Extraordinary Death of Seron. + + +CHAPTER LXXVII + +Daily Occupations of Madame de Maintenon.--Her Policy--How She Governed +the King's Affairs.--Connivance with the Ministers.--Anecdote of +Le Tellier.--Behaviour of the King to Madame de Maintenon.-- +His Hardness.--Selfishness.--Want of Thought for Others.--Anecdotes.-- +Resignation of the King.--Its Causes.--The Jesuits and the Doctors.--The +King and Lay Jesuits. + + + + + VOLUME 11. + +CHAPTER LXXVIII + +External Life of Louis XIV.--At the Army.--Etiquette of the King's +Table.--Court Manners and Customs.--The Rising of the King.--Morning +Occupations.--Secret Amours.--Going to Mass.--Councils.--Thursdays.-- +Fridays.--Ceremony of the King's Dinner.--The King's Brother.--After +Dinner.--The Drive.--Walks at Marly and Elsewhere.--Stag--hunting.--Play- +tables.--Lotteries.--Visits to Madame de Maintenon.--Supper.--The King +Retires to Rest.--Medicine Days.--Kings Religious Observances.--Fervency +in Lent.--At Mass.--Costume.--Politeness of the King for the Court of +Saint-Germain.--Feelings of the Court at His Death.--Relief of Madame de +Maintenon.--Of the Duchesse d'Orleans.--Of the Court Generally.--Joy of +Paris and the Whole of France.--Decency of Foreigners.--Burial of the +King. + + +CHAPTER LXXIX + +Surprise of M. d'Orleans at the King's Death.--My Interview with Him.-- +Dispute about Hats.--M. du Maine at the Parliament.--His Reception.-- +My Protest.--The King's Will.--Its Contents and Reception.--Speech of the +Duc d'Orleans.--Its Effect.--His Speech on the Codicil.--Violent +Discussion.--Curious Scene.--Interruption for Dinner.--Return to the +Parliament.--Abrogation of the Codicil.--New Scheme of Government.-- +The Regent Visits Madame de Maintenon.--The Establishment of Saint-Cyr.-- +The Regent's Liberality to Madame de Maintenon. + + +CHAPTER LXXX + +The Young King's Cold.--'Lettres des Cachet' Revived.--A Melancholy +Story.--A Loan from Crosat.--Retrenchments.--Unpaid Ambassadors.--Council +of the Regency.--Influence of Lord Stair.--The Pretender.--His Departure +from Bar.--Colonel Douglas.--The Pursuit.--Adventure at Nonancourt.--Its +Upshot.--Madame l'Hospital.--Ingratitude of the Pretender. + + +CHAPTER LXXXI + +Behaviour of the Duchesse de Berry.--Her Arrogance Checked by Public +Opinion.--Walls up the Luxembourg Garden.--La Muette.--Her Strange Amour +with Rion.--Extraordinary Details.--The Duchess at the Carmelites.-- +Weakness of the Regent.--His Daily Round of Life.--His Suppers.-- +How He Squandered His Time.--His Impenetrability.--Scandal of His Life.-- +Public Balls at the Opera. + + +CHAPTER LXXXII + +First Appearance of Law.--His Banking Project Supported by the Regent.-- +Discussed by the Regent with Me.--Approved by the Council and Registered. +--My Interviews with Law.--His Reasons for Seeking My Friendship.-- +Arouet de Voltaire + + +CHAPTER LXXXIII + +Rise of Alberoni.--Intimacy of France and England.--Gibraltar Proposed to +be Given Up.--Louville the Agent.--His Departure.--Arrives at Madrid.-- +Alarm of Alberoni.--His Audacious Intrigues.--Louville in the Bath.-- +His Attempts to See the King.--Defeated.--Driven out of Spain.--Impudence +of Alberoni.--Treaty between France and England.--Stipulation with +Reference to the Pretender. + + +CHAPTER LXXXIV + +The Lieutenant of Police.--Jealousy of Parliament.--Arrest of Pomereu +Resolved On.--His Imprisonment and Sudden Release.--Proposed Destruction +of Marly.--How I Prevented It.--Sale of the Furniture.--I Obtain the +'Grandes Entrees'.--Their Importance and Nature.--Afterwards Lavished +Indiscriminately.--Adventure of the Diamond called "The Regent."--Bought +for the Crown of France. + + +CHAPTER LXXXV + +Death of the Duchesse de Lesdiguieres.--Cavoye and His Wife.--Peter the +Great.--His Visit to France.--Enmity to England.--Its Cause.--Kourakin, +the Russian Ambassador.--The Czar Studies Rome.--Makes Himself the Head +of Religion.--New Desires for Rome--Ultimately Suppressed.--Preparations +to Receive the Czar at Paris.--His Arrival at Dunkerque.--At Beaumont.-- +Dislikes the Fine Quarters Provided for Him.--His Singular Manners, and +Those of His Suite. + + +CHAPTER LXXXVI + +Personal Appearance of the Czar.--His Meals.--Invited by the Regent.-- +His Interview with the King--He Returns the Visit.--Excursion in Paris.-- +Visits Madame.--Drinks Beer at the Opera.--At the Invalides.--Meudon.-- +Issy.--The Tuileries.--Versailles.--Hunt at Fontainebleau.--Saint--Cyr.-- +Extraordinary Interview with Madame de Maintenon.--My Meeting with the +Czar at D'Antin's.--The Ladies Crowd to See Him.--Interchange of +Presents.--A Review.--Party Visits.--Desire of the Czar to Be United to +France. + + +CHAPTER LXXXVII + +Courson in Languedoc.--Complaints of Perigueux.--Deputies to Paris.-- +Disunion at the Council.--Intrigues of the Duc de Noailles.--Scene.-- +I Support the Perigueux People.--Triumph.--My Quarrel with Noailles.-- +The Order of the Pavilion. + + + + + VOLUME 12. + +CHAPTER LXXXVIII + +Policy and Schemes of Alberoni.--He is Made a Cardinal.--Other Rewards +Bestowed on Him.--Dispute with the Majordomo.--An Irruption into the +Royal Apartment.--The Cardinal Thrashed.--Extraordinary Scene. + + +CHAPTER LXXXIX + +Anecdote of the Duc d'Orleans.--He Pretends to Reform --Trick Played upon +Me.--His Hoaxes.--His Panegyric of Me.--Madame de Sabran.--How the Regent +Treated His Mistresses. + + +CHAPTER XC + +Encroachments of the Parliament.--The Money Edict.--Conflict of Powers-- +Vigorous Conduct of the Parliament.--Opposed with Equal Vigour by the +Regent.--Anecdote of the Duchesse du Maine.--Further Proceedings of the +Parliament.--Influence of the Reading of Memoirs.--Conduct of the +Regent.--My Political Attitude.--Conversation with the Regent on the +Subject of the Parliament.--Proposal to Hang Law.--Meeting at My House.-- +Law Takes Refuge in the Palais Royal. + + +CHAPTER XCI + +Proposed Bed of Justice.--My Scheme.--Interview with the Regent.-- +The Necessary Seats for the Assembly.--I Go in Search of Fontanieu.-- +My Interview with Hini.--I Return to the Palace.--Preparations.-- +Proposals of M. le Duc to Degrade M. du Maine.--My Opposition.--My Joy +and Delight.--The Bed of Justice Finally Determined On.--A Charming +Messenger.--Final Preparations.--Illness of the Regent.--News Given to +M. du Maine.--Resolution of the Parliament.--Military Arrangements.--I Am +Summoned to the Council.--My Message to the Comte de Toulouse. + + +CHAPTER XCII + +The Material Preparations for the Bed of Justice--Arrival of the Duc +d'Orleans:--The Council Chamber.--Attitude of the Various Actors.--The +Duc du Maine.--Various Movements.--Arrival of the Duc de Toulouse.-- +Anxiety of the Two Bastards.--They Leave the Room.--Subsequent +Proceedings.--Arrangement of the Council Chamber.--Speech of the Regent. +--Countenances of the Members of Council.--The Regent Explains the Object +of the Bed of Justice.--Speech of the Keeper of the Seals.--Taking the +Votes.--Incidents That Followed.--New Speech of the Duc d'Orleans.-- +Against the Bastards.--My Joy.--I Express My Opinion Modestly.--Exception +in Favour of the Comte de Toulouse.--New Proposal of M. le Duc.--Its +Effect.--Threatened Disobedience of the Parliament.--Proper Measures.-- +The Parliament Sets Out. + + +CHAPTER XCIII + +Continuation of the Scene in the Council Chamber.--Slowness of the +Parliament.--They Arrive at Last.--The King Fetched.--Commencement of the +Bed of Justice.--My Arrival.--Its Effect.--What I Observed.--Absence of +the Bastards Noticed.--Appearance of the King. The Keeper of the Seals.-- +The Proceedings Opened.--Humiliation of the Parliament.--Speech of the +Chief-President.--New Announcement.--Fall of the Duc du Maine Announced. +--Rage of the Chief-President.--My Extreme joy.--M. le Duc Substituted +for M. du Maine.--Indifference of the King.--Registration of the Decrees. + + +CHAPTER XCIV + +My Return Home.--Wanted for a New Commission.--Go to the Palais Royal.-- +A Cunning Page.--My journey to Saint-Cloud.--My Reception.--Interview +with the Duchesse d'Orleans.--Her Grief.--My Embarrassment.--Interview +with Madame.--Her Triumph.--Letter of the Duchesse d'Orleans.--She Comes +to Paris.--Quarrels with the Regent. + + +CHAPTER XCV + +Intrigues of M. du Maine.--And of Cellamare, the Spanish Ambassador.-- +Monteleon and Portocarrero.--Their Despatches.--How Signed.--The +Conspiracy Revealed.--Conduct of the Regent.--Arrest of Cellamare.--His +House Searched.--The Regency Council.--Speech of the Duc d'Orleans.-- +Resolutions Come To.--Arrests.--Relations with Spain.--Alberoni and +Saint-Aignan.--Their Quarrel.--Escape of Saint-Aignan. + + +CHAPTER XCVI + +The Regent Sends for Me.--Guilt of the Duc de Maine.--Proposed Arrest.-- +Discussion on the Prison to Be Chosen.--The Arrest.--His Dejection.-- +Arrest of the Duchess.--Her Rage.--Taken to Dijon.--Other Arrests.-- +Conduct of the Comte de Toulouse.--The Faux Sauniers.--Imprisonment of +the Duc and Duchesse du Maine.--Their Sham Disagreement.--Their +Liberation.--Their Reconciliation. + + + + VOLUME 13. + +CHAPTER XCVII + +Anecdote of Madame de Charlus.--The 'Phillippaques'.--La Grange.-- +Pere Tellier.--The Jesuits.--Anecdote----Tellier's Banishment.--Death of +Madame de Maintenon.--Her Life at Saint-Cyr. + + +CHAPTER XCVIII + +Mode of Life of the Duchesse de Berry.--Her Illness.--Her Degrading +Amours.--Her Danger Increases.--The Sacraments Refused.--The Cure Is +Supported by the Cardinal de Noailles.--Curious Scene.--The Duchess +Refuses to Give Way.--She Recovers, and Is Delivered.--Ambition of Rion. +--He Marries the Duchess.--She Determines to Go to Meudon.--Rion Sent to +the Army.--Quarrels of Father and Daughter.--Supper on the Terrace of +Meudon.--The Duchess Again Ill.--Moves to La Muette.--Great Danger.-- +Receives the Sacrament.--Garus and Chirac.--Rival Doctors.--Increased +Illness.--Death of the Duchess.--Sentiments on the Occasion.--Funeral +Ceremonies.--Madame de Saint-Simon Fails Ill.--Her Recovery.--We Move to +Meudon.--Character of the Duchesse de Berry. + + +CHAPTER XCIX + +The Mississippi Scheme.--Law Offers Me Shares.--Compensation for Blaye.-- +The Rue Quincampoix.--Excitement of the Public.--Increased Popularity of +the Scheme.--Conniving of Law.--Plot against His Life--Disagreement with +Argenson.--Their Quarrel.--Avarice of the Prince de Conti.--His +Audacity.--Anger of the Regent.--Comparison with the Period of Louis +XIV.--A Ballet Proposed.--The Marechal de Villeroy.--The Young King Is to +Dance.--Young Law Proposed.--Excitement.--The Young King's Disgust.-- +Extravagant Presents of the Duc d'Orleans. + + +CHAPTER C + +System of Law in Danger.--Prodigality of the Duc d'Orleans.--Admissions +of Law.--Fall of His Notes.--Violent Measures Taken to Support Them.-- +Their Failure.--Increased Extravagance of the Regent.--Reduction of the +Fervour.--Proposed Colonies.--Forced Emigration.--Decree on the Indian +Company.--Scheming of Argenson. Attitude of the Parliament.--Their +Remonstrance.--Dismissal of Law.--His Coolness--Extraordinary Decree of +Council of State.--Prohibition of jewellery.--New Schemes. + + +CHAPTER CI + +The New Edict.--The Commercial Company.--New Edict.--Rush on the Bank.-- +People Stifled in the Crowd.--Excitement against Law.--Money of the +Bank.--Exile of the Parliament to Pontoise.--New Operation.--The Place +Vendome.--The Marechal de Villeroy.--Marseilles.--Flight of Law.-- +Character of Him and His Wife.--Observations on His Schemes.--Decrees of +the Finance. + + +CHAPTER CII + +Council on the Finances.--Departure of Law--A Strange Dialogue.--M. le +Duc and the Regent.--Crimes Imputed to Law during His Absence.--Schemes +Proposed.--End, of the Council. + + +CHAPTER CIII + +Character of Alberoni.--His Grand Projects.--Plots against Him.--The +Queen's Nurse.--The Scheme against the Cardinal.--His Fall.--Theft of a +Will.--Reception in Italy.--His Adventures There. + + +CHAPTER CIV + +Meetings of the Council.--A Kitten.--The Archbishopric of Cambrai.-- +Scandalous Conduct of Dubois.--The Consecration.--I Persuade the Regent +Not to Go.--He Promises Not.--Breaks His Word.--Madame de Parabere.--The +Ceremony.--Story of the Comte de Horn. + + + + + VOLUME 14 + +CHAPTER CV + +Quarrel of the King of England with His Son.--Schemes of Dubois.-- +Marriage of Brissac.--His Death.--Birth of the Young Pretender.-- +Cardinalate of Dubois.--Illness of the King.--His Convalescence.-- +A Wonderful Lesson.--Prudence of the Regent.--Insinuations against Him. + + +CHAPTER CVI + +Projected Marriages of the King and of the Daughter of the Duc d'Orleans_ +--How It Was Communicated to Me.--I Ask for the Embassy to Spain.--It Is +Granted to Me.--Jealousy of Dubois.--His Petty Interference.-- +Announcement of the Marriages. + + +CHAPTER CVII + +Interview with Dubois.--His Singular Instructions to Ale.--His Insidious +Object.--Various Tricks and Manoeuvres.--My Departure for Spain.--Journey +by Way of Bordeaux and Bayonne.--Reception in Spain.--Arrival at Madrid. + + +CHAPTER CVIII + +Interview in the Hall of Mirrors.--Preliminaries of the Marriages.-- +Grimaldo.--How the Question of Precedence Was Settled.--I Ask for an +Audience.--Splendid Illuminations.--A Ball.--I Am Forced to Dance. + + +CHAPTER CIX + +Mademoiselle de Montpensier Sets out for Spain.--I Carry the News to the +King.--Set out for Lerma.--Stay at the Escurial.--Take the Small--pox.-- +Convalescence. + + +CHAPTER CX + +Mode of Life of Their Catholic Majesties.--Their Night.--Morning.-- +Toilette.--Character of Philippe V.--And of His Queen.--How She Governed +Him. + + +CHAPTER CXI + +The King's Taste for Hunting.--Preparations for a Battue.--Dull Work.-- +My Plans to Obtain the Grandesse.--Treachery of Dubois.--Friendship of +Grimaldo.--My Success. + + +CHAPTER CXII + +Marriage of the Prince of the Asturias.--An Ignorant Cardinal.--I Am Made +Grandee of Spain.--The Vidame de Chartres Named Chevalier of the Golden +Fleece.--His Reception--My Adieux.--A Belching Princess.-- +Return to France. + + + + + VOLUME 15. + +CHAPTER CXIII + +Attempted Reconciliation between Dubois and Villeroy.--Violent Scene.-- +Trap Laid for the Marechal.--Its Success.--His Arrest. + + +CHAPTER CXIV + +I Am Sent for by Cardinal Dubois.--Flight of Frejus.--He Is Sought and +Found.--Behaviour of Villeroy in His Exile at Lyons.--His Rage and +Reproaches against Frejus.--Rise of the Latter in the King's Confidence. + + +CHAPTER CXV + +I Retire from Public Life.--Illness and Death of Dubois. --Account of His +Riches.--His Wife.--His Character.--Anecdotes.--Madame de Conflans.-- +Relief of the Regent and the King. + + +CHAPTER CXVI + +Death of Lauzun.--His Extraordinary Adventures.--His Success at Court.-- +Appointment to the Artillery.--Counter--worked by Louvois.--Lauzun and +Madame de Montespan.--Scene with the King.--Mademoiselle and Madame de +Monaco. + + +CHAPTER CXVII + +Lauzun's Magnificence.--Louvois Conspires against Him.--He Is +Imprisoned.--His Adventures at Pignerol.--On What Terms He Is Released.-- +His Life Afterwards.--Return to Court. + + +CHAPTER CXVIII + +Lauzun Regrets His Former Favour.--Means Taken to Recover It.--Failure.-- +Anecdotes.--Biting Sayings.--My Intimacy with Lauzun.--His Illness, +Death, and Character. + + +CHAPTER CXIX + +Ill-Health of the Regent.--My Fears.--He Desires a Sudden Death.-- +Apoplectic Fit.--Death.--His Successor as Prime Minister.--The Duc de +Chartres.--End of the Memoirs. + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +No library of Court documents could pretend to be representative which +ignored the famous "Memoirs" of the Duc de Saint-Simon. They stand, by +universal consent, at the head of French historical papers, and are the +one great source from which all historians derive their insight into the +closing years of the reign of the "Grand Monarch," Louis XIV: whom the +author shows to be anything but grand--and of the Regency. The opinion +of the French critic, Sainte-Beuve, is fairly typical. "With the Memoirs +of De Retz, it seemed that perfection had been attained, in interest, in +movement, in moral analysis, in pictorial vivacity, and that there was no +reason for expecting they could be surpassed. But the 'Memoirs' of +Saint-Simon came; and they offer merits . . . which make them the most +precious body of Memoirs that as yet exist." + +Villemain declared their author to be "the most original of geniuses in +French literature, the foremost of prose satirists; inexhaustible in +details of manners and customs, a word-painter like Tacitus; the author +of a language of his own, lacking in accuracy, system, and art, yet an +admirable writer." Leon Vallee reinforces this by saying: "Saint-Simon +can not be compared to any of his contemporaries. He has an +individuality, a style, and a language solely his own.... Language he +treated like an abject slave. When he had gone to its farthest limit, +when it failed to express his ideas or feelings, he forced it--the result +was a new term, or a change in the ordinary meaning of words sprang forth +from has pen. With this was joined a vigour and breadth of style, very +pronounced, which makes up the originality of the works of Saint-Simon +and contributes toward placing their author in the foremost rank of +French writers." + +Louis de Rouvroy, who later became the Duc de Saint-Simon, was born in +Paris, January 16, 1675. He claimed descent from Charlemagne, but the +story goes that his father, as a young page of Louis XIII., gained favour +with his royal master by his skill in holding the stirrup, and was +finally made a duke and peer of France. The boy Louis had no lesser +persons than the King and Queen Marie Therese as godparents, and made his +first formal appearance at Court when seventeen. He tells us that he was +not a studious boy, but was fond of reading history; and that if he had +been given rein to read all he desired of it, he might have made "some +figure in the world." At nineteen, like D'Artagnan, he entered the +King's Musketeers. At twenty he was made a captain in the cavalry; and +the same year he married the beautiful daughter of the Marechal de +Larges. This marriage, which was purely political in its inception, +finally turned into a genuine love match--a pleasant exception to the +majority of such affairs. He became devoted to his wife, saying: "she +exceeded all that was promised of her, and all that I myself had hoped." +Partly because of this marriage, and also because he felt himself +slighted in certain army appointments, he resigned his commissim after +five years' service, and retired for a time to private life. + +Upon his return to Court, taking up apartments which the royal favour had +reserved for him at Versailles, Saint-Simon secretly entered upon the +self-appointed task for which he is now known to fame--a task which the +proud King of a vainglorious Court would have lost no time in terminating +had it been discovered--the task of judge, spy, critic, portraitist, and +historian, rolled into one. Day by day, henceforth for many years, he +was to set down upon his private "Memoirs" the results of his personal +observations, supplemented by the gossip brought to him by his +unsuspecting friends; for neither courtier, statesman, minister, nor +friend ever looked upon those notes which this "little Duke with his +cruel, piercing, unsatisfied eyes" was so busily penning. Says Vallee: +"He filled a unique position at Court, being accepted by all, even by the +King himself, as a cynic, personally liked for his disposition, enjoying +consideration on account of the prestige of his social connections, +inspiring fear in the more timid by the severity and fearlessness of his +criticism." Yet Louis XIV. never seems to have liked him, and Saint- +Simon owed his influence chiefly to his friendly relations with the +Dauphin's family. During the Regency, he tried to restrain the +profligate Duke of Orleans, and in return was offered the position of +governor of the boy, Louis XV., which he refused. Soon after, he retired +to private life, and devoted his remaining years largely to revising his +beloved "Memoirs." The autograph manuscript, still in existence, reveals +the immense labour which he put into it. The writing is remarkable for +its legibility and freedom from erasure. It comprises no less than 2,300 +pages in folio. + +After the author's death, in 1755, the secret of his lifelong labour was +revealed; and the Duc de Choiseul, fearing the result of these frank +revelations, confiscated them and placed them among the state archives. +For sixty years they remained under lock and key, being seen by only a +few privileged persons, among them Marmontel, Duclos, and Voltaire. A +garbled version of extracts appeared in 1789, possibly being used as a +Revolutionary text. Finally, in 1819, a descendant of the analyst, +bearing the same name, obtained permission from Louis XVIII. to set this +"prisoner of the Bastille" at liberty; and in 1829 an authoritative +edition, revised and arranged by chapters, appeared. It created a +tremendous stir. Saint-Simon had been merciless, from King down to +lady's maid, in depicting the daily life of a famous Court. He had +stripped it of all its tinsel and pretension, and laid the ragged +framework bare. "He wrote like the Devil for posterity!" exclaimed +Chateaubriand. But the work at once became universally read and quoted, +both in France and England. Macaulay made frequent use of it in his +historical essays. It was, in a word, recognised as the chief authority +upon an important period of thirty years (1694-1723). + +Since then it has passed through many editions, finally receiving an +adequate English translation at the hands of Bayle St. John, who has been +careful to adhere to the peculiarities of Saint-Simon's style. It is +this version which is now presented in full, giving us not only many +vivid pictures of the author's time, but of the author himself. "I do +not pride myself upon my freedom from prejudice--impartiality," he +confesses--"it would be useless to attempt it. But I have tried at all +times to tell the truth." + + + + + + VOLUME 1. + +CHAPTER I + +Birth and Family.--Early Life.--Desire to join the Army.--Enter the +Musketeers.--The Campaign Commences.--Camp of Gevries.--Siege of Namur. +--Dreadful Weather.--Gentlemen Carrying Corn.--Sufferings during the +Siege.--The Monks of Marlaigne.--Rival Couriers.--Naval Battle.-- +Playing with Fire-arms.--A Prediction Verified. + + +CHAPTER II + +The King's Natural Children.--Proposed Marriage of the Duc de Chartres.-- +Influence of Dubois.--The Duke and the King.--An Apartment.--Announcement +of the Marriage.--Anger of Madame.--Household of the Duchess.--Villars +and Rochefort.--Friend of King's Mistresses.--The Marriage Ceremony.-- +Toilette of the Duchess.--Son of Montbron.--Marriage of M. du Maine.-- +Duchess of Hanover.--Duc de Choiseul.--La Grande Mademoiselle. + + +CHAPTER III + +Death of My Father.--Anecdotes of Louis XIII.--The Cardinal de +Richelieu.--The Duc de Bellegarde.--Madame de Hautefort.--My Father's +Enemy.--His Services and Reward.--A Duel against Law.--An Answer to a +Libel.--M. de la Rochefoucauld.--My Father's Gratitude to Louis XIII. + + +CHAPTER IV + +Position of the Prince of Orange.--Strange Conduct of the King.--Surprise +and Indignation.--Battle of Neerwinden.--My Return to Paris.--Death of La +Vauguyon.--Symptoms of Madness.--Vauguyon at the Bastille.--Projects of +Marriage.--M. de Beauvilliers.--A Negotiation for a Wife.--My Failure.-- +Visit to La Trappe. + + +CHAPTER V + +M. de Luxembourg's Claim of Precedence.--Origin of the Claim.--Duc de +Piney.--Character of Harlay.--Progress of the Trial.--Luxembourg and +Richelieu.--Double-dealing of Harlay.--The Duc de Gesvres.--Return to the +Seat of War.--Divers Operations.--Origin of These Memoirs. + + +CHAPTER VI + +Quarrels of the Princesses.--Mademoiselle Choin.--A Disgraceful Affair.-- +M. de Noyon.--Comic Scene at the Academie.--Anger and Forgiveness of +M. de Noyon.--M. de Noailles in Disgrace.--How He Gets into Favour Again. +--M. de Vendome in Command.--Character of M. de Luxembourg.-- The Trial +for Precedence Again.--An Insolent Lawyer.--Extraordinary Decree. + + +CHAPTER VII + +Harlay and the Dutch.--Death of the Princess of Orange.--Count +Koenigsmarck.--A New Proposal of Marriage.--My Marriage.--That of M. de +Lauzun.--Its Result.--La Fontaine and Mignard.--Illness of the Marechal +de Lorges.--Operations on the Rhine.--Village of Seckenheim.--An Episode +of War.--Cowardice of M. du Maine.--Despair of the King, Who Takes a +Knave in the Act.--Bon Mot of M. d'Elboeuf. + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The Abbe de Fenelon.--The Jansenists and St. Sulpice.--Alliance with +Madame Guyon.--Preceptor of the Royal Children.--Acquaintance with Madame +de Maintenon.--Appointment to Cambrai.--Disclosure of Madame Guyon's +Doctrines.--Her Disgrace.--Bossuet and Fenelon.--Two Rival Books.-- +Disgrace of Fenelon. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +I was born on the night of the 15th of January, 1675, of Claude Duc de +Saint-Simon, Peer of France, and of his second wife Charlotte de +l'Aubepine. I was the only child of that marriage. By his first wife, +Diana de Budos, my father had had only a daughter. He married her to the +Duc de Brissac, Peer of France, only brother of the Duchesse de Villeroy. +She died in 1684, without children,--having been long before separated +from a husband who was unworthy of her--leaving me heir of all her +property. + +I bore the name of the Vidame de Chartres; and was educated with great +care and attention. My mother, who was remarkable for virtue, +perseverance, and sense, busied herself continually in forming my mind +and body. She feared for me the usual fate of young men, who believe +their fortunes made, and who find themselves their own masters early in +life. It was not likely that my father, born in 1606, would live long +enough to ward off from me this danger; and my mother repeatedly +impressed on, me how necessary it was for a young man, the son of the +favourite of a King long dead,--with no new friends at Court,--to acquire +some personal value of his own. She succeeded in stimulating my courage; +and in exciting in me the desire to make the acquisitions she laid stress +on; but my aptitude for study and the sciences did not come up to my +desire to succeed in them. However, I had an innate inclination for +reading, especially works of history; and thus was inspired with ambition +to emulate the examples presented to my imagination,--to do something and +become somebody, which partly made amends for my coldness for letters. +In fact, I have always thought that if I had been allowed to read history +more constantly, instead of losing my time in studies for which I had no +aptness, I might have made some figure in the world. + +What I read of my own accord, of history, and, above all, of the personal +memoirs of the times since Francis I., bred in me the desire to write +down what I might myself see. The hope of advancement, and of becoming +familiar with the affairs of my time, stirred me. The annoyances I might +thus bring upon myself did not fail to present themselves to my mind; but +the firm resolution I made to keep my writings secret from everybody, +appeared to me to remedy all evils. I commenced my memoirs then in July, +1694, being at that time colonel of a cavalry regiment bearing my name, +in the camp of Guinsheim, upon the old Rhine, in the army commanded by +the Marechal Duc de Lorges. + +In 1691 I was studying my philosophy and beginning to learn to ride at an +academy at Rochefort, getting mightily tired of masters and books, and +anxious to join the army. The siege of Mons, formed by the King in +person, at the commencement of the spring, had drawn away all the young +men of my age to commence their first campaign; and, what piqued me most, +the Duc de Chartres was there, too. I had been, as it were, educated +with him. I was younger than he by eight months; and if the expression +be allowed in speaking of young people, so unequal in position, +friendship had united us. I made up my mind, therefore, to escape from +my leading-strings; but pass lightly over the artifices I used in order +to attain success. I addressed myself to my mother. I soon saw that she +trifled with me. I had recourse to my father, whom I made believe that +the King, having led a great siege this year, would rest the next. +I said nothing of this to my mother, who did not discover my plot until +it was just upon the point, of execution. + +The King had determined rigidly to adhere to a rule he had laid down-- +namely, that none who entered the service, except his illegitimate +children, and the Princes of the blood royal, should be exempt from +serving for a year in one of his two companies of musketeers; and passing +afterwards through the ordeal of being private or subaltern in one of the +regiments of cavalry or infantry, before receiving permission to purchase +a regiment. My father took me, therefore, to Versailles, where he had +not been for many years, and begged of the King admission for me into the +Musketeers. It was on the day of St. Simon and St. Jude, at half-past +twelve, and just as his Majesty came out of the council. + +The King did my father the honour of embracing him three times, and then +turned towards me. Finding that I was little and of delicate appearance, +he said I was still very young; to which my father replied, that I should +be able in consequence to serve longer. Thereupon the King demanded in +which of the two companies he wished to put me; and my father named that +commanded by Maupertuis, who was one of his friends. The King relied +much upon the information given him by the captains of the two companies +of Musketeers, as to the young men who served in them. I have reason for +believing, that I owe to Maupertuis the first good opinion that his +Majesty had of me. + +Three months after entering the Musketeers, that is to say, in the March +of the following year, the King held a review of his guards, and of the +gendarmerie, at Compiegne, and I mounted guard once at the palace. +During this little journey there was talk of a much more important one. +My joy was extreme; but my father, who had not counted upon this, +repented of having believed me, when I told him that the King would no +doubt rest at Paris this year. My mother, after a little vexation and +pouting at finding me enrolled by my father against her will, did not +fail to bring him to reason, and to make him provide me with an equipment +of thirty-five horses or mules, and means to live honourably. + +A grievous annoyance happened in our house about three weeks before my +departure. A steward of my father named Tesse, who had been with him +many years, disappeared all at once with fifty thousand francs due to +various tradesfolk. He had written out false receipts from these people, +and put them in his accounts. He was a little man, gentle, affable, and +clever; who had shown some probity, and who had many friends. + +The King set out on the 10th of May, 1692, with the ladies; and I +performed the journey on horseback with the soldiers and all the +attendants, like the other Musketeers, and continued to do so through the +whole campaign. I was accompanied by two gentlemen; the one had been my +tutor, the other was my mother's squire. The King's army was formed at +the camp of Gevries; that of M. de Luxembourg almost joined it: The +ladies were at Mons, two leagues distant. The King made them come into +his camp, where he entertained them; and then showed them, perhaps; the +most superb review which had ever been seen. The two armies were ranged +in two lines, the right of M. de Luxembourg's touching the left of the +King's,--the whole extending over three leagues of ground. + +After stopping ten days at Gevries, the two armies separated and marched. +Two days afterwards the seige of Namur was declared. The King arrived +there in five days. Monseigneur (son of the King); Monsieur (Duc +d'Orleans, brother of the King); M. le Prince (de Conde) and Marechal +d'Humieres; all four, the one under the other, commanded in the King's +army under the King himself. The Duc de Luxembourg, sole general of his +own army, covered the siege operations, and observed the enemy. The +ladies went away to Dinant. On the third day of the march M. le Prince +went forward to invest the place. + +The celebrated Vauban, the life and soul of all the sieges the King made, +was of opinion that the town should be attacked separately from the +castle; and his advice was acted upon. The Baron de Bresse, however, +who had fortified the place, was for attacking town and castle together. +He was a humble down-looking man, whose physiognomy promised nothing, but +who soon acquired the confidence of the King, and the esteem of the army. + +The Prince de Conde, Marechal d'Humieres, and the Marquis de Boufflers +each led an attack. There was nothing worthy of note during the ten days +the siege lasted. On the eleventh day, after the trenches had been +opened, a parley was beaten and a capitulation made almost as the +besieged desired it. They withdrew to the castle; and it was agreed that +it should not be attacked from the town-side, and that the town was not +to be battered by it. During the siege the King was almost always in his +tent; and the weather remained constantly warm and serene. We lost +scarcely anybody of consequence. The Comte de Toulouse received a slight +wound in the arm while quite close to the King, who from a prominent +place was witnessing the attack of a half-moon, which was carried in +broad daylight by a detachment of the oldest of the two companies of +Musketeers. + +The siege of the castle next commenced. The position of the camp was +changed. The King's tents and those of all the Court were pitched in a +beautiful meadow about five hundred paces from the monastery of +Marlaigne. The fine weather changed to rain, which fell with an +abundance and perseverance never before known by any one in the army. +This circumstance increased the reputation of Saint Medard, whose fete +falls on the 8th of June. It rained in torrents that day, and it is said +that when such is the case it will rain for forty days afterwards. By +chance it happened so this year. The soldiers in despair at this deluge +uttered many imprecations against the Saint; and looked for images of +him, burning and breaking as many as they could find. The rains sadly +interfered with the progress of the siege. The tents of the King could +only be communicated with by paths laid with fascines which required to +be renewed every day, as they sank down into the soil. The camps and +quarters were no longer accessible; the trenches were full of mud and +water, and it took often three days to remove cannon from one battery to +another. The waggons became useless, too, so that the transport of +bombs, shot, and so forth, could not be performed except upon the backs +of mules and of horses taken from the equipages of the Court and the +army. The state of the roads deprived the Duc de Luxembourg of the use +of waggons and other vehicles. His army was perishing for want of grain. +To remedy this inconvenience the King ordered all his household troops to +mount every day on horseback by detachments, and to take sacks of grain +upon their cruppers to a village where they were to be received and +counted by the officers of the Duc de Luxembourg. Although the household +of the King had scarcely any repose during this siege, what with carrying +fascines, furnishing guards, and other daily services, this increase of +duty was given to it because the cavalry served continually also, and was +reduced almost entirely to leaves of trees for provender. + +The household of the King, accustomed to all sorts of distinctions, +complained bitterly of this task. But the King turned a deaf ear to +them, and would be obeyed. On the first day some of the Gendarmes and of +the light horse of the guard arrived early in the morning at the depot of +the sacks, and commenced murmuring and exciting each other by their +discourses. They threw down the sacks at last and flatly refused to +carry them. I had been asked very politely if I would be of the +detachment for the sacks or of some other. I decided for the sacks, +because I felt that I might thereby advance myself, the subject having +already made much noise. I arrived with the detachment of the Musketeers +at the moment of the refusal of the others; and I loaded my sack before +their eyes. Marin, a brigadier of cavalry and lieutenant of the body +guards, who was there to superintend the operation, noticed me, and full +of anger at the refusal he had just met with, exclaimed that as I did not +think such work beneath me, the rest would do well to imitate my example. +Without a word being spoken each took up his sack; and from that time +forward no further difficulty occurred in the matter. As soon as the +detachment had gone, Marin went straight to the King and told him what +had occurred. This was a service which procured for me several obliging +discourses from his Majesty, who during the rest of the siege always +sought to say something agreeable every time he met me. + +The twenty-seventh day after opening the trenches, that is, the first of +July, 1692, a parley was sounded by the Prince de Barbanqon, governor of +the place,--a fortunate circumstance for the besiegers, who were worn +out with fatigue; and destitute of means, on account of the wretched +weather which still continued, and which had turned the whole country +round into a quagmire. Even the horses of the King lived upon leaves, +and not a horse of all our numerous cavalry ever thoroughly recovered +from the effects of such sorry fare. It is certain that without the +presence of the King the siege might never have been successful; but he +being there, everybody was stimulated. Yet had the place held out ten +days longer, there is no saying what might have happened. Before the end +of the siege the King was so much fatigued with his exertions, that a new +attack of gout came on, with more pain than ever, and compelled him to +keep his bed, where, however, he thought of everything, and laid out his +plans as though he had been at Versailles. + +During the entire siege, the Prince of Orange (William III. of England) +had unavailingly used all his science to dislodge the Duc de Luxembourg; +but he had to do with a man who in matters of war was his superior, and +who continued so all his life. Namur, which, by the surrender of the +castle, was now entirely in our power, was one of the strongest places in +the Low Countries, and had hitherto boasted of having never changed +masters. The inhabitants could not restrain their tears of sorrow. Even +the monks of Marlaigne were profoundly moved, so much so, that they could +not disguise their grief. The King, feeling for the loss of their corn +that they had sent for safety into Namur, gave them double the quantity, +and abundant alms. He incommoded them as little as possible, and would +not permit the passage of cannon across their park, until it was found +impossible to transport it by any other road. Notwithstanding these acts +of goodness, they could scarcely look upon a Frenchman after the taking +of the place; and one actually refused to give a bottle of beer to an +usher of the King's antechamber, although offered a bottle of champagne +in exchange for it! + +A circumstance happened just after the taking of Namur, which might have +led to the saddest results, under any other prince than the King. Before +he entered the town, a strict examination of every place was made, +although by the capitulation all the mines, magazines, &c., had to be +shown. At a visit paid to the Jesuits, they pretended to show +everything, expressing, however, surprise and something more, that their +bare word was not enough. But on examining here and there, where they +did not expect search would be made, their cellars were found to be +stored with gunpowder, of which they had taken good care to say no word. +What they meant to do with it is uncertain. It was carried away, and as +they were Jesuits nothing was done. + +During the course of this siege, the King suffered a cruel +disappointment. James II. of England, then a refugee in France, had +advised the King to give battle to the English fleet. Joined to that of +Holland it was very superior to the sea forces of France. Tourville, our +admiral, so famous for his valour and skill, pointed this circumstance +out to the King. But it was all to no effect. He was ordered to attack +the enemy. He did so. Many of his ships were burnt, and the victory was +won by the English. A courier entrusted with this sad intelligence was +despatched to the King. On his way he was joined by another courier, who +pressed him for his news. The first courier knew that if he gave up his +news, the other, who was better mounted, would outstrip him, and be the +first to carry it to the King. He told his companion, therefore, an idle +tale, very different indeed from the truth, for he changed the defeat +into a great victory. Having gained this wonderful intelligence, the +second courier put spurs to his horse, and hurried away to the King's +camp, eager to be the bearer of good tidings. He reached the camp first, +and was received with delight. While his Majesty was still in great joy +at his happy victory, the other courier arrived with the real details. +The Court appeared prostrated. The King was much afflicted. +Nevertheless he found means to appear to retain his self-possession, and +I saw, for the first time, that Courts are not long in affliction or +occupied with sadness. I must mention that the (exiled) King of England +looked on at this naval battle from the shore; and was accused of +allowing expressions of partiality to escape him in favour of his +countrymen, although none had kept their promises to him. + +Two days after the defeated garrison had marched out, the King went to +Dinant, to join the ladies, with whom he returned to Versailles. I had +hoped that Monseigneur would finish the campaign, and that I should be +with him, and it was not without regret that I returned towards Paris. +On the way a little circumstance happened. One of our halting-places was +Marienburgh, where we camped for the night. I had become united in +friendship with Comte de Coetquen, who was in the same company with +myself. He was well instructed and full of wit; was exceedingly rich, +and even more idle than rich. That evening he had invited several of us +to supper in his tent. I went there early, and found him stretched out +upon his bed, from which I dislodged him playfully and laid myself down +in his place, several of our officers standing by. Coetquen, sporting +with me in return, took his gun, which he thought to be unloaded, and +pointed it at me. But to our great surprise the weapon went off. +Fortunately for me, I was at that moment lying flat upon the bed. Three +balls passed just above my head, and then just above the heads of our two +tutors, who were walking outside the tent. Coetquen fainted at thought +of the mischief he might have done, and we had all the pains in the world +to bring him to himself again. Indeed, he did not thoroughly recover for +several days. I relate this as a lesson which ought to teach us never +to play with fire-arms. + +The poor lad,--to finish at once all that concerns him,--did not long +survive this incident. He entered the King's regiment, and when just +upon the point of joining it in the following spring, came to me and said +he had had his fortune told by a woman named Du Perehoir, who practised +her trade secretly at Paris, and that she had predicted he would be soon +drowned. I rated him soundly for indulging a curiosity so dangerous and +so foolish. A few days after he set out for Amiens. He found another +fortune-teller there, a man, who made the same prediction. In marching +afterwards with the regiment of the King to join the army, he wished to +water his horse in the Escaut, and was drowned there, in the presence of +the whole regiment, without it being possible to give him any aid. I felt +extreme regret for his loss, which for his friends and his family was +irreparable. + +But I must go back a little, and speak of two marriages that took place +at the commencement of this year the first (most extraordinary) on the +18th February the other a month after. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +The King was very anxious to establish his illegitimate children, whom he +advanced day by day; and had married two of them, daughters, to Princes +of the blood. One of these, the Princesse de Conti, only daughter of the +King and Madame de la Valliere, was a widow without children; the other, +eldest daughter of the King and Madame de Montespan, had married Monsieur +le Duc (Louis de Bourbon, eldest son of the Prince de Conde). For some +time past Madame de Maintenon, even more than the King, had thought of +nothing else than how to raise the remaining illegitimate children, and +wished to marry Mademoiselle de Blois (second daughter of the King and of +Madame de Montespan) to Monsieur the Duc de Chartres. The Duc de +Chartres was the sole nephew of the King, and was much above the Princes +of the blood by his rank of Grandson of France, and by the Court that +Monsieur his father kept up. + +The marriages of the two Princes of the blood, of which I have just +spoken, had scandalised all the world. The King was not ignorant of +this; and he could thus judge of the effect of a marriage even more +startling; such as was this proposed one. But for four years he had +turned it over in his mind and had even taken the first steps to bring it +about. It was the more difficult because the father of the Duc de +Chartres was infinitely proud of his rank, and the mother belonged to a +nation which abhorred illegitimacy and, misalliances, and was indeed of a +character to forbid all hope of her ever relishing this marriage. + +In order to vanquish all these obstacles, the King applied to M. le Grand +(Louis de Lorraine). This person was brother of the Chevalier de +Lorraine, the favourite, by disgraceful means, of Monsieur, father of the +Duc de Chartres. The two brothers, unscrupulous and corrupt, entered +willingly into the scheme, but demanded as a reward, paid in advance, to +be made "Chevaliers of the Order." This was done, although somewhat +against the inclination of the King, and success was promised. + +The young Duc de Chartres had at that time for teacher Dubois (afterwards +the famous Cardinal Dubois), whose history was singular. He had formerly +been a valet; but displaying unusual aptitude for learning, had been +instructed by his master in literature and history, and in due time +passed into the service of Saint Laurent, who was the Duc de Chartres' +first instructor. He became so useful and showed so much skill, that +Saint Laurent made him become an abbe. Thus raised in position, he +passed much time with the Duc de Chartres, assisting him to prepare his +lessons, to write his exercises, and to look out words in the dictionary. +I have seen him thus engaged over and over again, when I used to go and +play with the Duc de Chartres. As Saint Laurent grew infirm, Dubois +little by little supplied his place; supplied it well too, and yet +pleased the young Duke. When Saint Laurent died Dubois aspired to +succeed him. He had paid his court to the Chevalier de Lorraine, by +whose influence he was much aided in obtaining his wish. When at last +appointed successor to Saint Laurent, I never saw a man so glad, nor with +more reason. The extreme obligation he was under to the Chevalier de +Lorraine, and still more the difficulty of maintaining himself in his new +position, attached him more and more to his protector. + +It was, then, Dubois that the Chevalier de Lorraine made use of to gain +the consent of the young Duc de Chartres to the marriage proposed by the +King. Dubois had, in fact, gained the Duke's confidence, which it was +easy to do at that age; had made him afraid of his father and of the +King; and, on the other hand, had filled him with fine hopes and +expectations. All that Dubois could do, however, when he broke the +matter of the marriage to the young Duke, was to ward off a direct +refusal; but that was sufficient for the success of the enterprise. +Monsieur was already gained, and as soon as the King had a reply from +Dubois he hastened to broach the affair. A day or two before this, +however, Madame (mother of the Duc de Chartres) had scent of what was +going on. She spoke to her son of the indignity of this marriage with +that force in which she was never wanting, and drew from him a promise +that he would not consent to it. Thus, he was feeble towards his +teacher, feeble towards his mother, and there was aversion on the one +hand and fear on the other, and great embarrassment on all sides. + +One day early after dinner I saw M. de Chartres, with a very sad air, +come out of his apartment and enter the closet of the King. He found his +Majesty alone with Monsieur. The King spoke very obligingly to the Duc +de Chartres, said that he wished to see him married; that he offered him +his daughter, but that he did not intend to constrain him in the matter, +but left him quite at liberty. This discourse, however, pronounced with +that terrifying majesty so natural to the King, and addressed to a timid +young prince, took away his voice, and quite unnerved him. He, thought +to escape from his slippery position by throwing himself upon Monsieur +and Madame, and stammeringly replied that the King was master, but that a +son's will depended upon that of his parents. "What you say is very +proper," replied the King; "but as soon as you consent to my proposition +your father and mother will not oppose it." And then turning to Monsieur +he said, "Is this not true, my brother? "Monsieur consented, as he had +already done, and the only person remaining to consult was Madame, who +was immediately sent for. + +As soon as she came, the King, making her acquainted with his project, +said that he reckoned she would not oppose what her husband and her son +had already agreed to. Madame, who had counted upon the refusal of her +son, was tongue-tied. She threw two furious glances upon Monsieur and +upon the Duc de Chartres, and then said that, as they wished it, she had +nothing to say, made a slight reverence, and went away. Her son +immediately followed her to explain his conduct; but railing against him, +with tears in her eyes, she would not listen, and drove him from her +room. Her husband, who shortly afterwards joined her, met with almost +the same treatment. + +That evening an "Apartment" was held at the palace, as was customary +three times a week during the winter; the other three evenings being set +apart for comedy, and the Sunday being free. An Apartment as it was +called, was an assemblage of all the Court in the grand saloon, from +seven o'clock in the evening until ten, when the King sat down to table; +and, after ten, in one of the saloons at the end of the grand gallery +towards the tribune of the chapel. In the first place there was some +music; then tables were placed all about for all kinds of gambling; there +was a 'lansquenet'; at which Monsieur and Monseigneur always played; also +a billiard-table; in a word, every one was free to play with every one, +and allowed to ask for fresh tables as all the others were occupied. +Beyond the billiards was a refreshment-room. All was perfectly lighted. +At the outset, the King went to the "apartments" very often and played, +but lately he had ceased to do so. He spent the evening with Madame de +Maintenon, working with different ministers one after the other. But +still he wished his courtiers to attend assiduously. + +This evening, directly after the music had finished, the King sent for +Monseigneur and Monsieur, who were already playing at 'lansquenet'; +Madame, who scarcely looked at a, party of 'hombre' at which she had +seated herself; the Duc de Chartres, who, with a rueful visage, was +playing at chess; and Mademoiselle de Blois, who had scarcely begun to +appear in society, but who this evening was extraordinarily decked out, +and who, as yet, knew nothing and suspected nothing; and therefore, being +naturally very timid, and horribly afraid of the King, believed herself +sent for in order to be reprimanded, and trembled so that Madame de +Maintenon took her upon her knees, where she held her, but was scarcely +able to reassure her. The fact of these royal persons being sent for by +the King at once made people think that a marriage was in contemplation. +In a few minutes they returned, and then the announcement was made +public. I arrived at that moment. I found everybody m clusters, and +great astonishment expressed upon every face. Madame was walking in the +gallery with Chateauthiers--her favourite, and worthy of being so. +She took long strides, her handkerchief in her hand, weeping without +constraint, speaking pretty loudly, gesticulating; and looking like Ceres +after the rape of her daughter Proserpine, seeking her in fury, and +demanding her back from Jupiter. Every one respectfully made way to let +her pass. Monsieur, who had returned to 'lansquenet', seemed overwhelmed +with shame, and his son appeared in despair; and the bride-elect was +marvellously embarrassed and sad. Though very young, and likely to be +dazzled by such a marriage, she understood what was passing, and feared +the consequences. Most people appeared full of consternation. + +The Apartment, which, however heavy in appearance, was full of interest +to, me, seemed quite short. It finished by the supper of the King. His +Majesty appeared quite at ease. Madame's eyes were full of tears, which +fell from time to time as she looked into every face around, as if in +search of all our thoughts. Her son, whose eyes too were red, she would +not give a glance to; nor to Monsieur: all three ate scarcely anything. +I remarked that the King offered Madame nearly all the dishes that were +before him, and that she refused with an air of rudeness which did not, +however, check his politeness. It was furthermore noticeable that, after +leaving the table, he made to Madame a very marked and very low +reverence, during which she performed so complete a pirouette, that the +King on raising his head found nothing but her back before him, removed +about a step further towards the door. + +On the morrow we went as usual to wait in the gallery for the breaking-up +of the council, and for the King's Mass. Madame came there. Her son +approached her, as he did every day, to kiss her hand. At that very +moment she gave him a box on the ear, so sonorous that it was heard +several steps distant. Such treatment in presence of all the Court +covered with confusion this unfortunate prince, and overwhelmed the +infinite number of spectators, of whom I was one, with prodigious +astonishment. + +That day the immense dowry was declared; and on Sunday there was a grand +ball, that is, a ball opened by a 'branle' which settled the order of the +dancing throughout the evening. Monseigneur the Duc de Bourgogne danced +on this occasion for the first time; and led off the 'branle' with +Mademoiselle. I danced also for the first time at Court. My partner was +Mademoiselle de Sourches, daughter of the Grand Prevot; she danced +excellently. I had been that morning to wait on Madame, who could not +refrain from saying, in a sharp and angry voice, that I was doubtless +very glad of the promise of so many balls--that this was natural at my +age; but that, for her part, she was old, and wished they were well over. +A few days after, the contract of marriage was signed in the closet of +the King, and in the presence of all the Court. The same day the +household of the future Duchesse de Chartres was declared. The King gave +her a first gentleman usher and a Dame d'Atours, until then reserved to +the daughters of France, and a lady of honour, in order to carry out +completely so strange a novelty. I must say something about the persons +who composed this household. + +M. de Villars was gentleman usher; he was grandson of a recorder of +Coindrieu, and one of the best made men in France. There was a great +deal of fighting in his young days, and he had acquired a reputation for +courage and skill. To these qualities he owed his fortune. M. de +Nemours was his first patron, and, in a duel which he had with M. de +Beaufort, took Villars for second. M. de Nemours was killed; but Villars +was victorious against his adversary, anal passed into the service of the +Prince de Conti as one of his gentlemen. He succeeded in gaining +confidence in his new employment; so much so, that the marriage which +afterwards took place between the Prince de Conti and the niece of +Cardinal Mazarin was brought about in part by his assistance. He became +the confidant of the married pair, and their bond: of union with the +Cardinal. His position gave him an opportunity of mixing in society much +above him; but on this he never presumed. His face was his, passport +with the ladies: he was gallant, even discreet; and this means was not +unuseful to him. He pleased Madame Scarron, who upon the throne never +forgot the friendships of this kind, so freely intimate, which she had +formed as a private person. Villars was employed in diplomacy; and from +honour to honour, at last reached the order of the Saint Esprit, in 1698. +His wife was full of wit, and scandalously inclined. Both were very +poor--and always dangled about the Court, where they had many powerful +friends. + +The Marechale de Rochefort was lady of honour. She was of the house of +Montmorency--a widow--handsome--sprightly; formed by nature to live at +Court--apt for gallantry and intrigues; full of worldly cleverness, from +living much in the world, with little cleverness of any other kind, +nearly enough for any post and any business. M. de Louvois found her +suited to his taste, and she accommodated herself very well to his purse, +and to the display she made by this intimacy. She always became the +friend of every new mistress of the King; and when he favoured Madame de +Soubise, it was at the Marechale's house that she waited, with closed +doors, for Bontems, the King's valet, who led her by private ways to his +Majesty. The Marechale herself has related to me how one day she was +embarrassed to get rid of the people that Madame de Soubise (who had not +had time to announce her arrival) found at her house; and how she most +died of fright lest Bontems should return and the interview be broken off +if he arrived before the company had departed. The Marechale de +Rochefort was in this way the friend of Mesdames de la Valliere, de +Montespan, and de Soubise; and she became the friend of Madame de +Maintenon, to whom she attached herself in proportion as she saw her +favour increase. She had, at the marriage of Monseigneur, been made Dame +d'Atours to the new Dauphiness; and, if people were astonished at that, +they were also astonished to see her lady of honour to an "illegitimate +grand-daughter of France." + +The Comtesse de Mailly was Dame d'Atours. She was related to Madame de +Maintenon, to whose favour she owed her marriage with the Comte de +Mailly. She had come to Paris with all her provincial awkwardness, and, +from want of wit, had never been able to get rid of it. On the contrary, +she grafted thereon an immense conceit, caused by the favour of Madame de +Maintenon. To complete the household, came M. de Fontaine-Martel, poor +and gouty, who was first master of the horse. + +On the Monday before Shrove Tuesday, all the marriage party and the bride +and bridegroom, superbly dressed, repaired, a little before mid-day, to +the closet of the King, and afterwards to the chapel. It was arranged, +as usual, for the Mass of the King, excepting that between his place and +the altar were two cushions for the bride and bridegroom, who turned +their backs to the King. Cardinal de Bouillon, in full robes, married +them, and said Mass. From the chapel all the company went to table: it +was of horse-shoe shape. The Princes and Princesses of the blood were +placed at the right and at the left, according to their rank, terminated +by the two illegitimate children of the King, and, for the first time, +after them, the Duchesse de Verneuil; so that M. de Verneuil, +illegitimate son of Henry IV., became thus "Prince of the blood" so many +years after his death, without having ever suspected it. The Duc d'Uzes +thought this so amusing that he marched in front of the Duchess, crying +out, as loud as he could--"Place, place for Madame Charlotte Seguier!" +In the afternoon the King and Queen of England came to Versailles with +their Court. There was a great concert; and the play-tables were set +out. The supper was similar to the dinner. Afterwards the married +couple were led into the apartment of the new Duchesse de Chartres. The +Queen of England gave the Duchess her chemise; and the shirt of the Duke +was given to him by the King, who had at first refused on the plea that +he was in too unhappy circumstances. The benediction of the bed was +pronounced by the Cardinal de Bouillon, who kept us all waiting for a +quarter of an hour; which made people say that such airs little became a +man returned as he was from a long exile, to which he had been sent +because he had had the madness to refuse the nuptial benediction to +Madame la Duchesse unless admitted to the royal banquet. + +On Shrove Tuesday, there was a grand toilette of the Duchesse de +Chartres, to which the King and all the Court came; and in the evening a +grand ball, similar to that which had just taken place, except that the +new Duchesse de Chartres was led out by the Duc de Bourgogne. Every one +wore the same dress, and had the same partner as before. + +I cannot pass over in silence a very ridiculous adventure which occurred +at both of these balls. A son of Montbron, no more made to dance at +Court than his father was to be chevalier of the order (to which however, +he was promoted in 1688), was among the company. He had been asked if he +danced well; and he had replied with a confidence which made every one +hope that the contrary was the case. Every one was satisfied. From the +very first bow, he became confused, and he lost step at once. He tried +to divert attention from his mistake by affected attitudes, and carrying +his arms high; but this made him only more ridiculous, and excited bursts +of laughter, which, in despite of the respect due to the person of the +King (who likewise had great difficulty to hinder himself from laughing), +degenerated at length into regular hooting. On the morrow, instead of +flying the Court or holding his tongue, he excused himself by saying that +the presence of the King had disconcerted him; and promised marvels for +the ball which was to follow. He was one of my friends, and I felt for +him, I should even have warned him against a second attempt, if the very +indifferent success I had met with had not made me fear that my advice +would be taken in ill part. As soon as he began to dance at the second +ball, those who were near stood up, those who were far off climbed +wherever they could get a sight; and the, shouts of laughter were mingled +with clapping of hands. Every one, even the King himself, laughed +heartily, and most of us quite loud, so that I do not think any one was +ever treated so before. Montbron disappeared immediately afterwards, and +did not show himself again for a long time, It was a pity he exposed +himself to this defeat, for he was an honourable and brave man. + +Ash Wednesday put an end to all these sad rejoicings by command, and only +the expected rejoicings were spoken of. M. du Maine wished to marry. +The King tried to turn him from it, and said frankly to him, that it was +not for such as he to make a lineage. But pressed M. by Madame de +Maintenon, who had educated Maine; and who felt for him as a nurse the +King resolved to marry him to a daughter of the Prince de Conde. The +Prince was greatly pleased at the project. He had three daughters for +M. du Maine to choose from: all three were extremely little. An inch of +height, that the second had above the others, procured for her the +preference, much to the grief of the eldest, who was beautiful and +clever, and who dearly wished to escape from the slavery in which her +father kept her. The dignity with which she bore her disappointment was +admired by every one, but it cost her an effort that ruined her health. +The marriage once arranged, was celebrated on the 19th of March; much in +the same manner as had been that of the Duc de Chartres. Madame de +Saint-Vallery was appointed lady of honour to Madame du Maine, and M. de +Montchevreuil gentleman of the chamber. This last had been one of the +friends of Madame de Maintenon when she was Madame Scarron. +Montchevreuil was a very honest man, modest, brave, but thick-headed. +His wife was a tall creature, meagre, and yellow, who laughed sillily, +and showed long and ugly teeth; who was extremely devout, of a compassed +mien, and who only wanted a broomstick to be a perfect witch. Without +possessing any wit, she had so captivated Madame de Maintenon, that the +latter saw only with her eyes. All the ladies of the Court were under +her surveillance: they depended upon her for their distinctions, and +often for their fortunes. Everybody, from the ministers to the daughters +of the King, trembled before her. The King himself showed her the most +marked consideration. She was of all the Court journeys, and always with +Madame de Maintenon. + +The marriage of M. du Maine caused a rupture between the Princess de +Conde and the Duchess of Hanover her sister, who had strongly desired +M. du Maine for one of her daughters, and who pretended that the Prince +de Conde had cut the grass from under her feet. She lived in Paris, +making a display quite unsuited to her rank, and had even carried it so +far as to go about with two coaches and many liveried servants. With +this state one day she met in the streets the coach of Madame de +Bouillon, which the servants of the German woman forced to give way to +their mistress's. The Bouillons, piqued to excess, resolved to be +revenged. One day, when they knew the Duchess was going to the play, +they went there attended by a numerous livery. Their servants had orders +to pick a quarrel with those of the Duchess. They executed these orders +completely; the servants of the Duchess were thoroughly thrashed--the +harness of her horses cut--her coaches maltreated. The Duchess made a +great fuss, and complained to the King, but he would not mix himself in +the matter. She was so outraged, that she resolved to retire into +Germany, and in a very few months did so. + +My year of service in the Musketeers being over, the King, after a time, +gave me, without purchase, a company of cavalry in the Royal Roussillon, +in garrison at Mons, and just then very incomplete. I thanked the King, +who replied to me very obligingly. The company was entirely made up in a +fortnight. This was towards the middle of April. + +A little before, that is, on the 27th of March, the King made seven new +marechals of France. They were the Comte de Choiseul, the Duc de +Villeroy, the Marquis de Joyeuse, Tourville, the Duc de Noailles, the +Marquis de Boufllers, and Catinat. These promotions caused very great +discontent. Complaint was more especially made that the Duc de Choiseul +had not been named. The cause of his exclusion is curious. His wife, +beautiful, with the form of a goddess--notorious for the number of her +gallantries--was very intimate with the Princess de Conti. The King, not +liking such a companion for his daughter, gave the Duc de Choiseul to +understand that the public disorders of the Duchess offended him. If the +Duke would send her into a convent, the Marechal's baton would be his. +The Duc de Choiseul, indignant that the reward of his services in the war +was attached to a domestic affair which concerned himself alone, refused +promotion on such terms. He thus lost the baton; and, what was worse for +him, the Duchess soon after was driven from Court, and so misbehaved +herself, that at last he could endure her no longer, drove her away +himself, and separated from her for ever. + +Mademoiselle la grande Mademoiselle, as she was called, to distinguish +her from the daughter of Monsieur--or to call her by her name, +Mademoiselle de Montpensier, died on Sunday the 5th of April, at her +palace in the Luxembourg, sixty-three years of age, and the richest +private princess in Europe. She interested herself much in those who +were related to her, even to the lowest degree, and wore mourning for +them, however far removed. It is well known, from all the memoirs of the +time, that she was greatly in love with M. de Lauzun, and that she +suffered much when the King withheld his permission to their marriage. +M. de Lauzun was so enraged, that he could not contain himself, and at +last went so far beyond bounds, that he was sent prisoner to Pignerol, +where he remained, extremely ill-treated, for ten years. The affection +of Mademoiselle did not grow cold by separation. The King profited by +it, to make M. de Lauzun buy his liberty at her expense, and thus +enriched M. du Maine. He always gave out that he had married +Mademoiselle, and appeared before the King, after her death, in a long +cloak, which gave great displeasure. He also assumed ever afterwards a +dark brown livery, as an external expression of his grief for +Mademoiselle, of whom he had portraits everywhere. As for Mademoiselle, +the King never quite forgave her the day of Saint Antoine; and I heard +him once at supper reproach her in jest, for having fired the cannons of +the Bastille upon his troops. She was a little embarrassed, but she got +out of the difficulty very well. + +Her body was laid out with great state, watched for several days, two +hours at a time, by a duchess or a princess, and by two ladies of +quality. The Comtesse de Soissons refused to take part in this watching, +and would not obey until the King threatened to dismiss her from the +Court. A very ridiculous accident happened in the midst of this +ceremony. The urn containing the entrails fell over, with a frightful +noise and a stink sudden and intolerable. The ladies, the heralds, the +psalmodists, everybody present fled, in confusion. Every one tried to +gain the door first. The entrails had been badly embalmed, and it was +their fermentation which caused the accident. They were soon perfumed +and put in order, and everybody laughed at this mishap. These entrails +were in the end carried to the Celestins, the heart to Val de Grace, and +the body to the Cathedral of Saint Denis, followed by a numerous company. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +On May 3d 1693, the King announced his intention of placing himself at +the head of his army in Flanders, and, having made certain alterations in +the rule of precedence of the marechale of France, soon after began the +campaign. I have here, however, to draw attention to my private affairs, +for on the above-mentioned day, at ten o'clock in the morning, I had the +misfortune to lose my father. He was eighty-seven years of age, and had +been in bad health for some time, with a touch of gout during the last +three weeks. On the day in question he had dined as usual with his +friends, had retired to bed, and, while talking to those around him +there, all at once gave three violent sighs. He was dead almost before +it was perceived that he was ill; there was no more oil in the lamp. + +I learned this sad news after seeing the King to bed; his Majesty was to +purge himself on the morrow. The night was given to the just sentiments +of nature; but the next day I went early to visit Bontems, and then the +Duc de Beauvilliers, who promised to ask the King, as soon as his +curtains were opened, to grant me the--offices my father had held. The +King very graciously complied with his request, and in the afternoon said +many obliging things to me, particularly expressing his regret that my +father had not been able to receive the last sacraments. I was able to +say that a very short time before, my father had retired for several days +to Saint Lazare, where was his confessor, and added something on the +piety of his life. The King exhorted me to behave well, and promised to +take care of me. When my father was first taken ill; several persons, +amongst others, D'Aubigne, brother of Madame de Maintenon, had asked for +the governorship of Blaye. But the King refused them all, and said very +bluntly to D'Aubigne, "Is there not a son?" He had, in fact, always +given my father to understand I should succeed him, although generally he +did not allow offices to descend from father to son. + +Let me say a few words about my father. Our family in my grandfather's +time had become impoverished; and my father was early sent to the Court +as page to Louis XIII. It was very customary then for the sons of +reduced gentlemen to accept this occupation. The King was passionately +fond of hunting, an amusement that was carried on with far less state, +without that abundance of dogs, and followers, and convenience of all +kinds which his successor introduced, and especially without roads +through the forests. My father, who noticed the impatience of the King +at the delays that occurred in changing horses, thought of turning the +head of the horse he brought towards the crupper of that which the King +quitted. By this means, without putting his feet to the ground, his +Majesty, who was active, jumped from one horse to another. He was so +pleased that whenever he changed horses he asked for this same page. +From that time my father grew day by day in favour. The King made him +Chief Ecuyer, and in course of years bestowed other rewards upon him, +created him Duke and peer of France, and gave him the Government of +Blaye. My father, much attached to the King, followed him in all his +expeditions, several times commanded the cavalry of the army, was +commander-in-chief of all the arrierebans of the kingdom, and acquired +great reputation in the field for his valour and skill. With Cardinal +Richelieu he was intimate without sympathy, and more than once, but +notably on the famous Day of the Dupes, rendered signal service to that +minister. My father used often to be startled out of his sleep in the +middle of the night by a valet, with a taper in his hand, drawing the +curtain--having behind him the Cardinal de Richelieu, who would often +take the taper and sit down upon the bed and exclaim that he was a lost +man, and ask my father's advice upon news that he had received or on +quarrels he had had with the King. When all Paris was in consternation +at the success of the Spaniards, who had crossed the frontier, taken +Corbie, and seized all the country as far as Compiegne, the King insisted +on my father being present at the council which was then held. The +Cardinal de Richelieu maintained that the King should retreat beyond the +Seine, and all the assembly seemed of that opinion. But the King in a +speech which lasted a quarter of an hour opposed this, and said that to +retreat at such a moment would be to increase the general disorder. Then +turning to my father he ordered him to be prepared to depart for Corbie +on the morrow, with as many of his men as he could get ready. The +histories and the memoirs of the time show that this bold step saved the +state. The Cardinal, great man as he was, trembled, until the first +appearance of success, when he grew bold enough to join the King. This +is a specimen of the conduct of that weak King governed by that first +minister to whom poets and historians have given the glory they have +stripped from his master; as, for instance, all the works of the siege of +Rochelle, and the invention and unheard-of success of the celebrated +dyke, all solely due to the late King! + +Louis XIII. loved my father; but he could scold him at times. On two +occasions he did so. The first, as my father has related to me, was on +account of the Duc de Bellegarde. The Duke was in disgrace, and had been +exiled. My father, who was a friend of his, wished to write to him one +day, and for want of other leisure, being then much occupied, took the +opportunity of the King's momentary absence to carry out his desire. +Just as he was finishing his letter, the King came in; my father tried to +hide the paper, but the eyes of the King were too quick for him. "What +is that paper?" said he. My father, embarrassed, admitted that it was a +few words he had written to M. de Bellegarde. + +"Let me see it," said the King; and he took the paper and read it. +"I don't find fault with you," said he, "for writing to your friends, +although in disgrace, for I know you will write nothing improper; but +what displeases me is, that you should fail in the respect you owe to a +duke and peer, in that, because he is exiled, you should omit to address +him as Monseigneur;" and then tearing the letter in two, he added, "Write +it again after the hunt, and put, Monseigneur, as you ought." My father +was very glad to be let off so easily. + +The other reprimand was upon a more serious subject. The King was really +enamoured of Mademoiselle d'Hautefort. My father, young and gallant, +could not comprehend why he did not gratify his love. He believed his +reserve to arise from timidity, and under this impression proposed one +day to the King to be his ambassador and to bring the affair to a +satisfactory conclusion. The King allowed him to speak to the end, and +then assumed a severe air. "It is true," said he, "that I am enamoured +of her, that I feel it, that I seek her, that I speak of her willingly, +and think of her still more willingly; it is true also that I act thus in +spite of myself, because I am mortal and have this weakness; but the more +facility I have as King to gratify myself, the more I ought to be on my +guard against sin and scandal. I pardon you this time, but never address +to me a similar discourse again if you wish that I should continue to +love you." This was a thunderbolt for my father; the scales fell from +his eyes; the idea of the King's timidity in love disappeared before the +display of a virtue so pure and so triumphant. + +My father's career was for a long time very successful, but unfortunately +he had an enemy who brought it to an end. This enemy was M. de Chavigny: +he was secretary of state, and had also the war department. Either from +stupidity or malice he had left all the towns in Picardy badly supported; +a circumstance the Spaniards knew well how to profit by when they took +Corbie in 1636. My father had an uncle who commanded in one of these +towns, La Capelle, and who had several times asked for ammunition and +stores without success. My father spoke upon this subject to Chavigny, +to the Cardinal de Richelieu, and to the King, but with no good effect. +La Capelle, left without resources, fell like the places around. As I +have said before, Louis XIII. did not long allow the Spaniards to enjoy +the advantages they had gained. All the towns in Picardy were soon +retaken, and the King, urged on by Chavigny, determined to punish the +governors of these places for surrendering them so easily. My father's +uncle was included with the others. This injustice was not to be borne. +My father represented the real state of the case and used every effort, +to save his uncle, but it was in vain. Stung to the quick he demanded +permission to retire, and was allowed to do so. Accordingly, at the +commencement of 1637, he left for Blaye; and remained there until the +death of Cardinal Richelieu. During this retirement the King frequently +wrote to him, in a language they had composed so as to speak before +people without being understood; and I possess still many of these +letters, with much regret that I am ignorant of their contents. + +Chavigny served my father another ill turn. At the Cardinal's death my +father had returned to the Court and was in greater favour than ever. +Just before Louis XIII. died he gave my father the place of first master +of the horse, but left his name blank in the paper fixing the +appointment. The paper was given into the hands of Chavigny. At the +King's death he had the villainy, in concert with the Queen-regent, to +fill in the name of Comte d'Harcourt, instead of that the King had +instructed him of. The indignation of my father was great, but, as he +could obtain no redress, he retired once again to his Government of +Blaye. Notwithstanding the manner in which he had been treated by the +Queen-regent, he stoutly defended her cause when the civil war broke out, +led by M. le Prince. He garrisoned Blaye at his own expense, incurring +thereby debts which hung upon him all his life, and which I feel the +effects of still, and repulsed all attempts of friends to corrupt his +loyalty. The Queen and Mazarin could not close their eyes to his +devotion, and offered him, while the war was still going on, a marechal's +baton, or the title of foreign prince. But he refused both, and the +offer was not renewed when the war ended. These disturbances over, and +Louis XIV. being married, my father came again to Paris, where he had +many friends. He had married in 1644, and had had, as I have said, one +only daughter. His wife dying in 1670, and leaving him without male +children, he determined, however much he might be afflicted at the loss +he had sustained, to marry again, although old. He carried out his +resolution in October of the same year, and was very pleased with the +choice he had made. He liked his new wife so much, in fact, that when +Madame de Montespan obtained for her a place at the Court, he declined it +at once. At his age--it was thus he wrote to Madame de Montespan, he had +taken a wife not for the Court, but for himself. My mother, who was +absent when the letter announcing the appointment was sent, felt much +regret, but never showed it. + +Before I finish this account of my father, I will here relate adventures +which happened to him, and which I ought to have placed before his second +marriage. A disagreement arose between my father and M. de Vardes, and +still existed long after everybody thought they were reconciled. It was +ultimately agreed that upon an early day, at about twelve o'clock, they +should meet at the Porte St. Honore, then a very deserted spot, and that +the coach of M. de Vardes should run against my father's, and a general +quarrel arise between masters and servants. Under cover of this quarrel, +a duel could easily take place, and would seem simply to arise out of the +broil there and then occasioned. On the morning appointed, my father +called as usual upon several of his friends, and, taking one of them for +second, went to the Porte St. Honore. There everything fell out just as +had been arranged. The coach of M. de Vardes struck against the other. +My father leaped out, M. de Vardes did the same, and the duel took place. +M. de Vardes fell, and was disarmed. My father wished to make him beg +for his life; he would not do this, but confessed himself vanquished. +My father's coach being the nearest, M. de Vardes got into it. He +fainted on the road. They separated afterwards like brave people, and +went their way. Madame de Chatillon, since of Mecklenburg, lodged in one +of the last houses near the Porte St. Honore, and at the noise made by +the coaches, put, her head to the window, and coolly looked at the whole +of the combat. It soon made a great noise. My father was complimented +everywhere. M. de Vardes was sent for ten or twelve days to the +Bastille. My father and he afterwards became completely reconciled to +each other. + +The other adventure was of gentler ending. The Memoirs of M. de la +Rochefoucauld appeared. They contained certain atrocious and false +statements against my father, who so severely resented the calumny, that +he seized a pen, and wrote upon the margin of the book, "The author has +told a lie." Not content with this, he went to the bookseller, whom he +discovered with some difficulty, for the book was not sold publicly at +first. He asked to see all the copies of the work, prayed, promised, +threatened, and at last succeeded in obtaining them. Then he took a pen +and wrote in all of them the same marginal note. The astonishment of the +bookseller may be imagined. He was not long in letting M. de la +Rochefoucauld know what had happened to his books: it may well be +believed that he also was astonished. This affair made great noise. My +father, having truth on his side, wished to obtain public satisfaction +from M. de la Rochefoucauld. Friends, however, interposed, and the +matter was allowed to drop. But M. de la Rochefoucauld never pardoned my +father; so true it is that we less easily forget the injuries we inflict +than those that we receive. + +My father passed the rest of his long life surrounded by friends, and +held in high esteem by the King and his ministers. His advice was often +sought for by them, and was always acted upon. He never consoled himself +for the loss of Louis XIII., to whom he owed his advancement and his +fortune. Every year he kept sacred the day of his death, going to Saint- +Denis, or holding solemnities in his own house if at Blaye. Veneration, +gratitude, tenderness, ever adorned his lips every time he spoke of that +monarch. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +After having paid the last duties to my father I betook myself to Mons to +join the Royal Roussillon cavalry regiment, in which I was captain. The +King, after stopping eight or ten days with the ladies at Quesnoy, sent +them to Namur, and put himself at the head of the army of M. de +Boufflers, and camped at Gembloux, so that his left was only half a +league distant from the right of M. de Luxembourg. The Prince of Orange +was encamped at the Abbey of Pure, was unable to receive supplies, and +could not leave his position without having the two armies of the King to +grapple with: he entrenched himself in haste, and bitterly repented +having allowed himself to be thus driven into a corner. We knew +afterwards that he wrote several times to his intimate friend the Prince +de Vaudemont, saying that he was lost, and that nothing short of a +miracle could save him. + +We were in this position, with an army in every way infinitely superior +to that of the Prince of Orange, and with four whole months before us to +profit by our strength, when the King declared on the 8th of June that he +should return to Versailles, and sent off a large detachment of the army +into Germany. The surprise of the Marechal de Luxembourg was without +bounds. He represented the facility with which the Prince of Orange +might now be beaten with one army and pursued by another; and how +important it was to draw off detachments of the Imperial forces from +Germany into Flanders, and how, by sending an army into Flanders instead +of Germany, the whole of the Low Countries would be in our power. But +the King would not change his plans, although M. de Luxembourg went down +on his knees and begged him not to allow such a glorious opportunity to +escape. Madame de Maintenon, by her tears when she parted from his +Majesty, and by her letters since, had brought about this resolution. + +The news had not spread on the morrow, June 9th. I chanced to go alone +to the quarters of M. de Luxembourg, and was surprised to find not a soul +there; every one had gone to the King's army. Pensively bringing my +horse to a stand, I was ruminating on a fact so strange, and debating +whether I should return to my tent or push on to the royal camp, when up +came M. le Prince de Conti with a single page and a groom leading a +horse. "What are you doing there?" cried he, laughing at my surprise. +Thereupon he told me he was going to say adieu to the King, and advised +me to do likewise. "What do you mean by saying Adieu?" answered I. +He sent his servants to a little distance, and begged me to do the same, +and with shouts of laughter told me about the King's retreat, making +tremendous fun of him, despite my youth, for he had confidence in me. +I was astonished. We soon after met the whole company coming back; +and the great people went aside to talk and sneer. I then proceeded to +pay my respects to the King, by whom I was honourably received. +Surprise, however, was expressed by all faces, and indignation by some. + +The effect of the King's retreat, indeed, was incredible, even amongst +the soldiers and the people. The general officers could not keep silent +upon it, and the inferior officers spoke loudly, with a license that +could not be restrained. All through the army, in the towns, and even at +Court, it was talked about openly. The courtiers, generally so glad to +find themselves again at Versailles, now declared that they were ashamed +to be there; as for the enemy, they could not contain their surprise and +joy. The Prince of Orange said that the retreat was a miracle he could +not have hoped for; that he could scarcely believe in it, but that it had +saved his army, and the whole of the Low Countries. In the midst of all +this excitement the King arrived with the ladies, on the 25th of June, at +Versailles. + +We gained some successes, however, this year. Marechal de Villeroy took +Huy in three days, losing only a sub-engineer and some soldiers. On the +29th of July we attacked at dawn the Prince of Orange at Neerwinden, and +after twelve hours of hard fighting, under a blazing sun, entirely routed +him. I was of the third squadron of the Royal Roussillon, and made five +charges. One of the gold ornaments of my coat was torn away, but I +received no wound. During the battle our brigadier, Quoadt, was killed +before my eyes. The Duc de Feuillade became thus commander of the +brigade. We missed him immediately, and for more than half an hour saw +nothing of him; he had gone to make his toilette. When he returned he +was powdered and decked out in a fine red surtotxt, embroidered with +silver, and all his trappings and those of his horse were magnificent; he +acquitted himself with distinction. + +Our cavalry stood so well against the fire from the enemy's guns, that +the Prince of Orange lost all patience, and turning away, exclaimed-- +"Oh, the insolent nation!" He fought until the last, and retired with +the Elector of Hanover only when he saw there was no longer any hope. +After the battle my people brought us a leg of mutton and a bottle of +wine, which they had wisely saved from the previous evening, and we +attacked them in good earnest, as may be believed. + +The enemy lost about twenty thousand men, including a large number of +officers; our loss was not more than half that number. We took all their +cannon, eight mortars, many artillery waggons, a quantity of standards, +and some pairs of kettle-drums. The victory was complete. + +Meanwhile, the army which had been sent to Germany under the command of +Monseigneur and of the Marechal de Lorges, did little or nothing. The +Marechal wished to attack Heilbronn, but Monseigneur was opposed to it; +and, to the great regret of the principal generals and of the troops, the +attack was not made. Monseigneur returned early to Versailles. + +At sea we were more active. The rich merchant fleet of Smyrna was +attacked by Tourville; fifty vessels were burnt or sunk, and twenty-seven +taken, all richly freighted. This campaign cost the English and Dutch +dear. It is believed their loss was more than thirty millions of ecus. + +The season finished with the taking of Charleroy. On the 16th of +September the Marechal de Villeroy, supported by M. de Luxembourg, laid +siege to it, and on the 11th of October, after a good defence, the place +capitulated. Our loss was very slight. Charleroy taken, our troops went +into winter-quarters, and I returned to Court, like the rest. The roads +and the posting service were in great disorder. Amongst other adventures +I met with, I was driven by a deaf and dumb postillion, who stuck me fast +in the mud when near Quesnoy. At Pont Saint-Maxence all the horses were +retained by M. de Luxembourg. Fearing I might be left behind, I told the +postmaster that I was governor (which was true), and that I would put him +in jail if he did not give me horses. I should have been sadly puzzled +how to do it; but he was simple enough to believe me, and gave the +horses. I arrived, however, at last at Paris, and found a change at the +Court, which surprised me. + +Daquin--first doctor of the King and creature of Madame de Montespan--had +lost nothing of his credit by her removal, but had never been able to get +on well with Madame de Maintenon, who looked coldly upon all the friends +of her predecessor. Daquin had a son, an abbe, and wearied the King with +solicitations on his behalf. Madame de Maintenon seized the opportunity, +when the King was more than usually angry with Daquin, to obtain his +dismissal: it came upon him like a thunderbolt. On the previous evening +the King had spoken to him for a long time as usual, and had never +treated him better. All the Court was astonished also. Fagon, a very +skilful and learned man, was appointed in his place at the instance of +Madame de Maintenon. + +Another event excited less surprise than interest. On Sunday, the 29th +of November, the King learned that La Vauguyon had killed himself in his +bed, that morning, by firing twice into his throat. I must say a few +words about this Vauguyon. He was one of the pettiest and poorest +gentlemen of France: he was well-made, but very swarthy, with Spanish +features, had a charming voice, played the guitar and lute very well, and +was skilled in the arts of gallantry. By these talents he had succeeded, +in finding favour with Madame de Beauvais, much regarded at the Court as +having been the King's first mistress. I have seen her--old, blear-eyed, +and half blind,--at the toilette of the Dauphiness of Bavaria, where +everybody courted her, because she was still much considered by the King. +Under this protection La Vauguyon succeeded well; was several times sent +as ambassador to foreign countries; was made councillor of state, and to +the scandal of everybody, was raised to the Order in 1688. Of late +years, having no appointments, he had scarcely the means of living, and +endeavoured, but without success, to improve his condition. + +Poverty by degrees turned his brain; but a long time passed before it was +perceived. The first proof that he gave of it was at the house of Madame +Pelot, widow of the Chief President of the Rouen parliament. Playing at +brelan one evening, she offered him a stake, and because he would not +accept it bantered him, and playfully called him a poltroon. He said +nothing, but waited until all the rest of the company had left the room; +and when he found himself alone with Madame Pelot, he bolted the door, +clapped his hat on his head, drove her up against the chimney, and +holding her head between his two fists, said he knew no reason why he +should not pound it into a jelly, in order to teach her to call him +poltroon again. The poor woman was horribly frightened, and made +perpendicular curtseys between his two fists, and all sorts of excuses. +At last he let her go, more dead than alive. She had the generosity to +say no syllable of this occurrence until after his death; she even +allowed him to come to the house as usual, but took care never to be +alone with him. + +One day, a long time after this, meeting, in a gallery, at Fontainebleau, +M. de Courtenay, La Vauguyon drew his sword, and compelled the other to +draw also, although there had never been the slightest quarrel between +them. They were soon separated and La Vauguyon immediately fled to the +King, who was just then in his private closet, where nobody ever entered +unless expressly summoned. But La Vauguyon turned the key, and, in spite +of the usher on guard, forced his way in. The King in great emotion +asked him what was the matter. La Vauguyon on his knees said he had been +insulted by M. de Courtenay and demanded pardon for having drawn his +sword in the palace. His Majesty, promising to examine the matter, with +great trouble got rid of La Vauguyon. As nothing could be made of it, M. +de Courtenay declaring he had been insulted by La Vauguyon and forced to +draw his sword, and the other telling the same tale, both were sent to +the Bastille. After a short imprisonment they were released, and +appeared at the Court as usual. + +Another adventure, which succeeded this, threw some light upon the state +of affairs. Going to Versailles, one day, La Vauguyon met a groom of the +Prince de Conde leading a saddled horse, he stopped the man, descended +from his coach, asked whom the horse belonged to, said that the Prince +would not object to his riding it, and leaping upon the animal's back, +galloped off. The groom, all amazed, followed him. La Vauguyon rode on +until he reached the Bastille, descended there, gave a gratuity to the +man, and dismissed him: he then went straight to the governor of the +prison, said he had had the misfortune to displease the King, and begged +to be confined there. The governor, having no orders to do so, refused; +and sent off an express for instructions how to act. In reply he was +told not to receive La Vauguyon, whom at last, after great difficulty, he +prevailed upon to go away. This occurrence made great noise. Yet even +afterwards the King continued to receive La Vauguyon at the Court, and to +affect to treat him well, although everybody else avoided him and was +afraid of him. His poor wife became so affected by these public +derangements, that she retired from Paris, and shortly afterwards died. +This completed her husband's madness; he survived her only a month, dying +by his own hand, as I have mentioned. During the last two years of his +life he carried pistols in his carriage, and frequently pointed them at +his coachman and postilion. It is certain that without the assistance of +M. de Beauvais he would often have been brought to the last extremities. +Beauvais frequently spoke of him to the King; and it is inconceivable +that having raised this man to such a point; and having always shown him +particular kindness, his Majesty should perseveringly have left him to +die of hunger and become mad from misery. + +The year finished without any remarkable occurrence. + +My mother; who had been much disquieted for me during the campaign, +desired strongly that I should not make another without being married. +Although very young, I had no repugnance to marry, but wished to do so +according to my own inclinations. With a large establishment I felt very +lonely in a country where credit and consideration do more than all the +rest. Without uncle, aunt, cousins-German, or near relatives, I found +myself, I say, extremely solitary. + +Among my best friends, as he had been the friend of my father; was the +Duc de Beauvilliers. He had always shown me much affection, and I felt a +great desire to unite myself to his family: My mother approved of my +inclination, and gave me an exact account of my estates and possessions. +I carried it to Versailles, and sought a private interview with M. de +Beauvilliers. At eight o'clock the same evening he received me alone in +the cabinet of Madame de Beauvilliers. After making my compliments to +him, I told him my wish, showed him the state of my affairs, and said +that all I demanded of him was one of his daughters in marriage, and that +whatever contract he thought fit to draw up would be signed by my mother +and myself without examination. + +The Duke, who had fixed his eyes upon me all this time, replied like a +man penetrated with gratitude by the offer I had made. He said, that of +his eight daughters the eldest was between fourteen and fifteen years +old; the second much deformed, and in no way marriageable; the third +between twelve and thirteen years of age, and the rest were children: the +eldest wished to enter a convent, and had shown herself firm upon that +point. He seemed inclined to make a difficulty of his want of fortune; +but, reminding him of the proposition I had made, I said that it was not +for fortune I had come to him, not even for his daughter, whom I had +never seen; that it was he and Madame de Beauvilliers who had charmed me, +and whom I wished to marry! + +"But," said he, "if my eldest daughter wishes absolutely to enter a +convent?" + +"Then," replied I, "I ask the third of you." To this he objected, on the +ground that if he gave the dowry of the first to the third daughter, and +the first afterwards changed her mind and wished to marry, he should be +thrown into an embarrassment. I replied that I would take the third as +though the first were to be married, and that if she were not, the +difference between what he destined for her and what he destined for the +third, should be given to me. The Duke, raising his eyes to heaven, +protested that he had never been combated in this manner, and that he was +obliged to gather up all his forces in order to prevent himself yielding +to me that very instant. + +On the next day, at half-past three, I had another interview with M. de +Beauvilliers. With much tenderness he declined my proposal, resting his +refusal upon the inclination his daughter had displayed for the convent, +upon his little wealth, if, the marriage of the third being made, she +should change her mind--and upon other reasons. He spoke to me with much +regret and friendship, and I to him in the same manner; and we separated, +unable any longer to speak to each other. Two days after, however, I had +another interview with him by his appointment. I endeavoured to overcome +the objections that he made, but all in vain. He could not give me his +third daughter with the first unmarried, and he would not force her, he +said, to change her wish of retiring from the world. His words, pious +and elevated, augmented my respect for him, and my desire for the +marriage. In the evening, at the breaking up of the appointment, I could +not prevent myself whispering in his ear that I should never live happily +with anybody but his daughter, and without waiting for a reply hastened +away. I had the next evening, at eight o'clock, an interview with Madame +de Beauvilliers. I argued with her with such prodigious ardor that she +was surprised, and, although she did not give way, she said she would be +inconsolable for the loss of me, repeating the same tender and flattering +things her husband had said before, and with the same effusion of +feeling. + +I had yet another interview with M. de Beauvilliers. He showed even more +affection for me than before, but I could not succeed in putting aside +his scruples. He unbosomed himself afterwards to one of our friends, and +in his bitterness said he could only console himself by hoping that his +children and mine might some day intermarry, and he prayed me to go and +pass some days at Paris, in order to allow him to seek a truce to his +grief in my absence. We both were in want of it. I have judged it +fitting to give these details, for they afford a key to my exceeding +intimacy with M. de Beauvilliers, which otherwise, considering the +difference in our ages, might appear incomprehensible. + +There was nothing left for me but to look out for another marriage. One +soon presented itself, but as soon fell to the ground; and I went to La +Trappe to console myself for the impossibility of making an alliance with +the Duc de Beauvilliers. + +La Trappe is a place so celebrated and so well known, and its reformer so +famous, that I shall say but little about it. I will, however, mention +that this abbey is five leagues from La Ferme-au-Vidame, or Arnold, which +is the real distinctive name of this Ferme among so many other Fetes in +France, which have preserved the generic name of what they have been, +that is to say, forts or fortresses ('freitas'). My father had been very +intimate with M. de la Trappe, and had taken me to him. + +Although I was very young then, M. de la Trappe charmed me, and the +sanctity of the place enchanted me. Every year I stayed some days there, +sometimes a week at a time, and was never tired of admiring this great +and distinguished man. He loved me as a son, and I respected him as +though he were any father. This intimacy, singular at my age, I kept +secret from everybody, and only went to the convent clandestinely. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +On my return from La Trappe, I became engaged in an affair which made a +great noise, and which had many results for me. + +M. de Luxembourg, proud of his successes, and of the applause of the +world at his victories, believed himself sufficiently strong to claim +precedence over seventeen dukes, myself among the number; to step, in +fact, from the eighteenth rank, that he held amongst the peers, to the +second. The following are the names and the order in precedence of the +dukes he wished to supersede: + +The Duc d'Elboeuf; the Duc de Montbazon; the Duc de Ventadour; the Duc de +Vendome; the Duc de la Tremoille; the Duc de Sully; the Duc de Chevreuse, +the son (minor) of the Duchesse de Lesdiguieres-Gondi; the Duc de +Brissac; Charles d'Albert, called d'Ailly; the Duc de Richelieu; the Duc +de Saint-Simon; the Duc de la Rochefoucauld; the Duc de la Force; the Duc +de Valentinois; the Duc de Rohan; the Duc de Bouillon. + +To explain this pretension of M. de Luxembourg, I must give some details +respecting him and the family whose name he bore. He was the only son of +M. de Bouteville, and had married a descendant of Francois de Luxembourg, +Duke of Piney, created Peer of France in 1581. It was a peerage which, +in default of male successors, went to the female, but this descendant +was not heir to it. She was the child of a second marriage, and by a +first marriage her mother had given birth to a son and a daughter, who +were the inheritors of the peerage, both of whom were still living. The +son was, however, an idiot, had been declared incapable of attending to +his affairs, and was shut up in Saint Lazare, at Paris. The daughter had +taken the veil, and was mistress of the novices at the Abbaye-aux-Bois. +The peerage had thus, it might almost be said, become extinct, for it was +vested in an idiot, who could not marry (to prevent him doing so, he had +been made a deacon, and he was bound in consequence to remain single), +and in a nun, who was equally bound by her vows to the same state of +celibacy. + +When M. de Bouteville, for that was his only title then, married, he took +the arms and the name of Luxembourg. He did more. By powerful +influence--notably that of his patron the Prince de Conde--he released +the idiot deacon from his asylum, and the nun from her convent, and +induced them both to surrender to him their possessions and their titles. +This done, he commenced proceedings at once in order to obtain legal +recognition of his right to the dignities he had thus got possession of. +He claimed to be acknowledged Duc de Piney, with all the privileges +attached to that title as a creation of 1581. Foremost among these +privileges was that of taking precedence of all dukes whose title did not +go back so far as that year. Before any decision was given either for or +against this claim, he was made Duc de Piney by new letters patent, +dating from 1662, with a clause which left his pretensions to the title +of 1581 by no means affected by this new creation. M. de Luxembourg, +however, seemed satisfied with what he had obtained, and was apparently +disposed to pursue his claim no further. He was received as Duke and +Peer in the Parliament, took his seat in the last rank after all the +other peers, and allowed his suit to drop. Since then he had tried +successfully to gain it by stealth, but for several years nothing more +had been heard of it. Now, however, he recommenced it, and with every +intention, as we soon found, to stop at no intrigue or baseness in order +to carry his point. + +Nearly everybody was in his favour. The Court, though not the King, was +almost entirely for him; and the town, dazzled by the splendour of his +exploits, was devoted to him. The young men regarded him as the +protector of their debauches; for, notwithstanding his age, his conduct +was as free as theirs. He had captivated the troops and the general +officers. + +In the Parliament he had a staunch supporter in Harlay, the Chief +President, who led that great body at his will, and whose devotion he had +acquired to such a degree, that he believed that to undertake and succeed +were only the same things, and that this grand affair would scarcely cost +him a winter to carry. + +Let me say something more of this Harlay. + +Descended from two celebrated magistrates, Achille d'Harlay and +Christopher De Thou, Harlay imitated their gravity, but carried it to a +cynical extent, affected their disinterestedness and modesty, but +dishonoured the first by his conduct, and the second by a refined pride +which he endeavoured without success to conceal. He piqued himself, +above all things, upon his probity and justice, but the mask soon fell. +Between Peter and Paul he maintained the strictest fairness, but as soon +as he perceived interest or favour to be acquired, he sold himself. This +trial will show him stripped of all disguise. He was learned in the law; +in letters he was second to no one; he was well acquainted with history, +and knew how, above all, to govern his company with an authority which +suffered no reply, and which no other chief president had ever attained. + +A pharisaical austerity rendered him redoubtable by the license he +assumed in his public reprimands, whether to plaintiffs, or defendants, +advocates or magistrates; so that there was not a single person who did +not tremble to have to do with him. Besides this, sustained in all by +the Court (of which he was the slave, and the very humble servant of +those who were really in favour), a subtle courtier, a singularly crafty +politician, he used all those talents solely to further his ambition, his +desire of domination and his thirst of the reputation of a great man. +He was without real honour, secretly of corrupt manners, with only +outside probity, without humanity even; in one word, a perfect hypocrite; +without faith, without law, without a God, and without a soul; a cruel +husband, a barbarous father, a tyrannical brother, a friend of himself +alone, wicked by nature--taking pleasure in insulting, outraging, and +overwhelming others, and never in his life having lost an occasion to do +so. His wit was great, but was always subservient to his wickedness. +He was small, vigorous, and thin, with a lozenge-shaped face, a long +aquiline nose--fine, speaking, keen eyes, that usually looked furtively +at you, but which, if fixed on a client or a magistrate, were fit to make +him sink into the earth. He wore narrow robes, an almost ecclesiastical +collar and wristband to match, a brown wig mimed with white, thickly +furnished but short, and with a great cap over it. He affected a bending +attitude, and walked so, with a false air, more humble than modest, and +always shaved along the walls, to make people make way for him with +greater noise; and at Versailles worked his way on by a series of +respectful and, as it were, shame-faced bows to the right and left. He +held to the King and to Madame de Maintenon by knowing their weak side; +and it was he who, being consulted upon the unheard-of legitimation of +children without naming the mother, had sanctioned that illegality in +favour of the King. + +Such was the man whose influence was given entirely to our opponent. + +To assist M. de Luxembourg's case as much as possible, the celebrated +Racine, so known by his plays, and by the order he had received at that +time to write the history of the King, was employed to polish and +ornament his pleas. Nothing was left undone by M. de Luxembourg in order +to gain this cause. + +I cannot give all the details of the case, the statements made on both +sides, and the defences; they would occupy entire volumes. We maintained +that M. de Luxembourg was in no way entitled to the precedence he +claimed, and we had both law and justice on our side. To give +instructions to our counsel, and to follow the progress of the case, +we met once a week, seven or eight of us at least, those best disposed +to give our time to the matter. Among the most punctual was M. de la +Rochefoucauld. I had been solicited from the commencement to take part +in the proceedings, and I complied most willingly, apologising for so +doing to M. de Luxembourg, who replied with all the politeness and +gallantry possible, that I could not do less than follow an example my +father had set me. + +The trial having commenced, we soon saw how badly disposed the Chief +President was towards us. He obstructed us in every way, and acted +against all rules. There seemed no other means of defeating his evident +intention of judging against us than by gaining time, first of all; and +to do this we determined to get the case adjourned, There were, however, +only two days at our disposal, and that was not enough in order to comply +with the forms required for such a step. We were all in the greatest +embarrassment, when it fortunately came into the head of one of our +lawyers to remind us of a privilege we possessed, by which, without much +difficulty, we could obtain what we required. I was the only one who +could, at that moment, make use of this privilege. I hastened home, at +once, to obtain the necessary papers, deposited them with the procureur +of M. de Luxembourg, and the adjournment was obtained. The rage of M. de +Luxembourg was without bounds. When we met he would not salute me, and +in consequence I discontinued to salute him; by which he lost more than +I, in his position and at his age, and furnished in the rooms and the +galleries of Versailles a sufficiently ridiculous spectacle. In addition +to this he quarrelled openly with M. de Richelieu, and made a bitter +attack upon him in one of his pleas. But M. de Richelieu, meeting him +soon after in the Salle des Gardes at Versailles, told him to his face +that he should soon have a reply; and said that he feared him neither on +horseback nor on foot--neither him nor his crew--neither in town nor at +the Court, nor even in the army, nor in any place in the world; and +without allowing time for a reply he turned on his heel. In the end, M. +de Luxembourg found himself so closely pressed that he was glad to +apologise to M. de Richelieu. + +After a time our cause, sent back again to the Parliament, was argued +there with the same vigour, the same partiality, and the same injustice +as before: seeing this, we felt that the only course left open to us was +to get the case sent before the Assembly of all the Chambers, where the +judges, from their number, could not be corrupted by M. de Luxembourg, +and where the authority of Harlay was feeble, while over the Grand +Chambre, in which the case was at present, it was absolute. The +difficulty was to obtain an assembly of all the Chambers, for the power +of summoning them was vested solely in Harlay. However, we determined to +try and gain his consent. M. de Chaulnes undertook to go upon this +delicate errand, and acquitted himself well of his mission. He pointed +out to Harlay that everybody was convinced of his leaning towards M. de +Luxembourg, and that the only way to efface the conviction that had gone +abroad was to comply with our request; in fine, he used so many +arguments, and with such address, that Harlay, confused and thrown off +his guard, and repenting of the manner in which he had acted towards us +as being likely to injure his interests, gave a positive assurance to M. +de Chaulnes that what we asked should be granted. + +We had scarcely finished congratulating ourselves upon this unhoped-for +success, when we found that we had to do with a man whose word was a very +sorry support to rest upon. M. de Luxembourg, affrighted at the promise +Harlay had given, made him resolve to break it. Suspecting this, M. de +Chaulnes paid another visit to the Chief President, who admitted, with +much confusion, that he had changed his views, and that it was impossible +to carry out what he had agreed to. After this we felt that to treat any +longer with a man so perfidious would be time lost; and we determined, +therefore, to put it out of his power to judge the case at all. + +According to the received maxim, whoever is at law with the son cannot be +judged by the father. Harlay had a son who was Advocate-General. We +resolved that one among us should bring an action against him. + +After trying in vain to induce the Duc de Rohan, who was the only one of +our number who could readily have done it, to commence a suit against +Harlay's sort, we began to despair of arriving at our aim. Fortunately +for us, the vexation of Harlay became so great at this time, in +consequence of the disdain with which we treated him, and which we openly +published, that he extricated us himself from our difficulty. We had +only to supplicate the Duc de Gesvres in the cause (he said to some of +our people), and we should obtain what we wanted; for the Duc de Gesvres +vas his relative. We took him at his word. The, Duc de Gesvres received +in two days a summons on our part. Harlay, annoyed with himself for the +advice he had given, relented of it: but it was too late; he was declared +unable to judge the cause, and the case itself was postponed until the +next year. + +Meanwhile, let me mention a circumstance which should have found a place +before, and then state what occurred in the interval which followed until +the trial recommenced. + +It was while our proceedings were making some little stir that fresh +favours were heaped upon the King's illegitimate sons, at the instance of +the King himself, and with the connivance of Harlay, who, for the part he +took in the affair, was promised the chancellorship when it should become +vacant. The rank of these illegitimate sons was placed just below that +of the princes, of the blood, and just above that of the peers even of +the oldest creation. This gave us all exceeding annoyance: it was the +greatest injury the peerage could have received, and became its leprosy +and sore. All the peers who could, kept themselves aloof from the +parliament, when M. du Maine, M. de Vendome, and the Comte de Toulouse, +for whom this arrangement was specially made, were received there. + +There were several marriages at the Court this winter and many very fine +balls, at which latter I danced. By the spring, preparations were ready +for fresh campaigns. My regiment (I had bought one at the close of the +last season) was ordered to join the army of M. de Luxembourg; but, as I +had no desire to be under him, I wrote to the King, begging to be +exchanged. In a short time, to the great vexation, as I know, of M. de +Luxembourg, my request was granted. The Chevalier de Sully went to +Flanders in my place, and I to Germany in his. I went first to Soissons +to see my regiment, and in consequence of the recommendation of the King, +was more severe with it than I should otherwise have been. I set out +afterwards for Strasbourg, where I was surprised with the magnificence of +the town, and with the number, beauty, and grandeur of its +fortifications. As from my youth I knew and spoke German perfectly, I +sought out one of my early German acquaintances, who gave me much +pleasure. I stopped six days at Strasbourg and then went by the Rhine to +Philipsburg. On the next day after arriving there, I joined the cavalry, +which was encamped at Obersheim. + +After several movements--in which we passed and repassed the Rhine--but +which led to no effective result, we encamped for forty days at Gaw- +Boecklheim, one of the best and most beautiful positions in the world, +and where we had charming weather, although a little disposed to cold. +It was in the leisure of that long camp that I commenced these memoirs, +incited by the pleasure I took in reading those of Marshal Bassompierre, +which invited me thus to write what I should see in my own time. + +During this season M. de Noailles took Palamos, Girone, and the fortress +of Castel-Follit in Catalonia. This last was taken by the daring of a +soldier, who led on a small number of his comrades, and carried the place +by assault. Nothing was done in Italy; and in Flanders M. de Luxembourg +came to no engagement with the Prince of Orange. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +After our long rest at the camp of Gaw-Boecklheim we again put ourselves +in movement, but without doing much against the enemy, and on the 16th of +October I received permission to return to Paris. Upon my arrival there +I learnt that many things had occurred since I left. During that time +some adventures had happened to the Princesses, as the three illegitimate +daughters of the King were called for distinction sake. Monsieur wished +that the Duchesse de Chartres should always call the others "sister," but +that the others should never address her except as "Madame." The +Princesse de Conti submitted to this; but the other (Madame la Duchesse, +being the produce of the same love) set herself to call the Duchesse de +Chartres "mignonne." But nothing was less a mignonne than her face and +her figure; and Monsieur, feeling the ridicule, complained to the King. +The King prohibited very severely this familiarity. + +While at Trianon these Princesses took it into their heads to walk out +at night and divert themselves with crackers. Either from malice or +imprudence they let off some one night under the windows of Monsieur, +rousing him thereby out of his sleep. He was so displeased, that he +complained to the King, who made him many excuses (scolding the +Princesses), but had great trouble to appease him. His anger lasted a +long time, and the Duchesse de Chartres felt it. I do not know if the +other two were very sorry. Madame la Duchesse was accused of writing +some songs upon the Duchesse de Chartres. + +The Princesse de Conti had another adventure, which made considerable +noise, and which had great results. She had taken into her favour +Clermont, ensign of the gensdarmes and of the Guard. He had pretended to +be enamoured of her, and had not been repelled, for she soon became in +love with him. Clermont had attached himself to the service of M. de +Luxembourg, and was the merest creature in his hands. At the instigation +of M. de Luxembourg, he turned away his regards from the Princesse de +Conti, and fixed them upon one of her maids of honour--Mademoiselle +Choin, a great, ugly, brown, thick-set girl, upon whom Monseigneur had +lately bestowed his affection. Monseigneur made no secret of this, nor +did she. Such being the case, it occurred to M. de Luxembourg (who knew +he was no favourite with the King, and who built all his hopes of the +future upon Monseigneur) that Clermont, by marrying La Choin, might thus +secure the favour of Monseigneur, whose entire confidence she possessed. +Clermont was easily persuaded that this would be for him a royal road to +fortune, and he accordingly entered willingly into the scheme, which had +just begun to move, when the campaign commenced, and everybody went away +to join the armies. + +The King, who partly saw this intrigue, soon made himself entirely master +of it, by intercepting the letters which passed between the various +parties. He read there the project of Clermont and La Choin to marry, +and thus govern Monseigneur; he saw how M. de Luxembourg was the soul of +this scheme, and the marvels to himself he expected from it. The letters +Clermont had received from the Princesse de Conti he now sent to +Mademoiselle la Choin, and always spoke to her of Monseigneur as their +"fat friend." With this correspondence in his hands, the King one day +sent for the Princesse de Conti, said in a severe tone that he knew of +her weakness for Clermont; and, to prove to her how badly she had placed +her affection, showed her her own letters to Clermont, and letters in +which he had spoken most contemptuously of her to La Choin. Then, as a +cruel punishment, he made her read aloud to him the whole of those +letters. At this she almost died, and threw herself, bathed in tears, at +the feet of the King, scarcely able to articulate. Then came sobs, +entreaty, despair, and rage, and cries for justice and revenge. This was +soon obtained. Mademoiselle la Choin was driven away the next day; and +M. de Luxembourg had orders to strip Clermont of his office, and send him +to the most distant part of the kingdom. The terror of M. de Luxembourg +and the Prince de Conti at this discovery may be imagined. Songs +increased the notoriety of this strange adventure between the Princess +and her confidant. + +M. de Noyon had furnished on my return another subject for the song- +writers, and felt it the more sensibly because everybody was diverted at +his expense, M. de Noyon was extremely vain, and afforded thereby much +amusement to the King. A Chair was vacant at the Academic Francaise. +The King wished it to be given to M. de Noyon, and expressed himself to +that effect to Dangeau, who was a member. As may be believed, the +prelate was elected without difficulty. His Majesty testified to the +Prince de Conde, and to the most distinguished persons of the Court, that +he should be glad to see them at the reception. Thus M. de Noyon was the +first member of the Academia chosen by the King, and the first at whose +reception he had taken the trouble to invite his courtiers to attend. + +The Abbe de Caumartin was at that time Director of the Academie. He knew +the vanity of M. de Noyon, and determined to divert the public at his +expense. He had many friends in power, and judged that his pleasantry +would be overlooked, and even approved. He composed, therefore, a +confused and bombastic discourse in the style of M. de Noyon, full of +pompous phrases, turning the prelate into ridicule, while they seemed to +praise him. After finishing this work, he was afraid lest it should be +thought out of all measure, and, to reassure himself, carried it to M. de +Noyon himself, as a scholar might to his master, in order to see whether +it fully met with his approval. M. de Noyon, so far from suspecting +anything, was charmed by the discourse, and simply made a few corrections +in the style. The Abbe de Caumartin rejoiced at the success of the snare +he had laid, and felt quite bold enough to deliver his harangue. + +The day came. The Academie was crowded. The King and the Court were +there, all expecting to be diverted. M. de Noyon, saluting everybody +with a satisfaction he did riot dissimulate, made his speech with his +usual confidence, and in his usual style. The Abbe replied with a modest +air, and with a gravity and slowness that gave great effect to his +ridiculous discourse. The surprise and pleasure were general, and each +person strove to intoxicate M. de Noyon more and more, making him believe +that the speech of the Abbe was relished solely because it had so +worthily praised him. The prelate was delighted with the Abbe and the +public, and conceived not the slightest mistrust. + +The noise which this occurrence made may be imagined, and the praises M. +de Noyon gave himself in relating everywhere what he had said, and what +had been replied to him. M. de Paris, to whose house he went, thus +triumphing, did not like him, and endeavoured to open his eyes to the +humiliation he had received. For some time M. de Noyon would not be +convinced of the truth; it was not until he had consulted with Pere la +Chaise that he believed it. The excess of rage and vexation succeeded +then to the excess of rapture he had felt. In this state he returned to +his house, and went the next day to Versailles. There he made the most +bitter complaints to the King, of the Abbe de Caumartin, by whose means +he had become the sport and laughing-stock of all the world. + +The King, who had learned what had passed, was himself displeased. He +ordered Pontchartrain (who was related to Caumartin) to rebuke the Abbe, +and to send him a lettre de cachet, in order that he might go and ripen +his brain in his Abbey of Busay, in Brittany, and better learn there how +to speak and write. Pontchartrain executed the first part of his +commission, but not the second. He pointed out to the King that the +speech of the Abbe de Caumartin had been revised and corrected by M. de +Noyon, and that, therefore, this latter had only himself to blame in the +matter. He declared, too, that the Abbe was very sorry for what he had +done, and was most willing to beg pardon of M. de Noyon. The lettre de +cachet thus fell to the ground, but not the anger of the prelate. He was +so outraged that he would not see the Abbe, retired into his diocese to +hide his shame, and remained there a long time. + +Upon his return to Paris, however, being taken ill, before consenting to +receive the sacraments, he sent for the Abbe, embraced him, pardoned him, +and gave him a diamond ring, that he drew from his finger, and that he +begged him to keep in memory of him. Nay, more, when he was cured, he +used all his influence to reinstate the Abbe in the esteem of the King. +But the King could never forgive what had taken place, and M. de Noyon, +by this grand action, gained only the favour of God and the honour of the +world. + +I must finish the account of the war of this year with a strange +incident. M. de Noailles, who had been so successful in Catalonia, was +on very bad terms with Barbezieux, secretary of state for the war +department. Both were in good favour with the King; both high in power, +both spoiled. The successes in Catalonia had annoyed Barbezieux. They +smoothed the way for the siege of Barcelona, and that place once taken, +the very heart of Spain would have been exposed, and M. de Noailles would +have gained fresh honours and glory. M. de Noailles felt this so +completely that he had pressed upon the King the siege of Barcelona; and +when the fitting time came for undertaking it, sent a messenger to him +with full information of the forces and supplies he required. Fearing +that if he wrote out this information it might fall into the hands of +Barbezieux, and never reach the King, he simply gave his messenger +instructions by word of mouth, and charged him to deliver them so. But +the very means he had taken to ensure success brought about failure. +Barbezieux, informed by his spies of the departure of the messenger, +waylaid him, bribed him, and induced him to act with the blackest +perfidy, by telling the King quite a different story to that he was +charged with. In this way, the project for the siege of Barcelona was +entirely broken, at the moment for its execution, and with the most +reasonable hopes of success; and upon M. de Noailles rested all the +blame. What a thunderbolt this was for him may easily be imagined. But +the trick had been so well played, that he could not clear himself with +the King; and all through this winter he remained out of favour. + +At last he thought of a means by which he might regain his position. He +saw the inclination of the King for his illegitimate children; and +determined to make a sacrifice in favour of one of them; rightly judging +that this would be a sure means to step back into the confidence he had +been so craftily driven from. His scheme, which he caused to be placed +before the King, was to go into Catalonia at the commencement of the next +campaign, to make a semblance of falling ill immediately upon arriving, +to send to Versailles a request that he might be recalled, and at the +same time a suggestion that M. de Vendome (who would then be near Nice, +under Marechal Catinat) should succeed him. In order that no time might +be lost, nor the army left without a general, he proposed to carry with +him the letters patent; appointing M. de Vendome, and to send them to him +at the same time that he sent to be recalled. + +It is impossible to express the relief and satisfaction with which this +proposition was received. The King was delighted with it, as with +everything tending to advance his illegitimate children and to put a +slight upon the Princes of the blood. He could not openly have made this +promotion without embroiling himself with the latter; but coming as it +would from M. de Noailles, he had nothing to fear. M. de Vendome, once +general of an army, could no longer serve in any other quality; and would +act as a stepping-stone for M. du Maine. + +From this moment M. de Noailles returned more than ever into the good +graces of the King. Everything happened as it had been arranged. But +the secret was betrayed in the execution. Surprise was felt that at the +same moment M. de Noailles sent a request to be recalled, he also sent, +and without waiting for a reply, to call M. de Vendame to the command. +What completely raised the veil were the letters patent that he sent +immediately after to M. de Vendome, and that it was known he could not +have received from the King in the time that had elapsed. M. de Noailles +returned from Catalonia, and was received as his address merited. He +feigned being lame with rheumatism, and played the part for a long time, +but forgot himself occasionally, and made his company smile. He fixed +himself at the Court, and gained there much more favour than he could +have gained by the war; to the great vexation of Barbezieux. + +M. de Luxembourg very strangely married his daughter at this time to the +Chevalier de Soissons (an illegitimate son of the Comte de Soissons), +brought out from the greatest obscurity by the Comtesse de Nemours, and +adopted by her to spite her family: M. de Luxembourg did not long survive +this fine marriage. At sixty-seven years of age he believed himself +twenty-five, and lived accordingly. The want of genuine intrigues, from +which his age and his face excluded him, he supplied by money-power; and +his intimacy, and that of his son, with the Prince de Conti and +Albergotti was kept up almost entirely by the community of their habits, +and the secret parties of pleasure they concocted together. All the +burden of marches, of orders of subsistence, fell upon a subordinate. +Nothing could be more exact than the coup d'oeil of M. de Luxembourg-- +nobody could be more brilliant, more sagacious, more penetrating than he +before the enemy or in battle, and this, too, with an audacity, an ease, +and at the same time a coolness, which allowed him to see all and foresee +all under the hottest fire, and in the most imminent danger: It was at +such times that he was great. For the rest he was idleness itself. He +rarely walked unless absolutely obliged, spent his time in gaming, or in +conversation With his familiars; and had every evening a supper with a +chosen few (nearly always the same); and if near a town, the other sex +were always agreeably mingled with them. When thus occupied, he was +inaccessible to everybody, and if anything pressing happened, it was his +subordinate who attended to it. Such was at the army the life of this +great general, and such it was at Paris, except that the Court and the +great world occupied his days, and his pleasures the evenings. At last, +age, temperament, and constitution betrayed him. He fell ill at +Versailles. Given over by Fagon, the King's physician, Coretti, an +Italian, who had secrets of his own, undertook his cure, and relieved +him, but only for a short time. His door during this illness was +besieged by all the Court. The King sent to inquire after him, but it +was more for appearance' sake than from sympathy, for I have already +remarked that the King did not like him. The brilliancy of his +campaigns, and the difficulty of replacing him, caused all the +disquietude. Becoming worse, M. de Luxembourg received the sacraments, +showed some religion and firmness, and died on the morning of the 4th of +January, 1695, the fifth day of his illness, much regretted by many +people, but personally esteemed by none, and loved by very few. + +Not one of the Dukes M. de Luxembourg had attacked went to see him during +his illness. I neither went nor sent, although at Versailles; and I must +admit that I felt my deliverance from such an enemy. + +Here, perhaps, I may as well relate the result of the trial in which we +were engaged, and which, after the death of M. de Luxembourg, was +continued by his son. It was not judged until the following year. +I have shown that by our implicating the Duc de Gesvres, the Chief +President had been declared incapable of trying the case. The rage he +conceived against us cannot be expressed, and, great actor that he was, +he could not hide it. All his endeavour afterwards was to do what he +could against us; the rest of the mask fell, and the deformity of the +judge appeared in the man, stripped of all disguise. + +We immediately signified to M. de Luxembourg that he must choose between +the letters patent of 1581 and those of 1662. If he abandoned the first +the case fell through; in repudiating the last he renounced the certainty +of being duke and peer after us; and ran the risk of being reduced to an +inferior title previously granted to him. The position was a delicate +one; he was affrighted; but after much consultation he resolved to run +all risks and maintain his pretensions. It thus simply became a question +of his right to the title of Duc de Piney, with the privilege attached to +it as a creation of 1581. + +In the spring of 1696 the case was at last brought on, before the +Assembly of all the Chambers. Myself and the other Dukes seated +ourselves in court to hear the proceedings. The trial commenced. +All the facts and particulars of the cause were brought forward. +Our advocates spoke, and then few doubted but that we should gain the +victory. M. de Luxembourg's advocate, Dumont, was next heard. He was +very audacious, and spoke so insolently of us, saying, in Scripture +phraseology, that we honoured the King with our lips, whilst our hearts +were far from him, that I could not contain myself. I was seated between +the Duc de la Rochefoucauld and the Duc d'Estrees. I stood up, crying +out against the imposture of this knave, and calling for justice on him. +M. de la Rochefoucauld pulled me back, made me keep silent, and I plunged +down into my seat more from anger against him than against the advocate. +My movement excited a murmur. We might on the instant have had justice +against Dumont, but the opportunity had passed for us to ask for it, and +the President de Maisons made a slight excuse for him. We complained, +however, afterwards to the King, who expressed his surprise that Dumont +had not been stopped in the midst of his speech. + +The summing up was made by D'Aguesseau, who acquitted himself of the task +with much eloquence and impartiality. His speech lasted two days. This +being over, the court was cleared, and the judges were left alone to +deliberate upon their verdict. Some time after we were called in to hear +that verdict given. It was in favour of M. de Luxembourg in so far as +the title dating from 1662 was concerned; but the consideration of his +claim to the title of 1581 was adjourned indefinitely, so that he +remained exactly in the same position as his father. + +It was with difficulty we could believe in a decree so unjust and so +novel, and which decided a question that was not under dispute. I was +outraged, but I endeavoured to contain myself. I spoke to M. de la +Rochefoucauld; I tried to make him listen to me, and to agree that we +should complain to the King, but I spoke to a man furious, incapable of +understanding anything or of doing anything. Returning to my own house, +I wrote a letter to the King, in which I complained of the opinion of the +judges. I also pointed out, that when everybody had been ordered to +retire from the council chamber, Harlay and his secretary had been +allowed to remain. On these and other grounds I begged the King to grant +a new trial. + +I carried this letter to the Duc de la Tremoille, but I could not get him +to look at it. I returned home more vexed if possible than when I left. +The King, nevertheless, was exceedingly dissatisfied with the judgment. +He explained himself to that effect at his dinner, and in a manner but +little advantageous to the Parliament, and prepared himself to receive +the complaints he expected would be laid before him. But the obstinacy +of M. de la Rochefoucauld, which turned into vexation against himself, +rendered it impossible for us to take any steps in the matter, and so +overwhelmed me with displeasure, that I retired to La Trappe during +Passion Week in order to recover myself. + +At my return I learned that the King had spoken of this judgment to the +Chief President, and that that magistrate had blamed it, saying the cause +was indubitably ours, and that he had always thought so! If he thought +so, why oppose us so long? and if he did not think so, what a +prevaricator was he to reply with this flattery, so as to be in accord +with the King? The judges themselves were ashamed of their verdict, and +excused themselves for it on the ground of their compassion for the state +in which M. de Luxembourg would have been placed had he lost the title of +1662, and upon its being impossible that he should gain the one of 1581, +of which they had left him the chimera. M. de Luxembourg was accordingly +received at the Parliament on the 4th of the following May, with the rank +of 1662. He came and visited all of us, but we would have no intercourse +with him or with his judges. To the Advocate-General, D'Aguesseau, we +carried our thanks. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Thus ended this long and important case; and now let me go back again to +the events of the previous year. + +Towards the end of the summer and the commencement of the winter of 1695, +negotiations for peace were set on foot by the King. Harlay, son-in-law +of our enemy, was sent to Maestricht to sound the Dutch. But in +proportion as they saw peace desired were they less inclined to listen to +terms. They had even the impudence to insinuate to Harlay, whose +paleness and thinness were extraordinary, that they took him for a sample +of the reduced state of France! He, without getting angry, replied +pleasantly, that if they would give him the time to send for his wife, +they would, perhaps, conceive another opinion of the position of the +realm. In effect, she was extremely fat, and of a very high colour. He +was rather roughly dismissed, and hastened to regain our frontier. + +Two events followed each other very closely this winter. The first was +the death of the Princess of Orange, in London, at the end of January. +The King of England prayed our King to allow the Court to wear no +mourning, and it was even prohibited to M. de Bouillon and M. de Duras, +who were both related to the Prince of Orange. The order was obeyed, and +no word was said; but this sort of vengeance was thought petty. Hopes +were held out of a change in England, but they vanished immediately, and +the Prince of Orange appeared more accredited there and stronger than +ever. The Princess was much regretted, and the Prince of Orange, who +loved her and gave her his entire confidence, and even most marked +respect, was for some days ill with grief. + +The other event was strange. The Duke of Hanover, who, in consequence of +the Revolution, was destined to the throne of England after the Prince +and Princess of Orange and the Princess of Denmark, had married his +cousin-german, a daughter of the Duke of Zell. She was beautiful, and he +lived happily with her for some time. The Count of Koenigsmarck, young +and very well made, came to the Court, and gave him some umbrage. The +Duke of Hanover became jealous; he watched his wife and the Count, and at +length believed himself fully assured of what he would have wished to +remain ignorant of all his life. Fury seized him: he had the Count +arrested and thrown into a hot oven. Immediately afterwards he sent his +wife to her father, who shut her up in one of his castles, where she was +strictly guarded by the people of the Duke of Hanover. An assembly of +the Consistory was held in order to break off his marriage. It was +decided, very singularly, that the marriage was annulled so far as the +Duke was concerned, and that he could marry another woman; but that it +remained binding on the Duchess, and that she could not marry. The +children she had had during her marriage were declared legitimate. The +Duke of Hanover did not remain persuaded as to this last article. + +The King, entirely occupied with the aggrandisement of his natural +children, had heaped upon the Comte de Toulouse every possible favour. +He now (in order to evade a promise he had made to his brother, that the +first vacant government should be given to the Duc de Chartres) forced M. +de Chaulnes to give up the government of Brittany, which he had long +held, and conferred it upon the Comte de Toulouse, giving to the friend +and heir of the former the successorship to the government of Guyenne, by +way of recompense. + +M. de Chaulnes was old and fat, but much loved by the people of Brittany. +He was overwhelmed by this determination of the King, and his wife, who +had long been accustomed to play the little Queen, still more so; yet +there was nothing for them but to obey. They did obey, but it was with a +sorrow and chagrin they could not hide. + +The appointment was announced one morning at the rising of the King. +Monsieur, who awoke later, heard of it at the drawing of his curtains, +and was extremely piqued. The Comte de Toulouse came shortly afterwards, +and announced it himself. Monsieur interrupted him, and before everybody +assembled there said, "The King has given you a good present; but I know +not if what he has done is good policy." Monsieur went shortly +afterwards to the King, and reproached him for giving, under cover of a +trick, the government of Brittany to the Comte de Toulouse, having +promised it to the Duc de Chartres. The King heard him in silence: he +knew well how to appease him. Some money for play and to embellish Saint +Cloud, soon effaced Monsieur's chagrin. + +All this winter my mother was solely occupied in finding a good match for +me. Some attempt was made to marry me to Mademoiselle de Royan. It +would have been a noble and rich marriage; but I was alone, Mademoiselle +de Royan was an orphan, and I wished a father-in-law and a family upon +whom I could lean. During the preceding year there had been some talk of +the eldest daughter of Marechal de Lorges for me. The affair had fallen +through, almost as soon as suggested, and now, on both sides, there was a +desire to recommence negotiations. The probity, integrity, the freedom +of Marechal de Lorges pleased me infinitely, and everything tended to +give me an extreme desire for this marriage. Madame de Lorges by her +virtue and good sense was all I could wish for as the mother of my future +wife. Mademoiselle de Lorges was a blonde, with a complexion and figure +perfect, a very amiable face, an extremely noble and modest deportment, +and with I know not what of majesty derived from her air of virtue, and +of natural gentleness. The Marechal had five other daughters, but I +liked this one best without comparison, and hoped to find with her that +happiness which she since has given me. As she has become my wife, I +will abstain here from saying more about her, unless it be that she has +exceeded all that was promised of her, and all that I myself had hoped. + +My marriage being agreed upon and arranged the Marechal de Lorges spoke +of it to the King, who had the goodness to reply to him that he could not +do better, and to speak of me very obligingly. The marriage accordingly +took place at the Hotel de Lorges, on the 8th of April, 1695, which I +have always regarded, and with good reason, as the happiest day of my +life. My mother treated me like the best mother in the world. On the +Thursday before Quasimodo the contract was signed; a grand repast +followed; at midnight the cure of Saint Roch said mass, and married us in +the chapel of the house. On the eve, my mother had sent forty thousand +livres' worth of precious stones to Mademoiselle de Lorges, and I six +hundred Louis in a corbeille filled with all the knick-knacks that are +given on these occasions. + +We slept in the grand apartment of the Hotel des Lorges. On the morrow, +after dinner, my wife went to bed, and received a crowd of visitors, who +came to pay their respects and to gratify their curiosity. The next +evening we went to Versailles, and were received by Madame de Maintenon +and the King. On arriving at the supper-table, the King said to the new +Duchess:--"Madame, will you be pleased to seat yourself?" + +His napkin being unfolded, he saw all the duchesses and princesses still +standing; and rising in his chair, he said to Madame de Saint-Simon-- +"Madame, I have already begged you to be seated;" and all immediately +seated themselves. On the morrow, Madame de Saint-Simon received all the +Court in her bed in the apartment of the Duchesse d'Arpajon, as being +more handy, being on the ground floor. Our festivities finished by a +supper that I gave to the former friends of my father, whose acquaintance +I had always cultivated with great care. + +Almost immediately after my marriage the second daughter of the Marechal +de Lorges followed in the footsteps of her sister. She was fifteen years +of age, and at the reception of Madame de Saint-Simon had attracted the +admiration of M. de Lauzun, who was then sixty-three. Since his return +to the Court he had been reinstated in the dignity he had previously +held. He flattered himself that by marrying the daughter of a General he +should re-open a path to himself for command in the army. Full of this +idea he spoke to M. de Lorges, who was by no means inclined towards the +marriage. M. de Lauzun offered, however, to marry without dowry; and M. +de Lorges, moved by this consideration, assented to his wish. The affair +concluded, M. de Lorges spoke of it to the King. "You are bold," said +his Majesty, "to take Lauzun into your family. I hope you may not repent +of it." + +The contract was soon after signed. M. de Lorges gave no dowry with his +daughter, but she was to inherit something upon the death of M. Fremont. +We carried this contract to the King, who smiled and bantered M. de +Lauzun. M. de Lauzun replied, that he was only too happy, since it was +the first time since his return that he had seen the King smile at him. +The marriage took place without delay: there were only seven or eight +persons present at the ceremony. M. de Lauzun would undress himself +alone with his valet de chambre, and did not enter the apartment of his +wife until after everybody had left it, and she was in bed with the +curtains closed, and nobody to meet him on his passage. His wife +received company in bed, as mine had done. Nobody was able to understand +this marriage; and all foresaw that a rupture would speedily be brought +about by the well-known temper of M. de Lauzun. In effect, this is what +soon happened. The Marechal de Lorges, remaining still in weak health, +was deemed by the King unable to take the field again, and his army given +over to the command of another General. M. de Lauzun thus saw all his +hopes of advancement at an end, and, discontented that the Marechal had +done nothing for him, broke off all connection with the family, took away +Madame de Lauzun from her mother (to the great grief of the latter; who +doted upon this daughter), and established her in a house of his own +adjoining the Assumption, in the Faubourg Saint-Honore. There she had to +endure her husband's continual caprices, but little removed in their +manifestation from madness. Everybody cast blame upon him, and strongly +pitied her and her father and mother; but nobody was surprised. + +A few days after the marriage of M. de Lauzun, as the King was being +wheeled in his easy chair in the gardens at Versailles, he asked me for +many minute particulars concerning the family of the Marechal de Lorges. +He then set himself to joke with me upon the marriage of M. de Lauzun-- +and upon mine. He said to me, in spite of that gravity which never +quitted him, that he had learnt from the Marechal I had well acquitted +myself, but that he believed the Marechal had still better news. + +The loss of two illustrious men about this time, made more noise than +that of two of our grand ladies. The first of these men was La Fontaine, +so well known by his "Fables" and stories, and who, nevertheless, was so +heavy in conversation. The other was Mignard--so illustrious by his +pencil: he had an only daughter--perfectly beautiful: she is repeated in +several of those magnificent historical pictures which adorn the grand +gallery of Versailles and its two salons, and which have had no slight +share in irritating all Europe against the King, and in leaguing it still +more against his person than his realm. + +At the usual time the armies were got ready for active service, and +everybody set out to join them. That of the Rhine, in which I was, was +commanded by the Marechal de Lorges. No sooner had we crossed the river +and come upon the enemy, than the Marechal fell ill. Although we were in +want of forage and were badly encamped, nobody complained--nobody wished +to move. Never did an army show so much interest in the life of its +chief, or so much love for him. M. de Lorges was, in truth, at the last +extremity, and the doctors that had been sent for from Strasbourg gave +him up entirely. I took upon myself to administer to him some "English +Drops." One hundred and thirty were given him in three doses: the effect +was astonishing; an eruption burst out upon the Marechal's body, and +saved his life. His illness was not, however, at an end; and the army, +although suffering considerably, would not hear of moving until he was +quite ready to move also. There was no extremity it would not undergo +rather than endanger the life of its chief. + +Prince Louis of Baden offered by trumpets all sorts of assistance-- +doctors and remedies, and gave his word that if the army removed from its +General, he and those who remained with him should be provided with +forage and provisions--should be unmolested and allowed to rejoin the +main body in perfect safety, or go whithersoever they pleased. He was +thanked, as he merited, for those very kind offers, which we did not +wish, however, to profit by. + +Little by little the health of the General was reestablished, and the +army demonstrated its joy by bonfire's all over the camp, and by salvos, +which it was impossible to prevent. Never was seen testimony of love so +universal or so flattering. The King was much concerned at the illness +of the Marechal; all the Court was infinitely touched by it. M. de +Lorges was not less loved by it than by the troops. When able to support +the fatigues of the journey, he was removed in a coach to Philipsburg, +where he was joined by the Marechal, who had come there to meet him. The +next day he went to Landau, and I, who formed one of his numerous and +distinguished escort, accompanied him there, and then returned to the +army, which was placed under the command of the Marechal de Joyeuse. + +We found it at about three leagues from Ketsch, its right at Roth, and +its left at Waldsdorff. We learned that the Marechal de Joyeuse had lost +a good occasion of fighting the enemy; but as I was not in camp at the +time, I will say no more of the matter. Our position was not good: +Schwartz was on our left, and the Prince of Baden on our right, hemming +us in, as it were, between them. We had no forage, whilst they had +abundance of everything, and were able to procure all they wanted. There +was a contest who should decamp the last. All our communications were +cut off with Philipsburg, so that we could not repass the Rhine under the +protection of that place. To get out of our position, it was necessary +to defile before our enemies into the plain of Hockenun, and this was a +delicate operation. The most annoying circumstance was, that M. de +Joyeuse would communicate with nobody, and was so ill-tempered that none +dared to speak to him. At last he determined upon his plans, and I was +of the detachment by which they were to be carried out. We were sent to +Manheim to see if out of the ruins of that place (burned in 1688 by M. de +Louvois) sufficient, materials could be found to construct bridges, by +which we might cross the Rhine there. We found that the bridges could be +made, and returned to announce this to M. de Joyeuse. Accordingly, on +the 20th of July, the army put itself in movement. The march was made in +the utmost confusion. Everything was in disorder; the infantry and +cavalry were huddled together pell-mell; no commands could be acted upon, +and indeed the whole army was so disorganised that it could have been +easily beaten by a handful of men. In effect, the enemy at last tried to +take advantage of our confusion, by sending a few troops to harass us. +But it was too late; we had sufficiently rallied to be able to turn upon +them, and they narrowly escaped falling into our hands. We encamped that +night in the plain on the banks of the Necker--our rear at Manheim, and +our left at Seckenheim, while waiting for the remainder of the army, +still very distant. Indeed, so great had been the confusion, that the +first troops arrived at one o'clock at night, and the last late in the +morning of the next day. + +I thought that our headquarters were to be in this village of Seckenheim, +and, in company with several officers took possession of a large house +and prepared to pass the night there. While we were resting from the +fatigues of the day we heard a great noise, and soon after a frightful +uproar. It was caused by a body of our men, who, searching for water, +had discovered this village, and after having quenched their thirst had, +under the cover of thick darkness, set themselves to pillage, to violate, +to massacre, and to commit all the horrors inspired by the most unbridled +licence: La Bretesche, a lieutenant-general, declared to me that he had +never seen anything like it, although he had several times been at +pillages and sackings. He was very grateful that he had not yielded to +my advice, and taken off his wooden leg to be more at ease; for in a +short time we ourselves were invaded, and had some trouble to defend +ourselves. As we bore the livery of M. de Lorges, we were respected, +but those who bore that of M. de Joyeuse were in some cases severely +maltreated. We passed the rest of the night as well as we could in this +unhappy place, which was not abandoned by our soldiers until long after +there was nothing more to find. At daylight we went to the camp. + +We found the army beginning to move: it had passed the night as well as +it could without order, the troops constantly arriving, and the last +comers simply joining themselves on to the rest. Our camp was soon, +however, properly formed, and on the 24th July, the bridges being ready, +all the army crossed the Rhine, without any attempt being made by the +enemy to follow us. On the day after, the Marechal de Joyeuse permitted +me to go to Landau, where I remained with the Marechal and the Marechale +de Lorges until the General was again able to place himself at the head +of his army. + +Nothing of importance was done by our other armies; but in Flanders an +interesting adventure occurred. The Prince of Orange, after playing a +fine game of chess with our army, suddenly invested Namur with a large +force, leaving the rest of his troops under the command of M. de +Vaudemont. The Marechal de Villeroy, who had the command of our army in +Flanders, at once pressed upon M. de Vaudemont, who, being much the +weaker of the two, tried hard to escape. Both felt that everything was +in their hands: Vaudemont, that upon his safety depended the success of +the siege of Namur; and Villeroy, that to his victory was attached the +fate of the Low Countries, and very likely a glorious peace, with all the +personal results of such an event. He took his measures so well that on +the evening of the 13th of July it was impossible for M. de Vaudemont to +escape falling into his hands on the 14th, and he wrote thus to the King. +At daybreak on the 14th M. de Villeroy sent word to M. du Maine to +commence the action. Impatient that his orders were not obeyed, he sent +again five or six times. M. du Maine wished in the first instance to +reconnoitre, then to confess himself, and delayed in effect so long that +M. de Vaudemont was able to commence his retreat. The general officers +cried out at this. One of them came to M. du Maine and reminded him of +the repeated orders of the Marechal de Villeroy, represented the +importance of victory, and the ease with which it could be obtained: with +tears in his eyes he begged M. du Maine to commence the attack. It was +all in vain; M. du Maine stammered, and could not be prevailed upon to +charge, and so allowed M. de Vaudemont's army to escape, when by a single +movement it might have been entirely defeated. + +All our army was in despair, and officers and soldiers made no scruple of +expressing their anger and contempt. M. de Villeroy, more outraged than +anybody else, was yet too good a courtier to excuse himself at the +expense of M. du Maine. He simply wrote to the King, that he had been +deceived in those hopes of success which appeared certain the day before, +entered into no further details, and resigned himself to all that might +happen. The King, who had counted the hours until news of a great and +decisive victory should reach him, was very much surprised when this +letter came: he saw at once that something strange had happened of which +no intelligence had been sent: he searched the gazettes of Holland; in +one he read of a great action said to have been fought, and in which M. +du Maine had been grievously wounded; in the next the news of the action +was contradicted, and M. du Maine was declared to have received no wounds +at all. In order to learn what had really taken place, the King sent for +Lavienne, a man he was in the habit of consulting when he wanted to learn +things no one else dared to tell him. + +This Lavienne had been a bath-keeper much in vogue in Paris, and had +become bath-keeper to the King at the time of his amours. He had pleased +by his drugs, which had frequently put the King in a state to enjoy +himself more, and this road had led Lavienne to become one of the four +chief valets de chambre. He was a very honest man, but coarse, rough, +and free-spoken; it was this last quality which made him useful in the +manner I have before mentioned. From Lavienne the King, but not without +difficulty, learned the truth: it threw him into despair. The other +illegitimate children were favourites with him, but it was upon M. du +Maine that all his hopes were placed. They now fell to the ground, and +the grief of the King was insupportable: he felt deeply for that dear son +whose troops had become the laughing stock of the army; he felt the +railleries that, as the gazettes showed him, foreigners were heaping upon +his forces; and his vexation was inconceivable. + +This Prince, so equal in his manners, so thoroughly master of his +lightest movements, even upon the gravest occasions, succumbed under this +event. On rising from the table at Marly he saw a servant who, while +taking away the dessert, helped himself to a biscuit, which he put in his +pocket. On the instant, the King forgets his dignity, and cane in hand +runs to this valet (who little suspected what was in store for him), +strikes him; abuses him, and breaks the cane upon his body! The truth +is, 'twas only a reed, and snapped easily. However, the stump in his +hand, he walked away like a man quite beside himself, continuing to abuse +this valet, and entered Madame de Maintenon's room, where he remained +nearly an hour. Upon coming out he met Father la Chaise. "My father," +said the King to him, in a very loud voice, "I have beaten a knave and +broken my cane over his shoulders, but I do not think I have offended +God." Everybody around trembled at this public confession, and the poor +priest muttered a semblance of approval between his teeth, to avoid +irritating the King more. The noise that the affair made and the terror +it inspired may be imagined; for nobody could divine for some time the +cause; and everybody easily understood that that which had appeared could +not be the real one. To finish with this matter, once for all, let us +add here the saying of M. d'Elboeuf. Courtier though he was, the upward +flight of the illegitimate children weighed upon his heart. As the +campaign was at its close and the Princes were about to depart, he begged +M. du Maine before everybody to say where he expected to serve during the +next campaign, because wherever it might be he should like to be there +also. + +After being pressed to say why, he replied that "with him one's life was +safe." This pointed remark made much noise. M. du Maine lowered his +eyes, and did not reply one word. As for the Marechal de Villeroy he +grew more and more in favour with the King and with Madame de Maintenon. +The bitter fruit of M. du Maine's act was the taking of Namur, which +capitulated on August 4th (1695). The Marechal de Villeroy in turn +bombarded Brussels, which was sorely maltreated. The Marechal de +Boufflers, who had defended Namur, was made Duke, and those who had +served under him were variously rewarded. This gave occasion for the +Prince of Orange to say, that the King recompensed more liberally the +loss of a place than he could the conquest of one. The army retired into +winter-quarters at the end of October, and the Generals went to Paris. + +As for me, I remained six weeks at Landau with M. and Madame de Lorges. +At the end of that time, the Marechal, having regained his health, +returned to the army, where he was welcomed with the utmost joy: he soon +after had an attack of apoplexy, and, by not attending to his malady in +time, became seriously ill again. When a little recovered, he and Madame +de Lorges set out for Vichy, and I went to Paris. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Before speaking of what happened at Court after my return, it will be +necessary to record what had occurred there during the campaign. + +M. de Brias, Archbishop of Cambrai, had died, and the King had given that +valuable preferment to the Abbe de Fenelon, preceptor of the children of +France. Fenelon was a man of quality, without fortune, whom the +consciousness of wit--of the insinuating and captivating kind--united +with much ability, gracefulness of intellect, and learning, inspired with +ambition. He had been long going about from door to door, knocking for +admission, but without success. Piqued against the Jesuits, to whom he +had addressed himself at first, as holding all favours in their hands, +and discouraged because unable to succeed in that quarter, he turned next +to the Jansenists, to console himself by the reputation he hoped he +should derive from them, for the loss of those gifts of fortune which +hitherto had despised him. + +He remained a considerable time undergoing the process of initiation, and +succeeded at last in being of the private parties that some of the +important Jansenists then held once or twice a week at the house of the +Duchesse de Brancas. I know not if he appeared too clever for them, or +if he hoped elsewhere for better things than he could get among people +who had only sores to share; but little by little his intimacy with them +cooled; and by dint of turning around Saint Sulpice, he succeeded in +forming another connection there, upon which he built greater +expectations. This society of priests was beginning to distinguish +itself, and from a seminary of a Paris parish to extend abroad. +Ignorance, the minuteness of their practices, the absence of all patrons +and of members at all distinguished in any way, inspired them with a +blind obedience to Rome and to all its maxims; with a great aversion for +everything that passed for Jansenism, and made them so dependent upon the +bishops that they began to be considered an acquisition in many dioceses. +They appeared a middle party, very useful to the prelates; who equally +feared the Court, on account of suspicions of doctrine, and the Jesuits +for as soon as the latter had insinuated themselves into the good graces +of the prelates, they imposed their yoke upon them, or ruined them +hopelessly;--thus the Sulpicians grew apace. None amongst them could +compare in any way with the Abbe de Fenelon; so that he was able easily +to play first fiddle, and to make for himself protectors who were +interested in advancing him, in order that they might be protected in +turn. + +His piety, which was all things to all men, and his doctrine that he +formed upon theirs (abjuring, as it were, in whispers, the impurities he +might have contracted amongst those he had abandoned)--the charms, the +graces, the sweetness, the insinuation of his mind, rendered him a dear +friend to this new congregation, and procured for him what he had long +sought, people upon whom he could lean, and who could and would serve. +Whilst waiting opportunities, he carefully courted these people, without +thinking, however, of positively joining them, his views being more +ambitious; so that he ever sought to make new acquaintances and friends. +His was a coquettish mind, which from people the most influential down to +the workman and the lackey sought appreciation and was determined to +please; and his talents for this work perfectly seconded his desires. + +At this time, and while still obscure, he heard speak of Madame Guyon, +who has since made so much noise in the world, and who is too well known +to need that I should dwell upon her here. He saw her. There was an +interchange of pleasure between their minds. Their sublimes amalgamated. +I know not if they understood each other very clearly in that system, and +that new tongue which they hatched subsequently, but they persuaded +themselves they did, and friendship grew up between them. Although more +known than he, Madame Guyon was nevertheless not much known, and their +intimacy was not perceived, because nobody thought of them; Saint Sulpice +even was ignorant of what was going on. + +The Duc de Beauvilliers became Governor of the children of France almost +in spite of himself, without having thought of it. He had to choose a +preceptor for Monseigneur le Duc de Bourgogne. He addressed himself to +Saint Sulpice, where for a long time he had confessed, for he liked and +protected it. He had heard speak of Fenelon with eulogy: the Sulpicians +vaunted his piety, his intelligence, his knowledge, his talents; at last +they proposed him for preceptor. The Duc de Beauvilliers saw him, was +charmed with him, and appointed him to the office. + +As soon as installed, Fenelon saw of what importance it would be to gain +the entire favour of the Duc de Beauvilliers, and of his brother-in-law +the Duc de Chevreuse, both very intimate friends, and both in the highest +confidence of the King and Madame de Maintenon. This was his first care, +and he succeeded beyond his hopes, becoming the master of their hearts +and minds, and the director of their consciences. + +Madame de Maintenon dined regularly once a week at the house of one or +other of the two Dukes, fifth of a little party, composed of the two +sisters and the two husbands,--with a bell upon the table, in order to +dispense with servants in waiting, and to be able to talk without +restraint. Fenelon was at last admitted to this sanctuary, at foot of +which all the Court was prostrated. He was almost as successful with +Madame de Maintenon as he had been with the two Dukes. His spirituality +enchanted her: the Court soon perceived the giant strides of the +fortunate Abbe, and eagerly courted him. But, desiring to be free and +entirely devoted to his great object, he kept himself aloof from their +flatteries--made for himself a shield with his modesty and his duties of +preceptor--and thus rendered himself still more dear to the persons he +had captivated, and that he had so much interest in retaining in that +attachment. + +Among these cares he forgot not his dear Madame Guyon; he had already +vaunted her to the two Dukes and to Madame de Maintenon. He had even +introduced her to them, but as though with difficulty and for a few +moments, as a woman all in God, whose humility and whose love of +contemplation and solitude kept her within the strictest limits, and +whose fear, above all, was that she should become known. The tone of her +mind pleased Madame de Maintenon extremely; her reserve, mixed with +delicate flatteries, won upon her. Madame de Maintenon wished to hear +her talk upon matters of piety; with difficulty she consented to speak. +She seemed to surrender herself to the charms and to the virtue of Madame +de Maintenon, and Madame de Maintenon fell into the nets so skilfully +prepared for her. + +Such was the situation of Fenelon when he became Archbishop of Cambrai; +increasing the admiration in which he was held by taking no step to gain +that great benefice. He had taken care not to seek to procure himself +Cambrai; the least spark of ambition would have destroyed all his +edifice; and, moreover, it was not Cambrai that he coveted. + +Little by little he appropriated to himself some distinguished sheep of +the small flock Madame Guyon had gathered together. He only conducted +them, however, under the direction of that prophetess, and, everything +passed with a secrecy and mystery that gave additional relish to the +manna distributed. + +Cambrai was a thunderbolt for this little flock. It was the +archbishopric of Paris they wished. Cambrai they looked upon with +disdain as a country diocese, the residence in which (impossible to avoid +from time to time) would deprive them of their pastor. Their grief was +then profound at what the rest of the world took for a piece of amazing +luck, and the Countess of Guiche was so affected as to be unable to hide +her tears. The new prelate had not neglected such of his brethren as +made the most figure; they, in turn, considered it a distinction to +command his regard. Saint Cyr, that spot so valuable and so +inaccessible, was the place chosen for his consecration; and M. de Meaux, +dictator then of the episcopacy and or doctrine, consecrated him. The +children of France were among the spectators, and Madame de Maintenon was +present with her little court of familiars. No others were invited; the +doors were closed to those who sought to pay their court. + +The new Archbishop of Cambrai, gratified with his influence over Madame +de Maintenon and with the advantages it had brought him, felt that unless +he became completely master of her, the hopes he still entertained could +not be satisfied. But there was a rival in his way--Godet, Bishop of +Chartres, who was much in the confidence of Madame de Maintenon, and had +long discourses with her at Saint Cyr. As he was, however, of a very ill +figure, had but little support at Court, and appeared exceedingly simple, +M. de Cambrai believed he could easily overthrow him. To do this, he +determined to make use of Madame Guyon, whose new spirituality had +already been so highly relished by Madame de Maintenon. He persuaded +this latter to allow Madame Guyon to enter Saint Cyr, where they could +discourse together much more at their ease than at the Hotel de Chevreuse +or Beauvilliers. Madame Guyon went accordingly to Saint Cyr two or three +times. Soon after, Madame de Maintenon, who relished her more and more, +made her sleep there, and their meetings grew longer. Madame Guyon +admitted that she sought persons proper to become her disciples, and in a +short time she formed a little flock, whose maxims and language appeared +very strange to all the rest of the house, and, above all, to M. de +Chartres. That prelate was not so simple as M. de Cambrai imagined. +Profound theologian and scholar, pious, disinterested, and of rare +probity, he could be, if necessary, a most skilful courtier; but he +rarely exerted this power, for the favour of Madame de Maintenon sufficed +him of itself. As soon as he got scent of this strange doctrine, he +caused two ladies, upon whom he could count, to be admitted to Saint Cyr, +as if to become disciples of Madame Guyon. He gave them full +instructions, and they played their parts to perfection. In the first +place they appeared to be ravished, and by degrees enchanted, with the +new doctrine. Madame Guyon, pleased with this fresh conquest, took the +ladies into her most intimate confidence in order to gain them entirely. +They communicated everything to M. de Chartres, who quietly looked on, +allowed things to take their course, and, when he believed the right +moment had arrived, disclosed all he had learnt to Madame de Maintenon. +She was strangely surprised when she saw the extraordinary drift of the +new doctrine. Troubled and uncertain, she consulted with M. de Cambrai, +who, not suspecting she had been so well instructed, became, when he +discovered it, embarrassed, and thus augmented her suspicions. + +Suddenly Madame Guyon was driven away from Saint Cyr, and prohibited from +spreading her doctrine elsewhere. But the admiring disciples she had +made still gathered round her in secret, and this becoming known, she was +ordered to leave Paris. She feigned obedience, but in effect went no +further than the Faubourg Saint Antoine, where, with great secrecy, she +continued to receive her flock. But being again detected, she was sent, +without further parley, to the Bastille, well treated there, but allowed +to see nobody, not even to write. Before being arrested, however, she +had been put into the hands of M. de Meaux, who used all his endeavours +to change her sentiments. Tired at last of his sermons, she feigned +conviction, signed a recantation of her opinions, and was set at liberty. +Yet, directly after, she held her secret assemblies in the Faubourg Saint +Antoine, and it was in consequence of this abuse of freedom that she was +arrested. These adventures bring me far into the year 1696, and the +sequel extends into the following year. Let us finish this history at +once, and return afterwards to what happened meanwhile. + +Monsieur de Cambrai, stunned but not overpowered by the reverse he had +sustained, and by his loss of favour with Madame de Maintenon, stood firm +in his stirrups. After Madame Guyon's abuse of her liberty, and the +conferences of Issy, he bethought himself of confessing to M. de Meaux, +by which celebrated trick he hoped to close that prelate's mouth. These +circumstances induced M. de Meaux to take pen in hand, in order to expose +to the public the full account of his affair, and of Madame Guyon's +doctrine; and he did so in a work under the title of 'Instruction sur les +Etats d'Oyaison'. + +While the book was yet unpublished, M. de Cambrai was shown a copy. He +saw at once the necessity of writing another to ward off the effect of +such a blow. He must have had a great deal of matter already prepared, +otherwise the diligence he used would be incredible. Before M. de +Meaux's book was ready, M. de Cambrai's, entitled 'Maximes des Saints', +was published and distributed. M. de Chevreuse, who corrected the +proofs, installed himself at the printer's, so as to see every sheet as +soon as printed. + +This book, written in the strangest manner, did M. de Cambrai little +service. If people were offended to find it supported upon no authority, +they were much more so with its confused and embarrassed style, its +precision so restrained and so decided, its barbarous terms which seemed +as though taken from a foreign tongue, above all, its high-flown and far- +fetched thoughts, which took one's breath away, as in the too subtle air +of the middle region. Nobody, except the theologians, understood it, and +even they not without reading it three or four times. Connoisseurs found +in it a pure Quietism, which, although wrapped up in fine language, was +clearly visible. I do not give my own judgment of things so much beyond +me, but repeat what was said everywhere. Nothing else was talked about, +even by the ladies; and a propos of this, the saying of Madame de Sevigne +was revived: "Make religion a little more palpable; it evaporates by dint +of being over-refined." + +Not a word was heard in praise of the book; everybody was opposed to it, +and it was the means of making Madame de Maintenon more unfavourable to +M. de Cambrai than ever. He sent the King a copy, without informing her. +This completed her annoyance against him. M. de Cambrai, finding his +book so ill-received by the Court and by the prelates, determined to try +and support it on the authority of Rome, a step quite opposed to our +manners. In the mean time, M. de Meaux's book appeared in two volumes +octavo, well written, clear, modest, and supported upon the authority of +the Scriptures. It was received with avidity, and absolutely devoured. +There was not a person at the Court who did not take a pleasure in +reading it, so that for a long time it was the common subject of +conversation of the Court and of the town. + +These two books, so opposed in doctrine and in style, made such a stir on +every side that the King interposed, and forced M. de Cambrai to submit +his work to an examination by a council of prelates, whom he named. +M. de Cambrai asked permission to go to Rome to defend his cause in +person, but this the King refused. He sent his book, therefore, to the +Pope, and had the annoyance to receive a dry, cold reply, and to see +M. de Meaux's book triumph. His good fortune was in effect at an end. +He remained at Court some little time, but the King was soon irritated +against him, sent him off post-haste to Paris, and from there to his +diocese, whence he has never returned. He left behind him a letter for +one of his friends, M. de Chevreuse it was generally believed, which +immediately after became public. It appeared like the manifesto of a man +who disgorges his bile and restrains himself no more, because he has +nothing more to hope. The letter, bold and bitter in style, was besides +so full of ability and artifice, that it was extremely pleasant to read, +without finding approvers; so true it is that a wise and disdainful +silence is difficult to keep under reverses. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +Aptitude did not come up to my desire +Believed that to undertake and succeed were only the same things +Exceeded all that was promised of her, and all that I had hoped +He had pleased (the King) by his drugs +King was being wheeled in his easy chair in the gardens +Less easily forget the injuries we inflict than those received +Make religion a little more palpable +Manifesto of a man who disgorges his bile +Mightily tired of masters and books +More facility I have as King to gratify myself +My wife went to bed, and received a crowd of visitors +People who had only sores to share +Persuaded themselves they understood each other +Received all the Court in her bed +Saw peace desired were they less inclined to listen to terms +Spark of ambition would have destroyed all his edifice +Sulpicians +The safest place on the Continent +Wise and disdainful silence is difficult to keep under reverses +With him one's life was safe + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of Memoirs of Louis XIV. and Regency, v1 +by the Duc de Saint-Simon + diff --git a/old/cm23b10.zip b/old/cm23b10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5b2ce23 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/cm23b10.zip |