Read Ebook: Memoirs of Louis XIV and His Court and of the Regency — Complete by Saint Simon Louis De Rouvroy Duc De

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Ebook has 2940 lines and 432156 words, and 59 pages

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sudden Illness of the Duc de Berry--Suspicious Symptoms.--The Duchess Prevented from Seeing Him.--His Death.--Character.--Manners of the Duchesse de Berry.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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