Memoirs of Louis XIV, vol 1 | Page 4

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