Memoirs of Louis XIV, vol 1 | Page 5

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