Memoirs of Louis XIV, vol 11 | Page 8

supper, and from the antechamber of Madame de Maintenon to the
table--again, any one spoke to him who wished. This supper was
always on a grand scale, the royal household (that is, the sons and

daughters of France) at table, and a large number of courtiers and ladies
present, sitting or standing, and on the evening before the journey to
Marly all those ladies who wished to take part in it. That was called
presenting yourself for Marly. Men asked in the morning, simply
saying to the King, "Sire, Marly." In later years the King grew tired of
this, and a valet wrote up in the gallery the names of those who asked.
The ladies continued to present themselves.
After supper the King stood some moments, his back to the balustrade
of the foot of his bed, encircled by all his Court; then, with bows to the
ladies, passed into his cabinet, where, on arriving, he gave his orders.
He passed a little less than an hour there, seated in an armchair, with
his legitimate children and bastards, his grandchildren, legitimate and
otherwise, and their husbands or wives. Monsieur in another armchair;
the Princesses upon stools, Monseigneur and all the other Princes
standing.
The King, wishing to retire, went and fed his dogs; then said good night,
passed into his chamber to the 'ruelle' of his bed, where he said his
prayers, as in the morning, then undressed. He said good night with an
inclination of the head, and whilst everybody was leaving the room
stood at the corner of the mantelpiece, where he gave the order to the
colonel of the guards alone. Then commenced what was called the 'petit
coucher', at which only the specially privileged remained. That was
short. They did not leave until be got into bed. It was a moment to
speak to him. Then all left if they saw any one buckle to the King. For
ten or twelve years before he died the 'petit coucher' ceased, in
consequence of a long attack of gout be had had; so that the Court was
finished at the rising from supper.
On medicine days, which occurred about once a month, the King
remained in bed, then heard mass. The royal household came to see
him for a moment, and Madame de Maintenon seated herself in the
armchair at the head of his bed. The King dined in bed about three
o'clock, everybody being allowed to enter the room, then rose, and the
privileged alone remained. He passed afterwards into his cabinet, where
he held a council, and afterwards went, as usual, to Madame de

Maintenon's and supped at ten o'clock, according to custom.
During all his life, the King failed only once in his attendance at mass,
It was with the army, during a forced march; he missed no fast day,
unless really indisposed. Some days before Lent, he publicly declared
that he should be very much displeased if any one ate meat or gave it to
others, under any pretext. He ordered the grand prevot to look to this,
and report all cases of disobedience. But no one dared to disobey his
commands, for they would soon have found out the cost. They
extended even to Paris, where the lieutenant of police kept watch and
reported. For twelve or fifteen years he had himself not observed Lent,
however. At church he was very respectful. During his mass everybody
was obliged to kneel at the Sanctus, and to remain so until after the
communion of the priest; and if he heard the least noise, or saw
anybody talking during the mass, he was much displeased. He took the
communion five times a year, in the collar of the Order, band, and
cloak. On Holy Thursday, he served the poor at dinner; at the mass he
said his chaplet (he knew no more), always kneeling, except at the
Gospel.
He was always clad in dresses more or less brown, lightly embroidered,
but never at the edges, sometimes with nothing but a gold button,
sometimes black velvet. He wore always a vest of cloth, or of red, blue,
or green satin, much embroidered. He used no ring; and no jewels,
except in the buckles of his shoes, garters, and hat, the latter always
trimmed with Spanish point, with a white feather. He had always the
cordon bleu outside, except at fetes, when he wore it inside, with eight
or ten millions of precious stones attached.
Rarely a fortnight passed that the King did not go to Saint-Germain,
even after the death of King James the Second. The Court of
Saint-Germain came also to Versailles, but oftener to Marly, and
frequently to sup there; and no fete or ceremony took place to which
they were not invited, and at which they