Memoirs of Louis XIV, vol 3 | Page 6

justice to
whom justice was due, and to assign the succession of his monarchy to
a son of France. This reply, and the letter which had given rise to it,
were kept so profoundly secret that they were not known in Spain until
after the King's death.
Directly the Pope's answer had been received the King was pressed to
make a fresh will, and to destroy that which he had previously made in
favour of the Archduke. The new will accordingly was at once drawn
up and signed; and the old one burned in the presence, of several
witnesses. Matters having arrived at this point, it was thought
opportune to admit others to the knowledge of what had taken place.
The council of state, consisting of eight members, four of whom were
already in the secret, was made acquainted with the movements of the
new party; and, after a little hesitation, were gained over.
The King, meantime, was drawing near to his end. A few days after he
had signed the new will he was at the last extremity, and in a few days
more he died. In his last moments the Queen had been kept from him as
much as possible, and was unable in any way to interfere with the plans
that had been so deeply laid. As soon as the King was dead the first
thing to be done was to open his will. The council of state assembled
for that purpose, and all the grandees of Spain who were in the capital
took part in it, The singularity and the importance of such an event,

interesting many millions of men, drew all Madrid to the palace, and
the rooms adjoining that in which the council assembled were filled to
suffocation. All the foreign ministers besieged the door. Every one
sought to be the first to know the choice of the King who had just died,
in order to be the first to inform his court. Blecourt, our ambassador,
was there with the others, without knowing more than they; and Count
d'Harrach, ambassador from the Emperor, who counted upon the will in
favour of the Archduke, was there also, with a triumphant look, just
opposite the door, and close by it.
At last the door opened, and immediately closed again. The Duc
d'Abrantes, a man of much wit and humour, but not to be trifled with,
came out. He wished to have the pleasure of announcing upon whom
the successorship had fallen, and was surrounded as soon as he
appeared. Keeping silence, and turning his eyes on all sides, he fixed
them for a moment on Blecourt, then looked in another direction, as if
seeking some one else. Blecourt interpreted this action as a bad omen.
The Duc d'Abrantes feigning at last to discover the Count d'Harrach,
assumed a gratified look, flew to him, embraced him, and said aloud in
Spanish, "Sir, it is with much pleasure;" then pausing, as though to
embrace him better, he added: "Yes, sir, it is with an extreme joy that
for all my life," here the embraces were redoubled as an excuse for a
second pause, after which he went on--"and with the greatest
contentment that I part from you, and take leave of the very august
House of Austria." So saying he clove the crowd, and every one ran
after him to know the name of the real heir.
The astonishment and indignation of Count d'Harrach disabled him
from speaking, but showed themselves upon his face in all their extent.
He remained motionless some moments, and then went away in the
greatest confusion at the manner in which he had been duped.
Blecourt, on the other hand, ran home without asking other information,
and at once despatched to the King a courier, who fell ill at Bayonne,
and was replaced by one named by Harcourt, then at Bayonne getting
ready for the occupation of Guipuscoa. The news arrived at Court
(Fontainebleau) in the month of November. The King was going out

shooting that day; but, upon learning what had taken place, at once
countermanded the sport, announced the death of the King of Spain,
and at three o'clock held a council of the ministers in the apartments of
Madame de Maintenon. This council lasted until past seven o'clock in
the evening. Monseigneur, who had been out wolf-hunting, returned in
time to attend it. On the next morning, Wednesday, another council was
held, and in the evening a third, in the apartments of Madame de
Maintenon. However accustomed persons were at the Court to the
favour Madame de Maintenon enjoyed there, they were extremely
surprised to see two councils assembled in her rooms for the greatest
and most important deliberation that had taken place during this long
reign, or indeed during many others.