Memoirs of Louis XIV, vol 6 | Page 6

my nephew," he said. "Fontpertius! the son of a Jansenist--of
that silly woman who ran everywhere after M. Arnould! I do not wish
that man to go with you."
"By my faith, Sire," replied the Duc d'Orleans, "I know not what the
mother has done; but as for the son, he is far enough from being a
Jansenist, I'll answer for it; for he does not believe in God."
"Is it possible, my nephew?" said the King, softening.
"Nothing more certain, Sire, I assure you."
"Well, since it is so," said the King, "there is no harm: you can take him
with you."
This scene--for it can be called by no other name--took place in the
morning. After dinner M. d'Orleans repeated it to me, bursting with
laughter, word for word, just as I have written it. When we had both
well laughed at this, we admired the profound instruction of a discreet
and religious King, who considered it better not to believe in God than
to be a Jansenist, and who thought there was less danger to his nephew
from the impiety of an unbeliever than from the doctrines of a sectarian.
M. d'Orleans could not contain himself while he told the story, and
never spoke of it without laughing until the tears came into his eyes. It
ran all through the Court and all over the town, and the marvellous
thing was, that the King was not angry at this. It was a testimony of his
attachment to the good doctrine which withdrew him further and
further from Jansenism. The majority of people laughed with all their
heart. Others, more wise, felt rather disposed to weep than to laugh, in
considering to what excess of blindness the King had reached.
For a long time a most important project had knocked at every door,

without being able to obtain a hearing anywhere. The project was
this:-- Hough, an English gentleman full of talent and knowledge, and
who, above all, knew profoundly the laws of his country, had filled
various posts in England. As first a minister by profession, and furious
against King James; afterwards a Catholic and King James's spy, he
had been delivered up to King William, who pardoned him. He profited
by this only to continue his services to James. He was taken several
times, and always escaped from the Tower of London and other prisons.
Being no longer able to dwell in England he came to France, where he
occupied himself always with the same line of business, and was paid
for that by the King (Louis XIV.) and by King James, the latter of
whom he unceasingly sought to re- establish. The union of Scotland
with England appeared to him a favourable conjuncture, by the despair
of that ancient kingdom at seeing itself reduced into a province under
the yoke of the English. The Jacobite party remained there; the
vexation caused by this forced union had increased it, by the desire felt
to break that union with the aid of a King that they would have
reestablished. Hough, who was aware of the fermentation going on,
made several secret journeys to Scotland, and planned an invasion of
that country; but, as I have said, for a long time could get no one to
listen to him.
The King, indeed, was so tired of such enterprises, that nobody dared to
speak to him upon this. All drew back. No one liked to bell the cat. At
last, however, Madame de Maintenon being gained over, the King was
induced to listen to the project. As soon as his consent was gained to it,
another scheme was added to the first. This was to profit by the
disorder in which the Spanish Low Countries were thrown, and to make
them revolt against the Imperialists at the very moment when the affair
of Scotland would bewilder the allies, and deprive them of all support
from England. Bergheyck, a man well acquainted with the state of
those countries, was consulted, and thought the scheme good. He and
the Duc de Vendome conferred upon it in presence of the King.
After talking over various matters, the discussion fell, upon the Meuse,
and its position with reference to Maastricht. Vendome held that the
Meuse flowed in a certain direction. Bergheyck opposed him. Vendome,

indignant that a civilian should dare to dispute military movements
with him, grew warm. The other remained respectful and cool, but firm.
Vendome laughed at Bergheyck, as at an ignorant fellow who did not
know the position of places. Bergheyck maintained his point. Vendome
grew more and more hot. If he was right, what he proposed was easy
enough; if wrong, it was impossible. It was in vain that Vendome
pretended to treat with disdain his opponent; Bergheyck was not to