Memoirs of Louis XIV, vol 8 | Page 6

and discuss with them his own patrimony, to receive their
signature and their protection under the most terrible pains; to show in
public all the secrets of his family; to bring into the broad open daylight
domestic turpitudes enveloped until then in the folds of precautions the
wisest and the most multiplied. Many had to convince the tax agents,
but vainly, that although proprietors, they did not enjoy the tenth part of
them property. All Languedoc offered to give up its entire wealth, if
allowed to enjoy, free from every impost, the tenth part of it. The
proposition not only was not listened to, but was reputed an insult and
severely blamed.
Monseigneur le Duc de Bourgogne spoke openly against this tax; and
against the finance people, who lived upon the very marrow of the
people; spoke with a just and holy anger that recalled the memory of
Saint-Louis, of Louis XII., Father of the People, and of Louis the Just.
Monseigneur, too, moved by this indignation, so unusual, of his son,
sided with him, and showed anger at so many exactions as injurious as
barbarous, and at so many insignificant men so monstrously enriched
with the nation's blood. Both father and son infinitely surprised those
who heard them, and made themselves looked upon, in some sort as
resources from which something might hereafter be hoped for. But the
edict was issued, and though there might be some hope in the future,
there was none in the present. And no one knew who was to be the real
successor of Louis XIV., and how under the next government we were
to be still more overwhelmed than under this one.
One result of this tax was, that it enabled the King to augment all his
infantry with five men per company.
A tax was also levied upon the usurers, who had much gained by
trafficking in the paper of the King, that is to say, had taken advantage
of the need of those to whom the King gave this paper in payment.

These usurers are called 'agioteurs'. Their mode was, ordinarily, to give,
for example, according as the holder of paper was more or less pressed,
three or four hundred francs (the greater part often in provisions), for a
bill of a thousand francs! This game was called 'agio'. It was said that
thirty millions were obtained from this tax. Many people gained much
by it; I know not if the King was the better treated.
Soon after this the coin was re-coined, by which much profit was made
for the King, and much wrong done to private people and to trade. In
all times it has, been regarded as a very great misfortune to meddle
with corn and money. Desmarets has accustomed us to tricks with the
money; M. le Duc and Cardinal Fleury to interfere with corn and to
fictitious famine.
At the commencement of December, the King declared that he wished
there should be, contrary to custom, plays and "apartments" at
Versailles even when Monseigneur should be at Meudon. He thought
apparently he must keep his Court full of amusements, to hide, if it was
possible, abroad and at home, the disorder and the extremity of affairs.
For the same reason, the carnival was opened early this season, and all
through the winter there were many balls of all kinds at the Court,
where the wives of the ministers gave very magnificent displays, like
fetes, to Madame la Duchesse de Bourgogne and to all the Court.
But Paris did not remain less wretched or the provinces less desolated.
And thus I have arrived at the end of 1710.
At the commencement of the following year, 1711, that is to say, a few
days after the middle of March, a cruel misfortune happened to the
Marechal de Boufflers. His eldest son was fourteen years of age,
handsome, well made, of much promise, and who succeeded
marvellously at the Court, when his father presented him there to the
King to thank his Majesty for the reversion of the government of Flow
and of Lille. He returned afterwards to the College of the Jesuits, where
he was being educated. I know not what youthful folly he was guilty of
with the two sons of D'Argenson; but the Jesuits, wishing to show that
they made no distinction of persons, whipped the little lad, because, to

say the truth, they had nothing to fear from the Marechal de Boufflers;
but they took good care to left the others off, although equally guilty,
because they had to reckon with D'Argenson, lieutenant of the police,
of much credit in book matters, Jansenism, and all sorts of things and
affairs in which they were interested.
Little Boufflers, who was full of courage, and who had done no more