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THE MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV. - HIS COURT AND THE REGENCY - V7
THE MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV. - HIS COURT AND THE REGENCY - V7 DUC DE SAINT-SIMON [NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks or pointers at the end of the
file for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making an
entire meal of them. D.W.]
MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV AND HIS COURT AND OF THE REGENCY
BY THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON
VOLUME 7.
CHAPTER XLVII
Death of D'Avaux.--A Quarrel about a Window.--Louvois and the King.--
Anecdote of Boisseuil.--Madame de Maintenon and M. de Beauvilliers.--
Harcourt Proposed for the Council.--His Disappointment.--Death of M. le
Prince.--His Character.--Treatment of His Wife.--His Love Adventures.--
His Madness.--A Confessor Brought.--Nobody Regrets Him.
CHAPTER XLVIII
Progress of the War.--Simplicity of Chamillart.--The Imperialists and the
Pope.--Spanish Affairs.--Duc d'Orleans and Madame des Ursins.--Arrest of
Flotte in Spain.--Discovery of the Intrigues of the Duc d'Orleans.--Cabal
against Him.--His Disgrace and Its Consequences.
CHAPTER XLIX
Danger of Chamillart.--Witticism of D'Harcourt.--Faults of Chamillart.--
Court Intrigues against Him.--Behaviour of the Courtiers.--Influence of
Madame de Maintenon.--Dignified Fall of Chamillart.--He is Succeeded by
Voysin.--First Experience of the New Minister.--The Campaign in
Flanders.--Battle of Malplaquet.
CHAPTER L.
Disgrace of the Duc d'Orleans.--I Endeavor to Separate Him from Madame
d'Argenton.--Extraordinary Reports.--My Various Colloquies with Him.--The
Separation.--Conduct of Madame d'Argenton.--Death and Character of M. le
Duc.--The After-suppers of the King.
CHAPTER LI
Proposed Marriage of Mademoiselle.--My Intrigues to Bring It About.--The
Duchesse de Bourgogne and Other Allies.--The Attack Begun.--Progress of
the Intrigue.--Economy at Marly.--The Marriage Agreed Upon.--Scene at
Saint-Cloud.--Horrible Reports.--The Marriage.--Madame de Saint-Simon.--
Strange Character of the Duchesse de Berry
CHAPTER LII
Birth of Louis XV.--The Marechale de la Meilleraye.--Saint-Ruth's
Cudgel.--The Cardinal de Bouillon's Desertion from France.--Anecdotes of
His Audacity.
CHAPTER LIII
Imprudence of Villars.--The Danger of Truthfulness.--Military Mistakes.--
The Fortunes of Berwick.--The Son of James.--Berwick's Report on the
Army.--Imprudent Saying of Villars.--"The Good Little Fellow" in a
Scrape.--What Happens to Him.
CHAPTER LIV
Duchesse de Berry Drunk.--Operations in Spain.--Vendome Demanded by
Spain.--His Affront by the Duchesse de Bourgogne.--His Arrival.--
Staremberg and Stanhope.--The Flag of Spain Leaves Madrid.--Entry of the
Archduke.--Enthusiasm of the Spaniards--The King Returns.--Strategy of
Staremberg.--Affair of Brighuega.--Battle of Villavciosa.--Its
Consequences to Vendome and to Spain.
CHAPTER XLVII
The death of D'Avaux who had formerly been our ambassador in Holland
occurred in the early part of this year (1709). D'Avaux was one of the
first to hear of the project of William of Orange upon England when that
project was still only in embryo and kept profoundly secret. He
apprised the King (Louis XIV.) of it but was laughed at. Barillon then
our ambassador in England was listened to in preference. He deceived
by Sunderland and the other perfidious ministers of James II.; assured
our Court that D'Avaux's reports were mere chimeras. It was not until it
was impossible any longer to doubt that credit was given to them. The
steps that we then took instead of disconcerting all the measures of the
conspirators as we could have done did not interfere with the working
out of any one of their plans. All liberty was left in fact to William
to carry out his scheme. The anecdote which explains how this happened
is so curious that it deserves to be mentioned here.
Louvois who was then Minister of War was also superintendent of the
buildings. The King who liked building and who had cast off all his
mistresses had pulled down the little porcelain Trianon he had made for
Madame de Montespan and was rebuilding it in the form it still retains.
One day he perceived for his glance was most searching that one window
was a trifle narrower than the others. He showed it to Louvois in order
that it might be altered which as it was not then finished was easy to
do. Louvois sustained that the window was all right. The King insisted
then and on the morrow also but Louvois pigheaded and inflated with
his authority would not yield.
The next day the King saw Le Notre in the gallery. Although his trade
was gardens rather than houses the King did not fail to consult him upon
the latter. He asked him if he had been to Trianon. Le Notre replied
that he had not. The King ordered him to go. On the morrow he saw Le
Notre again; same question same answer. The King comprehended the
reason of this and a little annoyed commanded him to be there that
afternoon at a given time. Le Notre did not dare to disobey this time.
The King arrived and Louvois being present they returned to the subject
of the window which Louvois obstinately said was as broad as the rest.
The King wished Le Notre to measure it for he knew that upright and
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Unpublished Work 
