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THE MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV. - HIS COURT AND THE REGENCY - V14
THE MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV. - HIS COURT AND THE REGENCY - V14 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 14
CHAPTER CV
Quarrel of the King of England with His Son.--Schemes of Dubois.--
Marriage of Brissac.--His Death.--Birth of the Young Pretender.--
Cardinalate of Dubois.--Illness of the King.--His Convalescence.--
A Wonderful Lesson.--Prudence of the Regent.--Insinuations against Him.
CHAPTER CVI
Projected Marriages of the King and of the Daughter of the Duc d'Orleans_
--How It Was Communicated to Me.--I Ask for the Embassy to Spain.--It Is
Granted to Me.--Jealousy of Dubois.--His Petty Interference.--
Announcement of the Marriages.
CHAPTER CVII
Interview with Dubois.--His Singular Instructions to Ale.--His Insidious
Object.--Various Tricks and Manoeuvres.--My Departure for Spain.--Journey
by Way of Bordeaux and Bayonne.--Reception in Spain.--Arrival at Madrid.
CHAPTER CVIII
Interview in the Hall of Mirrors.--Preliminaries of the Marriages.--
Grimaldo.--How the Question of Precedence Was Settled.--I Ask for an
Audience.--Splendid Illuminations.--A Ball.--I Am Forced to Dance.
CHAPTER CIX
Mademoiselle de Montpensier Sets out for Spain.--I Carry the News to the
King.--Set out for Lerma.--Stay at the Escurial.--Take the Small--pox.--
Convalescence.
CHAPTER CX
Mode of Life of Their Catholic Majesties.--Their Night.--Morning.--
Toilette.--Character of Philippe V.--And of His Queen.--How She Governed
Him.
CHAPTER CXI
The King's Taste for Hunting.--Preparations for a Battue.--Dull Work.--
My Plans to Obtain the Grandesse.--Treachery of Dubois.--Friendship of
Grimaldo.--My Success.
CHAPTER CXII
Marriage of the Prince of the Asturias.--An Ignorant Cardinal.--I Am Made
Grandee of Spain.--The Vidame de Chartres Named Chevalier of the Golden
Fleece.--His Reception--My Adieux.--A Belching Princess.--
Return to France.
CHAPTER CV
For a long time a species of war had been declared between the King of
England and his son the Prince of Wales which had caused much scandal;
and which had enlisted the Court on one side and made much stir in the
Parliament. George had more than once broken out with indecency against
his son; he had long since driven him from the palace and would not see
him. He had so cut down his income that he could scarcely subsist. The
father never could endure this son because he did not believe him to be
his own. He had more than suspected the Duchess his wife to be in
relations with Count Konigsmarck. He surprised him one morning leaving
her chamber; threw him into a hot oven and shut up his wife in a chateau
for the rest of her days. The Prince of Wales who found himself ill-
treated for a cause of which he was personally innocent had always borne
with impatience the presence of his mother and the aversion of his
father. The Princess of Wales who had much sense intelligence grace
and art had softened things as much as possible; and the King was unable
to refuse her his esteem or avoid loving her. She had conciliated all
England; and her Court always large boasted of the presence of the most
accredited and the most distinguished persons. The Prince of Wales
feeling his strength no longer studied his father and blamed the
ministers with words that at least alarmed them. They feared the credit
of the Princess of Wales; feared lest they should be attacked by the
Parliament which often indulges in this pleasure. These considerations
became more and more pressing as they discovered what was brewing against
them; plans such as would necessarily have rebounded upon the King. They
communicated their fears to him and indeed tried to make it up with his
son on certain conditions through the medium of the Princess of Wales
who on her side felt all the consciousness of sustaining a party
against the King and who always had sincerely desired peace in the royal
family. She profited by this conjuncture; made use of the ascendency she
had over her husband and the reconciliation was concluded. The King
gave a large sum to the Prince of Wales and consented to see him. The
ministers were saved and all appeared forgotten.
The excess to which things had been carried between father and son had
not only kept the entire nation attentive to the intestine disorders
ready to arise but had made a great stir all over Europe; each power
tried to blow this fire into a blaze or to stifle it according as
interest suggested. The Archbishop of Cambrai whom I shall continue to
call the Abbe Dubois was just then very anxiously looking out for his
cardinal's hat which he was to obtain through the favour of England
acting upon that of the Emperor with the Court of Rome. Dubois
overjoyed at the reconciliation which had taken place wished to show
this in a striking manner in order to pay his court to the King of
England. He named therefore the Duc de la Force to go to England and
compliment King George on the happy event that had occurred.
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