Chapter 14

FOOTNOTES.[1]Journaldu Marquis de Dangeau, ed. Soulié, Dussieux, De Chennevières, Mantz, De Montaiglon, 19 vols. 1854;Sainte-Beuve,Causeries du Lundi,XI.[2]XVII.142. The account of Dangeau and his memoirs which Saint-Simon here gives on the occasion of his death (pp. 134-144) is fuller than the earlier portrait in vol.I.343-346. La Bruyère’s Pamphile (Des Grands) is evidently meant for Dangeau, and Saint-Simon so accepts it.[3]SeeMémoires,IV.222-224;XIII.90-97.[4]Mémoires,VII.19. The page and a half which precedes this throws considerable light on Saint-Simon’s sources of information.[5]Madame changed her opinion later. See below, p. 198,n. 253.[6]IV.143.[7]Mémoires, ed. Chéruel,XI.198-204.[8]Mémoires,III,346-351.[9]Mémoires,IV.42-52.[10]Mémoires,XI.1-54.[11]XV.336-473;XVI.1-96.[12]VIII.32-34.[13]ib.214-217.[14]Ed. Chéruel,XII.cc.IandIV; ed. Boislisle,XXVIII.1-53, 126-175. This digression on the character and reign of Louis XIV was written in September, 1745, but it reproduces almost textually the long note which Saint-Simon added to the Memoirs of Dangeau ten years earlier. It should be compared with hisParallèle des trois premiers rois Bourbon(Écrits inédits,I.) and with theRelation de la Cour de France en 1690of Ezekiel Spanheim (ed. E. Bourgeois, 1900), the envoy of the Great Elector of Brandenburg.[15]This is a mistake. Louis XIV had common sense, prudence, and sagacity, and, if he lacked initiative and originality, he could understand what was explained to him.[16]Olympe Mancini, who married the Comte de Soissons of the royal house of Savoy. She was the mother of Prince Eugène.[17]Nicolas Fouquet (1615-1680), the well-knownsurintendant des finances, aspired to succeed Mazarin, but his ambitions were thwarted by Louis announcing his intention to be his own chief minister. He was arrested on September 5, 1661, and his trial for malversation of the finances began in the following November. The verdict was not given till December, 1664, when the majority of the judges condemned him to perpetual banishment with confiscation of his property. This was changed by Louis withextrême duretéto imprisonment for life. (See J. Lair,Nicolas Fouquet, 2 vols. 1890, and Mme de Sévigné’s letters.)[18]This episode, in which the Spanish ambassador was clearly in the wrong, took place in 1661. The last act of the Maréchal d’Estrades’s long and successful diplomatic career was the Treaty of Nymegen (1678). He died in 1685, leaving memoirs (9 vols. 1743) which Saint-Simon qualifies as “excellent.”[19]On this occasion (August, 1662) the provocation came from the French side, but Louis XIV loudly demanded reparation for the insults offered to his ambassador by the Pope’s Corsican guards. By the treaty of Pisa (February, 1664) he obtained it in a form which was thoroughly humiliating to Alexander VII.[20]The War of Devolution began in May, 1667, and the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle was signed in the May following. The famous passage of the Rhine did not take place till 1672.[21]The farm of Urtebise, as it should be written.[22]Frederick Hermann, Duke of Schomberg or Schönberg (1618-1690), was by birth a German, but he served in the French army for more than thirty years. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes he was allowed to retire to Portugal. In 1688 he accompanied William of Orange to England, was created a Duke, was made Commander-in-chief of the forces in Ireland, and was killed at the battle of the Boyne. He is buried in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin.[23]Louis de Crevant, Marquis and afterwards Duc d’Humières. For a short portrait of him seeI.196-7. He died in 1694.[24]François d’Aubusson, Duc de La Feuillade, was a devoted courtier of Louis XIV. He gave a proof of his devotion by making the Place des Victoires and adorning it with a statue of his master in gilded bronze.[25]Guy de Durfort, Duc de Lorges, was a nephew of Turenne and father-in-law to Saint-Simon. For his portrait seeII.329-342.[26]About 12 miles N.E. of Saint-Omer.[27]Ghent capitulated after a six days’ siege on March 9, 1678.[28]Peace with Holland was signed at Nymegen on August 10, 1678, with Spain on September 17, and with the Empire on February 5, 1679.[29]This anecdote has already been related by Saint-Simon in an earlier volume. That it was the origin of the war of 1688 has been disproved by C. Rousset in hisHistoire de Louvois.[30]Seebelowfor a portrait of Le Nostre.[31]Charles-Henri, Prince de Vaudemont, a legitimatised son of Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine. SeeI.494-497.[32]This accusation is untrue.[33]For this battle, called Landen by English writers (July 29, 1693), seeI.87, and Macaulay,Hist. of England, c.XX.[34]The Duke of Savoy.[35]William Bentinck, Earl of Portland (1649-1709), a Dutchman by birth, was greatly trusted by William of Orange. For his conferences with Boufflers, which resulted in the Peace of Ryswick, seeI.461-462; Macaulay, c.XXII.For his embassy to France in 1698, the magnificence of which made a great impression on the French people, seeII.19-23. It is described at great length by Macaulay, c.XXIII.[36]This account of Louis XIV’s éducation has been shewn by modern historians to be incorrect. Cp. Primi Visconti,Mémoires, 191-192. But it is true that he hated reading. “La seule vue d’un livre le fatigue” (ib.). “Il avait la lecture en horreur,” says Madame (Corr.III.36).[37]Relating to the years 1635-1660.[38]Louis, Comte de Cheverny, filled the posts of ambassador to Germany and to Denmark, and of governor to the Duc de Chartres. He married a niece of Colbert.[39]Thechâteau(eight miles E. of Blois), built about 1634, is a stately but not very interesting example of the architecture of the period. Saint-Simon stayed there (VI.41).[40]François-Gaspard de Montmorin, Marquis Saint-Hérem. Chateaubriand’s friend, Mme de Beaumont, was a Montmorin.[41]Son of the author of theMaximes; an assiduous but thoroughly honest courtier.[42]On the contrary Louis had a good ear, sang well, and had considerable musical taste.[43]This reflection on the king’s courage is undeserved, though it is true that he took part in numerous sieges and not in a single battle.[44]M. de Boislisle cites in support of this Fénelon’s celebratedLettre à Louis XIV(Correspondance,II.329 ff.).[45]The right to sit on a stool in the presence of royalty. See Saint-Simon,Mém.II.76-77; 238-240.[46]SeeAppendix A.[47]Seebelowfor his portrait.[48]This is a mistake. The first Maréchal de Villeroy was appointed a minister in 1661.[49]This habitual answer of Louis is referred to by several contemporary writers. Madame tells a good story about it (Corr.I.169).[50]Emmanuel-Théodore de La Tour d’Auvergne (1644-1715). See for his biography and portraitXI.94-102. He was a nephew of Turenne.[51]Louis-François, Marquis and afterwards Duc de Boufflers (1644-1711), distinguished himself at Fleurus and Steinkirk. His defence of Lille against the allied troops (1708) was the admiration of all Europe. His brilliant charge at Malplaquet (1709) saved the retreat of the French army from becoming a rout. He was a friend of Saint-Simon, who had a great admiration for him. See his portrait,IX.92-94.[52]Louis-Hector, Marquis and then Duc de Villars (1653-1734), was the best French general in the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1712 he gained a notable victory over the allies at Denain. Saint-Simon’s portrait of him (III.322-327) shews strong prejudice. It should be corrected by the judicial estimate of Sainte-Beuve, who devoted fivecauseriesto him (Caus. du Lundi,XIII).[53]See above, p. 6,n. 24. The statue which represented Louis XIV trampling on a three-headed Cerberus (symbolical of the triple alliance) was made by the Dutch sculptor Martin Desjardins (Van den Bogaart). The “pagan” ceremony of dedication took place on March 28, 1686.[54]During the last twenty-seven years of his reign (1688-1715) Louis only visited Paris five times.[55]Anne of Austria died January 19, 1666.[56]For Versailles see L. Dussieux,Le château de Versailles, vol.I.1881; P. de Nolhac,La création de Versailles, 1901; A. Pératé,Versailles(Les villes d’art célèbres).[57]SeeAppendix A.[58]Jérôme Phélypeaux, Comte de Pontchartrain (1674-1747), was associated with his father in the ministry ofLa Marine et la Maison du Roiin his nineteenth year, succeeding him when he became Chancellor in 1699. His administration was deplorable. Saint-Simon’s portrait of him is as life-like as it is unflattering (Mém.IV.194-5;IX.10-13).[59]For this system ofespionnageseeMém.IV.318.[60]The first Lieutenant-general of police was La Reynie who was appointed in 1667. He was succeeded in 1697 by Marc-René, Marquis d’Argenson, who raised his department to the highest pitch of efficiency. See P. ClémentLa police sous Louis XIV, 2nd ed. 1866, and P. Cottin,Rapports de police de René d’Argenson, 1866.[61]The postal service was in the hands of several generations of the Pajot and Rouillé families from 1665 to 1760. See Boislisle,XXVIII.139, nn. 1 and 2.[62]IV.317-319. Michel-François Le Tellier, Marquis de Courtenvaux, was the eldest son of Louvois, “un fort petit homme, obscurément débauché, avec une voix ridicule... avare et taquin, et quoique modeste et respectueux, fort colère, et peu maître de soi quand il se capriçoit: en tout un fort sot homme.” Le Nôtre told Dr Lister that he had never seen Louis XIV in a passion. Saint-Simon gives another instance, when he broke his cane over a valet’s back (I.263-264).[63]“Personne au monde n’est aussi poli que notre roi,” writes Madame in 1706.[64]Avec un almanach et une montre, on pouvait à cent lieues de lui dire à justesse ce qu’il faisoit. Il vouloit une grande exactitude dans son service; mais il y étoit exact le premier(Parallèle des trois premiers rois Bourbon). And cp. Primi Visconti,Mém.pp. 31-33.[65]Hercule de Rohan, Duc de Montbazon (1568-1654), father of the celebrated Duchesse de Chevreuse.[66]A small four-wheeled carriage with a folding hood.[67]The court was installed at Versailles in 1682, but the palace was not completed till 1688.[68]Jules Hardouin, nephew and pupil of François Mansart or Mansard, whose name he took.[69]Clagny was one of Mansard’s first works and won him the favour of Louis XIV. It no longer exists.[70]The mortality among the workmen was very high.[71]Nothing now remains but fourteen arches of the aqueduct.[72]This hydraulic machine, so much admired at the time, was really a clumsy affair.[73]Ed. Chéruel,XII.c. vii; ed. Boislisle,XXVIII.242-281.[74]Wife of Henri de Mornay, Marquis de Montchevreuil, the governor of the Duc du Maine. Mme de Caylus describes her as “une femme froide et sèche dans le commerce, d’une figure triste, d’un esprit au-dessous du médiocre, et d’un zèle capable de dégoûter les plus dévots de la piété.” Saint-Simon’s portrait is equally unflattering: “Une grande créature maigre, jaune, qui rioit niais, et montroit de longues vilaines dents, dévote à l’outrance” (IV.35), and Madame on hearing of her death writes: “ça fait une méchante femme de moins en ce monde” (Corr.I.214).[75]Armand-Jean Du Plessis, great-nephew of the Cardinal.[76]Mme de Caylus (Marthe-Marguerite de Valois) was the daughter of the Marquis de Villette, Mme de Maintenon’s first cousin, and was thus hernièce à la mode de Bretagne. In her father’s absence in America Mme de Maintenon carried her off and made her a Catholic, and in 1686, when she was in her thirteenth year, married her to the Comte de Caylus, a confirmed drunkard. She was one of the most attractive women of her day, and her memoirs are a lively source of information for Mme de Maintenon and the Court generally. Her stepmother, the Marquise de Villette, married, as his second wife, Henry St John, Viscount Bolingbroke.[77]Wife of Henri de Daillon, Comte and afterwards Duc du Lude, Grand-Master of the Artillery. In 1696 she was made principal lady-in-waiting (dame d’honneur) to the future Duchess of Burgundy. She was a Béthune by birth, the great-granddaughter of Sully.[78]Bonne de Pons, Marquise d’Heudicourt. Mme de Caylus speaks of her as “bizarre, naturelle, sans jugement, pleine d’imagination, toujours nouvelle et divertissante.” Saint-Simon in reporting her death in 1709 calls her a “démon domestique” and a “mauvaise fée,” but he adds: “On ne pouvoit avoir plus d’esprit ni plus agréable, ni savoir plus de choses, ni être plus plaisante, plus amusante, plus divertissante, sans vouloir l’être” (IV.345).[79]Seebelowfor his portrait.[80]Henri, Marquis and afterwards Duc d’Harcourt (1654-1718), of the branch of Beuvron-Harcourt. As a lieutenant-general he had a large share in the victory of Neerwinden. He was appointed Ambassador to Spain in 1697, and it was in a great measure due to him that the Duc d’Anjou was nominated heir to Charles II. After the new king’s accession his influence increased, and as a reward for his services he was created a Duke and a Marshal of France. For portraits of him seeIII.210-212, 391-3.[81]Anne-Marie de La Trémoïlle (circ.1646-1722) married as her second husband Flavio Orsini, Duca di Bracciano (1675), and on his death in 1698 took the title of Princesse des Ursins (Orsini). AppointedCamarera mayorto the Queen of Spain in 1701 in order to support the French influence, she dominated the King, till December, 1714, when she was summarily dismissed by his second wife, Elizabeth Farnese. “La princesse des Ursins gouverne le roi d’Espagne comme moi mon chien Titi,” says Madame. See Saint-Simon,III.78-81, andXI.116, where he records atête-à-têtewith her which lasted eight hours. “Ces huit heures de conversation avec une personne qui y fournissoit tant de choses me parurent huit moments.” Part of her correspondence with Mme de Maintenon is preserved in a copy in the British Museum. It has been printed under the title ofLettres inédites de Mme de Maintenon et Mme des Ursins, 4 vols. 1826, but the editing is careless and inaccurate. Sainte-Beuve has two good articles on her (Caus. du Lundi,V. 401 ff.).[82]The Duc de Noailles, as Comte d’Ayen, married Mlle d’Aubigné, Mme de Maintenon’s niece.[83]Rarely.[84]Archbishop of Paris from 1695 to 1729 and uncle of the Duc de Noailles. He favoured the Jansenists, and when in answer to the King’s demand for a Constitution against theRéflexions moralesof Père Quesnel the Pope (Clement XI) issued the BullUnigenitus, he opposed its reception. His nomination as Archbishop had been warmly supported by Mme de Maintenon, but his attitude to the Constitution made a breach between them in ecclesiastical matters. Saint-Simon’s estimate of him (XII.138-140) is a fair one.[85]Henri de Thiard, Cardinal de Bissy, Bishop de Toul and afterwards of Meaux, succeeded to the influence in ecclesiastical matters which the Cardinal de Noailles and Godet Des Marais, Bishop of Chartres, had had with Mme de Maintenon.[86]He and Cardinal de Bissy were the leaders of the Jesuit party. His high birth, great wealth, and charm of looks and manner gave him great influence. Saint-Simon has a most interesting portrait of him (Mém.X.28-32).[87]Charles, Comte d’Aubigné, was a hopeless spendthrift, and in spite of the numerous appointments which Mme de Maintenon obtained for him was always out at elbows. On his death (1703) she wrote: “J’ai pleuré M. d’Aubigné; il étoit mon frère, et il m’aimoit fort; il étoit bon dans le fond, mais il avoit vécu dans de si grandes désordres que je puis dire qu’il ne m’a donné de joie que dans la manière dont il est mort.” See Saint-Simon,Mém.I.478-480. “C’étoit un panier percé, fou à enfermer, mais plaisant, avec de l’esprit et des saillies;... avec cela bon homme et honnête homme, poli.” He habitually referred to the king as his brother-in-law.[88]Godet Des Marais was a Sulpician, a disciple ofPèreOlier. See Saint-Simon,Mém.VII.123-126.[89]Claude-Maur d’Aubigny or d’Aubigné was of an old family of Anjou the connexion of which with that of Mme de Maintenon was very doubtful, but they were now glad to claim cousinship with the powerful favourite, whose nobility did not go back beyond her grandfather.[90]The Maréchal-comte de Tessé was a skilful general, but he lacked decision, and he was more successful as a diplomatist. It was he who under orders from Louvois sacked Heidelberg and blew up thechâteau. Saint-Simon’s portrait of him (III.388-9) is less than fair. HisMémoires et Lettreswere published in 2 vols. in 1806.[91]See above, p. 10,n. 31.[92]Seebelowfor his portrait.[93]Saint-Simon,I.274, says that Mme de Maintenon dined regularly once, and sometimes twice a week, either at the Hôtel de Beauvillier or the Hôtel de Chevreuse at Versailles with the two Dukes and their wives. But the affair of Quietism put an end to their intimate meetings, for both Dukes were close allies of Fénelon.[94]For Mme de Maintenon and Saint-Cyr see Sainte-Beuve,Caus. du Lundi,VIII.473, an article inspired by T. Lavallée,Mme de Maintenon et la maison royale de Saint-Cyr.[95]The Marquise de Dangeau,néeLöwenstein, was of the family of the Electors of Bavaria. She was an excellent woman, of great charm and beauty, and was a close friend of Mme de Maintenon, with whom she frequently corresponded. “Elle est la favorite de la pantocrate... on dit qu’elle a sur celle-ci un pouvoir aussi absolu que celui de la dame sur le Roi.” (Corr. de Madame,I.237.)[96]Marie-Anne-Christine, sister of Maximilian II, Elector of Bavaria, married the Dauphin in 1686 and died in 1690.[97]See later,p. 65, for a passage from vol.VI.in which Saint-Simon describes the “mécanique de chez Mme de Maintenon” at greater length.[98]The extent of Mme de Maintenon’s influence on the government has been much discussed. See A. de Boislisle’s note on this passage (XXVII.254, n. 5), and Lavisse,Hist. de France,VIII.PtI.282-5, 431-6. The opinion of both these authorities is that Saint-Simon’s account of her share in affairs is not exaggerated. She was certainly much concerned with Spanish politics, she corresponded regularly with Villars during all his campaigns from 1703, and she took a large part in all religious questions.[99]Michel de Chamillart succeeded Pontchartrain as Controller-general in 1699, and on the death of Barbezieux in 1701 was appointed Secretary of State for War. He was conciliatory, industrious, and honest, but his lack of intelligence and his obstinacy made him a thoroughly incompetent minister. He was dismissed in 1709. SeeII.420-421,VI.439.[100]Louis Phélypeaux, grandson of a Secretary of State under Louis XIII, was appointed Controller-general in 1689 and Chancellor ten years later. SeeII.226.[101]Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Torcy, son of Charles Colbert, Marquis de Croissy (brother of the great Colbert), succeeded his father as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1696. He married a daughter of Simon Arnauld, Marquis de Pomponne, who was Foreign Minister from 1671 to 1679. HisMémoiresare an important source of information for the period 1697-1713.[102]Advantage, a metaphor from tennis.[103]Guy Fagon succeeded Daquin, a converted Jew, in 1693, through the influence of Mme de Maintenon. His great talent was combined with fearless honesty and much charm of manner. Saint-Simon did not like him, but he recognised his merits and attainments. SeeI.105-6. Like William III, who once consulted him, he was an “asthmatic skeleton,” and like William’s opponent, Luxembourg, he was hunch-backed.[104]Monseigneur is the Dauphin, and Monsieur the king’s brother. The latter’s son, the Duc d’Orléans, afterwards Régent, had the title of Duc de Chartres till his father’s death in 1701.[105]Ed. Chéruel,VI.203-204; ed. Boislisle,XVI.470-473. The plan onpage 66is reproduced from Dussieux,Le château de Versailles, 2 vols. Versailles, 1881,I.plan 7. It will be seen that the two antechambers are there represented as nearly square. Theappartement de jourof the Duc de Bourgogne is apparently the same as the hall of the Queen’s Guard (H). Thesalon de marbreis marked I on the plan.[106]Ed. Chéruel,XII.c. ix; ed. Boislisle,XXVIII.330-381.[107]Saint-Simon began to write his memoirs in 1694.[108]First almoner to Monsieur, “médiocre prêtre, mais fort brave et fort bon homme.” He was killed at the battle of Turin in 1706.[109]Universally beloved for his piety, humanity, and devotion to his see. See for his portraitIV.366-369.[110]Joseph-Marie de Lascaris, a gentleman of Monseigneur’s household.[111]See above, p. 43,n. 74.[112]Claude-Gabriel, Marquis d’O, governor of the Comte de Toulouse. He was originally called Villers, but he took the name and arms of the family of D’O, whosechâteauin Normandy dates from about 1505. A considerable portion of the original structure still remains.[113]See above, p. 38,n. 68.[114]The Duc d’Antin, son of Mme de Montespan by her husband, was the type of a perfect courtier. He succeeded Mansart as director-general of the royal buildings. Sainte-Beuve has an excellent article on him (Caus. du Lundi,V.378 ff.).[115]For the various Councils seeAppendix A.[116]Bernard-François Potier, Marquis de Gesvres and afterwards Duc de Tresmes, first gentleman of the royal household.[117]Louise de Prie, wife of Philippe, Maréchal de La Mothe. See for her portraitVI.222-224. She was beautiful and virtuous, “la meilleure femme du monde.”[118]He was not, however, so devoted to the game as some of his predecessors, e.g. Francis I, Henry II, and Henry IV. The best player of this time was a certain Jourdan, who was paid a yearly salary of 800 livres for coaching the royal princes. But tennis was on the decline in the reign of Louis XIV. In 1596 there were 250 courts (tripots) in Paris alone, in 1657 114, in 1780 only 10 (J.-J. Jusserand,Les Sports dans l’ancienne France, 1901, pp. 240-265).[119]The game ofmailwas universally popular in France in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was a form of golf, played with a long-handled mallet and a wooden ball, and was sometimes calledpalemail(cp. our Pall Mall) frompilaandmalleus. It is still played at Montpellier (see Jusserand, pp. 304-314).[120]Marie-Françoise d’Albert, a daughter of the Duc de Chevreuse, and wife of the Marquis, afterwards Duc de Levis.[121]SeeIntroduction.[122]The Marquise d’O,néeGuilleragues,dame du palaisto the Duchesse de Bourgogne. “Elle avoit beaucoup d’esprit, plaisante, complaisante, toute à tous et amusante.” For her husband see above, p. 73,n. 112.[123]A light meal which took the place of supper on fast-days. Readers of Pascal will recollect how in the fifth Provincial Letter the friendly Jesuit relieves the writer of the duty of fasting, if he could not sleep without a proper supper.[124]Apparently a provincial form ofgésier= gizzard.[125]At one time lady-in-waiting to Madame, who calls her “la pauvre Doudon,” and her husband “a monster.” He was, says Saint-Simon (XIV.123), “un homme fort laid et fort contrefait, qui avec beaucoup d’esprit et de valeur, avoit toujours mené la vie la plus obscure et la plus débauchée.” She was a daughter of the Maréchale de La Mothe (see above, p. 77,n. 117).[126]SeeIntroduction[127]The Marquis de Cavoye, without birth or intelligence, rose to a position of high consideration at the Court. “Without the court,” says Saint-Simon, “he was like a fish out of water.” He fought several duels, in spite of the edicts against duelling, and was known as “le brave Cavoye.” For his career and marriage seeI.299-302.[128]Ed. Chéruel,III.37-40; ed. Boislisle,VIII.349-355.[129]See above, p. 87,n. 125.[130]The interview really took place on the previous Saturday.[131]The Electress Sophia, mother of George I.[132]M. de Boislisle says that Saint-Simon’s informant was probably not Mme de Ventadour, with whom he was on bad terms, but Mme de Clérembault, widow of the Maréchal de Clérembault, who was one of Madame’s ladies-in-waiting, and whom Saint-Simon frequently met at her cousins’, the Pontchartrains. For an amusing portrait of her seeIII.243-245, and for some additional touches,XIX.84-85. Out of doors and in the galleries at Versailles she always wore a black velvet mask to preserve her complexion. She was passionately fond of cards, but being very miserly did not like high play. She had a wide knowledge of history, was well informed on other subjects, and had moreespritthan any woman of her day.With Saint-Simon’s account of this interview may be compared Madame’s, which is given in a letter to the Electress Sophia (Corr.I.241-242).[133]Ed. Chéruel,II.c. viii; ed. Boislisle,V.348-375. The review took place in September, 1698.[134]Fifty-two miles N.E. of Paris. Jeanne d’Arc was taken prisoner before its walls.[135]For the merest nobody.[136]Saint-Simon frequently uses this expression in the sense of compelling a person to do something against his will.[137]Wife of the Duc du Lude (see above, p. 44,n. 77).[138]Louis, Duc de Rohan-Chabot, brother of Mme de Soubise.[139]Charles, Duc de La Trémoïlle, “un fort grand homme, le plus noblement, et le plus mieux fait de la cour; et qui, avec un fort vilain visage, sentait le mieux son grand seigneur” (VI.396). He was a great friend of Saint-Simon.[140]Son-in-law of the Duc de La Trémoïlle and son of the Duc de Bouillon, with whom he was in litigation.[141]Quarter-Master-General of the Royal Household (see above, p. 88,n. 127).[142]See above, p. 44,n. 81.[143]See above, p. 22,n. 51. He was Commander-in-chief of the camp under the Duc de Bourgogne.[144]Firstmaître-d’hôtelto the king.[145]Antoine IV, son of Antoine III, Maréchal de Gramont, and younger brother of the Comte de Guiche, who predeceased his father.[146]The Duchesse de Bourbon, daughter of Louis XIV and Mme de Montespan.[147]Daughter of Louis XIV and Mlle de La Vallière, and widow of Louis-Armand, Prince de Conti.[148]See above, p. 46,n. 90.[149]The order of Premonstratensian Canons was founded by St Norbert about 1120. The original house was at Prémontré in the forest of Coucy.[150]This incorrect phrase is as Saint-Simon wrote it.[151]Marquis de Canillac, Colonel of the Rouergue regiment. For his portrait seeXI.233-235. He was one of therouésof the Regency.[152]Conrad, Marquis de Rosen, “un grand homme sec, qui sentoit son reître, et qui auroit fait peur du coin d’un bois” (III.381).[153]Ed. Chéruel,VIII.cc. xii and part of xiii; ed. Boislisle,XXI.5-57 and 85-89.[154]Thechâteauof Meudon was built for the Dauphin by J.-H. Mansard in 1698.[155]See above, p. 57,n. 103.[156]Governor of Meudon and a friend of Saint-Simon’s.[157]See above, p. 98,n. 146.[158]See above, p. 98,n. 147.[159]Mlle de Lislebonne and Mme d’Espinoy were daughters of Anne, Comtesse de Lislebonne, a legitimatised daughter of Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine, and widow of a younger brother of the Duc d’Elbeuf. They were both tall and had good figures; the elder, Mlle de Lislebonne, was plain, and the younger, wife of Louis de Melun, Prince d’Espinoy, was handsome. Mlle de Melun was her sister-in-law.[160]Godefroi-Maurice, Duc de Bouillon, was a nephew of Turenne.[161]Saint-Simon called Mlle Choin the Maintenon of Monseigneur, but he twice says that they were never married, and this view is confirmed by other evidence.[162]For Saint-Simon’s enmity with the “Cabale de Meudon,” see theIntroduction.[163]Saint-Simon spent Easter in every year at his country-seat of La Ferté-Vidame.[164]The first Sunday after Easter or Low Sunday, so called because the Introit of the Mass for that day begins withQuasi modo geniti(as new-born babes) from 1 Pet. ii. 2.[165]SeeIntroduction.[166]See above, p. 44,n. 76.[167]Seebelowfor his portrait.[168]Michel Le Tellier, the Jesuit confessor of Louis XIV. SeeVI.241-243 for a highly unfavourable portrait of him. “Il eût fait peur au coin d’un bois; sa physionomie étoit ténébreuse, fausse, terrible; les yeux, ardents, méchants, extrêmement de travers: on étoit frappé en le voyant.... Grossier et ignorant à surprendre, insolent, impudent, impétueux, ne connoissant ni monde, ni mesure, ni degrés, ni ménagements, ni qui que ce fût, et à qui tous les moyens étoient bons pour arriver à ses fins.”[169]Mme de Montespan, the mother of the Duchess, was the daughter of Gabriel de Rochechouart, Duc de Mortemart.[170]A form of coach invented at Berlin, much used for travelling, being lighter and better hung than an ordinary post-chaise.[171]Marguerite Le Tellier, daughter of Louvois. For her portrait seeVIII.310 f.[172]Marie de Laval, widow of the Maréchal-Marquis de Rochefort, formerly Bedchamber-woman to the Dauphine.[173]Niece of Mme de Montespan and widow of the Duke of Sforza.[174]Seebelow, p. 142, for her portrait.[175]Daughter of the Duc d’Arpajou and wife of the Comte de Roucy, who was a nephew of the Maréchal de Lorges. “C’étoit une personne extrêmement laide, qui avoit de l’esprit, fort glorieuse, pleine d’ambition, folle des moindres distinctions, engouée à l’excès de la cour... qui vivoit noyée de biens, d’affaires et de créanciers, envieuse, haineuse, par conséquent peu aimée, et qui, pour couronner tout cela, ne manquoit point de grand messes à la paroisse et rarement à communier tous les huit jours. Son mari n’avoit qu’une belle, mais forte figure: glorieux et bas plus qu’elle, panier percé qui jouoit tout et perdoit tout... Il étoit de tout avec Monseigneur.” (I. 346.)[176]See above, p. 80,n. 120.[177]See above, p. 73,n. 112.[178]See above, p. 44,n. 77.[179]Daniel-François Voysin succeeded Chamillart as Secretary of State for War in 1709. For his portrait seeVI.444-446.[180]Henri de Lorraine, Comte de Brionne, son of the Comte d’Armagnac,grand écuyer, known as M. le Grand. He was the best dancer of his day, “un assez honnête homme, mais si court et si plat que rien n’étoit au-dessous... d’un mérite qui se servit borné aux jambons s’il fût né d’un père qui en eût vendu” (IX.286-287).[181]Charles-François de La Baume le Blanc, Marquis afterwards Duc de La Vallière. He was the great-nephew of Louise de La Vallière.[182]The best-known is that by Mignard in the Louvre, painted in 1689. It represents the Dauphin with his wife and his three children.[183]Parvulo(= enpetit comité) was the name given to the gatherings of Monseigneur’s little circle of intimates.[184]The Duc de Montausier frequently administered personal chastisement to the Dauphin, often for very minor offences.[185]The sisters of theCongrégation des Filles de la Charité, organised by St Vincent de Paul in 1633.[186]=pall (frompallium).[187]See above, p. 95,n. 139.[188]Henri-Charles Du Cambout, Duc de Coislin and Bishop of Metz. He was nephew of Cardinal de Coislin, and had succeeded to the dukedom on the death of his elder brother in 1710.[189]Marquis de Dreux, son-in-law of Chamillart. “Son ignorance et sa brutalité étoient égales, et au comble” (XII.318).[190]Henri-Ignace de Brancas.[191]For the Maréchal-Marquis de Brancas seeXII.240-241. He was a friend of Saint-Simon’s.[192]See for other accounts of the Dauphin’s deathCorrespondance de Madame,II.143 ff. andMme de Maintenon d’après sa correspondance,II.275 ff. Cp. also Massillon’s Oraison funèbre, in which he dwells on the Dauphin’sbontéor good-nature, and on his complete submission to Louis XIV, “Toujours entre les mains du roi, et toujours charmé d’y être.”[193]Ed. Chéruel,I.136-137; ed. Boislisle,II.53-55.[194]Ed. Chéruel,I.390-391 (see alsoXII.419, andXIV.391); ed. Boislisle,III.332-333.[195]A journey to Paris in the year 1698.London, 1699.[196]“No man talks with more freedom to him [Louis XIV],” says Lister.[197]Ed. Chéruel,II.344-345; ed. Boislisle,VII.190-194.[198]Ed. Chéruel,IV.383 ff.; Boislisle,XIII.280 ff.[199]Ed. Chéruel,III.379-380; ed. Boislisle,XI.27-30.[200]Détail de la France sous le règne de Louis XIV, the chief work of Boisguilbert or Boisguillebert, was first published at Rouen in 1695.[201]Chamillart succeeded Pontchartrain as Controller-general in 1699.[202]TheProjet d’une Dîme royalewas published anonymously at Rouen in 1707, and steps were immediately taken to suppress it. SeeAppendix B.[203]Beauvillier and Chevreuse.[204]Nicolas Desmaretz succeeded Chamillart as Controller-general in 1708. His father married Colbert’s sister. “C’étoit un grand homme très bien fait, d’un visage et d’une physionomie agréable, qui annonçoit la sagesse et la douceur, qui étoient les deux choses du monde qu’il tenoit le moins” (II.324).[205]Vauban presented his book in manuscript to the king at the end of 1699. It was modified and completed in 1704.[206]Ed. Chéruel,V.149-154; ed. Boislisle,XIV.323-339.[207]Menin = a gentleman of the household.[208]Emmanuel II de Crussol, seniorduc et pair, the creation being of 1572. The finest part of hischâteau, which is half-way between Alais and Avignon, was built in the sixteenth century.[209]The Duc de Bourbon, La Bruyère’s pupil.[210]Seeabove, pp. 144-6.[211]Louis d’Aubusson, Duc de La Feuillade (1673-1725), was son of the Maréchal-Duc who built the place des Victoires for his statue of Louis XIV (see above, p. 6,n. 24). He married a daughter of Chamillart. Saint-Simon has a striking portrait of him. “Son commerce, à qui ne vouloit s’amuser, étoit charmant; il étoit magnifique en tout, libéral, poli, fort brave et fort galant, gros et beau joueur.... Son ambition étoit sans bornes.... C’étoit un cœur corrompu à fond, une âme de boue, un impie de bel air et de profession; pour tout dire, le plus solidement malhonnête homme qui ait paru de longtemps” (III.196). He was an incapable commander and was badly defeated before Turin in 1706.[212]Ed. Chéruel,V.269-273; ed. Boislisle,XV.108 ff.[213]Oui, Messieurs, quelle étendue de connoissances dans le prince de Conti! On eût dit qu’il étoit de toutes sortes de professions: guerre, belles-lettres, histoire, politique, jurisprudence, physique, théologie même. (Massillon,Oraison funèbre.)[214]Fénelon.[215]His portrait is givenbelow.[216]Toussaint de Forbin, Cardinal de Janson, Bishop of Beauvais and Grand Almoner, was a particular friend of Saint-Simon’s, and his death in 1709 is the occasion for a noble portrait of him (III.9-12): “Il étoit plein d’honneur et de vertu, il avoit un grand amour de ses devoirs et de sa piété.... Il avoit l’âme et toutes les manières d’un grand seigneur, doux et modeste, l’esprit d’un grand ministre né pour les affaires, le cœur d’un excellent évêque, point cardinal, au-dessus de sa dignité, tout françois sur nos libertés et nos maximes du royaume sur les entreprises de Rome.”[217]In 1683 the Prince de Conti and his brother had taken part, without the king’s permission, in the campaign against the Turks.[218]Ed. Chéruel,VI.271-275; ed. Boislisle,XVII.121 ff. Cp. with this full-length portrait the following in miniature by Mme de Caylus. “Avec toutes les connoissances et l’esprit qu’on peut avoir il n’en montroit qu’autant qu’il convenoit à ceux qu’il parloit: simple et naturel, profond et solide, frivole même quand il falloit le paroître, il plaisoit à tout le monde” (Souvenirs, p. 118). Cp. also Massillon’sOraison funèbre. He dwells on Conti’s wide knowledge, and his affability towards high and low alike. “Un héros et un prince humain.” But, as is inevitable in a funeral oration, he omits thecontre-partie.[219]See above, p. 14,n. 38.[220]See above, p. 73,n. 112.[221]Claude Rouault, Marquis des Gamaches.[222]Cheverny, D’O, and Gamaches.[223]First valet to the Duke.[224]Ed. Chéruel,IX.195 ff.; ed. Boislisle,XXII.279 ff.[225]The Abbé Claude Fleury (1640-1723) wassous-précepteurto the Dauphin under Bossuet, and to the Duc de Bourgogne under Fénelon. The first volume of his greatHistoire ecclésiastiqueappeared in 1691, and in 1696 he succeeded La Bruyère in theAcadémie Française.[226]This is the text of the manuscript.[227]Ed. Chéruel,IX.209 ff.; ed. Boislisle,XXII.305 ff. Sainte-Beuve (Caus. du Lundi,X.42 ff.) notes that Saint-Simon gives one a more favourable impression of the Duc de Bourgogne than we get from Fénelon’s letters.[228]Nicolas de Catinat commanded with success the French army in Piedmont in the campaigns of 1690-1696 against Victor-Amédée of Savoy. His most important victory was gained at Staffarde in 1690. He was created a Marshal in the following year. In the War of the Spanish Succession he was less successful. In a short portrait (IX.188-189) Saint-Simon does full justice to his character, “to his wisdom, his modesty, his disinterestedness, his great ability as a commander,” and he compares him in his simplicity, his frugality, his contempt for the world, his peace of soul, to the great Roman generals who after their well-merited triumphs returned to their plough, faithful lovers of their country, which they had served so well, and heedless of its ingratitude.[229]The order of the Saint-Esprit.[230]Four bishops, of whom the chief was Nicolas Pavillon, the devout Bishop of Alet, had formally protested against the persecution of the nuns of Port-Royal in order to force them to sign the “formulary” declaring that theAugustinushad been rightly condemned. At last in 1668 they were induced to make an ambiguous submission, with which Clement IX declared himself satisfied. A medal was struck to celebrate the “Peace of the Church,” but the peace was a sham one, as the Jesuits well knew.[231]Mabillon and Montfaucon, perhaps the two most learned of the Bénédictines of St Maur, were both at Saint-Germain-des-Prés when the Cardinal was abbot.[232]For a charming portrait of this Cardinal seeIII.426-429. He was Archbishop of Narbonne and grand almoner to the Queen. He died in 1703. The Marquis de Castries (seeabove, p. 142) was his nephew.[233]Ed. Chéruel.X.344 ff.; ed. Boislisle,XXV.163 ff.[234]Charles-Honoré d’Albert, Duc de Luynes et de Chevreuse, was the grandson of the Constable de Luynes, the minister of Louis XIII, and the son of the Duc de Luynes who retired to Port-Royal and was the friend of Pascal. The Dukedom of Chevreuse came from his grandmother, who after the Constable’s death married the Duc de Chevreuse, the youngest son of Henri de Guise (Le Balafré), and in the days of the Fronde was conspicuous for her intrigues. He died in 1712, nearly two years before his brother-in-law. SeeIX.378-387 for a charming portrait.[235]Ed. Chéruel,X.276 ff.; ed. Boislisle,XXV.42 ff.[236]See E. de Broglie,Fénelon à Cambrai, 1884.[237]Les Maximes des saintswas published in 1697 and was condemned by the Court of Rome in 1699.[238]See above, p. 46,n. 88.[239]See above, p. 45,n. 84.[240]See above, p. 111,n. 168.[241]1704.[242]The meeting between Chevreuse and Fénelon at Chaulnes, where the Duke had achâteau, took place in November, 1711. As the result of their long political conversations Fénelon drew up a document entitledPlans de gouvernement concertés avec le Duc de Chevreuse pour être proposés au Duc de Bourgogne. It consisted of mere heads of chapters arranged under seven sections which Fénelon calledtables. Hence the name,Tables de Chaulnes, which the document usually bears.[243]It will be seen that Saint-Simon insists strongly on Fénelon’s ambition. He certainly had the spirit of domination, but that he aspired to be the Richelieu of the future monarch is very doubtful, and there is no evidence to bear out Saint-Simon’s insinuation that on the Duc de Bourgogne’s death he turned his attention to the Duc d’Orléans.[244]Ed. Chéruel,XI.58-66; ed. Boislisle,XXVI.74-85. It must be remembered that Saint-Simon expressly says of Fénelon: “Je ne le connoissois que de visage, trop jeune quand il fut exilé; je ne l’avois pas vu depuis” (X.287).[245]Which has no solidity.[246]See above, p. 10,n. 31.[247]See above, p. 44,n. 81.[248]Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Torcy (1665-1746), was the son of the Marquis de Croissy, Colbert’s brother. After filling the post of Ambassador to England, he became Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1696. His Memoirs are an important source for the diplomatic history of the War of the Spanish Succession. Saint-Simon became intimate with him during the Regency and obtained from him much information.[249]Camille d’Hostun, Comte de Tallart (1652-1728), received his Marshal’s bâton in 1703. A good strategist but a poor tactician, he was defeated and taken prisoner at Blenheim in 1704 and remained in England till 1711. For his portrait seeIII.390-391.[250]Ed. Chéruel,XI.218-220; Boislisle,XXVI.341-345. Cp. the short but even more severe estimate under the year 1722 (XIX.12-13).[251]See above, p. 46,n. 86.[252]Philippe, brother of the Duc de Vendôme, Grand Prior of France and Chevalier of the Order of Malta. He was very good-looking (in his youth), a brilliant conversationalist, extremely rich—he enjoyed the revenues of six abbeys—and a finished blackguard. For his portrait see Saint-Simon,III.392: “Menteur, escroc, fripon, voleur, malhonnête homme jusque dans la moelle des os... le plus désordonné et le plus grand dissipateur du monde.” His supper parties at the Temple were notorious for their cynical debauchery. According to Saint-Simon he was carried to bed dead-drunk every night for thirty years.[253]Guillaume Dubois, the son of an apothecary, was born at Brive in 1656. After being tutor in several private families, he was appointed first assistant-tutor and then tutor to the young Duc de Chartres and succeeded in winning his complete confidence. Compare the portrait drawn by Saint-Simon after his death (1723),IV.138 ff. The Archbishopric of Cambrai, seven abbeys, and his stipends as first minister and head of the postal-service, gave him an income of 574,000livres. “He had an extraordinarily lucid mind, a surprising power of work, and a determined will. No scruples troubled him.... He was a mixture of Gil Blas and Frontin” (Carré). The same writer points out that Fénelon gave him his friendship and esteem, and that Madame corresponded with him for fifteen years and evidently thought highly of him. But in 1721 she writes: “He has poisoned my whole life.”[254]The Duke of Orleans’s first tutor.[255]Cp.Corr. de Madame,II.169.[256]Armand-Charles de Gontaut, Marquis afterwards Duc de Biron.[257]Charles-Eugène, Marquis afterwards Duc de Levis.[258]Charles-Auguste, Marquis de La Fare (1644-1712), a writer of light verse, whose life was wasted in indolence and ignoble pleasures. He was a constant guest at the Temple. See Sainte-Beuve,Caus. du Lundi,X.[259]Ed. Chéruel,XI.165 ff.; ed. Boislisle,XXVI.266 ff.[260]Ed. Chéruel,XVII.20 ff.[261]Saint-Simon in relating his death at Rome speaks of his ignorance, his indecent and disorderly life, his queer figure, and his ill-timed jokes. Though besides the rich see of Cambrai he held five abbeys, he died nearly bankrupt. He was brother to the Princesse des Ursins, to whom he owed his promotion (seeXVI.444 f.).[262]The income of the see was 120,000livres.[263]Louis de La Vergne de Tressan.[264]How the Regent was persuaded after all to be present at the consecration and how Saint-Simon got his information on this point may be read in the two pages which follow. The whole story is too characteristic of the Regent, Dubois, and Saint-Simon to be omitted.[265]Vauban estimated the population of France in 1707 at 18½ millions.

FOOTNOTES.[1]Journaldu Marquis de Dangeau, ed. Soulié, Dussieux, De Chennevières, Mantz, De Montaiglon, 19 vols. 1854;Sainte-Beuve,Causeries du Lundi,XI.[2]XVII.142. The account of Dangeau and his memoirs which Saint-Simon here gives on the occasion of his death (pp. 134-144) is fuller than the earlier portrait in vol.I.343-346. La Bruyère’s Pamphile (Des Grands) is evidently meant for Dangeau, and Saint-Simon so accepts it.[3]SeeMémoires,IV.222-224;XIII.90-97.[4]Mémoires,VII.19. The page and a half which precedes this throws considerable light on Saint-Simon’s sources of information.[5]Madame changed her opinion later. See below, p. 198,n. 253.[6]IV.143.[7]Mémoires, ed. Chéruel,XI.198-204.[8]Mémoires,III,346-351.[9]Mémoires,IV.42-52.[10]Mémoires,XI.1-54.[11]XV.336-473;XVI.1-96.[12]VIII.32-34.[13]ib.214-217.[14]Ed. Chéruel,XII.cc.IandIV; ed. Boislisle,XXVIII.1-53, 126-175. This digression on the character and reign of Louis XIV was written in September, 1745, but it reproduces almost textually the long note which Saint-Simon added to the Memoirs of Dangeau ten years earlier. It should be compared with hisParallèle des trois premiers rois Bourbon(Écrits inédits,I.) and with theRelation de la Cour de France en 1690of Ezekiel Spanheim (ed. E. Bourgeois, 1900), the envoy of the Great Elector of Brandenburg.[15]This is a mistake. Louis XIV had common sense, prudence, and sagacity, and, if he lacked initiative and originality, he could understand what was explained to him.[16]Olympe Mancini, who married the Comte de Soissons of the royal house of Savoy. She was the mother of Prince Eugène.[17]Nicolas Fouquet (1615-1680), the well-knownsurintendant des finances, aspired to succeed Mazarin, but his ambitions were thwarted by Louis announcing his intention to be his own chief minister. He was arrested on September 5, 1661, and his trial for malversation of the finances began in the following November. The verdict was not given till December, 1664, when the majority of the judges condemned him to perpetual banishment with confiscation of his property. This was changed by Louis withextrême duretéto imprisonment for life. (See J. Lair,Nicolas Fouquet, 2 vols. 1890, and Mme de Sévigné’s letters.)[18]This episode, in which the Spanish ambassador was clearly in the wrong, took place in 1661. The last act of the Maréchal d’Estrades’s long and successful diplomatic career was the Treaty of Nymegen (1678). He died in 1685, leaving memoirs (9 vols. 1743) which Saint-Simon qualifies as “excellent.”[19]On this occasion (August, 1662) the provocation came from the French side, but Louis XIV loudly demanded reparation for the insults offered to his ambassador by the Pope’s Corsican guards. By the treaty of Pisa (February, 1664) he obtained it in a form which was thoroughly humiliating to Alexander VII.[20]The War of Devolution began in May, 1667, and the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle was signed in the May following. The famous passage of the Rhine did not take place till 1672.[21]The farm of Urtebise, as it should be written.[22]Frederick Hermann, Duke of Schomberg or Schönberg (1618-1690), was by birth a German, but he served in the French army for more than thirty years. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes he was allowed to retire to Portugal. In 1688 he accompanied William of Orange to England, was created a Duke, was made Commander-in-chief of the forces in Ireland, and was killed at the battle of the Boyne. He is buried in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin.[23]Louis de Crevant, Marquis and afterwards Duc d’Humières. For a short portrait of him seeI.196-7. He died in 1694.[24]François d’Aubusson, Duc de La Feuillade, was a devoted courtier of Louis XIV. He gave a proof of his devotion by making the Place des Victoires and adorning it with a statue of his master in gilded bronze.[25]Guy de Durfort, Duc de Lorges, was a nephew of Turenne and father-in-law to Saint-Simon. For his portrait seeII.329-342.[26]About 12 miles N.E. of Saint-Omer.[27]Ghent capitulated after a six days’ siege on March 9, 1678.[28]Peace with Holland was signed at Nymegen on August 10, 1678, with Spain on September 17, and with the Empire on February 5, 1679.[29]This anecdote has already been related by Saint-Simon in an earlier volume. That it was the origin of the war of 1688 has been disproved by C. Rousset in hisHistoire de Louvois.[30]Seebelowfor a portrait of Le Nostre.[31]Charles-Henri, Prince de Vaudemont, a legitimatised son of Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine. SeeI.494-497.[32]This accusation is untrue.[33]For this battle, called Landen by English writers (July 29, 1693), seeI.87, and Macaulay,Hist. of England, c.XX.[34]The Duke of Savoy.[35]William Bentinck, Earl of Portland (1649-1709), a Dutchman by birth, was greatly trusted by William of Orange. For his conferences with Boufflers, which resulted in the Peace of Ryswick, seeI.461-462; Macaulay, c.XXII.For his embassy to France in 1698, the magnificence of which made a great impression on the French people, seeII.19-23. It is described at great length by Macaulay, c.XXIII.[36]This account of Louis XIV’s éducation has been shewn by modern historians to be incorrect. Cp. Primi Visconti,Mémoires, 191-192. But it is true that he hated reading. “La seule vue d’un livre le fatigue” (ib.). “Il avait la lecture en horreur,” says Madame (Corr.III.36).[37]Relating to the years 1635-1660.[38]Louis, Comte de Cheverny, filled the posts of ambassador to Germany and to Denmark, and of governor to the Duc de Chartres. He married a niece of Colbert.[39]Thechâteau(eight miles E. of Blois), built about 1634, is a stately but not very interesting example of the architecture of the period. Saint-Simon stayed there (VI.41).[40]François-Gaspard de Montmorin, Marquis Saint-Hérem. Chateaubriand’s friend, Mme de Beaumont, was a Montmorin.[41]Son of the author of theMaximes; an assiduous but thoroughly honest courtier.[42]On the contrary Louis had a good ear, sang well, and had considerable musical taste.[43]This reflection on the king’s courage is undeserved, though it is true that he took part in numerous sieges and not in a single battle.[44]M. de Boislisle cites in support of this Fénelon’s celebratedLettre à Louis XIV(Correspondance,II.329 ff.).[45]The right to sit on a stool in the presence of royalty. See Saint-Simon,Mém.II.76-77; 238-240.[46]SeeAppendix A.[47]Seebelowfor his portrait.[48]This is a mistake. The first Maréchal de Villeroy was appointed a minister in 1661.[49]This habitual answer of Louis is referred to by several contemporary writers. Madame tells a good story about it (Corr.I.169).[50]Emmanuel-Théodore de La Tour d’Auvergne (1644-1715). See for his biography and portraitXI.94-102. He was a nephew of Turenne.[51]Louis-François, Marquis and afterwards Duc de Boufflers (1644-1711), distinguished himself at Fleurus and Steinkirk. His defence of Lille against the allied troops (1708) was the admiration of all Europe. His brilliant charge at Malplaquet (1709) saved the retreat of the French army from becoming a rout. He was a friend of Saint-Simon, who had a great admiration for him. See his portrait,IX.92-94.[52]Louis-Hector, Marquis and then Duc de Villars (1653-1734), was the best French general in the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1712 he gained a notable victory over the allies at Denain. Saint-Simon’s portrait of him (III.322-327) shews strong prejudice. It should be corrected by the judicial estimate of Sainte-Beuve, who devoted fivecauseriesto him (Caus. du Lundi,XIII).[53]See above, p. 6,n. 24. The statue which represented Louis XIV trampling on a three-headed Cerberus (symbolical of the triple alliance) was made by the Dutch sculptor Martin Desjardins (Van den Bogaart). The “pagan” ceremony of dedication took place on March 28, 1686.[54]During the last twenty-seven years of his reign (1688-1715) Louis only visited Paris five times.[55]Anne of Austria died January 19, 1666.[56]For Versailles see L. Dussieux,Le château de Versailles, vol.I.1881; P. de Nolhac,La création de Versailles, 1901; A. Pératé,Versailles(Les villes d’art célèbres).[57]SeeAppendix A.[58]Jérôme Phélypeaux, Comte de Pontchartrain (1674-1747), was associated with his father in the ministry ofLa Marine et la Maison du Roiin his nineteenth year, succeeding him when he became Chancellor in 1699. His administration was deplorable. Saint-Simon’s portrait of him is as life-like as it is unflattering (Mém.IV.194-5;IX.10-13).[59]For this system ofespionnageseeMém.IV.318.[60]The first Lieutenant-general of police was La Reynie who was appointed in 1667. He was succeeded in 1697 by Marc-René, Marquis d’Argenson, who raised his department to the highest pitch of efficiency. See P. ClémentLa police sous Louis XIV, 2nd ed. 1866, and P. Cottin,Rapports de police de René d’Argenson, 1866.[61]The postal service was in the hands of several generations of the Pajot and Rouillé families from 1665 to 1760. See Boislisle,XXVIII.139, nn. 1 and 2.[62]IV.317-319. Michel-François Le Tellier, Marquis de Courtenvaux, was the eldest son of Louvois, “un fort petit homme, obscurément débauché, avec une voix ridicule... avare et taquin, et quoique modeste et respectueux, fort colère, et peu maître de soi quand il se capriçoit: en tout un fort sot homme.” Le Nôtre told Dr Lister that he had never seen Louis XIV in a passion. Saint-Simon gives another instance, when he broke his cane over a valet’s back (I.263-264).[63]“Personne au monde n’est aussi poli que notre roi,” writes Madame in 1706.[64]Avec un almanach et une montre, on pouvait à cent lieues de lui dire à justesse ce qu’il faisoit. Il vouloit une grande exactitude dans son service; mais il y étoit exact le premier(Parallèle des trois premiers rois Bourbon). And cp. Primi Visconti,Mém.pp. 31-33.[65]Hercule de Rohan, Duc de Montbazon (1568-1654), father of the celebrated Duchesse de Chevreuse.[66]A small four-wheeled carriage with a folding hood.[67]The court was installed at Versailles in 1682, but the palace was not completed till 1688.[68]Jules Hardouin, nephew and pupil of François Mansart or Mansard, whose name he took.[69]Clagny was one of Mansard’s first works and won him the favour of Louis XIV. It no longer exists.[70]The mortality among the workmen was very high.[71]Nothing now remains but fourteen arches of the aqueduct.[72]This hydraulic machine, so much admired at the time, was really a clumsy affair.[73]Ed. Chéruel,XII.c. vii; ed. Boislisle,XXVIII.242-281.[74]Wife of Henri de Mornay, Marquis de Montchevreuil, the governor of the Duc du Maine. Mme de Caylus describes her as “une femme froide et sèche dans le commerce, d’une figure triste, d’un esprit au-dessous du médiocre, et d’un zèle capable de dégoûter les plus dévots de la piété.” Saint-Simon’s portrait is equally unflattering: “Une grande créature maigre, jaune, qui rioit niais, et montroit de longues vilaines dents, dévote à l’outrance” (IV.35), and Madame on hearing of her death writes: “ça fait une méchante femme de moins en ce monde” (Corr.I.214).[75]Armand-Jean Du Plessis, great-nephew of the Cardinal.[76]Mme de Caylus (Marthe-Marguerite de Valois) was the daughter of the Marquis de Villette, Mme de Maintenon’s first cousin, and was thus hernièce à la mode de Bretagne. In her father’s absence in America Mme de Maintenon carried her off and made her a Catholic, and in 1686, when she was in her thirteenth year, married her to the Comte de Caylus, a confirmed drunkard. She was one of the most attractive women of her day, and her memoirs are a lively source of information for Mme de Maintenon and the Court generally. Her stepmother, the Marquise de Villette, married, as his second wife, Henry St John, Viscount Bolingbroke.[77]Wife of Henri de Daillon, Comte and afterwards Duc du Lude, Grand-Master of the Artillery. In 1696 she was made principal lady-in-waiting (dame d’honneur) to the future Duchess of Burgundy. She was a Béthune by birth, the great-granddaughter of Sully.[78]Bonne de Pons, Marquise d’Heudicourt. Mme de Caylus speaks of her as “bizarre, naturelle, sans jugement, pleine d’imagination, toujours nouvelle et divertissante.” Saint-Simon in reporting her death in 1709 calls her a “démon domestique” and a “mauvaise fée,” but he adds: “On ne pouvoit avoir plus d’esprit ni plus agréable, ni savoir plus de choses, ni être plus plaisante, plus amusante, plus divertissante, sans vouloir l’être” (IV.345).[79]Seebelowfor his portrait.[80]Henri, Marquis and afterwards Duc d’Harcourt (1654-1718), of the branch of Beuvron-Harcourt. As a lieutenant-general he had a large share in the victory of Neerwinden. He was appointed Ambassador to Spain in 1697, and it was in a great measure due to him that the Duc d’Anjou was nominated heir to Charles II. After the new king’s accession his influence increased, and as a reward for his services he was created a Duke and a Marshal of France. For portraits of him seeIII.210-212, 391-3.[81]Anne-Marie de La Trémoïlle (circ.1646-1722) married as her second husband Flavio Orsini, Duca di Bracciano (1675), and on his death in 1698 took the title of Princesse des Ursins (Orsini). AppointedCamarera mayorto the Queen of Spain in 1701 in order to support the French influence, she dominated the King, till December, 1714, when she was summarily dismissed by his second wife, Elizabeth Farnese. “La princesse des Ursins gouverne le roi d’Espagne comme moi mon chien Titi,” says Madame. See Saint-Simon,III.78-81, andXI.116, where he records atête-à-têtewith her which lasted eight hours. “Ces huit heures de conversation avec une personne qui y fournissoit tant de choses me parurent huit moments.” Part of her correspondence with Mme de Maintenon is preserved in a copy in the British Museum. It has been printed under the title ofLettres inédites de Mme de Maintenon et Mme des Ursins, 4 vols. 1826, but the editing is careless and inaccurate. Sainte-Beuve has two good articles on her (Caus. du Lundi,V. 401 ff.).[82]The Duc de Noailles, as Comte d’Ayen, married Mlle d’Aubigné, Mme de Maintenon’s niece.[83]Rarely.[84]Archbishop of Paris from 1695 to 1729 and uncle of the Duc de Noailles. He favoured the Jansenists, and when in answer to the King’s demand for a Constitution against theRéflexions moralesof Père Quesnel the Pope (Clement XI) issued the BullUnigenitus, he opposed its reception. His nomination as Archbishop had been warmly supported by Mme de Maintenon, but his attitude to the Constitution made a breach between them in ecclesiastical matters. Saint-Simon’s estimate of him (XII.138-140) is a fair one.[85]Henri de Thiard, Cardinal de Bissy, Bishop de Toul and afterwards of Meaux, succeeded to the influence in ecclesiastical matters which the Cardinal de Noailles and Godet Des Marais, Bishop of Chartres, had had with Mme de Maintenon.[86]He and Cardinal de Bissy were the leaders of the Jesuit party. His high birth, great wealth, and charm of looks and manner gave him great influence. Saint-Simon has a most interesting portrait of him (Mém.X.28-32).[87]Charles, Comte d’Aubigné, was a hopeless spendthrift, and in spite of the numerous appointments which Mme de Maintenon obtained for him was always out at elbows. On his death (1703) she wrote: “J’ai pleuré M. d’Aubigné; il étoit mon frère, et il m’aimoit fort; il étoit bon dans le fond, mais il avoit vécu dans de si grandes désordres que je puis dire qu’il ne m’a donné de joie que dans la manière dont il est mort.” See Saint-Simon,Mém.I.478-480. “C’étoit un panier percé, fou à enfermer, mais plaisant, avec de l’esprit et des saillies;... avec cela bon homme et honnête homme, poli.” He habitually referred to the king as his brother-in-law.[88]Godet Des Marais was a Sulpician, a disciple ofPèreOlier. See Saint-Simon,Mém.VII.123-126.[89]Claude-Maur d’Aubigny or d’Aubigné was of an old family of Anjou the connexion of which with that of Mme de Maintenon was very doubtful, but they were now glad to claim cousinship with the powerful favourite, whose nobility did not go back beyond her grandfather.[90]The Maréchal-comte de Tessé was a skilful general, but he lacked decision, and he was more successful as a diplomatist. It was he who under orders from Louvois sacked Heidelberg and blew up thechâteau. Saint-Simon’s portrait of him (III.388-9) is less than fair. HisMémoires et Lettreswere published in 2 vols. in 1806.[91]See above, p. 10,n. 31.[92]Seebelowfor his portrait.[93]Saint-Simon,I.274, says that Mme de Maintenon dined regularly once, and sometimes twice a week, either at the Hôtel de Beauvillier or the Hôtel de Chevreuse at Versailles with the two Dukes and their wives. But the affair of Quietism put an end to their intimate meetings, for both Dukes were close allies of Fénelon.[94]For Mme de Maintenon and Saint-Cyr see Sainte-Beuve,Caus. du Lundi,VIII.473, an article inspired by T. Lavallée,Mme de Maintenon et la maison royale de Saint-Cyr.[95]The Marquise de Dangeau,néeLöwenstein, was of the family of the Electors of Bavaria. She was an excellent woman, of great charm and beauty, and was a close friend of Mme de Maintenon, with whom she frequently corresponded. “Elle est la favorite de la pantocrate... on dit qu’elle a sur celle-ci un pouvoir aussi absolu que celui de la dame sur le Roi.” (Corr. de Madame,I.237.)[96]Marie-Anne-Christine, sister of Maximilian II, Elector of Bavaria, married the Dauphin in 1686 and died in 1690.[97]See later,p. 65, for a passage from vol.VI.in which Saint-Simon describes the “mécanique de chez Mme de Maintenon” at greater length.[98]The extent of Mme de Maintenon’s influence on the government has been much discussed. See A. de Boislisle’s note on this passage (XXVII.254, n. 5), and Lavisse,Hist. de France,VIII.PtI.282-5, 431-6. The opinion of both these authorities is that Saint-Simon’s account of her share in affairs is not exaggerated. She was certainly much concerned with Spanish politics, she corresponded regularly with Villars during all his campaigns from 1703, and she took a large part in all religious questions.[99]Michel de Chamillart succeeded Pontchartrain as Controller-general in 1699, and on the death of Barbezieux in 1701 was appointed Secretary of State for War. He was conciliatory, industrious, and honest, but his lack of intelligence and his obstinacy made him a thoroughly incompetent minister. He was dismissed in 1709. SeeII.420-421,VI.439.[100]Louis Phélypeaux, grandson of a Secretary of State under Louis XIII, was appointed Controller-general in 1689 and Chancellor ten years later. SeeII.226.[101]Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Torcy, son of Charles Colbert, Marquis de Croissy (brother of the great Colbert), succeeded his father as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1696. He married a daughter of Simon Arnauld, Marquis de Pomponne, who was Foreign Minister from 1671 to 1679. HisMémoiresare an important source of information for the period 1697-1713.[102]Advantage, a metaphor from tennis.[103]Guy Fagon succeeded Daquin, a converted Jew, in 1693, through the influence of Mme de Maintenon. His great talent was combined with fearless honesty and much charm of manner. Saint-Simon did not like him, but he recognised his merits and attainments. SeeI.105-6. Like William III, who once consulted him, he was an “asthmatic skeleton,” and like William’s opponent, Luxembourg, he was hunch-backed.[104]Monseigneur is the Dauphin, and Monsieur the king’s brother. The latter’s son, the Duc d’Orléans, afterwards Régent, had the title of Duc de Chartres till his father’s death in 1701.[105]Ed. Chéruel,VI.203-204; ed. Boislisle,XVI.470-473. The plan onpage 66is reproduced from Dussieux,Le château de Versailles, 2 vols. Versailles, 1881,I.plan 7. It will be seen that the two antechambers are there represented as nearly square. Theappartement de jourof the Duc de Bourgogne is apparently the same as the hall of the Queen’s Guard (H). Thesalon de marbreis marked I on the plan.[106]Ed. Chéruel,XII.c. ix; ed. Boislisle,XXVIII.330-381.[107]Saint-Simon began to write his memoirs in 1694.[108]First almoner to Monsieur, “médiocre prêtre, mais fort brave et fort bon homme.” He was killed at the battle of Turin in 1706.[109]Universally beloved for his piety, humanity, and devotion to his see. See for his portraitIV.366-369.[110]Joseph-Marie de Lascaris, a gentleman of Monseigneur’s household.[111]See above, p. 43,n. 74.[112]Claude-Gabriel, Marquis d’O, governor of the Comte de Toulouse. He was originally called Villers, but he took the name and arms of the family of D’O, whosechâteauin Normandy dates from about 1505. A considerable portion of the original structure still remains.[113]See above, p. 38,n. 68.[114]The Duc d’Antin, son of Mme de Montespan by her husband, was the type of a perfect courtier. He succeeded Mansart as director-general of the royal buildings. Sainte-Beuve has an excellent article on him (Caus. du Lundi,V.378 ff.).[115]For the various Councils seeAppendix A.[116]Bernard-François Potier, Marquis de Gesvres and afterwards Duc de Tresmes, first gentleman of the royal household.[117]Louise de Prie, wife of Philippe, Maréchal de La Mothe. See for her portraitVI.222-224. She was beautiful and virtuous, “la meilleure femme du monde.”[118]He was not, however, so devoted to the game as some of his predecessors, e.g. Francis I, Henry II, and Henry IV. The best player of this time was a certain Jourdan, who was paid a yearly salary of 800 livres for coaching the royal princes. But tennis was on the decline in the reign of Louis XIV. In 1596 there were 250 courts (tripots) in Paris alone, in 1657 114, in 1780 only 10 (J.-J. Jusserand,Les Sports dans l’ancienne France, 1901, pp. 240-265).[119]The game ofmailwas universally popular in France in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was a form of golf, played with a long-handled mallet and a wooden ball, and was sometimes calledpalemail(cp. our Pall Mall) frompilaandmalleus. It is still played at Montpellier (see Jusserand, pp. 304-314).[120]Marie-Françoise d’Albert, a daughter of the Duc de Chevreuse, and wife of the Marquis, afterwards Duc de Levis.[121]SeeIntroduction.[122]The Marquise d’O,néeGuilleragues,dame du palaisto the Duchesse de Bourgogne. “Elle avoit beaucoup d’esprit, plaisante, complaisante, toute à tous et amusante.” For her husband see above, p. 73,n. 112.[123]A light meal which took the place of supper on fast-days. Readers of Pascal will recollect how in the fifth Provincial Letter the friendly Jesuit relieves the writer of the duty of fasting, if he could not sleep without a proper supper.[124]Apparently a provincial form ofgésier= gizzard.[125]At one time lady-in-waiting to Madame, who calls her “la pauvre Doudon,” and her husband “a monster.” He was, says Saint-Simon (XIV.123), “un homme fort laid et fort contrefait, qui avec beaucoup d’esprit et de valeur, avoit toujours mené la vie la plus obscure et la plus débauchée.” She was a daughter of the Maréchale de La Mothe (see above, p. 77,n. 117).[126]SeeIntroduction[127]The Marquis de Cavoye, without birth or intelligence, rose to a position of high consideration at the Court. “Without the court,” says Saint-Simon, “he was like a fish out of water.” He fought several duels, in spite of the edicts against duelling, and was known as “le brave Cavoye.” For his career and marriage seeI.299-302.[128]Ed. Chéruel,III.37-40; ed. Boislisle,VIII.349-355.[129]See above, p. 87,n. 125.[130]The interview really took place on the previous Saturday.[131]The Electress Sophia, mother of George I.[132]M. de Boislisle says that Saint-Simon’s informant was probably not Mme de Ventadour, with whom he was on bad terms, but Mme de Clérembault, widow of the Maréchal de Clérembault, who was one of Madame’s ladies-in-waiting, and whom Saint-Simon frequently met at her cousins’, the Pontchartrains. For an amusing portrait of her seeIII.243-245, and for some additional touches,XIX.84-85. Out of doors and in the galleries at Versailles she always wore a black velvet mask to preserve her complexion. She was passionately fond of cards, but being very miserly did not like high play. She had a wide knowledge of history, was well informed on other subjects, and had moreespritthan any woman of her day.With Saint-Simon’s account of this interview may be compared Madame’s, which is given in a letter to the Electress Sophia (Corr.I.241-242).[133]Ed. Chéruel,II.c. viii; ed. Boislisle,V.348-375. The review took place in September, 1698.[134]Fifty-two miles N.E. of Paris. Jeanne d’Arc was taken prisoner before its walls.[135]For the merest nobody.[136]Saint-Simon frequently uses this expression in the sense of compelling a person to do something against his will.[137]Wife of the Duc du Lude (see above, p. 44,n. 77).[138]Louis, Duc de Rohan-Chabot, brother of Mme de Soubise.[139]Charles, Duc de La Trémoïlle, “un fort grand homme, le plus noblement, et le plus mieux fait de la cour; et qui, avec un fort vilain visage, sentait le mieux son grand seigneur” (VI.396). He was a great friend of Saint-Simon.[140]Son-in-law of the Duc de La Trémoïlle and son of the Duc de Bouillon, with whom he was in litigation.[141]Quarter-Master-General of the Royal Household (see above, p. 88,n. 127).[142]See above, p. 44,n. 81.[143]See above, p. 22,n. 51. He was Commander-in-chief of the camp under the Duc de Bourgogne.[144]Firstmaître-d’hôtelto the king.[145]Antoine IV, son of Antoine III, Maréchal de Gramont, and younger brother of the Comte de Guiche, who predeceased his father.[146]The Duchesse de Bourbon, daughter of Louis XIV and Mme de Montespan.[147]Daughter of Louis XIV and Mlle de La Vallière, and widow of Louis-Armand, Prince de Conti.[148]See above, p. 46,n. 90.[149]The order of Premonstratensian Canons was founded by St Norbert about 1120. The original house was at Prémontré in the forest of Coucy.[150]This incorrect phrase is as Saint-Simon wrote it.[151]Marquis de Canillac, Colonel of the Rouergue regiment. For his portrait seeXI.233-235. He was one of therouésof the Regency.[152]Conrad, Marquis de Rosen, “un grand homme sec, qui sentoit son reître, et qui auroit fait peur du coin d’un bois” (III.381).[153]Ed. Chéruel,VIII.cc. xii and part of xiii; ed. Boislisle,XXI.5-57 and 85-89.[154]Thechâteauof Meudon was built for the Dauphin by J.-H. Mansard in 1698.[155]See above, p. 57,n. 103.[156]Governor of Meudon and a friend of Saint-Simon’s.[157]See above, p. 98,n. 146.[158]See above, p. 98,n. 147.[159]Mlle de Lislebonne and Mme d’Espinoy were daughters of Anne, Comtesse de Lislebonne, a legitimatised daughter of Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine, and widow of a younger brother of the Duc d’Elbeuf. They were both tall and had good figures; the elder, Mlle de Lislebonne, was plain, and the younger, wife of Louis de Melun, Prince d’Espinoy, was handsome. Mlle de Melun was her sister-in-law.[160]Godefroi-Maurice, Duc de Bouillon, was a nephew of Turenne.[161]Saint-Simon called Mlle Choin the Maintenon of Monseigneur, but he twice says that they were never married, and this view is confirmed by other evidence.[162]For Saint-Simon’s enmity with the “Cabale de Meudon,” see theIntroduction.[163]Saint-Simon spent Easter in every year at his country-seat of La Ferté-Vidame.[164]The first Sunday after Easter or Low Sunday, so called because the Introit of the Mass for that day begins withQuasi modo geniti(as new-born babes) from 1 Pet. ii. 2.[165]SeeIntroduction.[166]See above, p. 44,n. 76.[167]Seebelowfor his portrait.[168]Michel Le Tellier, the Jesuit confessor of Louis XIV. SeeVI.241-243 for a highly unfavourable portrait of him. “Il eût fait peur au coin d’un bois; sa physionomie étoit ténébreuse, fausse, terrible; les yeux, ardents, méchants, extrêmement de travers: on étoit frappé en le voyant.... Grossier et ignorant à surprendre, insolent, impudent, impétueux, ne connoissant ni monde, ni mesure, ni degrés, ni ménagements, ni qui que ce fût, et à qui tous les moyens étoient bons pour arriver à ses fins.”[169]Mme de Montespan, the mother of the Duchess, was the daughter of Gabriel de Rochechouart, Duc de Mortemart.[170]A form of coach invented at Berlin, much used for travelling, being lighter and better hung than an ordinary post-chaise.[171]Marguerite Le Tellier, daughter of Louvois. For her portrait seeVIII.310 f.[172]Marie de Laval, widow of the Maréchal-Marquis de Rochefort, formerly Bedchamber-woman to the Dauphine.[173]Niece of Mme de Montespan and widow of the Duke of Sforza.[174]Seebelow, p. 142, for her portrait.[175]Daughter of the Duc d’Arpajou and wife of the Comte de Roucy, who was a nephew of the Maréchal de Lorges. “C’étoit une personne extrêmement laide, qui avoit de l’esprit, fort glorieuse, pleine d’ambition, folle des moindres distinctions, engouée à l’excès de la cour... qui vivoit noyée de biens, d’affaires et de créanciers, envieuse, haineuse, par conséquent peu aimée, et qui, pour couronner tout cela, ne manquoit point de grand messes à la paroisse et rarement à communier tous les huit jours. Son mari n’avoit qu’une belle, mais forte figure: glorieux et bas plus qu’elle, panier percé qui jouoit tout et perdoit tout... Il étoit de tout avec Monseigneur.” (I. 346.)[176]See above, p. 80,n. 120.[177]See above, p. 73,n. 112.[178]See above, p. 44,n. 77.[179]Daniel-François Voysin succeeded Chamillart as Secretary of State for War in 1709. For his portrait seeVI.444-446.[180]Henri de Lorraine, Comte de Brionne, son of the Comte d’Armagnac,grand écuyer, known as M. le Grand. He was the best dancer of his day, “un assez honnête homme, mais si court et si plat que rien n’étoit au-dessous... d’un mérite qui se servit borné aux jambons s’il fût né d’un père qui en eût vendu” (IX.286-287).[181]Charles-François de La Baume le Blanc, Marquis afterwards Duc de La Vallière. He was the great-nephew of Louise de La Vallière.[182]The best-known is that by Mignard in the Louvre, painted in 1689. It represents the Dauphin with his wife and his three children.[183]Parvulo(= enpetit comité) was the name given to the gatherings of Monseigneur’s little circle of intimates.[184]The Duc de Montausier frequently administered personal chastisement to the Dauphin, often for very minor offences.[185]The sisters of theCongrégation des Filles de la Charité, organised by St Vincent de Paul in 1633.[186]=pall (frompallium).[187]See above, p. 95,n. 139.[188]Henri-Charles Du Cambout, Duc de Coislin and Bishop of Metz. He was nephew of Cardinal de Coislin, and had succeeded to the dukedom on the death of his elder brother in 1710.[189]Marquis de Dreux, son-in-law of Chamillart. “Son ignorance et sa brutalité étoient égales, et au comble” (XII.318).[190]Henri-Ignace de Brancas.[191]For the Maréchal-Marquis de Brancas seeXII.240-241. He was a friend of Saint-Simon’s.[192]See for other accounts of the Dauphin’s deathCorrespondance de Madame,II.143 ff. andMme de Maintenon d’après sa correspondance,II.275 ff. Cp. also Massillon’s Oraison funèbre, in which he dwells on the Dauphin’sbontéor good-nature, and on his complete submission to Louis XIV, “Toujours entre les mains du roi, et toujours charmé d’y être.”[193]Ed. Chéruel,I.136-137; ed. Boislisle,II.53-55.[194]Ed. Chéruel,I.390-391 (see alsoXII.419, andXIV.391); ed. Boislisle,III.332-333.[195]A journey to Paris in the year 1698.London, 1699.[196]“No man talks with more freedom to him [Louis XIV],” says Lister.[197]Ed. Chéruel,II.344-345; ed. Boislisle,VII.190-194.[198]Ed. Chéruel,IV.383 ff.; Boislisle,XIII.280 ff.[199]Ed. Chéruel,III.379-380; ed. Boislisle,XI.27-30.[200]Détail de la France sous le règne de Louis XIV, the chief work of Boisguilbert or Boisguillebert, was first published at Rouen in 1695.[201]Chamillart succeeded Pontchartrain as Controller-general in 1699.[202]TheProjet d’une Dîme royalewas published anonymously at Rouen in 1707, and steps were immediately taken to suppress it. SeeAppendix B.[203]Beauvillier and Chevreuse.[204]Nicolas Desmaretz succeeded Chamillart as Controller-general in 1708. His father married Colbert’s sister. “C’étoit un grand homme très bien fait, d’un visage et d’une physionomie agréable, qui annonçoit la sagesse et la douceur, qui étoient les deux choses du monde qu’il tenoit le moins” (II.324).[205]Vauban presented his book in manuscript to the king at the end of 1699. It was modified and completed in 1704.[206]Ed. Chéruel,V.149-154; ed. Boislisle,XIV.323-339.[207]Menin = a gentleman of the household.[208]Emmanuel II de Crussol, seniorduc et pair, the creation being of 1572. The finest part of hischâteau, which is half-way between Alais and Avignon, was built in the sixteenth century.[209]The Duc de Bourbon, La Bruyère’s pupil.[210]Seeabove, pp. 144-6.[211]Louis d’Aubusson, Duc de La Feuillade (1673-1725), was son of the Maréchal-Duc who built the place des Victoires for his statue of Louis XIV (see above, p. 6,n. 24). He married a daughter of Chamillart. Saint-Simon has a striking portrait of him. “Son commerce, à qui ne vouloit s’amuser, étoit charmant; il étoit magnifique en tout, libéral, poli, fort brave et fort galant, gros et beau joueur.... Son ambition étoit sans bornes.... C’étoit un cœur corrompu à fond, une âme de boue, un impie de bel air et de profession; pour tout dire, le plus solidement malhonnête homme qui ait paru de longtemps” (III.196). He was an incapable commander and was badly defeated before Turin in 1706.[212]Ed. Chéruel,V.269-273; ed. Boislisle,XV.108 ff.[213]Oui, Messieurs, quelle étendue de connoissances dans le prince de Conti! On eût dit qu’il étoit de toutes sortes de professions: guerre, belles-lettres, histoire, politique, jurisprudence, physique, théologie même. (Massillon,Oraison funèbre.)[214]Fénelon.[215]His portrait is givenbelow.[216]Toussaint de Forbin, Cardinal de Janson, Bishop of Beauvais and Grand Almoner, was a particular friend of Saint-Simon’s, and his death in 1709 is the occasion for a noble portrait of him (III.9-12): “Il étoit plein d’honneur et de vertu, il avoit un grand amour de ses devoirs et de sa piété.... Il avoit l’âme et toutes les manières d’un grand seigneur, doux et modeste, l’esprit d’un grand ministre né pour les affaires, le cœur d’un excellent évêque, point cardinal, au-dessus de sa dignité, tout françois sur nos libertés et nos maximes du royaume sur les entreprises de Rome.”[217]In 1683 the Prince de Conti and his brother had taken part, without the king’s permission, in the campaign against the Turks.[218]Ed. Chéruel,VI.271-275; ed. Boislisle,XVII.121 ff. Cp. with this full-length portrait the following in miniature by Mme de Caylus. “Avec toutes les connoissances et l’esprit qu’on peut avoir il n’en montroit qu’autant qu’il convenoit à ceux qu’il parloit: simple et naturel, profond et solide, frivole même quand il falloit le paroître, il plaisoit à tout le monde” (Souvenirs, p. 118). Cp. also Massillon’sOraison funèbre. He dwells on Conti’s wide knowledge, and his affability towards high and low alike. “Un héros et un prince humain.” But, as is inevitable in a funeral oration, he omits thecontre-partie.[219]See above, p. 14,n. 38.[220]See above, p. 73,n. 112.[221]Claude Rouault, Marquis des Gamaches.[222]Cheverny, D’O, and Gamaches.[223]First valet to the Duke.[224]Ed. Chéruel,IX.195 ff.; ed. Boislisle,XXII.279 ff.[225]The Abbé Claude Fleury (1640-1723) wassous-précepteurto the Dauphin under Bossuet, and to the Duc de Bourgogne under Fénelon. The first volume of his greatHistoire ecclésiastiqueappeared in 1691, and in 1696 he succeeded La Bruyère in theAcadémie Française.[226]This is the text of the manuscript.[227]Ed. Chéruel,IX.209 ff.; ed. Boislisle,XXII.305 ff. Sainte-Beuve (Caus. du Lundi,X.42 ff.) notes that Saint-Simon gives one a more favourable impression of the Duc de Bourgogne than we get from Fénelon’s letters.[228]Nicolas de Catinat commanded with success the French army in Piedmont in the campaigns of 1690-1696 against Victor-Amédée of Savoy. His most important victory was gained at Staffarde in 1690. He was created a Marshal in the following year. In the War of the Spanish Succession he was less successful. In a short portrait (IX.188-189) Saint-Simon does full justice to his character, “to his wisdom, his modesty, his disinterestedness, his great ability as a commander,” and he compares him in his simplicity, his frugality, his contempt for the world, his peace of soul, to the great Roman generals who after their well-merited triumphs returned to their plough, faithful lovers of their country, which they had served so well, and heedless of its ingratitude.[229]The order of the Saint-Esprit.[230]Four bishops, of whom the chief was Nicolas Pavillon, the devout Bishop of Alet, had formally protested against the persecution of the nuns of Port-Royal in order to force them to sign the “formulary” declaring that theAugustinushad been rightly condemned. At last in 1668 they were induced to make an ambiguous submission, with which Clement IX declared himself satisfied. A medal was struck to celebrate the “Peace of the Church,” but the peace was a sham one, as the Jesuits well knew.[231]Mabillon and Montfaucon, perhaps the two most learned of the Bénédictines of St Maur, were both at Saint-Germain-des-Prés when the Cardinal was abbot.[232]For a charming portrait of this Cardinal seeIII.426-429. He was Archbishop of Narbonne and grand almoner to the Queen. He died in 1703. The Marquis de Castries (seeabove, p. 142) was his nephew.[233]Ed. Chéruel.X.344 ff.; ed. Boislisle,XXV.163 ff.[234]Charles-Honoré d’Albert, Duc de Luynes et de Chevreuse, was the grandson of the Constable de Luynes, the minister of Louis XIII, and the son of the Duc de Luynes who retired to Port-Royal and was the friend of Pascal. The Dukedom of Chevreuse came from his grandmother, who after the Constable’s death married the Duc de Chevreuse, the youngest son of Henri de Guise (Le Balafré), and in the days of the Fronde was conspicuous for her intrigues. He died in 1712, nearly two years before his brother-in-law. SeeIX.378-387 for a charming portrait.[235]Ed. Chéruel,X.276 ff.; ed. Boislisle,XXV.42 ff.[236]See E. de Broglie,Fénelon à Cambrai, 1884.[237]Les Maximes des saintswas published in 1697 and was condemned by the Court of Rome in 1699.[238]See above, p. 46,n. 88.[239]See above, p. 45,n. 84.[240]See above, p. 111,n. 168.[241]1704.[242]The meeting between Chevreuse and Fénelon at Chaulnes, where the Duke had achâteau, took place in November, 1711. As the result of their long political conversations Fénelon drew up a document entitledPlans de gouvernement concertés avec le Duc de Chevreuse pour être proposés au Duc de Bourgogne. It consisted of mere heads of chapters arranged under seven sections which Fénelon calledtables. Hence the name,Tables de Chaulnes, which the document usually bears.[243]It will be seen that Saint-Simon insists strongly on Fénelon’s ambition. He certainly had the spirit of domination, but that he aspired to be the Richelieu of the future monarch is very doubtful, and there is no evidence to bear out Saint-Simon’s insinuation that on the Duc de Bourgogne’s death he turned his attention to the Duc d’Orléans.[244]Ed. Chéruel,XI.58-66; ed. Boislisle,XXVI.74-85. It must be remembered that Saint-Simon expressly says of Fénelon: “Je ne le connoissois que de visage, trop jeune quand il fut exilé; je ne l’avois pas vu depuis” (X.287).[245]Which has no solidity.[246]See above, p. 10,n. 31.[247]See above, p. 44,n. 81.[248]Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Torcy (1665-1746), was the son of the Marquis de Croissy, Colbert’s brother. After filling the post of Ambassador to England, he became Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1696. His Memoirs are an important source for the diplomatic history of the War of the Spanish Succession. Saint-Simon became intimate with him during the Regency and obtained from him much information.[249]Camille d’Hostun, Comte de Tallart (1652-1728), received his Marshal’s bâton in 1703. A good strategist but a poor tactician, he was defeated and taken prisoner at Blenheim in 1704 and remained in England till 1711. For his portrait seeIII.390-391.[250]Ed. Chéruel,XI.218-220; Boislisle,XXVI.341-345. Cp. the short but even more severe estimate under the year 1722 (XIX.12-13).[251]See above, p. 46,n. 86.[252]Philippe, brother of the Duc de Vendôme, Grand Prior of France and Chevalier of the Order of Malta. He was very good-looking (in his youth), a brilliant conversationalist, extremely rich—he enjoyed the revenues of six abbeys—and a finished blackguard. For his portrait see Saint-Simon,III.392: “Menteur, escroc, fripon, voleur, malhonnête homme jusque dans la moelle des os... le plus désordonné et le plus grand dissipateur du monde.” His supper parties at the Temple were notorious for their cynical debauchery. According to Saint-Simon he was carried to bed dead-drunk every night for thirty years.[253]Guillaume Dubois, the son of an apothecary, was born at Brive in 1656. After being tutor in several private families, he was appointed first assistant-tutor and then tutor to the young Duc de Chartres and succeeded in winning his complete confidence. Compare the portrait drawn by Saint-Simon after his death (1723),IV.138 ff. The Archbishopric of Cambrai, seven abbeys, and his stipends as first minister and head of the postal-service, gave him an income of 574,000livres. “He had an extraordinarily lucid mind, a surprising power of work, and a determined will. No scruples troubled him.... He was a mixture of Gil Blas and Frontin” (Carré). The same writer points out that Fénelon gave him his friendship and esteem, and that Madame corresponded with him for fifteen years and evidently thought highly of him. But in 1721 she writes: “He has poisoned my whole life.”[254]The Duke of Orleans’s first tutor.[255]Cp.Corr. de Madame,II.169.[256]Armand-Charles de Gontaut, Marquis afterwards Duc de Biron.[257]Charles-Eugène, Marquis afterwards Duc de Levis.[258]Charles-Auguste, Marquis de La Fare (1644-1712), a writer of light verse, whose life was wasted in indolence and ignoble pleasures. He was a constant guest at the Temple. See Sainte-Beuve,Caus. du Lundi,X.[259]Ed. Chéruel,XI.165 ff.; ed. Boislisle,XXVI.266 ff.[260]Ed. Chéruel,XVII.20 ff.[261]Saint-Simon in relating his death at Rome speaks of his ignorance, his indecent and disorderly life, his queer figure, and his ill-timed jokes. Though besides the rich see of Cambrai he held five abbeys, he died nearly bankrupt. He was brother to the Princesse des Ursins, to whom he owed his promotion (seeXVI.444 f.).[262]The income of the see was 120,000livres.[263]Louis de La Vergne de Tressan.[264]How the Regent was persuaded after all to be present at the consecration and how Saint-Simon got his information on this point may be read in the two pages which follow. The whole story is too characteristic of the Regent, Dubois, and Saint-Simon to be omitted.[265]Vauban estimated the population of France in 1707 at 18½ millions.

FOOTNOTES.

[1]Journaldu Marquis de Dangeau, ed. Soulié, Dussieux, De Chennevières, Mantz, De Montaiglon, 19 vols. 1854;Sainte-Beuve,Causeries du Lundi,XI.

[2]XVII.142. The account of Dangeau and his memoirs which Saint-Simon here gives on the occasion of his death (pp. 134-144) is fuller than the earlier portrait in vol.I.343-346. La Bruyère’s Pamphile (Des Grands) is evidently meant for Dangeau, and Saint-Simon so accepts it.

[3]SeeMémoires,IV.222-224;XIII.90-97.

[4]Mémoires,VII.19. The page and a half which precedes this throws considerable light on Saint-Simon’s sources of information.

[5]Madame changed her opinion later. See below, p. 198,n. 253.

[6]IV.143.

[7]Mémoires, ed. Chéruel,XI.198-204.

[8]Mémoires,III,346-351.

[9]Mémoires,IV.42-52.

[10]Mémoires,XI.1-54.

[11]XV.336-473;XVI.1-96.

[12]VIII.32-34.

[13]ib.214-217.

[14]Ed. Chéruel,XII.cc.IandIV; ed. Boislisle,XXVIII.1-53, 126-175. This digression on the character and reign of Louis XIV was written in September, 1745, but it reproduces almost textually the long note which Saint-Simon added to the Memoirs of Dangeau ten years earlier. It should be compared with hisParallèle des trois premiers rois Bourbon(Écrits inédits,I.) and with theRelation de la Cour de France en 1690of Ezekiel Spanheim (ed. E. Bourgeois, 1900), the envoy of the Great Elector of Brandenburg.

[15]This is a mistake. Louis XIV had common sense, prudence, and sagacity, and, if he lacked initiative and originality, he could understand what was explained to him.

[16]Olympe Mancini, who married the Comte de Soissons of the royal house of Savoy. She was the mother of Prince Eugène.

[17]Nicolas Fouquet (1615-1680), the well-knownsurintendant des finances, aspired to succeed Mazarin, but his ambitions were thwarted by Louis announcing his intention to be his own chief minister. He was arrested on September 5, 1661, and his trial for malversation of the finances began in the following November. The verdict was not given till December, 1664, when the majority of the judges condemned him to perpetual banishment with confiscation of his property. This was changed by Louis withextrême duretéto imprisonment for life. (See J. Lair,Nicolas Fouquet, 2 vols. 1890, and Mme de Sévigné’s letters.)

[18]This episode, in which the Spanish ambassador was clearly in the wrong, took place in 1661. The last act of the Maréchal d’Estrades’s long and successful diplomatic career was the Treaty of Nymegen (1678). He died in 1685, leaving memoirs (9 vols. 1743) which Saint-Simon qualifies as “excellent.”

[19]On this occasion (August, 1662) the provocation came from the French side, but Louis XIV loudly demanded reparation for the insults offered to his ambassador by the Pope’s Corsican guards. By the treaty of Pisa (February, 1664) he obtained it in a form which was thoroughly humiliating to Alexander VII.

[20]The War of Devolution began in May, 1667, and the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle was signed in the May following. The famous passage of the Rhine did not take place till 1672.

[21]The farm of Urtebise, as it should be written.

[22]Frederick Hermann, Duke of Schomberg or Schönberg (1618-1690), was by birth a German, but he served in the French army for more than thirty years. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes he was allowed to retire to Portugal. In 1688 he accompanied William of Orange to England, was created a Duke, was made Commander-in-chief of the forces in Ireland, and was killed at the battle of the Boyne. He is buried in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin.

[23]Louis de Crevant, Marquis and afterwards Duc d’Humières. For a short portrait of him seeI.196-7. He died in 1694.

[24]François d’Aubusson, Duc de La Feuillade, was a devoted courtier of Louis XIV. He gave a proof of his devotion by making the Place des Victoires and adorning it with a statue of his master in gilded bronze.

[25]Guy de Durfort, Duc de Lorges, was a nephew of Turenne and father-in-law to Saint-Simon. For his portrait seeII.329-342.

[26]About 12 miles N.E. of Saint-Omer.

[27]Ghent capitulated after a six days’ siege on March 9, 1678.

[28]Peace with Holland was signed at Nymegen on August 10, 1678, with Spain on September 17, and with the Empire on February 5, 1679.

[29]This anecdote has already been related by Saint-Simon in an earlier volume. That it was the origin of the war of 1688 has been disproved by C. Rousset in hisHistoire de Louvois.

[30]Seebelowfor a portrait of Le Nostre.

[31]Charles-Henri, Prince de Vaudemont, a legitimatised son of Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine. SeeI.494-497.

[32]This accusation is untrue.

[33]For this battle, called Landen by English writers (July 29, 1693), seeI.87, and Macaulay,Hist. of England, c.XX.

[34]The Duke of Savoy.

[35]William Bentinck, Earl of Portland (1649-1709), a Dutchman by birth, was greatly trusted by William of Orange. For his conferences with Boufflers, which resulted in the Peace of Ryswick, seeI.461-462; Macaulay, c.XXII.For his embassy to France in 1698, the magnificence of which made a great impression on the French people, seeII.19-23. It is described at great length by Macaulay, c.XXIII.

[36]This account of Louis XIV’s éducation has been shewn by modern historians to be incorrect. Cp. Primi Visconti,Mémoires, 191-192. But it is true that he hated reading. “La seule vue d’un livre le fatigue” (ib.). “Il avait la lecture en horreur,” says Madame (Corr.III.36).

[37]Relating to the years 1635-1660.

[38]Louis, Comte de Cheverny, filled the posts of ambassador to Germany and to Denmark, and of governor to the Duc de Chartres. He married a niece of Colbert.

[39]Thechâteau(eight miles E. of Blois), built about 1634, is a stately but not very interesting example of the architecture of the period. Saint-Simon stayed there (VI.41).

[40]François-Gaspard de Montmorin, Marquis Saint-Hérem. Chateaubriand’s friend, Mme de Beaumont, was a Montmorin.

[41]Son of the author of theMaximes; an assiduous but thoroughly honest courtier.

[42]On the contrary Louis had a good ear, sang well, and had considerable musical taste.

[43]This reflection on the king’s courage is undeserved, though it is true that he took part in numerous sieges and not in a single battle.

[44]M. de Boislisle cites in support of this Fénelon’s celebratedLettre à Louis XIV(Correspondance,II.329 ff.).

[45]The right to sit on a stool in the presence of royalty. See Saint-Simon,Mém.II.76-77; 238-240.

[46]SeeAppendix A.

[47]Seebelowfor his portrait.

[48]This is a mistake. The first Maréchal de Villeroy was appointed a minister in 1661.

[49]This habitual answer of Louis is referred to by several contemporary writers. Madame tells a good story about it (Corr.I.169).

[50]Emmanuel-Théodore de La Tour d’Auvergne (1644-1715). See for his biography and portraitXI.94-102. He was a nephew of Turenne.

[51]Louis-François, Marquis and afterwards Duc de Boufflers (1644-1711), distinguished himself at Fleurus and Steinkirk. His defence of Lille against the allied troops (1708) was the admiration of all Europe. His brilliant charge at Malplaquet (1709) saved the retreat of the French army from becoming a rout. He was a friend of Saint-Simon, who had a great admiration for him. See his portrait,IX.92-94.

[52]Louis-Hector, Marquis and then Duc de Villars (1653-1734), was the best French general in the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1712 he gained a notable victory over the allies at Denain. Saint-Simon’s portrait of him (III.322-327) shews strong prejudice. It should be corrected by the judicial estimate of Sainte-Beuve, who devoted fivecauseriesto him (Caus. du Lundi,XIII).

[53]See above, p. 6,n. 24. The statue which represented Louis XIV trampling on a three-headed Cerberus (symbolical of the triple alliance) was made by the Dutch sculptor Martin Desjardins (Van den Bogaart). The “pagan” ceremony of dedication took place on March 28, 1686.

[54]During the last twenty-seven years of his reign (1688-1715) Louis only visited Paris five times.

[55]Anne of Austria died January 19, 1666.

[56]For Versailles see L. Dussieux,Le château de Versailles, vol.I.1881; P. de Nolhac,La création de Versailles, 1901; A. Pératé,Versailles(Les villes d’art célèbres).

[57]SeeAppendix A.

[58]Jérôme Phélypeaux, Comte de Pontchartrain (1674-1747), was associated with his father in the ministry ofLa Marine et la Maison du Roiin his nineteenth year, succeeding him when he became Chancellor in 1699. His administration was deplorable. Saint-Simon’s portrait of him is as life-like as it is unflattering (Mém.IV.194-5;IX.10-13).

[59]For this system ofespionnageseeMém.IV.318.

[60]The first Lieutenant-general of police was La Reynie who was appointed in 1667. He was succeeded in 1697 by Marc-René, Marquis d’Argenson, who raised his department to the highest pitch of efficiency. See P. ClémentLa police sous Louis XIV, 2nd ed. 1866, and P. Cottin,Rapports de police de René d’Argenson, 1866.

[61]The postal service was in the hands of several generations of the Pajot and Rouillé families from 1665 to 1760. See Boislisle,XXVIII.139, nn. 1 and 2.

[62]IV.317-319. Michel-François Le Tellier, Marquis de Courtenvaux, was the eldest son of Louvois, “un fort petit homme, obscurément débauché, avec une voix ridicule... avare et taquin, et quoique modeste et respectueux, fort colère, et peu maître de soi quand il se capriçoit: en tout un fort sot homme.” Le Nôtre told Dr Lister that he had never seen Louis XIV in a passion. Saint-Simon gives another instance, when he broke his cane over a valet’s back (I.263-264).

[63]“Personne au monde n’est aussi poli que notre roi,” writes Madame in 1706.

[64]Avec un almanach et une montre, on pouvait à cent lieues de lui dire à justesse ce qu’il faisoit. Il vouloit une grande exactitude dans son service; mais il y étoit exact le premier(Parallèle des trois premiers rois Bourbon). And cp. Primi Visconti,Mém.pp. 31-33.

[65]Hercule de Rohan, Duc de Montbazon (1568-1654), father of the celebrated Duchesse de Chevreuse.

[66]A small four-wheeled carriage with a folding hood.

[67]The court was installed at Versailles in 1682, but the palace was not completed till 1688.

[68]Jules Hardouin, nephew and pupil of François Mansart or Mansard, whose name he took.

[69]Clagny was one of Mansard’s first works and won him the favour of Louis XIV. It no longer exists.

[70]The mortality among the workmen was very high.

[71]Nothing now remains but fourteen arches of the aqueduct.

[72]This hydraulic machine, so much admired at the time, was really a clumsy affair.

[73]Ed. Chéruel,XII.c. vii; ed. Boislisle,XXVIII.242-281.

[74]Wife of Henri de Mornay, Marquis de Montchevreuil, the governor of the Duc du Maine. Mme de Caylus describes her as “une femme froide et sèche dans le commerce, d’une figure triste, d’un esprit au-dessous du médiocre, et d’un zèle capable de dégoûter les plus dévots de la piété.” Saint-Simon’s portrait is equally unflattering: “Une grande créature maigre, jaune, qui rioit niais, et montroit de longues vilaines dents, dévote à l’outrance” (IV.35), and Madame on hearing of her death writes: “ça fait une méchante femme de moins en ce monde” (Corr.I.214).

[75]Armand-Jean Du Plessis, great-nephew of the Cardinal.

[76]Mme de Caylus (Marthe-Marguerite de Valois) was the daughter of the Marquis de Villette, Mme de Maintenon’s first cousin, and was thus hernièce à la mode de Bretagne. In her father’s absence in America Mme de Maintenon carried her off and made her a Catholic, and in 1686, when she was in her thirteenth year, married her to the Comte de Caylus, a confirmed drunkard. She was one of the most attractive women of her day, and her memoirs are a lively source of information for Mme de Maintenon and the Court generally. Her stepmother, the Marquise de Villette, married, as his second wife, Henry St John, Viscount Bolingbroke.

[77]Wife of Henri de Daillon, Comte and afterwards Duc du Lude, Grand-Master of the Artillery. In 1696 she was made principal lady-in-waiting (dame d’honneur) to the future Duchess of Burgundy. She was a Béthune by birth, the great-granddaughter of Sully.

[78]Bonne de Pons, Marquise d’Heudicourt. Mme de Caylus speaks of her as “bizarre, naturelle, sans jugement, pleine d’imagination, toujours nouvelle et divertissante.” Saint-Simon in reporting her death in 1709 calls her a “démon domestique” and a “mauvaise fée,” but he adds: “On ne pouvoit avoir plus d’esprit ni plus agréable, ni savoir plus de choses, ni être plus plaisante, plus amusante, plus divertissante, sans vouloir l’être” (IV.345).

[79]Seebelowfor his portrait.

[80]Henri, Marquis and afterwards Duc d’Harcourt (1654-1718), of the branch of Beuvron-Harcourt. As a lieutenant-general he had a large share in the victory of Neerwinden. He was appointed Ambassador to Spain in 1697, and it was in a great measure due to him that the Duc d’Anjou was nominated heir to Charles II. After the new king’s accession his influence increased, and as a reward for his services he was created a Duke and a Marshal of France. For portraits of him seeIII.210-212, 391-3.

[81]Anne-Marie de La Trémoïlle (circ.1646-1722) married as her second husband Flavio Orsini, Duca di Bracciano (1675), and on his death in 1698 took the title of Princesse des Ursins (Orsini). AppointedCamarera mayorto the Queen of Spain in 1701 in order to support the French influence, she dominated the King, till December, 1714, when she was summarily dismissed by his second wife, Elizabeth Farnese. “La princesse des Ursins gouverne le roi d’Espagne comme moi mon chien Titi,” says Madame. See Saint-Simon,III.78-81, andXI.116, where he records atête-à-têtewith her which lasted eight hours. “Ces huit heures de conversation avec une personne qui y fournissoit tant de choses me parurent huit moments.” Part of her correspondence with Mme de Maintenon is preserved in a copy in the British Museum. It has been printed under the title ofLettres inédites de Mme de Maintenon et Mme des Ursins, 4 vols. 1826, but the editing is careless and inaccurate. Sainte-Beuve has two good articles on her (Caus. du Lundi,V. 401 ff.).

[82]The Duc de Noailles, as Comte d’Ayen, married Mlle d’Aubigné, Mme de Maintenon’s niece.

[83]Rarely.

[84]Archbishop of Paris from 1695 to 1729 and uncle of the Duc de Noailles. He favoured the Jansenists, and when in answer to the King’s demand for a Constitution against theRéflexions moralesof Père Quesnel the Pope (Clement XI) issued the BullUnigenitus, he opposed its reception. His nomination as Archbishop had been warmly supported by Mme de Maintenon, but his attitude to the Constitution made a breach between them in ecclesiastical matters. Saint-Simon’s estimate of him (XII.138-140) is a fair one.

[85]Henri de Thiard, Cardinal de Bissy, Bishop de Toul and afterwards of Meaux, succeeded to the influence in ecclesiastical matters which the Cardinal de Noailles and Godet Des Marais, Bishop of Chartres, had had with Mme de Maintenon.

[86]He and Cardinal de Bissy were the leaders of the Jesuit party. His high birth, great wealth, and charm of looks and manner gave him great influence. Saint-Simon has a most interesting portrait of him (Mém.X.28-32).

[87]Charles, Comte d’Aubigné, was a hopeless spendthrift, and in spite of the numerous appointments which Mme de Maintenon obtained for him was always out at elbows. On his death (1703) she wrote: “J’ai pleuré M. d’Aubigné; il étoit mon frère, et il m’aimoit fort; il étoit bon dans le fond, mais il avoit vécu dans de si grandes désordres que je puis dire qu’il ne m’a donné de joie que dans la manière dont il est mort.” See Saint-Simon,Mém.I.478-480. “C’étoit un panier percé, fou à enfermer, mais plaisant, avec de l’esprit et des saillies;... avec cela bon homme et honnête homme, poli.” He habitually referred to the king as his brother-in-law.

[88]Godet Des Marais was a Sulpician, a disciple ofPèreOlier. See Saint-Simon,Mém.VII.123-126.

[89]Claude-Maur d’Aubigny or d’Aubigné was of an old family of Anjou the connexion of which with that of Mme de Maintenon was very doubtful, but they were now glad to claim cousinship with the powerful favourite, whose nobility did not go back beyond her grandfather.

[90]The Maréchal-comte de Tessé was a skilful general, but he lacked decision, and he was more successful as a diplomatist. It was he who under orders from Louvois sacked Heidelberg and blew up thechâteau. Saint-Simon’s portrait of him (III.388-9) is less than fair. HisMémoires et Lettreswere published in 2 vols. in 1806.

[91]See above, p. 10,n. 31.

[92]Seebelowfor his portrait.

[93]Saint-Simon,I.274, says that Mme de Maintenon dined regularly once, and sometimes twice a week, either at the Hôtel de Beauvillier or the Hôtel de Chevreuse at Versailles with the two Dukes and their wives. But the affair of Quietism put an end to their intimate meetings, for both Dukes were close allies of Fénelon.

[94]For Mme de Maintenon and Saint-Cyr see Sainte-Beuve,Caus. du Lundi,VIII.473, an article inspired by T. Lavallée,Mme de Maintenon et la maison royale de Saint-Cyr.

[95]The Marquise de Dangeau,néeLöwenstein, was of the family of the Electors of Bavaria. She was an excellent woman, of great charm and beauty, and was a close friend of Mme de Maintenon, with whom she frequently corresponded. “Elle est la favorite de la pantocrate... on dit qu’elle a sur celle-ci un pouvoir aussi absolu que celui de la dame sur le Roi.” (Corr. de Madame,I.237.)

[96]Marie-Anne-Christine, sister of Maximilian II, Elector of Bavaria, married the Dauphin in 1686 and died in 1690.

[97]See later,p. 65, for a passage from vol.VI.in which Saint-Simon describes the “mécanique de chez Mme de Maintenon” at greater length.

[98]The extent of Mme de Maintenon’s influence on the government has been much discussed. See A. de Boislisle’s note on this passage (XXVII.254, n. 5), and Lavisse,Hist. de France,VIII.PtI.282-5, 431-6. The opinion of both these authorities is that Saint-Simon’s account of her share in affairs is not exaggerated. She was certainly much concerned with Spanish politics, she corresponded regularly with Villars during all his campaigns from 1703, and she took a large part in all religious questions.

[99]Michel de Chamillart succeeded Pontchartrain as Controller-general in 1699, and on the death of Barbezieux in 1701 was appointed Secretary of State for War. He was conciliatory, industrious, and honest, but his lack of intelligence and his obstinacy made him a thoroughly incompetent minister. He was dismissed in 1709. SeeII.420-421,VI.439.

[100]Louis Phélypeaux, grandson of a Secretary of State under Louis XIII, was appointed Controller-general in 1689 and Chancellor ten years later. SeeII.226.

[101]Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Torcy, son of Charles Colbert, Marquis de Croissy (brother of the great Colbert), succeeded his father as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1696. He married a daughter of Simon Arnauld, Marquis de Pomponne, who was Foreign Minister from 1671 to 1679. HisMémoiresare an important source of information for the period 1697-1713.

[102]Advantage, a metaphor from tennis.

[103]Guy Fagon succeeded Daquin, a converted Jew, in 1693, through the influence of Mme de Maintenon. His great talent was combined with fearless honesty and much charm of manner. Saint-Simon did not like him, but he recognised his merits and attainments. SeeI.105-6. Like William III, who once consulted him, he was an “asthmatic skeleton,” and like William’s opponent, Luxembourg, he was hunch-backed.

[104]Monseigneur is the Dauphin, and Monsieur the king’s brother. The latter’s son, the Duc d’Orléans, afterwards Régent, had the title of Duc de Chartres till his father’s death in 1701.

[105]Ed. Chéruel,VI.203-204; ed. Boislisle,XVI.470-473. The plan onpage 66is reproduced from Dussieux,Le château de Versailles, 2 vols. Versailles, 1881,I.plan 7. It will be seen that the two antechambers are there represented as nearly square. Theappartement de jourof the Duc de Bourgogne is apparently the same as the hall of the Queen’s Guard (H). Thesalon de marbreis marked I on the plan.

[106]Ed. Chéruel,XII.c. ix; ed. Boislisle,XXVIII.330-381.

[107]Saint-Simon began to write his memoirs in 1694.

[108]First almoner to Monsieur, “médiocre prêtre, mais fort brave et fort bon homme.” He was killed at the battle of Turin in 1706.

[109]Universally beloved for his piety, humanity, and devotion to his see. See for his portraitIV.366-369.

[110]Joseph-Marie de Lascaris, a gentleman of Monseigneur’s household.

[111]See above, p. 43,n. 74.

[112]Claude-Gabriel, Marquis d’O, governor of the Comte de Toulouse. He was originally called Villers, but he took the name and arms of the family of D’O, whosechâteauin Normandy dates from about 1505. A considerable portion of the original structure still remains.

[113]See above, p. 38,n. 68.

[114]The Duc d’Antin, son of Mme de Montespan by her husband, was the type of a perfect courtier. He succeeded Mansart as director-general of the royal buildings. Sainte-Beuve has an excellent article on him (Caus. du Lundi,V.378 ff.).

[115]For the various Councils seeAppendix A.

[116]Bernard-François Potier, Marquis de Gesvres and afterwards Duc de Tresmes, first gentleman of the royal household.

[117]Louise de Prie, wife of Philippe, Maréchal de La Mothe. See for her portraitVI.222-224. She was beautiful and virtuous, “la meilleure femme du monde.”

[118]He was not, however, so devoted to the game as some of his predecessors, e.g. Francis I, Henry II, and Henry IV. The best player of this time was a certain Jourdan, who was paid a yearly salary of 800 livres for coaching the royal princes. But tennis was on the decline in the reign of Louis XIV. In 1596 there were 250 courts (tripots) in Paris alone, in 1657 114, in 1780 only 10 (J.-J. Jusserand,Les Sports dans l’ancienne France, 1901, pp. 240-265).

[119]The game ofmailwas universally popular in France in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was a form of golf, played with a long-handled mallet and a wooden ball, and was sometimes calledpalemail(cp. our Pall Mall) frompilaandmalleus. It is still played at Montpellier (see Jusserand, pp. 304-314).

[120]Marie-Françoise d’Albert, a daughter of the Duc de Chevreuse, and wife of the Marquis, afterwards Duc de Levis.

[121]SeeIntroduction.

[122]The Marquise d’O,néeGuilleragues,dame du palaisto the Duchesse de Bourgogne. “Elle avoit beaucoup d’esprit, plaisante, complaisante, toute à tous et amusante.” For her husband see above, p. 73,n. 112.

[123]A light meal which took the place of supper on fast-days. Readers of Pascal will recollect how in the fifth Provincial Letter the friendly Jesuit relieves the writer of the duty of fasting, if he could not sleep without a proper supper.

[124]Apparently a provincial form ofgésier= gizzard.

[125]At one time lady-in-waiting to Madame, who calls her “la pauvre Doudon,” and her husband “a monster.” He was, says Saint-Simon (XIV.123), “un homme fort laid et fort contrefait, qui avec beaucoup d’esprit et de valeur, avoit toujours mené la vie la plus obscure et la plus débauchée.” She was a daughter of the Maréchale de La Mothe (see above, p. 77,n. 117).

[126]SeeIntroduction

[127]The Marquis de Cavoye, without birth or intelligence, rose to a position of high consideration at the Court. “Without the court,” says Saint-Simon, “he was like a fish out of water.” He fought several duels, in spite of the edicts against duelling, and was known as “le brave Cavoye.” For his career and marriage seeI.299-302.

[128]Ed. Chéruel,III.37-40; ed. Boislisle,VIII.349-355.

[129]See above, p. 87,n. 125.

[130]The interview really took place on the previous Saturday.

[131]The Electress Sophia, mother of George I.

[132]M. de Boislisle says that Saint-Simon’s informant was probably not Mme de Ventadour, with whom he was on bad terms, but Mme de Clérembault, widow of the Maréchal de Clérembault, who was one of Madame’s ladies-in-waiting, and whom Saint-Simon frequently met at her cousins’, the Pontchartrains. For an amusing portrait of her seeIII.243-245, and for some additional touches,XIX.84-85. Out of doors and in the galleries at Versailles she always wore a black velvet mask to preserve her complexion. She was passionately fond of cards, but being very miserly did not like high play. She had a wide knowledge of history, was well informed on other subjects, and had moreespritthan any woman of her day.

With Saint-Simon’s account of this interview may be compared Madame’s, which is given in a letter to the Electress Sophia (Corr.I.241-242).

[133]Ed. Chéruel,II.c. viii; ed. Boislisle,V.348-375. The review took place in September, 1698.

[134]Fifty-two miles N.E. of Paris. Jeanne d’Arc was taken prisoner before its walls.

[135]For the merest nobody.

[136]Saint-Simon frequently uses this expression in the sense of compelling a person to do something against his will.

[137]Wife of the Duc du Lude (see above, p. 44,n. 77).

[138]Louis, Duc de Rohan-Chabot, brother of Mme de Soubise.

[139]Charles, Duc de La Trémoïlle, “un fort grand homme, le plus noblement, et le plus mieux fait de la cour; et qui, avec un fort vilain visage, sentait le mieux son grand seigneur” (VI.396). He was a great friend of Saint-Simon.

[140]Son-in-law of the Duc de La Trémoïlle and son of the Duc de Bouillon, with whom he was in litigation.

[141]Quarter-Master-General of the Royal Household (see above, p. 88,n. 127).

[142]See above, p. 44,n. 81.

[143]See above, p. 22,n. 51. He was Commander-in-chief of the camp under the Duc de Bourgogne.

[144]Firstmaître-d’hôtelto the king.

[145]Antoine IV, son of Antoine III, Maréchal de Gramont, and younger brother of the Comte de Guiche, who predeceased his father.

[146]The Duchesse de Bourbon, daughter of Louis XIV and Mme de Montespan.

[147]Daughter of Louis XIV and Mlle de La Vallière, and widow of Louis-Armand, Prince de Conti.

[148]See above, p. 46,n. 90.

[149]The order of Premonstratensian Canons was founded by St Norbert about 1120. The original house was at Prémontré in the forest of Coucy.

[150]This incorrect phrase is as Saint-Simon wrote it.

[151]Marquis de Canillac, Colonel of the Rouergue regiment. For his portrait seeXI.233-235. He was one of therouésof the Regency.

[152]Conrad, Marquis de Rosen, “un grand homme sec, qui sentoit son reître, et qui auroit fait peur du coin d’un bois” (III.381).

[153]Ed. Chéruel,VIII.cc. xii and part of xiii; ed. Boislisle,XXI.5-57 and 85-89.

[154]Thechâteauof Meudon was built for the Dauphin by J.-H. Mansard in 1698.

[155]See above, p. 57,n. 103.

[156]Governor of Meudon and a friend of Saint-Simon’s.

[157]See above, p. 98,n. 146.

[158]See above, p. 98,n. 147.

[159]Mlle de Lislebonne and Mme d’Espinoy were daughters of Anne, Comtesse de Lislebonne, a legitimatised daughter of Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine, and widow of a younger brother of the Duc d’Elbeuf. They were both tall and had good figures; the elder, Mlle de Lislebonne, was plain, and the younger, wife of Louis de Melun, Prince d’Espinoy, was handsome. Mlle de Melun was her sister-in-law.

[160]Godefroi-Maurice, Duc de Bouillon, was a nephew of Turenne.

[161]Saint-Simon called Mlle Choin the Maintenon of Monseigneur, but he twice says that they were never married, and this view is confirmed by other evidence.

[162]For Saint-Simon’s enmity with the “Cabale de Meudon,” see theIntroduction.

[163]Saint-Simon spent Easter in every year at his country-seat of La Ferté-Vidame.

[164]The first Sunday after Easter or Low Sunday, so called because the Introit of the Mass for that day begins withQuasi modo geniti(as new-born babes) from 1 Pet. ii. 2.

[165]SeeIntroduction.

[166]See above, p. 44,n. 76.

[167]Seebelowfor his portrait.

[168]Michel Le Tellier, the Jesuit confessor of Louis XIV. SeeVI.241-243 for a highly unfavourable portrait of him. “Il eût fait peur au coin d’un bois; sa physionomie étoit ténébreuse, fausse, terrible; les yeux, ardents, méchants, extrêmement de travers: on étoit frappé en le voyant.... Grossier et ignorant à surprendre, insolent, impudent, impétueux, ne connoissant ni monde, ni mesure, ni degrés, ni ménagements, ni qui que ce fût, et à qui tous les moyens étoient bons pour arriver à ses fins.”

[169]Mme de Montespan, the mother of the Duchess, was the daughter of Gabriel de Rochechouart, Duc de Mortemart.

[170]A form of coach invented at Berlin, much used for travelling, being lighter and better hung than an ordinary post-chaise.

[171]Marguerite Le Tellier, daughter of Louvois. For her portrait seeVIII.310 f.

[172]Marie de Laval, widow of the Maréchal-Marquis de Rochefort, formerly Bedchamber-woman to the Dauphine.

[173]Niece of Mme de Montespan and widow of the Duke of Sforza.

[174]Seebelow, p. 142, for her portrait.

[175]Daughter of the Duc d’Arpajou and wife of the Comte de Roucy, who was a nephew of the Maréchal de Lorges. “C’étoit une personne extrêmement laide, qui avoit de l’esprit, fort glorieuse, pleine d’ambition, folle des moindres distinctions, engouée à l’excès de la cour... qui vivoit noyée de biens, d’affaires et de créanciers, envieuse, haineuse, par conséquent peu aimée, et qui, pour couronner tout cela, ne manquoit point de grand messes à la paroisse et rarement à communier tous les huit jours. Son mari n’avoit qu’une belle, mais forte figure: glorieux et bas plus qu’elle, panier percé qui jouoit tout et perdoit tout... Il étoit de tout avec Monseigneur.” (I. 346.)

[176]See above, p. 80,n. 120.

[177]See above, p. 73,n. 112.

[178]See above, p. 44,n. 77.

[179]Daniel-François Voysin succeeded Chamillart as Secretary of State for War in 1709. For his portrait seeVI.444-446.

[180]Henri de Lorraine, Comte de Brionne, son of the Comte d’Armagnac,grand écuyer, known as M. le Grand. He was the best dancer of his day, “un assez honnête homme, mais si court et si plat que rien n’étoit au-dessous... d’un mérite qui se servit borné aux jambons s’il fût né d’un père qui en eût vendu” (IX.286-287).

[181]Charles-François de La Baume le Blanc, Marquis afterwards Duc de La Vallière. He was the great-nephew of Louise de La Vallière.

[182]The best-known is that by Mignard in the Louvre, painted in 1689. It represents the Dauphin with his wife and his three children.

[183]Parvulo(= enpetit comité) was the name given to the gatherings of Monseigneur’s little circle of intimates.

[184]The Duc de Montausier frequently administered personal chastisement to the Dauphin, often for very minor offences.

[185]The sisters of theCongrégation des Filles de la Charité, organised by St Vincent de Paul in 1633.

[186]=pall (frompallium).

[187]See above, p. 95,n. 139.

[188]Henri-Charles Du Cambout, Duc de Coislin and Bishop of Metz. He was nephew of Cardinal de Coislin, and had succeeded to the dukedom on the death of his elder brother in 1710.

[189]Marquis de Dreux, son-in-law of Chamillart. “Son ignorance et sa brutalité étoient égales, et au comble” (XII.318).

[190]Henri-Ignace de Brancas.

[191]For the Maréchal-Marquis de Brancas seeXII.240-241. He was a friend of Saint-Simon’s.

[192]See for other accounts of the Dauphin’s deathCorrespondance de Madame,II.143 ff. andMme de Maintenon d’après sa correspondance,II.275 ff. Cp. also Massillon’s Oraison funèbre, in which he dwells on the Dauphin’sbontéor good-nature, and on his complete submission to Louis XIV, “Toujours entre les mains du roi, et toujours charmé d’y être.”

[193]Ed. Chéruel,I.136-137; ed. Boislisle,II.53-55.

[194]Ed. Chéruel,I.390-391 (see alsoXII.419, andXIV.391); ed. Boislisle,III.332-333.

[195]A journey to Paris in the year 1698.London, 1699.

[196]“No man talks with more freedom to him [Louis XIV],” says Lister.

[197]Ed. Chéruel,II.344-345; ed. Boislisle,VII.190-194.

[198]Ed. Chéruel,IV.383 ff.; Boislisle,XIII.280 ff.

[199]Ed. Chéruel,III.379-380; ed. Boislisle,XI.27-30.

[200]Détail de la France sous le règne de Louis XIV, the chief work of Boisguilbert or Boisguillebert, was first published at Rouen in 1695.

[201]Chamillart succeeded Pontchartrain as Controller-general in 1699.

[202]TheProjet d’une Dîme royalewas published anonymously at Rouen in 1707, and steps were immediately taken to suppress it. SeeAppendix B.

[203]Beauvillier and Chevreuse.

[204]Nicolas Desmaretz succeeded Chamillart as Controller-general in 1708. His father married Colbert’s sister. “C’étoit un grand homme très bien fait, d’un visage et d’une physionomie agréable, qui annonçoit la sagesse et la douceur, qui étoient les deux choses du monde qu’il tenoit le moins” (II.324).

[205]Vauban presented his book in manuscript to the king at the end of 1699. It was modified and completed in 1704.

[206]Ed. Chéruel,V.149-154; ed. Boislisle,XIV.323-339.

[207]Menin = a gentleman of the household.

[208]Emmanuel II de Crussol, seniorduc et pair, the creation being of 1572. The finest part of hischâteau, which is half-way between Alais and Avignon, was built in the sixteenth century.

[209]The Duc de Bourbon, La Bruyère’s pupil.

[210]Seeabove, pp. 144-6.

[211]Louis d’Aubusson, Duc de La Feuillade (1673-1725), was son of the Maréchal-Duc who built the place des Victoires for his statue of Louis XIV (see above, p. 6,n. 24). He married a daughter of Chamillart. Saint-Simon has a striking portrait of him. “Son commerce, à qui ne vouloit s’amuser, étoit charmant; il étoit magnifique en tout, libéral, poli, fort brave et fort galant, gros et beau joueur.... Son ambition étoit sans bornes.... C’étoit un cœur corrompu à fond, une âme de boue, un impie de bel air et de profession; pour tout dire, le plus solidement malhonnête homme qui ait paru de longtemps” (III.196). He was an incapable commander and was badly defeated before Turin in 1706.

[212]Ed. Chéruel,V.269-273; ed. Boislisle,XV.108 ff.

[213]Oui, Messieurs, quelle étendue de connoissances dans le prince de Conti! On eût dit qu’il étoit de toutes sortes de professions: guerre, belles-lettres, histoire, politique, jurisprudence, physique, théologie même. (Massillon,Oraison funèbre.)

[214]Fénelon.

[215]His portrait is givenbelow.

[216]Toussaint de Forbin, Cardinal de Janson, Bishop of Beauvais and Grand Almoner, was a particular friend of Saint-Simon’s, and his death in 1709 is the occasion for a noble portrait of him (III.9-12): “Il étoit plein d’honneur et de vertu, il avoit un grand amour de ses devoirs et de sa piété.... Il avoit l’âme et toutes les manières d’un grand seigneur, doux et modeste, l’esprit d’un grand ministre né pour les affaires, le cœur d’un excellent évêque, point cardinal, au-dessus de sa dignité, tout françois sur nos libertés et nos maximes du royaume sur les entreprises de Rome.”

[217]In 1683 the Prince de Conti and his brother had taken part, without the king’s permission, in the campaign against the Turks.

[218]Ed. Chéruel,VI.271-275; ed. Boislisle,XVII.121 ff. Cp. with this full-length portrait the following in miniature by Mme de Caylus. “Avec toutes les connoissances et l’esprit qu’on peut avoir il n’en montroit qu’autant qu’il convenoit à ceux qu’il parloit: simple et naturel, profond et solide, frivole même quand il falloit le paroître, il plaisoit à tout le monde” (Souvenirs, p. 118). Cp. also Massillon’sOraison funèbre. He dwells on Conti’s wide knowledge, and his affability towards high and low alike. “Un héros et un prince humain.” But, as is inevitable in a funeral oration, he omits thecontre-partie.

[219]See above, p. 14,n. 38.

[220]See above, p. 73,n. 112.

[221]Claude Rouault, Marquis des Gamaches.

[222]Cheverny, D’O, and Gamaches.

[223]First valet to the Duke.

[224]Ed. Chéruel,IX.195 ff.; ed. Boislisle,XXII.279 ff.

[225]The Abbé Claude Fleury (1640-1723) wassous-précepteurto the Dauphin under Bossuet, and to the Duc de Bourgogne under Fénelon. The first volume of his greatHistoire ecclésiastiqueappeared in 1691, and in 1696 he succeeded La Bruyère in theAcadémie Française.

[226]This is the text of the manuscript.

[227]Ed. Chéruel,IX.209 ff.; ed. Boislisle,XXII.305 ff. Sainte-Beuve (Caus. du Lundi,X.42 ff.) notes that Saint-Simon gives one a more favourable impression of the Duc de Bourgogne than we get from Fénelon’s letters.

[228]Nicolas de Catinat commanded with success the French army in Piedmont in the campaigns of 1690-1696 against Victor-Amédée of Savoy. His most important victory was gained at Staffarde in 1690. He was created a Marshal in the following year. In the War of the Spanish Succession he was less successful. In a short portrait (IX.188-189) Saint-Simon does full justice to his character, “to his wisdom, his modesty, his disinterestedness, his great ability as a commander,” and he compares him in his simplicity, his frugality, his contempt for the world, his peace of soul, to the great Roman generals who after their well-merited triumphs returned to their plough, faithful lovers of their country, which they had served so well, and heedless of its ingratitude.

[229]The order of the Saint-Esprit.

[230]Four bishops, of whom the chief was Nicolas Pavillon, the devout Bishop of Alet, had formally protested against the persecution of the nuns of Port-Royal in order to force them to sign the “formulary” declaring that theAugustinushad been rightly condemned. At last in 1668 they were induced to make an ambiguous submission, with which Clement IX declared himself satisfied. A medal was struck to celebrate the “Peace of the Church,” but the peace was a sham one, as the Jesuits well knew.

[231]Mabillon and Montfaucon, perhaps the two most learned of the Bénédictines of St Maur, were both at Saint-Germain-des-Prés when the Cardinal was abbot.

[232]For a charming portrait of this Cardinal seeIII.426-429. He was Archbishop of Narbonne and grand almoner to the Queen. He died in 1703. The Marquis de Castries (seeabove, p. 142) was his nephew.

[233]Ed. Chéruel.X.344 ff.; ed. Boislisle,XXV.163 ff.

[234]Charles-Honoré d’Albert, Duc de Luynes et de Chevreuse, was the grandson of the Constable de Luynes, the minister of Louis XIII, and the son of the Duc de Luynes who retired to Port-Royal and was the friend of Pascal. The Dukedom of Chevreuse came from his grandmother, who after the Constable’s death married the Duc de Chevreuse, the youngest son of Henri de Guise (Le Balafré), and in the days of the Fronde was conspicuous for her intrigues. He died in 1712, nearly two years before his brother-in-law. SeeIX.378-387 for a charming portrait.

[235]Ed. Chéruel,X.276 ff.; ed. Boislisle,XXV.42 ff.

[236]See E. de Broglie,Fénelon à Cambrai, 1884.

[237]Les Maximes des saintswas published in 1697 and was condemned by the Court of Rome in 1699.

[238]See above, p. 46,n. 88.

[239]See above, p. 45,n. 84.

[240]See above, p. 111,n. 168.

[241]1704.

[242]The meeting between Chevreuse and Fénelon at Chaulnes, where the Duke had achâteau, took place in November, 1711. As the result of their long political conversations Fénelon drew up a document entitledPlans de gouvernement concertés avec le Duc de Chevreuse pour être proposés au Duc de Bourgogne. It consisted of mere heads of chapters arranged under seven sections which Fénelon calledtables. Hence the name,Tables de Chaulnes, which the document usually bears.

[243]It will be seen that Saint-Simon insists strongly on Fénelon’s ambition. He certainly had the spirit of domination, but that he aspired to be the Richelieu of the future monarch is very doubtful, and there is no evidence to bear out Saint-Simon’s insinuation that on the Duc de Bourgogne’s death he turned his attention to the Duc d’Orléans.

[244]Ed. Chéruel,XI.58-66; ed. Boislisle,XXVI.74-85. It must be remembered that Saint-Simon expressly says of Fénelon: “Je ne le connoissois que de visage, trop jeune quand il fut exilé; je ne l’avois pas vu depuis” (X.287).

[245]Which has no solidity.

[246]See above, p. 10,n. 31.

[247]See above, p. 44,n. 81.

[248]Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Torcy (1665-1746), was the son of the Marquis de Croissy, Colbert’s brother. After filling the post of Ambassador to England, he became Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1696. His Memoirs are an important source for the diplomatic history of the War of the Spanish Succession. Saint-Simon became intimate with him during the Regency and obtained from him much information.

[249]Camille d’Hostun, Comte de Tallart (1652-1728), received his Marshal’s bâton in 1703. A good strategist but a poor tactician, he was defeated and taken prisoner at Blenheim in 1704 and remained in England till 1711. For his portrait seeIII.390-391.

[250]Ed. Chéruel,XI.218-220; Boislisle,XXVI.341-345. Cp. the short but even more severe estimate under the year 1722 (XIX.12-13).

[251]See above, p. 46,n. 86.

[252]Philippe, brother of the Duc de Vendôme, Grand Prior of France and Chevalier of the Order of Malta. He was very good-looking (in his youth), a brilliant conversationalist, extremely rich—he enjoyed the revenues of six abbeys—and a finished blackguard. For his portrait see Saint-Simon,III.392: “Menteur, escroc, fripon, voleur, malhonnête homme jusque dans la moelle des os... le plus désordonné et le plus grand dissipateur du monde.” His supper parties at the Temple were notorious for their cynical debauchery. According to Saint-Simon he was carried to bed dead-drunk every night for thirty years.

[253]Guillaume Dubois, the son of an apothecary, was born at Brive in 1656. After being tutor in several private families, he was appointed first assistant-tutor and then tutor to the young Duc de Chartres and succeeded in winning his complete confidence. Compare the portrait drawn by Saint-Simon after his death (1723),IV.138 ff. The Archbishopric of Cambrai, seven abbeys, and his stipends as first minister and head of the postal-service, gave him an income of 574,000livres. “He had an extraordinarily lucid mind, a surprising power of work, and a determined will. No scruples troubled him.... He was a mixture of Gil Blas and Frontin” (Carré). The same writer points out that Fénelon gave him his friendship and esteem, and that Madame corresponded with him for fifteen years and evidently thought highly of him. But in 1721 she writes: “He has poisoned my whole life.”

[254]The Duke of Orleans’s first tutor.

[255]Cp.Corr. de Madame,II.169.

[256]Armand-Charles de Gontaut, Marquis afterwards Duc de Biron.

[257]Charles-Eugène, Marquis afterwards Duc de Levis.

[258]Charles-Auguste, Marquis de La Fare (1644-1712), a writer of light verse, whose life was wasted in indolence and ignoble pleasures. He was a constant guest at the Temple. See Sainte-Beuve,Caus. du Lundi,X.

[259]Ed. Chéruel,XI.165 ff.; ed. Boislisle,XXVI.266 ff.

[260]Ed. Chéruel,XVII.20 ff.

[261]Saint-Simon in relating his death at Rome speaks of his ignorance, his indecent and disorderly life, his queer figure, and his ill-timed jokes. Though besides the rich see of Cambrai he held five abbeys, he died nearly bankrupt. He was brother to the Princesse des Ursins, to whom he owed his promotion (seeXVI.444 f.).

[262]The income of the see was 120,000livres.

[263]Louis de La Vergne de Tressan.

[264]How the Regent was persuaded after all to be present at the consecration and how Saint-Simon got his information on this point may be read in the two pages which follow. The whole story is too characteristic of the Regent, Dubois, and Saint-Simon to be omitted.

[265]Vauban estimated the population of France in 1707 at 18½ millions.

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