Memoirs of the Duke De Saint-Simon - Volume Iii

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There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924082195409 yh/./// WHEN MADAME DE MAINTENON WAS QUEEN 1707—1710 AN ABRIDGED TRANSLATION WITH NOTES FROM THE MEMOIRS OF THE DUKE DE SAINT-SIMON - VOLUME III FRANCIS ARKWRIGHT With Four Illustrations in Photogravure NEW YORK BRENTANO'S 3^ \ 3 S 2 A 1 V. 5 iVwfefii»<e<i'i» Sh-eat Sritat» , ' J — CONTENTS VOL. ni CHAPTER I 1707 Opening of the campaign in Flanders—The army placed in imminent peril by VendSme's sloth—The Duke of Savoy invades the south of France—Capture of Fr6jus—Extraordinary conduct uf Fleury, the Bishop—Anecdotes of Cardinal Fleury—He is dupcsd by the English Ambassador and by the Emperor—The Duke of Savoy lays siege to Toulon—His failure and retreat—Tessa's absurd despatches —I go to Forges for the waters—Dispute between Duk is and Princes —Surprising sentiments expressed by the Kling—The King visits d'Antin at Petit-Bourg—An avenue disappears in a night—Madame de Maintenon's jest—Eising fortunes of d'Antin . pp. 1-21 CHAPTER II 1707—1708 ChamiUart and Cattinat—Death of the Count d'Auvergne— Of Moreau Of the Archbishops of Rouen and Aix—Of Madame d'Aimagnac The Grand Equerry looks out for another wife—Marshal de ViUeroy resigns his Captaincy of the Guard—His appointment given to his son—Madame de Thianges—Her wit and pride—A snub for the King—Chamillart's failing health—He seeks a great marriage for his son, and makes a grievous mistake—He resigns the office of Controller-General—Desmarets appointed—Outcry against tlie Duke de Beauvilliers—Death of Langlee—Of Montbron—His arms—The origin of his family ...... pp. 22-45 CHAPTER III 1708 The Duke of Orleans prepares to return to Spain—His staff—The King prefers an atheist to a Jansenist—I discover that the Duke de Chev- reuse is a Minister of State—An important design—Projected invasion of Scotland—A revolt fomented in the Spanish Netherlands—Borg- heyck exposes Vendome's ignorance—An unlucky delay—The ICing V —I vi CONTENTS Betiirn of England ill with measles—The Scotch expedition fails— of the King of England—He assumes the title of Chevalier de St. Georges—His reception at Marly—A cheap Marshal's b&ton—An insignificant marriage leads to important results—Disinterested conduct of the Chancellor—Retirement of Brissac—Anecdotes con- cerning him—Devout ladies exposed—Rouvroy claims relationship with me—His history—I decline the honour—Illness of the Duchess of Burgundy—The King's cold-blooded selfishness—I discover that the Duke of Burgundy is destined for the command in Flanders pp. 46-64 CHAPTER IV 1708 An important conversation with M. de Beauvilliers—I remonstrate against sending the Duke of Burgundy to Flanders, and predict unfortunate consequences—M. de Beauvilliers is unconvinced and angry—The Kling announces the appointment of the Duke of Bur- gundy—The Duke of Berry to serve as a volunteer—The King of England to serve under the name of Chevalier de St. Georges Bergheyck and Puys^gur sent to confer with Vendome—The hero snubs them—The King shows Samuel Bernard over the grounds at Marly and extracts much-needed supplies from him—Death of Mansart—Hasty departure of a bridge—Mansart's bad taste—Rivals for his office—Death of La Frette—His duel and its consequences Death of the Countess de Grammont—Chamillart in trouble— advise him to speak openly to the King—Satisfactory result pp. 65-87 CHAPTER V 1708 Coureillon marries Pompadour's daughter—Lanjamet—The Prince de L6on—A queer elopement—Madame de Roquelaure demands the Prince's head— Scandalous amusement of the courtiers—My mother- in-law implicated—A country maid startled—The matter arranged peaceably—Cardinal de Bouillon visits me at La Fert^—His pride and absurdities—The King displeased at his long stay—Illness and death of Madame da Pontchartrain—Affected grief of the widower He allows himself to be persuaded to return to liis duties—AiHiction of Madame de Saint-Simon—I pay a visit to La VriUiere at Chateau- neuf—The Duke of Orleans in Spain—He finds nothing ready for his campaign—His vexation with Madame des Ursins—Proposes a scurrilous toast—Madame des Ursins and Madame de Maintenon vow vengeance—The Duke impenitent—He takes Tortosa—Minorca captured by the English—Death of Madame de Chatillon pp. 88-100 CHAPTER VI 1708 An inauspicious day chosen for the Duke of Burgundy's departure—He passes by Cambrai—Affectionate meeting with the Archbishop The —— CONTENTS vii King of England joins the army—Vendflme's sloth—He misses a favourable opportimity—Marlborough steals three marches on him Battle of Oudenarde—Confusion and disorder—Venddme's insolence to the Duke of Burgundy—The Vidame d' Amiens and Nangis save the fragments of the army—The Duke of Burgundy retires to Lawen- deghem—-Unsatisfactory despatches received from him and Ven- dome—Biron returns as a prisoner on parole—His report of the hostile Generals—Marlborough expresses deep interest in the Chevalier de St. Georges—Prince Eugene and the Swiss troops—The cabal of Meudon—Its objects—Endeavours to throw discredit on the Duke of Burgundy—Alberoni's artful letter—Exposure of its lies— ScurrUoua lampoons against the Duke of Bvirgundy—It becomes dangerous to say a word in his favour—The Duke de Beauvilliers admits his mistake pp. 107-125 CHAPTER VII 1708 The Duchess of Burgundy's anger aroused against VendSme—Madame de Maintenon sides with her, and is temporarily reconciled with M. de Beauvilliers—Alarm of the cabal—The King annoyed by the Duchess of Burgundy's complaints—Chamillart's advice to the Duke of Bur- gundy—The Duchess's anger— She determines, in conjunction with Madame de Maintenon, to ruin Chamillait—Harcourt assists them Villeroy and d'Antin on the same side—D'Antin and the Duchess of Burgundy—Annoyance of Madame la Duchesse—Her character Madame de Villeroy brings about an alliance between the Duchess of Burgundy and the Duchess of Orleans—A league of Italian States against the Emperor proposed—The King misses a great opportunity —Marshal Boufflers offers to defend LUle—His offer accepted—The AUies invest Lille—Braggadocio of Vendome and his cabal—VendSme ordered to relieve Lille at any cost—Anxiety of the Court—A battle hourly expected—I bet four pistoles that Lille will be taken without a battle—My bet misrepresented to the King to my injury—Manoeuvres of the armies—Fresh outburst of calumnies and lampoons against the Duke of Burgundy ....... pp. 126-149 CHAPTER VIII 1708 Chamillart sent to Flanders—The cabal exalt the Duke of Berry at his brother's expense—Vendome announces the approaching relief of LUle—The King's intense anxiety—Insensibility of Monseigneur—His memory for trifles—His mind poisoned against his eldest son-—His open preference for the Duke of Berry—Insidious calumnies against the Duke of Burgundy—The Duchess and Madame de Maintenon powerless—Stubborn defence of Lillo—A huge convoy of the Allies attacked at Wynendaal—The attack beaten off with heavy loss— The town of LiUe surrenders, and Boufflers retires to the citadel Vend6me captures Leffingen—I wish to retire to La Fert6—M.

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