Chapter I: Front Matter

MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV AND HIS COURT AND OF THE REGENCY

BY THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON

CONTENTS OF THE 15 VOLUMES

VOLUME 1.

CHAPTER I

Birth and Family.--Early Life.--Desire to join the Army.--Enter the Musketeers.--The Campaign Commences.--Camp of Gevries.--Siege of Namur. --Dreadful Weather.--Gentlemen Carrying Corn.--Sufferings during the Siege.--The Monks of Marlaigne.--Rival Couriers.--Naval Battle.-- Playing with Fire-arms.--A Prediction Verified.

CHAPTER II

The King's Natural Children.--Proposed Marriage of the Duc de Chartres.-- Influence of Dubois.--The Duke and the King.--An Apartment.--Announcement of the Marriage.--Anger of Madame.--Household of the Duchess.--Villars and Rochefort.--Friend of King's Mistresses.--The Marriage Ceremony.-- Toilette of the Duchess.--Son of Montbron.--Marriage of M. du Maine.-- Duchess of Hanover.--Duc de Choiseul.--La Grande Mademoiselle.

CHAPTER III

Death of My Father.--Anecdotes of Louis XIII.--The Cardinal de Richelieu.--The Duc de Bellegarde.--Madame de Hautefort.--My Father's Enemy.--His Services and Reward.--A Duel against Law.--An Answer to a Libel.--M. de la Rochefoucauld.--My Father's Gratitude to Louis XIII.

CHAPTER IV

Position of the Prince of Orange.--Strange Conduct of the King.--Surprise and Indignation.--Battle of Neerwinden.--My Return to Paris.--Death of La Vauguyon.--Symptoms of Madness.--Vauguyon at the Bastille.--Projects of Marriage.--M. de Beauvilliers.--A Negotiation for a Wife.--My Failure.-- Visit to La Trappe.

CHAPTER V

M. de Luxemhourg's Claim of Precedence.--Origin of the Claim.--Duc de Piney.--Character of Harlay.--Progress of the Trial.--Luxembourg and Richelieu.--Double-dealing of Harlay.--The Duc de Gesvres.--Return to the Seat of War.--Divers Operations.--Origin of These Memoirs.

CHAPTER VI

Quarrels of the Princesses.--Mademoiselle Choin.--A Disgraceful Affair.-- M. de Noyon.--Comic Scene at the Academie.--Anger and Forgiveness of M. de Noyon.--M. de Noailles in Disgrace.--How He Gets into Favour Again. --M. de Vendome in Command.--Character of M. de Luxembourg.-- The Trial for Precedence Again.--An Insolent Lawyer.--Extraordinary Decree.

CHAPTER VII

Harlay and the Dutch.--Death of the Princess of Orange.--Count Koenigsmarck.--A New Proposal of Marriage.--My Marriage.--That of M. de Lauzun.--Its Result.--La Fontaine and Mignard.--Illness of the Marechal de Lorges.--Operations on the Rhine.--Village of Seckenheim.--An Episode of War.--Cowardice of M. du Maine.--Despair of the King, Who Takes a Knave in the Act.--Bon Mot of M. d'Elboeuf.

CHAPTER VIII

The Abbe de Fenelon.--The Jansenists and St. Sulpice.--Alliance with Madame Guyon.--Preceptor of the Royal Children.--Acquaintance with Madame de Maintenon.--Appointment to Cambrai.--Disclosure of Madame Guyon's Doctrines.--Her Disgrace.--Bossuet and Fenelon.--Two Rival Books.-- Disgrace of Fenelon.

VOLUME 2.