Produced by David Widger 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