the memoirs of louis xiv-12-第1部分

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The　Memoirs　of　Louis　XIV。；　His　Court　and　The　Regency；　V12

by　Duc　de　Saint…Simon






MEMOIRS　OF　LOUIS　XIV　AND　HIS　COURT　AND　OF　THE　REGENCY

BY　THE　DUKE　OF　SAINT…SIMON

VOLUME　12。



Contents


CHAPTER　LXXXVIII

Policy　and　Schemes　of　Alberoni。He　is　Made　a　Cardinal。Other　Rewards
Bestowed　on　Him。Dispute　with　the　Majordomo。An　Irruption　into　the
Royal　Apartment。The　Cardinal　Thrashed。Extraordinary　Scene。


CHAPTER　LXXXIX

Anecdote　of　the　Duc　d'Orleans。He　Pretends　to　Reform　Trick　Played　upon
Me。His　Hoaxes。His　Panegyric　of　Me。Madame　de　Sabran。How　the　Regent
Treated　His　Mistresses。


CHAPTER　XC

Encroachments　of　the　Parliament。The　Money　Edict。Conflict　of　Powers
Vigorous　Conduct　of　the　Parliament。Opposed　with　Equal　Vigour　by　the
Regent。Anecdote　of　the　Duchesse　du　Maine。Further　Proceedings　of　the
Parliament。Influence　of　the　Reading　of　Memoirs。Conduct　of　the
Regent。My　Political　Attitude。Conversation　with　the　Regent　on　the
Subject　of　the　Parliament。Proposal　to　Hang　Law。Meeting　at　My　House。
Law　Takes　Refuge　in　the　Palais　Royal。


CHAPTER　XCI

Proposed　Bed　of　Justice。My　Scheme。Interview　with　the　Regent。
The　Necessary　Seats　for　the　Assembly。I　Go　in　Search　of　Fontanieu。
My　Interview　with　Hini。I　Return　to　the　Palace。Preparations。
Proposals　of　M。　le　Duc　to　Degrade　M。　du　Maine。My　Opposition。My　Joy
and　Delight。The　Bed　of　Justice　Finally　Determined　On。A　Charming
Messenger。Final　Preparations。Illness　of　the　Regent。News　Given　to
M。　du　Maine。Resolution　of　the　Parliament。Military　Arrangements。I　Am
Summoned　to　the　Council。My　Message　to　the　Comte　de　Toulouse。


CHAPTER　XCII

The　Material　Preparations　for　the　Bed　of　JusticeArrival　of　the　Duc
d'Orleans：The　Council　Chamber。Attitude　of　the　Various　Actors。The
Duc　du　Maine。Various　Movements。Arrival　of　the　Duc　de　Toulouse。
Anxiety　of　the　Two　Bastards。They　Leave　the　Room。Subsequent
Proceedings。Arrangement　of　the　Council　Chamber。Speech　of　the　Regent。
Countenances　of　the　Members　of　Council。The　Regent　Explains　the　Object
of　the　Bed　of　Justice。Speech　of　the　Keeper　of　the　Seals。Taking　the
Votes。Incidents　That　Followed。New　Speech　of　the　Duc　d'Orleans。
Against　the　Bastards。My　Joy。I　Express　My　Opinion　Modestly。Exception
in　Favour　of　the　Comte　de　Toulouse。New　Proposal　of　M。　le　Duc。Its
Effect。Threatened　Disobedience　of　the　Parliament。Proper　Measures。
The　Parliament　Sets　Out。


CHAPTER　XCIII

Continuation　of　the　Scene　in　the　Council　Chamber。Slowness　of　the
Parliament。They　Arrive　at　Last。The　King　Fetched。Commencement　of　the
Bed　of　Justice。My　Arrival。Its　Effect。What　I　Observed。Absence　of
the　Bastards　Noticed。Appearance　of　the　King。　The　Keeper　of　the　Seals。
The　Proceedings　Opened。Humiliation　of　the　Parliament。Speech　of　the
Chief…President。New　Announcement。Fall　of　the　Duc　du　Maine　Announced。
Rage　of　the　Chief…President。My　Extreme　joy。M。　le　Duc　Substituted
for　M。　du　Maine。Indifference　of　the　King。Registration　of　the　Decrees。


CHAPTER　XCIV

My　Return　Home。Wanted　for　a　New　Commission。Go　to　the　Palais　Royal。
A　Cunning　Page。My　journey　to　Saint…Cloud。My　Reception。Interview
with　the　Duchesse　d'Orleans。Her　Grief。My　Embarrassment。Interview
with　Madame。Her　Triumph。Letter　of　the　Duchesse　d'Orleans。She　Comes
to　Paris。Quarrels　with　the　Regent。


CHAPTER　XCV

Intrigues　of　M。　du　Maine。And　of　Cellamare；　the　Spanish　Ambassador。
Monteleon　and　Portocarrero。Their　Despatches。How　Signed。The
Conspiracy　Revealed。Conduct　of　the　Regent。Arrest　of　Cellamare。His
House　Searched。The　Regency　Council。Speech　of　the　Duc　d'Orleans。
Resolutions　Come　To。Arrests。Relations　with　Spain。Alberoni　and
Saint…Aignan。Their　Quarrel。Escape　of　Saint…Aignan。


CHAPTER　XCVI

The　Regent　Sends　for　Me。Guilt　of　the　Duc　de　Maine。Proposed　Arrest。
Discussion　on　the　Prison　to　Be　Chosen。The　Arrest。His　Dejection。
Arrest　of　the　Duchess。Her　Rage。Taken　to　Dijon。Other　Arrests。
Conduct　of　the　Comte　de　Toulouse。The　Faux　Sauniers。Imprisonment　of
the　Duc　and　Duchesse　du　Maine。Their　Sham　Disagreement。Their
Liberation。Their　Reconciliation。




CHAPTER　LXXXVIII

The　Abbe　Alberoni；　having　risen　by　the　means　I　have　described；　and
acquired　power　by　following　in　the　track　of　the　Princesse　des　Ursins；
governed　Spain　like　a　master。　　He　had　the　most　ambitious　projects。　　One
of　his　ideas　was　to　drive　all　strangers；　especially　the　French；　out　of
the　West　Indies；　and　he　hoped　to　make　use　of　the　Dutch　to　attain　this
end。　　But　Holland　was　too　much　in　the　dependence　of　England。

At　home　Alberoni　proposed　many　useful　reforms；　and　endeavoured　to
diminish　the　expenses　of　the　royal　household。　　He　thought；　with　reason；
that　a　strong　navy　was　the　necessary　basis　of　the　power　of　Spain；　and　to
create　one　he　endeavoured　to　economise　the　public　money。　　He　flattered
the　King　with　the　idea　that　next　year　he　would　arm　forty　vessels　to
protect　the　commerce　of　the　Spanish　Indies。　　He　had　the　address　to　boast
of　his　disinterestedness；　in　that　whilst　working　at　all　manner　of
business　he　had　never　received　any　grace　from　the　King；　and　lived　only
on　fifty　pistoles；　which　the　Duke　of　Parma；　his　master；　gave　him　every
month；　and　therefore　he　made　gently　some　complaints　against　the
ingratitude　of　princes。

Alberoni　had　persuaded　the　Queen　of　Spain　to　keep　her　husband　shut　up；
as　had　the　Princesse　des　Ursins。　　This　was　a　certain　means　of　governing　a
prince　whose　temperament　and　whose　conscience　equally　attached　him　to　his
spouse。　　He　was　soon　completely　governed　once　moreunder　lock　and　key；
as　it　were；　night　and　day。　　By　this　means　the　Queen　was　jailoress　and
prisoner　at　the　same　time。　　As　she　was　constantly　with　the　King　nobody
could　come　to　her。　　Thus　Alberoni　kept　them　both　shut　up；　with　the　key　of
their　prison　in　his　pocket。

One　of　the　chief　objects　of　his　ambition　was　the　Cardinal's　hat。　　It
would　be　too　long　to　relate　the　schemes　he　set　on　foot　to　attain　his　end。
He　was　opposed　by　a　violent　party　at　Rome；　but　at　last　his　inflexible
will　and　extreme　cunning　gained　the　day。　　The　Pope；　no　longer　able　to
resist　the　menaces　of　the　King　of　Spain；　and　dreading　the　vengeance　of
the　all…powerful　minister；　consented　to　grant　the　favour　that　minister
had　so　pertinaciously　demanded。　　Alberoni　was　made　Cardinal　on　the　12th
of　July；　1717。　　Not　a　soul　approved　this　promotion　when　it　was　announced
at　the　consistory。　　Not　a　single　cardinal　uttered　a　word　in　praise　of　the
new　confrere；　but　many　openly　disapproved　his　nomination。　　Alberoni's
good　fortune　did　not　stop　here。　　At　the　death；　some　little　time　after；
of　the　Bishop　of　Malaga；　that　rich　see；　worth　thirty　thousand　ecus　a
year；　was　given　to　him。　　He　received　it　as　the　mere　introduction　to　the
grandest　and　richest　sees　of　Spain；　when　they　should　become　vacant。
The　King　of　Spain　gave　him　also　twenty　thousand　ducats；　to　be　levied　upon
property　confiscated　for　political　reasons。　　Shortly　after；　Cardinal
Arias；　Archbishop　of　Seville；　having　died；　Alberoni　was　named　to　this
rich　archbishopric。

In　the　middle　of　his　grandeur　and　good　luck　he　met　with　an　adventure　that
must　have　strangely　disconcerted　him。

I　have　before　explained　how　Madame　des　Ursins　and　the　deceased　Queen　had
kept　the　King　of　Spain　screened　from　all　eyes；　inaccessible　to　all　his
Court；　a　very　palace…hermit。　　Alberoni；　as　I　have　said；　followed　their
example。　　He　kept　the　King　even　more　closely　imprisoned　than　before；　and
allowed　no　one；　except　a　few　indispensable　attendants；　to　approach　him。
These　attendants　were　a　small　number　of　valets　and　doctors；　two　gentlemen
of　the　chamber；　one　or　two　ladies；　and　the　majordomo…major　of　the　King。
This　last　post　was　filled　by　the　Duc　d'Escalone；　always　called　Marquis　de
Villena；　in　every　way　one　of　the　greatest　noblemen　in　Spain；　and　most
respected　and　revered　of　all；　and　justly　so；　for　his　virtue；　his
appointment；　and　his　services。

Now　the　King's　doctors　are　entirely　under　the　authority　of　the　majordomo…
major。　　He　ought　to　be　present　at　all　their　consultations；　the　King
should　take　no　remedy　that　he　is　not　told　of；　or　that　he　does　not
approve；　or　that　he　does　not　see　taken；　an　account　of　all　the　medicines
should　be　rendered　to　him。　　Just　at　this　time　the　King　was　ill。　　Villena
wished　to　discharge　the　duties　attached　to　his　post　of　majordomo…major。
Alberoni　caused　it　to　be　insinuated　to　him；　that　the　King　wished　to　be　at
liberty；　and　that　he　would　be　better　liked　if　he　kept　at　home；　or　had　the
discretion　and　civility　not　to　enter　the　royal　chamber；　but　to　ask　at　the
door　for　news。　　This　was　language　the　Marquis　would　not　understand。

At　the　end　of　the　grand　cabinet　of　the　mirrors　was　placed　a　bed；　in　which
the　King　was　laid；　in　front　of　the　door；　and　as　the　room　is　vast　and
long；　it　is　a　good　distance　from　the　door　（which　leads　to　the　interior）
to　the　place　where　the　bed　was。　　Alberoni　again　caused　the　Marquis　to　be
informed　that　his　attentions　were　troublesome；　but　the　Marquis　did　not
fail　to　enter　as　before。　　At　last；　in　concert　with　the　Queen；　the
Cardinal　resolved　to　refuse　him　admission。　　The　Marquis；　presenting
himself　one　afternoon；　a　valet　partly　opened　the　door　and　said；　with　much
confusion；　that　he　was　forbidden　to　let　him　enter。

〃Insolent　fellow；〃　replied　the　Marquis；　〃stand　aside；〃　and　he　pushed　the
door　against　the　valet　and　entered。　　In　front　of　him　was　the　Queen；
seated　at　the　King's　pillow；　the　Cardinal　standing　by　her　side；　and　the
privileged　few；　and　not　all　of　them；　far　away　from　the　bed。　　The　Marquis；
who；　though　full　of　pride；　was　but　weak　upon　his　legs；　leisurely
advanced；　supported　upon　his　little　stick。　　The　Queen　and　the　Cardinal
saw　him　and　looked　at　each　other。　　The　King　was　too　ill　to　notice
anything；　and　his　curtains　were　closed　except　at　the　side　where　the　Queen
was。　　Seeing　the　Marquis　approach；　the　Cardinal　made　signs；　with
impatience；　to　one　of　the　valets　to　tell　him　to　go　away；　and　immediately
after；　observing　that　the　Marquis；　without　replying；　still　advanced；　he
went　to　him；　explained　to　him　that　the　King　wished　to　be　alone；　and
begged　him　to　leave。

〃That　is　not　true；〃　said　the　Marquis；　〃I　have　watched　you；　you　have　not
approached　the　bed；　and　the　King　has　said　nothing　to　you。〃

The　Cardinal　insisting；　and　without　success；　took　him　by　the　arm　t