the memoirs of louis xiv-03-第1部分

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The　Memoirs　of　Louis　XIV。；　His　Court　and　The　Regency；　V3

by　Duc　de　Saint…Simon




　　　　　　　　　　MEMOIRS　OF　LOUIS　XIV　AND　HIS　COURT　AND　OF　THE　REGENCY

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BY　THE　DUKE　OF　SAINT…SIMON

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　VOLUME　3。

CHAPTER　XVIII

Settlement　of　the　Spanish　Succession。King　William　III。New　Party　in
Spain。Their　Attack　on　the　Queen。Perplexity　of　the　King。His　Will。
Scene　at　the　Palace。News　Sent　to　France。Council　at　Madame　de
Maintenon's。The　King's　Decision。A　Public　Declaration。Treatment　of
the　New　King。His　Departure　for　Spain。Reflections。Philip　V。　Arrives
in　Spain。The　Queen　Dowager　Banished。


CHAPTER　XIX

Marriage　of　Phillip　V。The　Queen's　Journey。Rival　Dishes。
A　Delicate　Quarrel。The　King's　journey　to　Italy。The　Intrigues　against
Catinat。Vaudemont　s　Success。Appointment　of　Villeroy。The　First
Campaign。A　Snuffbox。Prince　Eugene's　Plan。Attack　and　Defence　of
Cremona。Villeroy　Made　Prisoner。Appointment　of　M。　de　Vendome。


CHAPTER　XX

Discontent　and　Death　of　Barbezieux。His　Character。Elevation　of
Chamillart。Strange　Reasons　of　His　Success。Death　of　Rose。Anecdotes。
An　Invasion　of　Foxes。M。　le　Prince。A　Horse　upon　Roses。Marriage　of
His　Daughter：　His　Manners　and　Appearance


CHAPTER　XXI

Monseigneur's　Indigestion。The　King　Disturbed。The　Ladies　of　the
Halle。Quarrel　of　the　King　and　His　Brother。Mutual　Reproaches。
Monsieur's　Confessors。A　New　Scene　of　Wrangling。Monsieur　at　Table。
He　Is　Seized　with　Apoplexy。The　News　Carried　to　Marly。How　Received　by
the　King。Death　of　Monsieur。Various　Forms　of　Grief。The　Duc　de
Chartres。


CHAPTER　XXII

The　Dead　Soon　Forgotten。Feelings　of　Madame　de　Maintenon。And　of　the
Duc　de　Chartres。Of　the　Courtiers。Madame's　Mode　of　Life。Character　of
Monsieur。Anecdote　of　M。　le　Prince。Strange　Interview　of　Madame　de
Maintenon　with　Madame。Mourning　at　Court。Death　of　Henriette
d'Angleterre。A　Poisoning　Scene。The　King　and　the　Accomplice。


CHAPTER　XXIII

Scandalous　Adventure　of　the　Abbesse　de　la　Joye。Anecdote　of　Madame　de
Saint…Herem。Death　of　James　II。　and　Recognition　of　His　Son。Alliance
against　France。Scene　at　St。　Maur。Balls　and　Plays。The　〃Electra〃　of
LongepierreRomantic　Adventures　of　the　Abbe　de　Vatterville。


CHAPTER　XXIV

Changes　in　the　Army。I　Leave　the　Service。Annoyance　of　the　King。The
Medallic　History　of　the　Reign。Louis　XIII。Death　of　William　III。
Accession　of　Queen　Anne。The　Alliance　Continued。Anecdotes　of　Catinat。
Madame　de　Maintenon　and　the　King。




CHAPTER　XVIII

For　the　last　two　or　three　years　the　King　of　Spain　had　been　in　very　weak
health；　and　in　danger　of　his　life　several　times。　　He　had　no　children；　and
no　hope　of　having　any。　　The　question；　therefore；　of　the　succession　to　his
vast　empire　began　now　to　agitate　every　European　Court。　　The　King　of
England　（William　III。）；　who　since　his　usurpation　had　much　augmented　his
credit　by　the　grand　alliance　he　had　formed　against　France；　and　of　which
he　had　been　the　soul　and　the　chief　up　to　the　Peace　of　Ryswick；　undertook
to　arrange　this　question　in　a　manner　that　should　prevent　war　when　the
King　of　Spain　died。　　His　plan　was　to　give　Spain；　the　Indies；　the　Low
Countries；　and　the　title　of　King　of　Spain　to　the　Archduke；　second　son　of
the　Emperor；　Guipuscoa；　Naples；　Sicily；　and　Lorraine　to　France；　and　the
Milanese　to　M。　de　Lorraine；　as　compensation　for　taking　away　from　him　his
territory。

The　King　of　England　made　this　proposition　first　of　all　to　our　King；　who；
tired　of　war；　and　anxious　for　repose；　as　was　natural　at　his　age；　made　few
difficulties；　and　soon　accepted。　　M。　de　Lorraine　was　not　in　a　position　to
refuse　his　consent　to　a　change　recommended　by　England；　France；　and
Holland。　　Thus　much　being　settled；　the　Emperor　was　next　applied　to。　　But
he　was　not　so　easy　to　persuade：　he　wished　to　inherit　the　entire
succession；　and　would　not　brook　the　idea　of　seeing　the　House　of　Austria
driven　from　Italy；　as　it　would　have　been　if　the　King　of　England's
proposal　had　been　carried　out。　　He　therefore　declared　it　was　altogether
unheard　of　and　unnatural　to　divide　a　succession　under　such　circumstances；
and　that　he　would　hear　nothing　upon　the　subject　until　after　the　death　of
the　King　of　Spain。　　The　resistance　he　made　caused　the　whole　scheme　to
come　to　the　ears　of　the　King　of　Spain；　instead　of　remaining　a　secret；　as
was　intended。

The　King　of　Spain　made　a　great　stir　in　consequence　of　what　had　taken
place；　as　though　the　project　had　been　formed　to　strip　him；　during　his
lifetime；　of　his　realm。　　His　ambassador　in　England　spoke　so　insolently
that　he　was　ordered　to　leave　the　country　by　William；　and　retired　to
Flanders。　　The　Emperor；　who　did　not　wish　to　quarrel　with　England；
intervened　at　this　point；　and　brought　about　a　reconciliation　between　the
two　powers。　　The　Spanish　ambassador　returned　to　London。

The　Emperor　next　endeavoured　to　strengthen　his　party　in　Spain。　　The
reigning　Queen　was　his　sister…in…law　and　was　all…powerful。　　Such　of　the
nobility　and　of　the　ministers　who　would　not　bend　before　her　she　caused　to
be　dismissed；　and　none　were　favoured　by　her　who　were　not　partisans　of　the
House　of　Austria。　　The　Emperor　had；　therefore；　a　powerful　ally　at　the
Court　of　Madrid　to　aid　him　in　carrying　out　his　plans；　and　the　King　was　so
much　in　his　favour；　that　he　had　made　a　will　bequeathing　his　succession　to
the　Archduke。　　Everything　therefore　seemed　to　promise　success　to　the
Emperor。

But　just　at　this　time；　a　small　party　arose　in　Spain；　equally　opposed　to
the　Emperor；　and　to　the　propositions　of　the　King　of　England。　　This　party
consisted　at　first　of　only　five　persons：　namely；　Villafranca；　Medina…
Sidonia；　Villagarcias；　Villena；　and　San　Estevan；　all　of　them　nobles；　and
well　instructed　in　the　affairs　of　government。　　Their　wish　was　to　prevent
the　dismemberment　of　the　Spanish　kingdom　by　conferring　the　whole
succession　upon　the　son　of　the　only　son　of　the　Queen　of　France；　Maria
Theresa；　sister　of　the　King　of　Spain。　　There　were；　however；　two　great
obstacles　in　their　path。　　Maria　Theresa；　upon　her　marriage　with　our　King；
had　solemnly　renounced　all　claim　to　the　Spanish　throne；　and　these
renunciations　had　been　repeated　at　the　Peace　of　the　Pyrenees。　　The　other
obstacle　was　the　affection　the　King　of　Spain　bore　to　the　House　of
Austria；an　affection　which　naturally　would　render　him　opposed　to　any
project　by　which　a　rival　house　would　be　aggrandised　at　its　expense。

As　to　the　first　obstacle；　these　politicians　were　of　opinion　that　the
renunciations　made　by　Maria　Theresa　held　good　only　as　far　as　they　applied
to　the　object　for　which　they　were　made。　　That　object　was　to　prevent　the
crowns　of　France　and　Spain　from　being　united　upon　one　head；　as　might　have
happened　in　the　person　of　the　Dauphin。　　But　now　that　the　Dauphin　had
three　sons；　the　second　of　whom　could　be　called　to　the　throne　of　Spain；
the　renunciations　of　the　Queen　became　of　no　import。　　As　to　the　second
obstacle；　it　was　only　to　be　removed　by　great　perseverance　and　exertions；
but　they　determined　to　leave　no　stone　unturned　to　achieve　their　ends。

One　of　the　first　resolutions　of　this　little　party　was　to　bind　one　another
to　secrecy。　　Their　next　was　to　admit　into　their　confidence　Cardinal
Portocarrero；　a　determined　enemy　to　the　Queen。　　Then　they　commenced　an
attack　upon　the　Queen　in　the　council；　and　being　supported　by　the　popular
voice；　succeeded　in　driving　out　of　the　country　Madame　Berlips；　a　German
favourite　of　hers；　who　was　much　hated　on　account　of　the　undue　influence
she　exerted；　and　the　rapacity　she　displayed。　　The　next　measure　was　of
equal　importance。　　Madrid　and　its　environs　groaned　under　the　weight　of
a　regiment　of　Germans　commanded　by　the　Prince　of　Darmstadt。　　The　council
decreed　that　this　regiment　should　be　disbanded；　and　the　Prince　thanked
for　his　assistance。　　These　two　blows　following　upon　each　other　so
closely；　frightened　the　Queen；　isolated　her；　and　put　it　out　of　her　power
to　act　during　the　rest　of　the　life　of　the　King。

There　was　yet　one　of　the　preliminary　steps　to　take；　without　which　it　was
thought　that　success　would　not　be　certain。　　This　was　to　dismiss　the
King's　Confessor；　who　had　been　given　to　him　by　the　Queen；　and　who　was　a
zealous　Austrian。

Cardinal　Portocarrero　was　charged　with　this　duty；　and　he　succeeded　so
well；　that　two　birds　were　killed　with　one　stone。　　The　Confessor　was
dismissed；　and　another　was　put　in　his　place；　who　could　be　relied　upon　to
do　and　say　exactly　as　he　was　requested。　　Thus；　the　King　of　Spain　was
influenced　in　his　conscience；　which　had　over　him　so　much　the　more　power；
because　he　was　beginning　to　look　upon　the　things　of　this　world　by　the
glare　of　that　terrible　flambeau　that　is　lighted　for　the　dying。　　The
Confessor　and　the　Cardinal；　after　a　short　time；　began　unceasingly　to
attack　the　King　upon　the　subject　of　the　succession。　　The　King；　enfeebled
by　illness；　and　by　a　lifetime　of　weak　health；　had　little　power　of
resistance。　　Pressed　by　the　many　temporal；　and　affrighted　by　the　many
spiritual　reasons　which　were　brought　forward　by　the　two　ecclesiastics；
with　no　friend　near　whose　opinion　he　could　consult；　no　Austrian　at　hand
to　confer　with；　and　no　Spaniard　who　was　not　opposed　to　Austria；the　King
fell　into　a　profound　perplexity；　and　in　this　strait；　proposed　to　consult
the　Pope；　as　an　authority　whose　decision　would　be　infallible。　　The
Cardinal；　who　felt　persuaded　that　the　Pope　was　sufficiently　enlightened
and　sufficiently　impartial　to　declare　in　favour　of　France；　assented　to
this　step；　and　the　King　of　Spain　accordingly　wrote　a　long　letter　to　Rome；
feeling　much　relieved　by　the　course　he　had　adopted。

The　Pope　replied　at　once　and　in　the　most　decided　manner。　　He　said　he　saw
clearly　that　the　children　of　the　Dauphin　were　the　next　heirs　to　the
Spanish　throne；　and　that　the　House　of　Austria　had　not　the　smallest　right
to　it。　　He　recommended　therefore　the　King　of　Spain　to　render　justice　to
whom　justice　was　due；　and　to　assign　the　succession　of　his　monarchy　to　a
son　of　France。　　This　reply；　and　the　letter　which　had　given　rise　to　it；
were　kept　so　profoundly　secret　that　they　were　not　known　in　Spain　until
after　the　King's　death。

Directly　the　Pope's　answer　had　been　received　the　King　was　pressed　to　make
a　fresh　will；　and　to　destroy　that　which　he　had　previously　made　in　favour
of　the　A