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The Memoirs of Louis XIV。； His Court and The Regency； V4
by Duc de Saint…Simon
MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV AND HIS COURT AND OF THE REGENCY
BY THE DUKE OF SAINT…SIMON
VOLUME 4。
CHAPTER XXV
Anecdote of Canaples。Death of the Duc de Coislin。Anecdotes of His
Unbearable Politeness。Eccentric Character。President de Novion。
Death of M。 de Lorges。Death of the Duchesse de Gesvres。
CHAPTER XXVI
The Prince d'Harcourt。His Character and That of His Wife。Odd Court
Lady。She Cheats at Play。Scene at Fontainebleau。Crackers at Marly。
Snowballing a Princess。Strange Manners of Madame d'Harcourt。
Rebellion among Her Servants。A Vigorous Chambermaid。
CHAPTER XXVII
Madame des Ursins。Her Marriage and Character。The Queen of Spain。
Ambition of Madame de Maintenon。Coronation of Philip V。A Cardinal
Made Colonel。Favourites of Madame des Ursins。Her Complete Triumph。
A Mistake。A Despatch Violated。Madame des Ursins in Disgrace。
CHAPTER XXVIII
Appointment of the Duke of Berwick。Deception Practised by Orry。Anger
of Louis XIV。Dismissal of Madame des Ursins。Her Intrigues to Return。
Annoyance of the King and Queen of Spain。Intrigues at Versailles。
Triumphant Return of Madame des Ursins to Court。Baseness of the
Courtiers。Her Return to Spain Resolved On。
CHAPTER XXIX
An Honest Courtier。Robbery of Courtin and Fieubet。An Important
Affair。My Interview with the King。His Jealousy of His Authority。
Madame La Queue； the King's Daughter。Battle of Blenheim or Hochstedt。
Our Defeat。Effect of the News on the King。Public Grief and Public
Rejoicing。Death of My Friend Montfort。
CHAPTER XXX
Naval Battle of Malaga。Danger of Gibraltar。Duke of Mantua in Search
of a Wife。Duchesse de Lesdiguieres。Strange Intrigues。Mademoiselle
d'Elboeuf Carries off the Prize。A Curious Marriage。Its Result。
History of a Conversion to Catholicism。Attempted Assassination。
Singular Seclusion
CHAPTER XXXI
Fascination of the Duchesse de Bourgogne。Fortunes of Nangis。He Is
Loved by the Duchesse and Her Dame d'Atours。Discretion of the Court。
Maulevrier。His Courtship of the Duchess。Singular Trick。Its Strange
Success。Mad Conduct of MaulevrierHe Is Sent to Spain。His Adventures
There。His Return and Tragical Catastrophe。
CHAPTER XXXII
Death of M。 de Duras。Selfishness of the King。Anecdote of Puysieux。
Character of Pontchartrain。Why He Ruined the French Fleet。Madame des
Ursins at Last Resolves to Return to Spain。Favours Heaped upon Her。
M。 de Lauzun at the Army。His bon mot。Conduct of M。 de Vendome。
Disgrace and Character of the Grand Prieur。
CHAPTER XXV
Canaples； brother of the Marechal de Crequi； wished to marry Mademoiselle
de Vivonne who was no longer young； but was distinguished by talent；
virtue and high birth； she had not a penny。 The Cardinal de Coislin；
thinking Canaples too old to marry； told him so。 Canaples said he wanted
to have children。 〃Children！〃 exclaimed the Cardinal。 〃But she is so
virtuous！〃 Everybody burst out laughing； and the more willingly； as the
Cardinal； very pure in his manners； was still more so in his language。
His saying was verified by the event： the marriage proved sterile。
The Duc de Coislin died about this time。 I have related in its proper
place an adventure that happened to him and his brother； the Chevalier de
Coislin： now I will say something more of the Duke。 He was a very little
man； of much humour and virtue； but of a politeness that was unendurable；
and that passed all bounds； though not incompatible with dignity。 He had
been lieutenant…general in the army。 Upon one occasion； after a battle
in which he had taken part； one of the Rhingraves who had been made
prisoner； fell to his lot。 The Duc de Coislin wished to give up to the
other his bed； which consisted indeed of but a mattress。 They
complimented each other so much； the one pressing； the other refusing；
that in the end they both slept upon the ground； leaving the mattress
between them。 The Rhingrave in due time came to Paris and called on the
Duc de Coislin。 When he was going； there was such a profusion of
compliments； and the Duke insisted so much on seeing him out； that the
Rhingrave； as a last resource； ran out of the room； and double locked the
door outside。 M。 de Coislin was not thus to be outdone。 His apartments
were only a few feet above the ground。 He opened the window accordingly；
leaped out into the court； and arrived thus at the entrance…door before
the Rhingrave； who thought the devil must have carried him there。 The
Duc de Coislin； however； had managed to put his thumb out of joint by
this leap。 He called in Felix； chief surgeon of the King； who soon put
the thumb to rights。 Soon afterwards Felix made a call upon M。 de
Coislin to see how he was； and found that the cure was perfect。 As he
was about to leave； M。 de Coislin must needs open the door for him。
Felix； with a shower of bows； tried hard to prevent this； and while they
were thus vying in politeness； each with a hand upon the door； the Duke
suddenly drew back； he had put his thumb out of joint again； and Felix
was obliged to attend to it on the spot！ It may be imagined what
laughter this story caused the King； and everybody else； when it became
known。
There was no end to the outrageous civilities of M。 de Coislin。 On
returning from Fontainebleau one day； we； that is Madame de Saint…Simon
and myself； encountered M。 de Coislin and his son； M。 de Metz； on foot
upon the pavement of Ponthierry； where their coach had broken down。 We
sent word； accordingly； that we should be glad to accommodate them in
ours。 But message followed message on both sides； and at last I was
compelled to alight and to walk through the mud； begging them to mount
into my coach。 M。 de Coislin； yielding to my prayers； consented to this。
M。 de Metz was furious with him for his compliments； and at last
prevailed on him。 When M。 de Coislin had accepted my offer and we had
nothing more to do than to gain the coach； he began to capitulate； and to
protest that he would not displace the two young ladies he saw seated in
the vehicle。 I told him that the two young ladies were chambermaids； who
could well afford to wait until the other carriage was mended； and then
continue their journey in that。 But he would not hear of this； and at
last all that M。 de Metz and I could do was to compromise the matter； by
agreeing to take one of the chambermaids with us。 When we arrived at the
coach； they both descended； in order to allow us to mount。 During the
compliments that passedand they were not shortI told the servant who
held the coach…door open； to close it as soon as I was inside； and to
order the coachman to drive on at once。 This was done； but M。 de Coislin
immediately began to cry aloud that he would jump out if we did not stop
for the young ladies； and he set himself to do so in such an odd manner；
that I had only time to catch hold of the belt of his breeches and hold
him back； but he still； with his head hanging out of the window；
exclaimed that he would leap out； and pulled against me。 At this
absurdity I called to