Produced by David Widger
THE COMPLETE PROJECT GUTENBERG
HISTORIC COURT MEMOIRS OF FRANCE
AN INDEX
Various Authors
Edited by David Widger
Project Gutenberg Editions
BOOKS
## MEMOIRS OF MARGUERITE DE VALOIS QUEEN OF NAVARRE
## MEMOIRS OF JEAN FRANCOIS PAUL de GONDI, CARDINAL DE RETZ
## MEMOIRS OF MADAME LA MARQUISE DE MONTESPAN
## MEMOIRS OF THE COURT OF LOUIS XIV.AND OF THE REGENCY,
By the Duchess D'Orleans
## MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV AND HIS COURT AND OF THE REGENCY,
By the Duke of Saint-Simon
## MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XV. AND XVI.,
By Madame du Hausett, Princess Lamballe, and an Unknown English Girl
## MEMOIRS OF THE COURT OF MARIE ANTOINETTE, QUEEN OF FRANCE,
By Madam Camapn
## MEMOIRS COURT OF ST. CLOUD,
By Lewis Goldsmith
## MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT,
By Anthony Hamilton
CHAPTERS and ILLUSTRATIONS
MEMOIRS OF MARGUERITE DE VALOIS QUEEN OF NAVARRE
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Marguerite de Valois--Etching by Mercier
Bussi d' Amboise--Painting in the Versailles Gallery
Duc de Guise--Painting in the Versailles Gallery
Catherine de' Medici--Original Etching by Mercier
Henri VI. and La Fosseuse--Painting by A. P. E. Morton
A Scene at Henri's Court--Original Photogravure
LETTERS
LETTER I.
Introduction.--Anecdotes of Marguerite's Infancy.--Endeavours Used to
Convert Her to the New Religion.--She Is Confirmed in Catholicism.--The
Court on a Progress.--A Grand Festivity Suddenly Interrupted.--The
Confusion in Consequence.
LETTER II.
Message from the Duc d'Anjou, Afterwards Henri III., to King Charles His
Brother and the Queen-mother.--Her Fondness for Her Children.--Their
Interview.--Anjou's Eloquent Harangue.--The Queen-mother's Character.
Discourse of the Duc d'Anjou with Marguerite.--She Discovers Her Own
Importance.--Engages to Serve Her Brother Anjou.--Is in High Favour with
the Queenmother.
LETTER III.
Le Guast.--His Character.--Anjou Affects to Be Jealous of the
Guises.--Dissuades the Queen-mother from Reposing Confidence in
Marguerite.--She Loses the Favour of the Queen-mother and Falls
Sick.--Anjou's Hypocrisy.--He Introduces De Guise into Marguerite's Sick
Chamber.--Marguerite Demanded in Marriage by the King of Portugal.--Made
Uneasy on That Account.--Contrives to Relieve Herself.--The Match with
Portugal Broken off.
LETTER IV.
Death of the Queen of Navarre--Marguerite's Marriage with Her Son, the
King of Navarre, Afterwards Henri IV. of France.--The Preparations for
That Solemnisation Described.--The Circumstances Which Led to the
Massacre of the Huguenots on St. Bartholomew's Day.
LETTER V.
The Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day.
LETTER VI.
Henri, Duc d'Anjou, Elected King of Poland, Leaves France.--Huguenot
Plots to Withdraw the Duc d'Alencon and the King of Navarre from
Court.--Discovered and Defeated by Marguerite's Vigilance.--She Draws Up
an Eloquent Defence, Which Her Husband Delivers before a Committee from
the Court of Parliament.--Alencon and Her Husband, under a Close Arrest,
Regain Their Liberty by the Death of Charles IX.
LETTER VII.
Accession of Henri III.--A Journey to Lyons.--Marguerite's Faith in
Supernatural Intelligence.
LETTER VIII.
What Happened at Lyons.
LETTER IX.
Fresh Intrigues.--Marriage of Henri III.--Bussi Arrives at Court and
Narrowly Escapes Assassination.
LETTER X.
Bussi Is Sent from Court.--Marguerite's Husband Attacked with a Fit of
Epilepsy.--Her Great Care of Him.--Torigni Dismissed from Marguerite's
Service.--The King of Navarre and the Duc d'Alencon Secretly Leave the
Court.
LETTER XI.
Queen Marguerite under Arrest.--Attempt on Torigni's Life.--Her Fortunate
Deliverance.
LETTER XII.
The Peace of Sens betwixt Henri III. and the Huguenots.
LETTER XIII.
The League.--War Declared against the Huguenots.--Queen Marguerite Sets
out for Spa.
LETTER XIV.
Description of Queen Marguerite's Equipage.--Her Journey to Liege
Described.--She Enters with Success upon Her Mission.--Striking Instance
of Maternal Duty and Affection in a Great Lady.--Disasters near the Close
of the Journey.
LETTER XV.
The City of Liege Described.--Affecting Story of Mademoiselle de
Tournon.--Fatal Effects of Suppressed Anguish of Mind.
LETTER XVI.
Queen Marguerite, on Her Return from Liege, Is in Danger of Being Made a
Prisoner.--She Arrives, after Some Narrow Escapes, at La Fere.
LETTER XVII.
Good Effects of Queen Marguerite's Negotiations in Flanders.--She Obtains
Leave to Go to the King of Navarre Her Husband, but Her Journey Is
Delayed.--Court Intrigues and Plots.--The Duc d'Alencon Again Put under
Arrest.
LETTER XVIII.
The Brothers Reconciled.--Alencon Restored to His Liberty.
LETTER XIX.
The Duc d'Alencon Makes His Escape from Court.--Queen Marguerite's
Fidelity Put to a Severe Trial.
LETTER XX.
Queen Marguerite Permitted to Go to the King Her Husband.--Is Accompanied
by the Queenmother.--Marguerite Insulted by Her Husband's Secretary.--She
Harbours Jealousy.--Her Attention to the King Her Husband during an
Indisposition.--Their Reconciliation.--The War Breaks Out Afresh.--Affront
Received from Marechal de Biron.
LETTER XXI.
Situation of Affairs in Flanders.--Peace Brought About by Duc d'Alencon's
Negotiation.--Marechal de Biron Apologises for Firing on Nerac.--Henri
Desperately in Love with Fosseuse.--Queen Marguerite Discovers Fosseuse
to Be Pregnant, Which She Denies.--Fosseuse in Labour. Marguerite's
Generous Behaviour to Her.--Marguerite's Return to Paris.
MEMOIRS OF JEAN FRANCOIS PAUL de GONDI, CARDINAL DE RETZ
BOOKS
BOOK I.
BOOK II.
BOOK III.
BOOK IV.
BOOK V.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Cardinal de Retz----Photogravure from an Old Painting
Turenne----Photogravure from an Old Painting
Richelieu----Engraving by Lubin
Anne of Austria----Original Etching by Mercier
Louis XIII----Painting in the Louvre
Conde'----Painting in Versailles Gallery
MEMOIRS OF MADAME LA MARQUISE DE MONTESPAN
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Madame de Montespan----Etching by Mercier
Hortense Mancini----Drawing in the Louvre
Madame de la Valliere----Painting by Francois
Moliere----Original Etching by Lalauze
Boileau----Etching by Lalauze
A French Courtier----Photogravure from a Painting
Madame de Maintenon----Etching by Mercier from Painting by Hule
Charles II.----Original Etching by Ben Damman
Bosseut----Etching by Lalauze
Louis XIV. Knighting a Subject----Photogravure from a Rare Print
A French Actress----Painting by Leon Comerre
Racine----Etching by Lalauze
MEMOIRS OF THE COURT OF LOUIS XIV.AND OF THE REGENCY,
By the Duchess D'Orleans
BOOK 1.
PREFACE.
SECTION I.
SECTION II.--LOUIS XIV.
SECTION III.--MADEMOISELLE DE FONTANGE.
SECTION IV.-MADAME DE LA VALLIERE.
SECTION V.--MADAME DE MONTESPAN
SECTION VI.--MADAME DE MAINTENON.
SECTION VII.--THE QUEEN--CONSORT OF LOUIS XIV.
BOOK 2.
SECTION VIII.--PHILIPPE I., DUC D'ORLEANS.
SECTION IX.--PHILIPPE II., DUC D' ORLEANS, REGENT OF FRANCE.
SECTION X.--THE AFFAIRS OF THE REGENCY.
SECTION XI.--THE DUCHESSE D'ORLEANS, WIFE OF THE REGENT.
SECTION XII.--MARIE-ANNE CHRISTINE VICTOIRE OF BAVARIA, THE FIRST
DAUPHINE.
SECTION XIII.--ADELAIDE OF SAVOY, THE SECOND DAUPHINE.
SECTION XIV.--THE FIRST DAUPHIN.
SECTION XV.--THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, THE SECOND DAUPHIN.
SECTION XVI.--PETITE MADAME.
BOOK 3.
SECTION XVII.--HENRIETTA OF ENGLAND, THE FIRST WIFE OF MONSIEUR, BROTHER
OF LOUIS XIV.
SECTION XVIII.--THE DUC DE BERRI.
SECTION XIX.--THE DUCHESSE DE BERRI.
SECTION XX.--MADEMOISELLE D'ORLEANS, LOUISE-ADELAIDE DE CHARTRES.
SECTION XXI.--MADEMOISELLE DE VALOIS, CHARLOTTE-AGLAE, CONSORT OF THE
PRINCE OF MODENA.
SECTION XXII.--THE ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN OF THE REGENT, DUC D'ORLEANS.
SECTION XXIII.--THE CHEVALIER DE LORRAINE.
SECTION XXIV.--PHILIP V., KING OF SPAIN.
SECTION XXV.--THE DUCHESSE LOUISE-FRANCISQUE, CONSORT OF LOUIS III., DUC
DE BOURBON.
SECTION XXVI.--THE YOUNGER DUCHESS.
SECTION XXVII.--LOUIS III., DUC DE BOURBON.
SECTION XXVIII.--FRANCOIS-LOUIS, PRINCE DE CONTI.
SECTION XXIX.--THE GREAT PRINCESSE DE CONTI, DAUGHTER OF LA VALLIERE.
SECTION XXX.--THE PRINCESS PALATINE, MARIE-THERESE DE BOURBON, WIFE OF
FRANCOIS-LOUIS,
SECTION XXXI.--LOUISE-ELIZABETH, PRINCESSE DE CONTI, CONSORT OF LOUIE-
ARMAND DE CONTI.
SECTION XXXII.--LOUIE-ARMAND, PRINCE DE CONTI.
SECTION XXXIII.--THE ABBE DUBOIS.
SECTION XXXIV.--MR. LAW.
BOOK 4.
SECTION XXXV.--VICTOR AMADEUS, KING OF SICILY.
SECTION XXXVI.--THE GRAND DUCHESS, WIFE OF COSMO II. OF FLORENCE.
SECTION XXXVII.--THE DUCHESSE DE LORRAINE, ELIZABETH-CHARLOTTE PHILIPPINE
D'ORLEANS, CONSORT OF LEOPOLD JOSEPH-CHARLES DE LORRAINE.
SECTION XXXVIII.--THE DUC DU MAINE, LOUIS-AUGUSTUS.
SECTION XXXIX.--THE DUCHESSE DU MAINE, LOUISE-BENOITE, DAUGHTER OF HENRI-
JULES DE CONDE.
SECTION XL.--LOUVOIS
SECTION XLI.--LOUIS XV.
SECTION XLII.--ANECDOTES AND HISTORICAL PARTICULARS RELATING TO VARIOUS
PERSONS.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Bookcover
Titlepage
Duchesse D'orleans and Her Children
Louis XIV.
The Regent and his Mother
Princesse de Conti
Overturn Here, You Blockhead
Duchesse Du Maine
MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV AND HIS COURT AND OF THE REGENCY,
By the Duke of Saint-Simon
INTRODUCTION
VOLUME 1.
CHAPTER I