"VI CONTENTS.

PACE

CHAPTER Y. k

Equivocal position of the Due de Bourgogne — His weak conduct— Con- '

cealment of a Battle from the King — Return of the Due de Bour-
gogne to Court — Incidents of his Reception — Monseigneur —
Reception of the Due de Berry — Behaviour of the Due de Bour-
gogne — Anecdotes of Gamaehes— Return of Vendome to Court —
His Star begins to wane — Contrast of Boufflers and Vendome —
Chamillart's Project for retaking Lille — How it was defeated by
Madame de Maintenon - - - - - -43

CHAPTER VI. *

Tremendous Cold in Trance — Winters of 1708-1709 — Financiers and *

the Famine — Interference of the Parliaments of Paris and Dijon

— Dreadful Oppression — Misery of the People — New Taxes —
Forced Labour — General Ruin — Increased Misfortunes — Threat-
ened Regicide — Procession of St. Genevieve — Offering's of Plate to
the King — Discontent of the People — A Bread Blot, how appeased 54

CHAPTER VII.

M. de Vendome out of favour — Death and Character of the Prince de
Conti — Fall of Vendoine — Puysegur's Interview with the King —
Madame de Bourgogne against Vendome — Her decided Conduct — ^

Vendome excluded from Marly — He clings to Meudon — From *

•which he is also expelled — His final Disgrace and Abandonment —
Triumph of Madame de Maintenon - - - - 66

CHAPTER VIOL

Death of Pere La Chaise — His Infirmities in old Age— Partiality of
the King— Character of Pere La Chaise— The Jesuits— Choice of
a new Confessor — Fagon's Opinion — Destruction of Port Royal —
Jansenists and Molinists — Pascal — Violent Oppression of the In-
habitants of Port Royal - - - - - - 76

CHAPTER IX.

Death of D'Avaux — A Quarrel about a Window — Louvois and the King

— Anecdote of Boisseuil — Madame de Maintenon and M. de Beau-
villiers— Harcourt proposed for the Council — His Disappointment

— Death of M. le Prince— His Character — Treatment of his Wife —
His Love Adventures — His Madness— A Confessor brought — No-
body regrets him - - - - - - -83

CHAPTER X.

Progress of the War—Simplicity of Chamillart—The Imperialists and
the Pope—Spanish Affairs—Due d'Orl^ans and Madame des Ursins
—Arrest of Flotte in Spain—Discovery of the Intrigues of the Due
d'Orleans—Cabal against him—His Disgrace and its Consequences

95