164 MEMOIRS OF THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON.

afflicted, to find he had innocently given advice whicli he
intended for the relief of the State, but which had been made
use of in this frightful manner. Every man, without exception,
saw himself a prey to the tax-gatherers : reduced to calculate and
discuss with them his own patrimony, to receive their signa-
ture and their protection, under the most terrible pains ; to
show in public all the secrets of his family ; to bring into the
broad open daylight domestic turpitudes enveloped until then
in the folds of precautions the wisest and the most multiplied.
Many had to convince the tax agents, but vainly, that although
proprietors, they did not enjoy the tenth part of their property.
All Languedoc offered to give up its entire wealth, if allowed
to enjoy, free from every impost, the tenth part of it. The pro-
position not only was not listened to, but was reputed an
insult and severely blamed.

Monseigneur le Due de Bourgogne spoke openly against this
tax, and against the finance people, who lived upon the very mar-
row of the people ; spoke with a just and holy anger that recalled
the memory of Saint Louis, of Louis XII, father of the People,
and of Louis the Just. Monseigneur, too, moved by this indig-
nation, so unusual, of his son, sided with him., and showed anger
at so many exactions as injurious as barbarous, and at so many
insignificant men so monstrously enriched with the nation's
blood. Both father and son infinitely surprised those who
heard them, and made themselves looked upon in some sort, as
resources from which something might hereafter be hoped for.
But the edict was issued, and though there might be some hope
in the future, there was none in the present. And no one knew
who was to be the real successor of Louis XIV., and how under
the next government we were to be still more overwhelmed
than under this one.

One result of this tax was, that it enabled the King to
augment all his infantry with five men per company.

A tax was also levied upon the usurers, who had much,
gained by trafficking in the paper of the King, that is to say,
had taken advantage of the need of those to whom the King
gave this paper in payment. These usurers are called agiotewrs.