CHAPTER I

Birth and Family.—­Early Life.—­Desire to join the Army.—­Enter the
Musketeers.—­The Campaign Commences.—­Camp of Gevries.—­Siege of Namur. 
—­Dreadful Weather.—­Gentlemen Carrying Corn.—­Sufferings during the
Siege.—­The Monks of Marlaigne.—­Rival Couriers.—­Naval Battle.—­
Playing with Fire-arms.—­A Prediction Verified.

CHAPTER II

The King’s Natural Children.—­Proposed Marriage of the Duc de Chartres.—­ Influence of Dubois.—­The Duke and the King.—­An Apartment.—­Announcement of the Marriage.—­Anger of Madame.—­Household of the Duchess.—­Villars and Rochefort.—­Friend of King’s Mistresses.—­The Marriage Ceremony.—­ Toilette of the Duchess.—­Son of Montbron.—­Marriage of M. du Maine.—­ Duchess of Hanover.—­Duc de Choiseul.—­La Grande Mademoiselle.

CHAPTER III

Death of My Father.—­Anecdotes of Louis XIII.—­The Cardinal de
Richelieu.—­The Duc de Bellegarde.—­Madame de Hautefort.—­My Father’s
Enemy.—­His Services and Reward.—­A Duel against Law.—­An Answer to a
Libel.—­M. de la Rochefoucauld.—­My Father’s Gratitude to Louis XIII.

CHAPTER IV

Position of the Prince of Orange.—­Strange Conduct of the King.—­Surprise and Indignation.—­Battle of Neerwinden.—­My Return to Paris.—­Death of La Vauguyon.—­Symptoms of Madness.—­Vauguyon at the Bastille.—­Projects of Marriage.—­M. de Beauvilliers.—­A Negotiation for a Wife.—­My Failure.—­ Visit to La Trappe.

CHAPTER V

M. de Luxemhourg’s Claim of Precedence.—­Origin of the Claim.—­Duc de
Piney.—­Character of Harlay.—­Progress of the Trial.—­Luxembourg and
Richelieu.—­Double-dealing of Harlay.—­The Duc de Gesvres.—­Return to the
Seat of War.—­Divers Operations.—­Origin of These Memoirs.

CHAPTER VI

Quarrels of the Princesses.—­Mademoiselle Choin.—­A Disgraceful Affair.—­ M. de Noyon.—­Comic Scene at the Academie.—­Anger and Forgiveness of M. de Noyon.—­M. de Noailles in Disgrace.—­How He Gets into Favour Again.  —­M. de Vendome in Command.—­Character of M. de Luxembourg.—­ The Trial for Precedence Again.—­An Insolent Lawyer.—­Extraordinary Decree.

CHAPTER VII

Harlay and the Dutch.—­Death of the Princess of Orange.—­Count Koenigsmarck.—­A New Proposal of Marriage.—­My Marriage.—­That of M. de Lauzun.—­Its Result.—­La Fontaine and Mignard.—­Illness of the Marechal de Lorges.—­Operations on the Rhine.—­Village of Seckenheim.—­An Episode of War.—­Cowardice of M. du Maine.—­Despair of the King, Who Takes a Knave in the Act.—­Bon Mot of M. d’Elboeuf.

CHAPTER VIII