" The facts given
are beyond all possibility of contradiction. In the contemplation of
these scenes the mind pauses, bewildered by the reflection forced upon
it, that many of the actors in these fiend-like outrages were inspired
by motives akin to sincerity and conscientiousness.

The thoughtful reader will perceive that in this long and wicked reign
Louis XIV. was sowing the wind from which his descendants reaped the
whirlwind. It was the despotism of Louis XIV. and of Louis XV. which
ushered in that most sublime of all earthly dramas, the French
Revolution.

JOHN S. C. ABBOTT.

New Haven, Conn., 1870.

CONTENTS.

Chapter Page

I. BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD 13

II. THE BOY-KING 49

III. MATRIMONIAL PROJECTS 86

IV. THE MARRIAGE OF THE KING 121

V. FESTIVITIES OF THE COURT 159

VI. DEATH IN THE PALACE 194

VII. THE WAR IN HOLLAND 234

VIII. MADAME DE MAINTENON 268

IX. THE REVOCATION OF THE EDICT OF NANTES 302

X. THE SECRET MARRIAGE 330

XI. INTRIGUES AND WARS 359

XII. LAST DAYS OF LOUIS XIV. 384

ENGRAVINGS.

Page

LOUIS XIV. _Frontispiece._

THE CASTLE OF BLOIS 18

PALACE OF ST. GERMAIN-EN-LAYE 23

THE PALAIS ROYAL 31

PALACE OF THE LUXEMBOURG 52

THE TUILERIES 74

THE CASTLE OF VINCENNES 79

PALACE OF CHANTILLY 98

VIEW OF FONTAINEBLEAU 103

ISLE OF PHEASANTS 129

THE LOUVRE AND THE TUILERIES 139

PALACE OF FONTAINEBLEAU 145

CHATEAU MAZARIN 157

CHATEA