remained in this perfect accord. They liked a strong master—they liked to see him magnificent, imperious, patronising arts and letters, and successful in war. But there came a time when, in ceasing to be magnificent and successful, he ceased also to be popular. He fell under the influence of a female devotee and of the priests. His armies were beaten, his conquests were lost, his Court became a scene of fanaticism, hypocrisy, and gloom. The king was getting old; he wished to make peace with heaven, probably for the same reason which induced him to wish to make peace on earth, because he found a difficulty in carrying on the war any longer. His repentance was to a great extent of that vicarious kind which exacts a rigid respect for religion from other people; he became very particular respecting the orthodoxy of his subjects, especially of those about his person—a requirement which by no means tended to render either gaiety or sincerity a distinguishing feature of society at Versailles. Relying much on the faith of others, he trusted to himself for good works, and commenced a system of religious persecution. His minister, Louvois, issued orders for the infliction of "the last rigours" on those who were not "of his Majesty's religion." These were faithfully executed. Fifty thousand Protestant families were driven from France, taking with them much of its prosperity. The Jesuits, under the influence of Madame de Maintenon and of the king's confessors, were all-powerful; and the suppression of heresy, and with it of all freedom of thought, became a chief business of the Government. This state of things was not, of course, pleasing to the French, who, indeed, were in the lowest stage of misery from the enormous taxes, which were the
