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Dangeau’s Diary, May 1691
17th. — The Duc de la Force, who has been for some time released from the Bastille, where he had completed his religious instructions, and had communicated, has received permission to return to court and has paid his duty to the King. His lady is still in the chateau d’Angers. 28th. — The King has funded a million at…
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Dangeau’s Diary, April 1691
3rd. — A man threw himself into the town while the King was in the trenches. He effected his purpose with much ability and gallantry. 5th. — On going round the lines, the King visited the hospital to see if the sick and wounded were well taken care of, if their broths were good, if many died and if…
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Dangeau’s Diary, March 1691
4th. – Monsieur Villeneuve, the King’s barber, who also waited upon Monseigneur, has been dismissed from court with a prohibition never to present himself again before the King or Monseigneur. His dismissal is in consequence of his debaucheries. 6th. — There was a salon this evening at which the King was not present, being much engaged in business. Monseigneur…
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Dangeau’s Diary, February 1691
14th. — A courier arrived this evening from Rome, with the intelligence that the Pope (Pope Alexander VIII) died on the 1st of this month. 15th. — The Pope divided all the wealth he had accumulated amongst his nephews, upon which Pasquin observed, that the church had better have been his niece than his daughter. 28th. — A few…
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Dangeau’s Diary, January 1691
No date — The King and Queen of England arrived here about six o’clock. Upon their arrival, they entered the drawing room. The Queen played at portico, and then at lansquenet. They then went to supper. There were five tables, each having sixteen covers, at the centre one was the King, with the King and Queen of England. The…
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Dangeau’s Diary, December 1690
13th. — His Majesty has given Racine the post of ordinary, formerly held by Torf. He will give ten-thousand livres to the widow. The last of these situations which was sold, produced fifty-three thousand livres. 22d. — The King quitted Madame la Duchesse this evening at midnight, leaving her in the labour pains and, upon retiring, ordered he should be…
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Dangeau’s Diary, November 1690
26th. — Monsieur de Rochefaucault presented to the King, in his cabinet, Monsieur de Liancourt, who has returned and the King spoke to him with much kindness. From the King’s answer to the exiles, it appears that he has pardoned them sincerely. 27th. — Intelligence has been received of the death of the Infanta of Portugal. She was not allowed…
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Dangeau’s Diary, October 1690
1st. — Before quitting Brisac this morning, Monseigneur received the envoys from Bâle; there were four in number. Each of them had one hundred pistoles presented to him, instead of the gold chain usually given; fifty pistoles for their travelling expenses and a like sum to the person who acted as interpreter. The King gave like sums to each of…
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Dangeau’s Diary, September 1690
6th. —Monseigneur has been reconnoitring on the right, left, and in front of his camp along the river Eltz, as far as the borders of the Rhine. Our right can no longer now be annoyed by a small height beyond Eltz, on which the enemy might have placed some cannon. Today, we have been foraging in Emmeting and tomorrow Monseigneur…
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Dangeau’s Diary, August 1690
5th. — On the receipt of the news of the death of the Prince of Orange, bonfires were lighted, which the King much disapproved of, but the magistrates could not restrain the people. (The Parisians did not just light bonfires, they had one big street party, with wine, food and music. The police had great difficulties to calm them.) 10th.…
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Dangeau’s Diary, July 1690
4th. — Yesterday, after parade, as Monseigneur was taking his ride on the heights behind his camp, his horse became very restive and a serious accident was very near happening. Monsieur de Sainte-Maure took him round the waist and lifted him from his horse, and the Prince de Conti very dexterously turned his own on one side, otherwise Monseigneur’s leg…
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Dangeau’s Diary, June 1690
14th. – Monsieur de Savoy will fulfil nothing that he has promised: he kept Monsieur de Catinat in play till the 4th of this month and from that time, seeing that all hopes of accommodation had vanished, we commenced hostilities. No intelligence has been received from Monsieur de Bavière; all that is known is that he wrote to the King…
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Dangeau’s Diary, May 1690
2nd. — The King has given 10,000 livres to Monsieur de Luxembourg, for his equipage; he usually gives no more than 20,000 livres to the generals of his armies. 3rd.— The King returned here from Marly, hunting on the road; the great officers and ladies of the Dauphine, went to pay their respects to him in mourning cloaks and veils.…
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Dangeau’s Diary, April 1690
8th — Monsieur de Louvois, having discovered that some of the clerks in his office had received money for commissions, has dismissed them in disgrace and has imprisoned a female, who was the agent in the business, hoping by her means to make greater discoveries. 10th — The King has ordered Monsieur Hervé, senior member of the parliament, to resign…
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Dangeau’s Diary, March 1690
3d — At midnight, the King and Monseigneur having already retired to rest, a fire broke out in the chateau in the apartment of the Princesse d’Harcourt, whose clothes and furniture have been all consumed. She herself had her hand much scorched. In two hours the fire was completely extinguished; and the King, who had risen in order to give…
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Dangeau’s Diary, February 1690
8th — The King caused circular letters to be written to all the bishops, commanding them to regulate the quantity of plate necessary for the churches throughout their dioceses, both in the towns and in the country, and to send what is superfluous to the nearest mint, or to the places where the King has appointed agents to receive it.…
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Dangeau’s Diary, January 1690
6th — The Marquis de Saint-Simon (Charles de Rouvroy), whose brother, the Duc (Claude de Rouvroy, the father of the writer Saint-Simon), had informed the King that the Marquis was dead, has recovered from a long state of insensibility, in which he exhibited no signs of life. The King had already given the lieutenancy, and the mayorship of Senlis, to…
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Dangeau’s Diary, December 1689
3rd. — It is the King’s pleasure, that throughout his Kingdom, all silver articles used for ornament or use, such as looking-glasses, girandoles, vases, etc. should be melted down and brought to the mint. And, to set the example, he has caused all his beautiful plate to be melted down, notwithstanding the beauty of the workmanship. Even his exquisite fillagree-worked…
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Dangeau’s Diary, October 1689
1st. — The King returned from hunting, and as soon as he was unbooted, went to the Dauphine, who told him that she was resolved no longer to consult any but her usual physicians. The King then visited the Duc de Bourgogne, who has been attacked with fever. The King wished to see the apartments of Monsieur and Madame de…
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Dangeau’s Diary, September 1689
3rd. — After having dined at Marly, the King went to the Dauphine’s. He had Monsieur le Duc de Bourgogne brought there and placed him in the hands of Monsieur de Beauvilliers. The Duke de Bourgogne was much affected upon being separated from the Marquise de la Motte and expressed his gratitude and love very strongly. (The Duc was seven…
