Chronologie de la vie de Louis XIV, December 1664

2 December, his Majesty receives Monsieur Marcus Groë, grand chambellan of the Queen of Denmark.

3 December, his Majesty receives the ambassador of Savoy, who introduces him to the Baron de Sainte-Joire, a gentilhomme in service of the Duc de Savoie.

6 December, her Majesties health is slowly and steadily improving. The condition of the Princesse Marie-Anne remains unchanged.

8 December, conception de la Vierge, his Majesty attends mass at the Oratoire du Louvre to pray for the full recovery of her Majesty. His Majesty, towards the afternoon, attends a sermon of Abbé de Fromentiéres. The Duc de Mazarin has spoken with his Majesty and is very much ridiculed for it by the court. It is said, he, in a very convinced manner, told his Majesty that all the misfortunes of the recent days are due to his affair with Mademoiselle de La Vallière.

10 December, at the Louvre, the Majesty receives the prevot of the merchants and the aldermen of Paris, to discuss annuities.

11 December, his Holiness has given his permission that France may appoint the bishops of Metz, Toul and Verdun.

12 December, what a scandal! The Marquis de Vardes is bound for the Bastille. The Marquis has told the Chevalier de Lorraine, who is said to be courting Mademoiselle de Fiennes, fille d’honneur to Madame, he should not bother with the maid when the mistress is also available. The Highness had this vile commend on Madame’s fidelity forwarded to their Royal Highnesses and his Majesty, who thus ordered the Marquis de Vardes to be put in the Bastille for slandering Madame. Truth be told, it is not the first comment on Madame’s fidelity. Her coquette behaviour with his Majesty and other gentilshommes, such as the Comte de Guiche, has been source of plenty of talk for the court and for plenty of sorrow for Monsieur.

15 December, his Majesty receives the ambassador of the Duc de Mantoue.

18 December, her Majesty’s condition is slowly, yet steadily, improving. It is said his Majesty has not seen Mademoiselle de La Vallière since he swore to her Majesty to break off with the Mademoiselle.

20 December, his Majesty receives an envoy of the Prince d’Orange. Monsieur Fouquet has been sentenced to exile for life and all his property is to be confiscated. His Majesty, it is said, is not too pleased with the sentence.

21 December, his Majesty goes to the Oratoire for mass.

22 December, his Majesty, by the grace of God, has decided to overrule Monsieur Fouquet’s sentence and has ordered Monsieur Fouquet be brought to the Fortress of Pignerol, where he is to remain for the rest of his days.

24 December, his Majesty receives the nuncio, Carlo Roberti, and a gentleman of the Palatine, after which he receives the representatives of the Ètats d’Artois, led by the Abbé de Dommartin. After which his Majesty travels to the Théatins, at Sainte-Anne-la-Royale, for evensong, and then attends Midnight Mass, followed by three low masses, at the chapel of the Louvre.

25 December, his Majesty and the court attend grand-mass celebrated by the Bishop of Amiens. After which his Majesty travels to Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois for the sermon of Père Côme du Bose, as well as evensong, and then to Val-de-Grâce to visit her Majesty, la Reine-Mère.

26 December, the Princesse Marie-Anne, third child and second daughter of their Majesties, has passed away, at only 40 days old. Their Majesties have retired for the rest of the day.

29 December, his most Christian Majesty receives the Marquis de La Fuente, ambassador of Spain, who has come to gift six small horses to Monseigneur, the Dauphin, on behest of his Most Catholic Majesty, the King of Spain.

31 December, his Majesty receives the Baron de Saint-Joyre, envoy of the Duc de Savoie, for his audience of leave.