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 awakened in the night if she grew worse. At three o’clock in the morning he was called up; he dressed himself and descended to Madame la Duchesse, where he remained till she was delivered. Monseigneur was with the King the whole of the time. Madame la Duchesse was brought to bed of a daughter at half past four o’clock. The King and Monseigneur went to bed again.

28th. – A man has just suffered death at Paris, who confessed at the gallows, that he was the person who robbed Monsieur de Montgommeri; thus exculpating the unfortunate Langlade. (Langlade was sent to the galleys for this theft, where he died.)

31st. — The privateers of Saint Malo have lately made twenty-five or thirty prizes, amounting in value to nine hundred thousand livres. The King has ordered for this year, a much greater naval force than the last. We shall have eighty-eight ships of the line.