Dangeau’s Diary, July 1686

3d. — The King has given one hundred thousand francs to Monsieur de Ville, the inventor of the machine for raising the waters of the Seine. His Majesty has also increased his pension by two thousand francs, so that he has now a pension of eight thousand francs, having enjoyed one of two thousand crowns for these last four or five years.

11th. — The Marquis de Gesvres, at the King’s levee, asked leave to follow his Majesty to Maintenon, where the King wishes to be private. The King refused him, and, in the evening, said to him, ” Marquis de Gesvres, I observed you were so much disappointed at my refusing to permit you to follow me, that you have now my permission.”

19th. — Ambreville, a noted Gypsy, has been burnt at Paris, for having uttered horrible blasphemies. The King had often pardoned him for various crimes. But he refused to forgive him one so atrocious. Léance, his sister, is confined in the Hôpital Général.

29th. — The young ladies at Noisy have begun to quit that place for Saint-Cyr, where the King has built them a house. They will be three or four days removing.