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 would have been broken, the more easily, because he only wore gaiters.

5th. — Monseigneur, at his levee, learnt by a gentleman sent by Monsieur du Maine, that Friday last, the 30th, there had been a severe engagement of cavalry in Flanders, in which our gendarmerie performed wonders. Monsieur de Marsan, the commander, was wounded. On the next day, the 1st, there was a general engagement in which we gained a complete victory. We have taken forty pieces of cannon, many standards and colours, and a great number of prisoners. The battle lasted a long time and at length the enemy retreated, and left us the field. The particulars are not yet known. Monsieur du Maine wrote but four words and Monsieur de Luxembourg merely sent Monseigneur the following letter: “I cannot permit Monsieur du Maine’s courier to set off, without assuring Monseigneur of my sincere respects.” The Duc du Maine distinguished himself very much; four or five of his attendants were killed near him, and he had a horse shot under him.

6th. — Monseigneur has ordered Monsieur le Duc, who is scarcely convalescent, and who was preparing to come here, to go to Strasbourg, from whence he will require him to join us at a proper time; he is fearful that Monsieur le Duc did not sufficiently take care of himself in the commencement of his recovery. He will recall him if the enemy approach us. Monseigneur has presented Monsieur du Maine’s courier with three hundred pistoles as a compliment for the good news brought by him.

16th. – The King sends the fifteen hundred Frenchmen, taken at the battle of Fleurus, to the gallies; an exception is made in favour of Lostange’s brother, who was taken the day before in the skirmish of cavalry.

19th. – The Comtesse de Soissons (Urania de la Cropte) has arrived in a post-chaise at the infantry camp, in order to attend her husband, whose wound is severe.

29th. — The King has permitted Monsieur de Saint Evremond to return to France. He has been exiled thirty years, the whole of which time he has passed in Holland and England. The King has also permitted Monsieur Arnaud to return to Paris. He is a man sufficiently distinguished by his works and has been exiled a considerable time. The place of his retreat was scarcely known.