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. He said to them “We have to compliment you; your conduct, as well as that of all the officers of Madame, merits great praise; I shall provide for you all.” I have not presented the officers of the household to the King, because they are at Saint- Denis. But Madame d’Arpajon presented the waiting women to him. The nurse and her daughter, in quality of first waiting-woman, have the permission of wearing veils. The King gave audience to the chapter of Notre-Dame, who came to thank the King for having giving to the archbishop his nomination to the cardinalship. This has not been the custom hitherto. The dean pronounced the discourses, and the King answered each article with his usual eloquence.

4th — The King would not allow the companies to perform public service for the Dauphine, nor to pronounce funeral orations. The academy was desirous of setting the example and the King commended their zeal. The object has been to establish some difference between the Queen and the Dauphine. The archbishop has caused private prayers to be said , but not public ones.

6th . — After dinner, the King received the compliments of the parliament, of the chamber of accounts, of the court of aides, of the court of exchequer and the corporation. These companies then proceeded to Monseigneur’s, who rose and uncovered himself to receive the three first. The first president commenced his address, by saying “Monseigneur, the King, having first commanded us to come here, ” etc. he said upon concluding his compliment to the King: “Sire, your Majesty then commands us to proceed to Monseigneur’s. At five o’clock in the afternoon, the Queen of England came here, in a mourning veil. The King received her in his grand cabinet; there were twenty – two ladies seated. She afterwards went to Monseigneur, to the Infants, to Monsieur’s and Madame’s.

7th . — The King has been to visit the Queen of England: Monseigneur went there afterwards, taking in his carriage the Duc de Bourgogne and Monsieur de Beauvilliers accompanied them. The Queen of England asked Monseigneur if the Duc de Bourgogne should not have an arm-chair, and one was given him; Monsieur and Madame then arrived and had arm-chairs presented to them: Monsieur de Chartres had only a folding chair. Madame Maréchale de Lamotte, also, arrived with the Duc d’Anjou and the Duc de Berry, after Monseigneur had left.

10th. – Monsieur de Montauzier has had a relapse and his recovery is now despaired of. The bishop of Nismes, who is constantly with him to prepare him for the event, has strenuously advised him to see his son-in-law, the Duc d’Uzès, and Monsieur de Montauzier will see him tomorrow, although Monsieur d’Uzès still refuses to see his wife, the Duchesse d’Uzès, which was all that Monsieur de Montauzier desired, his sole object being to settle all differences in the family before he died.

14th . — The King, upon leaving the council, walked in procession to the chapel through his little apartments, descended by the staircase called the Queen’s staircase, and crossed the courtyard to enter the chapel. Monsieur de Metz, the prelate of the order, officiated. Before mass, the King conferred the order of knighthood upon the cardinal d’Estrées, who took the oath kneeling; formerly the cardinals took it standing.

17th. — Departure of Monseigneur to take the command of the army in Germany. Monseigneur set off after dinner, and passed the night at Germain, a country seat of the bishop of Meaux. Monsieur de Vendôme went with him, both in travelling carriages. The Comte de Brionne and Sainte-Maure, on horseback, among the officers of the suite. After supper, Monseigneur played at mornifle with Monsieur de Vendôme.

18th. – Monseigneur arrived to dinner at Hati, where he invited the archbishop of Rheims and the bishop of Châlons to dine with him, they being peers; the other bishops were not asked. Monseigneur arrived at Vitry about eight o’clock. Monsieur de Saint-Pouanges gave him the King’s commission to command the army of Germany; it was sealed with the great seal. The King’s superscription upon his letters to Monseigneur is: To the Dauphin, my son, my lieutenant-general, commanding my army of Germany. Monsieur de la Trémouille, Monsieur le Prince, Monsieur de Chiverney, Monsieur de Florenzac, and I, joined Monseigneur at Vitry.

19th. – Monseigneur orders fifty livres to be given for the house where he sleeps; fifty livres in the house where he dines and an officer of his guards distributes every day fifty livres among the poor who are met with on the road.

26th. – Monsieur de Savoy surrenders the citadels of Turin and Vérue to the King’s troops. He at one time thought of escaping into the Milanese in disguise. He, however, changed his resolution and wished to assemble his subjects and fall upon the French. But, at length, having been shut up with his ministers for thrice twenty-four hours, without eating or drinking, he resolved to submit and in this he acted wisely.

30th. — The keys of all the towns through which Monseigneur has passed on his road were presented to him as is done to the King, who ordered that the compliment should be paid him.