Dangeau’s Diary, November 1688

1st. — The Dauphine asked the King, if Monseigneur would soon return. The King replied, that he must first take Manheim, but that that would not be long delayed. Father Gaillard, who was preaching, and whose sermon was interrupted by the good news, in making his compliment to the King introduced into it, very pathetically, and apropos, the praises of Monseigneur, and the taking of Philipsburg, which pleased his Majesty very highly. The taking of Philipsburg by Monseigneur, was made known on his birthday, and in the place where he was born, a circumstance which, though trifling, has been remarked, and affords pleasure.

2d. — Several English bishops waited upon his Britannic Majesty, and have represented to him, that under the present circumstances, it was expedient to convoke the parliament and that it was his duty to be instructed in the Anglican religion, to which H. B. M. answered, that the Dutch themselves could only have held such language as that to him.

4th. — The King, at mass, had Te Deum sung for the taking of Philipsbourg and many cymbals and trumpets were added to the music. The Dauphine got up in order to be present, and the King was pleased at seeing her in a robe de chambre in the gallery. Before his departure, the Prince of Orange pronounced a speech to their High Mightinesses, and told them that his only object in going to England, was to further the interests of the reformed religion, and to expel the catholics: at the same time, the Spanish ambassador, at the Hague, offered up prayers for the success of the arms of the Prince of Orange in England, which appeared to us here very extraordinary. We are informed that the Chevalier de Longueville, while visiting the works of Philipsbourg, after the taking of that place, was killed by a soldier, who was shooting at a snipe. The Chevalier was the natural son of Monsieur de Longueville, who was killed at the passage of the Rhine.

5th. — The King conducted the ladies to the boar hunt, at which they were much gratified. His Majesty sometimes hunts the wolf with Monseigneur’s dogs, upon which the poet Voiture observed in a letter: “<em>The King now takes wolves like Monseigneur, and Monseigneur takes cities like the King.</em>”

12th. — The Duchesse de Bourbon and the Princess de Conti have gone into mourning for the Chevalier de Longueville.

24th. — The King has informed us that the Pope had granted him permission to hear mass till two o’clock, and likewise the same indulgence to Monseigneur and the Dauphine. It is an ancient tradition, that the Kings of France possess that right, but his Majesty told us he was desirous of having it confirmed by the Pope, not knowing upon what the tradition was founded.

26th.: — Quinault died this morning at Paris. He was a member of the French Academy, and of the Academy of the King’s Medals. He wrote many comedies and operas. For two years past, he had become very devout.

28th. — Upon leaving table, his Majesty got into his coach to meet Monseigneur. The Dauphine, Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle de Guise, and the Princesses, accompanied the King, with all the ladies and courtiers in their suite. His Majesty went first to Saint-Cloud, which he found to be considerably embellished by the new staircase, erected there by order of Monsieur. The King went through all the apartments and as soon as the signals which the Baron de Beauvais had ordered to be made in the plain, were visible, his Majesty again got into his coach, and met Monseigneur at the Bois de Boulogne; he had passed the night at Dormans. The Prince de Conti has returned with him. The King, upon his return here, was closetted a considerable time with Monseigneur, who, upon quitting his Majesty, went to the Dauphine and afterwards to Madame de Maintenon’s.