Dangeau’s Diary, September 1689

3rd. — After having dined at Marly, the King went to the Dauphine’s. He had Monsieur le Duc de Bourgogne brought there and placed him in the hands of Monsieur de Beauvilliers. The Duke de Bourgogne was much affected upon being separated from the Marquise de la Motte and expressed his gratitude and love very strongly. (The Duc was seven years old then.)

18th. — The Marquis d’Uxelles has been obliged to capitulate at Mayence, for want of ammunition. All else was favourable. The enemy was not even master of the counterscarp. We have lost in that place, between seven and eight hundred soldiers killed, and a few more wounded. The garrison, still above seven thousand strong, has arrived at Landau.

21st. — The King has given Monsieur de Luxembourg for the Comte de Luc, his son, the regiment of Provence, lately commanded by Magny.

24th. — The King has named the Abbé de Fleury the sub-preceptor of the Duc de Bourgogne. He was tutor to the Princes de Conti and to Monsieur de Vermandois.

28th. — The King has sent for Monsieur Racine and has given him apartments here.

29th. — The Dauphine found herself very ill this evening at Versailles. She has spit much blood. Her ladies and the physicians were called up. It is believed, that the prescriptions of the Abbé de Belzee have done her much harm and it is supposed she will discontinue them. After the King’s mass, Monseigneur went to Versailles to visit the Dauphine, whom he found a little relieved and more tranquil. She even begged Monseigneur to join the King, who was hunting the boar in the forest of Marly, with the dogs belonging to Monsieur de Barbezieux. Monseigneur proceeded thither. Upon seeing a large boar in a bog, he alighted in order to take a better aim, his horse being rather restive. As soon as the boar perceived Monseigneur, he ran directly at him. Monseigneur fired at him and lodged two balls in his body. The boar returned still more furious to the charge and as he was very near Monseigneur thrust the end of his gun into his throat and kept him back a little. The boar covered Monseigneur’s coat and shirt with mud, but neither overthrew nor wounded him. Monseigneur shewed great presence of mind, without which, he would certainly have been dangerously wounded.

30th. — The Dauphine no longer spits blood. She has again placed herself under the care of her ordinary physicians, and has dismissed the Abbè de Belzee; not, however, without reward.