quòd ita Regi Regnóque servierit Ut utrumque servaret Tandem profligato Germano caeso Hispano Pacato Regno Séque ipso omnibus majore victo Spretis umbratilibus terrae triumphis Immarcescibilem a Deo Coronam recepturus excessit Incertum relinquens An vixerit et rexerit feliciùs an obierit sanctiùs Ab Invidia planctum extorsit Et quo praesentem exercuerat absentem luxit Nec poterat ultra progredi summum attigerat Exuvias mortis Sorbonae dedit quo vivo Sorbona fuerat animata In Sorbona quam dilexit tumulum elegit Et in sinu ejus jacere voluit Quam jacentem invenit et erexit Etiam Sorbonae Genium si jacuisset solus erecturus Debilitatis undique Hostibus Soli Morti cessit Mortis Victor suique superstes Dum in omnium ore animoque vivit Ora et Vale. Obiit iv Decem. 1642. aetat 57. 3. mens The Monument of the most eminent Cardinal Duke of Richelieu Stay Passenger Armand Iohn du Plessis Cardinal Duke of Richelieu hath deposited here whatsoever he had of mortalitie Stay if thou art French at his ashes by whose Counsels France stood Stay if thou art a Confederat at the Cardinals tombe on whom as upon a hinge all Europe mov'd Stay if thou art an Enemy at the trophey of the Duke of Richelieu at whose beck the Ocean stood Read on His first good was to have a being his next to have a well-being As he was adorn'd with Ancestors so he was an ornament unto them for his knowledge and actions the one came from heaven the other tended towards heaven He was promoted to be Secretary of State who was afterwards to rule the State He was assistant to the Queen Mother who was to be the Kingdoms Father The King being willing and his worth enforcing Rome so granted him the purple that it might be doubted whether he gave or received more Eminence unto it His vertue made him most eminent before Rome At the brightnesse of his purple the Eagle quak'd the Lion roar'd the Rose grew pale nor could He avoyd the purple which had he not worn as ensignes of Martyrs yet he might carry them died in the bloud of enemies He withdrew himself from the Queen mother when she would be more Queen then Mother A lover of public Peace not of fortune Hated he was because he could not be lov'd enough He fluctuated neither at Court nor in the Ocean floods He stood immoveable at whose nod the Rocks stirr'd and under him the conspiration of Rebels being quash'd Religion began to respire every where which without him was ready to expire he overcame his own foes when he listed the Kings alwaies He was so vacant to himself as if he intended nothing else so intent to others as he seem'd to neglect himself being the wonder of his age he did miracles happy he was that he pleas'd a just King and happier that he so serv'd the King and Kingdom that he preserv'd both At last the German routed the Spaniard slain the Kingdom quieted and having orecome himself the greatest of all contemning the shadowy triumphs of the earth being to receive an immarcescible crown of God he expir'd leaving it incertain whether he liv'd and rul'd more happily or died more piously He wrung teares from Envie herself who poursuing him living condol'd him dead He could go no further he had attain'd the highest The spoiles of death he gave to Sorbon who living animated Sorbon In Sorbon whom he lov'd he desir'd to lye and to rest in her bosom whom finding tottering he took up nay he only could have reviv'd the Genius of Sorbon had it been like to faint The foe enfeebled every where he only yeelded to death being deaths Conqueror and Survivour of himself while he lives in the mouths and minds of all men Pray and farewell He died 4th of December 1642. the 57. yeer and 3th moneth of his Age. This Epitaph gives a full compensation for the tartnes of the two former which were inserted expresly thereby to enfranchise the judgement of the Reader to discover the impartiality of the story and make truth more perspicuous for it is a good rule in Logic that Contraria juxta se posita magis elucescunt the confrontation of contraries makes things appear more clearly I know there is a saying in French that vent coulis a cranny wind is more hurtfull then an open such are reproaches 'twixt prayses But let not the Authour of this story be mistaken that he intended to derogat but only for the ends above mentioned from the merit of so brave a man whom his very enemies admir'd for his fagacity and cloquence for his admirable forecast and penetrating judgement for the vivacity of his spirit and quicknes of apprehension for his affiduity and indefatigable vigilance for his excellent addresse and sinewy expressions and dextrous way of dispatch for his rare policy and prudentiall parts and lastly for the stupendous succes of his counsels These atributes as it is no flattery to give him so it were injury to deny him By these he made France formidable to the world he made his Master Arbiter of his own interests an Avenger of all affronts and supporter of his Confederats by these he got him three keyes of invaluable advantage Brisack Pignerol and Perpignan the first to enter Germany the second Italy the third Spain at pleasure By these he made him the most absolute and independent Monark that ever raign'd in that Kingdom and freed him from all fears to receive the law from his subjects ever hereafter But by ascribing so much to the Minister let us not derogat from the Master who was as active in his way and concurr'd to achieve all these things We have an axiom in Philosophy that Sol et Homo generant Hominem The Sun and man beget man the one by his Universall influx being the fountain of heat the other by Naturall organs So we may say the King and Cardinal produc'd all these actions the one by the influence of his high power and Regall authoritie the other by his instrumentall activity The Cardinal de Richelieu's Armes were three Chevrons in a field argent 2 plain and simple coat therefore the more ancient which Armes with his Purple Hat which supported that great Crown and made the Lillies flourish and swell so many yeers we will lay upon his Tomb with this Distic for a finall farewell Aurea purpureo turgebant sceptra galero Crescebant triplici Lilia fulta Trabe And now 't is high time for us to put a period to the whole work both to the History of this mighty Monark as also to that of his great Minister And though their memory be not like the Rose and other fading flowers which smell sweeter after they are pluck'd yet the report of them shall ring in France as long as the rayes of the Sun shall reverberat upon that faire Continent and albeit Ghirlands of Olive be improper
acknowledge him Governor of the Countrey of Aunis and of their Town which he pretended to derive by Patent from the raign of Henry the third He had also a grudge unto them that they had debauch'd the conscience of the Count of Candalle his son by inducing him to abjure his Religion and to professe theirs Espernon was commanded to wave that quarrel and to come to assist against the Princes divers others were wrought upon to abandon their party amongst the rest the Duke of Nevers was much sought and he refusing he was accus'd to have said That he was descended of a better House then the Queen Mother which he utterly disavowed and offer'd to combat the raiser of that report in Duel The obloquy and hatred of Ancre encreased daily and the executing of Colonel Stuard and Hurtevant with erecting of new gibets in divers places about Paris and one upon the new Bridge hard by the Louure in terrorem all which was imputed to the Marshall of Ancre exasperated the humors of the Parisians against him more and more in so much that it was an easie thing to be a Prophet what would become of him Luynes with others at Court infusd daily new thoughts of diffidence of him into the young King who had taken exception at some personall comportment of his by putting on his Hat when he play'd with him at Biliards so in a close Cabinet consultation twixt the King Luynes and Vitry who was Captain of his Guard the King gave him command to seize upon the said Marshall of Ancre and in case of resistance to kill him The businesse was carried wonderfull close and two dayes after the Marshall entring the Louure Vitry was prepar'd with his guard about him and while the Marshall was reading of a Letter Vitry comes and grapples him by the shoulder and told him he was commanded by the King to arrest him Me said Ancre yes you by the death of God mort Dieu repli'd Vitry hereupon Ancre laying his hand upon his sword to deliver it as most thought Vitry with a loud voyce cri'd out Kill him thereupon he received three Pistols shots into his body and was presently dispatch'd Vitry with naked sword in his hand cri'd out that none should stir For he had executed but the Kings commands Hereupon those hundred gentlemen which had attended the Marshall that morning to the Queens Court where he was us'd to go the back way slunk away and not one drawn sword appear'd amongst them The King being above in a gallery and hearing a noise below ask'd what the matter was one answerd that the Marshall of Ancre was kill'd and being told the manner he said I will make good what Vitry hath done and giving a caper he said I am now King of France I have no competitor Vitry presently after broke into Leonora's chamber Ancres wife seiz'd upon her person upon all her Trunks and Cabinets where in gold and jewels there was the value of above an hundred thousand pounds sterling Her Chamber was next the Queen Mothers who sending in for Vitry ask'd him without any shew of dismay whether he had kill'd the Marshall Yes Madame said he and why because the King had commanded me Ancres body was buried in a little Church hard by the Louure and stones laid and flatted upon the grave but the next morning the laquays of the Court and rabble of the City came and digg'd up his coffin toare his winding sheet and dragg'd his body through the gutters and hang'd it upon the new gibet which he had commanded to be set up upon the new bridge where they cut off his nose eares and genitories which they sent for a Present to the Duke of Mayne at Soissons and nayl'd his eares to the gates of Paris the rest of his body was burn'd and part of the ashes hurl'd into the river and part into the ayer His wife was then imprison'd search'd and raz'd for a Witch though little or no proofs God wot were produc'd against her only that she employ'd some Jews as also that she had bewitch'd a Spanish Ginet the Duke of Mayn had at Soissons which he should have mounted one morning but Mounsier Maurice his son who was Keeper of one of the chiefest Academies of Paris riding him before and the Horse having pranc'd and curvetted a good while under him he suddenly fell gave a grone and so breath'd his last and the Rider was taken up for dead and continued in a sleepy trance 48. houres together So she was also executed afterwards and the difference twixt her husband and her was this that she had the favor to dye after Sentence was given and he before for his indictment was made after his death and then his sentence pass'd when he was in tother world Thus Conchino Conchini a Florentin born Marquis of Ancre and Marshall of France was demolish'd or rather extinguish'd in a most disastrous manner and his wife Leonora Galligay beheaded who shew'd a notable Roman resolution at the block their estate which was not above four thousand pound sterling per an was given to Luynes most part of it They left one only male child who being young was sent to Italy where he lives to this day in a Noble equippage by the title of Earl of Pena though pronounced ignoble in France by an arrest of the Court of Parliament A stout man this Marquis of Ancre was a good Soldier and a compleat Courtier he was endowed with divers good parts only he wanted moderation and therein he did degenerat from an Italian There were divers censures abroad of this act of the young Kings and indeed it was the worst thing he did in all his life being an act fitter for the Seraglio then his Castle of the Louure for the wisest sort of men wonder'd that he should stain the walls of his Court with a Christians bloud in that manner without any legall proceeding against the party He sent Letters to the severall Princes that were in arms to content them as also to satisfie the world and all of them of this tenor following My Cousin I doubt not but in the cours of affairs which have pass'd since the death of the late King my Lord and Father whom God absolve you have observ'd how the Marshall of Ancre and his wife abusing my minority and the power which they acquir'd upon the spirit of the Queen my Mother have projected to usurp all authority to dispose absolutly of all matters of State and to deprive me of the means to take cognisance of mine own affairs a dessein which they have push'd on so far that hitherto there hath remain'd unto me but the sole name of a King and that it was a kind of capital crime for my Officers and subjects to have acces unto me and to entertain me with any serious discours which it pleasing God to make me perceive and to point out the danger which my Person and State
by armed hand seizd upon the town and castle of Iuillers The opposit Princes having besieg'd him there sent to France for help Hereupon Marshall de la Chastre march'd with those 12000. Auxiliaries and his conjunction with the other Princes was so fortunat that Iuillers was rendred up upon composition to the Duke of Newburg and Marquis of Brandenburgh but with this proviso that the Roman Religion should still have free exercise there This relief of Iuillers was the first forren act that happen'd in the raign of Lewis the thirtteenth and the expedition was intended before by his father Although in successif hereditary Kingdomes as France and England where the law sayeth the King never dieth the act of Coronation be not so absolutly necessary as to appertain to the essence of the thing yet hath it bin used as a ceremony not superfluous for the satisfaction of the people Hereupon there were great preparations made for the crowning and the anointing of the young King with the holy oyle which is kept alwayes in the town of Rheims in a little vial and the French faith is That it is part of the same oyle wherewith Clovis who was the first Christian King of France converted by his wife above 1000. yeers since was anointed and that a Dove brought down in her beak the said vial into the Church and so vanish'd which oyl they say continues fresh and sweet and without diminution to this day The said vial was once caried away by the English but it was recovered by the inhabitants of Povilleux for which they enjoy divers priviledges to this day This ceremony of Coronation in France is a very solemn thing and continues above eight houres long without intermission The twelve Peers are the chiefest Actors in it whereof there are six Spiritual and six Temporal the last six have now no being in France but only in name For they ought to be the Dukes of Burgundy Normandy and Aquitain the Earls of Tholouse Flanders and Champagny all which are represented by Deputies in this act One of the first circumstances in this ceremony is that two Bishops come and knock in the morning at the Kings Bed-chamber dore the Great Chamberlain asks them what they would have they answer Lewis the thirteenth son to Henry the Great The Lord Chamberlain replies He sleeps The Bishops a while after knock gently again and demand Lewis the thirteenth whom God had given them for their King So the dore opens and he is caried in solemn procession to the great Church At the communion he takes the bread and the wine to shew that his dignitie is Presbyterial as well as Regal The Parisians are bound to provide certain birds which are let loose that day up and down the Church whereof one was observ'd to sit and sing a great while upon the canopy that was caried over the Kings head which was held to be an auspicious augury Grace before and after diner is sung before him and the sword is held naked all the while with a multitude of other ceremonies The King seeming to be tyred having bin so many hours in the Church and born the crown on his head with divers other heavy vests upon his body was ask'd what he would take to take the like pains again he answer'd for another Crown I would take double the pains The King and Queen Regent being return'd to Paris the scene where the last act of this pomp should be perform'd before the triumph was ended there was a dash of water thrown into their wine by news that was brought of an insurrection that was in Berry by Florrimond de Pay Lord of Vatan who undertook to protect certain Salt Merchants by arms which he had leavied but he was quickly suppress'd and his head chop'd off divers of his complices hang'd and strangled This was the first flash of domestic fire that happen'd in the raign of Lewis the thirteenth which was the more dangerous because the said Lord of Vatan was of the Religion and 't was fear'd the whole body of them would have abetted him There arise a little after two ill-favour'd contentions twixt Church-men which kept a great noise for the present One was of the Iesuits who presented a remonstrance to the Court of Parliament that by vertu of an Edict of Henry the Great 1611. they might be permitted to open their Colledg of Clermont for the instruction of youth and to erect Classes for the public Lecture of the Sciences in a scholary way The Rector of the Universitie seconded by the Sindic of Sorbon with the whole body of Academiks oppos'd it mainly The first thing the Court ordred was that the Jesuits should subscribe to a submission and conformitie to the Doctrin of the Sorbon Schoole in these foure points 1. That the Pope hath no power over the temporalls of Kings and that he cannot excommunicat them or deprive them of their Kingdoms 2. That the Counsell is above the Pope 3. That the Ecclesrastiques are subject to the Secular and Politic Magistrat 4. That auricular Confessions ought to be reveal'd which concern the State and lifes of Kings and Soverain Princes All which Propositions tended to the maintenance of royal authoritie the conservation of the sacred persons of Kings and the liberties of the Gallie Church The Jesuit shrunk in their shoulders at this motion so one in the name of the rest answer'd that amongst their Statuts there was one which oblig'd them to follow the rules and laws of those places where they were therefore they could not promise their General would subscribe to the foresaid propositions but their Provincial in France should do it with the whole Colledg of Clermont which was done accordingly yet the Parliament could never be induc'd to passe a Decree whereby they might be authorized to open their Colledg in Paris for the education of youth though afterwards the King and Queen Regent by sole advise of the Counsell of State notwithstanding the opposition of Parliament and Universitie pass'd an Edict in their favour And this was done out of pure reason of State for the world knows what dangerous instruments Jesuits are if offended The other scuffle amongst Church-men was of a greater consequence which was thus The Iacobins who are the chiefest order of preaching Friers have a generall Chapter every three yeers in Paris This convention happen'd this yeer and divers Tenets were propounded there One amongst the rest was That in no case the Counsell is above the Pope There sate in this Assembly many eminent persons as the Cardinal of Perron the Popes Nuncio with divers other great Prelats There were also some Presidents of Courts there and Counsellors and the Provost of Paris Amongst others Hacquevill President in the great Chamber of Parliament at the debatement of the said thesis stood up and averr'd that it was heretical whereat the Nuncio was offended and after some heat of argument pro and con Cardinal Perron took the word
of Indexes untill it be corrected and the correction approv'd according to the rules of the Index In the said Decree the word respectively some imagined to be inserted of purpose as an evasion to shew that the Jesuits do not absolutely condemn the doctrin of Becanus but only as it invades the Prerogatives of the French Crown They of the Religion as I told you before suspected some ill consequences of the crosse Match with Spain and feared it would prove crosse to them in time Moreover the Princes of the bloud and others repin'd at the power of D' Ancre whereupon the Duke of Bovillon prime Marshall of France and prime Machinator of this tumult came to visite the Prince of Conde and made a solemn studied speech unto him as followeth My Lord it would be impudence in me to represent unto you the deplorable estate of France whereof you have more knowledge then I or to touch the arrogance of Conchiny which you must needs daily resent or to make his power suspected which is the next dore to tyranny or to exhort you to oppose his pernicious desseins The consideration of your own safety with that of France is enough to rouze up your generous thoughts and to administer Counsell to you who are the most judicious Prince of Europe Moreover in such a manifest and urgent affair as this ther 's no need of Remonstrance consultation or exhortation but to apply some sudden and actuall remedy Therefore I addresse my self now to your Excellence not onely to offer you my means but my person as also 100000. men who would esteem themselves happy to serve you and will hold it a glory to employ their bloud to the last drop under your conduct for the good of the State and your just defence against this Faquin Florentin this Florentine porter who plots the ruin of all those Princes and Peers of the Kingdom who would oreshadow his advancement and hinder to establish his tyranny The difference of Religion which we professe ought not to empeach a strong and solid union between us in the conjuncture of so common a danger considering that while we endeavour our own safety we secure the State generall and incolumity of our Countrey which are conditions inseparable from the Kings service whose Sacred Person is not safe enough under the irregular ambition of a stranger which his Majesty himself begins now to perceive and seeing his liberty engag'd fears the ambition of this tyrant and will find himself oblig'd to those that can rid him of him My Lord you are well assur'd that the greatest part of the Princes finding themselfs involv'd in the same interest with you are touch'd with the same resentments and dispos'd to joyn with your Excellence in a project as glorious as necessary For doubtles the Gentry of France in whom consist the sinews of our armies being naturally averse to the commandements of a stranger will run unto you from all parts to assist you with their armes Touching the Towns you need not doubt but a good part of them which are under the Government of the Princes will declare themselfs for you And I give you certain assurance that They of the Religion which are the strongest and best provided with soldiers artillery ammunition and victualls of any other will declare themselfs for your party as soon as you shall publish your laudable intentions by some Manifesto It concerns your Excellence therefore my Lord to take hold of Time by the foretop for the restauration and safetie of the State in generall and your own in particular and of all the Princes and Gentry of the Kingdom But if you let Occasion escape you know that she is bald behind and you shall never be able to catch her again Besides the Armies which you might justly raise now during the Kings minority and by reason the government is usurped by an Alien who hath not so much as the quality of a Gentleman wold be hereafter felony and treason under the majority and liberty of our lawfull Monark The Prince was a subject fit to be wrought upon and ready to receive any print for he could not brook the exorbitant power of D' Ancre therefore having assurance that the Dukes of Nevers Main Longueville Luxemburg and the said Bovillon would follow him he retires to Mezieres upon the frontire of Champany he made choice of that place because it was his Patrimony and that he might have a sure Rendevous of Sedan if need required The Duke of Vendosme thinking to retire to Britany was arrested in the Louure but he got loose by a trick and the Chevalier his brother was sent to Malta The foresaid male-contented Princes recruted dayly in Champany But had the young King got a horsback and pursued them presently though with a petty Army the Countrey wold have riss with him and so he had prevented their encrease and driven them in all probabilitie to Sedan where he might have kept them in exile with a small Army on the frontires And his Counsell was much tax'd for not advising him so But in lieu of arms he sent Ambassadors and Epistles after them to perswade their return or if they refused to amuse them till he might raise forces sufficient to encounter them to which end he sent to Swisserland for 6000. men but Bovillon by his artifice hinder'd that design from taking its full effect Thus a fearfull storme was like to fall on France for the male-contents dispers'd themselfs to divers strong holds Longuevill went to Picardy Main to Soissons Bovillon to Sedan and Vendosme was as busie as any other to raise the Countrey in Britain Conde continued still at Mezieres nor could any Letter from King or Queen Regent sent by the Duke of Ventadour reduce him He writ to the Queen That the ill government which he imputed not to Her but to ill Counsellors were the cause of his retirement who because they might have the sole direction of things hindred the convocation of the States generall which were used to assemble always in the Kings minority he complain'd that the mariages with Spain were precipitated that the authority of the Parliament was diminished the Church-men trampled upon the Nobles undervalued the people laden with gabells and tallies divisions sowed in Sorbon and the University with divers other soloecismes in the present Government In his conclusion he insists much upon the convocation of the States generall of the Kingdom sure free a suspension of the mariage with Spain and so concluds with much complement These were specious pretences but they were as so many imaginary lines drawing to one reall Center which was the Marq of Ancre who indeed was the sole grievance and not He neither but his power and privacy with the Queen Regent which they thought to demolish by Arms. The Queen Regent in her answer to Conde reprocheth him that he had not imparted these things privatly to her to whom he had perpetual
capitulation to summon the States Generall and suspecting there might be some desseins against her authoritie she endevour'd to prevent it divers wayes First in the Mandats sent to the Governors of Provinces and Towns for the elections of Deputies there were speciall cautions inserted to choose no factious persons The second means was to defer the convocation of the States Generall till the Kings majority was declar'd that so his authoritie might be the more compleat and absolut whereby he might have a greater power to take into his hands her interests and oppose such resolutions that might prejudice them Lastly whereas the said convocation was appointed first to be at Rheims then at Sens she sent summons abroad that it should be held at Paris where the King was strongest by the residence of his servants the affections of all orders of people and the assistance of the ordinary Court of Parliament which is still there sitting though it was us'd to be ambulatory with the Kings Court. Now the difference which is in France between an Assembly of the three Estates and their Parliaments is that the former hath an analogie both in point of institution power and summons with our Soverain high Court of Parliament in England compos'd of Lords and Commons wherein the King sits as head and it is He alone who opens and shuts it with his breath This being the greatest of all Assemblies treats of matters touching the universall good of the State and the making correcting or repealing of laws and it is the highest Sphere which gives motion to all the rest The Parliaments of France whereof there are eight have not the same latitude of power yet are they Supreme Courts or Sessions of Justice where mens causes and differences are publikly determined in last ressort without any further appeale and any Peer of France by right of inheritance hath a capacitie to sit there The day being assign'd for publishing the Kings Majority the Queen Regent and He with his now sole brother the Duke of Anjou for his brother the Duke of Orleans was lately dead went in a stately solemn maner to the Court of Parliament accompagnied with the prime Prelats and Peers of the Kingdom and amongst them there were fower Cardinalls A contestation happen'd 'twixt the Cardinalls and Peers for precedency because the twelve Peers of France before an Ordinance made by Henry the third preceded any Prince of the bloud at the Coronation and Sacring of the King and the declaration of his Majority was an Act reflecting on that Yet the King inordred the priority for that time to the Cardinalls because they were Princes of the Church universal which made the Peers retire from the Court lest it might serve for a precedent to future Ages The Court being sat and all silenc'd the Queen Regent riss up and said That she prais'd and thank'd God to have afforded her grace to bring up her son to the yeers of his Majority and to maintain his Kingdom in peace the best she could That now he being come to age she transmitted the Government to him exhorting the company there present and all other his subjects to render him that service obedience and fidelity which is due unto him as to their King The Chancelor hereupon pronounced the Arrest of the Court importing a verification of the declaration of his Majesties Majority which was done in a solemn studied Oration This great solemnity did not end so but it was accompagnied with four wholsom Edicts as the first fruits or hansels of his raign 1. The first aym'd at a general concord 'twixt his subjects by strict injunction of observing the Edict of Nantes concerning them of the Religion 2. The second aym'd at a generall obedience prohibiting all ligues confederacy and intelligence with any strange Prince or State under pain of lifs 3. The third against Duells 4. The fourth against Blasphemy and Swearing Thus ended the Regency of Maria de Medici in form though not in effect for she swayed a good while after as Queen Mother in all Counsels the King reposing still his chief confidence in her during her Regency she did many public things which discover'd a pious and Princely soul Amongst others she provided divers Hospitalls in the suburbs of Saint German for the relief of the poor the aged and sick and to set young people at work which will continue there as long as the walls of Paris for monuments of her honour and charity The King having notice that the Deputies of the three States were com he sent the B p. of Paris to warn them in his name to fit themselfs for receiving the grace of God that so a blessing might fall upon their consultations to which purpose three daies fast was enjoyn'd them to prepare them the better for the holy Communion which was also inordred them So according to ancient custom a generall Procession was made wherein divers ranks of Fryars and Hopitalers went before then followed the Deputies of the third Estate who took place according to the rank of the 12. Governments of France and made in number 192. The Nobles followed them in number 132. They of the Clergie went last who made 140. so that in all they came to 464. which number I observe is inferior to that of the English Parliament where the Members of the House of Commons alone which corresponds the Third Estate in France come to neer upon 500. After these the King himself followed on foot accompagnied with the Queen and the Princes and Peeres The next day after all met in Bourbon House hall where the young King told them That having not long since declar'd his Majority he thought fitting to convoque the States Generall of his Kingdom to begin his raign by their good advice and Counsell to receive their complaints and provide for redres accordingly as it should be more amply told them by his Chancelor who took the word therupon This generall overture and Ceremony being ended the States Generall spent some daies to visit one another and to choosing of their three Praesidents or Prolocutors which they presented to the King with protestation of all fidelity and obedience The next day they took the Communion all in one Church going six at a time viz. two of every Order to the holy Table The Munday following they reassembled intending to fall close to work but their proceedings were retarded by some differences which interven'd touching the rank of the 12. Provinces or Governments and this clash kept a great noise till the King interpos'd therin his Authority and by the advice of his Privy Counsel which they submitted unto made this decision marshalling the 12. Governments thus 1. the Isle of France whereon Paris stands 2. Burgundy 3. Normandy 4. Guyen 5. Britany 6. Champany 7. Languedoc 8. Picardy 9. Dauphine 10. Provence 11. Lionnois 12. Orleans This being regulated by the King they fell to the main work and three Propositions were made the first by
Parliament mainly endevour'd to give some contentment to their Majesties therefore they employ'd again the prime President with others To declare the great displeasure the Court had that their Remonstrance was not agreeable to their Majesties wils protesting that it was never the intention of the Court to touch upon their actions or the Queens Regency whom they acknowledg'd to have oblig'd all France by her wise conduct and care she had both of the Kings Person and the State that as they could not so they would never attempt any thing upon royal authority what they had don was to testifie the zeal which they owe and will shew eternally to their Majesties Persons That they most humbly desir'd them to remember that the very next day after the death of Henry the Great their Majesties were pleas'd to honor that Court with their presence desiring them to contribut their good Counsels for the conduct of the public affairs which oblig'd them to present the foresaid Remonstrances c. So they concluded with all possible submission and a desire that the said Arrest of his Counsel of State should not be publish'd This took away somthing of the inflamation for the time but it cur'd not the wound which began to fester more and more and so gangrend that the whole body politic was like to perish For what the Court of Parliament sought by supplication the Prince of Conde not long after sought by the sword who having divers of the greatest Princes and them of the Religion ligu'd with him brought their Petition upon the Pikes point Conde flew to that height that he proceeded not by way of Remonstrance but as if he had bin a Prince absolut by way of Manifesto He was then in Picardy whither the King had sent divers Letters by persons of good quality to invite him to come to Court and to accompany him in his voyage to Guyen to fetch the Infanta but all would not do for old Bovillon had infus'd other Counsels into his head and so he publish'd a Manifesto that the cause of his retirement from the Court was the insolent deportment of the Marshall of Ancre the dissipation of Henry the Greats treasure the introduction of strangers of Iewes Sorcerers and Magicians by the said Marshall and so he concluded King-like parlant en sire Wherefore we pray and warn all the the Princes Peers and Officers of the Crown and all such as call themselfs French to succour and assist us in so good an occasion And we require and adjure all forren Princes and strangers all the Allies and Confederats of this State to give us ayd and assistance c. These were the specious pretences that caus'd this Manifesto which divers forren Princes took in foul scorn that he should require them being but a vassal himself The truth is there was but one generall grievance and that was the Marshall of Ancre a Confident of the Queen Mothers whom she had brought with her from Italy his wife having bin her foster sister He had the greatest vogue at Court which being a stranger made him repin'd at The King and the Queen Mother were then resolv'd upon a journey to Burdeaux to receive the Infanta and to deliver the Daughter of France for the King of Spain Conde disswades the King from the voyage by Letters which were not well taken So while the one prepares for his journey the other arms for a war and gets on his party Longueville Bulloin and Mayn who had concluded the match with Spain yet refus'd to attend in the jour ney Thus a fearfull clowd hung over France yet nothing could deter the King from going to fetch his wife and the Queen Mother said That all the power of earth should not hinder him Besides he was straitned for money for so long and costly a voyage nor would the Chamber of Accounts verify in Letters to take any out of the Bastile whereupon the King went himself in Person accompagnied by the Queen his Mother his Chancelor Secretaries of State and others in whose presence the Coffers were open'd and two millions and a halfe of Liures which make 250000. pounds sterling were taken out and deliver'd to the Treasurer of the Privy Purse The King being to begin his journey the first thing he did was to secure Paris so he left Mounsier de Liencour Governour thereof and to authorise him the more he admitted him to the Court of Parliament by Letters Patents which the said Court did verifie notwithstanding the harsh answer they had had to their late Remonstrance at the Louure The Marshal of Ancre was sent to Amiens with a considerable Army And another Army was left under the command of the Marshal de Bois Daufin consisting of 16000. foot 1500. horse and 2000. Carrabins to make head against the Mutiners So the King and his Mother accompagnied with the Dukes of Guyse Elbaeuf and Espernon with a good number of Gentlemen with 1200. light horse his Guard of Suisses and others making in all 400. foot parted from Paris towards Bourdeaux and being come to Poictiers Madame his sister which was to be sent to Spain fell sick of the small Pox which detaind the Court there five weeks and so much retarded the journey In the intrim the Princes forces encrease and prosper exceedingly having had the best in three rencounters Old Bovillon had got 600. Reiters from the Marquis of Brandenburg who joyn'd with them they got over the Loire maugre the Royall Army under Bois Dauphin The Duke of Vandom was then with the King and he gave him Commission extraordinary to make levies of horse and foot and having by virtu thereof rais'd an Army of 10000. Combatants he declar'd himself afterward for the Princes and employ'd them against the King He who did thrive best amongst the Royalists was the Marshal of Ancre who in the interim had taken Corbes and Clermont The King caus'd a Declaration to be publish'd wherein Conde and all his Adhaerents were Proclaim'd Traytors and sent it to Paris to be verified by the Parliament which was never more puzzled in any busines those that were averse to the Match with Spain and favour'd the Mutineers endevour'd to elude the Registring of the royal Declaration alledging that the Princes of the bloud being the prime Peers could not be censur'd there without their Peers and that the presence of the King himself was requisit without which his bloud could not be judg'd After tough altercations the voices of the Court were reduc'd to two Opinions one was of 73. voices who order'd that the Declaration should be registred but the Person of the Prince excepted for a moneth during which time he should be warn'd to submit himself to his Majesty and all others should lay down their arms The other Opinion was caried by 78. voices which was that the Court order'd that the reasons for which they could not and ought not to proceed to verifie the said Declaration should be
of the late wars The French Chroniclers relate that his chiefest arrand was to propound a Match between the Prince of Wales now King of England and the Lady Christina second daughter to Henry the Great but they are much mistaken for the said Ambassador might happily have instructions to look upon and view the said Lady but for any overture of mariage much lesse any proposition there was none the intents of England ayming then more southward and there was matter enough for an Ambassador extraordinary besides at that time The King the two Queens and the whole Court being now settled at Paris the discontented Princes repair'd also thither but Conde being newly recovered of a dangerous sicknes which some took as a judgement upon him lagg'd behind and excus'd his coming till all the Articles of the late Treaty were perform'd whereunto the King may be said to be no lesse then compell'd being among other ties forc'd to revoke part of the solemn Oth he took at his Coronation that therby they of the Religion might rest contented At last Conde came and was entred into a perfect redintegration of grace and favor at Court with the rest of his Confederats So after such turbid times there was an intervall of faire weather but the Ayer was suddenly ore ' cast again with clowds and the chief Meteor whence they sprung was the power and privacy of the Marshall of Ancre at Court The Queen Mother had advice of certain clandestine meetings and secret consultations held to alter the Government and to demolish Ancre hereupon Themines who receiv'd the Truncheon to be Marshall the same day apprehended the Prince of Conde in the Louure and carried him thence to prison the report hereof startled divers others and old Bovillon being then at a Sermon in Charenton durst not come back to look upon the Bastile so he with the Dukes of Mayn Nevers Guyse and divers other retir'd and arm'd under pretence of reforming of abuses in the State and for the public good Poore France how often hath privat interest of some aspiring spirits bin term'd in thee by the specious name of Public good How often have thy discontented Grandees ground the faces of thy innocent peasants How often hast thou turn'd the sword into thine own bowels and swomm in the blood of thine own children How often have thy Towns bin turn'd to Hospitals thy fields to desarts under the gilded pretext of Reformation The arrest of Conde alarm'd all France and a politic rumour was spread in Paris that the Marshall of Ancre had murther'd him in the Louure though he was then at Amiens 100. miles off This made the Beast with many heads run furiously to his House in the suburbs of Saint German which they sack'd and plunder'd most pitifully they unplank'd his roomes grub'd up his trees and committed divers barbarismes besides The King caus'd a Declaration to be publish'd full of vigorous expressions tending to this purpose Lewis by the grace of God King of France and Navarr to all who shall see these present Letters greeting It is with incredible regret which pierceth Our very heart that We must so often employ Our Authority to represse the mischievous desseins of them who seek the raising of their fortunes in the ruines of Our Estates and in the prodigious cruelty of civill wars take an unbridled libertie to doe what law and reason forbids And We are the more sensible hereof because the remedies We must use for the safety of our Person and the welfare of this Kingdom must diffame our own blood and render it culpable of impiety both against Us who are in place of a Father to our subjects as also against their own Countrey which is reverenc'd as a Mother by all people though never so barbarous So he goes on to relate the Treaty at Lodun and the last Pacification which had cost him twenty millions of Liures and what grace he had done to Conde and his Complices Yet the exces of Our grace and favor hath not bin able to represse the disordinat wills of them who find no rest but in trouble and ground their hopes upon Our destruction for before and after the return of Our Cousin the Prince of Conde to Paris there have bin Nocturnall Assemblies held in Saint Martin and other places with consultations to debauch and abuse the people and undermine those who have Martiall Offices under us and to excite them to commotion Curats and Preachers have bin tampered withall to vent scandalous Doctrin and meanes were consulted on to seize upon Our Royall Person and our most honored Mother and to Cantonize France under the specious vayle of reforming the State All which hath bin told us by some of the best of Our subjects who were present at some of their consultations and close meetings And We were also advis'd by forren Ambassadors to have a care of our self c. This was the substance of the Kings Declaration but all would not do to contain the Princes within the bounds of obedience many of them had retir'd to Picardy and seiz'd upon divers places which they fortified apace A little after the Prince of Conde was clap'd up the Duke of Vendosm was seiz'd on but he scap'd by a wile The Chancelor and Secretaries of State with other Officers were chang'd And in this hurly burly the young Bishop of Lucon afterwards Cardinal of Richelieu having bin design'd for Ambassador to Spain was made principall Secretary of State The Marshal of Ancre notwithstanding that he had understood how he was hated in Paris and that his House was so plunder'd in a popular furie yet was he nothing daunted but comes boldly to Court and presently three Armies were rais'd and appointed to represse the Mutiners One under the Duke of Guyse who was charm'd to come in by the Queen Mother The second under Marshall Montigny and the third under the Count of Auvergne who was freed from his 11. yeers close imprisonment in the Bastile for that purpose and had already besieg'd the Duke of Mayne at Soissons and much straitned him While this huge storme was dropping pitifully upon poor France there were secret consultations held by some in the Louure how to hurle Him into the Sea who was the cause of the tempest which was cryed up to be the foresaid Ancre He knew too well how he was malign'd in Court and Countrey and the young Kings affection towards him began now to brandle and all this was by the suggestions of Luynes who was one of the greatest Confidentst the King had having bin his servant from his childhood and was vers'd in his genius more then any Ancre had practis'd to remove him from the Kings Person with some others whom he suspected to do him ill offices Besides this fewd 'twixt the King and Princes there was another petty war then a foot betwixt the Duke of Espernon and the Rochellers the ground whereof was that they would not
should be a generall peace now 'twixt the French people because of the businesse of the Valtolin where the Spaniard had a purpose to block out France in all places towards Italy which was very necessary to be prevented so that it was not fit to enfeeble France at this time by attempting to extinguish them of the Religion and to plunge the whole Countrey in an intestine war for it was as if one would cut off his left hand with the right This last counsell took more with the King and so he left no way unessayed to reunite all his subjects Hereupon to content the Reformists he caus'd their Temples to be reedified he appointed 60000. Franks for the payment of their Ministers and permitted them to call a Synod at Charenton with divers other acts of compliance provided that on their part they should entertain no strangers for preachers nor admit Ministers into politic Assemblies In these difficulties and anxious traverses of things the King made the Cardinal of Richelieu his principall Minister of State chiefe of his Counsell and Director generall under his authority in the government of the State He made this election by the advice of the Queen Mother principally nor was it an improper choice for the party had a concurrence of high abilities in him answerable to that transcendent trust and he prov'd as will appear by the sequele of things a succesfull Instrument though many doubt whether his Counsel was as succesfull to France as it was fatall to the rest of Christendom which he hath plung'd in an eternall war touching this we leave the Ingenious Reader a freedom of censure according as his judgement shall be guided by an unpartiall and unbiass'd relation of matters as they ly connected in the ensuing part of this story Thus our third Lustre concludes with the commencement of Richelieus greatnes The fourth Lustre of the Life of Lewis the thirteenth VVE began the last lustre with the espousals of the Lady Christina second daughter of France with the Prince of Piemont this begins with the mariage of the Lady Henriette Marie de Bourbon the yongest Royall branch of Henry the Great and this was the first great act that the Cardinal of Richelieu performed after he was come to the superintendency of affairs of State France had two causes of perpetuall apprehensions of fear one external th' other internal The still growing greatnesse of Spain without and They of the Religion within doors which were made frequent use of by any discontented Princes upon all occasions and were cryed up by the Jesuits to be as Matches to set France on fire at any time Therefore the first gran dessein that he projected with himself was to clip their wings and diminish their strength by dismantling their Cautionary Towns and making them dismisse their Garrisons The Cardinal knew the King his Master did not affect them since the Treaty at Lodun wherein they forc'd him to put another interpretation upon his Coronation Oth then his conscience did dictat unto him or the Prelat who administred it unto him meant which appear'd in a churlish answer that he gave them not long after when he was solicited to prolong the terme of holding their Cautionary Towns as Henry the Third and Henry the Great his father had done Which answer was That what grace the first did shew you was out of fear what my father did was out of love but I would have you know that I neither fear you nor love you To compasse that great work of taking from them their Garrison Towns it was thought very expedient to secure forren Princes from assisting them specially England and the united Provinces Touching the latter they were charm'd with money for in a fresh Treaty the King accorded them a million of Franks and six hundred thousand Franks every one of the two yeers next ensuing which they were to re-inburse the next two yeers that they should conclude a peace or truce with Spain The Holland-Ambassadors who were employed in this Treatie did promise the King that there should be libertie of conscience given the Catholiks at his Majesties request That the States should associat the French with them in the commerce of the Indies give them some choice ports for traffic and repaire some depraedations they had made by sea but the money being once got there was little care taken to perform these promises which were no more then parol engagements or rather complements whereupon an Ambassador was expressely sent to complain hereof but he effected little To secure England from succouring Them of the Religion the first overture that the Erl of Holland made for an alliance was yeelded unto to whom the Erl of Carlile was sent in joynt commission to conclude it The King told them that he took it for an honour that they sought his sister for the sole sonne of so illustrious a King his neighbour and Allie onely he desir'd that he might send to Rome to have the Popes consent for better satisfaction of his conscience and in the mean time the English Ambassadors might send for a more plenary power to England so in lesse then the revolution of nine moons this great businesse was propos'd poursued and perfected whereas the Sun ran his carreer through the Zodiac ten times before that Spain could come to any point of perfection This may serve to shew the difference twixt the two Nations the leaden heel'd pace of the one and the quicksilver'd motions of the other it shewes also how the French is more round and frank in his proceedings not so full of scruples reservations and jealousies as the Spaniard And one reason that the Statists of the time alledg'd why Spain amus'd the English and protracted the Treaty of the Match so long was that all the daughters of France might be first married to prevent an alliance 'twixt England and her There was a concurrence of many things that favor'd the effecting and expediting of this alliance some previous Offices and Letters of invitation from France wherein there were strains of extraordinary endearments wherewith the King of Great Britain corresponded also in an unusuall stile as appears by this Letter following Most high most excellent and most puissant Prince Our most deer and most beloved good Brother Cousen and ancient Ally Although the deceased King of happy memory was justly call'd Henry the Great for having re-conquer'd by arms his Kingdom of France though it appertain'd unto him as his proper inheritance Yet you have made now a greater conquest for the Kingdom of France though it was regain'd by the victorious arms of your dead father it was his de jure and so he got but his own But you have lately carried away a greater victory having by your two last Letters so full of cordiall courtesies overcome your good Brother and ancient Ally and all the Kingdoms appertaining unto him for We acknowledge Our self so conquer'd by your more then
prime soldier of Europe Now Spinola being tyred with the lingring Low Countrey Wars and having recover'd the honor he had lost before Berghen op some by that notable exploit of taking Breda he procur'd his revokement from that service Being come to Spain there was some clashing 'twixt him and Olivares about accounts yet was he sent to be Governor of Milan and so was made Generall of this War He struck like thunder into Monferrat and took Nizza de la paglia and six places more notwithstanding the opposition of Toiras who had such successe against the English in the Isle of Ré and was now Governor for the King t'other side the Hills and had shut himself in Casal Colalto with the Imperiall Army enters the same time the Territories of Montava and takes Viadana Caneto Gazole Governo and presents himself before Mantova herself where the Venetians had sent 1000. men for the security of the Town As the King of France was preparing for Italy there were two ill-favord accidents happen'd one was that Monsieur being mightily taken in love with the Princesse Mary the Duke of Mantova's daughter for a second wife neither the King nor his Mother would give their consent unto it which in discontentment made him leave France and fly to Lorain this sudden sally was like to breed ill bloud for he publish'd a Manifesto wherein he cast many aspersions upon the present Government and the boundlesse Authority of Richelieu but the businesse was taken up by the ministery of good heads and Monsieur was charm'd to France again by an addition of the Duchy of Valois which was valued at one hundred thousand Franks yeerly to his former apannage The other was an insurrection in Dijon the chief Parlement Town of Burgundy where the King had erected a new Court for the improvement of his revenues The Officers of this new Court grew odious as all Innovations are which made the Populasse to mutiny specially the Vineyard-men who in confused troupes came into Dijon and did many insolences The tumult came to that height and was of that consequence that the King himself went thither in Person to appease it which he did by the assistance and sage conduct of the Duke de Bellegarde he passd ' an Act of abolition provided that a tax should be laid upon the Comminalty for repairing the losses of some of his Officers who had their houses burn'd and were otherwise damnified in this popular fury In the interim the Cardinal with an Army of twenty thousand foot and two thousand horse effectif men were ready to traverse the Alps towards Italy for it was not thought fit the King should venture his own Person in the second Expedition because his Physicians had discover'd some symptomes of an approching sicknes in him The Cardinal was accompagnied with three Marshals Crequy La Force and Schomberg who were all Generals of divers Squadrons but the Cardinal was chiefest Director of the War Nor did he wave the title of Generalissimo Nor do there want presidents in France how Cardinals have bin Generals of Armies which shall be produc'd in the life of Richelieu hereunto annexed The Duke of Savoy was somewat shy to let this Army passe through the body of his Countrey or that there should be staples of corn erected in some Towns for the supply of it which made the Cardinall speak high language demanding passage by vertue of the Articles of the late Peace at Susa So the Duke was willing the Army should passe by the river Dovaire Susine but not by Avigliana and through the Plain of Piemont By this appears in what a disadvantagious posture Nature hath placed some Princes whose Territories are situate 'twixt greater Potentates then themselfs which ofttimes puts them to weare double faces and play with a staff with two ends Such is the condition of the Duke of Savoy who besides the abruptnes and stupendous craggednes of most part of his Countrey is plac'd between two mighty Monarks the Kings of France and Spain and is oftentimes put to his wits end how to comply with both how to put off his hat to the one and how to make a leg to the other The Prince of Piemont came twise to confer with the Cardinall though much ado happen'd for the place of meeting The Prince offer'd in his fathers name to enter into an eternall Ligue with his most Christian Majesty against the Spaniard upon condition they should never disarme till they had made an entire conquest of Milan and Genoa the Cardinal held this proposition extravagant and illusory and made of purpose to render the King odious to Italy by apprehensions of an endlesse war thereupon having receiv'd a positif Commission from the King to make his passage by the sword in case of further delay he marched before Pignerol besieged it and took it whereby there was a double advantage gain'd a free passage for provision from Dauphiné as also that the said Pignerol enchaining as it were France to Italy commanded all the valley of Piemont The taking of Pignerol extremely troubled the Duke of Savoy therefore he had recourse to the Popes Nuncio to stir in the busines for an accommodation of things Signieur Mazarini a moderate and well weigh'd Gentleman was joyn'd with him and the Cardinal being return'd to Lions where the King and two Queens were to give an account how matters stood after much consultation and canvasing of the busines to and fro they propounded certain capitulations which they thought reasonable to both parties The Imperiall and Spanish party though they did not disapprove yet they delay'd to give up their resolution upon the said Articles to gain time and see what successe Colalto should get before Mantova and Spinola before Casal the chief Town of Monferrat Colalto a little after made himself Master of Mantova The French were mov'd at this and that Casal was in so dangerous condition as also that the Duke of Savoy was now arming apace thereupon the King with his Cardinal repasse the Alps with an Army of 23000. foot whereof there were 6000. Suisse and 4000. Liegeois and 2000. horse besides volonteers So he march'd to Chamberry who presently yeelded where Conqueror like he dismiss'd the Dukes Senat and established a Counsell of his own he march'd thence to Constans In the interim Crequy impatroniz'd himself of divers other places in Savoy In the heat of these actions the King had a desire to visit the Queen at Lyon whither he came but falling sick and disabled to return himself he sent the Duke of Monmorency and the Marquis de' Fiat who had bin Ambassador in England with a French Army to joyn with Marshall de la Force t'other side the Hills The Duke of Savoy to prevent this conjunction advanc'd as far as Avigliana with 20000. foot and 4000. horse made up of Spaniards and Germans The Armies met and there were some thousands kill'd on both sides Prince Doria was taken prisoner by the French and