repair'd to Tagent who to the Duke 's great astonishment had all this while stood an idle Spectator without once endeavouring to enter the Town to his succour 'T is true he sign'd the Capitulation which was all the share he had in this business But the Articles were no sooner Sign'd than they immediately fell to breaking down the Barricadoes the people retir'd every one to their own Houses and the Dutchess of Espernon was conducted to the Castle by the aforesaid Abbot Where being come after she had given the Duke her Husband some tender and affectionate testimonies of joy for his deliverance the first thing she did in return of the barbarous usage she had receiv'd was to mediate their Pardons by whom she had been so ill us'd with the Duke who though he had meditated a severe Revenge upon them who had committed so great an outrage against him was notwithstanding content to surrender his Animosities to the generous intercession of this Vertuous Lady He moreover set those he had taken Prisoners with the Consul at Liberty consented that Meré with the other Gentlemen of his Party should retire to their own Houses giving them a Convoy of Light Horse for their defense and by a notable effect of Generosity and good Nature having restor'd the dead Bodies of the Consul and his Brother to their Relations and Friends he permitted them to be buried with publick Obsequies Lastly he so franckly pardon'd all the rest of the Citizens that not any one of them who would afterwards live in Peace could ever perceive in him the least memory of any former unkindness but on the contrary receiv'd from him all the good Offices and gentle Usage they could expect from a man they had never offended by which exceeding Clemency and by the protection both the City and Country receiv'd from him for the space of fifty years which he afterwards held that Government he so won the hearts of that people that there was not one of them who would not chearfully have ventur'd Life and Fortune for his Service and who have not to this hour his memory in great Veneration as the Father Protector and Restorer of their Country The King of Navarre who was ever so intent upon his own Affairs as to let no occasion slip that he conceiv'd might any way serve to advance them foreseeing that after the Assembly which was to be holden at Blois he should certainly have all the Forces both of the King and the League bent joyntly against him had not fail'd to send to the Duke upon his retirement from Court a time very proper to have taken his Resentments in the heat had he been a Male-content with offers of as high and honourable conditions as he himself could possibly have propos'd if he would joyn with him To which the Duke equally firm in his Religion and Loyalty made answer that he did beseech his Majesty to reflect upon the infinite obligations he had to the King his Master and then he did assure himself that his own generosity would for ever condemn him of ingratitude should he abandon his Service for any persecution his Enemies could practice against him After which and many humble and respective thanks for his gracious offer he gave him plainly and freely to understand that he would rather perish than to live oblig'd to any other for his protection than to him who was the sole Author of his Fortune But this Prince not checking at this first refusal would yet try if in the business of Angoulesme by his own Actions and Presence he could not work more effectually upon the Duke than by the mediation of Agents he had hitherto done and to that purpose being advertis'd of this enterprize though at a time when he was upon the point to fall upon the City and Castle of Clisson in the lower Poictou very considerable places and which in all apparence he was likely to carry he nevertheless gave over the Design to come to the Duke's Relief A deliberation that some have believ'd was not so much intended to rescue the Duke from the danger he was in as to make use of that occasion in the Confusion the City then was to seize upon it to his own use and to reduce so considerable a place into the hands of his own Party But whatever his Design was he met intelligence by the way that the Duke had already disingag'd himself from his Enemies and was settled in a posture of safety by which though he found he should come too late to do the Duke any Service unwilling nevertheless to lose the thanks of his good intention he sent to congratulate with him for his happy Deliverance which he said was so much the more glorious to him as it was wrought out of himself and effected by his own Valour and Constancy advising him withal to consider how many of the like attempts he was to expect from his Enemies malice withal once more offering to joyn his Interests with his and to run the same Fortune with him in all hazards But the Duke answering still with the same civility and respect he had done before without suffering himself to be tempted from the duty he ow'd to the King his Master continued constant in his Resolution never to take part with any who were his open and declared Enemies In this place methinks the Duke of Espernon is chiefly to be consider'd to make thence a right judgment of the greatness and constancy of his mind He had scarce been seven years a Favourite when he saw the prodigious Engine of the League ready to fall upon him a body so formidable and so great as having already constrain'd the King himself to bow before it made all those of the Reformed Religion to tremble at its motion no Authority was able to stop it no Power to resist it yet could it never startle this young Dukes constancy But on the contrary though he saw himself forsaken by the King and expos'd to the malice of his Enemies though he saw the people in his own Governments rais'd in mutiny against him and all things as it were conspiring together to his Ruine yet could he not even in these extremities ever submit to the King of Navarre's Protection though offer'd and so handsomely offered to him but though alone in his own Quarrel at least without other assistance than of his Friends and Servants he had yet the courage to defend his own Interests and the Service of his Prince even against his Prince himself who was now become General of his own Enemies Yet had he ever so excellent a Government over himself as to do nothing contrary to his Conscience or his Duty So that not being to be mov'd either by the Menaces of the League or by the Hopes he might reasonably conceive from the assistance of those of the Reform'd Religion he subdu'd those two Passions that exercise the most absolute Empire over the minds of men
desire he come to us to the end we may be fully inform'd of the truth of what has pass'd purposing in the mean time to send one of our Council to our said City of Bordeaux to enquire into and to bring Us thence a perfect Accompt of the business The rest we refer to the said Sieur de Varennes to communicate to you whom you are in all things to believe praying God Cousin c. At St. Germain en Laye this 18 th of November 1633. Sign'd Lovis And below Philipeaux The Duke of Espernon's Friends at Court being inform'd of the severe contents of this Dispatch were not a little in doubt after what manner he would receive it They fear'd his great Spirit full of those generous Maxims which had for so many years and in so many froward occurrences supported his Reputation and Fortune would with great difficulty submit to Laws so different from what they had been in former times Amongst these the Cardinal de la Valette a man as well read in the Court as any whatever of his time upon this occasion laid aside the complacency of a Son to assume the austerity of a faithful Adviser and writ to him to this effect That he did beseech him to look upon this Affair as one of the greatest Difficulty and Importance he had met withal in the whole course of his life That to avoid any inconveniences might befal him he must immediately submit to the King's Pleasure and Command and refer the business wholly and without reservation to the Cardinal which was the only way to put a good end to this Dispute Monsieur de Seguier Garde des Sceaux the Duke 's intimate friend and a man that appeared more for his Interest than the condition of the time seem'd conveniently to permit did the same writing him word That a prompt and absolute Obedience was the only way whereby a cause his Enemies Favour rendred generally disapprov'd might be brought to a successful issue but that without that it was utterly impossible for his Friends and Servants to do him those Offices were necessary for the bringing of matters to any tolerable conclusion All the Duke 's other Friends having confirm'd the same thing he evidently saw that he must of necessity obey yet was it not withour an incredible violence upon his own Humour and great Spirit He had at other times resisted the greatest powers of the State when arm'd against him with the King's Authority and Forces whereas now he saw himself reduc'd to submit to four lines of Paper they made him indeed to depart out of his Government And though it be true that in these latter Times the Royal Authority was rais'd to a more illustrious height than formerly it had ever been yet I do not know that any one has observ'd a greater example of his Power than upon this occasion All France acknowledg'd the Duke for the eminent qualities he was master of to be a man of the greatest Reputation of his Age he was possess'd of the greatest and most important Governments of the Kingdom powerful in Riches Commands Places Servants and much more in his Children His three Sons had all of them great Offices and great Employments and yet with all these advantages he was not able to resist four words and then it was that he plainly saw a Subject had no way to support himself in his Fortune and Reputation but by Obedience and that the Power of a King manag'd as it ought to be can meet no difficulties nor impediments it cannot easily master and overcome He had seen a time when by making a shew of Resolution or Discontent men had sometimes obtain'd part of what they desir'd or at least defended themselves from what they had not a mind to do Under the Reign of Henry the III the diversity of Factions which then divided the State had so weakened the Authority of the Sovereign that he durst scarce pretend to more than a voluntary Submission from his People And Henry the Great his Successor by an excess of Bounty and good Nature had continued to do what the other had been constrain'd to by inevitable Necessity This Mighty Prince was of so noble a Disposition that he would destroy none so that excepting the Mareschal de Biron who would have no compassion of himself almost all the great men of the Kingdom were either actually Rebels or highly Disobedient without ever feeling either the Sword or so much as the Hand of Justice The Regency of Queen Mary de Medici was equally moderate and gentle and the Tempests that arose in her time being appeas'd with money men did not only offend securely but made moreover a profit of their Crimes The Mareschald ' Encre try'd to change those milder into rougher Maxims but he lost himself in the practice of this premature severity In the Ministry of the Duke de Luines there was no more of violence than in the preceding Reigns the good success notwithstanding the Royal Arms always had in all Enterprizes during the time of his favour made it plain that there was nothing his Majesty could not with great facility effect in his own Kingdom He had with great ease supprest the Queen Mothers Insurrection he had invaded the Party of the Religion with very great success wherein having found their weakness by their disunion amongst themselves he was by that discovery encourag'd to undertake their total ruine and the Cardinal entring into the Ministry in so favourable a juncture of Affairs press'd the declining Faction so home that in a very short time he remov'd all Obstacles which could any ways oppose the Royal Authority or impede the establishment of his own The Party of the Religion was totally suppress'd the House of Austria infinitely weakened all the other Princes who were ill affected to the Crown reduc'd to a necessity of complying with whatsoever was impos'd upon them and those of the Nobility who were so bold as to oppose the King's will had been so roughly handled that not a man durst any more expose himself to the punishment they all knew would inevitably follow the least forfeiture of their Duty It had been but of very late years that this new form of Government had been introduc'd into the Kingdom and the Duke was grown old in the practice of other Maxims It is not then to be doubted but that it must needs be with great repugnancy and unwillingness that he could Accommodate himself to a thing so unusual and severe he did notwithstanding do it and without delaying time or spending any more than was requisite for the making of some few Visits and taking leave of his Friends he departed out of his Government suspended from his Functions Excommunicated from the Church and reduc'd to the conversation of his own Domesticks only Though in a condition so different from what it had formerly been and so contrary to his ordinary way of living he could not but be very much afflicted
Father such a relation to the History of his Son as will not permit their names to be separated without manifest injury to the one or the other Finding my self then oblig'd to look a little back and to say something of his Father before I come to him I shall tell you with the best Historians of that time that he was rank'd amongst the greatest Captains of this Kingdom and that by the meer consideration of his Prudence and Valour without any advantage of Favour he was made Camp-Master to the Light Horse of France and the Kings Lieutenant General in Guienne a Province abounding in Nobility and Gentry and men of such spirits as would have made a difficulty of their Obedience to any Superiour where there had not been an indisputable concurrence of Merit and Blood But these two qualities happily meeting in the person of Mounsier de la Valette gave him so great an interest if not so absolute a power in that Countrey that notwithstanding it was during the time of his Government unquiet and mutinous in many places and in some even to a contempt of the Kings Royal Power yet his Authority never received in those very places the least affront or contradiction He commanded Armies in chief which were led paid arm'd provided for and kept together by his Conduct and Care and I my self have seen many Acts and Monuments of that time which sufficiently discover the Power and Dignity he preserv'd entire even in the most difficult functions of his charge It was he who in the Battels of Dreux of Iarnac and of Moncountour who in the Skiâ—mishes of Iasennes of Rene le Duc and in all the most signal actions of his time exercising the Office of Comp-Master to the Light Horse by his courage and conduct won to himself a principal share of the Honour due to the successes of the Royal Arms and chiefly in the Battel of Iarnac which he undertook with so much prudence and fought it with so much bravery that they who write the Transactions of that time attribute supereminently to him the reputation of that dayes Victory It was he that made the brave Retreat of Houdan one of the most memorable Exploits of that Age which though it be recorded by other Writers deserves to be recited here and the circumstances which I have several times heard repeated to the Duke his Son will not render a relation suspected that stands justified by our own Historians The Hugonot Army had laid siege to the City of Chartres and that of the King was dispos'd to relieve it but that being a work of greater preparation and leisure than the condition of the besieged could well admit the Royal Party conceiv'd that to disturb the Enemies Camp with frequent Alarums would give the defendants some convenient respite till a sufficient succour might be made ready to come Mounsieur de la Valette was he that would take upon him to execute this design and accordingly keeping himself for the most part on Horseback he gave so good an account of what he had undertaken that few dayes past wherein he obtain'd not some signal advantage over the Enemy Now beating up one quarter now alarming another with such an active and unwearied diligence as put the Enemy to an unintermitted duty and forc'd them continually to stand to their Arms. The Admiral Coligny who commanded at this Leaguer under the Prince of Conde nettled at the inconveniences his Army suffered by these frequent inroads of Mounsieur de la Valette meditatated with himself a revenge and to lay a Trap to catch him to which purpose he stole privately from his Camp with 3500 Horse Mounsieur de la Valette having but 500 in all lay baiting his Horses in a Wood for the execution of his enterprize The Admiral who had observ'd his motion surpriz'd him in this posture set upon him and charg'd him almost before perceiv'd notwithstanding all which he found a brave resistance and Mounsieur de la Valette without being astonish't â—either at the presence of so great a Captain or the inequality of their Armies having given his Souldiers time to mount charg'd him several times with advantage and made good his Retreat for six Leagues together in the open Countrey of Beausse the Admiral never being able during the retreat either to break his order or force him to a general engagement an action of so high a repute that there are few Historians who have not set a particular mark upon it for one of the most memorable of that time If we yet pass from his publick actions of Command to enquire into the private engagements of his single person I can perhaps fit you with as remarkable a story of that kind as you have read Iane Albret Queen of Navarre a great Fautress to those of the Reformed Religion of which she her self also made publick Profession desirous to draw all places within her demean into the same perswasion presented her self before Leitoure to be there receiv'd A Town of so advantageous a situation and therefore so considerable in Guienne that the successive Governours of that Province have ever had a particular regard to the preservation of that place Mounsieur de la Valette who had received private Instructions from King Charles the Ninth to have an eye to the actions of this Princess and to frustrate her designs but with all outward shew of respect the King being unwilling to break openly with her having intelligence that she meant to attempt that place prevented her by his diligence and at her coming refus'd her entrance into that Town The Queen highly incens'd at this affront makes her complaint to the King who to satisfie her seem'd in publick to condemn an action which in his heart he highly approv'd commanding him to go as far as Pau where the Queen then resided and there by all the submissive means imaginable to make his excuse Mounsieur de la Valette having received this command attended only by one Page very well mounted and another inferiour servant takes his journey to the Queen to whom he humbly offer'd all the excuses and submissions that the dignity of the offended party could reasonably exact from a meaner offender and for a higher ofâ—ence But this Princess of a sex and condition not apt to forget an Injury was by no means satisfied with whatever he could say to appease her and whether it were that she discover'd to two Gentlemen of her Court whereof one was called Pinsons and the other Bisquerre that nothing but the death of Mounsieur de la Valette could satisfie her or that they of themselves as Courts ordinarily produce wicked instruments enough to execute the passions of the Great voluntarily meditated his ruine is yet to be discover'd But so it was that these two combin'd together to lie in wait for him by the way he was to return and to dispatch him Mounsieur de la Valette having taken his leave
in the whole world a Kingdom to be found more glorious more flourishing or more happy than that of France during the Reign of this mighty Prince Yet could not all this reputation abroad secure him from afflictions at home neither could his greatness and bounty exempt him from the power of Death who first exercising his cruelty upon some of his Family discharg'd in the end his whole rage and fury upon his own person The precedent year had ravish'd from him one of the Princes his Children and this depriv'd him of the Duke of Montpâ—nsier his Cousin a Prince for whom his Majesty had as great a kindness as for any whatsoever of his Blood as he made it appear by the true sorrow he manifested for his death but the Duke of Espernon was afflicted beyond all expression I have already given an accompt of the Alliance betwixt these two and of the particular Friendship that Alliance begot I shall now further say they were inseparable in their conversation their Interests went ever hand in hand with one another and it will be hard to find a Friendship so pure and constant betwixt two private persons as they ever preserved entire in the corruptions and revolutions of the Court Neither could the friendship of a Prince of his extraction and vertue be otherwise than of great importance to the Duke whose prosperity and advancement had procur'd him so much envy and consequently so many enemies yet was he constrain'd to submit to the inevitable necessity of death and to bear with patience a loss for which there was no other remedy This accident was yet follow'd by another the ensuing year at which the Duke was almost equally afflicted Pere Ange de Ioyeuse Father-in-law to the Duke of Montpensier had been return'd into the Order of Fathers Capuchins from the year 1599. from which time he had continued in the austerity of his Canon with so great zeal and sanctity that he was become a president of Vertue and Holy Living to all the Religious Men of his Order Yet did he not when returning to the observation of his Vow he threw off all worldly vanities and desires banish from his breast those true affections which Nature and Reason had planted in his heart but on the contrary had ever in his greatest retirement cherish'd the Duke's friendship as if he had been his true Brother in Blood as he was in Alliance and Affection Neither was the Duke on his part less sedulous to improve so vertuous an Interest ever honouring and loving him even in his penitential Sack-cloath at as high a rate as when he liv'd in the greatest Lustre in the most honourable employments and applying himself with greater diligence to the Interests of his House and to the advancement of his Daughter than when he himself liv'd upon the great Theatre of the busie world so that in different capacities of living their friendship continued still one and the same till death came to cut the knot which along had power to dissolve it This Holy man died at Rivoly in Piedmont in his return from Rome in great reputation of Sanctity and Vertue which has since by time been made more manifest to all The following year affords so little considerable to be said of the Duke of Espernon in particular the Court being at this time wrap'd in so great a calm and security that there is nothing of moment to be reported of any save the King himself that it might well enough be pass'd over in silence But having hitherto found out something or other to record in the foregoing years I had rather travel not out of my subject only but also out of the affairs of the Kingdom than to omit the most glorious proof his Majesty could possibly give of his Authority with all the Princes and States of Christendom in the conclusion of the Truce betwixt the Crown of Spain and the States of the United Provinces This great affair had been fruitlesly propos'd almost from the very first bustle of Arms in that Country neither had endeavours been wanting even in the heat of the most bloody executions that the fury of War has perhaps produc'd in any part of Europe for the effecting of so good a work Treaties of Accommodation having every year during those troubles been constantly by some or other set on foot but the animosity of Factions the difference of Religions and the variety of Events that had ever kept Affairs on both sides as it were in-equal balance had so exasperated the minds of men that scarce any proposition of Peace would be endur'd A work it seems reserv'd to be an additional Ray to the King's Glory whose reputation only could cut the knot of all those difficulties Spain had great need of Peace which having often without interessing the King in the Affair sought in vain he was in fine constrain'd to apply himself to him to procure it and wholly to submit all things to his Arbitration A task the King very well satisfied with so high and publick an acknowledgment of his power as readily undertook and to that purpose dispatch'd away President Ianin and the Sieur de Râ—issy to manage the Work by whose prudent conduct fortified by their Masters Reputation they effected that by the weight of Authority which perhaps their dexterity how great soever without great labour and expence of much time could not otherwise have brought to pass So that things were reduc'd to the point the parties concern'd could themselves desire from whence followed an universal Peace amongst all Christian Princes It was into this tranquille condition that the Affairs of Europe were first to be wrought before the King could begin to form it into the new mould he had long design'd for this great Prince born to reconcile Monarchy and Justice being unable to endure the proud Authority with which the Crown of Spain lorded it over all her Neighbours and more impatient that by the expansion of his Empire the Spaniard should reap advantages which he conceiv'd were more justly due to his Birth and Valour he resolv'd to clip the wings of this soaring greatness to make him give back those Territories he usurp'd from his Neighbours to restore the Republicks their ancient liberty and finally to reduce his power to the limits of his primitive possession This in short is all that can be said of the King's designs and all that such as conceiv'd they penetrated deepest into his most private thoughts could possibly divine it being most certain that he discover'd the bottom of his design to none which had it been communicated to any the Duke of Espernon would doubtless in this conjuncture have participated of the trust but as this great Prince would execute all things in his own person so did he here reserve to himself the secret of his resolutions insomuch that though his Army was all ready drawn into the Field that he himself was immediately to
Authority though with some trouble re-establish'd in Metz which from the time of Sobole's dereliction until now he had altogether lost Fromigieres being receiv'd into the Cittadel was still more and more fortified by new Souldiers which the Duke's friends continually slipt in from the City so that Arquien seeing himself in a lost condition and also stung with the conscience of his own fault he return'd in all haste back to Paris at once to beg the Duke of Espernon's pardon and to implore the Queen Regents Justice Where being come and finding the Duke inflexible to his submissions and positively resolute to hold what he had seeing he was to expect no good accompt from him he thought fit as his last refuge to appeal to the Queen Neither did he want interest at Court to support and countenance his cause where besides de Montigny his Brother a man of great merit and esteem and afterwards Mareschal of France he had many Relations and Friends together with the Duke's Enemies who could not without great heart-burning see him re-settled in so considerable a command Of this number were the Lords of the House of Guise and their Family who made up a great part of the Court and who being all averse to the Duke's greatness endeavour'd by possessing the Queen that the action of Metz was an intolerable affront to her Authority to make her restore Arquien to his Command They represented to her that this was an Affair by the late King conceiv'd to be of such importance to the State that his Majesty had made no difficulty to make a Journey thither in person and on purpose to retrive this place out of the Duke of Espernon's hands That his Fidelity ought at this time to be much the rather suspected by how much his Ambition was more inordinate and less easie to be cur'd That having under pretense of some trivial Services to her Majesty in the beginning of her Administration committed a violence of this high nature he made it plain that his sole aim was in this new face of Affairs to establish his own particular greatness and that instead of endeavouring to continue Subjects in their Duty by the example of a Subjects Obedience he had himself committed the greatest insolence imaginable against the Sovereign Power by dispossessing one of the most ancient and faithful Servants of the Crown from a place wherein he had serv'd without the least blemish or reproach It is certain that the Queen how well satisfied soever with the Duke of Espernon was notwithstanding something stagger'd in her resolution at this Remonstrance but the Duke having also given his reasons and represented to her of what importance it was to have his Majesties Authority in the City and Cittadel of Metz conjoyn'd in one man that the emulation of two Governours might not produce mutiny such as would endanger the introducing of Forein Power into the place with how long and with what Fidelity he had serv'd his Kings in that Government the Authority being united in his Person he found the Queen so well dispos'd to accept of his justification that she was absolutely satisfied so that from that time forward nothing was more thought of in that business save only how to content Arquien in finding out for him some other command that might hold proportion with that Employment In the transaction of this Affair Fortune as upon other occasions would needs interest her self to appear in the Duke's Favour De Vic Governour of Calice was one of the principal Mediators in this difference who on the one side making profession of great respect to the Duke's Service and on the other of a strict friendship with Arquien labour'd with extraordinary passion and diligence to satisfie both parties in their pretense and had brought matters to so good an issue that nothing remain'd to their mutual satisfaction save only to find out a Government for Arquien equal to that whereof he was now divested but there was none at this time vacant of equal value which was the only knot in the Affair At last this poor Gentleman prov'd both the Mediator and the price of their Accommodation who had acted so vigorously in the Treaty that with posting to and again in the most violent heats of Summer he was surpriz'd with a Pleurisie whereof in six days he dy'd With his Government Arquien was recompens'd who after that quit claim to the Cittadel of Metz leaving the Duke absolute Master of it as before a possession he afterwards kept till that a few years before his death he demised it in favour of Cardinal de la Valette his Son Amidst these many important Affairs the Duke was not unmindful of his particular Duties whereof one and to which he conceiv'd himself most particularly oblig'd was to manifest his gratitude to Henry the III. his Master and Benefactor He had formerly after his death attended his Body to Compiegne where the misfortunes of War and the confusion of Affairs not permitting at that time a performance of his Funeral Rites and the Queen now resolving to begin the Regency with those of the late King he humbly begg'd of her to give him leave to make use of that opportunity for the interment of Henry the III. wherein her Majesty doing an Act worthy her Piety would add little or nothing to the expense she was already resolv'd to make The Queen readily consented to his request so that the Duke accompanied with a great number of Lords and Gentlemen went to fetch the Body from Compiegne from whence he convey'd it to St. Denis where it was deposited in the ancient Sepulchre of the Kings of France Neither was this the sole testimony the Duke gave of his gratitude to his old Master the Records of his Bounty and Favour being so impress'd in his memory that they perish'd not but in his Grave where all things are buried in Oblivion A little before his death causing a Marble Pillar one of the most celebrated pieces of Architecture of these late times to be carried and set up in the Church of St. Clou wherein he was so curious as to make it be wrought in his own House and almost in his own sight his design being to found a Revenue of a thousand Livers yearly for the Service of the Chappel where it was erected which was also adorn'd with Pictures and pav'd with Marble at his own charge but some difficulties arising about the settlement of that Foundation which could not be clear'd before his death the thing to his great grief remain'd imperfect The Ceremony of these Obsequies perform'd in the end of Iune was immediately follow'd by the return of the Prince of Condé to Court where he arriv'd in Iuly and where all the men of condition contended who should give him the greatest testimonies of joy for his return Amongst whom although the Duke of Espernon was none of the latest yet was he not the best receiv'd The Duke of Sully who had great need
Espernon as other people It cannot be imagin'd but that without all doubt this comparison must needs displease the Cardinal neither were the Duke's Servants and Friends to whom he related this passage at his coming home much better satisfied with it but the words were already out of his mouth and were no more to be recall'd Every one apprehended this liberty would draw upon him the hatred of him that was all powerful at Court yet did nothing at present appear so that if the Cardinal was really distasted at it he nevertheless deferr'd his revenge till a fitter season And indeed he had at this time something else to do than to stand upon a particular Quarrel with the Duke of Espernon so many other Affairs of very high concern falling upon him at once and at the same instant that perhaps in his life he never had so hard a Game to play The Queen Mother had long been very much dissatisfied with his proceeding and her ill will grown now to a greater degree than ever she could no longer forbear to profess an open and implacable hatred against him She could not endure that a man who was her Creature and rais'd by her bounty should get the start of her in the confidence of the King her Son wherein by all the reasons in the world she ought to be preferr'd and that made her directly oppose all his Counsels which how well soever they succeeded she still found matter enough to render them suspected to the King and to discredit them by sinister interpretations So great a power as this hitherto entire and fortified by all the considerations of duty and nature was not easily to be baffled by a Servant and who had no other support than the affection of his Master of it self mutable and uncertain so that the Cardinal seeing himself assaulted by so passionate and so powerful an Enemy might reasonably enough apprehend being crush'd to nothing under the weight of her Authority and Power but as mischiefs seldom come alone several Forein troubles also concurr'd with this disorder at home The Duke of Savoy was grown by this time sensible of the dishonourable peace he had concluded at Suze to which the loss of Montferrat stuck mainly in his stomack He had reckon'd himself sure of the conquest of this place and indeed had not the King interpos'd that Countrey had by this time been wholly in his possession He had therefore more firmly than ever confederated himself with the House of Austria to the end they might joyntly invade the Duke of Mantua the rumour of which preparation was already spread abroad and they were already in Arms in which condition this desolate Prince had no body to fly to for protection save only the King of France His interests that could not without infamy be abandoned put the Cardinals Affairs into very great danger who as on the one side he very well knew that Court divisions which are the issue of ease and rest are ordinarily smother'd in employment and of all other in that of War So he also saw that this War being to be undertaken by his Counsels to which the Queen Mother was directly opposite he should become responsible for the event and that the least disafter that should happen would infallibly be laid at his door Yet as if all these difficulties had been too few to perplex him another of no less importance fell out at the same time which was the discontent of the Monsieur and his sudden retirement from Court to which also another succeeded and that was the Duke of Lorain's taking Arms to joyn with the Emperour who having a design to possess us with some jealousie of our Frontier of Lorain thereby to give the Confederate Princes more leisure to make a Progress in Italy seem'd to threaten Metz by advancing that way with his Army and fortifying all the places upon that Frontier In this conflux of untoward accidents the Cardinal though he could work nothing upon the implacable spirit of the Queen Mother he found means nevertheless to appease the Monsieur and to bring him back to Court by obtaining for him from the King whatever he could either for himself or in the behalf of his friends demand or desire He sent moreover into Lorain to sound the Duke's intentions who for this time dissembling his designs protested he had taken Arms for no other end than to serve the King by opposing the Emperours designs who he said could attempt nothing upon his Countrey that must not infallibly redound to the prejudice of France So that by this means the Cardinal having either compos'd diverted or at least deferr'd part of those mischiefs that most immediately press'd upon him he would himself undertake the expedition of Italy whilst the King should totally reclaim the Monsieur his Brother and satisfie all his discontents by the performance of those things that had been promis'd to him The Cardinal was no sooner arriv'd in Savoy but that he sent to feel the pulse of that Duke whom finding still constant to his old State Maxims which was by fair words and large promises to amuse such as were likely to hinder his designs whilst he in the mean time was still intent upon his business he fell so briskly to work that having taken from him Pignerol and some other strong places the Savoyard was at last constrain'd to return again to his first Treaty The King awak'd by this good success of his Arms and unwilling the glory they seem'd to assure should derive to a Servant resolv'd upon a Journey into Italy to command his Army in his own person neither though the Cardinal was ambitious to the height was he at this time sorry he should come to eclipse his honour since he must leave Paris to do it where he knew all ill offices were perpetually done him The interest of his conservation therefore prevail'd here with the Cardinal over his insatiate thirst of Glory but the Queen Mother stifly oppos'd this Voyage by representing to the King the interests of his health and safety to which she forgot not to add the Cardinals inordinate ambition who she said car'd not to expose both the one and the other for his own particular vanity But all these remonstrances prov'd in the end too weak to prevail so that the appetite of Honour prevailing above all other considerations and his Majesty being not to be staid at home the Queen Mother to give the Cardinal less time to reestablish himself with the King who had after much importunityconsented at last to his banishment was resolv'd to follow the King her Son to Lyons to try if she could whilst he was in this good disposition obtain the effects of his promise The King then in April set forwards from Paris towards Italy the glorious success of which second Expedition making up one of the most illustrious parts of General History it ought not to be contracted within
City and also in that of Cadillac by a publick Act I shall forbear to Copy in this place that I may not importune my Reader This first Spiritual Thunder-bolt having been darted by the Archbishop he had moreover recourse to the Temporal Authority very well foreseeing that if that did not justifie the Blow he had already levell'd at the Duke it would be no very hard matter for him to evade it and to frustrate any mortal effect by very pertinent and powerful Reasons He sent away a dispatch therefore to Court wherein he gave Cardinal Richelieu an account of the Violence had been offer'd to him at which the Cardinal was so highly incens'd that nothing now had power to appease him He therefore talk'd no more of attempting an Accommodation Villemontée's Commission who had been sent away upon their first difference to that purpose was at an end even before he could arrive at the place so that nothing now was thought of save how by the Kings Authority to enquire into the Riots contain'd in the Archbishops Complaint and his Majesty as Protector and eldest Son of the Church was counsell'd by the Cardinal particularly concern'd in the Affair by the interest of his profession which he would render inviolable to make a signal example of his Piety and Justice in the Person of the Duke of Espernon It is believ'd that if the Duke had taken the same course the Archbishop did and had sent to Court in time to give his Reasons for what he had done he had infinitely discredited his Adversaries Cause but it was for some days impossible to prevail with him to do it He still carried on the business with the same indifferency saying to such as urg'd him to that course with a generosity something out of season at this time That he was not to give an account of his Actions to any but the King himself which he was ready to do when-ever his Majesty should please to call him to it That he very willingly gave the start to such as were diffident either of themselves or their Cause and that he had done nothing but what he ought to do for the maintenance of the King's Authority entrusted with him So that carrying himself at the same careless rate it is not to be imagined how much he fortified his Enemies side by his own negligence nor how many advantages he gave him which he would otherwise perhaps never have obtain'd had not he himself contributed to them In the end notwithstanding for fashions sake he dispatch'd away one of the Souldiers of his Guards to Court but it was not of four days after the bustle and then he did it after such a manner as made it appear it was rather out of complacency to his Friends who were importunate with him to that effect than out of any respect to his own Interests His Sons who before this Courriers arrival knew not what to oppose to the Archbishops Complaints had now something to say in their Fathers behalf but it was impossible for them to alter the Resolutions already taken or to suspend the blow the King who had his hand already up was ready to discharge upon him Whilst Affairs were debated with this heat at Court they were carried on with no less violence at Bordeaux The Parliament there had taken cognizance of the Quarrel and though the Duke had several very good Friends in that Assembly yet the number of those who were not so prevailing and the news that came every day from Court to the Duke's disadvantage having given mens minds very ill impressions of the success of his Affairs the Company could not be disswaded from sending a Deputation to the Archbishop to let him know how highly they interested themselves in his Offense and to make him a tender of all the good Offices they were capable to do him upon this occasion After which from Offers going on to Effects they began to fall to fall to work about drawing up an Information against the Duke and notwithstanding he made several Protestations to appeal from the Parliament as a Court prohibited in all his Causes nothing could stop the Torrent of their proceeding but they would perfect what they had begun as they did and so exactly for the Court Palat that they would hear talk of no other Information Villemontée who had heard nothing before his departure of this last business was gone according to his Orders to Accommodate the first and was by this time arriv'd at Bordeaux The Duke of Espernon knew him not on the contrary he had been rendred suspected to him by having been represented for a great Creature of the Cardinals and that was consequently like to be very partial to the Archbishops side but the Duke having at their first Conference found him much more sway'd by his Duty than all other Respects he made no difficulty to repose his entire Confidence in this man's Vertue and to give him a full account of the whole action to the end that he might draw up his answer in due Form of Law The Duke was so generous as herein to cause every thing that had pass'd to be laid open at length and without disguise to which he would moreover add his Seal to confirm it and although it was often represented to him by very undeâ—standing men that so ingenious a Confession was not necessary in an occasion wherein he saw his Adversaries prosecute with so much heat and that in this case his single Confession would more prejudice his Cause than the Depositions of all the Witnesses could be produc'd against him yet those Remonstrances were not of force to disswade him he smaâ—tly replying That he had not done an action to disavow it and that whatever the issue might be it would be much more supportable to him than the shame of being reduc'd to the necessity of disowning any Act of his life It was in truth upon this single confession of the Duke's after the Parliaments Information had been sufficiently canvas'd that the Cardinal pronounc'd the Excommunication to be valid and right and that the King was oblig'd both in Equity and Honour to repair the Injury committed by one of his Officers of that condition against the Person and Dignity of a Prelate and the whole Church The first reparation was a command the Duke received in a Dispatch from the King to depart out of his Government and to retire to his House of Plassac which was in these words Cousin Having seen a Declaration of several Riots whereof the Archbishop and the Clergy of Bordeaux highly complain to Us We have thereupon thought fit to send you this Letter which will be delivered you by the Sieur de Varennes one of our Gentlemen in ordinary to tell you We desire that immediately upon sight hereof you retire to your House of Plassac and there remain till our further Pleasure We do also send to the Archbishop to signifie to him that it is our
he nevertheless so well conceal'd his grief that he was not observ'd to be either more melancholy or dejected than at other times and he had so great a command over his own passions as not to utter so much as one word unbecoming either his courage or his piety ever retaining in all things the devout Reverence due to the Holy Church So oft as any one writ him word from Paris that his Friends could have wish'd he had retain'd a greater moderation and respect towards the person of a Prelate he would still maintain That in repelling an injury done to the Royal Power he had done no more than it was his Duty to do That the King himself might prostitute his Authority as he pleased but that as for him who was oblig'd in his Majesties Right to maintain all the Priviledges of his Command he neither could nor ought to have done otherwise than he did and that he would ever do it though he was thereby certain to forfeit not only his Offices and his Estate but also his Life So soon as the Duke was arriv'◠at Plassac he began to observe his Excommunication though he wanted not the advice of several very Learned Divines who maintain'd it to be invalid and unjust wherein his submission appear'd to all so much the more to be commended in that he was willing to undergo the punishment of an Offense he was not convinc'd he had committed Thus banish'd to a Countrey House where his only consolation should have been to have convers'd with his God even there also the doors of his Church were bolted against him so that he assisted no more at Masses as he had formerly ever done he moreover deprived himself of the participation of all the Sacraments but he omitted nothing withal that might any ways serve to manifest his respect to the Holy Church and her Ministers He made all the Protestations that could be prevailing to the vindication of the integrity of his Obedience and to that purpose sent away an express dispatch to Cardinal Bichi the Pope's Nuntio in France he sent also to Poictiers where he knew the Archbishop of Bordeaux had call'd together an Assembly of Prelates to make the same Declarations but it was all in vain and it was decreed he should undergo all and all the severest Forms of Penance before he should receive his Absolution But as the Spiritual Authority was not arm'd against him alone and that it was not that though he had it in the highest reverence he had the greatest reason to apprehend it was also necessary for him to employ his principal care and endeavour to divert the Fury of the Royal Power which was already display'd against him To that effect therefore he dispatch'd away the Count de Maillé to the King with instructions especially to solicite that the Commissioners his Majesty had made him hope for in his Dispatch might be sent away that by the return of their Report his Majesty might be fully inform'd of the truth of his Actions but after the Information of the Parliament of Bordeaux which was altogether favourable to the Archbishop the Court had no ear left open either to his Prayers or Complaints and the Cardinal having solemnly espous'd the Quarrel and made it his own was so far from permitting the Duke's Friends to dispute his Will with their best Arguments and Reasons that he would not so much as endure any one should dare to propose them How great soever the Cardinal's passion was herein or how great soever his Credit with the King they were not however such as could hinder the Duke and the Cardinal de la Valette from paying with equal Generosity and good Nature the respect which by all sorts of Obligation they so justly ow'd to the Duke their Father The first of which had no sooner notice of the Dispute his Father had with the Archbishop but that he departed from Metz to come first to Court there to observe the disposition of things and from thence to go to Plassac either to comfort the Duke his Father in his Affliction or to give him his best advice in his Affairs As for the Cardinal his Brother what dependence soever he had at Court he very often expos'd all that Interest to perform his Duty and so far as to engage sometimes in so hot Disputes with the Cardinal Richelieu that it was often believ'd they would never again be so fully reconcil'd that there would not still remain a Core in the bosom of the one or the other So soon as the Archbishop had got his Information perfected and so well to his liking that he conceiv'd his proofs could admit of no Dispute he departed from Bordeaux to go to Paris Plassac the place to which the Duke was retir'd was in truth in his way but not so that he might not without any inconvenience have balk'd it and all the world believ'd he would have been so civil to the Dukes Disgrace as to have done it he did not nevertheless but on the contrary pass'd along by the Park Wall after so braving a manner that he made the noise of his Equipage rattle against the very Walls of the Duke's House And then indeed it was that the Duke felt himself most sensibly wounded and that this Bravado had like to have transported him to something that might have made the Archbishop's Cause better than it was by offering to him some signal Violence I was my self a witness how much ado he had to forbear but his Friends and Servants representing to him the importance of the Action he was about he in the end gave way to their Reason though I do believe with the greatest violence he committed upon himself and his great Spirit throughout the whole progress of this troublesome Affair The Archbishop was no sooner arriv'd at Court but that all the Prelates who were then in Paris assembled after an unusual manner to deliberate amongst themselves what was best to be done in the bebalf of their Brother which Convocation the Duke of Espernon had no sooner notice of but continuing to do as he had formerly done he sent to them his Protestations of an absolute submission to the Holy Church The Duke de la Valette therefore who was return'd back to Court demanded Audience in the Assembly in the name of the Duke his Father which being granted he there laid down his Reasons before them with so much efficacy and elocution that of five and twenty Prelates who were there present thirteen were of opinion to take upon them the quality of Judges under the good pleasure of the Pope and the King the Duke having absolutely submitted himself to their Determination but this resolution was not for the gust of the Court by this way the business would have been too soon decided and it was resolv'd the Duke should pay much dearer for his re-establishment in his Offices and Commands The next day therefore what had
that the King of Navarre who designing to continue the same honour to him intended to have met him a good way out of Town was advised to expect him on foot at the Gates of the City his own Friends and Retinue being too few to make up a number that might hold any proportion with that the Duke brought along with him In these two Conferences the Duke deliver'd what he had in Commission fortifying the propositions he had to make with so many and so powerful Arguments that the King of Navarre clearly satisfied of his own good discover'd at last a great inclination to perform what the King desir'd of him viz. his Conversion to the Roman Catholick Religion He evidently saw the eminent danger whereinto this great conspiracy of the League was likely to precipitate him with the advantages he might have by running the same fortune with the King of defending himself and his Interest by his Majesties Authority and Power Requelaure and many other persons of good quality about him fortifi'd him in this good deliberation but he was disswaded from it by a far greater number of the other opinion who represented to him the hard usage he had receiv'd at Court the hazards he had run in his own person and the persecution those of the Reform'd Religion who were his Servants and Friends had suffer'd from thence They did not stick further absolutely to impute all the hard measure the Hugonot Party had receiv'd to this King although the greatest violencies had been exercised upon them in the Reign of Charles the Ninth expressing as passionate a hatred against him as the League so impudently manifested in their Rebellious Actions And certainly the Misfortune of this Prince is never too much to be lamented nor the unsteddiness of his condition too much to be wondered at having his Kingdom divided by two Factions so directly opposite to one another that he could never serve himself by the one to defend himself from the other and both sides though implacable enemies betwixt themselves concurr'd nevertheless always in this that they both equally desired his Ruine At last after many Conferences the King of Navarre gave the Duke his final Answer at Pau whither he had invited him to come to this effect That he was the Kings most humble Servant that he would justifie himself to be so upon all occasions and that he would never separate himself from his Service and Interests if his Majesty did not constrain him to it by condescending too much to his Enemies Counsels but that he could not for any consideration of Honour Riches or any other advantages that could be propos'd to him depart from the Religion he had embrac'd and was so firmly establish'd in It was in this pleasant Palace of Pau and amongst the magnificences and delights that place then abounded in that the Duke had first the honour to see the Lady Catharine the King of Navarre's only Sister since Dutchess of Bar in whom the Duke's Merit who was then in the flower of his youth and the meridian of his favour made such an impression that she began from that time to honour him with her favour which she continued to him to her death And it is certain that the King her Brother who perhaps did not think himself so near that height of fortune to which he soon after arriv'd and who doubtless would have been glad to have engag'd the Duke absolutely to his Interests made him some propositions of Marriage with this Princess but the condition of the time and intervening accidents permitting that Treaty to pass no further the Duke was forc'd to content himself with the advantage of so glorious a friendship which was ever after dear and precious to him the whole remainder of his life The King of Navarre to multiply still more entertainments and favours upon the Duke would needs have him yet to give him the satisfaction of another visit at Nerac which the Duke could not handsomely deny though the Kings commands were something pressing for his return to Court and as it is likely the King of Navarre spun out the time that he might more maturely deliberate upon an Affair of so great importance so was it the Duke's interest to give him that leisure he desired if possible to make his negotiation succeed according to the King his Masters desire But in the end finding he could not overcome those traverses and difficulties that his Majesties enemies still strew'd in his way he prepar'd himself for his departure and then it was that opening the last and most secret part of his Commission he told the King of Navarre That though he had denied his Majesty the satisfaction he desired of him yet that the King nevertheless considering him as his Kinsman and next Heir to the Crown if God should please to dispose of him without Issue had given him in charge to let him know that he would be well pleas'd he should use his best endeauour to preserve himself in a condition to oppose the League that was confederated to the ruine of the Royal House and Line That since they could not unite their Arms to resist their common Enemies he should at least assure himself of the places already in his possession which his Majesty took to be much safer and much more at his devotion in his hands than those that should hereafter be possest by the League And that although in the present state of Affairs he could not openly favour his designs by reason of their difference in Religion nor avoid being instant for the restitution of those cautionary places that had been granted to him yet that he should nevertheless be very well satisfied with whatever he should do to his own advantage After this Declaration which was receiv'd by the King of Navarre with infinite demonstrations of Obligation and Respect the Duke took post for the Court at Lions where the King impatiently expected his return He was now arriv'd within view of the City and all the Court were mounted to honour his arrival the King himself having much ado to forbear going out to meet him when a strange and unexpected Accident was like to have turn'd all the Honours prepar'd for his welcome into the Funeral Pomp of his Obsequies For one of the Gentlemen who came out to meet him having accidentally intangled the Chape of his Sword in the Duke's Bridle the Horse took such a fright at it that he immediately ran away with his Master nor could the Duke stop him with all the art and force he had from throwing himself and his Rider headlong into a dreadful precipice the place very remarkable by the greatness of the fall and the wonderful escape is to this day call'd Espernons Leap neither was there any man present who did not confidently believe the Duke certainly bruis'd to pieces an opinion so firmly grounded in every one that the report of his Death was immediately carried to Lions which made as
many several impressions in mens minds as their inclinations were different towards him But the King was afflicted beyond imagination though his Majesty was not long in that error For some of the company having immediately descended the precipice found the Horse who by good fortune fell plum upon his feet and bore the whole weight of the fall kill'd stone dead but the Duke miraculously escap'd with only a slight hurt in the Shoulder This accident set all the Court Wits on work neither was there any who did not write something upon this occasion but that which most pleas'd the Duke was an Emblem that was presented to him The body of the Emblem was a figure of the Duke himself hanging upon the brow of a precipice so as that he seem'd to be irrecoverably falling from that prodigious height when Fortune running to his succour withdrew him from the danger with this Motto in Italian the first words thereof expressing his name Eper non lasciarti mai A Motto the Duke at first took for a good Omen which time and his own good conduct after turn'd into a kind of Prophesie and causing it to be grav'd in a Cornelian and set in a Ring he wore it many years upon his Finger as a mark of his gratitude to Fortune or rather Providence which is effectually that we call Fortune to which he ever attributed all the successes of his life rather than to his own conduct By this accident the Kings affection to the Duke seem'd to be augmented at least it made a greater shew of tenderness than in former occasions his Majesty never almost departing his Chamber during the time he was constrain'd to keep his Bed and it was in this condition that he gave the King a full account of his Journey and Negotiation a thing that furnish'd the League with a sufficient pretense to decry the Kings actions neither did the Chiefs of that Faction fail to cause it proclaim'd in the Pulpits as it is usual to make Holy Places and Religious men the Scenes and Instruments to blemish the Actions of Princes that his Majesty was strictly united with Hereticks and that this slander might the better be believ'd the Duke of Espernon's Voyage whom they endeavour'd to render odious to the people by calling him the Abetter of that Party was first brought upon the stage they publish'd that Negotiation to be a conspiracy against the Catholick Religion which was no way to be oppos'd but with their Swords in their hands So that this was the first Pretense they made use of to colour their Rebellion But before they would proceed to the effects of so violent a Rupture the Duke of Guise who would have been glad to have won the Duke of Espernon to his Party by that means to remove those Obstacles which the Dukes Vigour and Fidelity ever had and were still likely to oppose to his Designs caus'd him to be treated with about a match with his Daughter since Princess of Conty a Princess that for the beauty of her person the vigour of her mind and many other endowments and excellent qualities had few rivals in the Kingdom neither was the Duke of Espernon so blind as not to see the honour he should receive by this alliance had it been propos'd in a more quiet time or had the Duke her Father been upon better terms with the King but knowing he must by such a match abandon his duty or at least be oblig'd to favour designs he could by no means approve the last consideration so absolutely prevail'd above the other that he scarce deliberated upon a thing that was likely to stagger his fidelity and how dangerous soever it were to declare himself an open enemy to the Duke of Guise which he must of necessity do by refusing his alliance he rather chose to run that hazard than to faulter in the least in the duty he ow'd to his Prince and Benefactor It is hard to judge what passions of grief and despite the Duke of Guise was possest withal to see his designs so frustrated and his offer so despis'd by this refusal which was in it self no light offense neither did he afterwards meditate any thing more than his revenge and how to destroy him he could neither by civilities nor by threats acquire unto him but his fury was rais'd to the height by a new Honour the Duke and conferr'd upon him which was the second Pretense the League took hold of to justifie their proceedings The King had some time before this bought the Duke of Mayenne out of his charge of Admiral of France which the Duke had the rather laid down in favour of the Duke of Ioyeuse and his Majesty desirous to conferre upon the Duke of Espernon also some Office of the Crown to continue the same equality he had ever observ'd in their Fortunes propos'd to the Duke of Guise a very advantageous recompense in lieu of his Office of Grand-Maistre to the Kings Houshold and it seem'd probable he would follow the example of his Brother the Duke of Mayenne who doubtless had not quitted so important a charge without his elder Brother's advice but the Duke of Guise notwithstanding would never comply with his Majesties desire and though the King would never permit him to exercise any function of his charge thereby to make him weary of it yet was he still more obstinately bent to keep it nor would ever consent as he said That his Enemy should possess any of those charges he had exerciz'd and been invested withal The King seeing him so obstinate and perhaps not more solicitous to advance the Fortune of his Favourite than willing to spite the Duke of Guise resolv'd with himself to erect purposely for the Duke of Espernon an Office so honourable and so great as should by its authority and power infinitely surpass all other the highest and most important employments both of the State and Crown and this was that of Colonel General of France an Office formerly divided into two on this side and on that side the Mountains of which Andelot had possest the one and Strozzi the other and after Andelot's death they were united in Strozzi who remain'd sole Colonel After Strozzi's decease the King having by an Edict re-united these two Offices into one made it an Office of the Crown under the Title of Colonel General of France caus'd that Edict to be ratified in Parliament attributing to it the absolute power to name in general Officers for all the vacant places in the French Militia without so much as excepting from this nomination that of Camp-Master to the Regiment of Guards He establish'd for the Colonel a Sovereign Court of Justice or Council of War to determine of the Lives and Honours of Military men without calling any other to it than his own Officers adding to it besides several Graunts Priviledges and Pensions and finally to sum up all his bounty his Majesty delivering the Commission
into the Dukes hands told him that nothing troubled him but that he knew not how to invest him into a more absolute Authority and that he could not adde a part of the Royal Dignity to his charge And it is certain that in giving the Duke the Governments of Metz Toul and Verdun his Majesty would have given them in Sovereignty and have demis'd to him the Title of the Crown but the Duke displeas'd with this proposition as an injury offer'd to his Obedience and Loyalty complain'd to the King that his Majesty honouring him with so noble an employment should go about to deprive him of the dearest Relation he had which was that of his Majesties most humble and obedient Subject an honour that in his soul he preferr'd before all titles of Sovereignty and all the advantages of Fortune his Majesty could prefer him to and thereupon receiv'd both the Governments and the charge of Colonel General under the Kings Authority From this new advancement the League as I have said before deriv'd their second pretense for the taking of Arms they look'd upon the Duke of Espernon's new Honour as an offence to their whole Party and the Duke of Guise took it for a particular injury to himself and thereupon openly publish'd That there were now no more Employments Riches or Honours save only for the Duke of Espernon and la Valette his Brother That the State was only impoverish'd by profusions made in their favour That they were the true causes of the peoples oppression That the Treasure set apart for the extirpation of Heresie was by them perverted to their own uses and particular profit That the greatest Dignities the most important Places and Governments of greatest concern were too many advantages for their ambition That whilst the Kings good Servants were neglected and kept under there were new Offices with unheard of Priviledges contriv'd and erected for them That if the power they had over the King were longer suffer'd they would equally ruine the State and Religion That the Duke of Espernon was therefore to be remov'd from Court if men desir'd to see an end of publick Miseries That his Majesty being deliver'd from his Counsels which were equally violent and interessed would doubtless for the future be more favourable to his good Subjects and better inclin'd to the Catholick Cause At the same time a Manifesto was publish'd by the Cardinal of Bourbon who was the declared Head of that Faction containing principally the foregoing complaints and immediately after follow'd the rising into Arms. The first design of the League was upon Metz as if they meant to strike at the heart of the Duke of Espernon's Fortune a place so considerable that the Duke had reason to look upon it as the surest foundation of his greatness neither did he in his latter years condescend to any thing with more unwillingness and reluctancy than to the surrender of that place that proposition seeming to him as though men were bent to the total ruine of his House nor could he ever have been perswaded to have stript himself of such a defense upon a less consideration than the investiture of his Son the Cardinal of la Valette into that Government who being younger by forty years than himself he might reasonably hope it would continue in his Family at least during his life but God was pleased to dispose it otherwise To make a right judgment of the importance of this place it will be necessary to consider its Site and condition and the share it has ever had in the Duke's Fortune does indeed require it should be something insisted upon Metz then is a City something bigger than Burdeaux or Orleans that is to say one of the greatest and the fairest in the Kingdom full of Inhabitants and those a rich and industrious people to whom the neighbourhood of Germany gives great facility to an advantageous Commerce She was in former times thought beautiful enough to be the Metropolis of Austrasia once the Inheritance of one of our Kings but when the Empire of Germany began to decline and that the Princes who were Subject to it began to withdraw themselves from their obedience every one being ambitious to be Sovereign in his own Dominions many Cities which were also in the same subjection allur'd by the tempting sound of Liberty follow'd the same example Of these Metz was one who for many years took leave to govern her self by her own Laws annually creating Sovereign Magistrates disposing absolutely of the Lives and Estates of her Subjects Coyning Money and in all things taking upon her the Authority of a Sovereign Jurisdiction in which condition she maintain'd her self till the Year 1552. that the Constable Montmorency passing with the King's Army that way totally freed her from all kind of Homage to the Empire and settled it under the Protection of the Crown of France 'T is true that King Henry the Second in whose Reign this Conquest was made continued to this City her ancient priviledges but withal to assure himself of his possession he did exceedingly fortifie it establishing a Governour of his own and causing a Citadel to be built which was mightily cryed up for one of the best and most exact of that time but this was before Sieges were turn'd into a Science and that the industry of man had left little to Fortune in this kind of War It does not now carry that Reputation and in this condition it was when the Duke entred upon his Government only with this difference that what it s own Laws had formerly perform'd by their own Virtue during its independency was now executed by his order under the Authority of the Royal Name the Duke as I have said before absolutely refusing to accept it upon other terms He annually appointed and created the Supreme Magistrate whom they call Maistre Eschevin and appointed him his Council and Judges who were to determine in Sovereignty upon the Lives Honours and Estates of all the Inhabitants but withal the Duke had Authority upon occasion to censure them had power to remove them from their Magistracy within their year if he saw cause or to continue them beyond their term if he thought fit It is then no wonder if he were infinitely respected in a place where all things so absolutely depended upon him but that which was indeed very rare and very commendable was that in so unlimited a power and in the course of above threescore years that this City continued in his Custody he behav'd himself with that Justice and Moderation that not so much as any one Citizen ever complain'd of his administration neither is there any now living that do not yet remember with a kind of delight the indulgence and sweetness of his Government Whilst the Duke stood seiz'd of a place of this consequence and so dispos'd to his service it was no easie matter to cut him off such a retirement being a sufficient refuge from all
obtain'd the Kings permission but his Majesty very well perceiving that his Favourite was only a pretense the League made use of to cover their own ambition that it was the Royal Authority they aim'd at and that their design was only to remove so good a Servant with less difficulty to make themselves Maisters of Affairs the more obstinately they insisted upon that Article the more resolute his Majesty was to protect him The Duke very well inform'd that Villeroy was one of those who contributed most to his Persecution and seeing how publickly he profess'd to desire his ruine resented it with an Animosity proportionable to the Injury receiv'd which was the more violent by how much the offense came from a person he had never done any ill Office to and whom he had ever made it his business to oblige They were in this posture of unkindness on the one side and the other when happned the taking of the Cittadel of Lions before which time it was thought Villeroy had secretly treated of a Marriage betwixt Alincourt his Son and Mandelot's only Daughter not having dar'd publickly to do it by reason of the intelligence Mandelot held with those of the League but having upon this occasion taken up Mandelot's Interests against le Passage that is to say against the Duke himself le Passage being his creature he offer'd to undertake for Mandelot's fidelity to the King provided his Majesty would please to consent to the Marriage propos'd and settle upon Alincourt the Government of Lions in reversion in favour of the match which the King being reduc'd to the necessity of taking all men for friends who were not actually otherwise was sorc'd to allow of and to ratifie what he could not well impeach by that means trying to draw Mandelot over to him but the Duke exasperated to the last degree could no longer smother his passion nor dissemble his animosity against Villeroy but spoke freely and aloud to his disadvantage and of the Correspondence he held with the League which was the first effect of their open and declared Hatred The end of the first Book THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon The Second Book AFter the Surrender or rather the Revolt of the many places already mentioned the Duke of Guise conceiving it necessary to press nearer the King the sooner and with less difficulty to obtain his ends order'd the General Rendezvous of his Army to be at Chalons Which place he made choice of for two Reasons first because by the nearness of it to Paris being but three little days Journey from thence his presence would be apt to fortifie the Citizens in their Devotion to him and secondly the number of his Confederates being so great and some of them of so great Authority in the City he could by their means continually infuse into the people such dispositions as might best serve his purpose hoping by this means either to incline the King to satisfie all his demands or at least to be able to raise such mutiny and confusion in the City as might give him opportunity at one time or another to effect that by fine Force he could not obtain by the more moderate ways of Addresses and Treaty Then it was that his Majesty perceiv'd the manifest peril his Person and his Affairs were in and then would he take up Arms for his own defense which he had no sooner resolv'd but that at the same time he saw it was too late and impossible to be done The Reiters which he had rais'd in Germany could not come to him the Duke of Lorain having deny'd them a passage through his Countrey and all the Forces within the Kingdom were either engag'd with the League or with the King of Navarre so that the King was left utterly naked of all defense save of those few Servants he had about his own person Nay even those who in the beginning of these troubles would with all their hearts have assisted him to punish to Duke whilst meerly in the condition of a Rebel durst not now he was grown to that formidable height and become the head of a strong Party attempt to succour a weak and disfurnish'd Prince against an armed and prevailing Subject The thoughts of War then being altogether fruitless and impossible in the posture the King then was he must of necessity have recourse to the Treaties of Peace to which resolution he was further necessitated by the King of Navarre's breaking into Arms at the same time which I should not however have mention'd for a second Motive his Majesty had to satisfie the League had this Prince pretended no further than simply to defend his own Fortune with those Forces he had already had in France for then his designs might have been favourable to the King and either have kept the Army of the League wholly imploy'd or at least have diverted their designs but he fearing at once to be opprest by the Union of two Catholick Armies had recourse to strangers for aid The King knew he had treated with the Queen of England and with the States of Holland who both of them assisted him with Men and Money and that all the Protestant Princes of Germany made extraordinary Provision to send him a powerful succour so that he now evidently saw he must in good earnest close with the League and joyn with one of the Factions to preserve himself from being a Prey to both The Queen Mother had for many years been employ'd Mediatrix in all the accomodations of Peace that had been concluded in France and it was commonly believed she was not then altogether without such an Interest in the Duke of Guise as might have establish'd this to the Kings satisfaction I never heard the Duke of Espernon say she was partial to that Faction and though he receiv'd several ill Offices from her in his declining Favour he notwithstanding ever retain'd a constant Respect for so great a Princess who was his Masters Mother and ever defended her Honour against all the calumnies of the time 'T is true he thought she was not altogether displeas'd that there should ever be a party on foot in France such as might oblige the King her Son to make use of her Counsels and Mediation her great and ambitious spirit ill digesting the calms of peace and worse enduring to be depriv'd of an employment in which she had ever been as successful as necessary Her therefore the King passionately entreated to labour an Accommodation with the Duke of Guise an Office she as chearfully undertook and two dayes after began her Journey towards Espernay where she had appointed the Duke to meet and whither he accordingly came together with the Cardinal of Bourbon In the first overtures she found a spirit puft up with success and wholly averse to Peace but when he had more deliberately consider'd that it was not yet time to weaken the King's Authority which he thought was absolutely at his
but his Majesty who was as perfect in the Nature and Designs of the Queen his Mother as she was in his had still been constant to his Servants Protection and the Duke having been bred up in the School of so politick a Master had learn'd so much cunning as had hitherto ever rendred all those Artifices ineffectual by which she had so often and so industriously labour'd his Ruine But at last the Queen knowing how important the present occasion was to the Kings Repose embrac'd it with that fervour that in the end it procur'd the Dukes so long wish'd for removal She had the management of the Treaty in hand absolutely committed to her with the choice of any two of the King's Council to assist her of which such as she knew were affectionate to the Duke you may be sure msut have nothing to do in this business so that it was no hard matter all parties concurring in the same design to conclude his disgrace and in conclusion the King was plainly told that it was absolutely necessary for him to dismiss the Duke of Espernon if his Majesty intended to have that Peace he seem'd so passionately to desire To the same end there was then Printed a Manifest subscrib'd by the Cardinal of Bourbon as Head of the League wherein the whole Faction were very importunate for the Duke 's total Ruine together with Mounsieur de la Valette his Brother his bare removal from Court being now too little to satisfie their Malice the League in this sole point comprehending the suppression of the Hugonot Party of which they said the two Brothers were the Protectors with the King the redress of the people opprest to enrich them and the satisfaction of the great ones who might easily be contented with those Offices and Governments which the two Brothers now possest to their common prejudice The Duke who very well foresaw that he must either comply with the time or reduce the King to a necessity of taking up Arms to protect him which would have made him responsible to his Majesty for any sinister event that might happen chose the lesser evil and would rather alone undertake the defense of his own Fortune than be any ways the occasion of so great a mischief He saw the Kings mind perpetually fluctuating and continually alarm'd with the Counsels of his Enemies which in his Majesties astonishment grew still more and more prevalent with him he saw the powerful Faction of the League wholly Arm'd against his Person neither was there any who did not conclude his ruine inevitable in so dangerous a conjuncture should he be once though but a moment remov'd out of the King's Protection but he had courage enough to run the hazard and his undaunted Spirit notwithstanding he very well understood his danger made him resolute with his own single Interest to stand the shock of all his Adversaries I ought here to adde yet another Motive the Duke had to retire from Court a thing which will perhaps hardly be believ'd though it be precisely true but it merits a due place in the Duke's History as the noblest testimony of a generous heart and this it was The Duke had understood something of the King's intention to cut off the Duke of Guise by those ways by which it was afterwards effected at Blois and not being able to divert that resolution he chose rather to absent himself than to be present at an action he thought so unworthy of his Masters Authority and Greatness though it redounded to his own particular preservation 'T is true that in the first motions of the League he had advis'd the King to take up Arms to chastise him that he had afterwards counsell'd him to cut off his Head at the very Gate of the Louvre when the Duke came in contempt of his command to raise that Commotion in Paris and that he had offer'd himself to fight him hand to hand in Duel but he could by no means consent that his Majesty should commit an Act so unworthy of his Name And this in truth was as powerful a Motive as any to oblige him to retire There is great diversity of Opinions amongst the Historians of that time about this retirement of the Dukes whether or no it were franckly and of his own motion whether he were dismist with the King 's good Opinion and Favour or whether he went not away in a real disgrace which they severally report every man according to his particular passion But D' Avila much better inform'd in the Affairs of the Cabinet than the rest enclines to the more favourable opinion and says very truly that the Duke resolv'd upon this retirement of his own voluntary inclination and that to the King 's great grief who notwithstanding compell'd by the necessity of the conditions imposed upon him in the Articles of Peace consented to it And of this truth there are two evident proofs One the great familiarity and privacy the Duke had with the King some days before his departure and the same D'Avila records a very remarkable and a very true passage upon this occasion That the night preceding this separation the Abbot del Bene a great confident of the Duke's and a man in great esteem with the King for his excellent parts of which his Majesty made continual use in his Politicks a study in which he was strictly regular was shut up alone with the King in his Cabinet for many hours not so much as the Grooms of his Majesties Chamber permitted to come in all the while by which he conjectures and very rightly that his Conference was in order to some Instructions which were to be convey'd by the Abbot who was to accompany him in his retirement to the Duke for his future Conduct during the time of his absence And I have heard the Duke say that he never in all his life receiv'd so many Testimonies of his Masters Affection as he did at this time His Majesty being pleas'd not only to chalk him out what he would have him do and what he would have him avoid during his retirement but also adding a thousand Protestations that he would sooner abandon his Crown than his protection and that he had not consented to his departure but with a resolution to recall him speedily back to Court with greater Honour and to confer upon him greater advantages than he had ever yet done Commanding at the same time the Abbot del Bene not to stir from him to have a care of his Person and to be assisting to him with his Counsels in whatever Accidents might happen and in all the difficulties and dangers he well foresaw would by his Enemies be prepar'd against him The other proof that the Duke was dismist in a high state of Favour was this that his Majesty made him at his departure Generalissimo of his Armies in the Provinces of Anjou Maine Perche Poictou Xaintonge Angoumois and the Country of Aulnis with absolute Power
and that bear the greatest sway in all Humane Designs The end of the Second Book THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon The Third Book WHilst the Dukes Enemies exercis'd his Vertue with these continual troubles they were themselves no less afflicted with their own Ambition The Assembly of the Estates was held at Bloâ—s where all things in outward shew were dispos'd in favour of the Duke of Guise but still as he approach'd nearer to his Object the greater the height and the more difficult the access unto the place to which he aspir'd appear'd unto him That one remaining step he was to climb to reach the height of his desires seeming to rise still further from him as oft as he attempted to gain it So that tir'd out with so many present difficulties and apprehending yet more those which were to come 't is said he was often almost resolv'd to leave off his Designs and to rely upon the King's Word that had so often assur'd him the enjoyment of his present greatness wherein also he doubted not without any great difficulty to maintain himself The Duke of Mayenne either jealous as some have thought of his Brothers Greatness or else of a more moderate temper than the rest of his Family had often advis'd him to this Resolution but the Cardinal their Brother and the Archbishop of Lyons were the Incendiaries that rekindled his dying Ambition and that hurried him on to that precipice into which they themselves at last fell with him They represented to him by what infinite labours and industry they had plac'd him in that height to which he was already arriv'd That if he ever had resolv'd there to limit his desires and to content himself with a competent Fortune he ought never to have undertaken those pains nor to have undergone those dangers he had so gloriously and so fortunately overcome That the merit of his Ancestors had left him greatness enough to satisfie an ordinary Ambition but that if he ever had the thought of rising above them as doubtless he had the way was open to him and that he had already overcome the greatest difficulties That the greater part of France stood for him and that almost all Foreign Princes and States were favourable to him That God himself seem'd to take his part by giving him a negligent and voluptuous Prince whose nature being softned and unnerv'd by ease and sloth had laid him open to his Designs That it was an easie matter in the condition himself then was to make him sure That not suddenly to do it it was to be fear'd the King might recover from his Lethargy and looking into himself might re-assume his former vigour and recover his almost lost Authoriâ—y That the very fear the King then liv'd in ought to be highly suspected to him That no Counsels were so violent and dangerous as those that proceeded from apprehension or extream necessity That he infinitely deceiv'd himself if he thought there could be any safety for him what promises soever the King might make in that height to which he had already rais'd himself That the Fortune of a Subject was never more unstable and unsafe than when it rendred him suspected to his Prince That he must boldly therefore step out of the quality of a Subject if he would be out of the danger of a Sovereign They further remonstrated to him what Opinion all Europe who were joyn'd together in his Favour what all good Frenchmen who were passionate in his cause what all posterity to which he ought to have a greater regard than to the present could have of his courage if the Duke of Guise only should think himself unworthy of that Dignity to which all the world besides so passionately wish'd he might arrive That he ought then boldly to end what he had so generously begun and so gloriously pursu'd and that though death it self should follow which was not in the least to be doubted it were notwithstanding more honourable to perish in so brave a Design than to survive the shame of not daring to perform it The Duke of Guise whose ambitious and unquiet Spirit was apt enough to take fire at such Counsels as these haughty and mutinous Prelates were fit to give was soon perswaded to renew his former practice and as if he had only suspended the prosecution of his Designs to take a little breath that he might fall on with greater violence he presently sent new dispatches to Rome and into Spain still more and more to fortifie himself in the Authority of the one and Strength of the other assuring further to himself at the same time either by promises or threats by himself or by his Adherents almost all the suffrages of the several Deputies of the Assembly which the King to whom all these practices were very well known being enform'd of and then seeing the manifest danger he was in of losing both his Authority and his Crown he determined to prevent the Duke by Counsels as severe and bloody as his own were rash and mutinous and to cut him off before he should have time to effect what he had so politickly and so dangerously design'dâ— A resolution which â—eing soon agreed upon with some of the Nobility his Majesty knew most faithful to him had the execution of it without further delay committed to eight of the five and forty These five and forty were all of them Gentlemen of approved Valour and for whose fidelity they who had recommended them to the King stood themselves engag'd so that of this Company to which the number had given the name his Majesty made his most assured Guard the greatest part of his Domesticks being become suspected to him and as it were wholly entrusted the safety of his Person to their Fidelity and care They attended him where-ever he went they nightly kept Guard in his Anti-Chamber and as nothing is so powerful as benefits to win the hearts and affections of men there was not one of them who besides his Salary of an hundred Crowns of Gold a month which was very much in those times had not over and above either receiv'd or had not very good reason to expect great recompenses from his Royal bounty So that these men being absolutely ty'd to all his Majesties Interests it was no hard matter to induce them to make an attempt upon the Person of the Duke of Guise against whom the King had conceiv'd a violent and implacable Hatred I shall here say nothing of the manner and circumstances of the Death of this Duke nor of that of the Cardinal of Guise his Brother who at the same time came to the same violent end most of our Historians being particular in that Relation but I can bear testimony that the Duke of Espernon did neither then nor ever since approve of that execution and that although he had receiv'd very hard measure from the Duke in his life he notwithstanding had his great
to the King by whom he was receiv'd with all the honour and kindness he could expect from his Majesties old Affection to him now newly reviv'd by the important Services he had so lately receiv'd from his Fidelity and Valour And then it was that his Majesty never thinking he could sufficiently evidence the esteem he had for him endeavour'd till better times should render him capable of a better acknowledgement principally to satisfie him concerning all things that had past during his absence from Court receiving him into a degree of greater Privacy and trust than he had ever been in in his highest pitch of Favour The Duke that he might make a grateful return to those infinite testimonies he receiv'd of the King his Masters great affection to him sought on his part all occasions to please him in all things and knowing very well he could not give him a greater nor a more signal satisfaction than to reconcile himself to the Mareschal d' Aumont a man very acceptable to and in great esteem with his Majesty but who had long been upon ill terms with the Duke he went one day franckly to his Lodging and without regarding the formalities usual in such Accommodations there made him offers of Reconciliation and Friendship the greatest violence imaginable to his own nature of it self not easie to be reconciled an humour in which he has ever since persisted but too obstinately for the advantage of his own Affairs but the desire he had to gratifie the King his Master overcame that difficulty whose great Interest it was that those few Servants who continued about his Person and were faithful to him should live in perfect intelligence with one another The Duke therefore having embrac'd the Mareschal told him That he was come with all freedom and candour to desire his Friendship as also to make him a tender of his that the evil intelligence they had so long liv'd in could not but be prejudicial to his Majesties Service which they both so zealously desired to promote That there had no oâ—â—ense past betwixt them wherein their Honours could be any ways concern'd that if notwithstanding he had entertain'd some little discontents he desir'd him to forget them as for his part and that sincerely he would blot out all memory of his The Mareschal overcome by this generous and unexpected freedom as readily met the Duke in his courtesie like a true Frenchman laying open his bosom to the reconciliation with more sincerity and affection than ever Whereupon they both of them went immediately to the King who was not a little pleas'd at an Accommodation so important to his Service and having been particularly inform'd of the Duke's manner of proceeding gave it the favourable interpretation due to so noble an Action so that still more and more encreasing the esteem and kindness he had for him he made it so highly and so publickly appear as gave D'Avila occasion to say he was re-establish'd in the highest degree of Favour he had ever been as it was effectually true whatever D' Aubigné is pleas'd to write to the contrary The same D' Aubigné a man very perfect in calumny and with which he continually bespatters all the King's Actions contrary to the truth known and receiv'd by all the world says further That they had much ado to prevail with the King to march his Army out of Tours towards Paris that the King of Navarre was forc'd to use all manner of perswasion and even a certain kind of violence to bring him to it but besides that all our Historians are contrary to him in this the King was observ'd after the death of the Duke of Guise to be so vigorous in all his actions that at Court they would ordinarily say he had now re-assum'd that Lions Courage he had for some years supprest His whole discourse was nothing but of reigning with Authority and of chastising such as would not acknowledge him in their obedience which his actions likewise confirm'd In the attempt upon the Suburbs of Tours Mounsieur de Thou as being continually with the King and particularly all that day gives this testimony That although in this occasion which was very hot his Majesty was surpriz'd in his Doublet only he nevertheless gave orders with so much assurance and gave so evident proofs of Valour and Constancy in so great a danger that the whole Army took it for a happy Omen and every man by his Example fortified himself with Courage and Resolution In fine whatever men may say of this Prince 't is most certain that a Martial Disposition govern'd in him as he had sufficiently made it appear in his Youth when he was meerly led by his own natural inclination but it is likewise true that being come to the Crown and having learn'd by the miseries of War that Peace is the greatest good with which a Prince can gratifie his people he endeavour'd by all means and doubtless too industriously to establish that happy Government in his Kingdom To this end were all his Politicks which as I have said he made his ordinary and regular study directed but at last incens'd at the ill success of so good a Design he absolutely resolv'd upon the taking Arms never to lay them down till he had re-establish'd his Authority and that in the highest degree any of his Predecessors had ever done With this resolution then he departed from Tours in the beginning of May 1589. The first Town upon his way that stood for the League was Gergeau and this little Town had the confidence to shut their Gates against the Royal Army So much were mens minds infatuated with zeal to their Faction The Duke of Espernon was order'd to go before to block up this place and to cast up the first earth against it which he accordingly did and the whole Army being a few days after come up to the Siege the King of Navarre advanc'd as far as the Trenches to see what progress they had made A Prince whose Valour and Bravery were so generally known as that his Reputation was universally receiv'd and establish'd in the opinion of all But the Duke who till this time had never had the honour to be near him in any occasion of this kind would now let him see that he also was no Novice in matters of Warre 'T is true he might have chosen a fitter opportunity of giving the King a testimony of his own Valour without exposing his Person to so great a danger but the heat of Youth transported him and I have heard him discoursing of this Action and alwayes accusing his own indiscretion magnifie to the highest degree the King of Navarre's courage which appear'd in great lustre upon this occasion D' Aubigné who was himself then present gives this Relation of it and I shall make use of his own words being in this case not much to be suspected since every body knows he was never very partial to
the Duke The King of Navarre says he being gone to visit the Duke of Espernon's Trenches the Duke shewing him-what he had done leads him through the middle of the space betwixt the Trenches and the Town in his Doublet only and that so unconcern'd and so open to the Enemies view that Houeilles the Duke's Cousin and Camp-Master as also another of his people fell dead at their feet when having gain'd a Guard commanded by Belangreuille they came out on the back side of that and pass'd within forty paces of the Courtine which play'd upon them all the while and laid two men more dead upon the place The King of Navarre and the Duke having at last gain'd the blind of a Garden Door Frontenack and another which other must be D' Aubigné himself who was Gentleman of the Horse to the King of Navarre earnestly solicited the Duke to retire which he was about to do by a way perhaps likely to engage them in more danger than before when the King of Navarre staid him by the Collar of his Doublet This is that he says but he adds after a thing wherein he is not so good a testimony as of the first and which is not so true viz. that the King being enform'd of this Action spoke highly against the Duke and in terms that nothing tasted of Favour and that so soon as he saw him he severely reprehended him and reproach'd him that he would have destroy'd his Brother 'T is true that his Majesty chid the Duke for his rashness telling him That he ought to reserve his Valour for better occasions and not so lightly to expose the Person of the King of Navarre his Brother and his own which were rather words of tenderness than distaste and it is likewise very true that the King of Navarre's Servants murmur'd highly at it endeavouring to possess the King that the Duke had not engag'd him in this danger without Design nay himself manifested something at his coming out of the Trenches for it was told the Duke that he should say to some of his people I think this man would be content to lose an Arm to have my Brains beaten out which was never the Duke's intention he being only spurr'd on by the inconsiderate heat of Youth and Bravery without any other Design From Gergeau the Army advanc'd towyrds Piviers which immediately open'd its Gates as also the City of Chartres surrendred at the first summon but Estampes stood out a Siege which being foon after taken by Assault some of the King of Navarre's Souldiers ran on in their prevailing Fury even to the Church of that Town there committing all sorts of insolence which the Duke being advertis'd of by the Guards he had plac'd at the Dooâ—s of this Church wisely foreseeing that the King of Navarre's people who for the greater part were men of the Reform'd Religion would not abstain from violation even of Holy things he ran thither himself to prevent further disorder where being come and seeing the Chalices and other Sacred Ornaments of the Altars in the hands of the rude Souldier not being able to endure that things dedicated to so Sacred Use should be profan'd after that manner he furiously drew his Sword and ran the first Offender in his way quite through the Body which by chance hapning to be one of the Dragoons of the King of Navarre's own Guard and in his own Livery the Complaint was immediately carried to him and by him as soon to the King of which the Duke having also notice he presently repair'd to his Majesties Quarter to make his defense There being come and his Majesty having demanded of him the reason for what he had done he gave him a particular accompt of the whole business Whereupon the King of Navarre told him with some bitterness That he had no Authority over his Souldiers and less over his Domesticks to which the Duke made answer with a respective but a manly boldness That the trust wherewith the King was pleas'd to honour him and the command he had given him in the Army invested him with sufficient Authority to chastise Impious and Sacrilegious Persons and that moreover every good man ought to assume that Authority in Offenses of so high a Nature Their Dispute was like to grow into hotter terms when the King impos'd silence both upon the one and the other not condemning the Duke's action nevertheless but desiring the King of Navarre to take care for the future that there might be no more offenses committed of that kind Thus by little and little secret discontents against the Duke crept into the King of Navarre's bosom which many envious of the Duke's greatness endeavour'd to augment neither was the Duke blind on that side nor was it without some affliction that he saw himself so ill requited for the sincere and uninteressed affection he had ever manifested for this Princes Service in his greatest adversity but having found by sufficient experience that the best Offices are not always the best recorded he contented himself with the conscience of his own integrity and ever paying the respect due to the Birth and Vertues of this excellent Prince in all other concerns of his command he exercis'd his Duty to the utmost height of Authority he had ever done The Army advancing daily towards Paris the Duke had order to make an attempt upon Montereau faut-Yonne which he carried by Petard neither was it a service of light importance for in the sequel of Affairs that which the Duke won in a few hours cost the King's Enemies many months and many good men to recover it From thence the Army being come to Pontoise the Duke had there the storming of a Suburb which was very well fortified committed to him and which notwithstanding he carried though with as much hazard as ever he tempted in any action of his life He was himself the first that leap'd upon the Rampire and though in this assault he had above a hundred men laid dead at his feet amongst which were many Persons of Quality and Command he nevertheless resolutely persisted in the Enterprize and forc'd the Enemy at the Swords point even to the Gates of the City whither he compell'd theâ— to retire and where having block'd them up he press'd on the Siege with that vigour and conduct that the place soon after surrendred upon composition Thus did the King find all things give place to his Arms as if Destiny had smooth'd and levell'd for him all the paths that lead to Death and Ruine and in this prosperity of his Affairs his Majesty resolv'd upon the Siege of Paris Already were the Swisse and new rais'd Reiters come up and joyn'd with the Body of the Army the Officers were dispos'd into their several Quarters and the King had taken up his own at St Clou and given the Guard of them to the Duke in order to a formal Siege His Majesties Lodging in this narrow Quarter
in whom he might confide even his own Friends and Servants being startled to see the King's Authority and name made use of against them began now to see that to keep those few friends and places he had left from revolting from him it was absolutely necessary to submit to an Accommodation and to this he was the rather induc'd by the necessity he saw of abandoning his Fort of Aix it being impossible for him to keep that without putting the other places he held in the Province to manifest hazard his Forces being too few to defend them all against so many enemies as were conspir'd to his ruine He therefore at last hearkened to Lafin who from the beginning had made himself an importunate Mediator for an Accommodation and in conclusion wholly referr'd himself to the Constables award by whose determination which was deliver'd in Iune the Duke was oblig'd to give up the Fort of Aix the main thing in contest into the hands of Lafin himself by whom it was to be kept with 400 men to be sent out of Languedoc until it should please his Majesty further to signifie his Royal Pleasure as to the maintaining or slighting of that Fort that in the mean time there should be a general suspension of Arms in Provence during which all things should continue in the same posture they then were The Duke submitting absolutely and without reserve to this Decree accordingly deliver'd up the Fort of Aix unto Lafin who enter'd into it with the appointed number of men but whether it were through the Officers foul play in their Musters or that the treachery of Lafin himself of both which the Duke complain'd made him neglect to keep his Garrison in its full appointment so it was that in a few days they were reduc'd to half their number neither does Mounsieur l' Esdiguieres stick to confess that he himself had a hand in the business that he had privately supply'd the Fort with Souldiers of his own who still were to run away by his private order In the mean time the Duke of Espernon under the assurance of this Truce liv'd in great security and believing that nothing was to be suspected to the prejudice of a Treaty arguâ—d and concluded as it were in the presence of all men took this opportunity a little to divert and repose himself after the continual action he had been turmoil'd in since his first arrival in Provence and to that purpose took a Journey into Languedoc either as he himself pretended to make a visit to the Constable or as it was said by others upon an amorous accompt to visit a Lady he had an acquaintance withal in that Country but whatever was the occasion the absence of their Leader together with his example made most of his Souldiers to take the same liberty rambling every one a several way an advantage that Mounsieur l' Esdiguieres very well knew how to manage neither did he neglect it though what he did would have been interpreted breach of faith had less than the King's command stept in to excuse it In this Journey to Languedoc there hapned a very remarkable quarrel betwixt two Officers of the Duke's Army who went along to attend him the one was Lioux a Gascon the other St. Andiol a Provencial both of them Captains of Horse and equal in quality and esteem though in this occasion the chance of Arms shewed it self partial to St. Andiol's side These two Gentlemen upon some slight dispute having agreed to fight went out of the Town together to end their difference where St. Andiol being the stronger man after some wounds given and receiv'd on both sides closing with his Enemy trip'd up his heels disarm'd him and made him ask his life which being done he was so far from the insolence of a conquerour that desiring no other triumph than his own private satisfaction he restor'd Lioux his Sword upon the place with all the complement and civility usual amongst men of honour upon such occasions But how modest soever St. Andiol was in his Victory the business could not be so secretly carried they returning both bloody from the Field that their friends took not notice of what they had been about who as soon enform'd the Duke thereof desiring withal that he would interpose his Authority to make them friends But the Duke out of respect to the Constable would transfer that good office to him who as readily undertook it and who having his two Sons in Law the Count de Auvergne since Duke of Angoulesme and the Duke de Vantadour in the house with him sent for them and the Duke of Espernon to be present at the reconciliation Saint Andiol was the first call'd in who being examin'd what had pass'd betwixt Lioux and him made answer That it was true some little dispute had hapned betwixt them which had oblig'd him to seek the satisfaction of a Cavalier but that it was already determin'd without any advantage on the one side or the other that he was satisfied that he must ever declare Lioux to be a very brave Gentleman and that he was his Friend and humble Servant After this Declaration every one concluded it would be a matter of no great difficulty to reconcile them and expected Lioux would as readily embrace his adversaries friendship as he had franckly offer'd his Saint Andiol being reputed one of the bravest Gentlemen in the Army He therefore was next call'd in and that rather to hear himself commended upon Saint Andiol's testimony of his Valour than to be question'd about a thing of the truth whereof they thought themselves already sufficiently enform'd They therefore upon his coming in told him that Saint Andiol had given an account of what had pass'd betwixt them that he had assur'd them they parted upon equal terms that he was his Friend and Servant and that therefore nothing now remain'd but that they should embrace and be good friends To which Lioux made answer That before they proceeded so far there must be a truer relation given of the issue of their dispute than for as much as he yet heard he could consent unto An answer that surpriz'd the whole company who fear'd it might beget a new quarrel when Lioux continuing his discourse declar'd how every thing had truly pass'd acknowledging that he ow'd his life to his enemies courtesie but complaining withal that Saint Andiol should make so light of his Victory as to deprive himself of the due honour of it yet magnifying his noble behaviour towards him after so ingenuous a manner that having by his franck and generous confession wip'd off all disesteem that usually how brave soever cleaves to the losing side he won himself by his handsome carriage as great a reputation as if he had been more fortunate and shar'd in the glory of a victory had been obtain'd in single dispute over his own person From the time that the Fort of Aix had been deliver'd into Lafin's
hands Mounsieur de l' Esdiguieres had retir'd himself into the City where he had been receiv'd with all the reputation and respect due to the Deliverer of a people as they look'd upon him to be and where whilst he lay watching all occasions wherein he might weaken the Duke's power or lessen his repute which he call'd executing his Majestices Orders and advancing his Service he had intelligence of the slender and careless Guard was kept by Lafin in the Fort of Aix as also in many other places which as yet were in the Duke's possession wherefore making use of this negligence and pretending some of the Duke's people had broken the Truce in having as he said taken some of his prisoners he took the Field upon the sixth of Iuly and without resistance took the Fort of Aix and favouring the revolt of Frejus St. Paul Troy Mirabel and Cannes gave the Inhabitants of all those Cities opportunity to drive out the Duke's Garrisons and to withdraw themselves wholly from his Party and Obedience As for the Fort of Aix it was no sooner in Mounsieur de l' Esdiguieres hands but that he deliver'd it up to the discretion of the Inhabitants who were so diligent in the demolishing of it that in two days time there scarce remain'd any footsteps of a work the Duke 's whole Army had for three months together with great and continual labour been industrious to raise Toulon soon after follow'd the revolt of the other forenamed places which was of all others a loss of the greatest importance to the Duke Esgarrebaques was Governour of the place a man that had long serv'd in that employment both under Mounsieur de la Valette and under the Duke himself in great esteem of Courage and Fidelity but at last the alliance he had contracted with the House of Souliés a Family that were nothing kind to the Duke's Interests having given his Adversaries or rather his Envyers a pretense to render him suspected to the Duke he to secure the place and to keep Esgarrebaques within the bounds of his duty caus'd a Cittadel to be drawn out and to be begun in his own presence wherein he plac'd Signac the Governours Capital and Mortal Enemy with a sufficient Garrison both to secure the Cittadel and to awe the City But Esgarrebaques either really provok'd by this ill usage or else in this declining condition of the Duke's Affairs willing to disingage himself from his Service making that his pretense so soon as the Duke's back was turn'd assaulted Signac in his new Cittadel where the Fortifications being imperfect and the access open and easie on all sides he without much opposition took the Governour prisoner and made himself master of the place putting himself immediately after into Mounsieur l' Esdiguieres protection which in the Language of the Country was to submit himself to the King The Duke having intelligence of these disorders of which his own absence had chiefly been the cause upon the first report thereof left Languedoc and made all the haste he could into Provence to apply if possible some remedy in this untoward posture of Affairs though all he could do at his return was only to stop the Gangreen from going further and to keep the Province from a general revolt yet either not believing or not seeming to believe that his Majesties Order was in any of these transactions he began to prepare himself to recover by force of Arms what by treachery and surprize had been taken from him when finding his Friends and Followers startled and wavering at the very sound of the Royal Name which his Enemies had made use of in all their designs he thought it necessary before he fell to action first to undeceive them and to clear that error In an eloquent Speech therefore he briefly laid before them The signal Services both his Brother and himself had done for the King in the conservation of that Province and that in the greatest confusion of the Kingdom and at the lowest ebb of his Majesties Affairs the Obedience he had manifested to all his Majesties Orders and Commands how severe soever they had been and how prejudicial soever to his own private Fortune That as an evidence of his Duty and submission to his Majesties Royal Pleasure he had but lately surrendred the Fort of Aix that is to say had divested himself of the possession of that fair City the Conquest of which was by their Valours made certain to him That notwithstanding so many and so recent testimonies of his Loyalty and Obedience with which he knew his Majesty to be very well satisfied his Enemies still shrowding their malice under the shadow of the Royal Name the better to effect their own designs had debauch'd and reduc'd from him most of the places he had lately been possess'd of That this affront reflected upon them indifferently with himself since it had been with their Blood together with his Brothers and his own that those conquests had been dearly bought That therefore the injury being equal both to him and them he hop'd they would assist to revenge them and to maintain his Fortune which as he ow'd it in part to their Valour so did he not so passionately desire its support for any interest of his own as to have means thereby to shew himself grateful to those who had been constant and faithful to him in all the disgraces he had fall'n into and in all the attempts had been practis'd against him His Friends being by this short speech reassur'd and confirm'd in their Fidelity and Obedience and having thereupon express'd as great a Devotion to his Service as he could expect from men who had long been affectionate to him he forthwith took the Field to go seek out l' Esdiguieres but he after he had deliver'd Aix from the Fort that had so long kept them in subjection and clear'd the neighbouring Campagne by the revolt he had procur'd of the foremention'd places retir'd into his Government of Dauphiné without engaging himself further at this time in the Affairs of Provence by whose retreat the Duke having none left to oppose his designs seem'd to be now in a condition not only to redeem his late losses but also to make a new and a further progress into the Country than he yet had done and doubtless he had done so had things continued in this posture but something new and unforeseen fell out which gave the last blow to the ruine of his Affairs The Duke of Guise at last undeceiv'd and better read in the Spanish artifice which had so long abus'd him with vain proposions of Marriage with their Infanta so soon as they could procure his Election to the Crown and perceiving also the declining condition of the League which every day went less in reputation was in the end with his Brothers return'd into the King's Obedience to whom his Majesty hoping the revolt of a man of his Authority
of Spain and to think it there secure were not a sign of no very good Frenchman There has been a rumor in these parts for some days that he has promis'd Boulogne to the Spaniard c. Thus writes the Cardinal d' Ossat with many other things of the like injurious nature The Duke of Espernon saw all these invectives as soon almost as they appear'd in Print and though in his own nature he was a man not much enclin'd to Books yet the quality of the Author having given a great reputation to this he had a great desire to see it when having it brought before him and the place being turn'd unto wherein he himself was concern'd it could not be perceiv'd that he was at all mov'd at the many reproaches he there found against him but on the contrary was so moderate and calm as to say That he could by no means blame the Cardinal d' Ossat for what he had written and that being employ'd as he was by the King in the most weighty Affairs of the Court of Rome he had done no more than his duty in giving his Majesty a faithful accompt of what ever was reported to him That he knew very well many others at the same time talk'd of him at the same rate some out of spleen and others perhaps out of a belief the common bruit his Enemies had spread amongst the people had begot in them but that neither the one nor the other said true That indeed the King of Spain the Duke of Savoy and the Duke of Mayenne measuring his discontents by the provocations he had received had all of them often sent to him the first to offer him his protection and the two last their friendship and alliance That he had been solicited by a Religious of the Order of St. Francis on the behalf of the King of Spain by a woman of quality the world believ'd had a great interest in him from the Duke of Savoy and by the Abbot of Cornac since Abbot of Ville-Loin a man of great dexterity and prudence from the Duke of Mayenne but he dedeclar'd and bound it with an Oath that he had never hearken'd to any such practice That in truth seeing himself press'd by his own particular enemies under the King's Authority and in his name and that alone he could not long be able to make a head against them he had sometimes been in suspense what he should do and a little tempted by the advantageous conditions these Princes had offer'd to him but that notwithstanding his Fidelity and Duty had ever so stoutly oppos'd his Interest and Passion that he rather chose to surrender his Right to the Government of Provence and which was far more insupportable unto him to quit the Field to his Enemies than to make a longer resistance by joyning himself with Parties and Factions contrary to his Majesties Service and Interest All which in the end he made so evident that I cannot but admire after so manifest a justification by his Actions any body could be so unjust as to tax him with any intelligence with Spain To fortifie which so odious a Calumny they ought at least to have prov'd that he had receiv'd from thence or by their means some kind of Assistance in his Affairs by whom had he been secretly favour'd would they have husbanded their favour so ill 〈◊〉 not to have drawn from him some effectual acknowledgement and return by the giving up some one at least of those places in his custody into their hands The same Cardinal says that he had promis'd them Boulogne though it was plain enough afterwards how far he was from any such purpose that he had receiv'd mony from Spain and that he pretended for his excuse it came out of his own Bank at Milan where himself had before laid it up and that the one and the other were almost equally criminal which were it true no one could deny it to be a Crime But to answer to this point I would fain know what he did contrary to his Majesties Service after he receiv'd this mony and whether he was afterwards observ'd to favour that Faction more than before No it was so much otherwise that almost at the very same time the Cardinal sent this intelligence against him he went in person to the King where he put himself into his Majesties hands without Article or Reservation to be absolutely at his disposal Would the Spaniard have been thus tamely cheated of his mony without speaking had he parted with such a Sum would he not have publish'd to all the world the Duke's infidelity and unhandsome carriage and would he not at least have seiz'd upon that Bank the Cardinal d' Ossat writes of at Milan for his reimbursement Others have further added that the Duke had a design to take this opportunity of the Kingdoms distraction to make himself a Sovereign Prince in Provence but let any one consider whether after having conceiv'd so unjust and so unruly an ambition he would not betimes and before he had proceeded to matter of Fact have fortified himself by a correspondency and intelligence with Foreign Princes to have justified his usurpation or whether in common discretion he would not have confederated himself with those Factions at home that already brav'd the lawful Authority Yet is it most true and it was evident to all the world that instead of doing the one or the other he fought with all the power he had and maintain'd the sharpest War he could possibly maintain both against the Duke of Savoy though back'd with the Spanish Forces and also against the League of it self sufficient to have amaz'd man of less conduct and resolution It is very true that he would fain have kept and maintain'd his Government of Provence against all pretenders had it stood with the Kings good liking and that he was the longer before he could perswade himself to give it up hoping at some time or other that his Majesty reflecting upon his Services might think him as worthy as any of that Command but at last finding his expectation vain and all he could do or say ineffectual to the procuring of his Royal Consent he rather chose to quit claim to a Title his Majesty would not be prevail'd with to approve than by a longer obstinacy to oppoâ—â— his Masters pleasure to the prejudice of his own duty Some who can endure no truths but such as are couch'd in the worst Characters and that call all things flattery which are not offence may perhaps think me too zealous in the Duke's justification but let such before they too liberally determine examine the Arguments I have us'd in his behalf whether there be in them any thing forc'd or uneasie to an unbyas'd judgment or whether any thing can be contradicted in all I have said It has been an observation almost to a rule that the lives of great Favourites have ever been the objects of the hatred and envy of
of Savoy that he was nothing startled at his other losses as supposing this City to be an inexpugnable Bulwark against whatever could be attempted against him A confidence wherein he found himself very much mistaken for the Duke of Espernon having the command of one quarter at this Siege as Biron and L' Esdiguieres had of the other two whilst they were on all hands busie in their approaches found opportunity sometimes to confer with the Count de Brandis Governour of the place interviews that being frequent and allow'd by the King wrought at last so good an effect that the Governour promis'd to surrender the City to the King if within a month the Duke of Savoy did not raise the Siege A Capitulation of that dangerous importance to the Duke that he labour'd by all possible ways during the limited term to perswade the Governour into a better resolution and had so wrought upon him what by entreaty promises and threats that he was grown infinitely wavering and uncertain what to do which notwithstanding the Duke of Espernon who had drawn the first plot of this great design happily brought it to perfection in the end he absolutely confirm'd by his perswasion the anxious Count in the terms of his first Treaty and thereupon receiv'd new Hostages from him by which dexterity he rendred himself the principal and most effectual instrument of his Majesties victories in that Country as also of the Peace which immediately follow'd the Surrender of this important City Whilst the King's Designs succeeded at this fortunate rate in this little Dukedom the Princes of Italy apprehending that after the ruine of the Duke of Savoy the sweetness and facility of that Conquest would tempt the King to advance further into the Country to seek new Victories were instant with the Pope to interpose his Authority with the King to dispose his Majesty to accept of satisfaction from the Duke of Savoy for what had past that an Accommodation might ensue to which his Holiness being enclin'd both by his own interests which could by no means admit of a War in Italy and by the importunity of the Princes of the Country he dispatch'd away Cardinal Aldobrandino his own Nephew to the King to be in his name the Mediator of this Peace as the Cardinal de Medicis had been before of that which had been concluded with Spain Never Prince came from that Country in a prouder Equipage nor with a more honourable train than did this Cardinal a Magnificence to which his Majesty being willing to hold proportion both in regard to his own greatness as also to express thereby a greater respect to the Pope to whom he was highly oblig'd in the person of a Kinsman so near and dear unto him he made choice of the Duke of Espernon amongst all the other Grandees of his Court to be the man should receive him and that because he both knew him to be a person very acceptable to the Holy Sea as also one who knew as well how to behave himself for his Masters honour as any whoever that was about his person Neither did the Duke deceive his Majesty in his choice he receiv'd the Cardinal at the head of the Army which before had been drawn up into Battalia for that purpose accompanied with the most sprightly and gay Nobility and Gentry of the Court conducting him with infinite demonstrations of Honour and Respect through the several divisions until he brought him into the presence of the King himself and though I must tell you by the way that the Duke 's imperious and haughty humour was naturally very averse to the humility of Complement and the submission of excessive Civilities yet when such an occasion as this oblig'd him to it no man of his time could perform such a Ceremony with a better grace and doubtless if at ordinary times he would have been more liberal of his courtesie and have added that to those other excellent qualities which made him admir'd by all he might have acquir'd thereby what Friends and Servants he had pleas'd Soon after the Legat's arrival the Peace of Savoy was concluded wherein a Prince whose interest it was to recover his own Dominions almost entirely over-run by the King 's Victorious Arms was now to redeem his own with what he had surreptitiously and contrary to the publick Faith snatch'd from the King during the disorders of his Kingdom and which his Majesty was now also ready to force from him as he had already done the greatest part of his own hereditary Territories in pursuit of that Quarrel So that the Duke of Savoy bought his Peace at a cheap rate through the Pope's timely mediation and all things were accommodated that were in dispute betwixt the King and him although his Majesty who very well knew what little trust was to be repos'd in the Faith of this Prince a man that would never keep his word when it was for his advantage to break it would by no means be perswaded to withdraw his Army out of his Dukedom till first the Articles of the Treaty were perform'd But it neither suiting with decency nor the dignity of his Majesties Royal Person himself to attend the execution of a thing already concluded he return'd into France leaving the command of his Army to the Count de Soissons offering at the same time the command of Lieutenant General to the Duke of Espernon who excus'd himself having taken up a resolution never to serve under less than the Person of a King as hitherto he had never done nor ever after did in the whole course of his life He therefore went back with the King whom he attended as far as Grenoble from whence when his Majesty departed for Lyons to consummate his Marriage he at the same time took his leave to return again into his Governments of Xaintonge and Angoumois The Duke's journey into that Country gave him opportunity to pass over into Gascony to view the Progress of his Building there of which he had laid the foundation at Cadillac in the year 1598. For the King after he had concluded the Peace with Spain from that time forwards not only wholly bent his own thoughts to the Embellishment of his Kingdom in which his principal design was first to Build his Houses and to Beautifie Paris with many great and noble Structures for at this time the Buildings of the Louvre Fountain-bleau and other Royal Palaces were begun as also the designs of the Pont-neuf the Place Royal with other proud and stately AEdifices were continued but would likewise that other men should fall in love with the same humour and whether it were that his Majesty had a mind his greatest Subjects should by his example employ themselves in the same designs or that he intended as some have suppos'd insensibly to drein their purses by this chargeable employment fearing perhaps that too great abundance of wealth might make them more apt to entertain thoughts
his obedience and about to dismiss those Auxiliaries who had come in to serve him in that Action his Majesty sent Sobole word That after so great a satisfaction as he had receiv'd from his Services he was as well dispos'd to gratifie him as he himself could desire which nevertheless the present condition of his Affairs not permitting him to do at so honourable a rate as he could wish it was for him to look out for something he had a mind to which should be as readily conferr'd upon him Those who had order to make this overture to Sobole were further intrusted to represent unto him That being Governour of Metz meerly by the Duke's toleration he was subject upon the first capricio to be remov'd after which from the honourable condition wherein he had liv'd for many years he would find himself reduc'd to a very moderate fortune That though he could be assur'd the Duke's humour would continue constant to him yet ought the declining posture of his Affairs in Provence to give him a reasonable Alarm That all things in that Country were so averse to him it was all the Duke could do to keep his head above water and that his Affairs coming to an absolute ruine as they evidently declin'd he would be in danger to be left in Metz without any support or any colourable claim either to command or recompense That the King conceiving a Gentlâ—man of his Valour and Merit worthy a more certain fortune did voluntary offer to make him his own Lieutenant in the Government of the Place and Country under the Duke whose Authority being kept inviolate he could have no just reason to reproach him for seeking to establish his own Fortune without doing any prejudice to his It was no hard matter to perswade Sobole into a thing he believ'd would settle his Affairs so much to his advantage so that he greedily swallow'd the bait and receiving a new Commission from the King retir'd very well satisfied with his Majesties bounty into his Government But as the first step into a fault makes men subject to stumble into another after having once fail'd in his Faith he had now no more regard to his Duty and conceiving he had good title for the future to Lord it over the Inhabitants of Metz with greater Authority than he had formerly done he grew insolent to the last degree Complaints whereof were soon brought to the Duke where to him they accus'd Sobole for having rais'd mony upon them by his own private Authority and to have committed many other insolencies against them The Duke was at this time disingag'd from the trouble of his Affairs in Provence and the residence he had since that time made at Court having inform'd him of Sobole's deportment he was questionless possess'd with an indignation proportionable to the offense but he very well foresaw that the King who had in design rais'd Sobole against him would doubtless uphold him and justifie his own Commission so that he durst by no means act any thing in publick against him not go about by open force to displace him but on the contrary dissembled as much as in him lay both the knowledge and the trouble of his fault and when continually importun'd by reiterated complaints from the Inhabitants of Metz a people he ever had in great consideration he only admonish'd him to behave himself with greater moderation towards them but Sobole was deaf to all those admonitions and so far from slackning his hand that on the contrary to render the Duke's good Offices fruitless to them he contriv'd with himself to accuse many of the principal among them to the King for having as he said endeavour'd to betray the Town and Cittadel of Metz to Count Mansfield Governour of Luxenbourg for the King of Spain Which he did to the end that his Majesty being prepossess'd with so black an accusation no one not so much as the Duke himself might dare to speak in their behalf The business was very strictly examin'd and in the end discover'd to be a meer calumny which made all the world conclude it had been invâ—â—â—ted by Sobole in spite to deprive the Inhabitants of their Lives and Estates a malice so notorious that the Duke could no longer endure a people whom he lov'd and had ever protected should be so ill us'd by a man he himself had appointed to govern but not to destroy them Which made him openly undertake their protection against Sobole's violence against whom the hatred the people had conceiv'd having provok'd them into arms they besieg'd him in the Cittadel a thing the Duke was not sorry for hoping this would counsel the King to remove him and that he being out the place could be supply'd by none from whom he might not promise to himself better things than from Sobole What the Duke had so prudently foreseen fell out exactly as he imagin'd it would for the King alarm'd at the danger of so important a place it being very much to be fear'd his ill neighbours would take the advantage of the evil intelligence betwixt the Governour and the people to seize the Town resolv'd to go thither in person and accordingly with the Queen and all the Court set forward in the beginning of the year 1603. A journy in which the Duke of Espernon was too much concern'd to stay behind and in the issue whereof Sobole was depos'd from his Government with a pardon for all that was pass'd which his ill carriage had made the reward of his Service and all the recompense he receiv'd for so brave a Command After his departure his Majesty resolv'd himself to dispose of his places a thing wherein the Duke of Espernon's interest did most of all consist who till that time had ever had the disposition of all Offices inferiour to his own in that Government and by that means had been absolute over the City but his Authority being suspected to the King who would have no other than his own acknowledg'd in his Kingdom his Majesty gave the Duke to understand that Sobole having resign'd unto him his Lieutenancy to the Government of the City and Cittadel of Metz and the Messin Country which his Majesty had formerly seated him in he was now resolv'd to settle men of Condition and approv'd Fidelity in his room always reserving which his Majesty would by no means diminish for the Duke his Authority in the place that in order thereunto he had cast his eye upon the two Brothers les Sieurs de Montigny and d' Arquien to the first of which he would give his Lieutenancy to the City and Country and to the other the command of the Cittadel but that the one and the other should render him an obedience equal to his own person The Duke having well enough foreseen how things would be had nothing to oppose against his Majesties Royal Pleasure but without coâ—â—â—adiction gave way to necessity and with patience the only remedy
out with the continual disorders the excess of his clemency begat every day in his Kingdom he was resolv'd to take order once for all and by a severe and exemplary punishment to quiet the Rebellion some of Mounsieur de Boüillons Servants openly maintain'd after his departure out of the Kingdom in Perigord Quercy and Limousin The Mareschal de Boüillon was seiz'd of many very fair possessions and had many Friends and Servants in those Provinces where the Nobility Gentry and Commons being also naturally inclin'd to Arms it was no hard matter to perswade them into commotion The King had been given to understand that under the pretense of seeking protection only from the Protestant Princes of Germany and the Swisse Cantons the Mareschal endeavour'd to interest them in the Quarrel of those of the Religion in France by possessing them as it was said that since the King's Conversion their usage was far different from what it had formerly been and the liberty of Conscience far more restrain'd than it us'd to be Neither did his Majesty doubt but that all of his opinion in his Kingdom would easily be induc'd to follow the Duke of Boüillon's discontent who had acquir'd an absolute reputation among them He farther saw that many Catholicks made no scruple to joyn with him to the end they might re-enjoy the licence of War which would by no means be allow'd them in the better times of Peace He knew that great summes of mony were distributed for the raising of men which mony was suspected to come from Spain from whence all the intestine broils of his Kingdom had ever been countenanc'd and promoted Evil dispositions that being all joyn'd together were sufficient to produce great disorders in the State and to reduce the King in spite of his heart to the necessity of a Civil War His Majesty therefore thinking it very convenient to prevent all these disorders and to suffocate them in their Birth resolv'd to go in person to Limousin either by his Presence to appease or by his Authority to suppress the begun Commotions but to dispose them to their obedience if possible before his arrival to chastise some Offenders without drawing the Odium immediately upon himself and to reduce every one to his Duty he order'd the Duke of Espernon to go before with six Companies only of his Regiment of Guards and four Troops of Horse not doubting but with this little Body together with the Duke's Interest which was very considerable in those parts of which some places were under his own Government he would be able to give a better accompt of his Expedition than another perhaps could do with greater Forces And to the end that his Justice might accompany his Arms he joyn'd to the Duke Iean Iaques de Mesmes Segnieur de Roissy Master of Requests with Commission of Oyer and Terminer to sit upon the Life and Death of the Offenders This was he so famous for his Integrity and Valour that was afterwards Doyen to the Council of State where though the esteem every one had of his Vertue was very great yet was it no more than was due to his merit although afterwards in the progress of a long life he had this honour added to the rest he enjoy'd to see his name illustrated by a noble Posterity not any man scarce of his condition in the Kingdom having supply'd the State with so great and able Ministers The Duke having taken his leave of the King advanc'd into Limousin where he would have Crequy Camp-Master to the Regiment of Guards to command in person the Forces he took along with him and where the most turbulent spirits at his unexpected arrival which by his diligence had almost got the start of any intelligence of his coming mediâ—ated nothing less than their defense some of the most advis'd fearing to have to do with the Duke or de Roissy appeal'd to his Majesties mercy and by the acknowledgement of their offense obtain'd their Pardon others retir'd themselves to the Duke de Boüillon to Sedan the most imprudent or the most unfortunate only falling into the hands of Justice Of which five or six suffer'd death though many others were punish'd by more moderate ways so that before the King's arrival at Limoges all those Countries that before breath'd nothing but Sedition and Disorder were now so calm and still that his Majesty had nothing to do but by his Clemency to settle Rebels newly reclaim'd from their Disobedience in their Duty and to reward his faithful Subjects by the demonstrations of his Grace and Favour The end of the Fifth Book THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon The Sixth Book THE Affairs of Limousin that had taken up the Duke of Espernon the whole year having been compos'd with the facility you have heard the King return'd again to Paris attended by the Duke who had now nothing left to do behind The antiquated enmity that so many years had been nourish'd betwixt the House of Guise and him continued still which was ready to discover it self upon every light occasion and almost as oft as they met to come to a bustle betwixt them In all which disputes the Duke notwithstanding that that Illustrious Family by the greatness of their Birth and by their Offices in the State by their vast possessions in the Kingdom and above all by the great number of generous Princes of which it was compos'd as also by the potency of their Alliances made up a great part of the Court would never give them the least ground but ever sustein'd their power with great Spirit and Vigour neither did he want such a number of Relations and Servants as might secure him from the apprehension of the greatness of any He had sometime before this had a brisk dispute with the Duke of Guise the King being at Lyons which proceeded so far that the Duke of Espernon by the hands of la Pierre one of the Duke's Gentlemen receiv'd a Challenge from him though the Quarrel had been so publick and the Duke of Guise was so narrowly watch'd by his Friends that he could not get out into the Field wherein the Duke of Espernon was better serv'd by his who permitted him to go out of the City with Gohas whom he took with him for his second but being call'd back by the King's Command who would himself compose their difference that Quarrel was soon at an end There hapned at this time another betwixt the Duke of Espernon and the Prince of Ioinville now Duke of Chevreuse and Brother to the Duke of Guise for this Prince having staid the Coach of a Woman of Quality at the outer Gate of the Louvre one night that the King had appointed a great Dancing at Court and the Duke coming out with the Duke of Montensier to go home the Ladies Coach so stopt the Gate that the Duke's could not possibly pass wherefore he commanded the Coachman to make way But the Duke of
had already spread it self not only throughout the Louvre but also over all Paris at which the Queen being beyond all imagination afflicted and dissolving her self into tears without any other thought than how to humour and satisfie her own grief the Duke of Espernon came into her Chamber and after some expressions of sorrow which as a true Frenchman a good Subject and an oblig'd Servant he could not forbear for the loss of so good a Master he there told her That he did not come to her Majesty in hope to stop the current of her tears the cause of her sorrow being too great to admit of any present consolation but that she would ever have leisure enough to weep when perhaps she might not always have opportunity to provide for the Fortune of her Children and the Safety of the Kingdom which in effect were one and the same thing That her Majesty might better judge than any what envy the King's prosperity had drawn upon him from all the neighbouring Princes and how much it was to be fear'd lest his own Servants no longer now restrain'd by the presence of this great Prince might in hope of novelty be debauch'd from their duty if some good and prudent order for the settlement of Affairs were not suddenly taken That to keep things in the quiet posture they then were her Majesty must speedily and in the first place secure the Domestick Peace of the Kingdom by continuing Paâ—is in the serenity and calm of obedience it then was That the single strength of the Kingdom if united and in good intelligence within it self was of it self sufficient to frustrate the designs of any that should attempt any thing against the Crown of France That for his own part who had taken upon him the boldness to give her Majesty this first advice he there from his heart made her an humble tender of his Life his Fortune and his Friends to do her Service that therefore she was only to command what she would please should be done and that he would perish or cause her Royal will to be obey'd The Queen awak'd by so prudent a Counsel and fortified by the resolution of so generous and so considerable a Subject told him That she wholly reserr'd all things to his Vigilancy and Conduct to be order'd as he should in his wisdom think most fit wherein she recommended to his Fidelity the care of her Children much more than any concern of her own and that she should rest very well satisfied with whatever he should do knowing as she very well did his prudence and affection to be equally so great that nothing was to be added to them The Duke without losing more time went immediately out of the Louvre where the first thing he did in order to the Queens commands was to bid the Officers of the Regiment of Guards to put their men suddenly into Arms. This great body consisting of four thousand effective men and those of the best and the best Disciplin'd in Europe did not a little awe the Parisians from leaping over the bounds of their Duty a strength that as it was absolutely at the Duke's command so did he upon this occasion know so well how to dispose it into the most convenient Quarters of the Town that without all doubt it was by vertue of those Forces he secur'd the peace of that Seditious City and kept the multitude from tumult and insurrection Arquien whom as has been said the King had put into the Cittadel of Metz in the year 1604. was Lieutenant Colonel to the Regiment of Guards and consequently in the absence of Crequy who was Camp-Master to the said Regiment and who was already gone up to the Army with the greatest part of the Nobility of the Court was under the Authority of the Duke to command it Him therefore the Duke speedily sent for to have given him orders but he was no where to be found for from the instant that the King's death was certain imagining the Duke would infalliby take the advantage of the time and his own Authority to remove him from Metz he had taken post to put himself into the Cittadel hoping there he should be able to maintain his ground But the Duke who in the care of publick affairs did not altogether neglect his own which his Affection and Fidelity to the Crown rendred one and the same with the other judged by Arquiens absence what his design might be dispatch'd Mun de Sarlaboust Captain to one of the Companies of the Guards immediately after him if possible to prevent him or at least to follow him so close that he might arrive at Metz before Arquien could have time to practice any thing to his disadvantage The Duke had in Metz besides the ordinary Garrison of eight Companies of which he had compos'd a Regiment call'd the Old Garrison two Companies of the Regiment of Guards commanded by Tilladet and Fromigieres since Grand Prior of Tholouze all which were so absolutely at his devotion and their Captains so link'd to his Interests their Fortunes wholly depending upon his Favour as they had been rais'd by his bounty that not a man of them but was ready upon all occasions to be absolutely commanded by him To this he was confident of the Inhabitants good affection towards him who by the moderation of his Government and by the protection with which he had sheltred them from Sobole's Insolence were wholly acquir'd unto him which interests joyn'd together made the Duke confident he should not want Forces sufficient to hinder Arquien from being receiv'd into the Cittadel if Mun could get thither before him or even there to force him should he happen to put himself into it before his Orders could arrive And indeed all things succeeded to his desire as shall in its due place be declar'd But we must first return to Paris which at this time was the Scene of the most and the most important Affairs The Regiment of Guards being in the absence of Arquien drawn together by Saint Coulombe the eldest Captain the Duke sent them order to advance which being done he appointed part thereof for the Guard of the Louvre with the Regiment of Swisse which he extending the Authority the Queen had given him as French Guards over that Nation also had likewise commanded into Arms The other part were dispos'd upon the Pont-Neuf towards la rüe Dauphine and upon the principal avenues that lead to the Convent des Augustins He further intreated Mounsieur de Liancourt Governour of Paris speedily to assemble the Prevosâ— des Marchands and the Eschevins in the Hostel de Ville offering him withal a sufficient Guard to secure them as accordingly he he sent five hundred of the Regiment of Guards under the command of Captain Dnoüet who remain'd there two days together upon Duty These Orders being given the Duke himself mounted on Horseback went towards the Pont-Neuf to go to the Cloistre Nostre dame
That to procure their consents there was no way so plausible and consonant to Law as therein to interest all the Parliaments of France by prevailing with that of Paris whose whose Act would be a kind of Warranty to the rest That should they have staid the coming of the Count de Soissons he would by his presence infallibly have sway'd all things according to his inclination That the Prince of Condé coming after would have been impatient at his younger Brother's getting the start of him in an Affair where the priority of Vote in the Election was in him by which means the variety of their interests not permitting them to concur in an Act wherein each of them would be ambitious to precede a fraction betwixt them must of necessity ensue That for that reason he had us'd all diligence in pressing the Parliament to a speedy resolution in favour of the Queen In the carrying on of which Affair it is in my opinion something hard to determine whether the Stars of France or the Duke's Prudence did most prevail It is not to be denied but that both the one and the other contributed very much to the happy performance of this great work But it is likewise most certain that the business had never been so fortunately effected if the Duke had less prudently foreseen what was likely to ensue or had proceeded with less diligence and vigour to the establishment of this Election to the general benefit of the Kingdom wherein if he perform'd a signal Service to the State he did no less for the Prince who would have met with no little impediments to his rising greatness had he at his return found the Count de Soissons settled as it were a Co-partner in the Government by being possess'd of some of the most important Employments of the Kingdom Thus was this business carried on France being from the highest step of her Glory precipitated into the greatest extream of her Misfortune and the King's Triumphs being in a moment overcast with the Funeral Black of his Obsequies but the re-establishment of the State overthrown by so great and so tragick a Revolution and the publick happiness in an instant secur'd without one drop of Blood was it not an afternoons work of the Duke of Espernon and can so great a success without injustice be attributed to any thing but to his prudent Conduct In the Narrative whereof I have not added one syllable more than the truth and doubtless there are many yet alive that can justifie all I have said I know very well that the Historians of that time have not mention'd all the particularities I have as material to my purpose insisted upon and that those who have been most exact have recorded but very few in their Relations which is in part the reason why I have more willingly enlarg'd my self in this discourse that I might impartially render what is so justly due to Truth and Virtue The sad accident of the King's Death was so suddenly spread all over Europe that it seem'd as if his person rais'd to the highest pitch of Honour to which man can arrive had fall'n in the sight of all the world The Prince of Condé who as has been said resided then at Milan receiv'd the first news of it from the Condé de Fuentes which was immediately after confirm'd by a Courrier dispatch'd purposely to him from the Queen Regent to invite him back into France The Count de Soissons who was but two little days journey from Paris was much sooner inform'd and at the same instant in all diligence repair'd thither to see what this accident might produce where he arriv'd the sixteenth of May two days only after the King's Death but late enough notwithstanding to find all things dispatch'd to his hand So that matters being already concluded the Queens Authority establish'd the Parliament People Souldiery and whole City settled in their Duty and nothing lest for him to do but to approve what was already done and which he could no ways hope to overthrow had he dislik'd it he was fain whether sincerely or otherwise to concur in the Election and thereupon went to present himself to the Queen where he assur'd her Majesty of his Faith and absolute Obedience The Count at his arrival at Court observing the Duke of Espernon to be seated in that degree of Favour and Reputation to which by his signal and recent Services to the Queen he might justly pretend he forthwith resolv'd to contract a strict connexion with him as accordingly by making him a tender of his Friendship and assistance against all whomsoever he endeavour'd to do neither did he do it but upon very good consideration for foreseeing that the Prince of Condé returning to Court as he soon after did would infallibly take upon him the preeminence and degree due to his Quality and Birth he would by that means labour so to establish himself before his arrival that it should not be in the Princes Power to shake him To which end he could pitch upon none so proper to support his Interest as the Duke of Espernon who was at that time the most considerable person in the Kingdom The Queen had appointed him Lodgings in the Louvre not conceiving her self secure as she was pleas'd to say but under his Vigilancy and Valour all dispatches were communicated to him his Orders and Advice were in all things follow'd and observ'd so that would he have stretch'd his Authority to the utmost or had he been ambitious of favour he might doubtless with great facility have made himself sole Master of Affairs but so far was he from desiring to appear necessary though effectually so to the excluding those who had right to the Council that on the contrary he entreated the Queen to call and admit into it all such as either by the priviledge of their Birth or by the repute of their capacities might reasonably pretend to that Honour coveting no greater advantage than to have a concurrence with worthy men for the publick Safety and seeing he could not without drawing great envy upon himself possess alone that preeminence in the Administration to which the King had design'd him he was content with the rest to share that part which could not equitably be denied to his approv'd Fidelity and Wisdom Though the Count de Soissons had the foremention'd reasons to seek the Duke of Espernon's friendship he had yet therein a further and a more important design and that was by the Duke's assistance to procure a Match betwixt Madamoiselle â—de Montpenâ—ier the Duke's Niece and his own Son Lewis of Bourbon since Count de Soissons neither was the Duke so ill read in this Princes intention that he did not very well perceive at what part he took his aim which made him though he receiv'd the offer of his friendship with the respect due to a Prince of the Blood nevertheless accept it with such a gravity and reservation as
certainly involve the Kingdom in a desperate confusion but the Duke of Espernon having consider'd that the Princes for the most part had neither mony nor credit at home nor no intelligence abroad few places to retire unto and fewer friends amongst the people whom the serenity of the present Government had rendred very well satisfied with their condition was of a quite contrary opinion He therefore advis'd the Queen Regent to cause them by the Regiments of French and Swisse Guards with such Horse as were ready at hand to be suddenly purâ—â—â—d assuring her that if the King would please to put himself into the head of this little Body he might with the greatest ease imaginable and without resistance suppress a faction that had inconsiderately engag'd in a Rebellion without other ground than the meer instigation of some mutinous spirits and no other support at all It was the same advice he had formerly given Henry the III. in the time of his favour and in the first commotions of the League which not having then been hearkened to had cost the King and the whole Kingdom so dear but the same Counsel had here the same success the wisdom of the Ministers of State could not give ear to an advice wherein they apprehended so great a danger so that for want of having observ'd what the presence of a King does in a Kingdom where the respect to the Sovereign Authority has ever been so inviolate as that it seems to be a quality inherent to that people they lost the most favourable opportunity to have secur'd the present peace and to have prevented the mischiefs that ensu'd could possibly have been wish'd An oversight that the Prince of Condé very well observing as I have heard him say himself he of that observation as we shall see hereafter made a great advantage for the King's Service in the Queen Mothers Affairs The advice of taking Arms being thus rejected the Duke of Espernon refus'd to have any hand in the insuing Treaty wherein he saw they were to purchase a Peace he neither thought honourable nor likely long to continue It was nevertheless soon concluded and the Princes having at this time found no disposition in the people to follow the humour of their priuate discontents nor being able of themselves to raise any considerable force made no great difficulty of selling a Peace they would undoubtedly have bought at any price had they once been made to feel the smart of War But for this they had great summes of mony that furnish'd them for another Rebellion with some other conditions as that there should be a Convocation of the Estates General for regulating such disorders as they said were introduc'd into the Kingdom And this was that call'd the Peace of Saint Menehou according to the Articles of which there follow'd after a Convocation of the Estates but not till the Declaration of the King's Majority had first been ratified in the Parliament of Paris that Act having been thought convenient to precede the Assembly to the end that whatever they should there conclude might be more authentick and admit of no dispute for the time to come During this Session of the Estates and in the sight as it were of all France which in the persons of their Deputies seem'd to be then present at Paris the Duke did an action which made a great bustle and noise in the beginning but that in the issue through the high consideration and esteem of his Authority and Vertue was pass'd over well enough I have already said when speaking of the erection of the Duke's command of Colonel General in Title of an Office of the Crown that the King annex'd thereto a Sovereign Justice or Court Martial over all the French Infantry In any difference betwixt Souldier and Souldier the Duke together with the Officers of that Body to which the Souldier did belong was absolute and sovereign Judge of the Offense but if the difference hapned to be betwixt a Souldier and a Citizen there he was to call some Officers of Justice together with the Officers of the Regiment to assist him Rules that being enter'd amongst the Statutes of the Crown are at this day part of the Law as they make up the most noble part of that brave command It hapned that at this time two Souldiers of the Regiment of Guards fighting a Duel in the Pré-au-Clercs a place within the Jurisdiction of the Abby of Saint Germans the one being slain the other was taken and delivered into the hands of the Prevost of Saint Germans who detain'd him in the Prison belonging to the Abby Whereupon the Duke conceiving this had been ignorantly done by the Officer who perhaps might not know how far in this case his Authority did extend sent the Prevost-Martial of the Regiment to the Bailiff to make him understand the right the Duke had to demand his Prisoner and withal civilly to entreat him to deliver him up that he might be brought to his Trial But this entreaty was answer'd with a surly and positive denial which being in the terms it was deliver'd carried back to the Duke made him infinitely impatient that the Laws establish'd in favour of his command should suffer so great a contempt neither could he on the other side submit to pursue all the due Forms by which he was by order of Law and Justice to retrive his man Thinking it therefore the most expedite way to make use of his own Authority in the case he commanded the Lieutenant of the Company of which the Prisoner was to take a Squadron along with him and by fair means or foul to bring him away which was accordingly executed and upon a second refusal the Prison of Saint Germans broke open and the Souldier carried away to be punish'd according to the rigour of the Law but by those nevertheless who were his proper and natural Judges Hereupon the Bailiff goes to the Parliament to complain of the contempt had been offer'd to the Court by a violence upon their inferiour Officers upon which complaint and an Indictment Viva voce preferr'd by the Bailiff himself the Parliament issued out a Warrant to apprehend the Lieutenant for executing his Colonels Order with a Citation of personal appearance against the Colonel himself A proceeding that as it could not certainly be approv'd by all surpriz'd and nettled the Duke to the last degree He complain'd of it to the King representing at the same time his reasons to justifie the Act and not being able to support the contempt he conceiv'd was cast upon his person by a body he had ever honour'd and sometimes oblig'd he would give the world an accompt it was no easie matter to serve a Process upon him That from the Parliament had been granted out the sixteenth of November and on the ninteenth the Duke went thither in person accompanied with five or six hundred Gentlemen besides whom there also crowded as many more young Souldiers of the
this return of the King to Paris the Duke of Guise was made General of the Army which had hitherto serv'd under the Mareschal de Bois-Dauphin and the Duke of Espernon had also the absolute Authority of their Majesties Conduct conferr'd upon him who for fear of distasting the Duke of Guise would never till then pretend to any command an undertaking wherein he so acquitted himself as might give him reasonable expectation of a grateful return But who can promise to himself any fruits of his services especially at Court where the best are usually rewarded with hatred or envy nor had the Duke 's a better acknowledgment when having perform'd all that could be expected from a Loyal Subject and a brave Gentleman and that their Majesties by his vigilancy and valour were once settled in safety there was nothing more thought of than how to revenge the Mareschal d' Encre even at the price of so good and so faithful a Servant The first evidence the Duke met withal of any manifest disgrace was upon the occasion of a vacancy that hapned in the Company of la Courbe one of the Captains in the Regiment of Guards a Gentleman that having serv'd long and with great Reputation in that Command and hapning to die in this Journey and his Son a young and hopeful Cavalier having before his Fathers death been admitted Ensign to that Company the Duke who had been a great lover of the Father whose brave and late Services seem'd likewise to plead in behalf of the Son had mov'd their Majesties in his Favour that that Command might be conferr'd upon him Since the death of the late King nor of long before had the Duke ever appear'd zealous in any request he had not without any great difficulty obtain'd neither had he less but more reason now than ever to expect the same favour his recent Services having been of that importance to the Kings Affairs all which nevertheless being either not regarded or forgot and the design had before been concluded to disoblige him prevailing above the merits of the Father the pretenders Right and the Duke's Interest who interceded for him la Besne Lieutenant to the same Company was preferr'd before young la Courbe how displeas'd soever the Duke seem'd to be at that Election Yet did he not resent this ill usage so high as to leave the Court satisfying himself at present with manifesting his discontents bymany and publick complaints though in vain the Court now no more caring to offend him but on the contrary taking this occasion to exclude him from the Council where his candid and unbyass'd opinions did nothing relish with such as would have all things give way to their own private interests and doubtless had he at this time in the least bandied with his enemies they would immediately have attempted upon his person that the Mareschal d' Encre and his Wife might by so powerful an opposes be no longer travers'd in their designs The Duke's Affairs were in this posture when their Majesties having first recover'd Poictiers and afterwards Chastellerant where the Peace concluded at Loudun was sign'd arriv'd in the end at Tours neither did the Duke there fail how ill soever he saw himself entertain'd continually to pay all due reverence to the Queen when coming one day into her Chamber with a great many other Lords and Gentlemen one of the beams that supported the floor suddenly broke insomuch that all that side of the Room fell down with a sudden ruine overwhelming all those that stood upon it to their exceeding great peril Many persons of very eminent quality were engag'd in the danger of this fall amongst whom the Count de Soissons then very young was one as also the Duke Bassompierre Villeroy and some others The Duke being always very well attended his Servants suddenly leap'd into the midst of the ruines to relieve him where though himself was dangerously engag'd and very much hurt in several places especially in one shoulder he nevertheless call'd out to his Friends to run and save the Count himself also assisting as much as in him â—ay to disingage him from the rubbish and to put him out of danger by the Window of a low Parlour being much more solicitous of this Prince's safety than his own who being by his own and his Servants diligence secur'd he afterwards disingag'd himself from the ruines and wounded as has been said was convey'd to his own Lodgings The Queen Mother who by good fortune had escap'd the danger that part of the Chamber where she sate being supported by the more faithful strength of the other Beam that remain'd entire sent very graciously to visit all the persons of Quality who had receiv'd any hurt by this accident the Duke only who was design'd for the worst usage excepted It is not to be doubted but that the Duke must needs highly resent so manifest a preterition by which he evidently perceiv'd they intended to make him sensible of his disgrace so that fearing should he continue at Court after so clear a testimony of disfavour something of a ruder nature might be put upon him he forthwith resolv'd to retire himself as he did but with high and publick complaints of the injustice was done him and of the unworthy recompense he received for all his Service He spent two days before his departure in visiting and taking leave of his friends forbearing nevertheless that Ceremony to all he conceiv'd not to be such in what degree of favour soever they might be at Court he either having never understood or having never been willing to learn those mean Court Maxims that oblige men to dissemble their resentments and to give thanks for injuries receiv'd declaring on the contrary to all the world that he went away with the dissatisfaction an honest man ought to have for the loss of his time and service Notwithstanding at last taking his leave of their Majesties he was by the King and Queen very civilly dismist though the Queen Mother receiv'd his last complements with the usual coldness she had already begun to discover upon several occasions After this manner the Duke retir'd back to Angoulesme his old and ordinary refuge in all his disgraces whilst their Majesties continued their Journey to Paris where they arriv'd in Iune and whither the Prince of Condé also imagining he had by the Treaty of Loudon establish'd his Affairs in so sure a condition that it was not in the power of event to work any alteration to his disadvantage came presently after but he soon found that nothing is more unstable than a power how great soever that depends meerly upon its own strength the sole name of a King though a Child and the publick administration managed by a man hateful to all being sufficient to arrest him in the very arms of all his Confederates and even in the City of Paris where he believ'd his person through the affections of the people in greater
resolv'd to chastise their insolence which he nothing doubted but by the assistance of his own friends he should be able to do and to make them know they had hitherto been only strong in the weakness of our own Counsels This had in truth ever been his saying and the effects made it appear he had made a right judgment so that under this pretense he took Arms which as it was colour'd by a design that immediately pointed at his Majesties Service so did he not scruple to make use of the King's mony in the Levies he made upon this occasion With these summes though very small and some mony of his own he rais'd four Regiments of Foot consisting of above four thousand five hundred men and betwixt five and six hundred Horse to which were added sixscore Guards on Horseback in his own Livery a force which though not very considerable for their number were yet such as he conceiv'd sufficient to keep the Field against any he had a mind to offend The Rochellers who formerly had by many injuries highly incens'd the Duke no sooner saw him resolv'd and ready to advance in a posture of War even to the Gates of their City but they began now to examine their Forces which they had not so well consider'd before the danger and which the more they examin'd the weaker they found them to be This City the Capital of a powerful Faction and that had so often disputed the King's Authority enrich'd by an extraordinary Traffick and confederated with all the Protestant Princes of Europe finding it self in so weak a condition that it could not in this necessity muster 2000. men to sally out of their Walls utterly without Horse or the least assistance from any of their Confederates and Friends So that converting their usual Rhodomantades and Menaces into the most submiss terms of Humble Supplication addressing themselves by their Deputies to the King they humbly and with all importunity besought his Majesty to interpose his Royal Authority betwixt the Duke of Espernon and them that he might not commence a War against them Had the Rochellers made this confession of their weakness at another time it would doubtless have very well pleas'd the Council and 't is likely the Duke of Espernon would have been countenanc'd in his design to the end that City might have been made to know what they were one day to apprehend from their Prince's indignation but the Mareschal d' Encre unable to endure that his Capital Enemy should be in Arms and consequently in a posture fit to frustrate the design he had long projected of his ruine made the Council resolve to dispatch away Boissize one of the Council of State to the Duke with a positive command to lay down his Arms. Boissize at his arrival found the Duke with his Forces quarter'd at Surgeres but four Leagues only distant from Rochelle and ready to march up to the City neither did he fail with all the Rhetorick he had to disswade him from that resolution Representing to him the danger of what he was about lest the noise of the enterprize in hand should alarm the whole Hugonot Party whom the King would by no means should be provok'd and in which case of a particular Quarrel he would be the cause of a general War With which commands from the King and Queen he moreover mix'd menaces of their highest indignation should he disobey with many promises on the contrary of all satisfaction from the Court and the Rochellers if he would desist all which wanting force to divert him from his purpose the Duke gave order in the presence of Boissize to sound to Horse and nettled to the last degree at the difficulties he saw strew'd in the way of his designs march'd directly towards Rochelle Boissize seeing his endeavours altogether ineffectual and that the Duke was obstinate in his first determination after having highly protested against his proceeding went and put himself into the Town giving the Inhabitants thereby to understand that their Majesties had no hand in the Duke's Enterprize that it was absolutely contrary to their order and that therefore they were at full liberty to arm themselves for their own defense But this consent though it warranted their Arms gave them nevertheless no other power so that they were to suffer whatever the Duke was pleas'd to inflict upon them He quarter'd his men in their best Farms made his approaches up to the very Gates of their City and defeated some who under the protection of their Counterscape attempted to oppose him till in the end after having maintain'd his Army for almost a month at their charge and that his fury was a little abated by that little revenge he had taken in some inconveniencies he had put them to he grew more flexible to a new Order he receiv'd from Court and was at last content to let them alone It was by Vignoles that the Duke receiv'd this last Command a man for many years well known and highly esteem'd by him which rendred the Duke more flexible to a Treaty with him than the other from whose mouth having receiv'd his Majesties pleasure he made answer That having now made a discovery to the whole Kingdom of the Rochellers weakness the dis-union of their Faction and with how much ease they were to be reclaim'd when ever his Majesty should think fit he was content to let them rest in peace but that if the King had pleas'd he might at this time have punish'd their insolence as it was in his power easie to do he could without much trouble have done his Majesty a very important Service but he saw to his great affliction his Enemies who were prevalent with his Majesty envy'd him the honour of this Action but that he must however give place to their malice in obedience to his Royal pleasure though in a thing very prejudicial to his Majesties own peculiar Interest That therefore he would retire so soon as the Rochellers should surrender the Castle of Rochefort into his Majesties hands and that after that act of their Obedience having no other particular concern he had nothing more to desire of his Majesty for his own private satisfaction than that his Majesty would please to assert and avow what he had only undertaken for his Service in the past occasion Which being accordingly in another dispatch brought him by Vignoles and all those who had assisted and serv'd him in this occasion compriz'd he rose from before Rochelle dismissing his Army nevertheless in such sort that most of the Commanders most of them having relation to him might be ready upon the least warning to re-unite in the same equipage as before What the Duke had express'd to Vignoles of his discontents by word of mouth did not nevertheless save him the labour of writing to Court in such a style as manifested he still retain'd the honest liberty his great spirit had ever suggested to him during the Reigns of his two
former Masters He therefore sent a Letter to the King in the beginning whereof having excus'd himself in that he had not paid so prompt an Obedience to their Majesties first Orders deliver'd by Boissize and given reasons for it that directly pointed at the Honour of the King himself which as he said he conceiv'd to be very much concern'd in the business of Rochelle he continued in these words I have hitherto Sir preserv'd my Hands clean my Conscience uncorrupt my Reputation entire and my Fidelity without reproach I have never conspir'd but to do you Service neither do I find my self guilty of the least thought disconsonant to the Duty I owe to your Majesty and your Crown And although I am not us'd with that Equity nor rewarded with that Gratitude that without presumption I conceive I have deserv'd and that every day I find something attempted upon my Offices by the diminution and cutting off their just and lawful priviledges which were ever preserv'd inviolate to me during the Reign of the late King your Father yet nothing Sir can prevail with me above my Duty neither is there any so ill usage nor so sensible unkindness that can hinder me from persevering to do well being resolv'd to the last hour of my life to conquer whatever just resentments I may have and to forget all those injuries for which I can obtain no satisfaction but at the publick expense A resolution Sir in which I am infinitely fortified by the firm belief I have that all the disgraces I receive and all the foul play is continually practis'd against me proceed from no dis-affection your Majesty has conceiv'd against my person I know Sir that being naturally quick sighted to distinguish betwixt your false Servants and your true you have ever honour'd me with your favour But I have this obligation to those who are enemies to your Crown that they have upon all occasions discover'd themselves to be particularly so to me and have endeavour'd by their artifice to represent things otherwise to your Majesty than they really are to restrain the liberty of your own Royal disposition from obeying the natural inclination you have to love and cherish good men that as much as in them lies they may alienate your Majesties good opinion from such as by their long and faithful Services have deserv'd the best room in your heart I hope Sir nevertheless that truth will one day prevail in your Royal Breast over those little Arts and that your Majesty will then be pleas'd to distinguish your true and faithful Servants from such as Authorized by your Name and presence oppress your People invade your own Authority and continually disturb your Majesties Peace by their inordinate and unruly Ambition From Surgere the 25. of Feb. 1617. I have the rather inserted the express words of this Letter that you may see after what manner the Duke took his disgrace and how he behav'd himself towards his Enemies notwithstanding they carried the whole favour and sway of the Court the Marescbal d'Encre being manifestly pointed at in this dispatch We have since liv'd in a time when to speak our discontents so plain and loud would perhaps have been out of season but in that wherein the Duke writ this Letter men were at least permitted to complain and oftentimes those complaints procur'd a relief to such as like the Duke had the spirit and power to accompany those complaints with the effects of a vigorous resentment After this manner ended the Enterprize of Rochelle which gave some jeering companions of that party occasion to say for a piece of wit whatd ' Aubigne has recorded since That the Duke of Espernon was come to make hâ—â— Entry before Rochâ—llâ— though it has been thought this entry before gave the King from that time forward to understand it might also be made within and that the Enterprize was not above his power to effect We have since seen him bring about that glorious design and it is certain that this action brought that present benefit along with it that the Council ever after look'd with greater contempt upon the Hugonot Party and the strength of the Rochellers than before They now discover'd the weakness of these by the dis-union of all the rest and from thence judg'd aright that it being impossible for the separate Forces of this Faction without great difficuâ—y suddenly to unite for their common defense one party might be suppress'd in one Province before any of the rest could put themselves in a posture in another to relieve them This opinion that in the sequel prov'd true made the Council the bolder by their Arrest of the 23 of Iune 1617. to order the restitution of the Church Lands in Bearne an Affair that had for three years together been depending in the Council and so long fruitlesly solicited by the Deputies of the Clergy of France Not that the Council did not conceive it very just but they look'd upon it as a thing so highly important to the peace of the Kingdom that they durst never till now give them that satisfaction But the Duke's Enterprize cut off all difficulties by which the Rochellers having been constrain'd publickly to confess their own weakness it was conceiv'd the King's presence would have as much Authority in Bearne as the Duke 's had had in the Country of Aunis I have heard several persons of Quality and those men of imployment at that time as Mounsieur de Roussy and others say that the Service the Duke did the Kingdom in this very occasion was never duly consider'd he having thereby first discover'd the weakness of the Hugonot Party and perhaps chalk'd out the way to their extirpation The Duke of Espernon having openly declar'd himself an enemy to the Marâ—schal d' Encre and already made some preparation in order to 〈◊〉 defense of his Person and Fortune many persons who were afraid of persecution fled to him settling themselves at Aâ—gâ—ulesme under his protection Amongst whom Bulion at that time a Counsellor of State and since Sur-Intendant of the Finances was one where he long continued in the Duke's Family and who ever after retain'd a grateful memory of that obligation as he had good reason to do the Duke receiving him into his Arms in so critical a time as he was threatned with no less than death had he fall'n into the Mareschal's power Guron who was likewise another of the proscrib'd with many others came to seek the same refuge all whom the Duke made no difficulty to receive into his protection The Duke having as has been said settled the Friends he had in his Governments in such a readiness as upon any occasion to make head against his Enemy took a Journey into Guienne his native Country in that great Province to get together what numbers of Friends and Souldiers he could for the better defense of his Fortune in which Voyage he increas'd his Forces to such a degree that being all joyn'd together
above them Wherein though it was a business of danger enough to affront a Minister so powerful by the favour of his Prince and so violent in his own nature the Duke of Espernon nevertheless made no difficulty to undertake it not having it should seem consented to the first proposal with an intent to leave the execution of it to any other than himself Upon Easter day therefore as has been said the King and all the Court being in Ceremony at Saint Germain de l' Auxerrois and the Garde des Sceaux having according to his custom taken his place above all the Dukes and Peers the Duke of Espernon violently pull'd him from his seat and compell'd him to retire It may easily be suppos'd an action of this kind could not pass without some untoward language neither were those words thrown away upon a man insensible of offense the Garde des Sceaux going immediately out of the Church and expecting with great impatience the end of the Ceremony that he might complain to the Duke de Luines of the affront he had receiv'd Wherein nevertheless he did not reflect upon what had pass'd as an injury meerly respecting his own person But as a Party and a Faction form'd and made in the Court by the Duke of Espernon who had seduc'd all the Dukes and Peers under the colour of an imaginary pretense to interest them in his own private discontents That this ambitious spirit so long inur'd to Government and Command thought himself depriv'd of his lawful possession if remov'd from the absolute sway of the most important Affairs That it was through the sides of a Garde des Sceaux that the fortune of the Favourite was levell'd at and that it was only a tryal by attempting upon his creatures what opposition they were to expect when they should immediately fall upon his own person That it therefore highly imported him whilst he had power to do it betimes to secure an enemy that would not spare him if he once got him into his hands An advice that made so much the deeper impression upon the Duke de Luines by how much he was before well enough satisfied of the Duke of Espernon's hatred so highly manifested by what he had publickly declar'd against him He therefore went immediately with the Garde des Sceaux to the King where being come he insisted not much upon the scuffle betwixt the Duke and du Vair endeavouring on the contrary all he could to disguise that action from looking like a particular Quarrel but qualified it with the name of the most impudent and audacious practice that could possibly be introduc'd into a State that a Duke of Espernon in the face and presence and in defiance of his King should dare to make a combination with persons of the greatest quality in the Kingdom to affront the Royal Authority The King was so highly incens'd at a Remonstrance preferr'd to him by two persons in whom he had so entire a confidence that immediately and without reserving to himself so much as the liberty to consider the interest he himself particularly had in the Duke of Espernons ruine or to call to memory the long and faithful Services he had paid to the Crown he in this case absolutely resign'd over his own Authority to them insomuch that at that very time â— 't is said it was râ—solv'd upon to arrest him Nothing then remain'd but a fit opportunity to effect their design which it was alsoâ— requiâ—â—te should be such as might seem â—o warrant the success of the Enterprize it being very unsafe â—o offend a man of his spirit by halves who having power places friends and mony to improve all those to the beâ—â— and withal a very high discontent upon him mighâ— do more miâ—chief thaâ— any other person whatever of his condition in â—rance To which may be added that from the time of his dispute with Mouâ—â—sieur du Vair the Dukes and Peers at Court were scarcely ever absent from him especially the Duke of Montmoâ—â—ncy who was no 〈◊〉 dear to him not only out of respect to the alliance betwixt them but also by the particular love he bore him and the esteem he had for him than one of his own Children was inseparably with him They eat went to Court and made all their visits together the Duke's two Sons also continually attending upon him so that it was no easie matter to attempt four persons of their courage and who were not without many Friends and Servants of great Fidelity and Valour to serve them upon all occaâ—ions at once To all which the Regiment of Guards were so made up of the Duke's Creatures that he seem'd to be stronger in the King 's own Palace than at home to avoid all which difficulties it was concluded to surround him by night in his own House and to seize upon his Person If the Duke had many and those powerful Adversaries his vertue had on the other side acquir'd him so many Friends and some of those so careful of him upon this occasion that he had timely notice of the design in hand some say by the Princess of County others by the Chancellor de Syllâ—ry but by what means soevâ—r itâ— came to his knowledge upon the first râ—mouâ— of it which as it did here commonly foreâ—runs a more certain intelligence he had taken a resolution to withdraw himself to defeat the effects of what was threatned and contriv'd against him wherein though he was so far cautious as to prevent the intended mischief yet could he not forbear so unseasonable an ofâ—entation of the little fear he had in a place where so much was to be apprehended as doubtloss prompted his enemies sooner to push lâ—ome to the intended business He was for five or six days together continually seen riding through the streets of Paris with so extraordinary a Train under colour of taking leave of several of his friends and acquaintance that those who had before premeditated his ruine interpreting all for contumacy and done on purpose to brave them resolv'd in the end upon a positive night wherein with four Companies of Swisse to surprize him in his own house and to carry him away All which the Duke being likewise inform'd of from so good a hand as that the intelligence was no ways to be suspected he presently put himself upon his preparation to make his best use of that advice This caution therefore being sent him upon the sixth of May at night and the surprizal being design'd the night following he had so little time to lose that he immediately dispers'd Tickets to all his most assured Friends and Servants to be in a readiness by break of day to mount to Horse according to which appointment he found above 300 ready at the precise hour to attend him who after having convoy'd him to his House of Fontenay in Brie where they conceiv'd him lodg'd in a place of safety most of them retir'd to follow their own affairs
ordinary employments and not knowing what to think of so profound a sleep resolv'd to venture into the Queens Chamber Where being enter'd and not seeing the Queen they look'd for Katherine who likewise was no where to be found Every one therefore being amaz'd at so strange a Solitude they sought and call'd but all in vain neither could they imagine which way they could be gone the Ladders by which the Queen had gone down having been thrown into the River the better to conceal the manner of her escape At last having been some time in suspense they had some news of the Queens motion which begot a new astonishment amongst them though proceeding from several motives The most faithful and affectionate were glad she had recover'd her liberty whereas those who had been corrupted by the Favourite which were very many fearing on the one side they should stand suspected at Court to have been assisting to the Queen in her design and on the other lest her Majesty well inform'd of their infidelity should punish theâ— according to their desert knew not which way to turn nor what to do Whilst they were in this confusion her Majesty writ to the Marquise de Guercheville her Lady of Honour to let her and the rest of her women know of her arrival at Loches where she would stay two days to expect them and where both they and her other Servants who had a mind to come to her should be welcome excepting five and forty or fifty which as suspected to her she gave order should be turn'd away withal that such as could not come time enough to Loches might find her at Angoulesme whither she was design'd to go The Queen no sooner saw her self at full liberty but that she began to meditate of the means to defend her self from the Favourite's persecution which in all probability was likely to be violent enough as also to give the Duke the best colour she could to justifie what he had done To this purpose therefore she deliver'd him the original of the Letter the King had sent her under his own hand whereby she was permitted to go whither she would into any part of the Kingdom Which Letter she also accompanied with another from her self to the Duke a few days antidated and after the time of his arrival at Confolans wherein she entreated his assistance in the prosecution of her design By which means the Duke was clear'd of the imputation the Court laid to his charge that he had taken away the Queen by force and against her will which had been a crime as well towards the Mother as the Son The two Letters were these The King's Letter to the Queen under his own hand Madam Having understood you have an intention to visit some Religious places I am infinitely satisfied with the news and shall be much more if for the future you would resolve to stir and travel more abroad than hitherto you have done as I conceive it may conduce much to your health which is exceeding dear unto me If my Affairs would permit I would with all my heart accompany you in my own person as I shall do with my Letters to the places where you go to the end you may be receiv'd respected and honour'd equally to my self who am more than can be express'd Madam Your most humble and obedient Son Lovis From Paris this last of October 1618. The Queen Mothers Letter to the Duke of Espernon deliver'd to him with the former Cousin I stand oblig'd to represent to the King my Son the general Discontents of his people at the ill management of his Affairs and the troubles which by reason of his Nobilities being absent from him I apprehend will ensue to the prejudice of his Crown and Kingdom A duty which as all good men inform me it is particularly mine I resolve to perform though I were certain to lose thereby that little remains to me both of liberty and life Both which you may secure by permitting me to this effect to retire my self first to Loches and then to Angoulesme and by assisting me in my way with your company and advice wherein if neither the necessity nor the justice of my intentions can prevail upon you yet the reading this inclosed from the King my Son ought to do it by which you will see he permits me to to travel whither I think fit expressing a desire that his Subjects should in all places where I go pay me all honour and respect equal to his own person though I intend to make no other use of it than what shall be consistent with the good of his own Service Which being perform'd I do promise and protest â—nto you that when his own good nature shall be as free as my word is now he himself shall thank you for the assistance you have given me in an occasion so important to him and his own particular Affairs The rest I will commit to the fidelity of this bearer that is as to the time and manner of my removal wherein I conjure you not to fail without nevertheless enjoyning you either secrefie or care which your own wisdom will inform you to be very requisite Only I shall tell you that by this you will eternally oblige me to you and yours So praying God to inspire you with this good deliberation and to give you all the satisfaction I desire I rest Your very good Cousin Marie From Blois the 14. of February 1619. This Letter of Rucellay's style who now although a stranger undertook nevertheless to serve the Queen in the nature of a Secretary being dispatch'd it was necessary they should think also of writing to the King to give his Majesty notice of the Queens removal and of the design she had to retire her self to Angoulesme In which Letter she represented The ill usage she had for some time suffer'd at Blois doubtless without his Majesties intention but through the sole Tyranny of some about his person who exercis'd no less Authority over his Majesties own Royal disposition whose insolence and cruelty descending from her upon most of the great men of the Nation she had very great reason to fear that so many men of quality being discontented and those discontents concurring with the dissatisfaction of the people oppress'd by all sorts of violence would in the end be the ruine of his Kingdom That therefore she had put her self into liberty that she might at greater convenience represent to his Majesty matters of so high importance to him and his Affairs and had chosen to retire her self into the Duke of Espernon's Governments by so much the rather by how much his fidelity and good affection to the Crown had never suffer'd the least dispute That the late King her Lord and Husband out of the testimonies he had receiv'd of his Vertue and Integrity had but a few days before his death advis'd her to repose her confidence in him above all other
could not however leave the Queens Court as being ty'd there by the obligation of his Command A consideration that forcing him to continue there he would nevertheless let his absent friend see how much he interested himself in his disgrace by quarrelling with those he conceiv'd had most contributed to it Wherein his malice must of necessity be directed against the Bishop of Luçon and those of his party Neither did the excessive favours they all receiv'd from the Queen a little add to the jealousie and envy of her other Domesticks and Servants they having alone obtain'd all the Governments of Anjou granted to the Queen in this Accommodation neither indeed was any thing granted but to them or at their request who alone absolutely dispos'd of all Affairs Themines therefore having resolv'd to take upon himself the revenge of all the rest took occasion to require an explanation from Richelieu of some things of very little moment which in the heat of the Debate as it commonly falls out grew at last to an absolute quarrel betwixt them Wherein having several times been prevented from fighting sometimes by the friends of the one party and sometimes of the other one day the Marquis de Themines mounted upon a little pad Nag met Richelieu in the open street whereupon alighting from his Horse they talk'd together but not long before their Swords were out when the Marquis stooping to get under Richelieu's Sword which was longer than his receiv'd a thrust which running all along his back rip'd up the skin only whilst at the same time he ran Richelieu quite through the heart who fell stone dead upon the place without being able to utter one word I hapned amongst some others accidentally to be a spectator of this Duel by which unfortunace thrust how many future Offices and Commands were made vacant and what might not this unhappy man have pretended to and expected from the infinite power of a Brother so affectionate to him had he liv'd to see him in that height of greatness to which he afterwards arriv'd Some days before this accident the Peace had been concluded to both their Majesties mutual satisfaction wherein the Queen as has been said had granted to her the Government of Anjou with the Castles of Anger 's Chinon Pont de Cé with the other places of that Province being promis'd withal that she should see the King as she did and from his Majesties own mouth be assur'd that when ever she pleas'd she might go to Court As for the Duke of Espernon after having receiv'd a ratification from the Queen of those Services he had done for her he at last sued out his Pardon from the King the only Pardon he ever stood in need of in all his life as having never excepting here in the Queen Mothers quarrel had a hand in any commotion whatsoever Both he and the Marquis his Son were restor'd to all their Estates Offices and Honours in the same condition they were before the War one thing only excepted which he could by no means obtain and that was the Cittadel of Xaintes which that it might not be put into an enemies hand he was forc'd to consent it should be demolish'd During the time of this Treaty the Council had generally been held in the Duke's Lodgings where the Bishop of Luçon was ever very diligent he came continually to the Duke's Table waiting very often in the Parlour and in his Bed-Chamber his vacancies and leisure an asâ—iduity and respect that promis'd for the future an inviolate love and friendship the Duke also on his part was infinitely obliging to him espousing all his Interests and declaring himself upon all occasions highly partial and affectionate to him notwithstanding all which we shall in time see so strange an alteration in them both and so antartick to those good dispositions betwixt them as will sufficiently inform us how little dependence there is upon the humours of men when an inconsiderate passion a little interest or which is more light than either a meer jealousie has power in a moment to overthrow the greatest and most inviolate friendship Whilst this Treaty was in agitation there hapned yet another untoward accident though no great matter was made of it and that was this A little before the conclusion of the Treaty a Powder-maker of Limousin came and made an offer of his person to such as he very well knew were enemies both to the Queen and the Duke of Espernon undertaking to insinuate himself into the Castle of Angoulesme and to fire the Powder in the Magazine the quantity whereof was so great as must infallibly have blown up the whole Town with the Castle and have reduc'd them both to ashes Which fellow though taken in the manner and upon the point to execute his cursed determination had nevertheless no greater punishment for his crime than bare imprisonment and that of a few days only the Queen it should seem desiring no other satisfaction than that of having escap'd the danger nor permitting he should so much as be put to the Question that she might not be oblig'd to an animosity against those who had either suggested to him the thought or encourag'd him in the execution of so damnable a design So that the Treaty receiv'd no interruption by this practice Bethune by his dexterity and prudence bringing it in the end to a happy conclusion All things therefore being resolv'd upon the King desiring that those assurances had been given to the Queen his Mother by his Agent should be further confirm'd to her by some person of eminent condition and Authority sent to her on his behalf dispatch'd away the Cardinal de la Rochefoucault whom he knew to be a man of great conduct and exceedingly acceptable to her The Duke beginning from this time forward to live after the rate of a man reconcil'd to his Prince would do all the Honour he could to his Ministers and therefore treated the Cardinal and Bethune with a magnificence that tasted nothing of the incommodities of the late War The Duke de Luines also desirous to regain the Queens favour and to satisfie her that he intended for the future really to become her Servant sent to her Brantes his younger Brother and since Duke of Luxembourg to assure her thereof by whom he also sent very civil and obliging Letters to the Duke of Espernon to which the Marriage that was celebrated at this time betwixt the Prince of Piedmont since Duke of Savoy and Madam Christina of France having given this Prince together with Prince Thomas his Brother accasion also to come pay their respects to the Queen her Court seem'd in that little place little inferiour to the Kings at Paris The change of her fortune invited moreover every day new Servants over to her every one now appearing as zealous to obtain her favour as they had before been shie and cold in embracing her interest and engaging in her quarrel
ready to return upon the first orders he should receive That except what concern'd the interest of his Majesties Service he was Monsieur de la Force's Friend and Servant That he had not sought that employment against him and that he should be exceeding glad to hear his Majesty was satisfied with his submissions But that till then he should not delay a minute the execution of the Orders he had receiv'd no consideration either of his own his friends or any other person under the Sun being of force to divert him in the least from his Duty This first Embassy having therefore taken no effect it was soon seconded by another of which one Charles the principal Minister of Bearne was the Bearer This person in the quality of a Deputy from the Countrey was sent to represent to him the sterility of the Countrey the poverty of the Inhabitants and difficulty of the ways and the resolution of the people to make a smart resistance should they who were at present in as good a disposition as could be desir'd be urg'd to the last extremes but the Duke having flatly told him that the end of his expedition was to cause the King to be obey'd and to chastise all those that should rebel against him He was sent back very much astonish'd at so brisk a reply The Marquis de la Force that perhaps expected no better a success from his deputations having been well enough acquainted with the Duke of Espernon to know he was not a man easie to be impos'd upon would therefore make what preparation he could to oppose him but he found so general a fear and astonishment among the people that he evidently saw it was to hazard his own ruine should he expect the Duke's coming into his Government The Bearnois had no sooner heard the Duke's name but that they gave themselves for lost their haughty and declar'd insolence with which they had a few days before overthrown the King's Order and trodden his Authority under foot and their high Vaunts that they would defend their Religion and their Countreys liberty to the last man were converted into a Panick terror so that on a sudden whole Cities were left desolate men of the best quality among them with their Wives and Families seeking their safety in their flight out of a just apprehension of all the punishments an offended Prince might reasonably inflict upon a mutinous and disobedient people In this general consternation of the Bearnois the Duke drew near to Ortez the first City in Rebellion he met upon his way the Castle whereof was of it self very strong and had of late been moreover fortified and furnish'd with all necessaries of War which also shut up the pass of the whole Countrey and was of so advantageous a situation as was very easie to be defended but those within what countenance soever they had before put on of a resolute defense no sooner heard the Duke had sent for Cannon from Navarrens to force them but they presently surrendred without staying till they could be brought up This success was of no little importance to the Duke who had he met with much opposition in this first enterprize having but ten Foot Companies wherewith to form a Siege no Officers to serve his Artillery little Ammunition no Victual Money or any other means to subsist four days in a place had been in great danger of being stop'd from making any further progress into the Countrey All which difficulties though he had beforehand very well consider'd and foreseen he would notwithstanding try the experiment knowing very well that in matters of War all was not always to be expected from an enemy he either could or should do And from this success he took his measures of what he might promise to himself in reducing the other Garrisons nothing doubting from that time forwards but he should bring all his other enterprizes to an honourable and successful issue As the business of Ortez had given the Duke very good hopes of his expedition so it totally overthrew those of the Marquis de la Force who no sooner had intelligence of the surrender of this place but that he made haste to be gone that he might not be hemm'd in with the Duke's Forces whilst the Duke on the other side to make his advantage of the astonishment the Marquis his flight must of necessity leave the whole Country in advanc'd with all diligence from Ortez to Olleron where some fortifications had lately been made which were also at his appearing deserted without the least shew of opposition An unfortunate fellow a Souldier and a Provençal had been the main director in this work where he suffred himself to be surpriz'd so that the Duke who was oblig'd to make some example was not sorry this wretch should expiate for all the rest as accordingly he did being condemn'd by a Council of War and hang'd at his own Barricado where the poor fellow at his death lamented the ill fortune he had to be born a Provençal declaring he was sacrific'd to the Duke's antiquated hatred to those of his Countrey and that his Bitth was his greatest Crime though it was nevertheless altogether untrue After this there being neither judgment to be pass'd nor execution to be done the Duke went to Nay to Salies to Sauveterre and lastly to Pau where the fear of his severity that had before frighted every one from his habitation being converted into an absolute confidence in his Clemency and Goodness every one return'd to his own home The Cities which at his coming had been almost totally deserted were on a sudden re inhabited insomuch that from that time forward all the Duke had to do was only to receive the tenders and protestations of their obedience and to set down some Rules for their Civil Regiment which was order'd with so much Justice and Wisdom or so fortunately at least the equality of all things was so entirely preserv'd and he took such care to reconcile the Interests of Religion wherein the incompatibility had been so great before and had with so much heat fomented their divisions that both parties were satisfied with the equal shares he divided betwixt them in the publick administration since which time there has been no revolt nor commotion in that Province it having ever since continued in peace and obedience under the Justice of the Duke's Discipline which is there inviolately observ'd to this day And all this was perform'd in less than three weeks time his Journey thither his stay there and his return thence being in all not two months expedition neither did it cost the King twelve thousand Livers I having seen the Accompt of the Army which did not in all arise to that little summe 'T is true withal that the Duke reckon'd nothing upon his own account contenting himself with causing some Officers to be paid that at his instance had serv'd upon this occasion So that by the influence
had nothing left to do but to open their Trench We were in those times very raw in Sieges and the way of opening a Trench was so new that very few knew which way to go about that kind of Service wherein the Duke highly manifested his courage and experience and to such a degree that all the rest who had hitherto had the ordering of the Siege seem'd only Spectators of his conduct all the other works either totally ceasing or being but negligently carried on and his only going forward as indeed it was on that part that the Town was taken Having therefore set a time for the opening the Trench which was St. Iohn's Eve the Duke went that morning very early to the Trenches and having the night before prepar'd all things ready for his design and amongst other things given order to the Oâ—ficers of the Artillery to play their Cannon by break of day to beat down the defenses of the City he was by the noise of this Battery call'd up from his Quarters The Enemy on the other side having intelligence of what was intended against them had prepar'd to make a resolute resistance so that though the Cannon which from two Batteries rais'd upon the very edge of the Graffe had in two hours time by near upon five hundred shot made great ruines in the Walls yet had they not prevail'd so far but there were still two Flanckers remaining which cut the Duke off a great many very worthy men as well of his own Domestick Servants as others his very particular Friends The Marquis de la Valette who shar'd with his Father in the glory of this action was at the opening this Trench wounded by a Musquet-shot which broke his ankle bone all in pieces Carbonnié Captain of the Guard to the late Duke de Biron a man of great Valour and a particular Servant of the Duke 's by a Musquet-shot in the head was there slain Brignemont the Gentleman of the Duke's Horse and Brother to the Count de Maillé receiv'd another in his thigh of which he died a few hours after as also many others were either slain out-right or dangerously wounded which hapned by an inconvenience for which there was no remedy which was that the Graffe of the City being exceeding deep the Trench could not be carried on so low but that they were necessitated to leap from a great height into it by which means most of those who had thrown themselves into that danger receiv'd this disadvantage before the Ditch could be fill'd up with Bavins but how great soever the danger was the Duke never stirr'd from the mouth of the Trench but stood open and expos'd and in his Doublet only till he had seen the Quarter made which by l' Encheres and le Roc two Aides de Camp was at last brought to perfection the last of which was slain in the attempt the other came more happily off though it was only soon after in a very handsome action to meet the same misfortune The day after the Duke having renewed his Batteries and by them made the two Flanckers useless which rendred that Post very unsafe the besieg'd fell into so great a fear that seeing our men already lodg'd at the foot of their Walls and that the Miners were about to sappe they sued to be admitted to Capitulation attributing by common consent the whole honour of the Siege to the Duke of Espernon as indeed by his conduct it was evidently two months advanc'd For the rest as the Duke had most contributed to the reducing this place or because it was a member of his Government or that his Authority was more absolute with the Souldier than any of the rest or out of deference to his Command as Colonel or out of the respect his age and merit had acquir'd him above all others upon some or all these considerations it was so order'd that he himself was the first man that enter'd into the Town And happy it was for that poor City he did so for some French and Swisse Foot having got over the ruines of the Breach whilst those within were intent about letting such as were appointed to enter into the Gates were already upon the spoil and principally busie about plundering the Ministers house which the Duke having notice of he ran himself immediately to the place where he caus'd all that had been taken away to be restor'd drave away the rest from the other houses and set all things in order a care in him whereof I was a witness and without which the King had had the dishonour to have seen his faith violated before his own eyes but the Duke by this action made it plain that if he knew how to conquer he knew as well how to provide for the safety of those he had overcome All the Commotions of those of the Religion having taken birth from the Rochellers obstinacy to continue the Assembly they had called together in their City in defiance of the King 's express Command and that they still continued to uphold to the prejudice of his Royal Authority his Majesties Council conceiv'd it more than a little concern'd his reputation to make this mutinous people feel the smart their contumacy and disobedience had so highly deserv'd The ill example of this City had so corrupted the other parts of the Kingdom and had begot so many disturbances to the publick peace as had necessitated his Majesty in his own person to run up and down to so many several places to suppress them that in the beginning he could never be at leisure to sit down before Rochelle the living source of all those mischiefs as he did some years after and that with a success posterity will hereafter look upon as a prodigy of Fortune and Conduct But for an undertaking of that difficulty and importance it was necessary his Majesty should make choice of some Subject of great Valour and approv'd Fidelity and such a one as could no way be suspected to have intelligence either with the Rochellers themselves or any others of their party qualities that appear'd so eminent in the person of the Duke of Espernon as that they seem'd to be in him united to no other end than to point him out for this Employment To which may be added that as being Governour of the Country of Aulnis where Rochelle stood as also of the bordering Provinces of Xaintonge and Angoumois he could for a need upon the single accompt of his own Interest and Authority draw so great Forces from those places to his assistance that his Majesty should not in the least be necessitated to slacken the vigour and progress of his other Victories for any accident that could happen on that side Upon these considerations his Majesty resolv'd to confer upon him the Command of the Army before Rochelle the dispatches whereof were Sign'd at Cognac the 4th of â—uly and at the end of the same month the Duke presented
without the least opposition an action that nevertheless he undertook with great reluctancy so great an affection and esteem he had for the Governour but his Duty ever carried it with him above all considerations The Chevalier de Valette was therefore establish'd in this Isle and very opportunely for had not the Duke taken this course and that the Rochellers who had a design to seize it had once got footing there great force and vast expense must have been employ'd to remove them but the Duke by this foresight sav'd the King that charge and labour Certainly never was War carried on at greater convenience for the Souldier than in this Countrey which by its situation and vicinity to the Provinces of Poictou Xaintonge and Angoumois lay so exceeding conveniently for the bringing in of all sorts of Provision and other necessaries that they were scarce to be had in greater abundance or at cheaper rates in the best Cities of the Kingdom than they were in the Camp continually to be sold as also the people came in with their commodities with as great confidence and security as to the publick and ordinary Markets and they might do so the least violence to any Higler Sutler or other Provisionary Person being a crime so capital as never escap'd unpunish'd By which we may judge how much the continuation of our civil dissentions has impair'd the flourishing condition the Kingdom was then in and how much the constitution of War by being grown older is alter'd from what it us'd to be in those better times Whilst the Duke thus bravely acquitted himself of his Command before Rochelle his Majesty had also with extraordinary vigour prosecuted his designs in Guienne where he had compell'd most of the places possess'd by those of the Religion in that Province to submit to his Authority and Power Of which he had reduc'd Bergerac Saint Foy Puimirol Tournon Monflanquin with several others besieg'd and taken Clerac and at last laid Siege to Montauban though herein he had not been so successful as in his other enterprizes so that the year ending with this variety of Events his Majesty was constrain'd to return to Paris to let the stormy quarter blow over that he might in a more favourable season recommence the interrupted progress of his Arms. In his Majesties return to Paris a little paltry place situated upon the banks of the River Garonne call'd Monhurt had the impudence to stand out against the Royal Army an insolence which though it receiv'd its due reward prov'd notwithstanding fatal to the Duke de Luines who by a burning Feaver there ended his days by whose decease both the place he possess'd in the King's favour as also the Office of Constable of France became void The Duke of Mayenne had likewise a few days before left a vacancy in the principal Government of the Kingdom which was that of Guienne by a Musquet-shot he receiv'd in his head before Montauban by the fall of which two great Ministers the King as we shall hereafter see had means to recompense the Services of the Duke of Espernon and the Mareschal de l' Esdiguieres two of the eldest and best deserving Servants of his Crown The Winter was no sooner a little abated of its fury but that those of the Religion more elevated with the raising of the Siege of Montaubon than they had been dejected with the loss of so many other places as the King had taken from them took the field to give his Majesty a new and greater provocation than before Of these Soubize was the first that fell in his Majesties way who having fortified himself in the Isle of Reé and some other Islands of Poictou thought the difficulty of their access would protect him from the Royal Power but he soon found that all places are firm Land to Kings when his Majesty overcoming all difficulties that oppos'd his way pass'd over the Marshes and his own Fortifications within them to fall upon him where he gave him so notable a defeat that he could not of a long time after recover that blow nor put himself again into any tolerable posture of War So soon as the Duke of Espernon had intelligence of the King's motion towards those Provinces where he had the honour to command he design'd a Journey to his Majesty to give him an accompt of those discoveries he had made whilst he lay before Rochelle that were of greatest importance to his design a desire he had no sooner acquainted his Majesty withal but that he gave him leave to come to him to Poictiers where he accordingly arriv'd in the beginning of the year 1622. He could not possibly desire a more favourable reception than his Majesty was here pleas'd to give him who openly declar'd himself infinitely satisfied with his Service neither indeed could it by any one have been perform'd with greater fidelity or to better effect so that the King being resolutely bent to punish the Rochellers disobedience had a great desire that the Duke should still pursue the Siege as he had begun But the Count de Soissons a young Prince of great courage and expectation having been prompted by his friends to ask some employment he was not handsomly to be denied any thing almost he could demand every thing he would pretend to seeming justly due to his Birth and merit Amongst all the Commands of the Kingdom that the Duke had before Rochelle was without all dispute the most honourable and the Duke had notice given him a few days after his return to his Camp of the importunate suit the Count de Soissons made to have the Command of the Army under his charge conferr'd upon him an intelligence that perhaps the informer presum'd would have been very unwelcome to him but if the Duke knew how to stand upon his punctilio and to hold his own amongst his equals he also better understood than any man of the Kingdom what deference was due to the Princes of the Blood He was therefore no sooner advertis'd of the Count's desire but that he was himself the first man to second it representing to his Majesty in his dispatches how much it stood him upon to favour the inclinations of this young Prince that he might the sooner be made capable of performing those Services his Majesty was one day to expect from his Valour and Conduct He also renew'd the same instances by word of mouth when his Majesty came a few days after out of Poictou into Xaintonge though when all was done he himself would never be prevail'd upon to serve any more in this Army under this new General Monsieur d' Herbaut Secretary of State his old and particular friend was commanded by the King to speak to him about it who represented to him That his Majesties intention herein was not in the least to diminish his Authority in the Army nor to cut him off in the least from the exercise of his Command That if they took
defeating all the rules of Art pass'd for miraculous One of the Souldiers of the Duke's Guards call'd Faure receiv'd a Cannon-shot in his Belly which pass'd quite through leaving an orifice bigger than a Hat Crown so that the Chirurgeons could not imagine though it were possible the Bowels should remain unoffended that nature could have supply'd so wide a breach which notwithstanding she did and to that perfection that the party found himself as well as before Another of the same condition call'd Rameé and of the same place they being both Natives of St. Iean de Angely receiv'd a Musquet-shot which entring at his mouth came out of the nape of his neck who was also perfectly cur'd which two extravagant wounds being reported to the King his Majesty took them both into his own particular dependence saying those were men that could not die though they afterwards both ended their dayes in his Service This place being reduc'd to the King's obedience there remain'd nothing more in Xaintonge worthy his Majesties Arms so that he was at liberty to advance with all his Forces into Guienne The Prince of Condé had been sent thither before with the Vant-guard of the Army where at his Majesties arrival he found Monravet taken by the Duke d' Elboeuf and Themeins after a long and obstinate resistance surrendred to the same Duke Saint Foy also Clerac le Mont de Marsan with several other considerable places were reduc'd to his obedience by the Marquis de la Force de Lusignan and de Castelnau de Chalosse who had taken them in so that his Majesty finding little to do in Guienne pass'd speedily thence into Languedoc Negrepolisse a little paltry â—own upon his way was so impudent as to stand a Siege but it was soon taken by assault and St. Antonin having after a Siege surrendred to mercy their temerity having put the King upon making some examples the neighbouring places thought it convenient to fly to his Majesties Clemency to evade the trial of his victorious Arms. Whilst the King was taken up with these little exploits the Duke of Espernon had taken opportunity to look into his own Domestick Affairs the better to fit himself to follow and serve his Majesty in his main expedition which he had so dispatch'd as to come before the King to Tholouze who arriving there a few days after the Army mov'd towards the higher Languedoc by the way of Caâ—cassonne Beziers Narbonne and other good Cities and the seven and twentieth of August the whole Court arriv'd at la Verune a little Town in Languedoc where the Duke receiv'd the honour of a Patent for Governour and his Majesties Lieutenant General in Guienne and for the particular Governments of Chasteau Trompette as also of the City and Cittadel of Bergerac with the City and Castle of Nerac in lieu of his Governments of Angoumois Xaintonge Aulins and Limousin From the time of their being together at Tholouze the Prince of Condé having converted the animosities he had conceiv'd against the Duke during the Regency of the Queen Mother into a particular esteem he was the first man that thought of this Command in the Duke's favour and though he had himself been Governour of that Province yet thinking it no prejudice to his Birth and Dignity to be succeeded by a man of his Merit he first propos'd him to the King His Majesty understood as well as any the importance of this Command and having a little before experimented in the person of the Duke of Mayenne what a Governour of Guienne could do when debauch'd from his Duty had been at great debate with himself upon whom to confer the honour of this great Employment At the first mention notwithstanding of the Duke of Espernon he very favourably gave his consent and the constant testimonies he had always receiv'd of the Duke's fidelity seeming to be security for him for the time to come he gave the Prince order to speak to him about it and to let him know he had thoughts of conferring upon him the honour of that command But all we who were of the Duke's Family can witness there was not the same facility in the Duke to receive this favour there had been in his Majesty to confer it Not that he wanted ambition â—or that his spirit did not prompt him with great confidence in himself to aspire to the highest employments but this ambition also was not blind and if on the one side he consider'd how great an honour it would be to succeed the late King Henry the great of happy memory who had maintain'd himself in this Government till he came to the Crown with other first Princes of the Blood and to have his Authority rais'd to that height in his own native Countrey he wisely weigh'd on the other side that amongst so many advantages he should meet with much trouble and many difficulties to balance the lustre of that Dignity with many occurrences that he foresaw would be very cross and untoward His present condition 't was true was not so shining but it was also more calm and his Authority was so establish'd in his own Governments that there was none who was not acquainted with his Justice and who from the Infancy of his Administration had not paid so inviolate a respect to his person that the reverence those Countreys had for him seem'd to be a natural quality in the people committed to his charge The Gentry and Populacy were equally obedient to him and he liv'd amongst them as free from trouble as envy whereas in Guienne where his Government would be shut up betwixt two Parliaments he conceiv'd that in the administration of his charge it would be almost impossible to avoid many disputes with the members of the one or the other Body Whilst he had only had to do with them in the quality of a friend he had found them exceedingly obliging and all the Gentry of the Province had ever paid him a very great respect but he very much doubted whether in such a degree of Authority he could preserve the friendship and affection of so many persons of quality as would be subjected to him These reasons made him long deliberate upon this Affair and he was often tempted to refuse it but he was so importun'd by his friends and particularly by the Duke of Guise who came to wait upon the King in Languedoc that he at last resolv'd to embrace his Majesties gracious offer though I heard him say then and he has often confirm'd it since that he would never have been perswaded to do it had he not been before divested of the Cittadel of Xaintes assuring us that could he have kept that in the condition he had once put it he would not have exchang'd those Governments he was already seiz'd of for any the best in France Having therefore long deliberated before he could resolve he at last went to receive from the King 's own hand his Patent for Governour of
difficulty having been started in the Parliament about the manner of his reception they had determin'd to moderate the excessive honours had formerly been paid to the Sons of France or the first Princes of the Blood who had been Governours of the Province in going to receive them in their Scarlet Robes a punctilio that though it was true it had been wav'd in deference to the Duke of Mayenne it had nevertheless been done meerly out of respect to the high favour wherein he was when advanc'd to the Government of Guienne but that at this time they were resolv'd to be more reserv'd I never in my life saw the Duke more surpriz'd than at this news who jealous of his Honour and Dignity to the highest degree would rather never have enter'd Bordeaux than to suffer the least diminution of what had been granted to the Duke of Mayenne He therefore return'd an answer to this Letter dated the 27. of Ianuary 1623. wherein after having briefly answer'd what concern'd the general Affairs he insisted with great vehemency upon the denial of those honours had been paid to his Predecessor telling him amongst other things That if they had never appear'd in their Scarlet Robes but in honour of the Sons of France or the Princes of the Blood he so well understood the respect due to them as they were in a capacity of succeeding to the Crown as not to desire a new example in his favour but that he had not the same consideration for others The whole Letter being writ with his own hand he commanded me to take a Copy of it from whence I have taken the very words I present you here The Duke not yet satisfied with delivering his sense of this Affair in writing would moreover dispatch away Constantin the Comptroller of his House to Bordeaux to communicate his resolution to several Members of that Parliament who were his particular friends wherein he succeeded according to his own desire and his reception was concluded in the same form his Predecessors had been receiv'd some of the Company totally disowning all the first President had writ concerning this business by which the Duke having just reason to believe him the Author of this scruple he conceiv'd he had a mind to oblige the Society at the price of his Friends Honour so that being offended to the last degree that he should so much as bring a thing into dispute thas was his apparent due he from thenceforward entertain'd very sinister impressions of his friendship neither was it long before he made him sensible of it Whilst these things were in agitation the Duke was still advancing towards Cadillac where he intended at leisure from the Parliaments proceedings to take his measures what he was to do about his entry into Bordeaux He was here visited by all the Nobility of the Province by several of the Parliament men in particular and by an infinite conflux of Gentry who came to attend him at his entry which was concluded to be upon the last of February 1623. Whilst he here waited in expectation of the appointed day he dispos'd of the Governments of those places committed to his charge whereof that of Chasteau-Trompette was given to Plessis Nerac to the Count de Maillé but Bergerac which was a command of the greatest profit and the most important place was put into the hands of the Chevalier de la Valette the Duke 's natural Son who by his bravery had infinitely gain'd upon his love and opinion The King had besides these places moreover assign'd him two Regiments in constant pay viz. That of the said Chevalier de la Valette and that of Castelbayart together with his Company of Gens-d ' Armes so that his Authority supported by these Forces was much more considerable than any of his Predecessors had ever been The Duke having thus settled the Governments of these places would now no longer defer his entry but came to Frans a house belonging to a private Gentleman about half a League only distant from the City and upon the Banks of the River Garonne where the Iurates of Bordeaux came to receive him in a Boat they had prepar'd for that purpose He was by them convey'd by water to a place call'd Port du Caillau where he was met without the Gate by all the Companies of the Town excepting the Parliament who in their Scarlet Robes receiv'd him at the entry of the City I shall not here undertake to describe every circumstance of this Ceremony nor the Magnificence respect or applause observable in the solemnity of this reception it being sufficient to say that therein nothing was omitted or diminished of what had formerly been paid to his illustrious Predecessors and that the old affection both the City and Province had for his Person and Name produc'd a greater and more general joy at his arrival than had amongst that great people been observ'd of many years before There was only the Mareschal de Themines the King's Lieutenant in the Province who neither paid him honour nor civility either by Letter or Visit a man who although he had ever till this time had the Duke's person and friendship in very high esteem yet having been constituted the King's Lieutenant in that Province sometime before the Duke was promoted to the Government he could not without infinite impatience see himself absolutely depriv'd of all the functions of his Command He knew very well the Duke would be so active on his part that very little would be left for him to do whereas he pretended this Lieutenancy had been conferr'd upon him with a promise that if a Governour should happen to be set over him it should be no other than a Prince of the Blood who should never continue upon the place and that consequently by his absence would leave him the absolute command of the Province and in truth the Mareschals de Matignon and d' Ornano had formerly enjoy'd it after that manner so that the seeing himself by this usage defeated of that expectation was as he himself declar'd the subject of his discontent The Duke was very much surpriz'd at this proceeding he had as there was just cause ever had the Mareschal in very high esteem and could have been glad he would by gentle means have been reconcil'd to his duty that he might not have been oblig'd to make use of those remedies the authority of his Command put into his hands which that he might not do he consented that some who were friends to them both should treat with him about a better understanding betwixt them he being unwilling what provocation soever he had to have recourse to violence wherein perhaps he was more temperate than ever in his life before but in the end seeing his patience serv'd only to make the Mareschal more obstinate in his unkindness laying aside all those considerations that had hitherto withheld him he would no longer defer to make him sensible of the
establish the order which for the future was to be observ'd in reference to this work the Duke was upon the matter oblig'd to make a Journey to Paris to examine the Accompts of his Agents there he therefore sent to the King to entreat his Majesty whilst the peace of the Kingdom and the good condition he had settled his Government in rendred his presence less necessary there to give him leave so to do His request was easily granted and he accordingly departed from Bordeaux in the latter end of November 1623. and came to Paris about the end of December following Some have suppos'd he did not so much desire this Journey for any thing that concern'd his Domestick Affairs as to see if any benefit was to be made of the Queen Mothers good inclinations towards him and to try the grateful return she made him to expect for the signal Services he had done her in the time of her disgrace She was of late years become all in all at Court and many of her Servants that had not so well merited from her as the Duke had done had receiv'd very great rewards but he could not perceive the same dispositions towards him nor discover the gratitude she had promis'd him when she was in the worst condition to express it on the contrary as if with her Fortune she had chang'd her Nature and as if by being become happy and powerful she had been no more the same Princess the Duke had so well serv'd when she was under persecution and had no power at all she no more remembred him she was oblig'd to have recompens'd by all sorts of benefit and favour The Duke came to Paris so well attended that of many years before there had not been seen any person of his condition enter the City with so numerous a Train Many persons of very eminent quality went out as far as Chastre to meet him and his coming was very remarkable by the solitude was observ'd in the Louvre where there scarce remain'd any save the King 's own Domestick Servants A thing his Majesty very well observ'd and was nothing displeas'd at it but on the contrary having that day taken notice of some Gentlemen in the Presence who had dependence upon the Duke he merrily said to them How comes it to pass you are not gone out to meet the Duke of Espernon he 'l talk with you for this when he comes So ready his Majesty was to cause that honour to be paid him that was justly his due He was receiv'd at his coming by the King and the Queens with very great kindness and falling to his business presently after his arrival Mauroy a Councellor of State and one of his Agents a man of great vertue and very good at business gave him up his Accompts exactly just and right but Valliech his old Secretary having employ'd some people under him who had either been not very careful or not very honest fell short above fifty thousand Livers which this good Master franckly forgave him his noble nature it should seem not being able to conâ—ent that even so great a fault as his negligence should ruine the Affairs of his own Family All his Accompts and the other Affairs that most requir'd his presence at Paris were in less than four months dispatch'd so that towards the latter end of April he began to think of his return into Guienne The Court was then at Compiegne whither the Duke went to receive the King's Commands supposing this should be the last leave he was to take and not expecting that his Age which was now very far advanc'd he being at this time near upon threescore and ten years old would permit him to make another Journey eight years after as he did in a marvellous health and vigour Whilst the Duke staid at Compiegne the King who would have been very glad to have the mis-understanding betwixt him and the Parliament compos'd caus'd d' Herbaut Secretary of State to treat with him about it wherein the Duke express'd himself very willing to an Accommodation and so far as to consent to the Act about the Couriers which was in his own presence by the Council determin'd in the Parliaments favour He was moreover satisfied with the Order the King sent to suspend the Election of the Maire of Libourne which was another main thing in dispute till his return into the Province But the first President was not so well dispos'd to peace he conceiv'd this Accommodation would infinitely lessen the Authority he had got amongst his Brethren during these controversies and therefore without any regard either to the King's Command or the Duke's Order precipitated the Election of the Maire whom the Duke found establish'd at his arrival from whence arose a new and higher quarrel than before So that if in truth the Duke was herein to be condemn'd for having in the beginning prosecuted things with too much heat the President cannot in my opinion be excus'd for thus urging them to the last extremes without ever yielding to such a reconciliation as might being timely apply'd have prevented the ensuing mischiefs The Duke having thus settled those of his Domestick Affairs that requir'd his presence at Paris and done his part to provide as well for the future quiet of his Government departed first from Compiegne and soon after from Paris to return into Guienne He would in this Journey take Espernon in his way that he might touch at Chartres in order to some Devotions Whither Cartier whom he had left at Court to solicit his Affairs in the place of Valliech dispatch'd an express Courier to him to let him know that Cardinal Richelieu was since his departure created prime Minister of State I was present when the Duke receiv'd this news at which he was the more surpriz'd forasmuch as he had discover'd nothing of that design in the time of his being at Court though he had been very frequent with the Queen Mother who had also constrain'd her self to dissemble a little forc'd shew of particularity and confidence in him by which he evidently saw he was not upon so good terms with her as they had a mind to make him believe he was he notwithstanding said no more at present but this That the Cardinal was indeed a man of great dexterity but that he would very much change the face of Affairs should he long continue at the Helme Upon the instant he according to his custom sent him a Complement upon his new promotion which doubtless was not very acceptable to the Cardinal there being scarce any space left at the top of the Letter and nothing more than Your very humble Servant subscrib'd at the bottom a style that he continued a great while and perhaps too long for the interest of his Affairs though it was indeed no other than what he ever us'd to all other Cardinals After having dispatch'd this Complement he continued his Journey towards Guienne
where he arriv'd in the beginning of Iuly and where the first thing he did after his arrival was to commit the pretended Maire of Libourne to prison he having been advanc'd to that Magistracy in contempt of the King's Order The first President had herein his hearts desire neither did he fail to make use of this occasion to interest the whole Body in the affront which he said was the greatest violence imaginable upon their Authority a high Complaint whereof was immediately sent away to the Council The King though very much dissatisfied with the first President would not nevertheless absolutely countenance the Duke in the Justice he had executed in his own behalf but writ to him to set the Prisoner at liberty though that Letter could not prevail the Duke pretending to believe that this Command had been procur'd either at the importunity of some of the interested party or negligently granted as many times a Letter under the Privy Seal was not hard to obtain But the Cardinal become now as has been said all powerful in Affairs having undertaken to establish his Majesties absolute Authority which was in effect the establishment of his ownâ— upon the contempt of this order caus'd a positive sentence to be pass'd in the Council bearing date the 12th of August wherein it was order'd That the Prisoner should immediately be enlarg'd By which magisterial proceeding it was then believ'd as it was very likely that the Cardinal would exercise this severity towards the Duke that his will might no more be disputed not doubting but that after an example like this all the other great men of the Kingdom would acquiesce in his Commands This Arrest was directed to the Chief Justice d' Autry to cause it to be put into speedy execution without so much as forbearing to hear any Reasons the Duke could represent to justifie the demur he had given to his Majesties first Order His Sons who were at Court and le Plessis whom he had sent thither not long before upon several accompts us'd their utmost endeavour that the sending away of this Arrest so highly prejudicial to the Duke's Honour might be some time deferr'd they were vehemently importunate with the Queen Mother and the Cardinal to that purpose but all to no effect the Queen in so light though nevertheless so sensible an Affair totally abandoning the Duke's Interest who had so passionately embrac'd hers in so important occasions and the Cardinal being obstinate in his resolution all the favour they could obtain in this business was from d' Autry himself who was perswaded not to produce the Order but it was upon condition the Duke should enlarge the Prisoner as he immediately did and that too the Court would have him understand to be a special Grace After this manner then they began to reward the Duke's and his Sons Services they gave them things of no moment for the highest obligations and most current pay they were continually us'd at this rate and it is not to be believ'd what prejudice these inconsiderable things were to the Duke 's more important Affairs nor what encouragement it gave little people frequently to offend him It had therefore been to have been wish'd either that he could have supported these affronts in his Administration with a better temper or totally have retir'd himself out of their way but his great spirit that had never encountred any difficulty it had not overcome was impatient to be resisted by men who as they were single incapable of contesting with him being embodied would neither relent nor obey The Cardinal stung no doubt with the Conscience of having in so trivial a thing disoblig'd a man who had formerly been serviceable to him in so many important occasions would make himself Mediator betwixt the Duke and the Parliament and consequently dispatch'd away Guron to Bordeaux for that end with Instructions that joyntly with d' Autry he should labour an Accommodation betwixt them By Guron the Cardinal writ to the Duke that his Journey was absolutely upon his accompt and in his favour offering withal his Service in this and in all other occasions but these Complements were accompanied with no marks of honour and respect the Cardinal doubtless nettled at the little Ceremony the Duke had observ'd with him in his congratulatory Letter at his promotion to the Ministry leaving by his example but a very little space above the first line and concluding his Letter with only Your affectionate Servant Before Guron's arrival the difference had been already compos'd by the mediation of d' Autry but the Duke touch'd to the quick at the ill usage he had receiv'd from Court was not to be appeas'd with so light a satisfaction and I have ever thought that the injury he apprehended upon this occasion was perhaps the first if not the only motive that totally alienated his heart from the Cardinal's Interests which as you may have observ'd he once had in as high consideration as his own The Peace that had been concluded before Montpellier in the year 1622. had hitherto continued the Affairs of the Kingdom in some repose and though those of the Reform'd Religion express'd great dispositions to a new Commotion there was as yet no manifest breach so that men rather liv'd in expectation of fresh Alarms than in any disorder of open War When Soubize by an attempt he made upon the King 's Shipping at Blavet began first to break the Ice All the rest of the Party broke into Arms at the same time and the Duke of Rohan who had long been known to be the head of that Faction infecting all parts of the Kingdom which were affectionate to his cause with his discontents stirr'd them into Insurrection without ever moving from Sevenues and without meeting the least contradiction A promptitude in his Partizans so much the more to be wondred at as he commanded a sort of people whose obedience was only voluntary and from which every one conceiv'd himself to be dispens'd by all both Divine and Humane Laws Montauban was one of the Cities not only of Guienne but also of the whole Kingdom that engag'd the deepest in this Revolt the Inhabitants whereof by having had a Siege rais'd from before their Walls and by having baffled a Royal Army even when animated by the presence of the King himself being elevated to such a degree of Vanity as to think themselves invincible and their City a place not to be taken A presumption that it was nevertheless very necessary should be corrected and the people by some exemplary Punishment made sensible of their Crimes It should seem that the Duke of Espernon was by his Destiny call'd into Guienne only for this end he had formerly subdu'd the pride of Rochelle neither did the King doubt but that he would be as successful at Montauban and that his Vertue which had ever been fatal to the Capital Cities of those of the Religion assisted by his powerful Arms
well us'd by the Governour many Decrees by reason of the dissention betwixt the two parties remain'd unexecuted for not being justified by Power which gives life to Justice Such as were the most moderate and best dispos'd of the Company could not without great grief behold these confusions but those were not the prevailing part so that things being every day more and more exasperated it was infinitely to be fear'd they would in the end shoot up to the last extreme though they were already grown to a sufficient height The King inform'd of this strange confusion dispatch'd away Leon Brulart one of the Council of State and a man who having manifested his prudence in many great employments had acquir'd himself a great reputation both within and without the Kingdom to oppose his Royal Authority to the Torrent of these disorders This man arriv'd at Bordeaux in the month of Iune and labour'd with great sincerity and diligence betwixt the parties till September following but all in vain his dexterity that had unravell'd many great intricacies and overcome the greatest difficulties in his former employments could not be so successful here the Animosities were too great and the parties too stiff to admit of any Reconciliation yet did he well enough discover that the greatest aversions to it were not in the Duke as he satisfied the Court at his return to which both parties at last were forc'd to appeal and to submit unto a severe and definitive Determination after they had rejected all rational and moderate ways This Quarrel was on both sides carried on with extraordinary heat the first President himself was deputed by the Parliament to maintain their cause before the Council to whom President du Bernett a man of great esteem and approved wisdom and then thought very worthy one day to possess the first place in that Company as he afterwards did was also joyn'd The Duke also on his part dispatch'd away first le Plessis and after him Magnac his Kinsman a Gentleman of great Courage of an excellent Wit and very great Learning All these Deputies were several times heard in open Council where after having long and with great reverence pour'd out themselves in eloquent Orations a Regulation ensu'd at which both parties were equally displeas'd And then it was that all the world plainly saw and chiefly those who were immediately concern'd that they were not sorry at Court at the continuation of these dissentions and that the design being already laid to diminish all the Authorities of the Kingdom to unite them in one single person they were glad to see them insensibly put their own hands to their own destruction These little disorders were not yet fully compos'd when another of much greater importance began to disclose it self at Court which occasion'd the death of Chalais and the imprisonment of the Duke and the Grand Prior of Vandosme They would also have involv'd the Duke de la Valette who at this time retir'd to Metz in this Affair and to that end tempted him by la Louviere the Confident of Chalais to receive the Duke of Orleans into that City but they had to do with a man so well fortified in his Duty to his Prince that all la Louviere could obtain of the Duke was only a civil repulse in these terms That the place was none of his That he was only a substitute to the Duke his Father That he was therefore to apply himself to him and that for his part he should do whatever his Father would please to command him He could not have serv'd the King more faithfully than by retaining this respect to the Duke his Father whose principles he knew to be perfectly Loyal and himself inseparably ty'd to his Majesties Service yet was not the Court satisfied with this proceeding but the Duke who had also been tamper'd withal from the same part through the Negotiation of the Abbot d' Aubazine by the candour of his deportment so clearly justified their common intentions that both the one and the other had all the satisfaction they could themselves desire Yet was this satisfaction in words only and the Duke was notwithstanding very ill us'd in several occasions of which ill usage he could not forbear highly to complain neither in his complaints were the Queen Mother as powerful as she was nor the Cardinal himself excepted The hard measure he receiv'd under their Administration being so much the more sensible to him by how much he had infinite reasons as may be gather'd out of the former passages to expect they should have been altogether partial to his Interests but though his great and advantageous services had been so lately perform'd the memory of them was notwithstanding totally worn out and the Cardinal was already exasperated though by occasions of so little moment as scarce ought to have been taken notice of Neither doubtless would they have been had he been in another condition but as great Authorities are usually very tender in the great height of State and Power he then stood they carried in his opinion the quality of most high injuries which thenceforward dispos'd his heart to those strange Animosities which we shall see in time break out After the death of Chalais and the removal of such of the Monsieur 's Creatures as were suspected by their evil Counsels to debauch his good Nature and to alienate the affection he had to the King and the prosperity of the Kingdom it was no hard matter to dispose him to a Marriage with Madamoiselle Marie de Bourbon Dutchess of Montpensier This match had been thought worthy of him by Henry the Great his Father and the Duke of Espernon who had the honour to be great Uncle to this Princess prepossess'd with the hopes of so great a Fortune for his Niece and so great an honour both to himself and his whole Family had made no difficulty to expose himself to the hatred of the late Count de Soissons in refusing him as you may have observ'd before this Lady in Marriage for Lewis his Son And truly what rubs soever had hapned in the way of this Match the Duke notwithstanding never lost the hope nor the ambition to see it one day brought to effect It is not therefore to be doubted but that the accomplishment of a thing by him so ardently coveted must be highly pleasing to him The first news he heard of the consummation of these Nuptials was by a Gentleman dispatch'd away purposely to him by Madame the day after her Marriage wherein the high Dignity to which she was arriv'd nothing hindred her from paying the Duke the respect that decency and proximity exacted from her she writ to him therefore with her own hand and the express words of the Letter were these Uncle I doubt not but you will receive as much joy and satisfaction as any person at the happy accomplishment of my Marriage the news whereof I would no longer
those of the King embodied and acting by one sole authority could in a moment produce the effects of all their power it was no hard matter for the Cardinal to frustrate the attempts of all these Forein Princes and to repel even upon them themselves who were most active to destroy him the designs they had projected for his ruine If the Cardinal's wisdom was of great use to him as questionless it was upon this occasion it must likewise be confess'd that Fortune did no little contribute to his safety who from the extremities of the North rais'd him up a Prince one of the most eminent and great in all qualities both Military and Civil that latter ages have produc'd and that was the great Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden This Prince in truth inconsiderable enough had not his single Person and Valour in themselves been worth the greatest Armies undertook to invade Germany and to assault the Emperour in the heart of his own Dominions notwithstanding that this mighty Prince who had already subdu'd all the powers that were opposite to him possess'd that Empire compos'd of many Kingdoms in a greater degree of Sovereignty than any of his Predecessors who had sway'd that Scepter for many Ages before him had ever done These difficulties sufficient to have discourag'd and withheld the mightiest powers serv'd only for Spurs to the ambition of this generous and magnanimous Prince He entred then into Germany where at his coming he proclaim'd liberty to all the Princes and People a great allurement indeed but his large promises without some advantageous effects were not of force to draw many Partizans over to his side He sought therefore with great eagerness an occasion wherein to make tryal of his Arms which he knew was the only way to win himself Reputation and Friends and the Emperour who had no less Interest to stop the impetuosity of an Invader who came to brave him in the heart of his own Empire oppos'd to this Torrent and that under the command of the best and most fortunate Leaders he had his Army hitherto victorious over all the Forces they had met in the Field but the glory of all those Victories serv'd only to render that of the King of Sweden more illustrious which he obtain'd over these Conquerours at the Battel of Lipsick by which great and famous action having rendred his name till then almost unknown formidable throughout the whole Empire he ran from one extremity thereof to the other almost without any resistance at least without meeting any impediment that could stop his way The Cardinal as he had good reason rendred himself very facile and favourable to this Prince who seem'd to be come out of his Rocks and Desarts for no other end save only to defend his quarrel He assisted him therefore in the beginning with some few men and a little money which though not very considerable the Swede nevertheless gave so important a diversion to the House of Austria that having their hands more than full of their own Affairs they were far from being in any capacity of traversing their Neighbours designs If the Emperour had enough to do at home the King of Spain had no less need of all his Forces at the Siege of Mastrick and the Duke of Lorain depriv'd of the support of these two great Princes under whose shadow and protection he had taken Arms being of himself unable to withstand the King's Power was necessitated as he had done some time before to fly to his Majesties mercy By the Treaty of Vic concluded in the beginning of the year he had dâ—liver'd Marsal to the King by way of caution for the performance of his word and for this second of Liverdune he moreover assign'd to him Stenay Iamets and Clairmont upon which good security his Majesty having granted him peace he was constrain'd to observe it though it was only not long after to break it from whence ensu'd the loss of his whole Dukedom The Monsieur seeing himself thus defeated of all hopes of any Forein assistance his Servants assay'd to procure that for him at home they saw was not elsewhere to be expected to which end Letters from the Queen Mother and himself were presented to the Parliament of Paris to try if by that application they could interest that Assembly in their grievances and inveagle the Parisians into a good opinion of their cause but all in vain they practis'd moreover several discontented persons whose assistance consisting only of a very few men was also of no great effect the remains of the Hugonot party were likewise tamper'd withal but besides that they were reduc'd to such a low condition that they had greater need of some Potent Prince to protect them than that they were in any capacity to repair the fortune of a great Prince declin'd there was so good order taken to hold them in in all parts of the Kingdom that not a man amongst them durst once offer to stir The Cardinal having from the beginning of the year foreseen that the discontents of the Queen Mother and the Monsieur exasperated and fomented by strangers would infallibly bring a War upon the Kingdom had omitted no manner of precaution that might serve to frustrate their designs he had caus'd the Kings standing Regiments both of Horse and Foot to be reinforc'd had put sufficient Garrisons into all the important Cities had by very severe prohibitions forestall'd all such as were likely to engage with the Enemy and those of the Religion though already upon the matter subduâ—d being yet in some sorâ— even in their impotency to be suspected he had taken a particular care to make sure of them upon this occasion What difficulties soever the punctual execution of these Orders had strew'd in the way of the Monsieur 's designs and notwithstanding that he saw himself abandoned by his Forein friends sufficiently taken up with their own particular Affairs he thought nevertheless that the sole interest of the Duke of Montmorency who was absolutely at his Devotion would of it self enable him to execute his revenge for the injuries he had receiv'd Upon which assurance he entred the Kingdom in Iune accompanied only with two thousand Horse pick'd up of several Nations and two thousand Foot or thereabouts taking his way through Burgundy without making any discovery into what part of France he intended to retire and then it was that the King's Orders and dispatches were redoubled and sent with great diligence into all parts of the Kingdom to which it was probable those Forces would direct their March They seem'd principally to threaten either Languedoc or Guienne the Governours of which two Provinces having no great reason to be very well satisfied with the Court the Cardinal did not well know what to think of them nor what to promise to himself from their Fidelity in so critical a time Of these the Duke of Montmorency the more reason the Court had to be jealous of his
Duke should be allow'd to be a Christian to God and his Church whilst he continued a Rebel to him Yet was it not nevertheless at this time to make any private advantage of this Demission he had alter'd that design and the possession of Metz seeming to be superfluous in the assurance he had of the King's Favour which he thought he had absolutely acquir'd by the necessity of his Service the sole end he could in all apparence propose to himself herein was to let the world see that no one was thenceforward to contend with him and by an example of this nature to establish his Authority over all the other great men of the Kingdom The place however only chang'd the hand without going out of the Family it being transferr'd to the Cardinal de la Valette as the Duke his Brother was made choice of by a Marriage wholly to piece up what the late Disorders had disunited And then it was that they began in good earnest to treat about a plenary Absolution of the satisfactions were to be made to the Church and other things that were of course to precede the Duke's Restauration to his Offices and Commands But before I proceed to the conclusion of this Affair it will not I conceive be impertinent to give an account of two passages which will render the Duke's constancy and generosity highly considerable even in the greatest cloud of his Disgrace the first whereof was this In the time that the Court Persecutions were most violent against the Duke many of his Enemies both of the Parliament of Bordeaux and other parts of the Province out of a vanity of Generosity would needs offer themselves to be reconcil'd to him believing that in such a time of affliction he would be more flexible to an Accommodation and that seeing how many Enemies he had to deal withal he would be glad to leslen their number at least they doubted not but he would receive into his Favour and good Opinion those who in so malignant a Juncture should out of the sole respect to his Person and Vertue offer their Service to him but he on the contrary apprehending that to appear facile to Reconciliations in a time of disgrace would be interpreted weakness and want of Spirit sent them word That he could not deny his Friendship to such as should desire it of him in a time when he should be in a capacity to oblige them but that he would never reconcile himself to receive any good Offices from any who had not been his Friends And he remain'd so constant to this resolution that he was never to be perswaded to alter it what prudent considerations soever could be laid before him to that effect The other thing was a Proposition made to him by a Letter from Paris writ by an unknown hand Seal'd with an unknown Seal and without Superscription In this Letter there was propounded to him an infallible way to cut off Cardinal Richelieu his worst and implacable Enemy and bent to his ruine which were the express terms of the Letter He who was the Author of this design deliver'd himself to be a Gentleman of Lorain and an Engineer who for this piece of Service would demand no more but six hundred Pistols only three hundred in hand and the rest when he had done his business The Duke had the very thought of so great a wickedness in the greatest horror and detestation and what cause soever of unkindness or offense he might have against the Cardinal he had his person notwithstanding in very great esteem which had it been less or that his Animosity had been greater it is most certain that he would never have chosen so base a way to his Revenge He therefore burnt the Letter without speaking a word of it to any save one of his Domesticks only though the Proposition was thrice repeated The Servant the Duke was pleas'd to entrust with this secret observing with what obstinacy the Villain persever'd in his damnable resolution did very rightly judg that it was not to the Duke alone he would discover his treacherous intent well foreseeing he would say as much to all the great men of the Kingdom that he thought to be discontented and that in the end he would be trap'd as it fell out That if then he should accuse the Duke to have hearkened three times to his Proposition without making any discovery of it his silence in such a case might pass in the Cardinal's Opinion for a tacit consent He was therefore of advice that the Duke should acquaint the Cardinal with it but it was impossible to perswade him to that resolution whilst he was in disgrace He always profess'd that he would never consent to the death of an Enemy by so infamous a way but that withal he would not give him that advantage to perswade himself that he had invented this Artifice he not being able to produce the Author by that pittiful way to seek his Favour The business then rested in this posture till after the Duke's return to Bordeaux that he was restor'd to his Government when the same person persisting in the same wicked design and importuning the Duke to accept his offer without securely sleeping which were his own words under the dissembled shew of a counterfeit Reconciliation he then yielded to the advice of the Duke de la Valette his Son who was now with him and at his perswasion resolv'd in the end to send his Letters to the Cardinal de la Valette to communicate them to Cardinal Richelieu And they could not have been sent in a better time for the same proposals that had been made to the Duke having also been tendred to the Dutchess of Lorain she had discover'd them to the Cardinal who being alarm'd with the conformity of these Intelligences set spies upon the actious of him that propos'd them He was therefore Arrested upon the marks he had given of himself in his Letters neither was there any thing how daring soever that might not be expected from the temerity of this man He was known to have been formerly a Servant to the Duke de la Valette and for one of the most resolute fellows of his time of which at his being taken he gave notable proof having kill'd two men of seven that came to apprehend him and dangerously wounded two more but in the end gor'd with Wounds he was taken and had life enough left to end his days upon a Gibbet Some of these things having hapned before the overtures of Agreement we are now to continue the thred of our Discourse where it was broke off before The Cardinal de la Valette therefore pursu'd the conclusion of this Treaty with great vigour and so as that he had concluded the Marriage of the Duke de la Valette his Brother with the eldest Daughter of the Marquis de Pont-Chasteau a match that was to be the main tye of this Accommodation This Lady who was Neece to
the safety and conservation of the said Province in my Obedience Wherein being assur'd you will acquit your self with your accustomed vigilancy and care and resting secure in the absolute confidence I have ever repos'd in your Fidelity and good Affection I shall say no more but only assure you of my Affection Praying God c. From Saint Germain en Laye this first of October 1634. With this there were other Dispatches sent directed both to the first President d' Agnesseau that he might acquaint the Assembly with his Majesties intention and also to the Jurats of the City which the Duke having sent away some days before his departure from Plassac he himself followed soon after and return'd into his Government more honour'd and esteem'd for having so handsomely disingag'd himself from this troublesome Affair than if it had never been Men as it usually happens soon forgot all the Disgraces he had undergone to consider how great his Credit must necessarily be who of all the Great Persons of the Kingdom whose Fortunes had been so rudely assaulted alone kept himself upright and entire in spight of all his Enemies or all they could contrive against him All those who had been unkind to him sued to be reconcil'd to his Favour and the Duke de la Valette who would by no means leave him till all things were absolutely settled to his own desire became their Mediator by that means re-establishing matters in so good a posture that for the future there was more repose to be expected for the Duke his Father than he had ever yet enjoy'd since he had first taken possession of the Government of Guienne The End of the Tenth Book THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon The Eleventh Book IT was not fortunate to the Duke alone but as much at least to the Province and the whole Kingdom that he was at this time restor'd to his Command the first whereof without his Valour and Wisdom had been in manifest danger and the other embroyl'd in no contemptible disorders but by his Prudence and generous Conduct he brought them both so brave and so reasonable a relief that what we are now about to deliver makes up no small part of the principal Actions of his Life He was no sooner arriv'd in Guienne but that several Complaints were presented to him of the Insolence some Officers who Farm'd the Crown Revenues of that Province exercis'd over the King's Subjects The people were no longer able to support their Exactions and their Poverty which is ordinarily accompanied with despair had so stirr'd them up that they were ready to rush into Arms and to shuffle all things into confusion The Duke could have been glad the Court would have order'd some moderation in these Impositions to have prevented those mischiefs which are usually the issue of general Discontent and the certain effects of popular fury and to that end had made so many several Remonstrances to the Council and urg'd them so home that what he did for a good that as much respected the King's Service as the Publick Interest was in the end so misinterpreted as to turn to his own disgrace Seeing therefore he could by his Prayers and Importunities prevail nothing with the Court he was necessitated to make use of the Authority he had in the Province to prevent a total Revolt to which the generality of men were too visibly inclin'd Wherein his conduct was guided by so admirable discretion that what by convincing such by Reason as were capable of it by feeding such by Hopes as would be satisfied with them and threatning Punishment to those who would be satisfied with neither he for a long time continued all things in a pretty quiet condition He practis'd these gentle and easie Remedies during the course of a very troublesome Disease he had fall'n into presently after his return from Plassac His abode and solitude in his House together with the hard measure he had receiv'd had not lighted upon a heart insensible of wrong nor had committed no ordinary violence upon his generous spirit and although by a wonderful Victory over his own Passions he had suppress'd his discontent from breaking out to the discovery of those about him it is notwithstanding to be believ'd that the more he smothered his fire the more it must of necessity burn him within and discompose his natural Constitution He suffer'd therefore by the heat of Urine so intolerable and so unintermitted pains as scarce gave him any truce of repose in which Distemper that which was most remarkable was the Remedies they made use of for his Recovery â—or of eighteen days together that his Infirmity continued he drank nothing but cold water and of that so prodigious a quantity that I do not think any stomach in the world but his could have digested so much crudity He was moreover very often put into cold Baths so that all the art and industry of his Physicians was wholly employ'd to qualifie the ebullient Blood of a young man of fourscore and four years old He was scarcely deliver'd of his pain when he was forc'd to attend the Affairs of his Government with greater diligence and care than at any time before The King from the beginning of the year having taken a resolution to fall out with Spain would not however engage in that War before he had well and particularly examin'd the condition and strength of his Kingdom to be therefore well inform'd of the State of Guienne the greatest and best of all his other Provinces he writ to the Duke in March to send him a true account of what number of men he could for time of need draw out of his Government and how many men of Command he might relye upon to bear Office in his Armies to which the Duke return'd Answer that although within eight months time above eighteen thousand men had been sent out of the Province as by the Muster Rolls annex'd to his Dispatch his Majesty might perceive there might yet be a very great number rais'd provided the Affections of the People were discreetly manag'd by some good usage that his Majesty would also find a great many Gentlemen of Quality and capable of Command of which he sent a List of above sixscore but that the greatest part of them were so necessitous that to his great grief he durst not promise to himself from their inability all that his Majesty might expect from their good will by which Abstract let any one judg of the Forces of the Kingdom and what a King of France may propose to himself having the Love and Affection of his Subjects The Duke who knew by a long experience what strange effects the good will of the people was able to produce never ceas'd importuning the King to husband it by granting some redress to their Oppressions which though he always did after the most humble and respective manner could be imagin'd it notwithstanding wrought
throats and to plunder the richest houses the ensuing night insomuch that even the very Incendiaaries themselves came mix'd with the honestest Burgers of the Town to meet and receive their Governour a great way without the Gates of the City with Acclamations that sounded nothing but Obedience and Submission With this general applause the Duke went to alight at the Hostâ—l de Ville which was in his way and which he found in a miserable plight the Gates bâ—â—nt down the Inscriptions defac'd the Windows broken the Prisons set open and all things as in the desolation of a City taken and sack'd by a Forein Enemy After having taken the best order he could for the securing the Hostel de Ville he retir'd himself to his own House and thus far all things look'd well but afterwards his design being to proceed about the late tumult rather by moderate and gentle than by severe and exemplary ways the first being at this time the safest and best if they could succeed the Mutineers began to gather heart from their impunity and to believe they were fear'd Nothing therefore being so sweet and tempting as Dominion and Power to those who are not acquainted with it these men would by no means so soon lay down that which they had so rebelliously taken up and which they thought with their great numbers they could so easily maintain They began then to assemble themselves anew giving out terrible threats of what strange things they would do by which the Duke judging they would from high words doubtless proceed to some mischievous effects he sent the Court an account of all the evil dispositions he had observ'd not only in the spirits of the Inhabitants of the City but also of the whole Province desiring withal the assistance of such Forces as might be sufficient to remedy the evil he saw was already as good as concluded But all his Remonstrances were neglected they thought he only made this his pretence to Arm and fortifie himself in his own Government and the design of the Court being to keep him weak and disarm'd they rather chose to expose the Province to the danger of popular Sedition than to enable him with Honour to maintain the King's Authority and Interest The Duke seeing himself thus naked and alone did very well judg he should not in this posture be able to suppress the Faction so that their insolence daily more and more increas'd till in the end either stirr'd up with the fear of being made examples prompted on with the avarice of booty or allur'd with the sole appetite of ill doing without danger of punishment which to abject minds is no small temptation they betook themselves openly to Arms and after many insolent Discourses and several Tickets scatter'd up and down the Streets to excite the people to Sedition they canton'd and fortified themselves in one part of the City whereof they possess'd themselves of the half and by making great Barricado's upon all the Avenues made themselves absolute Masters of it Within this Precinct there were five Gates several Churches with some Towers and Fortifications which were joyn'd to the City all which they had carefully provided for and were therein so well accommodated that it seem'd to them impossible they should be forc'd having many more men than were necessary to defend their Works This disorder hapned the 15 th of Iune it began about ten of the Clock in the morning and the Duke had notice of it presently after Dinner upon which Intelligence judging that a Sedition of this high nature and premeditated as this was was not to be tolerated without manifest danger both of the City and the whole Province and a very great diminution both of the King's Authority and his own he forthwith commanded those Gentlemen he had about him to mount to Horse and la Roche the Captain of his Guards to put himself in the head of his Companies on Foot with which inconsiderable number himself without further deliberation went out about one in the afternoon to execute one of the boldest actions he ever undertook in his whole life Neither would he herein so much as consider his own weakness or the temerity and number of those he was to encounter that the disproportion of their Forces might not divert him from his design He had not with him above two and twenty Horse and six and twenty of his Guards on Foot whereas no less than the one half of the City were already in Arms against him and little better to be expected from the rest For the greater part of the Inhabitants look'd upon these Mutineers as the Champions of their Liberty so that those of the betâ—er sort and some few honest Citizens excepted the rest were prepossess'd with so strange a blindness that there were very few who did not at least contribute their wishes to the prosperity of so Lewd a Cause In fine had not his promptitude and courage and that beyond all probality procur'd him the success of this Action there had been an end of the City of Bordeaux and the whole Province of Guienne and an invading Enemy could not have wrought a greater desolation than had been justly to be fear'd from the wild Fury of a people puff'd up with the success of the least Victory they could have obtain'd He therefore indeed hazarded a great deal to prevent so dire a mischief and to preserve the whole but there was also a necessity upon him that he should do so neither would the evil have been less if he had rendred his Authority contemptible by his Toleration of two extremes he therefore made choice of that wherein 't was true there was more danger but that gave him withal opportunity either suddenly to suppress the Commotion or to end his Life with Honour in the Service of his Prince and Countrey So soon as the Duke was on Horseback the first place he went to was the Lodgings of the Premier President to secure his person from danger which he did by prevailing with him to retire himself to his House and from thence advanc'd towards the Barricado's The Hostel de Ville was comprehended in the Circuit the Mutineers had possess'd themselves of but they were not Masters of the place he would therefore before he advanc'd any further make some stay there to encourage the Guards he had before there plac'd in Garrison in their Duty As he was upon his March thither at the entry into the Market place he found all the Chains up and several of the Inhabitants in Arms resolute to defend the pass Whereupon la Roche by the Duke's Order commanded them to make way and retire when perceiving them in suspence what to do whether to obey or stand upon their defence la Roche wisely taking advantage of their irresolution leapt upon the Barricado disarm'd those who were more advanc'd and forc'd the rest to retire without any other violence to any Though the little respect these first opposers
indeed fell out At this time every one despair'd of his Life and the report of his Death that was spread in all parts follow'd a few days after with the certain news of his Recovery having astonish'd all the world that now scarce pass'd any longer for raillery which had so pleasantly been said That he had out-liv'd the Age of dying In truth all Forein Parts having for the space of threescore and eight or threescore and ten years been continually full of the great Name of Espernon finding him still in their Gazetts one while taking Towns another in the head of Armies now Triumphing and again in Disgrace but ever in some great and illustrious Occasion Strangers conceiv'd of him that this must be the Grand-child of that Duke of Espernon who had been the Favourite of Henry the III. of France and could not perswade themselves that the lives of two men could furnish this History with so many important Actions The Duke whilst he was yet sick and even in the worst of his Sickness had an inckling of some designs the Spaniard had upon several Frontiers of this Kingdom and particularly upon those of his own Government of which to be better assur'd he was careful to send thither such persons as were capable of discovery and as he durst trust to bring him true intelligence of what pass'd amongst our Neighbours abroad By these Spies he understood that all the Frontiers of Arragon Biscay Guipuscoa and other finitimous Provinces of Spain had order to make Preparation of Arms and were to set out a certain number of Souldiers by an appointed day That to these Provincial Forces they would moreover adde several standing Regiments and of both together to make up a considerable Body Of all which the Duke was so precisely inform'd that he did not only know the number of men but even the names of all the Captains who were to Command them Neither did he fail to send the King an Account of the Intelligence he had receiv'd but our great Ministers were so taken up with other nearer and more immediate Affairs that they were not much concern'd at a danger two hundred Leagues from Paris They therefore contented themselves with writing to the duke that he should cause Bayonne the place that was principally threatned to be fortified at the Charge of the Inhabitants and as to the rest that he was by his Wisdom and Interest to provide for all things within the Precincts of his Command These Orders so general and of so vast a Latitude had formerly been the fullest Commissions the Romans were wont to give their Generals in the greatest necessities of Publick Danger but they were in our times the narrowest and the most limited that could possibly be granted who had the King's Interest committed to their Trust. There were already others establish'd by Law which no one without being Criminal was to exceed and those were That no one should make Leavies either of Men or Mony without Order by Letters Patents from the Council That no one should mount Artillery or take necessary Arms out of the Arsenals without special Order so to do So that all the Power of the Kingdom residing in the persons of the Prime Ministers no Governour could make use of his own without incurring the danger of Censure The Duke knowing that in the evil disposition the Court then was as towards him this was only a device to make him run into some error that might draw the King's Indignation upon him wisely fear'd to be involv'd in those Calamities under which for Causes light enough in themselves he had seen men of great Quality and Merit to perish was not easie to be trap'd that way He therefore again writ to the King for more precise Orders in occurrences that might happen and in those dangers he had humbly represented to him and in the end with much importunity obtain'd Order to send an Engineer to Bayonne to see it fortified as far as forty thousand Livers would extend the one half whereof was to be rais'd out of his Majesties Revenue and the other upon the Inhabitants of the place The Duke seeing he could obtain no more did as he was commanded and began some Fortifications which the want of money caus'd to be left imperfect and by that means the Town left in a weaker condition than if nothing had been done at all This Affair which at this time was the only one of moment in the Province being put into this forwardness the Duke conceiv'd he had now leisure to look a little after the recovery of his own health which that he might do at better convenience and greater vacancy from the perpetual distraction of the Affairs of the Province he humbly intreated the King to give him leave for a few days to retire himself to Plassac to the end he might at greater liberty make use of those remedies that were proper for his Disease The King without any difficulty and in very favourable terms granted his so just request whereupon he accordingly in the beginning of May came to his House of Plassac but it was to make a very short stay he being scarcely there arriv'd but that he receiv'd Order to return speedily into Guienne to look after the Affairs that very much requir'd his Presence there The great Preparations that were every where making by the Enemies of France to invade it obliging him to provide also for his defence as he did and that so well as in the end turn'd all their designs to their own confusion There never perhaps in this Kingdom had been more to do for the great men of it than at this time and as the Government of Guienne by its vast extent made up one of the most important and considerable Members of the State so did it consequently produce for its Governour so many and so various Affairs that it is to be wondred at a man of so extreme an Age could undergo so many and so continual labours The first thing the Duke did after his return into the Province which was in the latter end of May was to execute an Express Commission had been directed to him from the King for the enrolling the Edict de Crâ—e newly pass'd by his Majesty for the addition of one President and twelve Counsellors to the Parliament of Bordeaux This Affair could not pass without encountring several Difficulties all the other Parliaments of France were charg'd with the same Augmentations proportionably to the extent of their several Jurisdictions this being therefore a common interest amongst so many men of condition it begat also a great correspondency amonst them to oppose it The King having foreseen and expected all these obstacles from the Parliament of Bordeaux thought fit to invest the Duke with as much Authority as he could himself desire to overcome them wherein his Majesty and those of his Council doubted not but that he would with great alacrity put all his
noise a thing of little or no moment and that notwithstanding had like to have turn'd very much to his own prejudice After therefore the Duke had rejected the proposal of one of his own Souldiers who offer'd to stab Briet and to do it after such a manner that he could never be suspected for the Murther he commanded four of his Footâ— men to kill his Coach-Horses in the open Street This Command was executed one day that Briet was returning out of the City to his own House when his Coach-man being assaulted by these four Foot-men they first pull'd him out of his Coach-box and afterwards thrust their Swords into the Flancks of the Horses whereupon the poor Beasts enrag'd with the smart of their Wounds ran away full speed hurrying the Coach and their Master in it three or four hundred paces along the Streets till at last at one and the same instant upon the pavement they fell down and dy'd Briet who had at first been terribly frighted with the sight of the Swords was not much less afraid of his Horses precipitous Career which was also all the harm he receiv'd the Coach stop'd and overturn'd at the death of the Horses giving him time to come out half dead with Fear and to retire to his own House The Relation of this business was immediately carried to the Duke which shadow of Revenge was to him matter of entertainment and laughter for an hour after But the Parliament took it after a quite contrary manner who offended to the height at the Injury done to one of their Robe the next day assembled their several Chambers to enquire into the Fact There was none of them who were not very well satisfied with the Justice of the Duke's resentment and who would not have approv'd of his Revenge had it proceeded a great deal further but there was also hardly any one of them who did not interest himself in the offence offer'd after so publick a manner to the Dignity and Honour of the Assembly Without doubt the business would have gone very ill with the Duke had matters continued upon these terms and those of the Parliament after having declar'd themselves Parties remaining still Judges would neither have spar'd the Duke's Footmen nor any other could have been prov'd concern'd in the Action they had already prepossess'd the Cardinal by representing to him that neither the King's Autâ—ority nor that of his Eminency had been sufficient to protect an Officer in the Execution of his Duty in the most honourable Body of the Province but besides that the Cardinal ever very ill satisfied with the Duke who on his part also did not much study to please him was of himself sufficiently dispos'd to do him a mischief had not the occurrences of the time involv'd the Court in the greatest disorder wherein perhaps it had ever been The Enemy after having long threatned the Kingdom was in the end with a powerful Army entred into Picardy and at their first coming had carried la Capelle and le Catelet assaulted Corbie which they also took and alarm'd Paris it self to such a degree as is sufficiently known to all They were likewise enter'd into Burgundy and were preparing for the like attempt upon Languedoc and Guienne was not to be spar'd neither was it a little while after So that the great Minister wholly taken up with concerns of so high importance had no leisure to look after the Duke's Affairs neither did he think it convenient to nettle him in a time when his services were so necessary to the Kingdom and the Chancellor who still retain'd his old affection to the Duke's Interests seeing himself absolute Master of this business concealing it from the Parliaments knowledge referr'd it to the ordinary Justice where being animated with very little passion it soon fell of it self At this time of all others the Greatness of the Duke of Espernon seems especially to appear by the important Employments and Commands wherewith his whole Family were invested The Duke de Candale his eldest Son was Generalissimo to the Armies of the Republick of Venice an Ally to this Crown The Duke de la Valette his second Son was in the Army of Picardy wherein though he had not in truth the Principal Command the Count de Soissons being General there yet had he the honour to be chosen out by the King to infuse life and vigour into that Army the Souldiers whereof by some ill successes had befall'n them being exceedingly dejected which were the express terms wherewith his Majesty allur'd him to that Service The Cardinal de la Valette was also employ'd against Galas in Burgundy into which Province the Enemy being entred with a formidable Army had already made some Conquests before his arrival there Mirebeau had been taken Saint Iean de Laonne was besieg'd and the best Cities of the Country were highly threatned the fear there was exceeding great and the danger had been no less if the Cardinal de la Valette by opposing himself to their designs had not stop'd the progress of their Arms. He fought them with advantage in five or six several Engagements and without ever being able to tempt them to a Battel with all the provocation he could use forc'd them in the end to retire with the ruine and dissolution of their whole Army that unprofitably mouldred away to nothing As for the Father his business lay in Guienne a Province that as it made up a principal part of the Kingdom of how great utility must the Service necessarily be that preserv'd it from disorder in so critical a time A thing nevertheless fortunately effected by his Wisdom so moderating the discontents of the people as to keep them in so dangerous a Juncture of Affairs from lashing into those extremes whereinto by their former behaviour it might reasonably be apprehended should they find an opportunity of this nature they would precipitously run This was indeed one of the most important but not the only Service he did the King upon this occasion The Spanish Council having as has been said determin'd to invade the Kingdom in several places at once principally hasted to enter into Guienne to come to which Province they were to pass through the Country of Labourt which is that of Biscaye and by the way highly threatned the City of Bayonne They knew very well the Duke of Espernon had no Forces to send into that Country neither had he had them durst he indeed have done it without the consent of the Inhabitants lest being a cholerick and impatient people as they naturally are any thing he should do of that kind out of care to preserve them should put them upon desperate resolutions and make them wilfully lose themselves They had before they came so despis'd the Enemies Forces that they would not endure any one should think of contributing to their preservation a security that did nor a little afflict the Duke who had been of old
employ'd fewer days to take it than the Emperour Charles the Fifth had formerly squander'd away months to go without it who after a six months Leaguer had been constrain'd ingloriously to quit the Siege And all these things were done in the very face of the Cardinal Infanta who having been baffled in two signal Engagements durst no more make trial of our Generals Arms. The Duke of Espernon victorious in two extremities of the Kingdom by the Valour of his three Sons and hoping that the utility of these important Services for the Crown would at least secure the repose of his old Age thought of nothing more than by a gentle hand to compose the Affairs of his own Government and so to order all things by his Moderation and Justice that the people committed to his Charge might enjoy the sweets of Peace even in the greatest tumults of War To this end therefore he with great generosity and constancy rejected the offer that was made to him of the Command of a great Army wherewithal to invade the Enemies Country proposing to himself a greater glory in maintaining that little part of the Kingdom entrusted to his care in security and peace than in all the Pomp that was laid before his eyes to allure him How great a happiness had it been if he could have effected this good design and by that means have spun out the remainder of his exceeding old Age in the calms of Vacancy and repose neither was the fault his that he did not bring this vertuous intention to the desired end but some ambitious and interested Spirits having infatuated the Court with propositions of vain and imaginary Conquests prevail'd so far with the great Minister that it was determinately resolv'd the Scene of the War should be transferr'd into Spain and that by the Siege of Fontarabie it should be begun The Enterprize was of no small difficulty as it has since been prov'd which the Cardinal also was very perfect in as having long before caus'd the place to be consider'd by the Duke de la Valette himself who had then diverted him from that design upon this occasion however he would no more remember the reasons by which he had sometimes suffer'd himself to be over-rul'd but having premeditated to engage both the Father and the Son in an Enterprize wherein he resolved they should both perish he sent them positive word that they must either absolutely undertake this War and advance so much money as was necessary to begin it or that the King would send the Prince of Condé to command his Arms in Guienne The Duke of Espernon accustomed of old to the ill usage of the Court was nothing surpriz'd with these Threats but on the contrary what was laid before him in the nature of a Penalty being conformable to his own desire he gave the Court to understand that he should ever esteem it a great Honour to have this Prince a Judg of his Actions and that he should be very glad the King would please to give him a Command in his Government He wanted not Servants about him to disswade him from sending such a Message and to represent to him the danger of inviting a greater person than himself into a place where his Authority was absolute and where he had no rival to dispute it with him laying before him withal many more examples of such as had repented the having submitted their Power to a Superiour than of such as in so doing had found their expectation answer'd by the event But the Duke was so confident in the Affection the Prince of Condé had manifested to him in these latter times that he could not possibly entertain the least distrust and moreover seeing it was absolutely determin'd that the Province of Guienne should bear the burthen of the War with Spain he had much rather the Expences of the War should be stated by a great Prince who by his Quality was priviledg'd from all Forms than that he by imposing them should be constrain'd to submit to the severity of an Inquisition and be brought by his Enemies to an Account But that which most of all confirm'd him in this Resolution was the advantage that would thereby accrue to the Duke de la Valette his Son who having nothing to do in Military Affairs but to execute the Prince's Orders only would by that means be nothing accountable for any event of the War and as to any thing else he was very well assur'd that what Employment soever should be conferr'd upon him he would ever so behave himself as to deserve no other than the greatest honour and applause Upon these prudent Considerations it was that the Duke resolv'd to write to the Prince of Condé to entreat he would please to accept the Command that was offer'd him in Guienne assuring him as it was very true that nothing could be a greater satisfaction to him than to have the Honour to kiss his Hands in a place where he might have opportunity to give him some testimonies of the passionate affection he had for his Service Neither was he satisfied with sending him this Complement from himself alone he would moreover make the Duke de la Valette do the same so that the Prince who before would never consent to take upon him any Employment in the Duke's Governments made thenceforward no difficulty to accept it However things not succeeding according to the Duke's desire men took hence an occasion to censure his Discretion and to condemn his Conduct as it usually falls out because he prov'd unhappy in the end The End of the Eleventh Book THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon The TWelfth Book THE Prince of Condè had no sooner accepted the Employment but that a very ample Commission was forthwith drawn up for him by virtue whereof he was to Command not only in Guienne but also in Languedoc Navarre Bearne and Foix. His Letters Patents were dispatch'd at St. Germains en Laye the Tenth of March a Copy of which the Prince took care to send to the Duke of Espernon the one and twentieth by the Sieur Bonneau his Secreary together with a Letter that contained these words Monsieur It is with great reluctancy that by his Majesties Order I must go to Command his Forces in your Government knowing as I do that to have his Majesties Service there well perform'd there had been no need of any other person than your self and Monsieur de la Valette your Son notwithstanding such being his Royal Pleasure I must of necessity obey Of my Commission I have here sent you a Copy assuring you withal that in the exercise of it I shall take all occasions to manifest to you my entire affection and that I will be so long as I live Monsieur Your Affectionate Cousin and Humble Servant Henry of Bourbon To this Letter the Duke return'd a very civil Answer but before he receiv'd it had sent to desire leave to retire
the 20 th of Iune about two of the Clock in the afternoon arriv'd with it at Plassac The Duke was at that time a Bed where he us'd to take two or three hours repose every afternoon by reason whereof Varennes being necessitated to attend his waking he ask'd to speak with the Count de Maillé in the mean time which he did to anticipate the Duke by some excuses in that he was so unhappy as to be always sent upon unwelcome Commissions for it was he also who in the business of the Archbishop of Bordeaux had been the Bearer of the Order was sent the Duke to retire out of his Government to Plassac The Count de Maillé having by discoursing with him understood Varenne's Errand doubted not but that the Duke must needs infinitely surpriz'd at the Novelty of this Command wherefore having consulted with such of the Duke's Servants as were of most consideration about him they concluded it most convenient that he should by his Secretary be beforehand acquainted with it to the end he might be prepar'd to receive it with less emotion The business therefore being thus order'd amongst them was accordingly executed and the Duke was no sooner awake but that the Secretary coming to his Bed-side told him that a Gentleman from the King was newly arriv'd who had brought him an Order to depart from Plassac and go away to Loches The Duke who had of old fortified his mind against the worst of events and not finding in this that extremity of evils it lay in his Enemies power to inflict upon him without being at all mov'd at the suddenness of the thing calmly reply'd and is that all After which words a little composing himself he commanded his Secretary to call the Gentleman in Varennes was presently brought into his Chamber who advancing to the Bed-side presented him with the King's Letter which the Duke opening he found it to contain these words Cousin I am sorry that by your Sons ill carriage together with some Intelligence I have lately receiv'd out of Guienne I am constrain'd to tell you that I desire you will at present leave your abode at Plassac where you now are and come to Loches Varennes one of my Gentlemen by whom you will receive this Dispatch will inform you more particularly of my intention herein in whom you are to repose an entire confidence and belief In the mean time I pray God Cousin to have you in his Holy Protection From Abbeville this 13 th of Iune 1641 This Letter being read and Varennes offering a new at the same excuses he had already made to the Count de Maillé the Duke cut him short by telling him that whatever came from the King was infinitely welcome and that excuses were not necessary where a man did nothing but what it was his Duty to do after which he fell into a pretty long discourse wherein he manifested so much judgment and constancy upon so unpleasing an accident as made every one admire that heard him It was very near word for word in these terms That threescore years being now laps'd since he had first had the Honour to serve the Kings his Masters and to teach such as their Majesties had subjected under his Authority to obey it would be inexcusable in him should he in that time have profited so little himself as not to know how in his own person to practice the Precepts he had laid down to others That he was very ready to pay the King all the Obedience his Majesty could himself desire That had he a sufficient stock of strength and health to perform that Journey Post he would immediately mount to House by that promptness to shew how every Subject ought to obey his Prince not that he did not nevertheless understand himself to be very unkindly us'd and look'd upon this proceeding as excessively severe to him who had never fail'd in the least in his Majesties Service and to whom no one living could impute the least offence to his Duty That his Enemies made it their pretence to use him ill from the ill carriage of his Son as if a Father could be any ways responsible for the defaults of his Children or ought to suffer for their Offences Not that I do he presently caught himself in the least confess those wherewith they have charg'd my Son the Duke de la Valette he is an honest man and innocent and had the King been rightly inform'd of his Actions his Majesty might with better reason have commended his Services than as he is pleas'd to do to condemn his Conduct Upon which expression excusing himself for that little escape of his resentment he proceeded to say Is it not very hard that my Enemies will expose my old Age to the scorn and mockery of the one half of the Kingdom I am to pass through to the place of my Exile Why will they not at least give me leave to finish the small remainder of my days I have to live in the obscurity of this Solitude After which asking him if there was any time limited for his setting out or if he had receiv'd any Order to continue with him till his departure and Varennes having deny'd both the one and the other he continued to say That since they were pleas'd to proceed so favourably with him he would be no ill Husband of his time That he would give order to have his Equipage made ready with the soonest but that he had let them hang by to rust and rot for four years together that he had been in that House In the conclusion of all Varennes having entreated an Answer to his Letter the Duke gave him one in these terms SIR I have by the Sieur de Varennes receiv'd the Command your Majesty has been pleas'd to send me to quit my Residence in this place and to go to Loches upon some information your Majesty has receiv'd to the prejudice of the Duke de la Valette my Son If my said Son continue to follow my Counsels and Example as I am certain he will ever do he can never commit any thing that may either offend your Majesty or that shall be unworthy of his Birth For what concerns my self Sir who for threescore years pass'd have never ceas'd to render the Kings your Royal Predecessors and your Majesty all sorts of faithful and humble Service and Obedience I shall continue with all possible expedition to testifie my respect to this new Command It is true Sir that I am something surpriz'd at it and that having continued now four years together in this House I had set up my rest and concluded here to end my days by which mistake I am at present utterly destitute of Equipage both for my self my Daughter-in-law and my little Children but I shall with all possible diligence make my preparation and though my Health be exceedingly impair'd both by my great Age and my late Sickness which having detain'd me four months in
Nephew Morges in whose company to his own misfortune was Bezaudun who had formerly been Mareschal de Camp for the League in Provence The Duke seeing this Vant-guard come up with a countenance to fight made his also advance to meet them which he would himself in person lead up as he did and made so gallant and so fortunate a charge that after a short but brisk dispute himself bravely fighting at the head of his men they totally routed the party and drove Morges wounded into the very Ditch that parted the two main Bodies kill'd a great many men as he also lost some and carried away very many Prisoners without leaving so much as one of his own men in the Enemies hands Yet had Mounsieur l' Esdiguieres the patience all this while to see his men beaten and trodden under foot without once offering to come out of his Trench or though he made some light skirmishes about the skirts of the Ditch without expressing any inclination to a total engagement A coldness that the Duke very well observing and satisfied with his own success which he had infinitely hazarded should he have made any further attempt upon the Enemy in a place of so great advantage contented himself with only facing some hours in the Field to try if l' Esdiguieres had any mind to repair his loss but to no purpose he still keeping the â—ame station and being by no provocation to be â—empted out of the advantage of his Post. And this is the truth of what pass'd at this occasion as I received it from honourable and not to be suspected testimony who were present at the engagement and who impartially related the story though the sequel it self makes it plain enough for had Mounsieur l' Esdiguieres had the least imaginable advantage is it to be suppos'd that he would have suffer'd the Duke to have carried away so many and so considerable Pris'ners before his face as the Historians themselves confess to be taken in this Battel No doubtless neither was it such a triumph for him to remain Master of the Field the Duke never intending to stay upon the place of Battel the ill Quarters he had been enforc'd to take up withal upon his March in a very unfruitful Country not permitting him to stay long there without he intended to destroy his men to which consideration was also added that he was in danger of losing his Fort at Aix left but slenderly guarded by drawing so many men from thence upon this occasion and therefore it especially concern'd him not longer to expose a place of that importance which was indeed the main cause that made him to return but not retreat Amongst the Prisoners taken at this Battel was the Mareschal de Camp Bezaudun whom I nam'd but now a Gentleman for his Parts and Courage of high repute amongst those of his own Faction but he would yet make himself more remarkable by professing and that in publick an implacable hatred to the Duke's Person neither were words sufficient to express his Malice nor did he think it enough that he had by divers calumnies bespatter'd the Duke's Honour unless he made his injuries more publick by printing several Libels of which he declar'd himself to be the Author which indeed was one thing that had cherish'd in the Duke an animosity against him but there was yet another by which he was more justly provok'd and of which those who have condemn'd the Duke for causing him to be as they say unhandsomely slain have made no mention I think it therefore very fit to insert it here to vindicate the Duke from the aspersion has been unjustly cast upon him about this Gentleman's death Bezaudun formerly in some engagement had the fortune to take a Gentleman Prisoner whose name was D' Estampes a man for whom the Duke had an exceeding kindness and whom in the beginning of his restraint Bezaudun had us'd with great civility but suspecting soon after and perhaps upon too light grounds that his Prisoner had not observ'd a due regard to the honour of his house he forthwith resolv'd to take a severe revenge To which purpose causing himself to be carried in a Chair into the Market-place of Aix being unable to walk by reason of some Wounds he had receiv'd he there caus'd his Prisoner to be brought before him where having demanded of him in the presence of a great many people whom the novelty of the action had assembled together if he complain'd of his usage D' Estampes made answer that he was so far from complaining that he had highly commended it and should do so as long as he had life You should not then have given me cause to complain of you says Bezaudun and withal cry'd kill him which inhumane Sentence was scarce pronounc'd but that the poor Gentleman was by some Bezaudun had brought along for that purpose immediately run through and through and laid dead upon the place This barbarous act that possess'd with horror all such as beheld it being soon brought to the Duke's ear he then made a vow that if ever the Murtherer fell into his hands he should receive the same measure And such was Bezaudun's ill fortune to be presented to the Duke in a time when the murther of his Friend was yet fresh in his memory for the Prisoners taken in the Battel being immediately and upon the place brought before him and amongst the rest Bezaudun completely arm'd with his Bever down and the Duke asking as he had of the rest who he was the Prisoner himself made answer that he was Bezaudun at which the Duke turning aside his head as loathing the sight of a man so odious to him and against whom he had so often publish'd an implacable hatred could not forbear to express some dissatisfaction with those who had receiv'd him to Quarter whereupon one of them without more express order discharg'd a Pistol in his head by which he was laid upon the ground the second was discharg'd by a Brother-in-law of his own and both mortal Thus have you the truth of this business which had it been carried with less cruelty had doubtless been more to be commended though the many offences and injuries the Duke had receiv'd being duly consider'd it may in some sort pretend to an excuse especially the fact having been committed by no order from the Duke but by Servants of his who conceiv'd it would be an acceptable service to him Neither is it to be denied but that the War has produc'd many other actions of this nature wherein as great severity has been practis'd upon far less provocation The Duke after this Battel perceiving l' Esdiguierâ—s to be palpably favour'd by almost all who had formerly stood for the League in Provence many of them having listed themselves under this Hugonot Captain as also by those who were affectionate to the King seeing an Army likewise on foot against him twice as numerous as his own and not knowing
would also cause his Authority to be acknowledg'd and obey'd here as it had done in other places He sent order therefore to the Duke to take Arms and to wast the Countrey all about Montauban in order whereunto though the King in his own judgment thought it an Enterprize of great difficulty he notwithstanding allow'd him no more than 3000. men in three new rais'd Regiments to wit that of St. Croix d' Ornano Foncaude and Maillé wherewithal to effect it He receiv'd a Command withal to make some Leavies his own Company of Gens-d ' Armes and four more of Light Horse were also drawn into the Field for this Expedition With these Forces he departed from his House Cadillac to advance to Moissac a little Town about four Leagues distant from Montauban the appointed Rendezvous for the Volunteer-Troops and Gentry of the latter whereof the number was so great that there was an appearance of above six hundred Gentlemen It was said that there had hardly been seen so great a conflux of Gentry under any Governour as frequently attended this he having never any occasion to mount to Horse for his Majesties Service that there was not more complaints of unkindness taken that they had not been summon'd to their Duty than excuses made because they did not come It will perhaps seem strange that the Duke's humor enclin'd rather to austerity than sweetness should acquire him so many lovers and friends for certainly he was serv'd out of affection it being impossible that fear could ever have drawn after him so many free and voluntary persons Such as have before me reflected upon this observation have conceiv'd that this universal love was deriv'd from his Justice of all others the most popular vertue as in truth the Duke was a man of most unblemish'd equity or that it might proceed from the infinite number of Employments Offices and Benefits he had dispers'd throughout the whole Province of Guienne wherein there were very few Families of any note that stood not highly oblig'd either immediately to him or to his Interest for some signal favour To which they have moreover added the generous disposition he had to do all good offices for his Friends who although he was not apt to be familiar was nevertheless very civil constant in his friendships and always the same insomuch that one good word from his mouth or one gracious undissembled look prevail'd more upon those who receiv'd those petty favours than the larger promises and more winning behaviour of some others who in two days would no more know the very man to whom they had so lately before vow'd the Friendship of their whole lives The Duke came to Moissac in Iune and removed thence towards Montauban in the beginning of Iuly with a Commission equally extending as well into Languedoc as Guienne by reason that City which is situated upon the Confines of both those Provinces has a great part of its Territory lying in Languedoc He took up his Quarters at Montleigh and Castelsarrazin from whence as occasion serv'd advancing with his Forces still nearer the City he executed the King's Command whereever he went with so much vigour and severity that the footsteps of this expedition were to be seen a long time after Yet was not this perform'd without great resistance those of Montauban had had early intelligence of the preparations against them neither had they neglected any thing that might conduce to the defense of their fruits or to the support of the Reputation they had acquir'd in the preceding War Besides the great number of warlike Inhabitants they had within their City they were moreover reinforc'd with a strong Garrison without commanded by Montbrun a Gentleman of great Quality in Dauphiné and a man of very great Valour sent thither for that purpose by the Duke of Rohan to which they had also call'd in several of their Neighbours to their assistance so that the Duke never approach'd their Walls which notwithstanding he did almost every day but that there follow'd very smart Engagements with great loss of men on the Enemies side In some whereof there were left sometimes 200. sometimes more dead upon the place wherein certainly the numerous Gentry that attended the Duke in this expedition were of infinite great use for the place being environ'd almost on all sides with Plains of very large extent and the Enemy having many more and much better Foot than the Duke had not those brave Troops of Horse continually repell'd them it had been to be fear'd that Victory would not always have been so partial to the Royal side The Duke perhaps never expos'd his person more than in these frequent Engagements the precincts of the City were so great that they requir'd above a months time totally to destroy their fruits of all which time few days pass'd as has been said without an Encounter and in all those Encounters the Duke was ever in person at the head of his Troops encouraging his men not so much by his voice as by his example How great soever the faults of those of Montauban might be it was not nevertheless without great reluctancy that the Duke executed his Majesties Order upon the fruits of the Countrey with so great severity and certainly he must have had a very obdurate heart that would not have been touch'd with compassion at the sight of so many lamentable objects as were every where to be seen I remember that from Pickqueros a place famous for having been the King's Quarter during the Siege of Montauban and from whence the whole Plain betwixt the Rivers Tarn and Vaïran lay open to the view so soon as the obscurity of the night gave colour to the Fire that had been kindled by day one might see a thousand Fires at once the Corn Fruit-Trees Vines and Houses were the Aliments that nourish'd this Flame a sadder sight I never saw neither can I imagine that the horrors of War can be represented in a more dreadful form Yet was not this severity altogether unprofitable even to those upon whom it was inflicted I having heard several of them since confess that nothing so much dispos'd them to the acceptation of Peace as this austere usage and they were indeed the first that embrac'd it and who serv'd for a leading example to the other rebellious Cities of their Party to do the same While the Duke was thus taken up at Montauban Soubize thinking either to divert him from his Enterprize or to make use of his absence and the great number of Gentry who were gone along with him for the effecting some notable exploit in the lower Gascony was landed with three thousand five hundred Foot and some few Horse in the Countrey of Mâ—doc This little Countrey which is almost all the Duke's environs a great part of the Metropolis of Bordeaux extending it self to the very Gates of the City many of the richest Inhabitants whereof having possessions there and Soubize having a
came to wait upon him in so great numbers and so handsomely attended that he could hardly have been better accompanied in any other part of his Government They here pass'd away the time as people usually do in the Bathing season in all sorts of innocent Recreations to which the good Company there had invited the Ladies as well as the Gentlemen of the Countrey when the Duke after having bestow'd more of his time upon his friends than to the consultation of his own health which at so great an age continued in a marvellous vigour would return back towards the lower Gascony to see the miserable condition of that part of the Province still groaning under the same heavy judgments wherewith at his first coming from Court he had found it afflicted Whilst the Duke was preparing for his return he receiv'd news of the Grace his second Son had receiv'd from the King who had lately conferr'd upon him the honour of Duke and Peer he had long before receiv'd his Patent for that Dignity which has made me so often in the preceding discourse give him that Title but he had neither taken his Oath nor assum'd his place in Parliament till this time The Territory of Ville-Bois settled upon him by the Duke his Father at his Marriage was also honour'd with the Title of a Dutchy by that means leaving its former denomination to take that of its Lord and Owner That which rendred this new Dignity more remarkable was that Cardinal Richelieu at this time advanc'd to the greatest height a Subject can be capable of would at the same Session be installed in the same degree of honour so that they were both receiv'd together in Parliament and both their Letters Patents the same day verified and confirmed The Duke though at present ill enough dealt withal at Court and inwardly not over-well satisfied with former passages could not however but acknowledge this for a favour so that once in his life accommodating himself to the time he writ a Letter of Complement to the Cardinal to which he soon after return'd an answer obliging enough wherein after he had reply'd to the Duke's civility concerning his Sons promotion he proceeded to acquaint him that the Cardinal his youngest Son had been lately created Governour of Anjou A news at which the Duke was highly pleas'd but as joy seldom arrives without some mixture of bitterness this was soon follow'd by one of the most just and most sensible afflictions that could almost arrive which was the Death of le Plessis his beloved and faithful Servant This Gentleman equally wise and valiant dextrous and faithful and who had all these qualities eminent in him to a very conspicuous degree had been so happy that the Services which had been acceptable to the Father were no less pleasing to his Sons insomuch that not one of them but was passionate for his advancement and ambitious to contribute something to his Fortune a thing he himself so little considered that had he not met with Masters liberal in their own Natures his deserts had been the worst rewarded of any mans of his time but such was the acknowledgment they all paid to his merit that the Cardinal de la Valette was no sooner provided of the Government of Anjou but that he cast his eye upon le Plessis to bestow upon him one of the best and principal Commands of that Province which was that of the Castle of Anger 's He had already that of Chasteau Trompette of Bordeaux neither would the Duke consent to be totally depriv'd of his Service all that he could condescend unto to satisfie his Son being to share with him in this good Servant and to give way that he should serve at the Castle of Anger 's still keeping the command of Chasteau Trompette Le Plessis having therefore taken his leave of the Duke at Condom to go to take possession of his new Government staid by the way to keep his Christmas at Bordeaux with an intention after the Holy days were pass'd to continue his Journey to Anger 's but his Devotion making him commit a violence upon his health at this time something impair'd by an indisposition that began to grow upon him his Disease increas'd to such a degree at midnight Mass that the conclusion of his Prayers was almost the end of his Life He went out of the Church seiz'd with a Catarre by which his breathing being stop'd and all sense and memory taken away he was in a few hours totally suffocated He could not certainly by a more Christian nor a more easie death have finish'd a very excellent life but the Duke of Espernon could not of a long time after be comforted for his loss neither indeed could a greater almost have befallen him he having scarce any other Servant left that was allow'd the liberty to tell his Master what he conceiv'd was best for the good of his Service the Duke who would never slacken the severe hand he ever held over all his Servants not enduring that any of them should presume to advise him this only by the prerogative of his Age and approv'd Fidelity was dispens'd from that Law a dispensation that he notwithstanding ever made use of with so great modesty as to make it appear it was rather a Priviledge granted by the Master's bounty than any Empire usurp'd by the Servant over his Masters affections The life of the Duke of Espernon and his particular actions have so great a connexion with the publick interest that his story is no where to be long continued without putting the writer upon a necessity of interweaving something of the general concerns of the Kingdom which obliges me in this place to resume the gross of Affairs and with the year to enter into transactions of very great importance wherein the Duke had so eminent a share that his greatest enemies and such as were most emulous of his glory cannot but do him that right as to confess that he strook the greatest stroke in the success of the Royal Arms. The Queen Mother and the Monsieur being retir'd out of the Kingdom it was not likely but that two so great persons being open and profess'd enemies to the Cardinal whom they had publickly declar'd to be the Author of their discontents would do their utmost endeavours to make him feel the effects of their indignation but it appearing that the King was in a manner oblig'd in honour to protect his Minister and that he was not consequently to be assaulted without offending his Majesty himself they were to expect a great and vigorous opposition to whatever attempts they should make upon the Cardinal's Fortune These two discontented Princes therefore well foreseeing this difficulty willingly accepted the offers made them by the Emperour the King of Spain and the Duke of Lorain to take Arms in their favour but as it was impossible these separate Forces should unite and move at the same time whereas