commotions likely suddenly to arise to the destruction of the Peace and the publick good might be avoided and the Duke of Orleans was intreated to joyn some of his with the said Deputies mutually to importune that the Cardinal might be kept at distance By a publick command they did prohibit all Cities Towns and all those who were in Authority on the Frontiers not to receive him nor give him any assistance upon pain of High Treason Though they reaped small benefit from these deliberations because every one laugh'd at it reputing it mere madness and folly to pretend to controle with scribling and papers where the Kings lawful power was predominant back'd with the strength of Arms nevertheless they were so intoxicated with a most sottish pretension of Authority and so instigated by their Passion that they persuaded themselves that an Order of Parlement was sufficient to bring the whole Kingdom under obedience and so passing from one absurdity to anothet to end this year 1651 the 29th of December in virtue of the aforesaid Declarations of the 7th and 9th of February the 11th of March the 2d and 8th of August last past and of those and some other Parlements against the Cardinal he was by the Parlement of Paris declared guilty of High Treason for returning to Sedan contrary to the Prohibition and for putting himself in a posture to return into France ordering moreover to finish the selling his Library and all the Furniture of his House with the Confiscation of all his Ecclesiastical Emoluments depositing 50000 Crowns to be given to him that should kill him or deliver him alive to Justice petitioning His Majesty in such case to give his Grace to the Assassine who if by his misfortune in giving the blow should not escape but be kill'd himself that his Heirs should be capable of the reward making their account that so great a recompence would invite some desperate Villain to take away his Life a thing never heard of and unworthy to be decreed nay not to be propos'd in a Catholick Parlement the bounds of whose Authority extended no further then to judge of Civil and Criminal causes and not in the least to interest themselves in the Affairs of State It was therefore looked upon with detestation that they should proceed to the condemnation of so conspicuous a Statesman so dear to the King and by His Majesty's Council known to be so advantageous to the good of France and adorned with the Dignity of Cardinal All Europe abhorr'd this Action and every good Catholick was scandaliz'd that the Life of a Prince of Holy Church should be expos'd to sale so acceptable to the King by whose express Order onely he acted And many foresaw that the Authors of these execrable doings though Humane Revenge should fail would find in their season no less then those English who condemn'd their King to death the chastisements of Heaven for the little respect that they bore not only to the Cardinal but also to the King and the Holy Church This Decree as far as could be guess'd pass'd not without the secret intelligence of the Count de Chavigny who believed by such means to hinder the Cardinals return supposing that if the Order had but issued out a little before he would not have enter'd again into the Kingdom The Count was the first that tasted Gods judgment dying a while after in despair conscious of betraying the Court and the Prince of Conde his greatest Confident in one and the same time All this was represented to the Court of Rome supposing that the Sacred College would not allow that such an Example should remain in the memory of the present Age much less be transferred to posterity without those remedies and punishments which belong to the Popes Authority But the Romanists considering that if the success should not answer the attempt the reputation and dignity of the Apostolical See would be too far engaged wherefore they passed it over palliating it with dissimulation for Mazarine had his back-friends in Rome as well as in France and the Pope himself was his Enemy These news coming to the Court they rejoyced at the seditious Parisiens and valued little their words and inconsiderable strength and had frequent Consultations about this business and although few pressed the return of Mazarine yet finding the King was resolved to have him near about him according to the Court custom where they flatter more the Fortune then the Person they began with an affected ostentation to shew that they desired as much some of them persuading the Queen to hasten his return constraining their own inclination that they might appear to be his most cordial friends But Prince Thomas being a little before come out of Piemont into France the Mareschal de Plessis Pralin the Sieurs de la Ferté and Seneterre the Count de Servient the Sieur de Lionne and other Noblemen of a clear Fidelity ingenuous Disposition and true Friends deliver'd their minds with affection and sincerity as also the Princess Palatine the Secretary Tillier recalled to Court by the means of the Marquess de Chasteauneuf and of the Mareschal de Villeroy which vexed those at heart who persuaded themselves that they might be useful in that charge and beheld with an evil eye that Mazarine's Affairs proceeded so smoothly on to his re-establishment They that chiefly opposed his return in the Council were the Marquess de Chasteauneuf who exercised the charge of first Minister of State and deliciously relished the Applauses and the Honours which to it paid Tribute as Rivers to the Sea but he vailed his thoughts with the pretext that yet the conjuncture of Affairs was not ripe for his return because the unseasonableness of it would colour the pretences of the Prince of Conde and of the other Male-contents with the face of Justice and would ferment new grievances and revolutions not only in Paris but in other parts of the Kingdom and said it would be better counsel to seek first to remove out of the way the Prince and his Party that he might return with more security The Proposition truly in it self look'd well and if at that time nothing had been innovated about Mazarine's coming back the Prince had been totally ruined the whole Kingdom standing firm for the King but when it was considered that if while the Cardinals return was delay'd the business of the Kingdom and the present state of Affairs should be mitigated and the Prince destroyed the reasons for his return as a necessary Minister would not have so much vigour as when it might be averred that the King had no person about him sufficient to undergo so weighty a Charge For this reason Chasteauneuf's Opinion did not take place and their counsel was imbraced who supported the Cardinals Interest alledging that his presence was of great importance for the better carrying on the Affairs besides the recruit of a Body of old Souldiers levied by him to hasten the depression
him that the world might know that he was Master The Parisiens the day following had another general Assembly and selected some Deputies to desire their Majesties to remove the Cardinal further off and to return to Paris but it was to no purpose the Court standing firm in their resolution not to sully the Royal Authority endeavouring to gain time and to keep Paris Neutral that they might not supply the contrary Party with Men and Money of which they stood in need enough The Princes and the Parlement on the other side studying to maintain themselves in the Peoples favour did not omit to imploy all their industry to stir up the people against the Kings Ministers and because it was necessary to keep afoot the commerce of Paris to hinder the Kings Army from passing the Sene they made some Levies which joyn'd with some other Troops of the Princes to scower the neighbouring Campania The Army of the Princes possest themselves of the Country of Estampes situated betwixt Orleans and Paris where they found a great quantity of Corn and here they intended to abide and fortifie themselves with hopes by maintaining this Post to keep Paris and Orleans faithful which was the main scope of all While the Kings Army lay quarter'd at Chartres and thereabouts they cast themselves into Estampes with their Lieutenants Generals for the Prince and the Dukes of Nemours and Beaufort were gone to Paris where they staid to make sure of the Frondeurs and their Party a good part of whom desiring the Kings return hearkened willingly to the Treaties that thereupon were had about the entry and reception of His Majesty who if at that instant he had frankly shewn himself he would have been received with all joyfulness and applause and the Princes and their Party chased away since the Citizens were at last weary of these hurly-burlies but nothing was done the King not daring to venture himself on the peoples instability nor willing to let the Cardinal depart as he often pressed to take away all pretext from the Male-contents The Kings Army besieged that of the Princes in Estampes where followed divers skirmishes and amongst the rest a very bloudy one in possessing themselves of the Suburbs The Court fixed at St. Germains and here the first Deputation which was sent was in the name of the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde who dispatched thither the Count de Chavigny the Secretary Goulas and the Duke de Rohan Chabot Chavigny was for the Prince Goulas for Orleans and Chabot for both At first they declared that they would not treat with the Cardinal but this was only a shew for they had secret order to see him and to seek all ways to come to an Agreement with him with a firm resolution to gain him to their particular interests supposing that he to continue in France and in his Ministry would easily condescend to their pretensions They were secretly in the Cardinals Cabinet treated with him and Chavigny a person of great worth propounded to the Cardinal to make an entire Agreement with the Prince by granting him four Demands One was to make the Count d' Ognon Duke and Peer the Count de Marsin a Mareschal of France the Prince of Conty Governour of Provence and the Prince himself Plenipotentiary for the General Peace To the two first the Cardinal did comply because they simply concerned only honourable titles But the Government of Provence and the Plenipotentiary of the Peace he did wholly reject declaring he would never consent that for his particular interest the Kings Authority and Service should be prejudic'd This Deputation was of huge prejudice to the Princes because it was made in a time that the Parliament and the Parisiens were more incensed against the Cardinal and when all the Sovereign Courts had deliberated to require his removal and that the Commonalty of Paris were of the same mind in a time that the Duke of Orleans and the Prince had declared in Parliament that for a general satisfaction they desired nothing but the banishment of the Cardinal so that the people seeing them act against such express Declarations from thence forward they were not a little jealous of their carriage and many that were very well inclined towards them began to be more wary in their proceedings which was afterward one of the principal causes of their fall In the neck of this Deputation the Deputies of the Parliament appear'd at St. Germains with their Remonstrances to their Majesties about giving the Cardinal his Congé against whom the President Nesmond spake with great liberty The King heard them with much civility and afterward told them that he was very well informed of the good intentions of the Parliament and wish'd that they were as well perswaded of his That he would confer with his Privy Council and in three days they should understand his will with such words and general termes concluding nothing the Deputies return'd to Paris The same day those sent from the Chamber of Accounts and Court of Aids had Audience and the Answer was the same he gave the Parliament also the Provost of Merchants the Sheriffs the Attorney-General the City-Notary and others deputed from the Communalty presented themselves before his Majestie representing to him the unhappy state of his Subjects and of the necessity of dismissing the Cardinal the sole cause of all the distasts and differences The Keeper of the Seals answer'd that his Majestie was assured of the good affection of the City of Paris and to satisfie them he intended to return thither so soon as the Passes should be open and this he said to give them a wipe that in the same time they made these Addresses they endeavored to hinder his coming cutting off the Bridges of the Sene and Marne The King therefore not yielding to condescend to such licentious demands the Male-contents took occasion to exclaim against his Council who on the other side complaining of the Subjects Proceedings every thing went more and more into confusion and all the faults which indeed did concern onely a few interessed people and Male-contents were charged upon Mazarine against whom their hatred and fury not abating he was commonly called The root of all evil and The cause of all the miseries of that flourishing Kingdom which would have been more unhappy wanting the protection of the Cardinal and the power of the Princes and of the Parlement increasing if the Kings Authority had been diminished which the more independent and absolute the more profitable to Subjects who are always most miserable where there are most Masters The Parliament Assembled to hear the Answers that the Deputies brought from Court where were present the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde with all the chief of the Faction when the News came that the Royallists were assaulting the Bridge of St. Cloud defended by a little Fort whereupon the Prince of Condé mounting suddenly on Horseback with several Gentlemen and above eight
he ended this Answer with a demand which he made them to try their good intentions and as a business most necessary which was That the Inhabitants would re-establish in their Offices the Governour the Prevost of the Merchants and the Sheriffs who had been turned out Which being done his Majestie would presently send Orders to be observed in the Town-house assuring the six Companies of Merchants of his entire satisfaction good-will and Protection The Princes the Parliament and the whole Faction were very much disturbed at this Message and as they clearly saw that those of Paris had changed their minds and most earnestly sought for Peace which was not a little destructive to their designs they applied themselves with all industry to finde out means to overcome the Kings Army by force of Arms and make themselves Masters of the Field esteeming this the only way to maintain themselves in Paris while it remain'd deprived of that support which on all occasions it might deceive from the Kings troops But to return to Mazarine who arriving at Sedan and from thence Bovillon out of the Kingdom there wanted not persons who interposed for the adjusting at least of the Duke of Orleans with the Court. The Cardinal de Retz and the Marquess of Chasteauneuf promising to themselves that if once his Royal Highness should return to Court he might by degrees regain His Majesties favour and taking his place again in the Council they should not be left behind To this end with the consent of the Duke of Lorrain the Marquess of Saint Lambert was dispatch'd to the Court to begin the Negotiation But the Queen and the Kings Officers who were attent upon the return of Mazarine and their own security could in no wise consent that the Duke of Orleans a Confident of the Prince of Conde's and a Confederate of the Spaniards should meddle in the Government considering that if the Duke of Orleans with his followers and Adherents should insinuate themselves into the Affairs of the Kingdom there would be more danger then ever of diminishing the Kings Authority for the secure support whereof it is requisite that no Officer of State should depend upon any other then the King himself for these by diminishing the credit of others would endeavour to dispose of all things after their own fancies threatning whomsoever should oppose them to turn all things upside down again The Prince of Conde who was engaged with the Duke of Orleans by the Promise of Marriage between his Royal Highness his Daughter and the Duke of Anguien and thought he went hand in hand with him although he was left out of the Treaty might in time also have made his Peace with those advantages himself desired and the Duke of Orleans had promised Mazarine therefore making prudent reflexions upon considerations so nice who though far from the Court yet directed all things was very sensible how inconsiderate advice this must be that exposed the Government to the will and discretion of others which under an absolute Monarch will admit of no Companion These Affairs being thus on foot the Princes and the Parliament stood much upon the Point that the Act of Oblivion granted by the King did not contain a full abolition and pardon of what had been done in the last five years past nor was expressed in those termes which were desired viz. in general and without conditions but served only for the inhabitants of Paris with design that if they were once satisfied not to matter much the Princes and Parliament They urged therefore that the King ought to give full and irrevocable Authority to the Duke of Orleans to forme another without any exceptions to be ratified in the Parliament of Paris where the Counsellors gone to Pontoise ought to appear and this to be done in the Presence of the King himself for this cause the Parliament met often some Letters were writ by the Duke of Orleans the Duke d' Anville and the Marquess of St. Lambert negotiated with the Kings Council and many things were done the particular relation of which would be too tedeous But Cardinal Mazarine knowing how prejudicial this would be to the Kings Authority by his Advice the granting of Pass-ports was absolutely denied to those deputed by the Parliament already declared invalid holding firm to their first resolutions so that Affairs remained in the same posture as at first each party endeavouring to uphold their own opinions The third of October the Parliament in Paris being assembled to hear what News the Marquess of St. Lambert brought from the Court two Watermen were laid hold of who cried aloud God bless the King and Cardinal Mazarine and were seconded by many others they were led to the prison of Conciergery and Order given to draw up their Indictment as also against divers others who cried the same in several streets of Paris giving out that such kind of Fellows were set on by some that gave them money on purpose to move the people to sedition This News being brought to Court and besides that the Parliament continued to proceed against some of those who met at the Assembly in the Palace-Royal the King with the Advice of His Council passed a Decree upon the fifth of October by which he cancell'd and annull'd all the aforesaid pretended proceedings informations and orders published or to be published imposing severe penalties upon the Commissioners or Judges that should proceed any further commanding all the Inhabitants of Paris to execute His Majesties Orders and Commands In the mean time the Kings Army was at Villeneufue St. George much streightned and pressed hard upon by the Troops of the Princes and their Confederates who were superior in number and in danger either to be forced as they lay or set upon in their retreat seeing that for want of provisions and forage many both men and horses died This troubled the Court very much and above all Mazarine who was the cause that the Army put themselves in that place and doubted some sinister event the winning of the day consisting in keeping the Kings Army near Paris by which means those Practices were fomented which were managed by the Cardinals directions in that City in favour of the King The Princes who understood the importance of this business and that if the Kings Army should preserve themselves all their designs were ruined omitted nothing either to overcome them or reduce them by famine and sufferings to the utmost despair but the nearness and delights of Paris together with the sickness which hapned to the Prince of Conde Wirtemberg and many other of the Principal Commanders which may be truly attributed to an effect of the Divine Providence was the break-neck of their party but besides the sickness of these Princes the Dukes of Lorrain and Beaufort and most of the other Chief Officers with a considerable number of the best Souldiers were also in the City as well for the suspicion they had that the Citizens might rise
with the assistance of the Spaniards and Imperialists to oppose the designes of the French Mazarine had his eye continually on the Liberty of Italy and on the Conservation of Mantua at that time besieged which was one of his principal Instructions and seeing the maintaining Duke Charles of Nevers in the possession of his Hereditary Countreys in Italy depended on the Protection of the French he advertised the Ministers of the most Christian King of the powerful Forces of the Confederate enemies that Cardinal Richlieu might opportunely provide against them and shun the approaching danger To this and to the easier Acquist of Pignerol Spinola's clashing with the Duke of Savoy and refusing to assist him in such manner as he desired did not a little conduce and was cause that he died afterward with discontent and that the Imperialists missed of obtaining their designes The Duke sent the Abbot Scaglia into Spain to represent to the Catholick King that Spinola giving ear to the Propositions of the Cardinal Legate for an Accommodation occasion'd all the ill success and that the French through his fault were got on this side the Mountains for which the King being full of indignation against Spinola in opposition to whom there wanted not the Suggestions and Arts of those that envied his Employment resolved to take from him all Authority and Command of the Army which through so great experience of his worth he had conferr'd upon him Mazarine continuing a Mediator between each party demean'd himself with such exquisite Sagacity and with so sweet a manner Negotiating sometimes with one sometimes with another that he rendred himself equally beloved and confided in by all and continuing by Play and Familiarity to acquire every ones Friendship he came at length to penetrate into the most hidden Caballs and to discover the most secret Designs He by this means seasonably advised the Duke of Mantua's General of the Surprisal the Imperiallists were plotting against that City on the side of the Mincio not over carefully guarded by the Besieged Spinola in the mean while had laid siege to Casal with a most flourishing Army and had begun very much to streighten it Mazarine brought on new Treaties and persuaded Spinola to condescend to some honourable and honest Accommodation He formed a Writing to the satisfaction of the Duke of Savoy of Spinola and of Colalto and immediately went to find the King of France at St. John di Moriana who staid there expecting the yielding up of Montmelian attaqu'd by his Forces and brought back from the King what he desired He returned into Piemont but in those few days of his absence the face of Affairs being changed by the surprize of Mantua as also by the death of the Duke of Savoy and that Spinola was far advanc'd in the siege of Casal his first Projects were confounded and he was forced to mould new ones with which he went back to the most Christian King at Paris by order of his Patron Cardinal Antonio He was received there with great Honour and demonstrations of high Esteem for his Person and obtained His Majesty's assent to the Agreement with which he hastened to find Vittorio Amadeo the new Duke of Savoy and Collalto He demonstrated to them the good inclination of the King to the accord and left them satisfied and inclined to the Peace But because Spinola longing to take Casal seemed likely to withdraw himself from the Treaty Mazarine went again to find him at the Camp and with convincing Reasons disposed him to the Agreement He requested that for the Honour of the King and himself the City and Castle of Casal might be deposited in his hands the French retaining still the Cittadel promising to resign up the said City and Castle within the term of 15 days and that Mantua should likewise be delivered up to that Duke for the performance of which he offered in Hostage his own Son The King of France condescended to the Proposals of Spinola and gave order to his Lieutenants Generals to conclude the Treaty but in the very point of effecting it the King of Spain sent an Express depriving Spinola of all Authority At which he was so much cast down and struck with grief that when Mazarine returned to give him an account of his Negotiation and how he had accomplished what Spinola had desired and proposed he could get no other Answer from him then these two words V. S. es hombre da bien pero jo tambien Your Lordship is an honest man and I am so too And thus walking to and fro and stamping he shewed himself to be agitated by a most fierce and secret grief Wherefore temporizing with artificial Excuses he gave no other Answer then the former words often reiterated Finally Cardinal Antonio resolving to see the end of it with the approbation of the Duke of Savoy and Collalto sent back Mazarine to Spinola who was sick in bed and prevailed so much that Spinola in the end not being able to resist the force of the Reasons produced by Mazarine broke out into a grievous lamentation in defence of his Honour saying M' hanno levato l' honore They have taken away my Honour Then calling one of his Servants he ordered the King of Spains Letter to be brought by which all his Power was taken from him and shewed it to Mazarine that he might know the true cause of his Irresolution and said again M' hanno levato l' honore They have taken away my Honour Afterwards turning himself to the other side of the bed with the Letter in his hand he aggravated his Misfortune and the injury done to his Reputation and the Merit of so many Services performed by him to the Crown of Spain for 40 years together The business being in this posture Mazarine by order of Cardinal Antonio entered upon new Negotiations and proposed a Suspension of Arms but Spinola being dead and the Marquess di Sante Croce entering upon his Command who found all things in disorder by the death of the General underwrit the Truce which was already subscribed to by the Duke of Savoy and Collalto In the mean while the French Army descended into Piemont to relieve Casal and each Party hoping to win by their Arms the business was in a ready way to be decided by them To that purpose the French Army advance within sight of the place The Legat made use of Mazarine also in this occasion who flying like Lightening now to one side now to the other behaved himself with such dexterity that in the very instant that both Armies were ranged in Battalia ready to engage he concluded the Peace to the general satisfaction of all and with so great applause for himself that by this action the way was open'd to those Grandeurs which afterwards he arrived at becoming in a manner absolute Moderator of the greatest Affairs of the World Upon putting the Peace in execution the Spaniards by their slow departure out of the Territories of
were generally dis-satisfied The Warre being kindled the Fire seemed unextinguishable not only because it chiefly arose as the common report went from private passion and particular envy and the flames daily encreasing from those puffs of anger the discontents grew still higher which according to the Contingencies of Warre administred new matter of rancour But also on the Popes Account that he being the Common Father should with a constant resentment pretend a just title to disturb the quiet of Italy by armes when all Christendom groaning so long time under the weight of innumerable miseries thought they might expect from his Piety a paternal and serious application to compose the inveterate motions of War and not to excite new ones On the other side the interessed Confederates longing to abate the temporal power of the Ecclesiastical Princedom and to give a wholesom Admonishment to those that being destin'd by God to enjoy it for a season are oftentimes unmindful of returning again to their private condition were resolved to maintain with all perseverance the reputation of their Armes For this cause the mediation or the Spaniards and the Emperor for a pacification proved a long time ineffectual the King of France not omitting to interpose his his Authority for the service of her to whose Assistance his Ancestors had so often passed the Mountains dispatched by the Counsel and dictates of Mazarine the Marquess of Lionne to the Confederate Princes to whom he delivered his Message with such vigour and reputation that by his prudent Negotiations he ripened that fruit which Cardinal Bichi who was ordered by the King to manage the Treaty afterward had the good fortune to gather by the Conclusion of the Peace as acceptable and advantageous to the Barberines as afterward the memory of that War proved prejudicial to them The Cardinal likewise got no small reputation by composing the differences between the Kings of Swedeland and Denmark who were entring into a most cruel War He shewed himself also very constant in overcoming all the difficulties which hapned upon the Marriage of the Princess Maria Gonzago with Uladislao King of Poland brought to an end by his great Prudence While the Affairs of France went thus prosperously on and that all Europe had their eyes fixed on the greatness and power of that Crown admiring the Ascendant Fortune of the most Christian King with the same Reflexions wherewith heretofore were admired that of the most victorious Emperour Charles the Fifth on a sudden she saw her self overwhelmed by those Civil broils which have always been the most powerful mischiefs to depress her The first ground from whence these turbulent Revolutions arose was from the Treasurer Emery who was the Person that disposed the minds of the Parlementarians of Paris to Commotions by troubling them in their places hereby to raise money not without the opinion of many that he did this with an intent to overthrow the Cardinal who vigorously opposed such his dangerous Undertakings knowing the nature of the French to be most extremely violent for their particular benefit For this cause therefore the Parlement of Paris having declared against the Kings Government the Queen thought to destroy this growing Hydra by punishing three of her Heads giving order for the Imprisonment of the Counsellour Brussel and the Presidents Blamenil and Charton though Mazarine did greatly impugn it well perceiving that it was not yet time to stir the Humours when there was no likelihood to dissipate them and it succeeded just so as he foresaw for the People having taken Arms and chained the streets compell'd the Court to set free the prisoners and to turn out Emery to the great prejudice of the Royal Authority and to the emboldening of the Seditious to undertake new Villanies The Cardinal on this occasion maintained but it did not help him that by the rule of good Government they ought constantly to adhere to their resolutions once taken although they were not assumed with their due precautions it being always hurtful to Princes to recede from that which they have once pretended to be observed by their Subjects From the like beginnings the Alterations plotted by the restless minds of those who hoped to advance their private Fortunes greatly increased These disorders were fomented by the Coadjutor of Paris allured by the hopes of Mazarines ruine to enter into his place of Chief Minister being a person of an high spirit and very intelligent in the Affairs and by the Count de Chavigny likewise exasperated seeing himself by the Queens aversion to him not in that full Credit and Authority which he had in the Consultations in the time of Richlieu's Government So that all things being in a confusion and impossible to provide against the disorders without That flourishing and potent Kingdom at the height of its greatest glory became a Scene of most lamentable miseries losing in one Campania the fruits of many others purchased with so much sweat with so much bloud and with so great expence of money The Cardinal sought nevertheless to hinder what he could the growth of these disorders and knowing how dangerous it would be to France if England should declare for Spain as it was by all Arts endeavoured by the Spanish Agents he knew so wisely to manage the business that he frustrated the Enemy's design and preserved the friendship of the English though ever emulous and no well-willers to the French The Events that after these commotions rent in pieces the Regency and all France were infinite and deplorable for although Mazarine with all sweetness and gentleness did endeavour to smooth their minds by temporizing till the Kings Majority but the more he endeavoured by these means to appease the Animosities of the Seditious the more they were hardened in their insolence and by open violence opposed the Orders of the Regent whereupon by his advice the Queen resolved to remove from Paris with the King which she did on Twelveth-night 1649. For this cause the City was in a great commotion and the Court in a state to recover its due regard but hereupon their Animosities against the Cardinal grew higher suspecting him to be as indeed he was the Author of this Retreat whence the fury of the People and Parlement breaking out against him he was by the later order'd to depart within eight days The Court stoutly supporting the Cardinal resolved to block up Paris with the Army as it was forthwith done by the Prince of Conde who though he had his Brother his Sister and his Brother in Law on the Parlements side yet held himself always united with the Regent and Mazarine who failed not in the mean while accurately to watch how to compose the differences In this occasion Cardinal Mazarine made manifest the height of his Intellectuals the excellency of his Skill his Wit and his Craft joyning himself now with the one now with the other Party and finally crushing them both remained Conquerour in the field and obtained the
he went to Dorlans a Town in Picardy under the Government of the Sieur de Bar who was one of those that followed him being received with great honour and civility in all those Provinces He stayed there some time to resolve where he might best retire out of the Kingdom The Parisiens renewing their clamours to the Queen constrained her to write to the Cardinal that for the good of the State he would speedily go out of the Kingdom inducing her moreover to make a Declaration that all strangers though naturalized should not for the future be capable of being admitted into the Council of State some insisting that even the French Cardinals should be comprehended and this chiefly to keep off the Coadjutor from being Chief Minister of State to which he aspired together with the Cardinalship who was really more hated then loved being held to be a man very violent and hardy in his resolutions though he was doubtless one of the bravest Persons of France This Declaration was passed in Parliament but by reason of the contrariety of opinions in the particular of the French Cardinals according to the inclination of those Counsellors thought it passed also in this particular it was moderated and had not its full force and was put in execution only against Mazarine who staying still in France expecting his Pass-port from the Spaniard gave new occasion to his adversaries to murmur who induced the Queen again to sollicit his departure out of the Kingdom to which the Cardinal shewed himself most ready though his friends offered him 10000 fighting men to defend him against the persecution of his enemies and even the Spaniards themselves promised him all vigorous assistance with a Pension not inferiour to what he had in France The Cardinal rejected all most generously into whose Heart the French his Enemies with all their injurious dealings could never introduce the least sense of revenge to the damage of France since that the sense of gratitude towards their Majesties and his Cordial affection for those that were Loyal were too prevalent in his Noble Soul He departed therefore speedily from Dorlans from whence he wrote two very handsom Letters which were seen in Print on to the Queen and the other to the Count de Brienne at that time chief Secretary of State full of cordial expressions of his constant fidelity to their Majesties and of prudent counsel for the good of the State the tenour of which Letters moved a tender compassion in the minds of his Friends and inwardly convinced and staggered his Enemies From thence he went to Perone not without some inconvenience where he found his Nieces conducted thither in safety by the Abbot Ondedei He went with them to la Fere and thence to Rhetel from whence Generel Rosa with 300 Horse conducted him to Barleduc Where in sequence of the Honours done him in every place in this his Retirement by an express Courrier he received the most courteous proffers of the Elector of Colen who sent to invite him offering him his whole State to be at his service with all the kind expressions that could possibly be expected from a generous Prince and a true Friend For which having given to that Prince most affectionate thanks he proceeded on to Clermont by the assistance of the Mareschal de la Ferté Seneterre who in that Rencounter gave him many authentick proofs of a loyal and faithful friendship which he made more particularly appear in refusing to put the Town into the hands of two Gentlemen of the Prince of Conde's who had brought him the Kings Order the Mareschal excusing himself by telling them that he had too much cause to believe that that Order was extorted by violence and that therefore he would not give credit to it unless he were commanded by him that intrusted it with him which was as much as to say the Cardinal who understanding this notwithstanding the foresaid reflexions to shew how much a Kings Order ought to be respected prayed the Mareschal to obey it which immediately he did From Clermont he went to Sedan where once more by the importunity of his enemies receiving the Queens Orders to depart quite out of the Kingdom he went to Boullon in the State of Liege convoyed by Don Antonio Pimentelli Major General of the Spanish Army with 500 Horse the Spaniards themselves concurring to demonstrate to the world that they understood the Merits of the Cardinal and the Honours due to the Sacred Purple better then the French From Liege he continued his journey towards Aix la Chapelle and from thence he passed to Brul a place belonging to the Elector of Colen who sent immediately to complement him offering him all manner of courtesie and being Royally received in the Electoral Palace he was first visited by all the Cannons of the Archbishoprick of Colen the principal Gentlemen of the Country and afterward by the Elector himself who came expresly from Bona place of his residence The Cardinal went to return his Visit where he was received with all the Honours that could be done to the greatest Prince and came back to Brul infinitely obliged to the Elector for his civilities Here he fixed his abode and the concourse of all sorts of people that came to see him was such that that place seemed a great Court He was complemented here by Expresses from the King and Queen of Poland from the Queen of Swedeland from the Electors of the Empire and finally from most of the Princes of Europe who sent to offer him their Dominions to the great mortification of his enemies who the more they sought to abase him by their passionate resolutions the more they saw him honoured and extolled by all the world The Princes in the interim arriving at Paris and the Queen with the King remaining in a manner prisoners in the Palace Royal where they were begirt on all sides by the armed Parisiens all the concourse of the Cavaliers was at the Prince of Conde's and of the Ladies at the Dutchess of Longueville's so that there seemed to be no such thing as a King But although the Cardinal was absent in person yet he was virtually present applying himself continually with the greatest artifice to divide the minds of the Frondeurs from the Union of the Princes and the Dutchess of Chevreuse being the person that together with the Coadjutor governed the whole Caball he applied himself to those means that might draw her from the Prince's party or indeed make her their enemy for which he knew no better way then to frustrate the Match betwixt the Prince of Conty and her daughter Taking this business in hand he suggested to his Confidents at Paris such items which being by them punctually observed they made Conty believe that the Princess of Chevreuse was not of that Quality besitting his birth and they intimated to the Prince of Conde that if the Prince his brother should marry it would much prejudice the Revenue of his Family by the
had a favourable Audience This Deputation was very famous not only for the quality and importance of the matter but for the merit and prerogative of the said Prelate who exaggerated highly the Ptoceedings of the Parliament in treating with so much rigour and such unusual courses a Prince of the Holy Church without considering that these were formes prohibited by divine and humane laws and that which appeared admirable in his discourse was that openly praising and yet oblikely touching the Parliament he obliged the whole Ecclesiastical Order While the Court was at Tours the Count de Servient was restored by the King to his Charge of Minister of State who being a very able and experienc'd person it turn'd too much to the damage of the publick interest to keep him at such a distance but the Sieur de Lionne his Nephew was not recall'd by the prevailing of his particular enemies to whom the Court was willing at that time to give that satisfaction From Tours the Court removed to Blois and made some stay there which was very prejudicial to it since those of the contrary party had time to provide for the Conservation of Orleans into which City Madamoiselle entred and for the defence of Chartres proposed and considered by the Cardinal for the shortest way to approach near Paris Not being able therefore neither to pass to Orleans nor to go to Chartres it was determin'd to take the way of Gergeau because the Bridge of Beaugency was broken by the swelling of the River hapning a little before with very great floods but that of Gergeau being likewise spoil'd the only Pass that remain'd was that of Gien whereupon the Court went to Sully and the Army to Sandilon a little distant According as this moved toward Gien that of the Princes went continually coasting on the other side the river to dispute their passage and interrupt their design They muster'd in the Princes Camp betwixt nine and ten thousand four thousand chosen and old Souldiers most part of them Infantry of the Duke of Orleans under the Command of the Duke of Beaufort and the rest under the Duke of Nemours and these were partly French of the Prince of Conde's and partly high Germans and other Nations levied by the King of Spain The Dukes of Beaufort and Nemours did not agree together though they were Kinsmen and should have fought a Duell near Orleans if it had not been prevented by Madamoiselle who by her interposing made them friends wherefore the Prince of Conde who was in Guienne thought fit to convey himself to this Army not only moved thereunto for this cause but for divers other reasons amongst which were the following First that by making this diversion all the Kings Forces would be drawn that way where the Prince was and by that means Bourdeaux would be out of danger Secondly because the condition of Paris stood in need to be strengthned by his Presence chiefly suspecting that the King would come thither and to oppose himself to cross the designes of the Coadjutor who used all his endeavour to disjoyn the Duke of Orleans from him And what obliged him most to go was to see whether it would turn to best Account to reunite himself to the Court or to adjust with the Coadjutor or at least to render his Intrigues with the Duke of Orleans unuseful With these considerations and with thoughts of piecing with the Coadjutor he took a journey the most difficult and most dangerous that could possibly have come into his thought being like to have been taken Prisoner by the Sieur de Saint Mor dispatcht from Court with 300 horse to track him and seize on his person nevertheless he came safe thither and the News of his coming being spred abroad the Army was as much joy'd and pleas'd as the Prince confounded and troubled at the dissention of his Generals From hence he gave advice to the Duke of Orleans and to the Parliament of his welfare and had thoughts of passing thither to resolve what was to be done to encourage his party and to settle the peoples inconstancy accustomed to vary according as the Accidents that nourish it do alter But having afterwards understood that by the Arrival of the Duke of Bovillon and many Cavaliers and Souldiers from divers parts the Mareschal of Turenne was constituted their General by the King and by this means the Court was recruited no less in courage then in forces He stayd with the Army not a little discompos'd by the differences amongst the Commanders wherefore the Court was not a little troubled seeing that their designs of their Generals upon the ill-ordered Camp of the Princes were vanish'd The Discipline being establish'd in the Army by Conde and their minds reincouraged upon the confidence that every body had of his valour he caused Montargis to be be attaqued and took it by which Post he opened a Passage into Burgundy and made feasible his designes The Royallists lodged betwixt the River Loire and the Canal of Briare The Quarters of the Mareschal d' Hoquincourt were a little distant and exposed to the enemy The Prince made semblance to march toward Chasteau-renard to go into Burgundy but altering his March he went towards Blenau Hoquincourts quarters and unawares surprized him in the night in such sort that he routed him and took all the Baggage At this News the Mareschal de Turenne caused sound to horse throughout all his quarters and speedily drawing the Troops together advanc'd towards the Posts assaulted to succour them but having notice of those that fled of the disorder and disaster wont always to be increased by Fame being confirm'd to him by divers Officers with the foresight of a great Captain he thought it not fit to hazard a new Engagement wherefore he took the way of Osoy on this side the Canal where was the quarters of Novailles with design to put himself into a safe Post they had divers skirmishes marches and counter-marches and all day the Armies faced one another without engaging otherwise then by the Exchange of many Cannon-shot The Cardinal being inform'd of the suceess gave sudden account to the King how things stood moderating the vapourings which were cunningly spred abroad His Majesty with a generous heart and courage of a great King leaping out of his bed said that himself would be at the head of his Army All mounted on Horseback and no man that had a sword by his side stayd in Gien The Cardinal very undauntedly gave all expedient Orders and dispatch'd the Duke of Bovillon to the Camp with a Squadron of Gentlemen Voluntiers and afterward advanc'd with the King to the Army of Turenne by whose means not only the disperst troops of Hoquincourt were rallied but also the Princes were constrained to retire into Estampes which afterward was attaqued by the Royallists The Prince of Conde went to Paris where the number of Male-contents daily increased heightned by the hopes that they had of the coming
thousand Parisiens made them retire and from thence marching towards St. Denis where were 200 Swisses of the Kings Guards in Garrison and assailing those old and rotten walls they made themselves Masters of it taking those souldiers prisoners which were led to Paris in triumph But this City was soon recover'd by the Kings Forces commanded by the Sieur de Renville Colonel of Horse after which a Neutrality was granted to the Town of St. Denis upon condition that the Princes should also leave free the Passes of St. Cloud Neully Charenton and St. Maur. After these divers successes the Parliament assembled again and having heard the Relation made by the President Nesmond they determined to send him back to St. Germains to receive the Kings Answer which he had promised in three days But it being to the advantage of the Court to gain time Mazarine with great subtilty prolong'd the Resolutions keeping still the Treaties on foot not to put the people in despair and necessitate them when they should have no more hopes to declare for the Princes and for that cause the Duke d' Anville made divers journeys from Court to Paris on the Kings behalf managing dexterously the Treaty with the Princes who pressed more and more the Cardinals departure The Prince of Conde who by a particular gift of Nature was no less endowed with a most prudent faculty of discerning then with a marvellous and unparallel'd valor in Arms observing the instability of his Party grounded on uncertain and wavering designs he inclined to an agreement in any manner even without the removal of the Cardinal from the Ministry considering it better to treat with him who was of a sweet and gentle nature then others of a violent Genius as the Cardinal de Retz was reputed to be But the good intention of the Prince was diverted by his Kindred and Friends who declared that in such case they would forsake him and lastly by the Duke of Orleans sollicited thereunto by the Cardinal de Retz who was accused that for his private advantage he equally desired the ruine of the Prince and of Mazarine so that His Royal Highness vigorously opposed it and was cause that this Overture took no effect From S. Germain the Court removed to Melun for this City being upon the Sene and nearer to Estampes they might from hence with more ease send Supplies and Recruits to the Kings Camp stopping in the same time the Provisions which are wont to be brought down the River from those fertile Fields to Paris and here the King gave Order to Mareschal Turenne to endeavour what er'e came on 't to expugn Estampes and defeat the Army of the Princes who defending themselves bravely there followed many hot Skirmishes with no small slaughter of Souldiers and considerable Captains on either side wherefore the Princes perceiving that their Army would subsist a long time in Estampes sollicited the Spaniards that the Army of Duke Charles of Lorrain might advance to their succour The Ministers of Spain chearfully assenting to uphold the Party of the Princes and keep afoot the Civil War in France presently set themselves about it The Duke of Lorrain was wont every year to make a bargain with the Spaniards for the next Campania by which they obliged him for a certain summe of money to serve them with his Troops This year therefore 1652 they engaged him to pass into France to succour the Princes In pursuance of which accord he marched with his Army of 4000 Foot and about 5000 Horse with some Pieces of Artillery thorough Champagne towards the Sene to raise the Siege of Estampes leaving his Forces at Lagny he went to Paris where he was received with all the Honours wont to be given to a Prince of whom they stood in need At this news the Cardinal began to set his Wits at work and to give necessary Orders for securing the most important places He sought to gain Duke Charles by the mediation of the Dutchess of Chevreuse his Ally and of the same House She being a Lady of great sense and full of Intrigues making use of the natural jealousie wont to be betwixt the Princes of the Bloud and the Dukes of Lorrain and especially betwixt Conde and them who was much esteemed amongst the Spaniards she gave the Duke to understand that it would not turn to his benefit to assist them The Duke was convinc'd by her Reasons and inclin'd to imbrace her counsel so he could find a sufficient pretext to disingage himself from the Spaniards to whom he had promised to succour Estampes Mazarine sent the Marquess de Chasteauneuf to negotiate secretly with the Duke and they agreed together that to disingage his word and to keep himself from the blame he might incur he should raise the Siege of Estampes and the morning following that Turenne should retire from thence the Duke promis'd to retreat to the Frontier of the Kingdom to make a shew that it was not by compact but by reason of the State of the Kings Army that obliged him to take this course to which purpose they should furnish him with all necessary provisions The Princes knew him by his Conduct and by the difficulty he made in passing the Sene that he had intelligence with the Court wherefore they went to find him at his Camp and oblige him to pass the River but he represented to them that they ought to rest satisfied if so be he raised the Siege of Estampes and having some hopes that the Court would take the same resolution it was not necessary to engage himself further The Prince of Conde gave him to understand it was a small matter to cause the Siege to be raised if he did not give them the opportunity to put their Troops in safety because they could no longer subsist in a ruinated place so that after many Discourses the Duke permitted himself to be engaged before he was aware to give in writing a Declaration to the Princes by which he obliged himself to stay yet some days in the same Post upon the River Sene that in the mean while the Princes might withdraw their Troops from Estampes and come nearer Paris The Kings Army being retired from the Siege of Estampes and the Court seeing he failed in performing the private Treaty concluded with Chasteauneuf the Mareschal de Turenne by advice of Mazarine moved his Camp with expedition toward Corbeil with design to fight the Lorrainers before they should pass the River to joyn with the Princes Forces and they faced the Enemy so opportunely that being surprised and astonished doubting they should be engaged in fight they presently retired taking the advantage of the high Hills of Ville nieufve and S. George and putting themselves under covert of a little River that dischargeth it self into the Sene. The Kings Party advancing towards Corbeil took several prisoners which obliged Duke Charles to desire the Sieur de Beaulieu who was present with him to procure the fulfilling of the
the Dutchess of Chevreuse and the Marquess of Chasteauneuf Condé's Enemies endeavoured to separate the Duke of Orleans from the Prince and unite him to the Court that so remaining together near the King they might hinder the return of Mazarine and having ruined the Party of Condé get the management of Affairs into their own hands And this was the onely true cause of all the Caballs of these Lords for they had no ill will against the Kings service onely thought to do it handsomer then Mazarine did who was hated by many as a stranger and not beneficial Yet notwithstanding the troubles of the Court the Kings Troops went on with the Siege of Monterond and took it obliging the Defendants to yield it up for want of Provisions Brisac was likewise put into the Kings hands by the Mareschal of Guebriants Lady through the Address of Mazarine after strange occurrences happened in that place by the Intrigues of Charlevois who was taken prisoner and of the Count d' Harcourt who under some vain pretences that he was not secure at Court retired into that Fortress and staid there some time till he had spent all the Money he had got in managing the Kings Army in Guienne in which Affair Mazarine had the whole direction and ordered the matter so dexterously that the Count d' Harcourt refusing the Offers of the Spaniards and Imperialists returned at last to his due obedience The Princes in the mean time prosecuted their design to streighten so the Camp of Turenne that forcing them to quit the Post they might fight him and destroy him by the superiority of their Forces Turenne staid there with much hardship hoping to weary out the Parisiens and reduce them to their duty obliging them to drive away the strangers from the Town But all this while there happened no Action of moment because both Parties proceeded with caution and reserve lest they should receive any disaster so that the Countrey being on all sides overrun by the Souldiers Paris chiefly found the trouble and incommodity none being secure to traffick without the gates without danger of being robb'd and kill'd Upon these disorders the Townesmen began to frequent the Assemblies more then ordinary to devise how to free themselves from these tedeous miseries The 5th of September it was resolved on in the Town-house to send some of the Body of the City to supplicate the King to come to Paris For the same effect the Clergy likewise deputed some of theirs and the Cardinal de Retz was chosen their Head as Coadjutor of that Archbishoprick He went in a very splendid Equipage and made a most elegant Oration to their Majesties exhorting them to return to Paris The motive of this his going as the report went was to gratifie the Parisiens in their desire for the Courts return to gain the credit as Mediator of so great a work for the universal good and drawing advantage by Mazarines absence render himself necessary at Court gain the Kings favour and by means of the Duke of Orleans make his way The Kings answer was in general and like to the others formerly given to those that went upon the same account which was that he was ready to grant their request whensoever the Enemies of the publick peace should be driven away And this was the result and drift of the Court according to the advice of Mazarine to stir up the City against the Princes who though they laboured all they could to make them understand that the Amnesty given at Pontoise was full of Prevarication they could not so prevail but the major part accepted it and not onely in Paris but also in Bourdeaux it caused some dispute 'T is true that the Princess of Condé the Prince of Conty the Dutchess of Longueville and others being in this remote City their Presence and Authority prevailed The new Council of the Ormiera determined not to permit by any means the Parlement to accept it without the consent of the Prince of Condé The Bourdelois were in this point more resolute and constant because the Kings Army in Guienne wanting a General after the departure of the Count d' Harcourt they hoped encouraged thereunto by Count Marcin to recover the Towns and places possessed by the said Count d' Harcourt especially the Kings Troops being grown lasie and negligent they let Marsin attempt what he pleased Wherefore it being necessary to provide another Chief by the counsel of Mazarine the Government of the Army and the Province was conferred on the Duke of Candale onely Son of the Duke of Espernon a young Prince sprightly and generous and valiant above measure who undertook divers Enterprises and finally constrained the Bourdolois to return to their obedience THE HISTORY Of the Managements of Cardinal MAZARINE LIB III. AT the same time the Duke de Mercoeur was in Provence with Commissions for Governour of that Province yet without the dismission of the Duke of Angoulesme who was the true Governour but by order of the King was kept Prisoner in Berry because having promised His Majesty not to go into Provence without his Permission but to stay at Paris he notwithstanding afterwards under colour of going to his estate went out of the way with design as it was discovered by Mazarine to foment the sedition begun in the City of Tolon by this imprisonment with the diligence of the Duke of Mercoeur and the direction of Cardinal Mazarine Tolon was restored to its former obedience and the gates were opened to the Kings Troops and all the Province thereupon kept in peace which was otherwise threatned with sedition and troubles The Duke of Angoulesme remained prisoner three months but afterwards the King being assured by the promises and good intentions of the Dutchess his wife and by the interposition of the Duke of Joyeuse his son-in-law he was set free the beginning of October following and was permitted to stay in Paris and at Court keeping all this while the Patents of Governour of Provence but few months after he passed to another life and with his death his Family was extinct At the same time that the Cardinal of Retz with the other Deputies of the Clergy were compleating their business with their Majesties at Compeigne the Deputation of the Commons of Paris was sent back by the King with the Answer which followeth That his Majesty always preserving a gracious inclination for his good City of Paris and having a perfect knowledge of their fidelity and disposition to his service and their due obedience did suffer an unspeakable grief of heart to understand the oppression which it underwent and particularly since the fourth of July all seeming to be perverted which he had endeavor'd to make known his right intentions in opposition to that malice and violence through which those Conflagrations Massacres and other strange effects had taken place for no other end then to turn away his faithful subjects from their obedience that the Officers and lawful Magistrates
he had the will there might perhaps have followed considerable disturbances His Holiness called divers Congregations of the most learned Cardinals and in whom he most confided and although there were not some wanting who were more moderate to represent to them how circumspectly they ought to proceed in so nice an Affair yet Monsignor Marini was ordered to go to Paris and there to forme a pleading of what was imputed to the Criminal and to sollicit that the Judgment of it might be left to the Holy See which was the only Court and Tribunal for the Causes of Cardinals But as they were very certain at Rome that if they would not receive in France Monsignor Corsini in quality of Legat to that Court because there was not Advice first given of it to the King or his Ministers of State much less would they admit of the Arch-Bishop Marini with the like Commissions and consequently they determined a thing which could have no effect so they at Paris did verily apprehend that this proceeded from the Counsel of them who desired to arm the Pope with pretences to blame France for bearing so little respect to the Apostolick See giving him occasion to joyn with their enemies it being certainly believed in Rome as also in Paris that the King would never have venture to thwart the Pope in those unhappy Conjunctures so that by this bold Resolution of sending the Arch-Bishop Marini into France they should uphold the Pontifical decorum and make the Ecclesiastical Authority very glorious The Cardinal Prince Trivultio who was at that time in Rome to take care of the Spanish Interest and supplied the place of Ordinary Embassador for His Catholick Majesty wisely foresaw the bad success of this deliberation which fell out exactly as he had foretold for those that were concerned judging presently that these Maxims of the Court of Rome had no other foundation then a flattering opinion of their own wishes they quickly applied themselves to overthrow them Cardinal Mazarine convinced of the nature of the French as easie to give way to Novelties that bring their delight as inflexible to those things that threaten them he was constrained to minde nothing else but the maintaining of the Kings Authority and therefore Marini was not permitted to enter into the Kingdom the French were unsatisfied with the Court of Rome taxing them of great partiality For the Affronts and Abuses having been oftentimes represented to them that were put upon Cardinal Mazarine a year before by the Parlement of Paris against all Law divine and humane without drawing up his Indictment without lawful Authority and contrary to the Kings minde who defended him and acknowledged himself faithfully served by him and what was worse although the Parlement proceeded so far as to set a Tax of fifty thousand Crowns on his Head besides the Confiscation of all his estate yet for all this the Pope never concern'd himself for defence of the said Cardinal who had no other support left him then that of his Holiness the Kings Authority being at that time contemn'd and trampled on where on the contrary for the only detention of Retz which was done out of meer necessity for the publick good and for maintaining of the Royal Dignity against which he was accused to have a long time plotted they made so much noise They added moreover that the Pope had the less reason to find himself aggrieved seeing the most Christian King had no other intent then to stop the imprisoned Cardinal from going on in his Instigations and not to bring him to trial much less to judge him knowing very well that this did belong to the sole Vicar of Christ although the Parlement passing all respects due to the Holy See and to a Prince of the Holy Church had arrogated to themselves the Authority to do it against Mazarine These and the like Reasons were deduced by the French alledging likewise the example of Lewis the 13. who caused Cardinal Ballua to be imprisoned and detained many years for holding correspondence with the Kings Brother and the Duke of Burgundy and yet the Pope resented it only with fatherly Admonitions and good Offices for his freedom and his errours were not to be parallel'd with those wherewith de Retz was charged They said moreover that the King had caused to be conferr'd upon him the dignity of the Scarlet Robe to oblige him to serve him with the greater affection and not to make use on 't to the prejudice of the Crown That to Sovereign Princes all things were permitted for the security of their States And as the most Christian Kings did justly boast to have alwayes defended and protected the Holy See and to have also reverently and piously obey'd it assisting them in all occasions with their forces and power so His Majestie should glory to follow the footsteps of his Ancestours But that he ought likewise to take care for the benefit and quiet of his loving subjects of whom the King was the Common Father The Imprisonment of this Cardinal who was one of the principal Supports of the Faction of la Fronda compleated their total ruine and destruction for though there remained in Paris some Reliques of this Fire the Sparks were so weak that of themselves they were not able to raise the least Flame and therefore the Royal Authority being more and more setled the Ministers of State proceeded in those deliberations which they judged most proper for the re-establishing the Kingdom in its ancient splendour By these troubles the Kings Revenues were much diminished and the necessity of having money was very urgent great debts being contracted and the credit of the Court reduced to last extremity notwithstanding that the King enjoys a yearly Revenue of above eight millions of Pistols so that to raise money His Majesty made divers Decrees which upon the last day of December were ratified and registred in Parliament in Presence of His Majesty with all readiness although they amounted to the number of thirteen but to please them it was declared that the money raised should be employed upon the most urgent Affairs of the Kingdom and particularly in paying the Souldiery These Edicts were also ratified upon the 7. of January following in the Chamber of Accounts and Court of Aids in Presence of the Duke of Anjon who to that purpose was sent thither by the King with these Redresses of the Political Affairs the Military also took vigour in the Managements of the War with good success in regard of the ruines and losses suffered by the King and the whole Kingdom not only in those parts towards Flanders and in Guienne but also in Italy and Gatalonia Cardinal Mazarine was resolved to keep the War on foot in this last Countrey to divert the Spaniards from employing their forces more powerfully in other parts and therefore he opportunely reliev'd Roses with some barks of Provisions which he ordered to be sent out of Provence by the Duke of Mercoeur The
thereby have notably prejudiced the Crown of France which certainly might have been reduced to great streights if on the one side being assaulted by the powerful forces of the King of Spain and shaken by intestine troubles it had been also on the other side set upon by the English but the propitious fate of France subordinate to the benigne Will of God who disposeth of all things according to the Rule of his divine Providence preserved in these disasters that most Christian Kingdom from the dangerous Enterprizes of that Nation which differing in Religion and manners would have found a fit opportunity of putting France into a very great disorder but they governing themselves by violent means took resolutions very much different from what was suspected so that confounding themselves they gave occasion to the Royal Authority to recover its strength letting the disobedient want forces and those who sought by their Factions and Cabals to disturb and overturn all This was the Warre against the Hollanders to the promoting of which Cardinal Mazarine did so much contribute by his secret Managements and Arts considering the damages the English might do the French without such a diversion Not to interrupt by a digression the thread of our discourse we shall only touch upon the principal motives of this War After the Parliament of England had made themselves Masters of that Kingdom and with their victorious Arms also overcome the Kingdoms of Scotland and Ireland they endeavour'd to keep themselves armed and to exercise themselves with foreign wars now that the Civil were at an end Having learnt this good Maxime of State to keep open in their own body the necessary Preservative of a Cautery whereby to purge out the boyling and malignity of the peccant humours It hapned then that wanting lawful cause to break with France and held back by divers Reasons of State no less then by the Arts of Mazarine who made appear his marvellous parts in dealing so dexterously with a Nation so ill affected to the French they betook themselves to a War with Holland which having a glorious reputation at Sea seemed not a little to obscure the ancient splendour of the redouted and irresistible power of the English Besides the natural emulation of bordering Nations the secret and artificial encouragement of the Neighboring Kingdoms did promote these thoughts who observing with an ill eye two powerful Republicks on each hand they could not but suspect those sudden Growths of States well furnished with Sea-forces The English took their pretext from the Herring-Fishing which the Hollanders used with great gain every year in the Orcades in the North of Scotland They pretended that the Hollanders had usurped this Fishing-trade by the negligence of their King to the great detriment of the publick and therfore not to be tolerated by a Nation that for so many Ages held the principal dominion of the Ocean On the contrary the States of the United Provinces maintain'd that by long possession and ancient custom their right was sufficiently lawful and establish'd with just reason especially it being never known that the English pass'd into those seas to fish This was the motive for which both parties beginning to arme the one to pretend custom the other an exemption from paying custom and to preserve their right they came at length to an open breach to the great prejudice of both their interests for their chiefest subsistence consisting in Trade and Navigation which being interrupted they found the War reciprocally destructive and pernicious but especially to Holland which being confined to a narrow Compass of ground with an infinite of people their greatest wealth depends upon the Sea To these Reasons derived from State-interest and particular profit were added other causes also touching Punctilio's of Reputation the English pretending they had been affronted by the Hollanders in divers occasions and principally in the Massacre of their Embassador Doctor Dorislaws at the Hague killed by the English of the Kings party and by the Adherents of the Prince of Orange To this they joyned other Grievances concerning the death of several of their Nation slain at Amboina where they had setled themselves the Hollanders being jealous of the Commerce of the Indies from which they drew great emoluments The Quarrel began upon the meeting of some English Vessels with some Hollanders about the complement of striking sale The Hollanders sent over Adrian Paw Extraordinary Embassador famous for the Treaty of Munster managed by him with the Spaniards but he in stead of bringing things to a good end rather exasperated the minds of the English so that the business going on to be decided by arms much against the wishes of those of Amsterdam especially who desired to withdraw themselves from the dependence on the House of Orange The States of Holland were much perplexed but nevertheless by their fresh and multiplied Victories obtain'd against the power of Spain having rais'd their fame to that height that they were generally feared and esteemed and having made so advantageous a Peace with the Catholick King they resolved not to prejudice their reputation by yielding to the threats and pretensions of England and therefore made little account of giving satisfaction to that Parlement but providing for the War they set out a numerous Fleet so that every one preparing for Hostility many Merchants were taken and lost on both sides and at length the Fleets meeting of above one hundred Ships a piece there followed divers Battels and Sea-fights with reciprocal damage so that each pretending to the Victory no certain decision could be made on 't the losses and victories consisting in the number of Vessels that were destroyâ—d on either side which never hindred them from returning to Sea again ready for a new Engagement But the Hollanders were very sensible of the loss of their Admiral Trump a Person of great value and of great experience in Maritine Affairs and much troubled that several Vessels had not perform'd their duty by reason they had not the Standard of the Prince of Orange to whom a great part of the Fleet shewed themselves much affected to the particular disgust of those of Amsterdam jealous and no good friends to that House The Court of France taking the opportunity of these differences applied themselves to secure Guienne and Bourdeaux a City above all others disposed to Rebellion for the reduction of which Mazarine made all necessary preparations and therefore besides the sending of the French Fleet into the Garonne and the advancing of forces from all parts into that Province he gave himself to make Overtures of reconciliation with divers persons to see if it were possible to terminate that War rather by fair means then by Arms which being among their own people and subjects wheresoever the Victory fell it would turn to loss The designes of the Cardinal went on prosperously as shall be related hereafter not only in these parts but in others also in the mean time he did not
Catholique Majesty That Baltasser with his Troops might retire to Tartas The Article concerning the Passport into Spain was disputed and at length altered by the Prince of Conty it being agreed on that only notice should be given to the Generals of the Spanish Fleet But with order not to come near Bourdeaux for if they did they should neither be received nor assisted All these Transactions being highly displeasing to Marsin and all such as were enemies to the peace they raised new murmures and divisions in the City and plotted all ways to break or disturb the Treaty They assured the people that there was Corn enough in the Magazines for three Months That the want of provisions and sickness encreasing daily in the Kings Army they could not long subsist nor be able to make the least opposition against the Spanish Fleet which was expected every moment with ample supplies both of Victuals Money and men so that holding out but a few days longer they should obtain a Peace much more advantageous That the Prince of Condy was in Flanders with a powerful Army able to march to Paris without any obstruction by reason of the weaknes of the Kings Forces and the peoples disaffection to the Cardinal Marsin continued to declaim aganst the Propositions of the peace as dishonourable to the name of their Union and to their Promises and oaths so often reiterated not to abandon the Prince of Condy That it was nothing but the effect of a Conspiracy of a few persons corrupted by the flatteries of Mazarine and inveigled with the thoughts of bettering their own fortune by the ruine of the publick interest That their Offers were to be shunn'd as the singing of a Sirene That having offended a Prince to the quick the best Counsel was to see him no more except in a Picture But on the contrary those who understood the Artifices and machinations of seditious persons were of another judgement and declar'd That things were reduc'd now to such an extremity they must fall inevitably into the hands of the Spaniard and live under their yoke and dominion or become miserable sacrifices to the armes and vengeance of their own King That the State could never fall under greater Tyranny then what they then suffered under the Officers of the Princes who had no other aim then to satisfie their insatiable desire of robbing them both of their honour and estates leaving them in a miserable and languishing condition That the City not being to be brought to a worse plight ought to embrace so happy an opportunity of redeeming it self from such imminent dangers whilst the Generals with unexpected Courtesie distributed every where his Majesties grace and favours full of clemency and pity and thought it greater honour to be the instruments of his mercy then revenge That now was the time to wipe off all the unworthy stains of rebellion by making it appear they were rather the effects of a few peoples violence then any universal disgust That Marsin as a stranger was manifestly more solicitous for his own private interest for the Princes and therefore he ran things to Extremity with false and pretended promises of releif which if soberly consider'd was rather to be abhorr'd then receiv'd seeing by prolonging the War all the people must of necessity be precipitated into an eternal and inextricable confusion and their revenues brought to nothing consisting principally in trade with strangers and in the fruits of the field the one absolutely precluded and interrupted and the other like to be destroy'd by the spoiling of their Vintage They further added that the Princes professing the ease of the people to whom they had so many Obligations it was to be suppos'd they would not consent that for the advantage of a few of their party so many innocents should be ruin'd and that themselves being of so high a birth by returning to their obedience they might restore themselves to their pristine Authority and Grandeur in the Kingdom of France where no true Frenchman by reason of their natural antipathy could willingly brook the Spaniards who sought to advantage themselves by these troubles alluring the uncautious by the lustre of their Gold and deluding the people more with false hopes then really assisting them with any formidable and effectual force Finally they concluded that having for their own Sovereign a King given them by God they ought not to doubt of his being endowed with so Noble and Generous a mind as to forget injuries and pardon Offences These Reasons with the Engagement into which most of the Citizens had publikely entred and the fear of falling again under the outrages of the Olmeira in case they should recover their former Authority by the means of foreign force was the cause that the Assembly of the Olmeisti was expresly forbidden and the Captains of the quarters renewed with all diligence and strict Guards placed at the Gates to hinder the entrance of forreign Soldiers They treated also privately with Colonel Baltasser to gain him to their side as a valiant and generous person and one that was capable of doing much mischeif were he united with Marsin with whom by reason of several disgusts past betwixt them he held no very good correspondence Virlade being in the mean time return'd to Begle to accompany the Duke of Candale to Lormont and assist at the General Truce receiv'd an express from the Duke of Vandosme at Mid-night that 33 Sail of Spanish Ships were arriv'd within sight of Blay Whereupon the three days Truce being expir'd the Duke of Candale thought it expedient to give them another indefinite till the conclusion of the peace and the publication of the Amnesty which he did to engage the Citizens in a Treaty before the news of the approach of the Spanish Armada lest they should change their resolutions and concurr with the contrary party It being concluded therefore and establish'd as firm as was possible Virlade was dispatch'd back to Bourdeux to draw the Prince of Conty to a peremptory resolution to declare puplickly for the service of the King where being arriv'd he found the City much altered by the Artifices of Marsin who having been at the Burse to clear himself and Lenet of the machinations wherewith they were charg'd he had in some measure mollifi'd the hearts of those who had been exasperated against him and by the distribution of Money amongst the Plebeians captivated a good part of them particularly those of the Fraternity of Saint John which are so numerous they seldome appear less then 1500 in their procession upon that Saints day so that he caus'd them to fasten peeces of Red Ribbon to their Procession-staffs and to cry up and down the streets and in their very Procession Viva i Principi Long live the Princes Virlada astonish'd at this change rid amongst them with a Trumpet of the Duke of Candales before him snatching from some of them their Red Ribbons giving them white and casting some Moneys amongst