the Count putting himself in the head of those Gentlemen he had with him and seconded by two Bodies of the Inhabitants which were drawn up made so fierce an Assault upon the Ramparts that Grasset forsaken by his men who were terrified with so unlook'd-for an attempt rendered the place upon Composition in less than an hours time after it was attacqued This good success was seconded by the surprize of the Castle of Clermont in Lorain by means of an intelligence which the Marquiss Ferte Senneterre Governour of that Province had with two Serjeants of the Garrison and the Kings Forces took possession of it on the 27 th day of Ianuary And the Fortress of Danvillers which was commanded by the Prince of Marsilliack his Brother as hath been said returned unto the Kings obedience the Garrison rising against him by the perswasion of Captain Bocherelle who imprisoned their Governour and gave up the place in the doing whereof he was not more commended for his Loyalty than the Governour was blamed for his great indiscretion in not foreseeing of the danger and changing some of the Officers of that Garrison when he took the resolution to change his party The Duke of Vendosme coming to Dijon in Burgundy removed the Garrison and Governour out of the Castle there putting into it other Souldiers under the command of Monsieur de Conetty taking security from the Inhabitants for their fidelity as he did also from those of St. Iean de Losne and of Verdune by means of some Commissioners whom they sent to him This was the more resented by Condé because he believed those people would shew their affections to his Family by the close espousing of his Interests on this occasion And this was thought to be the cause that he never after had any kindness for the Burgundians and when he was released declined the coming into that Province The next care of the Court was to regulate the affairs of Roan and Normandy where Count Harcourt was placed to prevent any rising of the Friends or Party of the Duke of Longueville the Garrison and Governour of the Old Palace were removed thence and 100 French Souldiers placed there under the command of Monsieur de Montroit Fourville The Count Harcourt took the ordinary Oath of Fidelity as Governour-General of the Province before Monsieur D' s second President of the Parliament there and Monsieur de Montenay a Councellor of Parliament appointed principal Captain of the City by the Parliament voluntarily quitted his command to take away all occasion of suspition from the Court he being a very intimate friend of the Duke's and Monsieur de Sallet had his command And because the same day the King went to Roan the Council of State published a Declaration whereby the Duke de Bovillon the Prince de Marsilliack and the Marshals de Breze and de Turenne were commanded within the space of 14 days to come to Court and that in case of failer they should incur the crime of Lease Majesté and be prosecuted as Rebels to the State this Declaration was verified by the Parliament of Paris by whom the Duke of Beaufort the Coadjutor Broussel and Charion were the same day declared innocent of the crime whereof they were accused His Majesty returned after upon the 22 th of February having quieted all Normandy without any blow struck and changed the Governours in the strong Holds there without stir excepting onely in Pont de L' Arche where Monsieur de Chambois being Governour refused at first to submit upon pretence of some thousands of Crowns which he alledged to be due unto him but the matter was afterwards adjusted by a composition Presently after this his Majesty sent Monsieur de Villiere of the Family de Phillippeaux Secretary of State a person of excellent parts to require the Seals from the Chancellor Seguier and restored them presently to the Marquiss de Chasteau Neuf at the instance of the Frondeurs who did very earnestly desire it they having been 17 years before taken from him by Cardinal Richlieu for the intelligence he had held with the Dutchess of Chevereux in opposition to him The Court resolved to take away the Seals from the Chancellor and restore them to Chasteau Neuf because there was a necessity to satisfie the Frondeurs who were very earnest for it and though Seguier were a very able person and truly faithful to his Majesties Interests for which cause he had a great esteem from the Parliament yet the Council thought it necessary to sacrifice him for the satisfaction of those Malecontents to avoid the ill consequences which otherwise their jealousies and complaints might have occasioned The Court was also very desirous to have setled all things in Burgundy as they had done before in Normandy and to that purpose upon the fifth of March the King the Queen and Duke of Anjou attended by the Cardinal the Dukes of Ioyeuse and Les Diguieres the Marshals de Gramont Plessis Pralin and Villeroy and many Lords and persons of quality marched thither by the way of Melun and Monteraux and the 24 th day of the same Moneth the Cardinal came to St. Iean de Loue whither he caused the Troops drawn together in the neighbouring places to advance under the command of the Duke of Vendosme notwithstanding the great Rains to attacque Seuvre which the Prince of Condé had late before caused to be called by the name of Belle Garde This place was kept by 500 Foot and 400 Horse commanded by the Count Tavanes and Monsieur de St. Muand the Duke of Vendosme together with the Count de Palau the Lieutenant-General and the Count de Navailes and Monsieur Plessis Besansson Marshals de Camp and one part of the Army took up their Quarters at Champblanc and the Marquiss d'Vxelles Major-general and the Marquesses de Chatelluau and Roncelvoles with the rest of the Army quartered at St. George where they began presently to make their Approaches with about 1200 Pioneers brought from the neighbouring Towns it being not thought necessary to fortifie their Camp by reason that Marshal Turenne was far off and had no reason to suspect that any such thing should be attempted but principally because he was to pass divers Rivers and leave several Garrisons of the King 's at his back in case he should have a desire to relieve them The besieged made what provision they could for their defence and suspecting the Inhabitants to be inclined to the King took away their Arms and set Guards upon them His Majesty being at this time in Burgundy not far from the Camp and being moved by a curiosity natural to his Martial inclination and a desire to hasten the taking of the place came to St. Iean de Losne over-night and the next morning into the Camp to view the several Posts and the besieged being summoned to yield by Monsieur Tivoliere Lieutenant to the Queens Guards he gave them notice of his Majesty's being in the
the Government of publick Affairs they lost the lawful right of judging what was particular At the same time when the Parliament began to treat apart the Princes began to Negotiate their Agreements separately every one according to their particular Interests pretending to be totally dis-engag'd from the Parliament whilst they saw that the Parliament which was the primum mobile of the War and with whom they had confederated endeavoured Peace The Frondeurs were very fierce for War till the Conference at Ruel where the chiefest of them were wrought upon Longueville by his Brother the President of Maisonsi Viola by the Prince of Condé Cogneux and others though they were in some sort engaged with the Arch-Duke The Prince of Conty and Dutchess of Longueville broke with the Coadjutor for that he being Beaufort's Confident and having drawn all the Frondeurs and people to dance after his Pipe he went about to blindfold them and make them serve his designes and his proper Interests and not that of their Families Thus during the time of Conference of Peace the Prince of Condé who desired to reunite them to himself and not to let slip so seasonable a conjuncture sent his Confident Monsieur di Mousay to complement them The Dutchess of Longueville confer'd long with Mousay upon the point of Reconciliation and bid him assure the Prince that she would carry her self to his satisfaction when Peace should be concluded After these Treaties though Conty had made his peace with the Court without Beaufort or the Coadjutor yet when they had discovered their discontents they forbore not to do all they could to make Conty stick to them He and the Dutchess his Sister were well inclined thereunto being otherwise unwilling to lose the fruit of their Declaration and that of the Duke of Longueville in favour of the Parisians which consisted in mitigating the peoples hatred of Condé thinking that thereby she might become more necessary to the Court and more considerable with her Brother who till then had not too great an esteem for her Some told Condé that the Court being in the posture it was in the true way to get advantage on both sides would be to let the Prince of Conty head the Frondeurs yet he who then scorned the Frondeurs and who hatred Beaufort particularly by reason of the great esteem the Parisians had of him resolved absolutely to severe Conty from their Interests and by little and little to destroy that Faction which being disperst he might afwards more easily pull down the Cardinal or make him comply totally with him The occasion of the Arch-Bishoprick of Liege which at this time was presented confirm'd him in this opinion believing that if he could procure that dignity for his Brother he might establish his House the better The Canons were divided many whereof had recourse for protection to France against the Elector of Culen who would have his Brother chosen Coadjutor That they might engage the King of France in their Interests they offered to chuse the Prince of Conty who fed his Brother with these hopes to make him abandon Paris and to bring him to Compeigne where the Court then was and where he acquainted the Cardinal with his designe he who received the testimony of his confidence whilst the War of Paris lasted could not but assist him but considering afterwards that it was not good to embroyl France in the affairs of Germany and against the House of Bavaria between whom there was good intelligence held seemed to proceed so reservedly in the affairs necessary to effect this designe that the mean while the Elector making his Agreement all the Princes hopes vanished which was thought to be one of the reasons of his complaints and his beginning to distrust the Cardinal These designes proving vain Conty and Longueville reconciled themselves to the Coadjutor and appeared outwardly to be good friends though jealousies remained inwardly between them for Conty could not depend upon any one The Duke of Bullion seemed somewhat distasted at these Negotiations between the Parliament and Court and their hopes in Paris being revived by the drawing down of the Spaniards Flemish Army he thought it strange that his concernments should be given over He therefore moved the Prince of Conty and the Dutchess of Longueville not to make the Agreement but to go with their Troops into Normandy and being assisted by the Spaniards to continue the War there hoping hereby to effect his designes and to make the Court grant his pretensions This Proposal being liked by the other Princes they thought to fall upon it but it was laid aside as well for the difficulty which would be found in executing it as for that Bullion made his peace otherwise by the Prince of Condé's means with whom he had still had good intelligence But the Duke of Longueville not being put by vertue of this Treaty into possession of his Towns nor into his Government of Normandy which was a new motive to him and Conty to put on any resolution rather than to abandon the Dukes Interest the Abbot de la Riviere by consent with Condé made a particular Agreement be propounded by Monsieur de Flamerin to the Prince of Conty whereby the Duke was to be re-possessed of all his Towns and Conty should have the Government of Danvilliers for his security if he would yield the name of Cardinal to la Riviere This Negotiation was managed and concluded by the Prince of Marsiliack with intention to let Longueville know that the Prince of Conty was cause of his re-establishment and thereby to joyn them closer together as also to keep la Riviere who was then in great favour with the Duke of Orleans stedfast to Conty's Interest who concurring in all things with his Sister Longueville intended so to establish themselves as they should not be defrauded of their pretensions when the King should be of age Thus was the agreement made between the King and Parliament whereupon the Cardinal seeing the Courts condition bettered declared that he would not now yield unto any of the Propositions formerly pretended unto by the Spaniards since he saw himself in a condition of being able to withstand them unless some new Emergencies should disturb him The Pope's zeal and the like of the Commonwealth of Venice to facilitate Peace in all parts made the Arch-bishop of Tarzo who was Nuntio and Pietro Basadona the Venetian Embassador in Spain to provide against the Evils which the affairs of Paris made them apprehend wherefore they intreated his Catholick Majesty to command his Plenipotentiaries that notwithstanding the novelties that were risen they should not defer nor obstruct the making of Peace They obtained their desires and the Catholick King ordered that the Treaties should be drawn to an end and yielded to all things that were fair and honest The Nuntio Bagin and the Embassador Morosini informed the King of France immediately of this generous act and gave notice to Count Pignoranda
by no means enter into a Treaty unless Poland would raze out of their Writings and Commissions the Title of King of Sweden before used and would also reform their great Seal by leaving out the Three Crowns which are the Arms of Swâ—den The Polanders by perswasion of the Mediatours agreed to raze it out of their Commissions having first made a Protestation apart wherein they declared the same was not to prejudice their right But as to the Seal the same being the particular Arms of the King's Family not of the Kingdome this pretence was by the Arbitratours esteemed very slight and therefore Morosini together with the Deputies of Holland who arrived there about the end of Ianuary 1653. because the French were of the Swede's party endeavoured of themselves to perswade the Swedes that they would quit the same and fall upon the Treaty but they being positive to have the Commission changed with the omission of the Title and the reformation of the Seal the matter stuck so as no perswasion of the Mediators was able to advance it whereupon the Affair becoming desperate because the Polanders could not alter their Instructions without a new Diet impowering them to do it the business fell and in the Moneth of February the Meeting was dissolved without coming to any resolution The Sâ—edes shewed themselves little desirous of this accommodation bâ—bâ—cause they hoped seeing Poland engaged in a great War to find a time more favourable to their Interests that they might either make a Peace upon their own Terms or breaking it advantage themselves extraordinarily during the weakness of that Kingdom The French adhered unto their sence for which they were much blamed whereby 't was manifest it concerned them the Swedes should continue armed that in case the face of Affairs should alter and the French Arms should gain any advantage over the Spaniards the Emperour standing in doubt of the Swedes might not be able to assist them The Polanders therefore parted for their own Countrey and the like did all the other Plenipotentiaries and Mediators only the Hollanders staid some days after having received Orders to negotiate with the Hans-Towns and draw them to some Declaration in their favour against the English Mean while the Ministers of Spain were not negligent in their prosperity but prosecuting their good fortune sent Orders to their Fleet in Biscay to attaque Blage a most important place scituate at the mouth of the Gâ—ronne wherein was Governour as you before heard the Duke of San Simon a most faithful person to his Prince The Spaniards had fancied this Enterprize not to be difficult because the French Armada being taken and destroyed by the English they supposed it could not be in a condition speedily to relieve it and they believed the Forces of the Bourdelois joyned with those of the Princes in Guienne would be sufficient to block it up by Land Battevile therefore sollicited the execution of the King's Orders and with all diligence possible appeared with his Shipping in the Garonne but he found things in a far different condition from that which divers discontented French had represented to the Court of Spain so as 't was necessary for him without any attempt made to return and winter in the Port of Passage where he discovered the Artifices of some who to ingratiate themselves with his Catholick Majesty and obtain rewards from him represented things very different from truth magnifying small matters and lessening those of greater consequence Thereby it happened that discords and unkindnesses grew shortly after between Battevile Marsin and Lenet which were followed with Calumnies and Accusations exhibited by those French Commanders against Battevile himself that they might get him removed out of Guienne they blamed him that there were not in Bourg 1000 of the 1500 Irish paid by the Spaniard that his dispatches had been altered and accounts given of exorbitant expences and that having changed the Spanish money into French he had thereby gained 25 in the hundred Don Lewis who loved and protected Battevile ordered him to retire to St. Sebastians declaring That he was obliged not to give any disgust unto the Princes But in the Court of Spain it appeared not a thing blame-worthy although it had been true that this Lord continuing faithful to the King's Interest should be so cunning as to make his own particular advantage because it declared him to be a man of spirit which was a thing displeasing to the French and principally to Lenet who having used to domineer without controul in Bourdeaux could not endure to have any dependence upon the Ministers of Spain In execution of the abovesaid Orders Battevile having first imbarked upon two Vessels the most trusty of his Officers and divers of his best Souldiers in the Garrison at Bourg the ninth of December began his Voyage with no less bitterness than indignation against Marsin and Lenet who he pretended had wrongfully slandered him for no other cause but that they found him a faithful and useful Servant to the King from whose favour he had easily fallen had he not been supported by the same Don Lewis D'aro who protected him with that sincerity and justice which are the But of all his Actions To Don Ioseph Osorio was confirmed the Command of the Forces in Bourg and the manage of the Treasure was conferred upon the Governour of St. Sebastians Câ—ntelino at that time returned unto the Catholick Court and was sent back with a Present of Jewels to the Princess of Conde valued at 40000 Crowns and a Bracelet of Diamonds for himself But the Cardinal Mazarin who during all these Blustering storms had preserved the Royal Authority from the eminent danger of a Ship-wrack and shewed himself to all the world to be one of the most expert and daring Mariners that ever sailed upon the Sea of Politick Affairs as soon as he perceived the troublesome Commotions and storms which had so furiously agitated the whole Kingdom to be dispersed by his Majestie 's presence and access to Paris gave himself wholly to the study and practice of such fit Expedients as might not only calm the intestine Motions but also raise up the lost credit and reputation of the Royalty and he believed the way to make the â—ame more reverenced and observed was rather by Pardon than Chastisement it being a Maxime fixed in the Cardinal's mind That the generous spirits of the French Nation were sooner to be gained by courteous usage than by the violence of Arms which was the cause he set on foot Treaties with each one of the contumacious Persons holding that love unto the King ought to be the fifth Element and to preserve that concord between Subjects which is not interrupted but by the apprehensions of hatred or revenge He revived new Treaties and Propositions of Peace with the Prince of Conti the Parliament of Bourdeaux with the Counts of Harcourt and Ogran and with all the other Princes great Lords and men of Spirit who possessed
over-rate the esteem he thought was set upon himself and remaining therefore in the middle of the City amongst the Citizens his friends and neighbors he continued still impugning of the King's Authority and hoped that by this means they would be forced to make application to him Whereupon this being known by his Majestie 's good Servants to be a pernitious action which was by all means to be speedily redressed there was a long debate between the Prince Thomaso of Savoy who then exercised the Charge of Principal Minister of State and divers others well-affected to his Majestie 's Service touching the means of removing him from Paris and in case that should not succeed to find some other fit expedient to take from the loose people this Temptation which might perhaps engage them in new Disorders The Cardinal had in confidence acquainted the Princess of Guymeny that he was willing to retire to Rome and that coming to the King's knowledge the Princess was charged in some dextrous manner to let him know That if we were resolved upon it his Majesty would assent thereunto And at the same time there was proposed unto him a specious Title with a considerable Aynde de costa That residing in Italy he might protect the Interests of the Crown as well in the life as after the death of Innocent in the Conclave But when it came to the point the effects were found very different from his Expressions for he then answered That the face of Affairs was changed and that he could not now abandon his Friends to the discretion of the Court. The Negotiation of the Princess having failed there was employed therein by the Queen the Princess Palatine who was of a ready Wit and lively spirit and very fit for the undertaking of any knotty business The Princess saw him several times and failed not to represent unto him with much efficacie what was imputed to him by their Majesties Adding That 't was too much for him to pretend to make use of that Dignity which he had by his Majestie 's favour and bounty in a matter repugnant to the gust and satisfaction of his Majesty against whose good pleasure it was a vanity worthy of blame in Subjects to oppose themselves That he should not harbour in his breast these thoughts of trouble and disturbance which by many were imputed to him and that besides there were offered unto him besides Honorable Ayndas de Casta and Assignations sufficient to maintain him at Rome But the perswasions of this Princess availed nothing because he strongly conceited his Reputation was concerned in the Voyage in respect it would be thought he was driven out of France and parting should abandon many of his Friends which by the Rules of gratitude he could not do Finally being convinced by the strong Reasons of the Princess he delayed the time upon the pretence of expecting the Cardinal Mazarine's coming to Paris with whom alone and no other he was resolved to treat of that Affair and refusing the Queens interposition therein which much encreased the suspicions against him And he began then to demand a Government for one of his Dependants a Secretary of States place for another Friend of his and other Employments for divers of his Confidents and discovered his pretensions to be very high and exorbitant The Queen who had refused such things to the Prince of Conde who was at the Gates of Paris with an Army was resolved not to grant them unto a man who had nothing but a tongue to stir up fickle people and such as were desirous of a change the jealousies had of him being therefore much augmented it was thought necessary for securing the Government against his sinister and vagrant thoughts to take a resolution to secure his Person The difficulty of the thing rested in the manner how to execute it because it was not practicable in his own House and both dangerous and full of peril to do it in the Streets of Paris which his Majesty desired to avoid and to do it without tumult as well in regard of his Dignity of Cardinal as because his principal aim was to do all things with great quietness and without confusion But whilst the King's Ministers busied themselves in fitting of such things as might facilitate the execution thereof which they found alwayes full of difficulty fortune or rather the divine Justice offered a means for the effecting of it much more favourable than was expected His friends did represent unto him that the King was resolved to be observed and that it was his duty to pay his Majesty the ordinary Visits or to abandon Paris they told him this manner of proceeding was too scandalous and de Retz being perswaded thereby and Christmas now drawing near was resolved to Preach himself in the Church of St. German of Auxerre whereof the Queen having notice sent word unto the Curate that she intended to be there in person The Cardinal took this for a favour and thought himself obliged to wait upon her Majesty and thank her for the Honour she intended to him in persuance whereof upon the 20 th of December beyond all their hopes or expectations he went unto the Loâ—vre trusting upon his Dignity of Cardinal wherein he so much confided that he said publickly That although he had formerly been in some apprehension from the Court yet since he was a Cardinal he dreaded nothing further from thence Being entred within the Court he found the Queen was not then fully dressed and therefore going up the great Stayres to see the King he met his Majesty about the middle of them by whom he was with great courtesie received and brought into his Mothers Lodgings with whom whilst de Retz complemented and discoursed the King whispered to Monsieur de Tillier and gave order for the Arresting of him which a while after was executed by the Marquess of Villequier Captain of the Guard who seised upon him at the door of the Anti Camera The Cardinal was very pale and much confounded and said What me for what Cause Villequier with some Souldiers conducted him into the great Gallery and from thence into the Duke of Anjou his Apartment where he was shut up about two hours until the Guard to conduct him was put in order and a Coach wherein he was after some time by the Porta del Conferenza carried unto the Castle de Vincennes no Tumult or Disturbance being all this while among the people who discoursing of the News applauded the King's resolution in it There were presently many and various discourses touching this extraordinary Accident happening as 't were by chance Those of the Court said That the King began now to make himself known for such and that this resolution was a thing suddenly taken by himself without the advice or perswasion of his Ministers only for the publick repose and quiet of the Kingdom The Prisoner's Friends on the other side gave out This was a blow proceeding from the
out of the City and how it should be done But it being hard that this should be done by so many Princes and Commanders in War lest the people should take up Arms and hinder them from going out especially since it being in the dead of Winter they had no excuse to go out for Recreation the Twelf-night-Feast was thought a fitting time when throughout all France and particularly in Paris great Feastings and Jollities are used to be had as well amongst Plebeians as Citizens at the solemnization of the King of Beâ—nes it being supposed that when all men should be intent upon their Cups or going to bed they might then effect their intent The hour and moment being appointed the greatest difficulty lay in getting the King and Queen out The business was given in charge to Marshal Grammont who was returned from Flanders the very day of the Declaration made the 28th of October with the French Guards Swissers King's Cavaliers and Mazarine's Gens d' Arms. The Prince of Condé and the Cardinal went to his house to Supper waiting for the appointed time The mean while the King and Queen and the Duke of Anjou went out at the back-gate of the â—arden and finding Grammont there who had ordered all things with great secrecy they got into Coach and were conducted by the Marshal and some few Guards out at the Gate delle Conference where were the Duke of Orleans Cardinal and many of the Court-Lords They stop'd in the midst of the way expecting Madamoselle d' Orleans who was advertised somewhat late and divers others who had their Rendezvous appointed there The Prince of Condé went after midnight to waken his Brother Conty his Mother and Sister who lay then in his Palace all the doors whereof he caused to be shut took the Keys himself and acquainted them with the Courts designe and that he was bound to follow it Conty and his Mother prepared to go with him but the Dutchess of Longueville remembring that her Husband had pass'd his Parol at Noysy saw that he was to make good his word since it was the Court that fell upon Paris in which case he was engaged to declare for the Parliament She therefore thought that if she should go to St. Germains she should anger the Duke her Husband And for that cause pretended that being great with Childe she was not fit to travel and so without giving any cause of jealousie she avoided going out of Paris She notwithstanding advised Conty to follow his Brother since he was not engaged to the Parliament unless her Husband should first engage who was then in Champagnia Conty was advised by his Sister in this as he was in all things else and sent a Servant to tell the Coadjutor that he followed the Prince his Brother being forc'd by him so to do And whilst he was at St. Germains he received news every day from his Sister and the Coadjutor by the means of his Vallet de Chambre Verboquet who like a Country-Peasant went to and fro between the Court and Paris It was good luck that Longueville was not at Paris for if he had been there the Court could not have resolved so soon lest the Duke might have revealed the Resolution and had caused the King be stay'd or otherwise might have pretended to have tarried in the City The Dutchess sent him word presently telling him That it was time for him to come to Paris according to appointment but he thought it not good to declare himself till the Parliament had openly declared against the Cardinal for that otherwise the Parliament might alter its minde and he might be deceived He therefore went to St. Germains to expect what would be resolved upon which caused great jealousie in Paris where the bottom of his policy was not sounded This was the reason why the Duke d' Elboeuf of the House of Lorrain elder Brother to Count Harcourt declared openly for the Parliament that by making himself Head of that Party he might better his Interests in Court When their Majesties went out they left three Gentlemen behind them to wish the Lords and Great ones to follow them The Duke d' Elboeuf Duke of Bullion and all the other Princes and Gentlemen had notice thereof D' Elboeuf went to St. Germains but as it was thought rather to observe what the Court did than to tarry there for pretending that he had not a convenient Lodging appointed him and that his Mother Wife Children and Family were in Paris he returned thither that he might assist them The Duke of Bullion lay sick of the Gout Before the Queen went out she writ two Letters the one to the Arch-bishop of Paris the other to the Coadjutor She acquainted the Arch-bishop with the reasons which had induced her to go out and recommended the Kings service to him She wisht the Coadjutor to go to St. Germains the next day to treat of some important particular business The Letters were delivered the Coadjutor shewing a readiness to obey got the next morning into his Coach but was stopt by the fury of the people who flocking in great numbers about him would not suffer him to go But it was thought that this was done by agreement between him and some of the more popular sort The next Morning by break of day the whole Regiment of the French Guard and Switzers went out of the Suburbs where they lay with Drums beating and pass'd Company after Company towards St. Germains not being hindred by any though it was known that they went to trouble Paris perhaps because they would not appear to be the first that should make the breach especially being without a Head who might be capable to issue forth Orders Yet towards night they shut up the City-Gates and suffered none to go out the people being risen of themselves who kept many of the Nobless and Courtiers from going out and plundred and broke many Coaches committing many other insolencies whereby all that belonged unto the Court were much endangered The news of the Kings going out of Paris being known the next morning the Frondeurs were amazed the rather for that they saw the Princes of Conty and Marsiliack had followed the Court and thinking that Longueville would do the like contrary to the Agreement made at Noisy But they were a little better comforted afterwards when they saw the Prince of Marsilliack who returned to Paris pretending some particular affairs but indeed purposely to speak with the Dutchess of Longueville and with some of the chief Frondeurs to assure them that the Prince of Condé and himself would be as good as their Words and that they could do no less than go out of the Town with the King since they could make no open declaration till they saw the Parliament wholly engaged Marsilliack prest them to make a Decree in Parliament as they had done against Marshal d'Ancre in the year 1617. and leaving Gourville at Paris to sollicite them and to come
were as yet open on two or three sides writ to Count Fuenseldagne That the City was in danger to be lost unless it were speedily relieved and mentioned the way to do it which was to march straight forward with the body of the Army towards the Fortifications feigning to fall upon one Quarter and to send 2000 Foot to another Quarter which was not yet intrenched so as the one or the other of them might easily enter where they were least looked for This Letter was intercepted by the French and being decifer'd was sent to Count Harcourt that he might so order his Affairs as to disappoint the Enemies The Spaniards assaulted the Quarters The French thought assuredly either to take or to cut in pieces the 2000 men that came to relieve the Town but notwithstanding they got in no man knew how nor no man withstanding them Some would have it that it was by the negligence of an Officer who quitted a Barricado to run to hear a noise that was made in another part but be it what you will it hapned so unexpectedly as all were amazed at it yea even the Spaniards themselves The French imputed it to the Germans who as strangers might perchance have been favourable to the Enemy But the common Opinion was That it hapned by a very great Mist that fell then and by the negligence of an Officer that guarded the Barricado Harcourt hereupon rais'd the Camp to the great discontent of the Court for it was thought his Forces were such as he might have taken it although the relief was entered He retreated to Cambresi whereat the Arch-Duke being very much joy'd as having saved a place of such importance he sent the Marquiss Sfondrato with 6000 men toward the Washes of Flanders to observe Palvan's proceedings propounding nothing to himself during that Campagnia but how to keep the French from making more attempts Thus the Armies kept for some days neer one another wanting many necessaries The King and Court kept still at Compeigne and were the more displeased with this accident for that they saw the Frondeurs and other Male-contents of Paris rejoyced thereat as if they had thereby received a great Victory being so blinded with hatred as the French were seen to rejoyce at their own ruine left good success might have increased the Cardinal's Reputation Beaufort and the Coadjutor and others who envied his fortune gave out That he was the cause why the King did not return to Paris rendring him thereby hateful to the Inhabitants who got much by the Courts being at Paris and so highly were they incensed against those that were of the Royal Party as in scorn the Frondeurs called them Mazaâ—inians Two things did much trouble the Court and the Cardinal to whom as chief Director all both good and bad success were attributed so as he resolved to go himself to the Camp upon pretence to treat of general Peace with the Spanish Plenipotentiary Pignoranda who was to that purpose to be at Valenciennes as was agreed upon by the Pope's Nuntio and the Venetian Embassador On the 22 of Iuly he went to Chasteau-Cambrey where the King's Army lay and was accompanied by the Dukes Vandosm and Mercoeur the Mareshal Villeroy and Pâ—essis Prasin together with dâ—ierâ— others of the Court He was received in the Camp with all applause due to his Eminency Where he had divers consultations with the prime men whom he admitted to the Treaty and inviting them frequently encouraged them to shew their Worth and Valour Then causing the Army to be mustered he presented them with considerable Donatives particularly the Dutch Commanders declaring That he never had the least suspition that Cambray was relieved through any miscarriage of theirs and that the King was of the same opinion from whom he brought Letters to General Ohem wherein his Majesty expressed his opinion of their innocency and by these and other civilities endeavoured to sweeten them who for the imputation falsly laid upon them threatned to forsake the Service as being freemen and Forreigners and did win upon their affections for all the French could do to their prejudice And there being nothing that makes Souldiers willinger to hazard their Lives than to shew them a means how to make amends for their sufferings he moved that they should march into the Island of St. Armand a rich and plentiful Country seated between the Rivers Scheld and Scarpe Which being agreed upon the French marched into that fruitful Island and entred into the midst of it without any opposition for their coming was unexpected and pillaged whatsoever they pleased to the as great confusion of the Inhabitants as grief of the Spaniards who were generally blamed by all Flanders for their inadvertency therein The Arch-Duke went thither to see whether the Enemy were to be fought with or no and driven from thence and took up his Quarters there where the Scarpe falls into the Scheld to keep the French from advancing further And since his Army could not fight the French being fewer in number he by the advantage of scituation defended the Passes and sent for Souldiers from Flanders and from all the neighbouring Provinces to increase his Army The French quartered in this opulent Country for above two Moneths running up and down without doing any thing till finding it needful to possess themselves of some place behinde them whereby they might facilitate the bringing of necessaries to the Camp and keep their Cavalry without any trouble in the Enemy's Country Count Harcourt rose on the 7 th of August from the Abby of Denaim where he was encamped after the Spaniards had retreated to Valenciennes and went to Arleux between Doway and Bocheim which is a small tract of Ground Islanded by the River Scarpe and by the Rivolets of Sluce and Sally five Leagues from Arras where he staid some days as well to hinder the Spaniards from bringing Provisions to their Camp from Doway Cambray Bocheim and other places as to get Victuals for his Army And not long after parting from thence he encamped within sight of Valenciennes and went himself in person with 1500 Horse and 2000 Commanded Foot to assault the Town of Condé scituated in a place where it is not overlooked any where having a no contemptible Castle which is watered by the Rivers Escaut and Aisne Count Broglio had the charge of assaulting the Town given him which he did with incredible speed and lodged suddainly upon the Counterscarp of the Town and forced the Enemy quickly to surrender it Colonel Grondes marching out of it on the 24 th of August with 500 Foot and 50 Horse which were Convoy'd by Monsieur Beauvais to Valenciennes Upon this advice the Arch-Duke advanc'd to Morteigne but hearing that that place was lost went neer Tourney summoning together all the scattered Souldiery and the Country-Militia to keep the French from making further progress who marched even within sight of Brussels though not without the inconveniency of want of
keep their obedience For it was said That Garonette who held secret Intelligence with Duke Beaufort and the Coadjutor well-wishers to the Bourdelois offered to make Marquiss Savebeus General This Savebeus was a Gentleman of Perigord who being advanced in Espernon's Court had by his favour married the Daughter and Heir of Pierre Rusier de Limosin a very rich man who had declared for the Duke of Orleans against the late King at Momorancy his first stirring He was afterwards Lieutenant-general to the Duke of Parma in Italy and not being content with his Fortune he fish'd in troubled Waters The Cardinal was after told That since all Remedies that had been hitherto applied to this Malady had failed and that all had proceeded from the Duke of Espernon's presence in Guienne who was there generally hated the cause must be removed to remove the effect But it was not thought convenient to remove Espernon then because that another being to be sent thither it might be that the Prince of Condé might desire to be the man so as the Burdelois affection towards Condé might prove more prejudicial to the King's Authority than their hate to Espernon as also that it was more easie Espernon being powerful in Friends and Territories in Guienne to reduce the Burdelois to their obedience by his means than to seem to fear a rash and indiscreet people by sending a new Governour and that therefore by Maximes of good Government it was better to hazard the whole than to loose a part willingly with hazard of the rest The King had a thought to go thither himself in person or at least to send the Duke of Orleans to Bourdeaux where all things tended towards War and Gallies being armed by the Burdelois began to scoure those Waters in hostile manner having taken Monsieur de Meart the Duke of Espernon's Superintendant Prisoners and Counsellour Blank in their Country-houses who were brought with much ignominy to Bourdeaux wherefore Espernon who was come to Bourg to have a care of that place commanded Monsieur de Piles to advance with some Companies of the Guienne Brigado to Portes and garrisoned all the neighbouring places with Souldiers which came to him from Agen Mont-Alban and elsewhere and acquainted the Court with all these proceedings And because Haultmont Governour of the Castle of Trombette had seized on some Beeves as they were driven underneath the Walls for that the City had denied him some Victuals which he had desired this served for a pretence to the Burdelois to break with the said Governour the Citizens making divers shot against the said Castle and making all the Souldiers that were in the City Prisoners Wherefore Haultmont made all his Artillery play but the Castle being seated low the Bullets graz'd onely against the tops of the houses causing neither prejudice nor fear Therefore Savebeus was of opinion that it should be besieged To provide against the which Monsieur de Mentrese advanced with some of the King's Vessels into the Goromne and four Ships were forthwith armed by the City with which together with some other Vessels of War Monsieur Thibaut fell down the stream to encounter the Royalists Meautrix his Vessel as it advanced to give battle stuck against ground so as going into a little Bark he flew the Pilot and set fire on the Ship The Burdelois this mean while drew forth some Cannon to play upon the Castle wherein the Parliament was not wanting to give assistance and imposed a great sum of Money upon all the richest Citizens Advocate Roche did together with some others compose one Counsel of War consisting of six and another of four for the Maritime affairs they took divers Troops into pay under Monsieur d' Espagnet who was the Enginier and began to besiege the Castle wherein there were but 200 men in Garrison They set upon it on three sides and to keep it from being relieved the Marquiss of Savebeus and Marquiss Lusignan advanced with many Squadrons to the Burrow of Pondesack fortified and put Garrisons into all the Churches and little Towns about Bourdeaux and fortified the Island St. George which is a tract of ground lying between the branches of Garonine Moreover all that were absent were summoned under great penalties to return unto the City which many of them did and the houses of such as did not return were plundred and all their Goods were sold by the Candle Espernon endeavoured to relieve the Castle by Water and appeared with his Forces on the opposite shore but was forc'd to give over the Enterprize Wherefore the Defendants having manfully defended themselves from the latter end of August till the midst of October their Victuals failing them the Water being corrupted all their Defences and Tower beaten down and the Garrison being reduced to bare to men despairing of Relief they were forced to capitulate and went out on the 18th of October the Enemy entred sackt the Castle the Duke of Espernon's Movables which were worth 50000 l. Sterling were brought into the Market-place and sold for 8000 l. the Cannon which was in the Castle were brought in great triumph to the publick Hall of the City Counsellour Fayard with Ivie and Vine-leaves upon his head like a Batchanatian bestrid one of the greatest Pieces and with Flaggons of Wine in his hands powred out Wine to the licentious Rabble that followed him inviting them all to cry out Vive le Burdelois Vive le Parlement Upon which was fastened a Writing in applause of the Enterprize and exhorting them to accept of the Title of Majesty This was composed to little purpose and to the scandal of all good men by one Gage a Priest a Chieftain of the Seditious and who by base flattery sought for a reward During this Siege the Deputies of Bourdeaux protested to the Queen That the Parliament intended mischief to none but to their bitter Enemy Espernon and that in all things else they were the King 's faithful and obedient Subjects The Court which desired to wipe off the rust of Scorn and Hatred which could not be done but by using sometimes simulation sometimes rigour at the same time that they sent Orders to certain of the Souldiery of Guienne to advance sent Mareshal Plessis Pralin to reassume the Treaty of Peace and to give all reasonable satisfaction to the people and Parliament When the Marshal came to Guienne he forbore going either to Cadillack or Bourdeaux so to keep from giving suspition to either party but went to Lormont and began to negotiate as a third person between the Parliament and Duke he was complemented by the Deputies of the Parliament and of the City at first he endeavoured to impede the continuation of the Siege and when the surrender was made to hinder the demolishing of the Castle Trombette he was answered by Sault who was the Advocate-General That they would have no Peace but War till the King were of years unless Espernon were removed from that Government in whom they
next day as the Assembly rose a great noise â—as heard in the outward Hall of the Palace made by divers who were hired to do it amongst which one was so bold as to say and swear to President Mesnies in an outragious manner that they would have justice and a fig for Mazerine which made the President return into the Chamber fearing worse The Duke of Orleans answered to the desire made unto him by the two aforesaid That he would not come to the Assembly for that there was so great tumultuating and that when he should come it should be to the cost of some body who made it lawful to publish that the Princes were removed from Marcousi to Haure de Grace without his consent that knowing they would not meet without he were present to treat of affairs of such importance he would not come to them but let them do what they would nothing was to be done but to remit that business to the Queen to do what she pleased therein and that it had never been heard that the Parliament did meddle in any such affairs That whereas it seemed strange unto them that Monsieur di Bar should guard the Princes let them consider that the late Prince was guarded in the Castle of Vincennes by a Lieutenant of the Navarre Regiment Notwithstanding they continued to treat of the Princes and the aforesaid Dandales moved that a Remonstrance might be made both by word of mouth and in writing to the King that Haure de Grace not being a sitting Prison for Princes of the blood nor la Bar of a sitting condition to be their keeper it being a place belonging to the Guards of the Kings body the Princes might be removed to the Louvre and be there guarded by the Kings Officers Crespin being of the Kings party asked where the Parliaments Artillery was to force Bar to let loose the Princes and whether they had 50000. Ussieri or Serjeants to make an Army and besiege him in case he refused to obey them Thus the Assembly ended without concluding any thing and adjourned till the next day When the Marishal de L' Hospital being in the great Hall and hearing himself called a Mazarinian turned about and said aloud who is he that calls me a Mazarinian one of the insolent people replied I am he that says so but who are you that ask me The Marishal wisely said nothing finding that they were people who desired nothing but to raise Tumults When the Assembly met again the same Dislandes propounding what he had done before added that if the Parliament should think good to fall upon the Cardinals bad Administration of Government he would lend his helping hand but that then the other Parliaments must be invited to co-operate joyntly for the good of the State this being well liked by many afforded occasion to many to commence the discourse Counsellor Brussels seconding Dislandes added that all the Evils that had befaln France for the four last years had proceeded from the Cardinals bad guiding of affairs he imputed unto him that he had appropriated unto himself almost all the Revenues of the King that he detain'd the pay of the Armies and of the Fleets for his own use which occasioned the Soldiers plundering and extortions even to the Gates of Paris That it was a shame for France to tolerate a stranger so long he then fell to speak of the Prince of Conde shewing that in the Kings own Declaration he was charged chiefly with being too ambitious of having the places of Government bestowed upon his Friends which if it were a fault in him it might much more be called guilt in the Cardinal there not being any strong place whereof he was not now absolute master that his going to Rethel was only to treat of Charleville and of Monte Olimpe and alledging divers other examples and reasons concluded that in their Remonstrances they must mention the Cardinal and declare unto the King in writing the unless speedy remedy were taken he went about to undo the State Champound Refuge Meusiner Sevin Coqueley and others continued to inveigh mightily against the Cardinal but nothing was resolved upon for the delight of backbiting spun out the time till it grew late nor was there any thing concluded the Munday following For news coming that the Battel of Rethel was won the Chambers were invited to assist at Te Deum which was no pleasing news to many for that it was altogether in praise of the Cardinal in whose behalf Malnerdeau Champre advancing said that all the good Fortune of France proceeded from the Cardinal who was the cause of obtaining that Victory and of all the advantages gotten by the former Champagnias He commended his Government and joined in opinion with those that were for the King And for what concerned the Prince they were to be given into the Cardinals custody who would have a particular care of them but he was not listned unto The Parliament met the following days and the Coadjutor discoursed vehemently against the disorders of the State not naming any body he said that the Victory being gotten and the Enemy being so reduced as they could do nothing they must think upon home affairs and free the Kingdom from the bad Administration of the Finances but that all things could not be done without setting the Princes at liberty which was a point of State and ought to be done though they should not prove innocent Barine master of the requests Aisne and other Councellors continued still to blame the Government but President Viola was more passionate than all the rest he discoursed largely of the Princes affairs he spoke of the Cardinal as of the common Enemy He quoted a place of Scripture where it is said that Forreigners ought not to be received into the Government of States nor be acquainted with publick affairs adding that all the Kings confederates did abandon him by reason of the bad satisfaction they received from the Favourite when they were to negotiate any thing That the few Princes of Italy who were yet Friends to France were in doubt whether they should continue still so or no that Catalonia which had cost the King above 60. Millions was about to be lost That the English did threaten that all France was full of fire wherefore he concluded for the Remonstrances Blanmenill and Gilbert shewed examples â—out of History of what disorders had besaln States which have been governed by Forreigners and how that all Princes that ever made use of them have been forced to abandon them and to send them away and here amongst other examples he alledged the Declaration made by the late King Lewis the 13 th when the late Prince of Conde was set at liberty after a long imprisonment occasioned by the ambition of the Marquess de Ancere a Florentine Gilbert remembring violences committed by Ministers of State against the chief Lords of the Land added that Favorites thought themselves out of credit when they did
Friends put forth a Declaration wherein the Prince promised to second the Duke of Orleans in making the Coadjutor Cardinal All these acts were by Croisy and Camertine intimate friends to the Coadjutor carried to the Duke of Orleans who underwrit two copies without reading them nor knew he what the contents were more than what the Coadjutor was pleased to acquaint him with Without whose suggestion doubtlesly Orleans intended no ill to the Cardinal nor would the Princes friends have demanded more than the Prince his liberty which when it should have been had the Parliament would not have prest for keeping the Cardinal from Court These writings being afterwards carried to the Princess Palatine and to the Duke of Nemeurs to be subscribed by them they agreed that they should remain with Croisy who was to deliver them to the Duke of Orleans or to Conde when he should be at liberty Incouraged by these Treaties the Frondeurs began to solicit the Princes liberties which made the Cardinal aware ere long of Orleans his alienation from him not so much out of any coolness that he found in him as for the bad speeches which many of his Court used concerning him but he was not yet fully inform'd of the secret plots that were a weaving against him and it was strange that so many days being spent in these Treaties he got no perfect notice of them they were too far advanc't before he perceived them so as after having imploi'd many persons in Messages and Proposals he at last offer'd in the presence of both King and Queen to be reconciled but this was rather in appearance than real but though Orleans forbore not the Cardinals Conversation and Dined sometimes with him yet after he had underwritten the aforesaid Treaties he could not so well dissemble as not to discover his inward mind The Cardinal who was not to be parallel'd for wariness finding this and knowing that there could be nothing but the ill impressions suggested by the Frondeurs and of his other Enemies speaking thereof with the Queen in her Chamber on the Twenty sixth of Ianuary at night told her that her Majesty must warily observe the proceedings of Parliament where it might be there were Fairfaxes and Cromwells The Duke who minded nothing but how to execute the Coadjutors suggestions thought the pretence fit to give fire to the Mine so as the Parliament being met on the first of February to think of the fittest means how to get the Princes out of Prison being perswaded that the Court did not desire it and that the Kings promise was only to gain time the Coadjutor being now sure to be assisted by Orleans unmasked himself and spoke more freely than before he shewed how necessary it was to get the Princes liberty as soon as might be and that he had order from the Duke to assure them that this was his opinion which he would imploy all his power to effect The Counsellors wonder'd much to hear this for believing hitherto that the Duke stood well with the Queen they could not discern whence this alteration should proceed Beaufort ratified what the Coadjutor had said and declared that he was of the same mind nothing was resolved upon that day for the Members being astonished at the novelty adjourn'd till the next day and the Coadjutor going to acquaint Orleans how well the Parliament was pleased with what he had told them in his name made him the more inamored with their applause and established him more firmly in the Resolution which he had taken Monsieur Tillier going at that instant to know from the Duke whether what the Coadjutor had said in Parliament was by his Highness permission or no or done barely by the Coadjutors self answered somewhat angrily that what the Coadjutor had said was done by his desire and that he should always approve of what he should say or do The whole Court was much surprised with this answer and made them resolve to send to Treat with the Princes touching their liberty The next day the Duke of Orleans moved thereunto by the Coadjutor sent for the Lord Keeper for Marishal Villeroy and for the Secretary of State Tillier and bad them tell the Queen in his name That he would never come to Court nor sit in Council as long as the Cardinal was there and said further to Villeroy That as Lieutenant General of the State he assigned over the keeping of the King's person unto him which his head should be answerable for On Friday the third of February having with yet greater energie by order from Orleans repeated his opinion touching the Princes liberty told the Assembly how the Cardinal had told the Queen in presence of the King that there were Fairfaxes and Cromwells in the Parliament that it was to be feared that their intentions were to suppress Regal Authority according to the example of England That the Duke not able to tolerate so great a Calumny had assured the King that it was altogether false and that there was none but faithful servants to his Majesty either in the Parliament or City whereof he would become surety both in general and in particular and that the Duke had told the Cardinals self that he was a wicked man and worthy to be reprehended for instilling such ill opinions into a young King against his affectionate Subjects by whom his Majesty was generally loved their hatred extending only to the Cardinal whom they knew to be the only cause of the Kingdoms ruine And that upon this the Duke had sent the day before for the aforesaid Lords and had wisht them to tell the Queen that he would come no more to Court whilst the Cardinal was there At the names of Cromwell and Fairfax they were all highly scandalized insomuch as three propositions were made against the Cardinal the first that he should be made Prisoner the second and this was made by President Viola who was more incens'd against him than all the rest that he should be sent for to the Parliament to give an account of his Administration and for the words which he had said to the dishonour of the French Nation Here the first President interrupted him saying he was too hasty and after some contest between him and Coulin who spoke impertinently against the Cardinal the third proposal was made which was humbly to desire the Queen that he might be sent from Court the meanwhile the Coadjutor's friends having divulged throughout the City the aforesaid words spoken by the Cardinal of Cromwell and Fairfax the male-contents resented it and said they were injured for the French do not only love but even idolatrize their King so as in a moment the whole City which was quiet before grew mutinous the people running up and down the Streets yea even in the Palace it self crying out Let the King live and let Mazarine dye The Queen sent the next day to the Duke of Orleans to know whether he would be content or no that
touching sending the Cardinal out of the Kingdom and here it was observed he answered those with much moderation who were too violent in their opinions The same day the Queen assembled together all the chief Lords of France who were of her party whereof there were two bodies composed the one of Princes Dukes and Peers as the Dukes of Vandosme Mercure d' Elbeufe with their Sons Count Harcourt the Dukes of Espernoun and of Candalle The other of the Marishals d' Estree di L' Hospitalle Villeroy Plessis Pralin d' Aumont d' Estampes d' Oquincourt and Grance who being told what had past it was resolved that Vandosme Espernoun and d' Elbeuse should go and desire Orleans to come to Council D' Elbeuse delivered the message who said that his Highness might come with all safety to the Court offering himself to be an Hostage for him the Duke repli'd that d' Elbeuse should rather hold his peace than speak that it was a pleasant thing to observe that when he was for the Cardinal d' Elbeuse was for the Parliament and that now that he had declared for the Parliament d' Elbeuse was for Mazarine which argued his continual aversness to him though d' Elbeuse had had many obligations to him The Dutchess told him she was sorry that he was of the house of Lorrain and Orleans after having used many sharp speeches told Vandosme and Espernoun that he could not go to Court without bringing the Princes with him They then returned all to Court whither being gone late that Evening with the rest of the King's people to acquaint the Queen with what had been decreed and to know her Majesties pleasure touching the sending of the Cardinal away she answered That she was fully resolved to release the Princes but that she had somewhat to say to the Duke of Orleans to which purpose she had desired to speak with him and that seeing he was full of Jealousies without cause she offer'd to send the Guard de Seaux to confer with him how they were to proceed in the disimprisoning of the Princes that if he would not treat with the Guard de Seaux she did not refuse to admit of those that were the Princes Friends into the conference that for what concerned the Cardinal he was gone without any hopes of returning and that she did not know truly whither he meant to go he himself not being resolved upon it for he could not return to Rome till there were a good understanding between him and the present Pope The Cardinal having afterward written to the Queen that he thought it fit his Nephew and his Nieces should go out of Paris and this being granted his Nephew went out incognue with the Abbate of Palaw on the seventh day as did also his three Nieces the next Evening by the means of Abbate Vndedey who taking them out of the Palace and concealing them that night in a friends house of his they went afterwards out of the City in a Coach with two Horses as Citizens and that being come to St. Denis where they were waited for they got into a Coach with six Horses and being well attended went towards Peroun whether by appointment the Marishal of Oquincourt's Lady was gone the day before who staid half way to meet them and to bring them into that place whereof the Marishal her Husband was Governour who had renounced Beaufort's friendship and imbraced the Cardinals proving himself therein truly grateful The Parliament being met the next day they were acquainted with the Queens answer Orleans accepted of the Conference with the Guard de Seaux and told the Assembly That he would assuredly treat that day touching the Princes liberty and that they should not be two hours together before all necessary orders and expedition should be taken in it as also touching the Declaration of their Innocence and that other against all Forreigners so as the Parliament resolved to trust the Duke with what concern'd the Princes liberty And the Queen having told the King's people that the Cardinal was gone without any hopes of returning the decree was unanimously made against him with order that it should be Printed and sent to all the other Parliaments of the Kingdom and that the Chambers should keep together till the arrival of the Princes The Decree was that within fifteen days he and all his Kindred and Forrain Domesticks should be gone out of the Kingdom and out of all other parts within the King's obedience which time being expired the disobedient should be extraordinarily proceeded against and that it should be lawful for all men to fall upon them and inhibiting all men to receive them This decree was approved by almost all the other Parliaments of France who decreed the same All this while the Baracadoes were kept up and stricter guard than ever was kept about the Court and every night Duke Beaufort went on one side Count Tavanes on another and Monsieur de Chambois on the third with Troops of armed men to clear the Streets in so much as on the ninth of February the Inhabitants of Rue St. Honore hearing the noise of Horses passing to and fro came out and finding some Sentinels advanced to the Croix de Tiroire they thought according as it was cunningly given out that there was a design to convey the King out of Paris and the Duke of Orleans hearing it sent Souches the Captain of his guard presently to Court where he found the Queen in Bed and the King asleep which appeased the tumult whereupon the first President said the next day in Parliament That it was an unsufferable thing that they should proceed with such licentiousness against their Majesties to whom they ought to bear respect and Reverence But the news of the King 's being gone being dispers'd throughout all the City many did believe it and ran in such multitudes to the Palace-Royal as the King was forc't to shew himself twice or thrice at the window whereupon the people cryed Long live the King and a fig for Mazarine After Dinner the Queen sent the guard de Seaux and Marishal Villeroy again to desire Orleans to come to Court who the Queen having given him all satisfaction by sending her Letters to deliver the Princes out of Prison said he would come the next day and that his wife should first go visit their Majesties And that Evening the Queen sent for the Provost de Merchants and the Sheriffs and told them how unfortunate she was that it should be thought she would carry the King out of Paris to free them from the fear whereof she was content that Guards of good Citizens should be set at the City gates but notwithstanding all this strange outrages were committed against the Duke of Espernoun Count Harcourt and many others of the Court party by the common people The next morning Monsieur Vrliere went to Haure de Grace with Letters and expeditions for the delivery of the Princes without any whatsoever
France and upon the Reputation which Conde had won in Arms. Fuenseldaglia's order was revoked nay he was forbidden to hold any correspondency with the Cardinal to avoid giving jealousie to Conde's party which was well minded to joyn with the Spanish faction but before the Cardinal went from Dorlans after having received orders from the Queen by Belingau and Ravigny he writ a Letter to her Majesty of these contents Madame HAving seen the Letter which your Majesty was pleased to honour me with all and heard what Monsieur Ravigny delivered me from your Majesty by word of mouth touching what concerns your Majesties service to wit that together with my departure from Court I be speedily gone out of the Kingdom I have willingly obey'd your pleasure whose commands shall always be the only law and rule of my life I have sent a Gentleman to find me out some Sanctuary though I want all necessaries for a long journey To morrow without all fail I will go towards Sedam and from thence to any place I can get for my abode I am so much bound to observe your Majesties orders as I will not give way to retard the willing obeying of them yet Madame there are many who were they in my condition and had they justice and number of friends that I have would find ways to defend themselves from the persecution which I undergo and whereon I will not think chosing rather to content mine Enemies than do any thing that may prove prejudicial to the State or displeasing to your Majesty and though upon this occasion they have been able to keep his Royal Highness from seconding the motions of his innate goodness they have notwithstanding witnessed unto him though contrary to their wills the good opinion which he is forced to have of my intire obedience as also of my zeal for the good of the State For did they not know that I were not to be removed from this sense they would not have been so unwise as to reduce me to these extreams without reflecting upon the knowledg that I have of the secret and most important affairs of the Kingdom whereof I have by your Majesties favour had the Government so long and have served you faithfully as is known to all the world But Madame I am too much obliged to your Majesties goodness to dream of any thing contrary to your liking and would the sacrificing of my life give you the least satisfaction I would readily do it and I do protest that I am very well satisfied when I shall know that in this my misfortune your Majesty will be pleased to remember what service I have done the State after the late King of glorious Memory was pleased to honor me and to trust me with directing all things and did often before his death desire your Majesty to keep me in the same imployment with what integrity zeal and unconcernment to my self I have discharged it your Majesty knows and if I may be permitted to say so with what good success for the wisest and even the Spaniards themselves do confess that they do less wonder at the conquests made by your Majesties Armies in the first five years of your Regency than to see how you have been able for these three last years to manage affairs and to save the Ship from Shipwrack which hath been plaid upon from so many parts and agitated by the storms of home divisions I wish Madame that I could conceal from strangers the ill dealing which I receive for fencing off the blame from a Nation which I have always loved and reverenced But when they shall see me go to seek whither I may retire to live in safety with those that are nearest unto me they will have too much reason to wonder to see a Cardinal so treated who hath the honour to be the King's Godfather and that two and twenty years of faithfull service have not been able to procure a safe place to retire unto in this Kingdom whose confines the world knows are much increased by his means I beseech God Madame that as what hath befaln me shall never alter the passion which I shall preserve till death for the Grandezza of your Majesty and for the flourishing of your State it may also make all disorders cease making it appear that those who have declared against me have done it only against my person Having written this Letter and being come to Bovillion where he received new orders to go further from the confines of the Kingdom he thought fit to write another Letter to Count Brien the first Secretary of State wherein many things being touched upon which may give more light to what is here treated on I hope it will not prove tedious to relate them I send you an answer to the Letters written unto me by her Majesty I should have been some days ago upon the Rhine had I been the only guilty party but my nearest Relations being likewise involved in my faults and sentenced to be sent out of the Kingdom I could not possibly be more diligent since I was to carry them with me and to cross an Enemies Country full of Armed men without a Pasport I am very much perplext in performing the orders which are sent me since I cannot imagine that their Majesties intend that I should expose my self to apparent danger of either being slain or taken Prisoner as I am told for certain his intention is who boasts amongst those of his party to have framed the decrees against me before they came into Parliament and that he had sufficient means to make the Court acquiesce therein For I may easily conceive what his intentions are touching the State and me after his punctuality in seducing a Collegue of his to imbrangle the Parliament Nobility Clergy and People and to bring all to ruine unless he were chosen Cardinal And I very well see how he labors incessantly to cause orders be given me and at the same time to keep me from obeying them that so he may have a pretence to raise a hubbub in Paris and to compass his ends by my utter ruine If this could be any way advantagious or acceptable to the King or Queen I would concur therein with all my heart But I must then have known it for being given to their Majesties I cannot dispose of my self otherwise than as they shall command me it was their pleasure that I should go from Court and out of the Kingdom together with all my nearest Relations and Domesticks and that at the same time I should be brought to the common Goal at Paris Now that I am out of France they will have me go yet further and at the same time they lay traps and ambushes to hinder me I desired to be conducted to Charleville and Mesieres but was denied I must not go into the King of Spain's Dominions and they have requested several Princes not to suffer me to come into their States They leave nothing undone at
not be done without jealousies amongst themselves and in the Parliament it self which was desirous to inlarge its Authority which being usurped must needs have been to the prejudice of the Princes whose Maxim it was to keep the Court weak and flexible to their pretentions but not to increase the power of Parliaments which was the reason why they abstained from all violence and meddled not with the Government not forbearing notwithstanding to bereave the Queen as much as in them lay of her faithfullest servants that they might place their friends and confidents about her which though it were foreseen by her and her State-Officers yet they suffered that cloud to discharge it self upon the Cardinal and they instead of giving themselves over to the contrary party did stoutly maintain Regal greatness so to find out means how to bring the Cardinal back so the remainder of that year past on as shall be by degrees related 4 The Spaniards in Flanders were this mean while intent upon what the issues of the Novelties which were budding forth in France would be upon which other considerable consequences for them did depend They sent to the Dutchess of Longueville and to Marishal Turenne in Steney to mind them of the agreement made between them never to separate till the Princes were set at liberty and the peace between the two Crowns were concluded They answered that they would go to Paris to co-operate therein as much as they could and that if the Spaniards should not be content and that their Mediation should do no good they would return again to Steney and make good their promise where with all were fully satisfied whereupon the Dutchess went from Steney and sent Monsieur Sarasine Secretary to the Prince of County to Brussels to thank the Arch-Duke and Count Fuensaldaglia to assure them that when they should be at Paris they would indeavour the perfecting of the treaty by which the Princes after their disimprisonment had obliged themselves to continue the War till such time as peace were concluded between the two Crowns The Dutchess came to Paris on the 15 th of March with great applause of the People and was met without the City by the Princes her Brothers by her Husband and by a great many Lords and Ladies and this the rather because her coming brought with it some appearance of a general peace which the people did very much desire so as if her departure from Paris were cause of great disorder her return was no less noble and glorious The Gates of Paris were still guarded as before with Armed Citizens for they still suspected the Queen would carry away the King and now the Court nor L' Hostelle de Orleans were no more frequented with visits but Conde's house and Longuevilles the famousest Warriers flocking to the one and all the Ladies to the other the Prince of Conde and his Sister Longueville might have then become Arbitrators of the Kingdom if actually keeping that inclination to peace as they seemed by their words to do they had made use of the favourable conjuncture of time for they coveted nothing more than reality in proceeding of the Treaty of peace nor was there any that doubted the truth of their desires for the Dutchess of Longueville sent away Monsieur Croisy to Steney with power from the Court to conclude peace or a general Truce This treaty was so carried on as though neither the Spaniards nor the Princes faction did really desire it it afforded Turenne a fair pretence to withdraw from the Spaniards imployment so as that Orleans as shall be hereafter related being afterwards offended by the innovations of Paris for the permission given by the Council to the Marquess of Chasteauneuf the Flanders Agents thought it now a fit time to listen to the proposals of peace made by Croisy For the whole negotiation was reduced to a particular conference between the Duke of Orleans and the Archduke without the intervening of Mediators and it being believed that the Queen would not trust the Duke of Orleans with such a negotiation the Archduke made his good intentions towards peace appear unto the people which if refused would increase the troubles in France for all the stops that should be met with therein would be imputed to the Court but it proved otherwise for the Duke of Orleans being in some sort reconciled to the Queen the Spanish Agents though they gloried in this their desire by sending Don Gabriel di Toledo to Paris and by assenting to the particular conference which was agreed should be held between Peroun and Cambrey Croisy having declared that the Duke of Orleans the Duke of Longueville the first President and Count Servient would be there their little desire thereunto appeared when they said that they must first expect orders from Spain and that though they knew it was the Catholick King 's intention that this treaty should be commenced they could proceed no further therein till they had received Commission from the Catholick Court which was by the going of Marquess Sillery to Brussels who by his proposal puzled the whole business wherefore Turenne knowing that he had fully satisfied his promise of procuring peace took occasion to retire and to fall totally off from the interest of Spain and went likewise from Steney to Paris But Conde being intent upon making himself great and professing much gratitude and affection to the Duke of Orleans that he might come more vigorously with him in withstanding the violences of the Court and to bind themselves to a more faithful confederacy concluded articles of marriage between the Princess of Alanson and the Duke of Anguienne Conde's eldest Son which though peradventure it might not be pleasing at Court by reason of the consequences which it drew after it yet it behoved the Court to seem to like it for the prejudice which might have been otherwise received by the increase of popular tumults Conde's indeavour to break the Marriage between the Dutchess of Chevereux and his Brother was very prejudicial to him for thereby he provoked a Ladies hatred who was apt to bring much trouble upon him the success whereof by reason of what insued thereupon being worthy to be known I will briefly acquaint you with it The Dutchess of Chevereux was always no less noble than generous in her proceedings wherefore the first time that the Prince of Conde visited her after he was at liberty she delivered up unto him the promise which her friends had gotten in writing for the marriage between his Brother and her Daughter saying that she had not desired that writing to oblige him thereunto otherwise than to assure him by such an earnest of her indeavouring his liberty This noble action was much talkt of at Court whereat the Queen was much troubled as if she did triumph over her misfortunes so as not only for the Queens dislike thereof but in respect of the interest of the Crown these insuing marriages were held to be the
Duke of Orleans Before the Seals were taken away upon fear that the Duke of Orleans might withdraw from Court and seduce Conde along with him the Queen being desirous to recompence the first President with as good a thing or better made many gracious offers to him as to make a fifth Secretary of State and give the place to his eldest Son or to buy a Presidents place in Parliament for him or to give him his own place after his life but he not being content with any of these she offered to make him Archbishop of Tolouse and indow him with 6000 pound sterling a year And it was further said that she offered to make him a Cardinal and his Son first President so as he would willingly resign the Seals all which he did scornfully refuse and contrary to the wishes of all his friends who told him that a Cardinal and a first President were never known in France to be of one and the same Family which made it be believed that either he thought very well of himself or that he feared to be deluded or that the place of Guard de Seaux was to be prefer'd before all these A treaty of peace with Spain was this mean while introduced by the Dutchess of Longueville's and Marishal Tâ—renne's return to Paris but Conde foreseeing that if this were effected he should be ruined he resolved to send Marquess Sillery about the end of April to Flanders under pretence of the same treaty of peace but in effect to negotiate his own concernments and to renew the treaty which was held at Steney with the Spaniards by Monsieur Croisy and this was the first correspondency which the Prince had with the Spaniards and which yet continues and was the cause why the Spanish Agents did not agree with France touching the general peace The Duke of Espernoun desired as much as the Court did that he might be permitted to quit the Government of Guien so to shuâ— the disorders which might insue by his remaining in a Province ill afâ—eâ—ted to his name the only difficulty lay in finding out another Government equivalent to that of Guienne It was reported that the Prince of Conde not being well pleased with those of Burgundy for not having appeared in hâ—s imprisonment cooled in the affection which he bore them before Espeâ—â—oun thought therefore that Conde would be easily perswaded to change Governments with him especially being much obliged to the 〈◊〉 for having made head against the King for his liberty wherefore the Duke of Candâ—lle sent Gourvill to propound this unto the Prince whom he found willing to accept thereof upon some conditions which were that he would have Guieâ—ne with all the Towns therein and that he should reserve unto himself in Burgundy the Castle of Dijeon and the Town of St. Iohn de Asne no mention was made of Belgard it being his own particular Patrimony for that Burgundy yielded five or six thousand pounds sterling more than Guienne but these things not being agreed upon the business broke off The Cardinal hearing of this negotiation wish'd the Queen not to permit this change for many reasons which shall be hereafter mentioned The Prince hearing this began to desire that which formerly he had not cared for saying that he would have that change with the aforesaid retentions and that if the Court were against it he would cause new troubles this business was often debated in the Privy Council pro contra Some said that Guienne was well â—cituated for receiving help from Spain and England in case of revolt That the Prince of Conde held intelligence with Spain already which was the only cause why he desired that Government that Guienne and Poictou joyn'd one upon another whereof the Duke of Rochefaucolt was then Governour who was Conde's great friend that the Duke of Rohan Chabot in Anjou was of the same party that Brovages both of them places of importance and the Islands of Olleron and Ree were in Count Ognon's hand who declared against the King that Normandy was under the Duke of Longueville Brother in law to Conde and that Britany was in the Government of Marishal Millerey who was about to ally himself to the said Prince by marrying his Son to Madamoselle de Tremaglia That by reason of so many Towns Provinces and friends back'd by the Spaniards and if need should be by the English France was exposed to apparent danger it was therefore concluded that this evident danger was not to be permitted in so many important Provinces the rather for that the Prince keeping Belgard St. Iohn de Asne and the Castle of Dijeon in his hands should be still as good as Master of Burgundy These reasons were of themselves sufficient not to permit that Province to the Prince of Conde had not Count Serviente one of long experience in Court affairs with strong reasons maintained the contrary he said that in great storms experienced Mariners stood not upon casting part of their loading over-board to save the rest that the King's Authority was in great danger that it was therefore needful not only to watch carefully but even to spend whole nights in thinking how to fence it if not in whole yet in part from the assaults of ambitious people that their Majesties were as Prisoners in their Palace whilst the Frondeurs pretended to take the Regency from the Queen and to take the Government of the whole Kingdom upon themselves That the Assemblies of the Clergy and of the Nobility prest the calling of the States General pretending to keep off the King's majority till he were Eighteen years old and in the mean time to chuse a Governour of the Kingdom That that strong-wound-up Rope composed of the several threads of many friends became strong and not to be broken that destruction was at hand unless this knot were untied by the yielding of one and abating of the other party that he was of their opinion who held that it was not good to grant Guienne to the Prince so to make him greater but that when he considered how great an acquisition it would be to take off a Prince of such esteem from the Frondeurs he was of another mind for that the true means to break the knot of the Enemy was to divide them the Male-contents being then only to be pacified when they see themselves abandoned by great ones that it was true that Guienne was of importance for scituation and for the peoples condition but that it was as true that it could not prove so prejudicial as was supposed That it was well known that the greatest part of the Gascons were of the Prince his opinion and that it was not to be doubted but that they would second his designs as well if he were far off as if he were their Governour so as by giving him that Government that was only given him which was already at his disposal and that by gaining Burgundy made him lose what he had That
and he was so confident of his valour and so doubtful to meet with hardship if he should oppose him as he offer'd to give him Stenay and to that purpose gave order to Monsieur Chammegli who commanded there to receive his Troops and totally to obey him in which hopes the Prince continued for above four moneths not sending any other to command there which was the chief occasion of the dissipation of those Troops But Turenne did generously refuse all his offers and those that came to him as well from Flanders as Spain joyning on the contrary with the King his Master as shall be said Whilst the Prince staid in Burdeaux he gave out Monies and Commissions to as many as would serve him and thinking it fitting to secure himself of the upper Guienne and of Perigneaux he made a journey accompanied by few more than Prince Marsilliack Son to Duke Rochefaucolt But to return to what the Coadjutor did when he knew that the Princess Palatine indeavoured to reconcile the Prince to the Court he to disturb it sent one to the Cardinal to offer him his service and to go out of the Kingdom upon any Embassy or imployment to avoid all jealousies and promised him that he would make the King go to Rheimes and would reconcile him with the Duke of Orleans and that resuming his posture with satisfaction to his Royal Highness he should return to Germany to end the treaty of the general peace which was commenced by the said Cardinal as shall be said Moreover Marquess Noirmonstore who was firm to the Coadjutors concernment not only out of friendship but because he was allied to the Dutchess Chevereux and that he hoped to be made Duke and Peer and to get some Government offer'd a confident of the Cardinals to deposite into his hands the Brief for nomination of a Cardinal and Warrant for a Duke and Peer of France till such time as they should bring him back to the administration of Government and that then and not till then they would receive the said Brief and Warrant But the Princess Palatine having brought Bertet who was the man that came too and fro from the Cardinal to the Coadjutor who was willing to go himself to Brules was obliged by strong arguments to perswade the Cardinal that the Coadjutor was generously minded that it behoved him to prevent him by being beneficial to him and that his thoughts being generous and full of gratitude he would use more hearty indeavours upon these motives than any other This being a proposal of reciprocal advantage it was to be believed that it was sincerely meant He therefore accepted the offer and gave the business in charge to Abbate Vndedei who at last brought the Queen against her will to give way to the naming of the Coadjutor to be Cardinal at the next Election The Coadjutor seemed to be very well content and acknowledged himself highly obliged but not being able to use deceit without too much ingratitude he went very warily about to take it out of his hands for considering that his name was not acceptable to the Pope it might so fall out that it would not so satisfie him who was the promoter of this favour and so that he might refuse it at least make it more difficult as had befaln Abbate Riviere The Cardinal to oblige him the more refer'd the said nomination to the Queen who out of the same respects having assigned it over to the Duke of Orleans the Coadjutor began to study how he might obtain his ends and delude the Cardinal in what he had promised him wherefore finding that treaties with Conde grew desperate and his desire being to see both Conde and the Cardinal ruined so as he might have the absolute Government of affairs he withdrew himself dextrously from what he had promised upon frivolous excuses and sought by monies and the means of his Kinsman Cavaliere Gondi who was a chief Officer of the great Dukes to make sure the Court of Rome whither he sent his confident Abbate Charie with much expence and presents whereof he was not sparing to sollicite his so much desired promotion and to get it effected before more novelties should arise in France which might revoke the said nomination fearing least the Cardinal might do as he had done by Abbate Riviere whom he had undone by delays This touched the Cardinal to the quick for he was acquainted with the Coadjutors designs so as fitter medicines being applyed to a known mallady he knew so well how to apply such Antidotes as at last as shall be seen in the progress of this History he salved all wounds miraculously and triumphed more than ever over his Enemies and over persecution and envy But as report doth usually aggrandize things which not being visible men do with curiosity desire to know the Princes his provisions being given out at Paris to be greater than they were the rumor grew so great as people grew to be severally minded some thought that the Prince made War merely out of ambition to aggrandize himself others that he intended to raise himself to what was equal to his prepotency and experience in managing Arms and the Court was not only full of these conceptions but even many good Citizens of Paris who being stir'd up as well by fear of a civil war as hoodwinck'd by ignorance of the Arcana fancied that the Cardinal being out of the Kingdom it was not known what the Prince did drive at for the first overture of breach was grounded upon his desire of having the Cardinal banish'd which when it should be obtained the cause being removed the effect would cease by these whisperings the Prince fell somewhat from that general affection which he had gotten amongst the Parisians after his being set at liberty others thought that he prepared for defensive War rather out of fear of the Court than out of any other design But the Court nourishing the opinion that they were the effects of insatiable ambition that they might have a lawful pretence to apply powerful remedies to the evils that threatned the State gave out that upon the present occurrances it was requisite that the King should go in person to Berry to withstand the first commotions but two more important and concealed reasons moved thereunto The first to secure it self by going out of Paris from the people and Frondeurs who so insolently had block'd them up in the Palace which they might do again upon any new rumour that might arise The second out of a desire that the Cardinal might return which could not be done if the Court should tarry in Paris by reason of the Predominion of the Frondeurs and seditious Male-contents Chasteauneuf adhered to the first reason as well to shew himself willing to please their Majesties as out of a belief that if the Court should be further off the Cardinal would find more difficulty to return being to make a long and dangerous journey of which opinion were
had appointed the Rendevouz of the Forces which he had raised in Champagnia and Picardy to be about Laon to joyn with the Cardinal and those that he had raised to come with him into France so as the appointment being made to meet about Dormans and Esperney upon the Marne on the beginning of Ianuary the Marishal went from Peroune on the 18 th of December and accompanied by many other Nobles he past through Han and Fera and coming to Nisis he found there 2000 what Foot what Horse and divers other Regiments wherewith he marched the next day towards the River Aisue passing over the Bridge Arcy and la Merne and staid at Troisy expecting the Cardinal who having left his alliances at Sedam marched towards Esperney whither he came the second of Ianuary with about 5000 choice men and he was met there by several other Forces and three pieces of Canon Oquincourt met the Cardinal at Esperney where it was concluded that Oquincourt should advance with 1000 Horse and possess himself of the passes of the Rivers Aube and Senna which he did then passing over the Aube without any obstacle near Auglure and la Senna at Mery he met with the Foot and Horse Regiments of Monsieur St. Moore Where hearing that the Duke of Orleans had sent out four Companies of the Langnedock Brigade to Pont sur Iona Oquincourt advanced with 1000 Horse indeavouring to get to that Town before the Enemy should be aware of his march On the 9 th of Ianuary he was upon Albā where being informed that two of the Counsellors of the Parliament of Paris Bytant and Cowdrey Genies were come thither to break the Bridge and to raise the Country against the Cardinal he made a party of his men ford over the River to discry some Horse with whom they skirmished and slew some of them and took Bitant Prisoner but Coudrey escaped to Sens. The Marishal being come to the head of the Bridge which the Towns-men broke down he acquainted them with the Kings orders and speaking with Monsieur Morandiere who commanded Orleans his Forces and had orders to resist him he caused some of his Horse-men to light who fell so couragiously upon the Bridge as Morandiere articled to return to his Master leaving the pass free to the Cardinal it was thought that he had secret orders from the Princes not to hinder him though he could for finding their business grow desperate since the whole Kingdom inclined to the King they knew nothing could keep them from ruine but some new pretence whereby to justifie their cause and keep the Subjects from assisting their Sovereign and that therefore they did not all they were able to oppose their march But because Marishal Turenne having honourably disingaged himself of the Spaniards service and had refused all the offers made by Conde and was reconciled to the King Conde gave the command of his Forces in Flanders to the Duke of Nemeurs who in the beginning of the year 1652 went privately from Burdeaux giving it out that he went by Sea into Flanders but came first to Paris by bie-ways where the Duke of Orleans seemed to be very well pleased as having need of opportune succour and he was received with extraordinary applause by the Parisians and because the Coadjutor thought to make the Duke of Orleans foment a third party of French Male-contents and Enemies to the Cardinal he used all his industry to effect it to the end that making the Queen affraid that the Duke might adhere more narrowly to Conde he thought she might be necessitated to keep the Cardinal away for ever in which case the Duke by joyning with the Court interest and strengthning himself by the Lorrain Forces he should also undo Conde for ever But Count Chavigny with other of the Prince his friends held the Duke of Orleans stedfast they made him see that he could not subsist but by joyning with the Prince Nemeurs stipulated the agreement in the Prince his name with the Duke the contents whereof were the keeping the Cardinal away and a general peace The news being known in Paris and the orders given by the King contrary to his former Declarations it is not to be said how incensed those were who were of a contrary spirit but all they could do was to make a noise in Paris for the Kings power prevailed in the Kingdom And though the Cardinal was withstood in one place he was fomented in another The Parliament of Britanny being desired by that of Paris to make the like decree with them in favour of the Princes against the Cardinal did order on the contrary that proceedings against him should be suspended till the Prince should perform his duty and till the Spanish Forces should be gone out of the Kingdom but though the rancor of the Parliament of Paris and of the Frondeurs could not be greater than it was yet could not the Parisians be brought to disburss monies for the raising of men and to provide against the threatning occurrances but were always readier to lay on their mouths than to lay out their monies the noise continued still in the Palace The first week of Ianuary the Parliament ordered the Cardinals moveables to be sold and not to make good the Kings Declarations against the Prince till that against the Cardinal were effected Wherefore the Cardinal must be gone out of the Kingdom again ere the Parliament would pass the said verification to which purpose they made many resolves which were great in appearance but weak in substance and some Deputations were sent unto the King The Court spoke ambiguously and spun out business at length hoping the time would alay the bitterness of turbulent spirits The Queen sent Monsieur Rovigny to exhort the Duke of Orleans earnestly to remove from Paris so to take away the apprehensions which were had of him but it did no good The Parliament added to their instructions given to their Deputies which they sent unto the King that they should press Bitaut's Releasement and that Marishal Milleray should not be made a Duke till he had given satisfaction to the Parliament of Rheims in Britanny and moreover that no Duke Marishal of France or other Officer should execute their function afterwards till the Cardinal were withdrawn from the Kingdom which was thought was done to take away the great credit which he had in disposing of the Offices of the Crown and making those his friends whom he had preferred thereunto But the Nobility made small account of this the more incens'd the Parliament grew against the Court the less did they value any of its decrees since they might be anull'd by the King's Authority And therefore those who sounded affairs to the bottome found it was best to keep the paths of obedience and not walk in the crooked ways of precipice therefore the Princess Palatine who at first was Conde's friend grew a great confident to the Queen and Cardinal The Queen sent for her to
lessened The King staid at St. Germans whither a Deputation was sent unto him in the name of the Duke of Orleans and Prince of Conde from Count Chavigny and Secretary Goulas and the Duke of Rohan but not without jealousie of one another for it was thought their private instructions differed from their publick ones doubtless Chavigny was the ablest and wisest and he was for Conde Goulas was for Orleans and Rohan for them both these went with seeming orders not to confer with the Cardinal but by private agreement to treat with him as soon as they were come to Court and had made their Commission known they were told the better to cloke the cause of their coming that they had taken pains to no purpose and that so they might return so after having shewn some reluctancy they obeyed the Kings will without any contradiction whilst all were curious to know the contents of this conference they were struck with wonder when it was known that the Gentlemen were shut up with the Cardinal in his Cabinet and that they did privately negotiate with him but they were much more a stonished when they heard that Count Chavigny had himself alone private conference that night with the Cardinal to whom he propounded the Prince his full agreement if four things might be granted him viz. That Count de Ognone might be made Duke and Peer of France Count Marsin Marishal of France Prince County Governour of Provence and Conde himself Plenipotentiary of the general peace The Court would have yielded willingly to the first two nor would the Cardinal have opposed it much since it only concerned Titles But the Government of Provence and the Plenipotentiariship were totally rejected for the Cardinal declared he would never suffer his Majesties Authority should be prejudiced for his particular interest This Deputation did much injure the Princes for it was made in a time when the Parliament and Parisians were most incensed against the Cardinal and when all the chief Companies had resolved to desire he might be sent away when the Commonalty of Paris began to be of the same mind and when the Duke of Orleans and the Prince had declared in Parliament that they demanded no other satisfaction but that the Cardinal might be sent away wherefore they began to suspect them when they saw them act contrary to their former express declarations and many that were very well inclined to them grew cooler in the business which as shall be seen was one of their chiefest ruins After the Gentlemen were gone to Court from the Princes the Parliament Commissioners came thither with Remonstrances to their Majesties for sending away the Cardinal against whom President Nesmond spoke very freely The King listned unto them very graciously and told them that he was very well informed of his Parliaments good meaning and wished that they were so of him that he would confer with his Privy Council and would declare himself within three days thus with these general answers which were no ways positive did the Commissioners return to Paris They likewise that were sent from the Chamber of accounts and from the Court de Aides had audience the same day and had the like answer The Provost the Merchants the Sheriffs Procurator General the Communalties Notary and other Parisians came also to his Majesty representing unto him the miserable condition of his subjects and what necessity there was to send away the Cardinal who was the sole cause of all the mischiefs and misunderstandings The Guarde de Seaux answered that his Majesty was very certain of the love of his good City of Paris for whose further satisfaction he promised to return thither as soon as the passages should be open This he did to flout them for that at the same time when they made these representations to him they indeavored to hinder his journey by breaking the Bridges of Seene and Marne The Chambers were already met to know what answer their Commissioners brought from the Court and Orleans Conde and all the chief of the faction were there when news was brought that the Kings Forces assaulted the Bridge of S. Clow which was guarded by a small Fort whereupon the Prince got presently on Horsback crying aloud as he rid along the Streets Let us go to relieve our Friends This caused such a hubbub in Paris as above Eight thousand Armed Men ran on Foot towards the Wood of Bullonia not far from S. Clow with such fervor and readiness as if they had been old Soldiers and it was observed that there were Counsellors and Officers of Justice amongst them The Prince appeared at the Head of the Bridge accompanied with about Three hundred Voluntiers amongst which was the Count di Rieux the Dukes of Rohan Rochefaucolt and Sully Prince Marsilliack and other of the Gentry and the Cannon shot which the Kings men made at them shewed that they themselves were not come to conquer but rather to retreat as they did The day was fair and the Parisians very glad to see themselves under the famous Conde and their welbeloved Beaufort who drew them forth into Squadrons with no less delight for the novelty then labor for their unskilfulness The Kings men being retreated from S. Clow the Prince went to Madrid this is a Palace built by Francis the First King of France to keep his word to the King of Spain That he would not go from Madrid when being taken Prisoner his Ransom was in Treaty And here he resolved to fall upon S. Dennis a league from Paris begirt with weak and ill composed Walls and kept by Two hundred of the Switzers Guard But before he went about it he sent to know the Duke of Orleans opinion who having consented thereunto he marched with all those Horse and with about Five thousand Armed Parisians backed by Six hundred Soldiers of Fortune which were newly raised to recruit Condes Brigade and that of Burgondy Beaufort went with some Horse to the Highway from whence relief might be brought from S. Germans and Conde came by night to certain unperfected Earth-works from whence he sent to the Switzers to yield and march out But they answering by the Mouths of their Muskets those who were with him were so struck with such a panick fear though they were experienced Men and had shewn their courage in a thousand other Incounters as they all began to flie none staying with the Prince but Duke Rochefaucolt Prince Marsilliack Messieurs Berset Guitaut S. Ibar Gurville and Fontrailles So as if but twenty Horse had then come out of the Town they might easily have taken the Prince and the Seven that were with him prisoners But this fear being over and the Prince have rallied his men which were run away he went himself on Horsback on the Head of his Men and lighting at the same time got upon the Wall which was there broken down and entering in overcame two or three Baracadoes and made himself master of the place charging
Kingdom That Marcouse and Vaubecourt should be given for Hostages on the Kings behalf and Count Linville and the General of the Artillery on the Dukes with promise that no Hostility should be committed in his march the treaty was thus stipulated by Turenne much to his glory which being concluded in the face of both Armies the Lorrainers began presently to march towards Bria Whilst things went thus in these parts the Parliament who now that Lorrain was come thought they had hit the nail on the head raising their pretensions still higher sent President Nesmond again to the Court to insist upon sending the Cardinal away the Commissioners being come to Melune made the Parliaments desire known adding that it was a small business for a King to deprive himself of a Servant whereby he was to regain the obedience of so many who had withdrawn themselves from it only out of that respect The King returned his answer in writing That having often heard the Remonstrances made by his Parliament wherein they still asserted their intentions to maintain regal Authority and that they would always contribute their chiefest power to the advantage of his service and that finding the wound did now begin to Gangrene without speedy remedy he desired that their Commissioners might meet with his Privy Council to the end that they might joyntly find some remedy for the threatning mischief and to keep his people from the apparent ruine whereinto they were ready to fall through the capricious unquietness and ambition of some sew and that his Majesty indeavoured nothing more than how to restore his Kingdom to its former splendor When Nesmond had read this answer he reply'd That the only way to satisfie all was to send away the Cardinal The King thus interrupted him and with a serious aspect said You have heard my pleasure no more words The Commissioners returned to Paris where they gave an exact account to their Companions of what had past Many were for accepting the propounded Conferences but Brussels with an appearing zeal to the common welfare was firm that there needed no other Conference or negotiation since all was reduced to one sole head which was the sending away the Cardinal who being the sole occasion of all resentments they must stand upon it for this being had all controversies would be ended And the more averse he found the King to part with him the more he prest it not for that he cared much for it but that knowing how difficult a business it would be he might nourish the diffidences and maintain discord For it was apparent that if the Parliament had believed that the King would have parted with the Cardinal and with that re-unite the Princes to his service he would never have pretended thereunto but would have underhand indeavoured his tarrying for it did not make for him that the Kings Authority should be the more fortified by the joyning of the Princes with his Majesty and that consequently the pretences of the Parliament should languish Brussels opinion being adhered unto it was decreed that the Commissioners without any delay should return again to the King and tell his Majesty that they had nothing to add nor to propose but the effectual dismissing of the Cardinal in conformity to the decrees and Declarations made by his Majesty and to the protestation made by the Princes who were ready to lay down Arms as soon as the Cardinal should be gon out of the Kingdom Letters written from the Queen of Sweeden to the Parliament were given to the Commissioners to be delivered to the King the content whereof was her offering her self to interpose as a friend and confederate to the Crown of France in agreeing all parties The Commissioners came to Melune the 12 th of Iune and had Audience two days after they represented the desolation of the State by the Cardinals return which they said was the only cause of all the disturbances of the Kingdom The business was referred to the Council of State and the answers examined the Cardinal renued his many former desires that he might be dismist saying it was not fit that the peace of the Kingdom should be confounded merely for him This the King denyed saying that he was master and was to be served by whom he pleased and that none but God could prescribe laws to him The next Sunday the Commissioners had Audience again wherein the King gave them a writing saying that thereby they should know his pleasure Monsieur Vrilliere read it and gave it to President Nesmond wherewith he went to Paris the contents of the Letter were these That the King did very much wonder seeing there were so many wise and well advised Subjects in the Parliament that they should not know the desire of dismissing the Cardinal was but a specious and nice pretence since the true cause of all the troubles appeared to be the interest and ambition of those who had took up Arms and waged War when the Cardinal was in Germany dismist from the Court and Government which made it clearly appear that the maladies of a State are not cured whilst pretences are stood upon the roots whereof produce as many mischiefs as by those pretences are desired to be cut off so there was no remedy that would do good but to pluck up the chiefest and deepest evil by the Root That if his Majesty should permit the Cardinal to withdraw himself into some forreign imployment with due respect to his honour how should he be secured that the Male-contents would be quieted since his departure in the beginning of the last year had rather augmented than moderated the troubles so as it was not to be hoped it should fall out otherwise when he should be gone again unless the cause which produced the effect were presently taken away That his Majesty did desire speedy and permanent quiet to his Subjects that they might not fall into the former inconveniences the rather for that he knew well that at the same time when the Princes declared they were ready to lay down Arms if the Cardinal were sent away they provided for the contrary by strengthning their party with Forreigners and by seducing other of his Majesties Subjects from their obedience that what the Duke of Orleans had said some days before to the Commonalty of Paris touching his having no power over the Duke of Lorrains men which he had boasted to have brought was not like to that which he had affirmed in Parliament that the treaty made with the Spaniards by the Prince of Conde mentioned not laying down of Arms if the Cardinal were sent away nor indeed could it be spoken of since he was in Germany when it was made That therefore the Princes were to give real and positive security for performing what they promised wherefore he desired to know whether they renounced all leagues and associations made with Forreigners and all particular treaties had and made with his Majesties Subjects against his Royal service
Barracado with such boldness not to call it rashness as the Kings men being astonished were it either fatality or that the presence of great Personages have out of some hidden cause great prerogative in difficult undertakings did abandon it and the Princes who did so gallantly take it would have kept it had not the Enemy continually fired upon them from both sides the Street that it was impossible for them to tarry there The Duke of Nemeurs received Thirteen Musquet shot on his Armor and two on his right hand Rochefaucolt was wounded between the eyes and Beaufort and Marsilliack being bound to help the wounded were forced to quit the place which when the Kings men saw they made hast to take those that were wounded Prisoners which they would suddenly and safely have done had not Conde with his wonted undauntedness come in on the head of some Gentlemen that followed him whereby he afforded them time and opportunity to retreat as they did with much wonder and applause Guitaut Bercenet Lullery and Martiniere were wounded all the rest witnessed what danger they had run by the shot which they received in their Armor and by having their Horses slain under them At the same time that they were fighting without the Parisians were at as much strife in words within the Walls some were for the going out of such Citizens as had Arms to help the assaulted and for opening the Gates that they might retreat others said that by suffering Conde to be lost who was the occasion of all their misfortune there would be an end of their misery and the City would be put into her former quiet condition but at last amongst all these differences wherein nothing was concluded in favour of the Princes Madamoselle came forth into the Streets accompanied by the Dutchesses of Rohan Monbason and Chastilion and by the young Countess of Fiesco and went to the Town-house where she told the Citizens that without any more dispute or loss of time the people were to take up Arms and to assist the Princes suffering the Baggage and Forces of their friends to come into the Town The pressures of this couragious and generous Princess were so perswasive as the sad and horrid spectacle of so many Lords of high condition who ever and anon came into the Town half dead wounded and besmeared with blood amongst which that of Rochefaucolt was most compassionate whose eyes were well nigh shot out as it was resolved the Gates should be opened and they should be received into the Town and every one with tears cryed out that the Prince must be relieved who put his life and the lives of many good French men into apparent and almost inevitable danger for the publick cause whereupon about 300 Inhabitants went out who by the Prince were put to Guard some stations and then Rohan causing some of the baggage to march by the Temple Gate and Beaufort bringing in the rest by that of St. Antoine the Prince was told that the Kings Army being divided into two parts went by the way of Soronne and Neully wherefore thinking that this might be with design to keep his men out between the Suburbs and the Gate he placed Count Hollack with his German Regiment at the entrance of the Street of Saronne to assist the retreat which was begun and sent word to Monsieur Lovieres who then commanded the Bastile instead of his Father Brussels to let the Canon play upon the Kings men which being forborn as a thing unbecoming a Subject Madamoselle came instantly thither and getting upon the Walls with more than a man-like spirit and as if she her self would share in the glory and danger commanding that in her presence the Guns might be fired against the Kings Forces it was done Then orders being given for the retreat the Horse and Foot marched speedily with the Canon the Burgundian Brigade keeping in the Reer commanded by Marquess Sasse whose Horse Regiment was then govern'd by Monsieur St. Mars When the Canon plaid first from the Battile it was thought they plaid upon the Princes Forces for the Kings friends in Paris had promised as much but being found to play upon the Kings men and that the Inhabitants falling of their promise the baggage was already got in and the Troops began to enter Paris those of the Kings party were astonished as were also the Kings General being somewhat blamed for their slovvness and negligence and for being defrauded of their hopes in the very nick of Victory so as they returned tovvards St. Denis not less sad for the loss of so many gallant Subjects vvhereof besides St. Magrine Marquess Nantalliet vvas one and Count Maipos and Mancini the Cardinals Nephevv vvere so mortally wounded as they soon after died and Count di Tre with divers others of quality was taken prisoners The King did very graciously visit Mancini often as he did also S. Magrins afflicted Widow The Princes Army not without wonder past through Paris it being unusual to see an Army with Baggage pass through those Streets These lodged in the Countrey about Tury without the Suburbs of S. Marseilles and in two days plundered all the Villages and Houses that were within three leagues and brought what they had so gotten to the Camp where the Soldiers sold all things as if it had been in a Fair. Madamoiselle would see them pass and caused moneys be given to the wounded Count Chavigny gave them store of Victuals not so much out of charity as policy And because it hath always been a custom in Military Actions to have some sign whereby to discern Friends from Enemies Madamoiselle put a straw upon her head wherein being followed by all that would not be accountred Mazarinians you might in a moment see not only all the Inhabitants but Foreigners of every Nation yea even the Fryers and Agents of stranger Princes do the same to shun the insolencies which were done by the common people to those that bore not this Badge Thus ended the memorable Action of S. Antoines Suburbs on the Second of Iuly wherein the quality was more considerable then the number of those that were slain The Prince of Conde not valuing his own life but running like Lightning sometimes to one place sometimes to another where the business was most bloody and his men in most danger performed the office of a private Soldier as well as of a Captain was oft-times upon the very edge of the Grave being miraculously perserved by Fortune his Horse vvas killed under him his Cloaths shot thorow in divers places his Feathers and his Hair burnt and yet was he miraculously kept unhurt Marquess Turenne behaved himself no less valiantly who by his presence gave great proof of his valor and experience every where And he was heard to say That he had met with above six Princes of Conde for wheresoever he turned himself he found the Prince in the Head of the Enemy with his Sword in hand All other
rather by jealousies and suspicions than natural passions had estranged themselves from their Obedience to his Majesty the first effects of which wise conduct were seen in the Pardon which the King by the Madiation of the Mareschal De la Motte granted unto the Baron of Sant Annes Governour of Leucata who had forsaken his Majestie 's Service upon several sinister impressions till by this way of sweetness he was otherwise convinced and satisfied This Cavalier had revolted by the suggestion of some unquiet Spirits and some distaste taken unto the Court by reason his pretensions were discountenanced but he was quieted and sweetned by the dextrous management and civil means used towards him by the said Marquess a person of great abilities with whom the last of November he made an Accord That pardon should be given to him and all the Inhabitants of Leucata his Sons who were Prisoners in Paris should be released the goods belonging to himself or his friends restored the Castle of Termes to be put into the hands of the Arch-bishop of Narbon to be restored to the said St. Annes after six months or otherwise in case his Majesty should not be pleased to ratifie this Article the two Troops of Horse raised by the said St. Annes should be put into his Majesty's Service and there should be paid unto him 860 Doubloons for his Charges in the said Levy and 415 for the Losses of the Inhabitants of Leucata and the Ransom of Poder his Cousin all the Prisoners to be freed all Treaties with the Spaniards or the Princes recalled and an assurance upon his Honour and Parol given never to swerve again from the obedience of the King The Cardinal had caused also a strict negotiation to be made with the Prince of Conde by means of some Confidents of his to pacifie him and make him quit the Spaniards Service offering him the Soveraignty of some Country out of France But whether it were that the Prince found himself too far engaged with the Spaniard or that the generosity of his Mind would not permit him to falsifie his word without some apparent cause or pretext or that he thought this Dignity too mean or were taken with the pleasant gust of those advantages he received from Spain and in particular with the great Assignations made unto him or whether he were led by other Suspicions Reasons or Respects amongst which probably that which held the first place was the desire of the occasions to use his Sword his great heart being unable without trouble to return into the calm of Peace the Propositions vanished without effect The Prince declared That he was no wayes ambitious of being a Soveraign Prince contenting himself with the Quality he had of being first Prince of the Blood that he knew not how again to trust a person that had once deceived him nor believe that person would be faithful to him who had before shewed himself not to be such that these Offers were like those Gifts which had formerly passed between Hector and Ajax that we ought to give least credit unto those things which appear most probable and that we must consider that how much more is promised for necessity so much more likely are we to fail thereof when that is over That he knew the Cardinal sufficiently for a person as apt to promise much as he was afterwards industrious to perform onely what suited to his own ends And he protested in fine That he would never consent to any Accommodation wherein the King of Spain should not also be included to whom he professed himself highly obliged The person imployed endeavoured to take from him all sinister Impressions and represented to him that he should call to mind he was a French-man and one of the Blood-Royal that he had too much Reputation and Glory not to be made the Butt of Envy and Jealousie to a Nation that had so much emulation with France and were ambitious to have no dependance but on themselves that to build his hopes upon those who proposed to themselves ends different from his was to make a ruinous building That Friends follow the Fortune not the Bodies of their Friends and that in quitting France he should be abandoned by all the French-men that ones Countrey ought to be as dear unto a prudent Man as his Shell is to the Snail and that being his true and faithful Servant he took the freedome to tell him It was much more honourable for such a Princes as he to be Cousin to the King of France than Servant to the King of Spain He added hereunto many efficatious reasons but all in vain because the hatred and disdain of the Cardinal were prevalent in the imagïnation of the Prince and the opinion he had firmly conceived that he should be the next Campagne too powerful for the King's Forces and be enabled thereby to return to Paris The Cardinal therefore not being able to prevail with the Prince thought of the means how to divide his Brother Conty from him He caused advantageous Conditions to be proposed unto him and thought that having once gained him he should thereby restore Bourdeaux and Guienne to their Pristine Obedience because the Factions of this Prince were very powerful in that City and Province and the effects thereof were likely to be very advantageous to the King's Service and the reduction of his Brother by reason of the Jealousies which peradventure the Spaniards might upon that occasion have of his Person and the ill usage which it was probable he should receive from them when he should be deprived of that support which rendred him so much the more considerable But although Conty were not a friend unto his Brother and that his mind was much more apt to receive satisfaction yet he was so fixed not to disoblige the Dutchess of Longueville his Sister that without her he would resolve of nothing and she remaining firm in the good Intelligence she held with Conde and the hopes which the generosity of her own mind suggested to her all those attempts proved useless and consequently all the other attempts and practises of those in Bourdeaux who were affectionate to the King's Party fell to the ground their indeavours tending onely to bring things unto that pass that the City should second such resolutions as should be taken by the Prince of Conty and the Dutchess The Cardinal therefore took in hand other expedients and since he could not gain the Princes indeavoured by new Orders to deprive by little and little both them and the Town of Bourdeaux from those Subjects and Places which fomented their pretensions and therefore the Duke of Vendosme was ordered to Sail with the Fleet into the Garonne unto the Duke of Candale who was already departed to Govern the Forces in Guienne were dispatched all the Troops which could be got together in the neighbouring Provinces and the Negotiations with the Count D' Ognon and others to divide them from the contrary Faction were
duty by submitting to his Majestie 's Authority These good Successes in Guienne were seconded by other Accidents which were of great advantage to the King's Party for the Newes came That on the 28th of February there had been a great Fight at Sea between the English and the Hollanders wherein each Party taking themselves to have the better and the loss of Ships being almost equal the Victory remained undecided And this Engagement of the English in a Warr against the Hollanders hidâ—red them from being able to embrace those resolutions against France which otherwise they might have done by assisting those of Bourdeaux to the great prejudice of the Crown of France which would have run great hazard being attacked on the one side by the powerful Forces of the King of Spain and on the other by Intestine Broyls if at the same time it had been also assaulted by the English But the good Fortune of France subordinate unto the Will of God which disposeth all things according to the order of his Providence preserved in that conjuncture this most Christian Kingdom from receiving prejudice by that Nation different in Religion and Customes which at that time met with the fairest opportunity that might be to have wrought her ends it being governed then by a violent party had she not undertaken Enterprises different from what was expected and being confounded within her self had not given leisure to the King's Authority to gather strength and to destroy the force of those who being disobedient themselves endeavoured by their Cabal to bring all the rest into confusion This was by the Warr with Holland of which I shall onely touch the principal Motives because I would not with long digressions break off the thred of that Narration I have prescribed unto my self After the Parliament of England had made it self Master of that whole Kingdom and overcome with its Victorious Arms the Realms of Scotland and of Ireland they cast about how to maintain themselves in Arms with Forrainers having no Enemy at home because in times of quiet Factions use to arise and Armies weaken which brings ruine to Commonwealths especially in the beginning of a new Government when their minds are wavering between the hopes of settlement and fears of falling It happened then that no just cause appearing for a breach with France they took a fair pretence for a Warr with the Hollander as being those who having gained a considerable reputation at Sea seemed to eclipse the lustre of the long feared and unresistible force of the English on that Element These Jealousies between them besides the natural Emulation usual amongst bordering States were heightned by the art and industry of the neighbouring Crowns who observing with a jealous Eye two Common-wealths by their sides grown powerful by Warr and Violence could not but suspect from them some of those inconveniencies which are usually offered by those who are strongly provided with Sea Forces The cause of difference was the Herring Fishing about the Orcades Islands on the North of Scotland and Members of Great Britain to which the Hollanders send yearly a vast number of Ships and draw from it an excessive Profit The English pretended That the Hollanders possession of this Fishing was an effect onely of the negligence of their Kings accompanied with so great a loss unto the Commonwealth by the Hollanders usurpation and therefore not to be longer suffered by a Nation that before Holland was so much as known enjoyed without contest the principal Dominion of the Ocean To this the States-General pleaded That their Right was sufficiently established by their long continued possession and Prescription This was the Motive upon which either party beginning first to raise Forces at Sea the one for recovery of this loss and the other for the preserving of it fell afterwards to an open breach with so great a prejudice to both parties whose principal subsistence and strength depended upon Trade that the same being hereby interrupted produced all the effects of a miserable and destructive Warr but principally to Holland which being straitned by the smallness of their Territory upon Land had no means of subsisting but by the Sea To these Reasons which were derived from profit and interest of State were added others touching the punctilio of Reputation The English pretending themselves to have been slighted by the Hollanders upon several occasions and principally in the killing of their Ambassadour at the Hague who was against the Law of Nations assassinated there by some English of the King's Party And the Hollanders who by their fresh and frequent Victories obtained against the Power of the King of Spain had already gained so great a Reputation that they were generally much esteemed and feared and had besides concluded so advantageous a Peace with his Catholick Majesty not daigning to give way unto the threats of England wherein the wounds of their Intestine Broyls were yet fresh bleeding took little care to satisfie the Parliament therein but sent to Sea a numerous Fleet and either Party falling to Acts of Hostility many Merchants Ships were lost on either side And their Fleets who were above 100 Sayl strong on either side meeting at last there passed the said Battle and many other Fights at Sea with loss on both sides but in such manner as each Party pretending to have the Victory it could not be well told which side had got it the loss consisting only in that of one or two Ships more or less than the Relations which were published and therefore each Party failed not to put to Sea afresh with an intention of fighting for it the Hollanders notwithstanding were very sensible of the loss of Van Trump their General a Person of great Valour and extraordinary Experience at Sea And we may well believe that as there is no comparison between the Greatness and Power of England and Holland which is far inferior to it in richess in extent of Land and Bodies of men so without doubt the English would have prevailed had they not been distracted by new intestine Broyls and Troubles The Court of France therefore considering how fit it was to make use of this favourable conjuncture of time to assure themselves of Guienne and Bourdeaux a City so disposed to risings resolved to make all fitting preparations for the reducing of them and therefore besides the Fleet sent into the Garonne as hath been said and the advance of Souldiers from all parts into the Province the Cardinal Mazarine continued the Treaties of Agreement with several Parties to see if he could give an end rather by Composition than Arms unto that War which being against Subjects renders the Victory weak and languishing whereof reserving the Account to the next Book I will resume the Relation of what was done during this time in Champagne where all persons being encouraged by the arrival of the Cardinal's Army and the Recruits sent from him after the taking of Barleduc and passing of the River Aisne
of the Prince of Conde that it was evident the Victories obtained in the Year 1652 were rather a weakening than a strength unto that Monarchy The Prince therefore being disabled to perform things whereof he had given hopes unto the French that followed him was forced to dismiss the best part of them and to permit them with his good leave to return to the obedience of his Majesty which was done by many of them for that onely reason And the Duke of Rochefaucaut being disabled by the Wounds he received in the last Fight at the Fauxbough of St. Anthonie in Paris to serve farther in the War accepted by his consent of a Pardon and quitted the Prince's Party with his intire good liking and consent The King's Council in Spain did notwithstanding what it was able in those straits for Provisions both for Guienne and Flanders and was not wanting by means of their Ambassadour at London to try all means of engaging the English against the French but 't was observed that in the Propositions for their sending of Men into Guienne the Catholick Ambassadour moved very warily he was willing Spain should have a footing in that Province but 't was against his Maximes That the English should nestle there whose power ought to be suspected unto the Spaniard their Dominions not onely in Europe but also in America being exposed to the Invasion of their formidable Fleets mann'd by a Nation ill affected to the Professors of the Roman Catholick Religion And because the Neapolitans and particularly the Nobles complained and every one cryed out against the rigours of the Count d' Ognate Vice-Roy there murmuring that Pardons were not sincerely kept so as there was no end of punishment the Catholick King resolved his three years being long since past to recall him into Spain The King's Council considered that 't was hard not to say impossible that Minister should be perswaded to act with more sweetness because it appeared manifestly that the Maximes of his Government tending onely to depress the Baronage and secure the People to him by good turns and a rigid Justice he would make use of his Majestie 's Authority upon all occasions to put the same in execution principally against those who were suspected or accused to have had hand in the late Revolutions Those who were his Enemies at Court had also the better means to do ill offices not only by reason of the small correspondence he held with Don Iohn of Austria and his part taking with the Brothers of Cardinal Barberin but most especially by reason of his Wealth and the absolute Authority he exercised in his Government which encreased the Envy and Emulation against him To all this was added the ill satisfaction of his Holiness who protested That he was cause of the small correspondence between him and the King of Spain by reason of those continual prejudices the matters of the Church received by the Discords he entertained with the Archbishop Cardinal Philomarini the nature of which though they were such as of themselves might be some Motives of distrust against him yet they were reported to have had another cause the said Archbishop being charged not to have dealt sincrrely in the beginning of the Tumults and in the progress of the Treaty so as if he had encouraged the People covering his partiality under the pretence of maintaining that confidence with them which might render his interposition the more useful That he had done many Actions esteemed prejudicial and such as shewed no good intention particularly in receiving the Duke of Guise in a manner refused unto Don John of Austria with the Ceremonies onely due to lawful Princes That he had discovered many Councels and Designs to the Enemy and in particular although too late the last Plot whereby the City was recovered by the Vice-Roy That nourishing Factions without regard unto the danger of the Times he had bred Troubles and prosecuted all his Actions and Designs with violence To the Count dâ— Ognate was appointed Successour the Count of Castriglio either to remove him from Court or to sweeten the Rigours of Ognate he being a Cavalier very dextrous affable and full of courtesie In the mean time Cardinal Mazarine being encouraged by the good Success of his Enterprises undertook also the Investing of Rhetel and St. Menhou and rallying together all the Troops of Mareschal Turenne and de la Ferte Seneterre marched that way hoping to perform this before the Souldiers went into Quarters but by reason of the strong Garrisons wherewith the Prince of Conde had reinforced these places and the sharpness of the Season he gave over the attempt and in lieu thereof sent the Marquess Castelnau and the Count Broglia to attack Vervins which they did the 27th of Ianuary forcing the Garrison which was 300 Foot and 200 Horse to quit the place next day towards Night And the Cardinal leaving there for Governour Monsieur de Rinville with a strong Guard dismissed the Troops into their Quarters and so ended the Campagne of 1652 In Chasteau Porcien was left for Commander the Count de Grand Pre and the Frontiers of Champagne being provided with sufficient strength against the attempts might be made by the Garrisons of Mouson St. Menhou Clermont and Stenay the Cardinal accompanied with a great number of Noble Persons and Officers of the Army went to Paris whither he had been invited by frequent Courriers from their Majesties The Marquess Pallavicin Treated at the same time the Affair touching the Restitution of the Galley taken by the Count d' Harcourt from the Genoueses and the Justice of that Common-wealths Demand appearing to the Court of France his Majesty whose intentions were to preserve Friendship and good correspondence with them overcame all difficulties and with great Equity and Justice gave order for the restitution commanding that the Galley fitted up and fully armed should by a Gentleman sent expressly for that purpose be brought unto the Town of Genoua and there restored as it was the August following where the Senate in acknowledgment of his Majestie 's generous goodness caused the Gentleman to be Treated at the publick charge in the said Marquess Pollavicin his House and dismissed him with a Present of 1000 Duckets in Plate This Galley had been thus taken in the Encounter which past in the Year 1638. between 15 Gallies of France and as many of Spain as hath been elsewhere said There were 5. taken by the French from the Spaniard one of which in that long Fight having lost all her Men and Tackle it was impossible for the French General to bring her into Provence and therefore putting some few Marriners and Souldiers into her he left her in the Fosse D' Arrassi himself following on his way towards the Islands of St. Margaret and St. Honorato Notice hereof being given unto the Spanish Garrison in Finall and to the People of Loano Subjects to the Prince Doria the same Night with certain Barks and
into the Territory of the Venetians where she was received upon the Confines by Anthonio Bernardi Captain of Brescia Royally served and her Charges defrayed through all that State From thence she continued her Voyage through Tiroll where she was generally Treated by the Arch-Duke Charles Ferdinand and in the Moneth of Iune following came to Monaco the Residence of his Electoral Highness where she was received by the Elector her Spouse with such tender Love and Affection as is peculiar to one who had long wished for and expected her and as was due to the Rare Beauties and Perfections of such a Princess When the Coronation of the King of the Romans was to be performed the Emperour caused Notice to be given unto the French Ambassadour That he might if he pleased be present at the Ceremony but that in case he came he must needs give the Precedency to the Ambassadour of Spain Vautort answered That as for coming thither he would do as he saw best but as for the Precedence he knew not any person who could take it from his King who was undoubtedly the first of Christendome He forbore notwithstanding to go thither because he would not stand in an ill posture with the House of Austria but might apply himself to those Affairs for which he came which were to continue and encrease the good intelligence between the States of the Empire and the Crown of France that he might be watchful to prevent all prejudice might come unto the Interests of that Crown or its Friends and Confederates by the Resolutions which should there be taken to get the investiture of the places held by the French in Alsatia and to countenance the Interests of Savoy in the investiture he pretended unto of the Towns in Monferrat according to the before mentioned Treaty of Chierasco After the Coronation the Ambassadour Vautort going for Audience unto his Imperial-Majesty he was received with shews of great Esteem and courtesie the Emperour excusing himself modestly That he could not do otherwise The Ambassadour replyed with all Civility to his Complements but defended the Interests and Prerogative of his King with all freedome and boldness The Crown of Sweden sent to this Diet the young Count Oxenstern with the Title of Ambassadour Extraordinary to have the Investiture of the Towns of Pomerania assigned unto the Swedes by the Treaty of Munster but the Emperour refusing to receive him under that title because he came to perform the Office of a Feudatary some differences arose which notwithstanding were after laid aside There were also in this Diet great Controversies between the Emperour and the States who set on foot a bold and a very distastful Pretension which was That they conceived there ought to be an Election of Iudges who might Censure and Iudge the Actions of the Emperours themselves with power to revoke and adnul all Decrees which they conceived to be contrary to Iustice or the Constitution of the Municipal Lawes This Affair as it pressed hard upon the Emperour was very warmly impugned and rejected it being censured as an audacious boldness to go about to prescribe Laws unto him who had the power of making them The Contest was long as being full of knotty Points and tedious difficulties and was solicited with great earnestness and fervour by a person depending on the Emperour himself who having had a Judgment passed against him before his Majestie feared he should not be able to find a good dispatch hereafter of his Causes there but the Endeavours and Artifices of those who laboured therein found such opposition that the Pretenders were finally inforced to give it over without being able to make a farther progress in it At this Meeting the Marquess of Castle Rodrigo Ambassadour from the Catholick King a Person of great Virtue and deep foresight managed divers things advantageous to the Interests of his Master He endeavoured by all means to engage his Imperial Majesty in some Treaty with the Count d' Hâ—rcourt who was in Brisac being upon ill terms with the Court of France to gain out of his hands that most Important Fortress which he said was the Gate by which the French might at their pleasure pass the Rhine and come into the heart of Germany and a Key which would keep them shut up in their own bounds That France shook hands by means thereof with the States Princes of the Empire and Protestant Cantons their Friends so as the Circles of the Empire having alwayes at hand the assistance which upon all occasions they might draw from that united Kingdome so well armed would by consequence swell with such high Pretensions as must necessarily either disturb the Publick Quiet or much weaken and eclipse the Imperial Authority That Caesar being so highly concerned for the general Good ought not to let slip an occasion presented him by Fortune to regain by Art a Place which was never to be won by force of Arms. He shewed farther That Lorrain being beyond Burgundy and Alsatia although the Duke should be restored by the General Peace it would instead of being what it was formerly a Knot that united the Low-Countries with the Franche Comtè and the Austrian Countries be rather a barr and partition to continue them divided from each other which was the greatest prejudice could happen to the Dominions of his Catholick Majesty and of the whole House of Austria whose weakness consisted principally in this That their Countries being dis-joyned they could not without great difficulty communicate those Succours to each other which are necessary for their subsistence in time of Warr. Besides that the French being freed from all Iealousies on that side would with more confidence employ their whole strength in other places But all his Endeavours were without effect as well by reason of the noble disposition of the Emperour who was resolved to observe inviolably the Peace of Munster as of the Ingenuity of Harecourt who would never give ear unto the Propositions reiterated to him from the Spaniards who used their utmost endeavour to make him enter into a Treaty with them by their own and by the Duke of Lorrain's means whom they made sensible what advantage the dislodging of the French out of Alsatia would be unto the Interests of his House and particularly out of Brisac which would alwayes be a bridle upon Lorrain if he should hereafter recover it by any Treaty But Harecourt preferring his Honour and Reputation before all other advantages that might befal him although he might perhaps give ear unto some Propositions and Invitations to a Treaty refused notwithstanding to enter into any or to negotiate touching this Affair Castle Rodrigo sped notwithstanding well touching the Imprisonment of Charles Duke of Lorrain with whom the Spaniards were ill satisfied because they found not in his actions that correspondence which they expected from his gratitude They represented therefore to his Imperial Majestie That the said Duke was not sincere and cordial in his union
following will know this only can be said That the Price of 50000 Crowns set on his head and all the Scorns and Contempts cast upon his Reputation were onely the Effects of a Passion which being wisely dissembled by this Cardinal served afterwards to let them see his good and just Intentions and made him at last triumphant overall his Persecutions and rendred his Ministry Glorious to all Posterity The same Night his Majesty kept him to Supper with himself in the Lodgings of the Mareschal de Villeroy that Night were many Bone-fires made and the next day as he returned from Mass he cast some Money amongst the people as he had done the day before upon the way in the Countrey as he passed along And the Visits which he received from the Grandees at Court and other particular Persons of all Orders and Conditions being over he betook himself unto the management of the Affairs of the Crown The same day there came to Paris also his three Neeces who had been alwayes with him who were also met out of the Port of St. Honorè by the Princess of Carignan the Marshal of Guebran his Lady the Marchioness of Ampous and several other Ladies of Quality These Ladies were also Lodged in the Louvre in a Quarter apart over the Queens Lodgings The King since his return had not done any thing in the distribution of Offices and Charges either Ecclesiastical or Secular although many were void and there were a great number of pretenders being desirous to expect the Cardinal's coming and to give him the Honour of disposing them as he who was best informed of each man's merit whereby he made himself also to be much more observed whilest every man being in hope to be rewarded according to his merit became more ready and careful in the Service of his Majesty He had notwithstanding of himself passed the Edicts for New Impositions and done all other things which were like to prove displeasing to the People because had it been done after the Cardinal's Return it might seem to have been done at his sollicitation whereby those Crimes would have been afresh imputed to him whereof he had formerly though without cause been esteemed guilty But there remaining unto him now by the special Favour of his Majesty the disposition of the Church Benefices and divers other Offices and Charges of the Court and Kingdome he began presently to make a distribution of them among such persons as he esteemed best deserving and fittest for the Imployments reserving notwithstanding a good part of them undisposed that he might keep up the hopes of such as were for the present disappointed of Imployments To the Count Servient who was a Minister of State of great Wisdome well deserving of the Crown and most Affectionate to his Majestie 's Service in which he was grown old having spent his time in the management of sundry Charges to the advantage of the Publick he gave the Office of super-Intendant over the Finances vacant by the death of the Marquiss of Vienville with whom was joyned Monsieur Fouquet Procureur General who was also made Minister of State a Person of great Merit for his continued Loyalty to his Majesty to whom upon all occasions and particularly in the Translation of the Parliament to Pontoise heâ—â—ad rendred very particular Service so as there was then seen at the same time two super-Intendants of the Finances as there was also a Chancellor and a Keeper of the Great Seal a thing seldome practised although the like hath been before during the Ministry of the Cardinal Richelieu To these Super-Intendants were also added four Intendants of the Finances who were the Monsieurs Paget Boisleue Housset and Brisaccier he took also good order for payment of the King's Revenues to the great ease and satisfaction of the Farmers of them Cardinal Anthonio Barberini coming about that time to Paris the Dignity of Great Almoner of France vacant by the death of Cardinal Richelieu Archbishop of Lions was conferred upon him by the means of Mazarine who endeavoured to give testimony of his gratitude and to oblige him more strictly to the Crown as conceiving his protection in Rome necessary unto the Interests of France the Cardinal Francisco his Brother being accounted averse to them by whom ill offices had been then lately done unto his Majesty by Letters censuring the Conduct and direction of Affairs It was reported in Court That this change in Cardinal Barberini was because he was gained by the Pope and Spaniard upon the hope of restoring to him the Profits of the Ecclesiastical Benefices of Naples and Sicily and the Money sequestred in Rome when the Pope pretended by calling him to account to undo the House of Barberini That which moved the Pope to a re-union with the Barberins was because having not long to live he thought not fit to leave a lasting Feud between his own Relations and that Family which was still powerful in Rome and the Spaniards also desired the same that they might take off the dependence of that Family upon France and find no opposition from them upon the Election of a new Pope The Cardinal Francisco therefore being transported with this hope because he had no other pretext made use of this That he had been neglected in France the Cardinal Mazarine having married his own Niece to the Duke Mercoeur without concerning himself to find a party for his Niece as he might have done And seeming to resent this highly he commanded the Abbot his Nephew who was at Lions to take away privately the Prince Praefect and all his Family from thence causing them to retire into Italy near Vincenza and this he did whilest Cardinal Anthonio was in Paris without giving him the least notice of it This sudden Resolution appeared strange in France and the rather because there had been alwaies a good intelligence between that Baberini and Cardinal Mazarine unto whom he had proposed some years before the Marriage of one of his Nieces Colonel Vaini her Cousin being sent into France about it and the thing had been agreed by his Majestie 's consent and Writings drawn up touching the Marriage After this Reconciliation of Cardinal Barberini with the Pope that this Union with that House might be more firm there was a Marriage concluded between Don Maffeo Barberini then the Abbot and a little Niece of the Pope in consideration of which Marriage the Prince Prefetto was promoted to be Cardinal and renounced the Inheritance unto his said Brother the Bridegroom The Bishoprick of Poictiers worth about 30000 Crowns yearly was also given to the said Cardinal Anthonio the same being void by the death of Monsieur Rocheposay an Excellent Prelate who had enjoyed that Dignity 40 years and had in two important occasions preserved that Countrey to the King himself with a halfe Pike in hand followed by the people who were much devoted â—â— him standing in opposition to the Nobility who in the former Wars had taken Arms for
the Malecontents of the Prince's Party were above measure disturbed foreseeing that this loss was a true prefage of their utter ruine The French on the other side proud of so fortunate Success resolved to make a farther progress and without making stop resolved to take Libourne and thereupon whilest the Duke of Vendosme staid in Bourg to give such Orders as were necessary and to dispatch away Artillery and Provisions fitting for the Enterprise Monsieur d'Estrades with 1200 Foot and 400 Horse after two dayes stay marched towards it and in his passage took the Castles of Savagnac and Laubardemont and passed the River Iolla the 9th of Iuly the Foot in Boats at Guistres and the Horse a League from thence at the Foord of Coustras The Place was next day viewed and Quarters set out for the Troops until the coming of Vendosme who the 11th day at Night arrived with the Cannon and Ammunition going up the Dordogne and passing happily under the Enemies Fort not above half Pistol shot off by the assistance of the Galley being one of those appointed for his Guard which was commanded by Monsieur de la Monnerie Commissary General of the Admiralty after which the Trench was begun on that side of the River where the Duke of Vendosme was lodged and the care of this Attack was given to the Count of Montesson Colonel of the Regiment of Bretagne and a Battery of two pieces of Cannon d' Estrades attacked on the other side of the River Ille and Monsieur de St. Romain assisted in making the Approaches and another Battery with the Regiment of Douglass In this mean time the besieged made a great Salley on that side with Horse and Foot but were so briskly repulsed that they durst never after peep abroad Both the Attacks were advanced with so much vigour that the second day the French were Masters of two Half-Moons in one of which they took 17 prisoners and a breach being there opened on the Duke's side and a Mine ready to be sprung on that of d' Estrades the besieged upon the 17th of Iuly founded a Parley and demanded the same Terms as were granted unto Bourg but 't was refused them the French thinking it not reasonable that Libourne should think it self 'equal to Bourg at last it was agreed That as to the French and Irish Souldiers they should be Prisoners of Warr the Officers should have liberty to return to their own houses and twelve onely should have liberty to carry the Baggage away with them The Souldiers who were about 800 divided themselves under the King's colours where they voluntarily entred themselves into Service The Justice of the King's Cause was visibly approved by the facility wherewith these two Important Places were gained by his Forces and the diligence and abilities of his Captains appeared likewise to be very great and particularly in the Enterprise of Libourne which being Garrison'd by more than 800 Souldiers in pay was besieged and taken by an Army of 2200 Foot and Four hundred Horse the remainder of the Troops being divided part of them placed in Garrison at Bourg part part left to make good the Posts of Castillon and Monreal and the rest Commanded upon several Parties by the Generals upon the notice they got by Letters of Marsin intercepted and undeciphered that his Lieutenants marched with some Troops of Perigord and Quercy unto the relief of that place which being the principal foundation of the subsistance of Bourdeaux was furnished with all things necessary for the holding out of a long Siege This second loss put all the Inhabitants into a wonderful apprehension and the Prince's Party lost much of their first Credit the people crying out That in lieu of the Succour which they hoped for they were contriving to cast them into the slavery abominated by them The Citizens therefore made several Assemblies and examining the state of their Affairs found clearly that their hopes of subsistence were very small without speedy Succour which could not be elsewhere had but from Spain or England they therefore sent away to sollicite the Catholique King's Generals for their promised Succours and failed not to request of General Cromwell That he would open the Passage of the River and give maintenance unto that City which would bring so great advantages to England But the Spaniards who desired very much to perform this Request wanted Forces and the English who could with ease have done it had no thoughts of putting it in execution The French who saw well that Expedition was the Mother of Success and were sensible that either the Spaniard might get Forces or the English an inclination to succour Bourdeaux disposed themselves with extraordinary diligence to put in execution all those things which might serve to reduce that People speedily under obedience and therefore Libourne being taken they quarter'd their Troops as near as possibly they could to Bourdeaux that they might incommodate the Citizens and deprive them of all communication with the Countrey The Duke of Vendosme held the Castle of Lermont all the Countrey between the two Seas and by means of the Fleet was Master of the River The Duke of Candale with his Forces divided upon the principal Passes was Master of all the Avenues having to back them the Fort Casar the Bourg of Blanquefort and the Quarter of Begle and thereby hindred the City from receiving any Relief on that side where they had before got it and expected it afresh from Spain and the Count de Marin was sent to take the Castle de la Teste de Certes wherein was that Garrison which had facilitated the Count de Fiesco his passage formerly But although 't were certain that Force was the securest means to restore the King's Authority within that City yet considering it might be long first 't was thought fit to try the means for reducing the Inhabitants unto a voluntary submission The House of Espernon had in it a great number of Creatures and well-affected persons gained by their long abiding in those Parts who notwithstanding the Seditious Cabals had alwaies retained their good affections Which made it easie for the Duke of Candale a Prince generally beloved for his Virtuous and Noble Qualities to set on foot a Treaty upon this design with the well disposed Citizens By means therefore of Friends and Confidents there being many others disposed to Peace they thought fit to attempt the means of bringing it about The multitudes of Country people running into the City for fear of the Souldiers served wonderfully to make the scarcity of Provisions appear because the Corn being with great dexterity bought up and hidden in private houses and the Mills being out of order by biding of the stones and other implements the Bakers were not able to find Bread sufficient to furnish such a multitude whereupon the throng of people who were present at the distribution of it began to think that the want was extream great and that therefore the publick
of stairs They were condemned unto the deserved punishment of the Gallows and being broken upon the Wheel in Paris near the Bastile the 11th of October in the great street of St. Anthony The Cardinal Mazarine who by reason of the mildness of his nature and the Character he bears of being a Prince of Holy Church abhorres these bloody Spectacles did what lay in him to procure their pardon and would surely have obtained it if being so enormious a Crime it had been grantable without a notable prejudice to justice which in such cases must not at all give way to pity There followed after divers other Executions in Paris done upon several persons who were imprisoned for heynous Crimes but without doubt the effects of the King's clemency were much the greater those being many more in number who were pardoned then who were punished I cannot here omit the mentioning of one who being condemned to be beheaded pretended by his Ambition to Triumph over death he before he was brought out to Execution with an undaunted boldness as if he had been going to a Wedding dressed himself up shaved turned up his Mustaccio's powdred his hair and made his boasts That Civil Men though suffering Ignominious death ought to dye honourable And although to encourage subjects by too much levity to a relapse into their former errours be by some qualified with the name of a false Maxime yet that could not discourage the King's Ministers from using it because to generous minds the occasions of meriting the thanks of such as are obliged are much more welcome then the imprecations of those who suffer which having drawn down Heavenly favours on them hath let us see those miracles which have rendred his Government most happy who having inherited the Title of Most Christian hath joyned unto it the glorious appellation of Most Clement Truly they may be well called miracles which were seen in France in the year 1653 because whilst it seemed likely that the Kingdom combated every way by furious storms should fall in pieces it became suddenly more serene and every way more glorious then before because being by the quieting of Bourdeaux and all Guienne freed from that powerful diversion which imployed so many Forces those being now at liberty have secured all the borders from those dangers wherewith they were threatned and marching into Catalonia and Lombardy have interrupted all those designs the Spanish party hoped for from their precedent Victories The Ministers of which Crown were thought to have committed a great oversight in that they had not four years before agreed unto a general Peace the ease whereof tempering the fierce and stirring nature of the French would have proved much more useful to them then the necessitating of them to a War which raising the desires of it in a youthful King and so a great number of young Nobility may probably make the effects thereof bitter unto them it being certain that no Victories are so severely prosecuted as those which are in prosecution of a just revenge The same time that the Affairs of Warr in Catalonia Guienne and Champaigne passed in the manner before related the French concerns also in Piedmont put on a better face so as there was no farther cause of fear that the Piemontois should for want of considerable assistance be forced to free themselves from the Inconveniences of Warr by making some agreement with the Spaniard for that the Count de Quincè being gone as hath been said into Piedmont and some French Troops being joyned to him he advanced into the Enemies Countrey with between 5000 and 6000 Men and incamping at Annone upon the Banks of the Tanaro for about a moneths time during which he staid there he infested continually the Countrey about Alexandria with frequent parties sent into those parts after which quitting that Post he returned to Monferrat and passing the Po at Verna went to incamp above Crescentino to observe the Marquiss Caracene who having taken the Field with 8000 Souldiers was marched to Fontant and Palazzuolo three miles distant where the Armies stayed some dayes observing each other in which mean time the French sent abroad several parties and particularly one even to Vercelli of 1500 Horse Before he dislodged thence drawing up all his Horse in the Plain of Bertola about a Cannon shot from the Spanish Camp he sent to defie the Marquiss Caracene to fight a Battel but he holding a Maxime That the French Fury was to be stopped by the Spanish Gravity made a mock of him These attempts of the French being vanished without effect Quincè repassed the Po in Iuly and entred again into Monferrat crossing the Tanaro upon a Bridge of Boats near Asti and from thence staying two dayes at Rochetta went to encamp at Monbersel Upon notice of this march by the French the Marquiss Caracene passed the Po again with his Forces near to Pontestura and having marched cross Monferrat went to lodge at Felizzano intending to cross Tanaro at Rochetta but finding opposition from the Enemy he went to pass lower towards Alexandria advancing unto Nizza della Paglia Quincè stayed at Castel Nuovo Brusato observing his motions about 15 dayes there being daily skirmishes between the Horse of either party But Caracene being at last resolved to break into Piedmont and by that diversion to make the French quit Monferrat passing the Po at Pontestura he began to scour over the Countrey thereabouts but that sufficed not to make Quincè stirre who judging that it would be of great prejudice to his Affairs to bring his men to make the Warr in a Friends Countrey took a contrary course he sent his Baggage into Asti and foording over the Tanaro at Rochetta and after passing Bormida came by the way of Novi unto Saravalle a great Town above Alexandria in the Confines of the Genouese Countrey between the Rivers of Sirvia and Orba and having sacked it went towards Tortona and Castel nuovo de Scrivia taking great Booties in those Towns where he was not expected Caracene was thereby forced to quit his designs in Piedmont and march in all hast to Alexandria gathering together all the Garrisons and forraign Souldiers to cut off the retreat of the French towards Nizza but Quincè advertised thereof marched by Cassino de Strada by Aicqui and by the Valley of Bistagno to the said Town of Nizza whither the Spanish Army was already come for which cause the French retired that Night to St. Spefaro and went with great care to get the Pass of Our Lady at Tenello and prevent the Enemy who came thither just as the French had seised it with their Vantguard where they began to skirmish but with great reservedness of the Spanish side because they would not engage in a Battel with the French who although they were inferiour in number had the advantage in the Experience and valour of their Horse Quincè went from thence directly towards Alba and thence between Alba and Asti
his Person and Estates he was received by his Catholick Majesty and his Lieutenants General with a sincere friendship and taken into his particular Protection with so much love and care of his Concernments that he had always included him in all Treaties touching the General Peace which sufficiently shewed forth the candidnëss of his proceeding and the honourable esteem had of his Person admitting him besides into all Councils of War and other debates of his Majesties Officers and Ministers of State that notwithstanding these so great benefits recerved by him he had contrary unto his duty and the tyes of gratitude wherein he stood ingaged done many things prejudiciall unto the Interests of the Crown from which he had received so great advantages For that besides the Plundrings Rapines Sacriledges and inhumanities exercised upon the Subjects by his Forces which were to be imputed unto the Duke himself and were rendred sufficiently notorious and publick by the general Out-cries Teares and Lamentations of the people there was an ample discovery made of his secret intelligences and the carrying on of designes by him no way conducing to the advantage of the publick service which he was bound to promote sincerely by the assistance of his Forces that every man was capable of discovering his inconstancy and affected irresolution in the matters to be resolved on touching the War and the delays used by him in executing the designs of most importance which was the cause that by his sole default many considerable Enterprizes which according to all probability and humane providence were likely to have been of great benefit and advantage had miscarried That all these things were so well known not only to the Lieutenants General Colonels and other Officers of the Army but even to the very Souldiers and common People who were Eye-witnesses thereof that they exclaimed and admired so abominable abuses were let to run on without a remedy That true it was the King of Spain by reason of his own innate goodness and the affection he bears unto the House of Lorrain had been indulgent even to the extremity hoping still the Duke touched with remorse of his own conscience and consideration of his Majesties unparallel'd bounty would at length return unto his duty But things proceeding still from bad to worse and his irregular deportments being arrived even to the utmost bounds of sufferance were come to such extremity that all his Majesties Subjects and all the Neighbouring Princes and States had them in such abomination that the effects of their revenge were even upon the point of falling upon Flanders on that account His Majesty therefore that he might no farther provoke the Divine wrath against himself nor the indignation of the abused Princes and People against his subjects could not longer defer the taking such courses as were necessary to stop the Current of this mischief by the securing of his Person wherein he swarved not in the least manner from the Law of Nature and of Nations which permits all Soveraign Princes to prevent without respect of any Person whatsoever all oppressions and violences exercised against their Dominions and Subjects and do justice unto themselves their People and the Neighbouring Princes and States in Amity with them having first in vain made trial of ways of sweetness for the effecting of it That he did this not out of any aversion to the House of Lorrain but on the contrary protested that he would alway protect it and espouse their interests in testimony whereof he had proposed the Prince Francis of Lorrain his Brother to command his Forces and until his arrival the Arch-Duke declared and commanded all should observe and obey the orders of the Count Ligneville Lieutenant General of the said Forces giving farther an assurance unto all the Officers and Souldiers of a general pardon of all excesses they had before committed under the said Dukes command and this Manifesto was made the very day on which the Duke was arrested which was the 25th day of February 1654. It was afterwards insinuated among the Souldiers that the Duke should not be sent away for Spain but that some points being adjusted with him and security given for his Fidelity he should be set at liberty wherewith the minds of the Officers and Souldiers affectionate unto the Service of their Prince were something quieted and that bitterness removed which this unexpected accident had raised amongst them The news of this Action coming to the Court of Spain was received with that content which an Affair deserved whereon depended consequences of so great importance but these superficial reflections corresponded not to those were made by them who looked deeper into the matter because although the Action were judged to be necessary and that a longer dissimulation would have been improper to give a remedy to those disorders yet the ill consequences such an example might produce rendred the execution of it to be no way suitable unto the rules of Policy It was considered that the Services the Duke had done the House of Austria were publick but his failings published in the Manifesto and declarations of the Arch-Duke were yet unknown little credit being usually given to what is published by interested Persons that it was very hard to wipe out the opinion already settled that the Duke had provoked France against him only to comply with the Spaniard and upon that account only had lost his Country so as if he were after the loss thereof refuged in Flanders it seemed rather to be the effect of an Obligation than their courtesie That by how much the deeper he was charged with Crimes by the Spanish Ministers by so much more the proceedings of France against him seemed to be justified with this consideration that if he had given just cause unto the Spaniard whom he had so much obliged to punish him the French against whom he had raised Arms had certainly a just occasion for what they did besides it was some trouble to the Spaniard to consider that upon this example any Prince or Person of Quality who had well deserved from them might hereupon have a just cause to think that the Services done to them meet with ingratitude but the injuries they receive are never pardoned and thereupon desperately resolve to employ themselves no more in performing Services which are not like to be acknowledged but choose a party that may be able to secure them against their power of being able to inflict punishment The Court of France upon this news made a great stir and endeavoured to improve this good opportunity of decrying the Actions of their Enemies which because it may be gathered from the Manifesto published in the King of France his name the 2d of Iuly 1654. in Sedan where the Court then was It will not be â—â—niss here to insert it WHereas the most Christian King hath been given to understand that divers Commanders and a great part of the Souldiery and other Persons belonging to the Army
service as well in the publick assembly as in private discourse with their Majesties as Commissioners from the Parliament using his best indeavours for the Princes liberty The Court and Cardinal being thus undermined saw they were obliged to give the Princes their liberty yet they failed not by means of many Princes and others on whom they relyed to handle the agreement so as that they were to acknowledg their Releasement merely from the Queen and should be only bound to her and joyn with her if they could but break the designs of the Coadjutor and of others The Marquess Chastoneus who for his venerable age was well thought of by both sides sent for the Prince his friends to him as Viola Vesnsond Croisy Arnault and others and in presence of Secretary Tillier proposed a particular Treaty for the Princes liberty Conde's friends listned willingly to this for they suspected that the Cardinal being gone and when Orleans should be Arbitrator at Court he might still detain the Princes in Prison by the Coadjutor's instigation which they said was the Coadjutor's hidden design whilst the Cardinal was upon his journey to Haure de Grace and whilst Grammont Lyon and Goulas negotiating with the Prince did agree together that Conde should renounce all Leagues as well within as without the Kingdom that he should not come into Claremont Bellegrade the Castle of Dijon nor the Tower of Burges till four years after his disimprisonment that the King should put a Garrison into Steney that the Duke of Longueville should quit the Government of Normandy as being too near Paris having another Government as good given him The Dukes of Nemeurs and of Rochfaucolt who were come to Paris subscribed the Treaty and hound themselves to observe it since Orleans had not given them the Kings Letter till after they had signed it The Queen did this to further Lyon's Negotiation in Haure de Grace who had order to handle the business so as that the King might receive no prejudice thereby and that it might appear to proceed merely from the Queens favour but whilst Monsieur Vrliere and others went to see this Treaty performed the Cardinal set them at liberty so as their was no more speech thereof and the Princes came out of Prison as you shall hear in the next Book THE HISTORY OF FRANCE The SIXTH BOOK The CONTENTS Cardinal Mazarine parts unexpectedly from Paris and goes to Haure de Grace The Parisians rise and under pretence that the King and Queen might also go out of Paris they set Guards round about the Palace-Royal The Princes are dis-imprisoned and return in glory to Paris The Cardinal goes to Sedam and retires from thence to Burles in Germany The Dutchess of Longueville and Marishal Turenne are restored to Court The Marriage between the Prince of County and Madamoselle Chevereux is broken off whereat the Dutchess of Chevereux is scandalized and become an Enemy to Conde who loseth many friends Assemblies of Ecclesiasticks and of the Nobility insue They pretend to call an Assembly of the States General and are dissolved with promise from the King that they shall be called another time Marishal Chasteauneus is in disgrace at Court and the Seals are delivered to the first President of Parliament The Duke of Orleans and the Frondeurs are troubled thereat they make the Queen re-assume them and deliver them to the Chancellor of the Kingdom The Prince takes new distasts at Court and begins new troubles at the Cardinals return divers proposals are made by both parties Conde at unawares retires from Paris goes to St. Maure pretends not to be safe at Court demands that some State Ministers be sent away which is done but is not content for all this he makes other pretentions the Queen seeks all means how to appease him but in vain He makes league with Spain and by his friends and kindred is forced to make War which he does unwillingly foretelling no good success The Spaniards begirt Barcellona and divers accidents happen in those parts THE Parliament being fomented by the Duke of Orleans by the Frondeurs and Male-contents and which was of more importance being frightned at the rage of the people who ran in great numbers storming to the publick Palace after they had made humble Remonstrances to the Queen for the liberty of the Princes and for the removal of the Cardinal it was questioned whom the Provost of Merchants ought to obey in case the people should take up Arms and the assembly seeming to give that Attribute to the Duke of Orleans and the commotions growing hotter and hotter in the City the Cardinal was in danger of his life Wherefore the Dutchess of Chevereux who did not build too much upon Orleans his stability and who desired that the Cardinal would yield used all possible means to make him be gone shewing the Queen sometimes how necessary it was to satisfie Orleans who being sweetned by this demonstration of esteem put upon him would be easily won over sometimes saying That if the Cardinal would yield but for some few days till such time as the Duke might be brought back to Council he would undoubtedly be appeased and being a Prince naturally well given would by strong reasons be made to see how falsely he had been informed from whence he might be brought to alter his mind wherein she would be ready to co-operate being as desirous of the Crowns good as any other whosoever but the Counsel were of several opinions and though there were but few that did not inwardly desire the Cardinals fall yet some were absolutely against his departure advising that 2000. Gentlemen of the Countrey who were well affected to the Court should enter Paris make head against Orleans and drive him and all the turbulent Spirits out of the City who wanting the presence of the imprisoned Princes could expect but little from any else who wanted credit and were not fit to govern War as was Conde and some that were more affectionate to the Crown said That upon this occasion they might follow Cromwell's example who had reduced London a great and powerful City for people and wealth to intire obedience by making the Army advance into the Suburbs and begirt the City again as they had done the preceeding year Plessis Pralin de Eure and the Father of Marishal Santerre appeared more concerned for the Cardinals tarrying than all the rest for they said plainly That they had rather see him in that condition whom they by experience had found to be cruelly demean'd than others who peradventure were more rigid had further pretences Count Servient Tillier and Lion were true to the Cardinal and contributed Counsels becoming the Kings service But those who naturally were given to love novelty desired he might absent himself and these were more in number Chasteneus the Guard de Seaux particularly strove to shew that there was no better expedient for the present than the Cardinals absence and that the effect must be
removed by the removing the cause some others of the Cardinals Domesticks taking offence at the strange proceeding of the Frondeurs and Male-contents said That he was to maintain himself by force and to asswage the tumor before it did more insistolize these said That the King was absolute Master and that the Subjects were to renounce not to censure the Kings actions that all the strong holds Soldiers Subjects and greatest part of the Nobles were for the King Wherefore they ought not to foregoe the Resolutions of suppressing of some ambitious Spirits who were incouraged only by the popular breath of Paris which being a populous City was subject to the fatality of wavering according to the fury of the rabble rout That the strength of the Duke of Orleans of the Frondeurs Parliament and people lay only in their opinion of the Courts weakness which the more reservedly it proceeded against them it made them the prouder and made one contumacious act a ladder whereby to climb up to greater so as to be feared they must appear not to fear that the people seeing a Masculine resolution put on would rather think of saving themselves than of precipitating themselves into a party which was not able to sustain them That the friends of the imprisoned Princes fearing that their lives might be indangered would forbear those attempts which might force the Court to use violence that friends would be incouraged and that it being in the Kings power to bestow all places and honours the desire of merit would prevail more with most men than the unquiet party That therefore they must be no longer in resolving for slow resolutions in such cases shewed weakness and fear which was the only reason of the rashness of the seditious nor did they forbear to say that absolute power might be used upon the Parliament Commissioners yea even to life if their associates should transgress the bounds of duty The Cardinal thought this advice was not to be contemned and had he accepted it it might peradventure have done the deed but the Cardinal though he wanted neither courage nor wit to have done it answered that since the business concerned only himself he would not ingage the Kings Authority in his defence against a Nation to which he intended glory and advantage not misery and troubles being confident that the Duke of Orleans the Parliament and people would at last clearly discern the cunning of those that were Enemies to quiet and that when this cloud should be once over the innocency of his actions would in time appear more clearly he therefore did only feel the pulse of the Provost de Merchants of the Sheriffs Field-Officers and Colonels and finding them readier to obey Orleans than the King he resolved to yield to the Popular violence believing that like an high going Sea it would grow calm when the winds should cease Nor would he indeavour to carry the King and Court out of Paris as well for that it would be very hard to do by reason of the strict guards that were kept in all the Streets as also that the Court being gone that powerful City would rest at the disposal of his Enemies which was the thing they would be at Being thus resolved to be gone he acquainted the Queen with it saying That if the Duke of Orleans and the Parliament would be satisfied with this things would go well the loss of his person not being to be considered if thereby the publick peace might be purchased But that if no good should accrue by his absence her Majesty might then believe there were some conceal'd plots against her service that she should therefore in such a case keep conceal'd and indeavour by all means to get the King out of Paris and that she should not by any means suffer her self to be perswaded to set the Princes at liberty for when he should be gone and that pretences should not thereby cease they were not to be set at liberty unless upon such conditions as that they should owe the Obligation only to the King's goodness and to no body besides He caused a Letter to be sent to La Bar subscribed by the Queens own hand with order to obey what she should command and to set the Princes at liberty if agreement were made with them or else to detain them till they might in time be set free with more safety things being thus setled he left the Abbate Vndedey with the Queen to have a care of what should occur and in the Evening upon the sixth of February he called for Count Brienne the first Secretary and acquainted him with his Resolution of being gone recommending the Kings interest unto him whose Authority he said was several ways plotted against and without more ado went down stairs got on Horse back and accompanied by only three went by the Rue St. Honore toward the gate de Conferance but hearing that many were run before to the Twilleries where Madamoselle d' Orleans then was for they had had some inckling of his departure he turned about and went by Porte Richelieu and got into the Fields where many of his friends waited for him he went towards St. Germans accompanied by the Counts of Harcourt and Palaw by the Marquesses of Ronserolles Brevall Plessis Belliere by Baron Camilliack and by many others of good condition who in all might make about four hundred Horse He staid at St. Germans and sent speedily to Monsieur Lyon who was gone before to Haure de Grace to negociate with the Princes to know what their intentions were touching agreements and to know of La Bar if coming thither with orders from the Regent he should be received and obey'd But Lyons negotiation proved imperfect by reason of the novelties which had hapned at Paris by which the Queen was compell'd to send orders for their Releasement without any manner of conditions She also sent Count Broglio to Tillier with a Letter acquainting him that the Council stood firm to their resolution of not setting the Princes at liberty till that acknowledging their obligation only from her they might have no occasion to reconcile themselves with the Frondeurs but neither did this hit for one of the Lords of the Privy Council acquainted Chasteauneuf that the Cardinal had conceal'd that the Princes should be set at liberty by none but him This man though he were then an open Enemy to Conde did notwithstanding consent to his liberty so to sweeten him and to let him see that he had forgot all former injuries wherefore it being given out that Mazarine was gone to free the Princes their Enemies fell to consider what prejudice might redound to them if Conde should come out meerly by means of the Cardinal wherefore that they might prevent him they began with great ardor to procure his liberty And Chasteauneuf caused President Perault a great friend of Conde's to be let loose out of the Bastile without order from the Queen but howsoever the Cardinal