whereas the continuance of that coldness which has been between you will produce the contrary Effects LETTER LXXXIII To the Duke of Bouillon I Make no question but that in the Places where you are you contribute toward the King's Service whatever His Majesty can expect from your Zeal and Affection for his Affairs M. de Noyers will give you such a particular accompt of what M. de Thou remonstrated to him on your behalf that having nothing farther to add I shall say no more then only this that His Majesty's desire to see the Count in that Condition that becomes him near his Person has enclin'd him to send M. de Bautru to him in order to give him all the satisfaction he can desire I promise my self that this News will please you so much the more because I am confidently assur'd that there is nothing that lies in your power which you would not contribute toward so good an End For my own part such is the esteem I have for yee that it will be no small Satisfaction to me to have an Opportunity to let you see by real Effects that no body has more Sincerity then my self c. LETTER LXXXIV To M. de Bethune during the Siege of Pignerol by Father Joseph I Have delay'd to let you hear from us as being desirous to give you certain Information of what Resolutions are to be taken upon the Uncertainties wherewith the Duke of Savoy still amnses us For though his Carriage in these present Affairs gave us Cause enough to believe what now we see I thought it convenient however that we should shut our Eyes and practise Patience in several things that we might not omit any Means to close with the King 's just Intentions for the Defence of the Duke of Mantua's Territories as he is oblig'd by the Treaty of Suza wherein every body knows that His Majesty had no other Aim than the Repose of Italy and the Preservation of the publick Liberty But at last the said Duke made it so manifestly appear that there was no Reason to relie upon what might be reasonably expected from him that all those Persons who together with my self were intrusted with the Conduct of that Army were of Opinion that the King's Service the Reputation of his Arms and the Welfare of his Confederates requir'd that we should seek for more certain Assurances then Words from the said Duke Instead of furnishing us with Provisions as he had solemnly promis'd the King and causing Twenty Thousand Sacks of Corn to be deliver'd on this side for the like Quantity which the King had put into Nice after he had deliver'd us a small Quantity and reduc'd us to Necessity he by a general Prohibition forbade all his Subjects to assist us any manner of way shew'd all the Marks of Jealousie and exercis'd all the Acts of Hostility that a declar'd Enemy could have done For when we came to Veillana though there were a River between him and us he put all his Men into that place and caus'd 'em to advance as we march'd He seiz'd upon all the Passes through which Provisions could come to us and at length declar'd that he would not stand to what he had promis'd by the Treaty of Suza which was to join with France to procure the Duke of Mantua the peaceable Enjoyment of his Territories and pacifie the Troubles of Italy if the King would not assure him to lay down Arms till after the Conquest of Milanois and Genoua By this 't is easie to judge whether the said Duke's Designs could be conformable to His Majesty's who had not been persuaded to this War but only to succour his Confederates and settle the Repose of Christendom These new Propositions of the Duke of Savoy and the Extremities which the King's Army suffer'd in Cazeletta where he seem'd to have lodg'd us on purpose caus'd us to quit that place and march to Rivola where we arriv'd the 18th of this Month. But before we set forward I sent a Gentleman to the Duke who was then at Rivola to desire him that we might have a little more Room for the Convenience of the Army which could not pass forward without being more certain of his Intentions But the Duke being gone before Day he could not meet with him The next Day I sent to him the Sieur Servien to let him understand the same Reasons and to give the Nuncio Pancirollo an Account of 'em But the Duke would neither see the said Sieur Servien nor permit him to speak with the Nuncio nor with Signior Sorenze the Venetian Ambassador who were both at that time in Turin The same day I dispatch'd away the Sieur de L'Isles that at least he might pay his Respect to Monsieur and Madam the Princess of Piemont and declare to them how great a Grief it would be to me that the Duke of Savoy should give the King any Cause by his ill Conduct to complain of him and to seek Assurances otherwhere then in his Promises Put the Gates of Turin being shut against that Gentleman he return'd without being able to deliver his Message Upon which the Mareschals of France and other Principal Officers of the Army prudently judg'd that he was resolv'd no longer to hearken to any thing on the King's Behalf that he was extreamly averse from the King's Intentions and that he rather chose to have a War in his own Country then to quit his Design of engaging the King in a continual War against the King of Spain and the Genoneses and caus'd em together with my self to conclude upon this Extremity That we were to make use of that Force which His Majesty had put into our Hands to do what was most advantageous for the Good of his Service We all agreed to march to Pignerol because it afforded us a more easie Passage of Provisions from France which the Duke of Savoy deny'd us We arriv'd there the 21th of this Month and this Day the Town surrender'd with great probability that the Cittadel will do the like in few Days Perousa and the Fort adjoining to it which His Highness built about a Year ago to give a Jealousie to the Inhabitants of Pragelas who adhere to the King made no Resistance against our Men So that from this place where we now are there is a free Passage into France I cannot express the People's Joy in the midst of the Calamities of the War to find that the King is now their Sovereign such is their Veneration for his Justice and Clemency You may be pleas'd to acquaint His Holiness of this Success and to let him know the Reasons of our Proceedings which I make no question but he will approve and judge 'em to be of great Importance and Benefit to put a stop in some measure to the Oppressions and Violences that afflict or threaten to afflict all Italy to which all the Remedies apply'd by the Care and Admonitions of His Holiness have been hitherto fruitless If he will
need of them if the Interests of the Church and all Christendom which the King prefers before his own did not concur with yours The Ambition of the Spaniards is too well known to the whole World not to discern that they have no other Design than not only to make Popes which may be favourable to them but who may so absolutely depend on them as to consider the Desires of Spain as the Rule of the Actions of the Holy Chair and you are too quick-sighted as not to see that if you do not fill those many Vacancies in the Consistory you will not be strong enough to hinder them from obtaining their Ends by consequence of which the Church will be involved in a Servitude both shameful and intolerable if the Contempt that you have of yourself hinders you from a due Consideration of an Affair of so great Moment to your Family The Publick Interests do not suffer you to do so the Peace of Christendom the Glory of God and the Liberty of his Church oblige you upon pain of answering before the Tribunal of Heaven to contribute your utmost to their Advantage seeing there are no Reasons able to counterpoise those powerful Considerations I cannot imagine that you surmize that the Subjects nominated by the Crowns are not agreeable both because I know and dare answer that those who apply themselves to France will passionately embrace the Interests of your Family and that though they should not do it this Consideration is too weak to divert them from so important a matter In a word my Lord the matter in dispute is so to secure the Establishment of your House that it may not be shaken or fall into Contempt or Ruiune The matter in dispute is Either to leave Christendom in Confusion or to put yourself in a Capacity effectually to promote its Peace instead of being contented with insignificant Wishes for so good Ends The matter in dispute is Either to abandon the Church of God or to recover and confirm at the same time its Renown and Grandeur Whereas now those who envy your Happiness from their Height look down upon you This Promotion will be no sooner made but they will be compell'd to lift up their Eyes to see you in a Condition very different from your former whereas many judge by Appearances which often deceive that there is Blindness or Weakness in your Conduct Blindness if you do not see the Condition you are in and Weakness and an abandoning of yourself if you will not make use of those Remedies which you have in your Power Some will commend your Prudence others will admire your Power and you will be esteemed by all Men for your Ability in securing your Fortune and the Interests of the Church which are much dearer to you than your own If any one blame me because I think I see a-far off which they think your Eminence doth not judge to be so nigh give me leave to say That the Publick and your Interests are always so present and so much affect me that Paris is not so far from Rome but I can see clearly what Matters of Importance happen in both places I know very well that his Holiness's Chair is the Seat of Wisdom principally in the Life of so great a Pope But as it is with Men in that which most concerns them as with those who cannot see because they are dazled with the Light which is too nigh them I am sure your Eminence will pardon me if I presume in this thing to be so clear-sighted as to conjure you to prefer my Sentiments before those which you esteem to have had hitherto I conjure you by the Care which you ought to have that the succeeding Actions of his Holiness answer the Lustre of those that are past so that it is with the Judgments of the World as with those of God who judges Men by their last Actions Men would not esteem the Life of so great a Pope being destitute of Wisdom because this Virtue would seem not to have been the Motive of his last Thoughts Finally I conjure you by the Desire you have to prolong the Pope's Days whose Life probably will be the more assured the greater cause of Contentment it shall have which I wish him so heartily that I beg of God an ample Effusion of his Blessings upon his whole House and upon your Person to whom I am c. LETTER CCLII To Cardinal Barberini My LORD TAking the boldness to write to our holy Father upon the account of Mareschal D'Estre the interest that I know you have with his Holiness makes me take Pen in hand to conjure you to consider the Merit of this Affair and the Consequences which it may produce and upon this consideration to manage it with his Beatitude so as may satisfie the King's desires And tho' I do not doubt but his Holiness approving of the Reasons which I make bold to represent to him in my Letter will pass by those which have hitherto hindred him to give him this satisfaction I promise myself that he will the more easily agree to it when he shall be fortified by your good Offices which I beseech you to contribute upon this occasion in which not only the interest of his Holiness is concern'd but that of his whole House of which the King will always have as great care as of his own the particular knowledge that I have of this truth makes me give you a firm assurance of it Be pleased therefore firmly to believe it since the Proofs that his Majesty will give in all Occurrences to the advantage of his Holiness and his Relations will better confirm the certainty of it than my words which I only make use of at present to conjure you to believe that I am c. LETTER CCLIII To Victor Amedeus Duke of Savoy SIR THe Sieur de St. Michael will give your Highness a particular Account of what pass'd at the taking of Privas which on the eighth day after the Trenches were opened was carried on so briskly that they were forced to surrender upon discretion I thought it my Duty to inform you That during the Siege we surprized some Letters which Clausel who is with your Highness writ to Monsieur de Rehen to desire him to do Miracles against the King because of the great hopes he has of Assistance from your Parts You may Sir very well imagine that we desire that the good Understanding betwixt the King and you may be continued that those Negotiations may not be at your Court by Persons who are in your power His Majesty has at present one of the Brothers of the said Clausel in his hands he was taken in Privas He has been so kind to him that as yet he is not punished according to his Merits As to what remains I promise my self that the Affection which you have for Madam will influence you to give her satisfaction about the Affair of Pomeuse as I have formerly
the Cause that the West-India Fleet is not yet arrived in Spain While I was in Piedmont I believe I wrote a hundred times at least how necessary it was to keep an Army on foot upon the Frontiers of Spain and evidently made it out that 't was impossible to keep it under a good Discipline without Money After my Return I declar'd by Word of Mouth what I had set forth in Writing before I am my self at a loss as well you know for want of the Payment of some Assignations that were allow'd me towards the Re-imbursment of several Summs which my Friends had paid before-hand to the end your Army might be supply'd After this I have nothing more to answer seeing the Effects themselves speak for me But I could wish that they who have the greatest Desire to find Faults where there are none would tell me out of their Universal Knowledge for they pretend to have an Insight into all things whether there be any Kingdom in the World which is able regularly to pay two or three Armies at the same time I would have 'em tell me whether Reason does not require that we ought to be more careful of paying an Army which acts in a Foreign Country against a potent Enemy and where Scarcity and other Inconveniencies are not to be express'd then an Army that lies still in the Kingdom to prevent Mischief I would have those People eâ—quire after what manner the Spanish Armies are paid in Italy which for eight Months together have not receiv'd so much as one whole Muster but are contented with Bread only which I believe the Army in Champagne has not wanted After all this Monsieur the Superintendant has all along affirm'd that the Assignations which he had allow'd for this Army were good which I know not But this I know well that there is no Advantage accrues to him in making bad ones since he is oblig'd to make 'em good I have written to M. de Chevry in his Absence to endeavour as much as in him lies that the Army might be paid And this is all that I can say only that I am and shall be ever c. LETTER CLX To Mareschal d'Effiat I Have no need to be a great Orator to persuade yee into a Belief that the King is highly pleas'd with the Victory which his Arms have won from the Enemy at the Pass of Veillana or that I my self am less joyfully concern'd The Benefit which will thereby redound to His Majesty's Affairs and the Share I take in your Interests may give a better Confirmation of the Truth of what I say then I can express in these Lines Seeing then it is not sufficient to have begun well unless you continue I promise my self that in pursuance of this fortunate Success you will make the best of all Opportunities which you believe may bring any Advantage to the King's Service LETTER CLXI To Mareschal Vitry YOU will easily understand by the King 's sending the Bishop of Nantes into your Quarters His Majesty's Affection and Care for the Affairs of Provence since he has 〈◊〉 de choice of a Person of that Condition in whom he â—…s an entire Confidence He has particular Order to act by your Advice and to do nothing without your Consent He is a Person of Understanding well affected full of Courage and Zeal for His Majesty's Service for whom I will be answerable as for my self He will acquaint you with the King's Resolution to send you a Re-inforcement and to keep on foot near your Person besides the Forces which are necessary for the Guards of the several â—trong Holds in the Province three Regiments and Four Hunder'd Horse that you may be in a Condition to attack the Enemy and acquire that Honour which I wish you His Majesty promises himself that you will lose no Opportunity and that your Actions will answer the good Opinion he has of your Prowess your Prudence and your Conduct LETTER CLXII To the same I Know that M. de Noyers is so careful to let you understand from time to time the King's Pleasure and Intentions in Answer to your Dispatches as also to inform yee of what passes considerable in these Parts that it would be needless to make any farther Additions to his Informations I write yee therefore these Lines to thank you for the Favours and Assistance of the Galleys which you were pleas'd to afford my Nephew le Genet for those Occasions which he stood in need of since his being in Provence and to beg the Continuance of the Proofs of your Affection for him in what he may meet with of Exigencies for the future assuring you that the Obligations you lay upon me will be the same as if those Kindnesses were done to my self as you will find upon Accidents that shall give me an Opportunity to testifie my Acknowledgment I have written to M. de Nantes about fitting out the Vessels of Provence to the end they may be in a Readiness to put to Sea as soon as the Western Fleet shall arrive upon your Coasts I beseech yee to omit nothing that lies in your power to enable him that he may do something advantageous to His Majesty's Affairs whether it may be in having Soldiers ready to embark or in furnishing the Fleet with other Necessaries Which because I promise my self from your Zeal and Affection I shall say no more but only that I am and will be ever c. LETTER CLXIII To M. de Charnace AS I cannot sufficiently acknowledge and praise the Goodness of God for the Victory which he has been pleas'd to give the King's Army over his Enemies so I cannot but admire at the Order observ'd in lodging the Army not being able to apprehend how they could march in view of the Enemy not only lodging in two Bodies but each Body in several Places You know that before you came we had resolv'd rather to encamp then to hazard our Men by separating 'em into several Lodgments at a distance one from the other I am apt to believe the Inconvenience of Provisions hinder'd the exact Observance of Order But in my Opinion it had been better to have suffer'd a little then to have exposâ—d an Army to that Danger as yours was I am afraid this Accident will prove the Beginning of some Division and â—ealousie among Persons whose Union I much rather desire Great Care ought to be taken to avoid a Mischief which would be the Cause of many others The same Care is also to be taken that our Soldiers do not behave themselves more insolently then they ought to do towards the Dutch Army by reason of this Victory I desire yee to do what may be done together with Messieurs de Chaâ—…ilâ—on and de Brezâ— to prevent any such Disorders It remains now to make the best of so great an Advantage by following the Enemy close at the Heels Monsieur the Prince of Orange is too wise and too considerate to fail in that
much the more pleas'd with it because he promises himself from your Prudence Courage and good Conduct that a Success so propitious will produce something more advantageous for the common Good I can assure yee Sir that His Majesty will omit nothing that depends upon him to second your good Intentions and to put yee into a Condition not only to prosecute 'em but to preserve the Post which you are now Master of and which is of that Consequence that I doubt not but that you have taken all the Care of it that may be As to my particular I beseech Your Highness to believe that in my Station near His Majesty I shall contribute towards your Satisfaction as much as in me lies or that you can expect from me who no less wishing the Increase of your Glory and Reputation then your self shall always be glad of any Opportunity to let you see by Effects that I am c. LETTER CCIV. The the Count de Picolomini THE Events of War are usually so various that when any thing of Prosperity befalls us I always consider'd that we must expect to hear of bad fortune Your Excellency's good Conduct and the bad Conduct of many that were in the Army commanded by M. de Feuquieres has given yee an advantage which I had rather should have befallen you then any other that acts against the King by reason of your particular Merit and Civilty I would have willingly propos'd to his Majesty the sending back of the Baron of Equenfort according to your desire were it not already agreed that he should be exchang'd together with General Wertz for Monsieur the Marshal Horn Coll. Tubal and Chevalisquy As for M. de Feuquieres I assure my self you will not dislike the putting him to so easie a Ransom to the end he may have cause to speak well of your good usage and that you may be quit of a Person that for a long time has not been able to stir out of his Bed and his Chamber I promise my self that your Civility in this particular will crown your good Success at the Battel of Thlonville and I assure yee that upon any other opportunity that shall present it self the example which you set me upon this occasion shall be religiously observ'd and I shall take it for a favour that I may have the Liberty to manifest that I am c. LETTER CCV To the Chancellor Overstein M. d' Avaux having made known to us the Inclination of the Crown of Sweden to assist France with a certain number of men of War for which she has an Occasion I write these Lines most earnestly to intreat your Excellency to be instrumental by virtue of that Power which I know you have that the King may receive the Benefit of this Favour upon the Conditions that shall be propounded by the Sieur d' Avaux beseeching you to believe that besides the Thanks which His Majesty will return you for your Care in procuring this Satisfaction and the Obligation you will lay upon me in particular the common Cause will receive no small Benefit by the Service of these Vessels for the Advantage of which it is that the King more especially desires ' em And for my part Sir I shall always deem it one of my chiefest Happinesses to serve your Excellency as being c. LETTER CCVI. To the Grand Master of Malta THough I wrote to yee two Days ago by the Chevalier des Roches who is going to attend yee upon the Report which is spread abroad of the Seige of Malta nevertheless I cannot but write once more to give yee new Assurances that I shall contribute upon this Occasion as much as lies in my power towards the Good of your Order The King has written to Marseilles to the end you may be furnish'd with Powder there by the Merchants to serve you according as Monsicur the Commander of Villegagnon has already spoke to me in your behalf I am glad you have committed to his Care the Affairs of your Order in the Absence of Monsieur de la Porte my Uncle knowing that he will most honourably discharge his Trust I shall say nothing to yee at present touching the Commanders and Knights that are employ'd for the Service of the King in his Armies because that besides that His Majesty has written to yee at large upon this Subject I have already made it my Request to you in my former Letters to hold 'em excus'd And therefore I shall only now assure yee of the Continuance of my Affection and that I am c. LETTER CCVII. To the Lords of the Swiss-Cantons Messieurs YOU will understand as well by the King's Dispatches brought you by the Sieur Sonneberg as by M. Melland his Ambassador to whom he has written more at large the Good Will which His Majesty bears the Lords of the Cantons and the Desire he shall always have carefully to preserve the Union which France has maintain'd with 'em Time out of Mind However I must tell yee by the by that the King is highly pleas'd with your sending to him the said Sieur de Sonneberg upon his entring into Franche Comte with his Army wherein he had no other Aim but to inforce from those of the Country Reparation for their Breaches of the Neutrality which His Majesty will be always as careful to observe on his part as they shall shew themselves willing to do the same on theirs For my part my Lords I beseech yee to believe that when I shall have any Opportunity to serve yee you shall find both in general and particular that no Body is more sincerely then my self c. LETTER CCVIII To the Marquis of Mirabel when His Eminency was admitted Duke and Peer of France I Take it for no small Honour that an Ambassador of Spain and particularly the Marquis of Mirabel whom I highly esteem would be pleas'd to signifie by his Letters to me his sharing in my Satisfaction for the new Marks of Favour and Goodness bestow'd upon me by so great a King and so good a Master as I have the Honour to serve The best Acknowledgment I can return for this Civility is to acquaint His Majesty with it who will be highly pleas'd to find that you are pleas'd with what he has done If I meet with any Opportunity to manifest by any other Way my real Acknowledgment I shall not fail to do it In the mean time believe both what I say and that I am c. LETTER CCIX. To the Lord High Treasurer of England UNderstanding that Endeavours are us'd to create in your Lordship an ill Opinion of the Bishop of Calcelon who is fled for Sanctuary to my House and that he is accus'd to have been tampering and medling with Affairs of State and as 't is said to have been writing likewise something to your prejudice I cannot but I must let your Lordship know that I should by no means suffer him under my Roof if there were
moreover offer'd him the Marshal d' Ancre's Daughter for his said Son which Monsieur d'Espernon refused and the said Lady died soon after At this very time Mons de Bullion came for shelter to Mons d'Espernon not thinking himself safe in his own Houses The Chancellor de Sillery and Puisieux his Son also beg'd shelter of him in Mets which was granted them but matters altering at Court before they had executed that design they also alter'd their minds After his return from Aurix and some stay at Xaintes he went from thence to Bourdeaux much about the tâ—me the War was resolv'd upon against the Princes At the beginning of the Siege of Soissons Mons de Bullion who had all-along kept a secret correspondence with the Duke de Bouillon laid the first Foundation of a third Party and made a Proposal to the Duke d'Espernon to joyn with the Marshal d'Esdiguieres Bellegrade and other Lords to prevent the ruin of the Princes which seeur'd inevitable under pretence of desiring a Peace But the Treaty went on so slowly and the Siege of Soissons was prosecuted with so much vigor that I am of opinion there was not time enough to bring it to perfection And tho the Duke d'Espernon seem'd inclinable to Bullion's Propositions and was in hopes to prevail with the Marshal de Rocquelaure the first President of Bourdeaux and and part of the Nobility and of the Parliament of Gayenne yet there was no great likelihood of bringing matters to a conclusion Bullion knows more Particulars of that affair than I do The Duke d'Espernon was informed at that time that something was treating with the King about the Mareschal d'Ancre without knowing positively what it was But the matter was soon clear'd by the news of his death the detention of the Queen-mother in the Louvre and her Journey to Blois whither she was sent two days after it Hereupon Mons d'Espernon dispatched du Plessis to the King to congratulate his Majesty upon what he had done against the Mareschal d'Ancre and at the same time charg'd the said du Plessis to wait on the Queen-mother at Blois and to make a Compliment to her upon her misfortune He also dispatched Mons de la Valette to Court with a resolution to follow him as he did within a few months and being come to Loches he sent some Soldiers to the said Sieur de la Valette to be distributed in the first Company of the Guards But Mons de Luynes having notice of it being very suspicious as fearing the Duke's having a design against his Person he represented it so hainously to the King that Mons de la Valette was oblig'd to remove the said Soldiers and send them to Mets. This was the first Proof Mons d'Espernon had of Mons de Luynes ill-will towards him and I believe it would have stopt his Journey to Court had he not received this News so near Paris that he could not possibly go back without a manifest Breach Soon after his arrival at Court he discover'd on two occasions that Mons de Luyne was not pleas'd with his presence The first was in the promotion of the Archbishop of Paris to the Cardinalship who was preser'd to the Archbishop of Tholouse notwithstanding his Nomination was Ten years after his The other was in the Dispute of the Dukes with the Lord Keeper du Vair in which tho the Cause was common and that the Duke de Montmorency was Speaker yet the fault was only laid at Mons d'Espernons Door And it is certain that the King was so exasperated against him that he gave him to understand that his presence at Court was displeasing to him so that he immediately took leave of his Majesty and left Paris within a few days During his abode at Paris several persons spoke to him from the Queen mother and others to the Archbishop of Thoulouse The Marquis de Mosni was the first who carried a Letter from Chanteloube to the said Archbishop and prest him to go to him in the Country but the Duke d'Espernon disapproved it and answer'd That he would answer to nothing till he were come to Mets. This did not hinder Madamoiselle du Tillet from coming to him nor from delivering a Letter to him from the Queen-mother together with a Diamond-Watch her Majesty sent him She prevailed with him to read the Letter and keep the Watch but he would engage to nothing while he was at Paris When he went from thence he design'd to spend some days at Fontenay to order his affairs but Guron having given him notice from the Chancellor if I am not mistaken that he was not safe there he left it immediately Soon after his arrival at Mets the Queen-mother sent Vincens to him formerly Secretary to the Mareschal d'Ancre who was ordered to make his application to the Archbishop of Thoulouse as he did He had a Letter of Credence from the Queen-mother to Mons d'Espernon full of Civility and assurances of Good-will The said Archbishop having acquainted the Duke that this man was come to him and that he was commanded to speak to him he appointed to meet him the next day at the said Archbishops house Vincens Credentials were That her Majesty not thinking her self safe at Blois where the ill treatment she received gave her just cause to fear worse according to the Intelligences she daily received about it had cast her Eyes upon Mons d'Espernon to desire Resuge in some of his Towns and that she was of opinion that Loches being the nearest to Blois iâ— would also be most proper to receive her He was about to urge several Reasons to perswade the said Duke to do the Queen this Service but he found him so well dispos'd to what her majesty desired that it was needless to say any more to him Not but afterwards he was sometimes in doubt as to the time of the execution of his Promise and put off his Journey from Mets near five months together but still he persever'd in the resolution of doing the Queen this Service to which he was the more induced by du Plessis perswasion and by his difidence of Monsiâ—ur de Luynes The Answer he made to Vincens after some slight Complaints of the Queen-mother was That he would serve her according to his desire but that in order to execute that design it was necessary for him to remove from Mets and that he could not leave that place in safety unless the Queen would allow him Fifty thousand Crowns for the payment of the Garrison He also told him that he could not hearken to that Treaty in case the Sieur de Ruccellai were acquainted with it because he looked upon him as his Enemy on the account of the Marquis de Rouillac Vincens answer'd to this That Ruccellai neither had nor should have the least knowledge of this Treaty that the Marquis de Mosni and Chanteloube were the only persons to whom the thing had been or should be
for the good and peace of Italy as well as for the sake of the Catholick Religion the advantage of which he may assure himself his Majesty will ever be one of the first to promote with all his power But there is some danger as it has often been represented in being too obstinate for one of losing both together For it is most certain that the said Leagues of the Grisons are not oblig'd by the Articles of the Treaty to maintain the Catholick Religion alone in Valtelina and consequently the Spaniards cannot insist on this without a Breach of the Treaty and without wounding his Majesty's Royal Intermission But moreover to remove this borrow'd Veil and to go beyond them by a Zeal not apparent but truly sincere of Religion though this be not included in the said Agreement he will imploy his Credit and lively Remonstrances towards the said Grisons by his Ambassadors and use all other reasonable means to prevail with them for the preservation of the said Religion in Valtelina though not in the nature of a Condition as abovesaid it not being mention'd in the Treaty and they being oblig'd notwithstanding a refusal to accomplish the said Agreement and to perform the said full and intire Restitution That in case his Majesty can succeed in this design it will be a great comfort to his Holiness whose Nuncio in Switzerland must be order'd to facilitate with his Majesty's Ministers all honest and sure means to hasten the said Râ—stitution His Majesty presses this Affair being justly press'd by the thing it self and by the Persons concern'd therein which should invite his Holiness to double his vigilance and serious Instances in Spain otherwise he will find by real Effects that his Majesty's foresight has been good and his care in so many places very praise worthy But in order the better to convince his Holiness of the truth of the premisses here is a very certain and most visible Argument thereof The Spaniards who boast and seem very desirous of promoting the good and advancement of the Catholick Religion in Germany where they had promis'd to Invest the Duke of Bavaria with both the Palatinates are now out of Reasons of State more reserv'd in the matter out of fear of displeasing the King of Great Britain and lest the Duke of Bavaria should grow too powerful in Germany Causes altogether Temporal which hinder them from advancing the Glory and Holy Name of God in so fair an occasion while his Majesty shows himself more inclinable and favourable to it for though the Elector Palatin is Ally'd to him he knows in his Soul what he has done on that subject where it was necessary to show his good intention His Holiness's Officers and his Nuncio here have discover'd it themselves and that it was only a Blind u'sd by them to abuse the most simple but not capable of obscuring the prudence and clear sight of his Holiness who will be prais'd and bless'd by God and Men for endeavouring to prevent Usurpations and to maintain the publick Peace which are the only Ends his Majesty proposes But the said Commandore is chiefly to insist on the Mischiefs that may insue for the Publick these Crowns proceeding to a Breach which his Majesty will prevent to the utmost of his power by the advantages the Turk will easily gain by the division of the Christian Princes Whereas being united as it is his Holiness's Office to keep them and to which his Piety and other good Considerations should incline him above all things considering the present state of the Turks great progresses might be made against them But our Sins and Discords making us unworthy of that happiness we must implore the goodness of God and his Holiness by Prayers and Exhortations must use his utmost Endeavours to reconcile the hearts of Christian Princes to an Enterprize so holy so important and so seasible at this time according to the knowledge the King has of the now State of the Grand Seignor's Affairs and Provinces This business of Valtelina being adjusted before which nothing can be resolved on if his Holiness finds a good Disposition in other Princes His Majesty will ever be ready to second his good Intentions and to promote them to the utmost of his power It is His Majesty's Desire that the Honour of a Design so pious and so full of Glory should be reserv'd to the Happiness of this Pontificate and that in order thereunto His Holiness would be pleas'd to continue his best Endeavours for the Pacification of the Troubles of Italy as well as those that are kindling in Germany that the chief Princes of Christendom having no other Quarrels to decide may be the better able to unite their Wills and â—orces for this holy Enterprize His Majesty is very sensible that none are so busie on the Stage of the World as the Spaniards in order to extend their Empire more and more which will not only be the Occasion of neglecting the Opportunities of this Christian Project but also of uniting the Protestant Princes more strictly to oppose the Projects of the House of Austria And while this Game lasts the Turk will have many fair Occasions to improve it to their Cost and Shame and the Christâ—anâ— themselves will pay the Faults of their Ambition and Imprudence The Emperor having re-gain'd Bohemia which had been taken from him seems to have more Cause to let his Arms rest in order to provide against this common Enemy than to satisfie the Passion of another who leads him under his Authority to a Design which keeps him in Servitude himself and makes him share the publick Loss For here is Work cut out for a long time unless the Parties will put an end to it themselves since there is Reason to believe that the King of Great Britain with his Confederates will not let his Son-in-Law perish and that the States-General of the United Provinces will neither be so weak nor so destitute of Friends and of Assistance as to fall so soon by the Efforts of the Arms of Spain And in the mean time the great Occasions of doing good as to the general slip away Princes weaken each other by vexatious bloody Exercises thereby giving great Advantages to a potent Enemy who is only with-held by his Ignorance of our Condition or by the Hand of God who in his Mercy has not yet given us over to his Wrath. But we have reason to fear that the Continuance of this Misfortune will draw it upon us as being too unworthy of his Favours in not having made use of the fair Opportunities he had given us of making great Progresses against this Enemy in these last Ages The said Commandore is also to enquire of the Cardinals de Sourdis and Bentivoglio on what Terms the Marriage propos'd between Spain and England stands at present not to raise the least Obstacle against it His Majesty having had several Occasions so to do since he first was inform'd of it had he
Declaration of it after the Treaty desiring nothing more than to find the means to secure all the Garisons to the Duke of Savoy in such a manner as no Inconveniencies may arise thereby But that whereas Prince Thomas says he had rather die than make a Treaty by which his Honour might be wounded so likewise the King can no wise consent to have that Article put into the Treaty of the Surrender of Turin since it would look as if the said City were rather yielded to him on that Consideration than by the Force of his Arms. The Declaration the King will make on that Account is a sufficient Security to satisfie the Princes without being oblig'd to have Recourse to the Interposition of the Pope and of the Venetians Nevertheless the King may do an equivalent thing writing to His Holiness and to the Venetians that he engages for the Restauration of the said places on the Conditions above specify'd The King moreover condescends that the Pope and the Venetians should interpose in the said Treaty after its being made if they will engage to take Arms for the King in case the Princes of Savoy or one of them breaking their Word should return to the Spanish side Besides If they should require Nice to be put into the Cardinal's Hands for the space of six Months during which the said Interposition may be manag'd it shall be granted provided as soon as ever the Treaty is made they put Coni into the hands of the Dutchess of Savoy again and that Prince Thomas engages himself into the Party of France and comes actually to serve there upon the Account of the good Treatment that is offer'd to him and of all the Securities in writing he can desire from the King for the Performance thereof In case the said Prince says That before his coming into France he must contrive to get his Wife and Children out of Spain by Cunning it is another Blind to conceal his desire of remaining in the Interest of Spain In a word If the lawful Causes he has to quit the Spaniards cannot oblige him to do it openly one must be blind not to see that he persists in the Resolution to ruin his Nephew and that his Animosities against France because it is the only Power that can maintain him is unspeakable And if it be in his Nature to suffer his Nephew's Reign he has but too much cause to forsake the party of those that seek his ruin for the ill Treatments he has receiv'd from them and more than enough to side with France that will save him for the advantages they offer him This is all that can be said at this time to Count Harcourt Whereupon he is to take his Measures according to his Instruction of the 28th of May and this present Dispatch Giving a speedy Account of all Transactions he will receive an immediate Answer Instruction or Power to the Sieur de Ville May the 12th 1639. SUpposing the Repentance and the Satisfactions Duke Charles is willing to give the King and that he will sincerely join himself to his Interest and to that of France with all the Forces he can get as he has often given His Majesty Assurances that he would do by the said Sieur de Ville as well as by several others with all the freedom imaginable His Majesty through his innate Goodness may be inclin'd to one of the following Propositions Either to be contented with the Country of Barr and the Towns of La Motte and Marsal the County and Town of Clermont of Stenay and Jamets for ever in propriety with the Liberties of the said places and Nancy as a Pledge for Ten Years after the Peace after which time the said City is to be return'd to the said Duke all the Fortifications being first demolish'd Or if the said Duke had rather leave Nancy in propriety to the King for ever His Majesty will give him back the Country of Bar with the remainder of his Territories the Towns and places above-mention'd excepted And whereas notwithstanding the King 's putting the said Duke in possession of his Country again the same Differences they had together before the War and which Monsieur le Bret was employ'd about at that time are still to be decided with France His Majesty promises to adjust them so reasonably within six Months after the Agreement that the said Duke shall have reason to be satisfy'd In the next place Monsieur de Ville is to represent two things to the Duke of Lorrain as being most certain The First is That by a general Agreement the King will never yield to any Conditions so advantageous for the said Duke as those that are contain'd in the present Memorial the which he may the more easily conceive by reason that His Majesty will follow the same Method with all his Allies who are desirous to keep what they have conquer'd The Second That by 〈◊〉 particular Treaty His Majesty will never yield more to the said Duke Charles than what is above specify'd This requires a speedy Answer attended at the same time with Performances Safe-Conduct for the Duke Charles THE King being inform'd by the Sieur de la Grange-aux-Ormes of the great desire the Duke Charles of Lorrain has to put himself into His Majesty's Favour again he is willing to receive him into the same after having adjusted several Points that are to be agreed upon before-hand on that Subject To which end if the said Duke is willing to repair to some place about Langres to confer with such Persons as His Majesty shall think fit to appoint there he promises by the Faith and Word of a King that the said Duke may come thither tarry there and go back again with all manner of Safety whether any thing be concluded there with him or no together with all those he shall bring along with him In order whereunto His Majesty enjoins the Lieutenants-General of his Armies and Provinces Mareschals de Camp Colonels Chiefs and Leaders of his Soldiers whether French or Foreigners to let the said Duke and all those that shall come along with him going towards the said Town of Langres freely pass and repass going back again without the least Trouble Hindrance or Molestation Given at St. Menehoud the 14th of August 1693 Memorial to the Sieur de la Grange-aux-Ormes THE said la Grange having acquainted the King with the fresh Trouble the Duke Charles of Lorrain is in for being out of His Majesty's Favour and his Desire of being restor'd to the same again His Majesty is willing to permit the said Sieur de la Grange to go back to the said Duke Charles of Lorrain to assure him that if he be in the Condition and Disposition he has sent him word he will freely forget his Behaviour for the time past and receive him into his Favour again giving him all manner of Security from this very Moment to confer with the Lord Cardinal of Richelieu near Langres Done at
be concern'd to be for the future and during the Course of the War and in time of Peace inviolably link'd to the Interest of this Crown and to hold no Intelligence with those of the House of Austria and other Enemies of this State nor with any whatever that would disturb the Happiness and Prosperity of His Majesty's Affairs Also after the said Duke's having renounc'd all the Treaties he may have made any wise contrary to the Tenour of this His Majesty consents to restore him the Possession of the Dutchy of Lorrain and of the Dutchy of Bar held from the Crown for which he is immediately to pay Faith and Homage to the King As also into the Possession of all the Territories he enjoy'd for the time past excepting such as follow First The County and Town of Clermont and all their Appurtenances and Dependencies which are to remain for ever united to the Crown Secondly The Garisons Provostships and Lands of Stâ—nay and of Janets which are likewise to remain to His Majesty and his Successors Kings for ever in Propriety with all the Revenues thereof and all the Villages and Territories thereunto belonging Thirdly The City of Dun and the Suburbs thereof which is also to remain in Propriety to His Majesty and to his Successors Fourthly The City of Nancy which is to remain also in His Majesty's Hands as a Pledge only during the War and to be restor'd to the said Duke the same Year a Peace shall be concluded with the Villages within the Liberties of the said City of Nancy which are to remain in the Hands and Dispositions of His Majesty for the Convenience and Subsistence of the City of Nancy as long as it shall remain as a Pledge It is agreed that the Town of Marsal is to be demolish'd before it be deliver'd to the said Duke and that no Fortifications are ever to be made there again It is also agreed upon That Trade shall be as free between the Territories the King restores to the said Duke and those that remain to His Majesty either in Propriety or as Pledges only as if they did actually belong to him And that whatever shall be necessary for their Subsistence shall not be deny'd them by the said Duke and his Subjects at the rate the said Commodities shall go at in the said Duke's Territories Moreover That the said Duke shall give a free Passage in his Country to all the Forces His Majesty shall think fit to send that way either into Alsatia or other Parts of Germany into the Country of Luxemburg or into the Franche-Comte and shall furnish them with Provisions the King paying for the same at the common Market-price of the Country It has been farther agreed That the said Duke shall presently join the Forces he has with him at this time as well as all those he may have for the future with the King 's That they shall take an Oath well and faithfully to serve His Majesty under the said Duke's Authority towards and against all those he is at present in War with in such places and in such a manner as he shall think fit And that for the future they shall receive the same Pay in the Field as His Majesty's do on Condition however that they shall not be allow'd to take Winter-Quarters in France but only in the said Duke's Territories or Enemies Country It has also been agreed That the said Duke shall not be allow'd to lodge any of the said Troops nearer than within five Leagues of Nancy whilst the said City shall remain as a Pledge And whereas notwithstanding His Majesty's restoring the said Duke's Tervitories as abovesaid there still remain several Differences that were undecided before the War in relation to the said Territories which are still to be disputed with France it is agreed that they shall be determin'd amicably as soon as can be Moreover Whereas since His Majesty's having conquer'd Lorrain by Force of Arms a great Number of the Subjects of the said Dutchy have serv'd His Majesty after having taken the Oath of Allegiance he has exacted from them it is also agreed that the said Duke shall bear them no Ill Will for the same but on the contrary shall use them like his good and real Subjects and shall pay them the Debts and Rents the State is oblig'd to pay Which His Majesty desires so particularly that unless he had repos'd an absolute Confidence in the Faith which the said Duke has engag'd on that Subject he would never have granted what he does by this Treaty to the said Duke It is also agreed That it shall not be in the power of the said Duke to make the least Alterations in the Benefices given by His Majesty to the very Day of this present Treaty That those who have been invested with them shall remain in the peaceable Possession and Enjoyment thereof without the least Disturbance or Trouble from the said Duke or being dis-possess'd of the same And that His Majesty shall continue to have the Disposition of the Benefices of the City of Nancy as long as the said City remains for a Pledge in his hands without changing the Settlement of the said Benefices And as for the Offices of the Criminal Justice that are in the said City of Nancy they shall also remain in His Majesty's Gift to the end that such as are invested with the same may perform the Function thereof independently within the said City and the Liberties thereof His Majesty giving his Consent to the said Duke to transferr the Bayliwick of Nancy into such a place as he shall think fit there to decide all the Differences which were formerly judg'd in the said Court of Justice of Nancy excepting only such as are above specify'd It is also agreed That the said Duke shall not be allow'd to send any Person into Nancy there to reside in his Name unless it be to receive the Duties of his Demesne for which he shall be oblig'd to employ a French-man approv'd by the King It is moreover agreed That the Consiscations that have been given by His Majesty of the Estates of such as did bear Arms against him shall remain valid as to the Employment of the Revenues of the said Estates until the Day of the present Treaty provided those whose Estates have been confiscated quit the Service of His Majesty's Enemies In which Case they shall be restor'd to the Possession and Enjoyment of their Estates but without being allow'd to profecute or trouble those who have enjoy'd them by virtue of the said Gifts in any manner or upon any pretence whatever No mention is made in this Treaty of the Difference between the said Duke and the Dutchess Nicolla of Lorrain Daughter to the late Duke Henry about their Marriage by reason that the Decision thereof belongs only to the Ecclesiastical Tribunal and that His Holiness before whom the Parties have brought their Cause will do them Right according to the Justice of the
same In the mean time the said Duke is to allow her by way of Pension 120000 Livres in French Money yearly And in order to make the said Payment effective it is agreed that the said Sum of 120000 Livres shall be taken Quarterly out of the Receipt of Bar and in case that should not suffise out of the Salt-Pits of Roziers and the Demesne of Nuncy And the said Summ is to be deposited into the hands of such a Person as shall be nominated by His Majesty to be deliver'd to the said Dutchess Nicolla of Lorrain The Contents above-written have been agreed upon between the Cardinal Duke of Richelieu for the King and the said Duke who promises to perform whatever is contain'd in the said Treaty with so much Fidelity and Steadiness that he consents besides what he leaves His Majesty by the same in order to remain inseparably united to the Crown that all the Remainder of his Territories which His Majesty does restore and is to restore after the Peace may devolve to the said Crown in case he does any wise deviate from the Tenour of this present Treaty Done at Paris March 9. 1641. Sign'd The Cardinal of Richlieu and Charles of Lorrain And Lower John le Molleur And Sign'd with the Small Seal of the Arms of the said Duke Charks of Lorrain Secret Articles pass'd between the Cardinal Duke of Richelieu and the Duke Charles of Lorrain to be of equal Force with the Treaty pass'd the same Day between them ALthough it be not said by the Treaty pass'd this Day between the Cardinal Duke of Richelleu for the King and the Duke of Lorrain that the Fortifications of the Cities of Nancy are to be ras'd before the said Cities are restor'd into the said Duke's Hands after the Peace nevertheless this present Article has been pass'd to justifie that His Majesty does not design to restore the said Cities to the said Duke until the Fortifications thereof are demolish'd and that notwithstanding the said Duke has made humble Supplication to His Majesty not to do it however he submits the Matter wholly to His Majesty to do therein as he shall think fit And whereas nothing but Time can absolutely restore the Confidence His Majesty did repose in the said Duke and which his Deportments towards him have made him lose it has been farther agreed That whenever the said Duke shall be absent from His Majesty or out of his Armies by his Order he is not to live at Luneville because it is too near Nancy and that whatever part of his Territories he shall make his Abode in he is to behave himself in such a manner that those who shall Command in the Places that are to remain in Propriety or as Pledges into His Majesty's Hands may have no Cause to conceive the least leasousies thereof It has also been agreed That the said Duke shall yearly furnish out of his Forests such Quantities of Wood as are necessary for the Fires of all the Corps du Guard of Nancy for His Majesty The Premises have been concluded between the Cardinal Duke of Richelieu for the King and the said Duke who promises to perform them with so much Fidelity that he consents besides what he yields by the Treaty pass'd this Day with His Majesty to remain for ever insepatably annex'd to the Crown that all the Remainder of his State which His Majesty does restore and is to restore unto him after the Peace shall devolve to the Crown in case he shall any wise swerve from the Tenour of these present Secret Articles Done at Paris March 29. 1641. Thus Signed The Cardinal Richelieu and Charles of Lorrain And Lower John le Molleur And Sign'd with the Small Seal of the Arms of the said Duke Charles of Lorrain The Act or Form of the Oath taken by the Duke Charles of Lorrain for the Observation of the abovesaid Treaty in His Majesty's Presence in the Chapel of the Castle of St. Germain en Laye THis present Tuesday being the 10th of April 1641. in the Presence of the most High most Excellent and most Puissant Prince Lewis by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre being in the Chapel of his Castle and Royal House of St. Germain en Laye after the solemn Performance of His Majesty's Vespers We Charles by the Grace of God Duke of Lorrain Marquis Duke of Calabria Bar Gueldres c. having Assisted at the said Vespers have Taken the Oath of the Observation of the Treaty concluded between the Cardinal Duke of Richelieu Peer of France in His Majesty's Name and Us the 29th of March last past The Tenour of which Oath is as followeth WE Charles by the Grace of God Duke of Lorrain Marquis Duke of Calabria Bar Gueldre c. do Swear and Promise by the Faith and Word of a Prince upon the holy Gospels of God and the Canons of the Mass by Us Touch'd in order thereunto that We will Observe and Perform cause to be Observ'd and Perform'd fully and really and Bona fide all and every Points and Articles granted and mention'd in the Treaty cencluded and agreed upon the same day between the Cardinal Duke of Richelieu Peer of France in the Name of the most High most Excellent and most Puissant Prince Lewis by the Grace of God King of France and of Navarre and Us without ever swerving from the same directly or indirectly or suffering the same to be swerv'd from on Our side in any manner whatever And so help Us God In Witness whereof We have sign'd these Presents with Our own Hand and have caus'd Our Seal to be fix'd to the same in the Chapel of the Castle and Royal House of St. Germain en Laye this 19th of April 1641. WHich said Oath was taken in the Presence of the most High most Excellent and most Potent Princess Anne by the Grace of God Queen of France and Navarre Royal Consort to His said Majesty as also before the Cardinal Duke of Richelieu the Duke of Longueville the Duke of Chevreuse Our Cousin Monsieur Seguier Lord Chancellor of France the Dukes d'Usez and of Vandatour of Monbason and of la Force of Chastillon Mareschal of France of Cinq Mars Master of the Horse Boutillier Super-Intendent of the Finances Phellipeaux de la Vrilliere Boutillier de Chavigny and Sublet de Noyers Secretaries of State the Bishop of Meaux First Almoner to His Majesty holding the Book of the holy Gospels and Canon of the Mass on which We held Our Hands in the Presence of Belmont Sinri Count Ligneville and Berup Colonels of Our Forces In Witness whereof We have sign'd these Presents with Our Hand and have caus'd Our Seal to be affix'd to the same on the Year and Day above-written Thus Sign'd CHARLES And Lower Le Molleur And Seal'd with the Arms of the said Duke The Act of the Ratification made in the City of Bar by the Duke Charles of Lorrain of the Treaty above-written and of the Secret