to detain still the possessions of the Church 2. Others thought it was fit to give the King some contentment but in appearance only and to verifie the Edict assuring themselfs that it could never be put in execution it would meet with so many difficulties 3. Others thought it best to delay the verification to another time The King understanding that they were thus chopping of Logic and that the Synod also which was there then sitting did mainly resist the verification of his Edict He resolves to go thither himself though many disswaded him from the journey by reason of the uncouth wayes the sory lodgings the waters in some places poyson'd by Sorcerers and the scarcity of provision in the Lands of Bourdeaux But none of these reasons could deter the King therefore he prepares for his voyage and in the interim he sent a person of quality to the Rochellers to acquaint them with the Elusory answers which the Bearnois made to his commands and therefore he advis'd and requir'd them to have nothing to do in this busines They of Rochell little regarding what the King said but undertook the protection of the Bearnois The King being advanced in his journey neer Pau the Inhabitants sent to know how he would be receiv'd the King asked if there were ever a Church in the Town if there were he would enter as their Soverain if not he would receive no honor in a place where God Almighty had no House to be honor'd in so he entred without any Ceremony They of the Religion making three parts of the people forbore to send Commodities to Pau Market during the Kings sojourn there to constrain him to go away the sooner so that his train made hard shift to subsist all the while He goes thence to Navarrenz seven leagues neerer the hills a strong tenable place having 45. peeces of Ordnance and 40. Culverins the old Governor Bertrand de Sales sent the keys of the Town to the King where he peaceably entred contrary to all expectation he put in a new Garrison of French there and plac'd another Governor giving for recompence to the old 60000. Franks He also caus'd Masse to be sung there which had not bin done fifty yeers before so having settled all things at Navarrenx he return'd to Pau where the great Church which they of the Religion had turn'd to a Temple was restor'd to the Priests and two thousand crowns given for satisfaction In fine having cast the Church into its old mould and the Military with the Civill Government into a new and leaving a competent strength with La Force to preserve both he took post and came safely and triumphantly to Paris in a few dayes The Bearnois made their addresses to the French Churches and exhibited their complaints unto them and for their justification they alledg'd two reasons One was a possession of fifty yeers continued without interruption of those revenues the King had ravish'd them of The second was an Ordinance of the States Generall of Bearn confirm'd by a Declaration of Henry the Great to that effect The Roman Catholiks answer'd That for the possession they speak of it was violent and accompagnied with rebellion and felony Touching the Assembly of the States Generall which they urg'd it was altogether illegal because the first and most noble part which was the Clergy was excluded by a cruel persecution and for Henry the Great he was then himself a persecutor of the Catholiks The French Reformed Churches which are neer upon eight hundred did much resent the usage of the Bearnois thereupon there was a great Assembly held at Loudun without the Kings permission wherein they resolv'd to assist their brethren of Bearn They drew up Cayers or papers to present unto the King containing sundry demands 1. The first that his Majesty would please to revoke his arrest given in favor of the Ecclesiastiks of Bearn 2. A continuation of their Cautionary Towns foure yeers longer the time being now expir'd 3. They demanded leave to change two Governors which were turn'd Catholiks When these Papers were presented to the King he sent their Deputies word by Condé and Luynes that his will was that first of all they should separat the Assembly and six moneths after their separation they should be favourably answer'd They prai'd this promise might be digested in writing to an Act they were answer'd That it was an indecent and derogatory thing for a Monark to treat in that manner with his subjects as if his word were not sufficient The Deputies receiv'd little satisfaction in this so they returnd to Loudun wher the Assembly continued still notwithstanding two Declarations publish'd by the King wherein they were commanded to separat upon pain of being proclaim'd Traytors They little valu'd the Kings Declarations but dissolving their Assembly at Loudun they sent summons up and down to meet at Rochell where in a greater eagernes and zeal to the Cause then before they solemnly conven'd notwithstanding another new Prohibition of the Kings verifi'd by the Court of Parliament in Paris Hereupon the busines was put into deep deliberation at the Counsell of State whether the King should declare war against the whole body of the Religion or particularly against those that had met at Rochell and the latter opinion took place for these reasons 1. First it could not stand with justice to force consciences to quit that beleef which had bin so long tolerated 2. Secondly that declaring a war against the whole body of them of the Religion might bring in forren ayd 3. Thirdly that if a war were pronounc'd in generall many of the Kings best servants would be involv'd therein and provok'd as the Duks of Trimoville Bovillon Lesdigueres Suilly Chastillon Brassai Montgomery Blamville with divers other of his best sort of subjects The King in regard his Treasury was much drain'd was loth to plunge himself in a serious war again the Rochelers therefore to comply with them he accorded a continuation of their cautionary Towns for five yeers longer notwithstanding that they demanded but foure He also gave them leave to change the Governor of Lectour Castle and to choose a new Counsellor in the Parliament of Paris two things they insisted much upon but they prevail'd little with them unlesse the late Edict of Bearn were revok'd Hereupon the Gran Assembly at Rochell reinforc'd it self and went on more roundly then ever there were also up and down the Countrey divers other meetings as Synods Colloquies Circles and demy-circles which conven'd and consulted They of Rochell went higher and higher they had a new public sealemade they establish'd a new Court of Admiralty and stamp'd new Coines They made 47. Ordinances which were printed and commanded to be strictly observed through all the Reformed Churches They nominated Governors of Provinces and impos'd taxes at pleasure The King was much incens'd at these traverses yet nothing could move him to declare war against the whole body of them
and to continue a war in France There were divers other Propositions tending to the kind usage of the Catholiques and withall a request That the Dukes pension from fourteen thousand crowns might be augmented to eighteen thousand and that his Catholic Majesty would please to add to his brother Soubize's pension of eight thousand crowns a yeer two thousand more For performance of these propositions the said Clausel could give no other caution but the word of an Honorable and most Religious Prince meaning the Duke These offers were accepted by the Spaniard but the sum was reduc'd to three hundred thousand crowns payable in two payments every yeer The Articles being sent by Clausel to France by a Zeland Gentleman he was suspected and taken in a Pond up to the neck so he was hang'd at Tholouse The King at his return to Provence took Privas from them of the Religion after many bloudy sallies and assaults on both sides a place of mighty consequence In the Campe before Privas the Peace was proclaym'd 'twixt France and England to dishearten them in the Town the more for they thought that the King of Great Britain was still involv'd in their Cause This Peace was negotiated by Georgi and Contarini Ambassadors to the Mayden Republic who yet may be call'd the Mother of Policy and able to read Lectures on that Thesis to the rest of Europe nor did there small glory redound to her by her succesfull intervention herein and by making her Saint Mark Mediator 'twixt two such mighty Monarks The words of the Proclamation before Privas pronounc'd alowd by a king of Arms were these Let the world know there is peace amity and good intelligence between his Majesty and his good Brother and Brother in law the King of Great Britain acessation of all acts of hostility betwixt them and their subjects with an entire confirmation of the ancient Alliances and of the Articles and Contract of Mariage with the Queen of Great Britain and an overture of a free and safe commerce between the subjects of the two Crowns Therefore all persons are prohibited to attempt any think in prejudice of the said Peace under pain of being punish'd as Disturbers of the public repose c. The generall Articles also were signed there interchangeably in the ordinary forme where of there were some extraordinary as that In regard it would be difficult to make restitution on either side of divers prises which have been taken in this war the two Crowns are accorded that there shall be no reprisall made by sea or in any other maner for that which is pass'd 'twixt the two Kings and their subjects during the said war And because there are divers vessels at Sea with Letters of Mart which give Commission to combat the enemies which cannot presently have notice of this Peace or receive Order to abstain from acts of hostility It is accorded that whatsoever shall passe the space of the two next moneths after this accord shall not derogate from or empeach this Peace or the good will of the two Crowns The King having dismantled Privas and secur'd other petty places he march'd to Alets a very considerable Garrison Town of them of the Religion which being also surrendred he march'd to Languedoc took Castres and Nismes once the darling of Rome when she had her Legions in those parts though now no Town throughout France be a greater enemy unto her These monstrous successes of the Kings made the Duke of Rohan hearken unto a Treaty therefore being at Anduza he convokes a kind of Assembly of the chiefest of them of the Religion to whom he made this notable speech Sirs You know well enough that the King doing me the honor as to acknowledge me his kinsman hath had particular consideration of me in all generall Treaties made with your party and that he hath made me to be perpetually sollicited to separat my self from you with assurances that he would raise my condition to such a point that might draw upon it the envy of the Princes and the greatest of his Kingdom Neither are you ignorant that the generall interests of the party being deerer unto me then mine own I have bin so far from lending an ear unto those charming propositions that to the contrary I have broak with his Majesty whensoever he hath refus'd or delay'd the execution of the Edicts pass'd in favor of us and exposing my self to his indignation I have run the hazard of my fortun my honor and life Gentlemen I pray do not think that since our Cause is conjoyn'd with that of God but that I continu as strong a zeal and inclination as ever towards it But in regard our affaires are in another condition perchance then you do imagin I have call'd you hither to instruct you and then to take such order that your wisdoms shall afford me to put in punctuall execution with as much fidelity as courage You must then consider that any time these eight yeers that the King hath warr'd with us heaven hath bin so favorable unto him that it seems he rather went to the routing of our troupes then to combat and by assaulting our strongest Towns he prepar'd rather for triumphant entries then sieges so that now the number of our combatants and the strength of our strongest places doth not serve as much to maintain our party as to augment his glory so many Towns in Poitou Saintonge Guyen and Languedoc which have not bin able toresist him as many dayes as we count moneths are most sensible proofs hereof Rochell alas with that he fetcht a profound sigh accompagnied with tears Rochell which we thought inexpugnable that prowd Town one of the miracles of Europe being now reduc'd to an open village on all sides doth carry and shall eternally beare the marks of the valour and good fortune of this glorious Monark Having demolish'd this strong rampart of the Gospel by which the whole party subsisted he hath penetrated the Kingdom from one Diameter to the other and travers'd in five or six dayes the Alps in the most rigorous season of the yeer which Julius Caesar accounted amongst his heroiquest actions and Hannibal could not do it in fifteen dayes without inestimable losse He hath forc'd the passe of Susa marching ore the belly of an Army entrench'd and fortified in a straight He hath deliver'd the Duke of Mantova from the oppression of the King of Spain and the Savoyard and oblig'd the latter who was Author of the War to receive such conditions of peace that he pleas'd to prescribe him Repassing the Alps with like celeritie he hath depriv'd us of Privas and taken multitudes of places more by the terror only of his victorious Arms. He is continually assisted by the Cardinal of Richelieu who for the fertility of his Invention for the solidity of his Counsels for the secrecy of his desseins for his hardines in execution and for his addresse in all affairs of consequence I
out for the Duke of Anjou the French quickly hearkens unto them so there was a Treaty at Narbona whither they sent twelve persons of quality for hostages and an Order issued out that he should be branded with a hot iron who spake of any accommodation with Castile It was agreed upon that upon putting themselfs under the Royall protection of the most Christian King he should furnish them with an Army of six thousand foot and two thousand horse to be maintain'd by the Catalans Whereupon three Commissioners were sent to Paris one for the Clergy another for the Nobility and a third for the Gentry and Cominalty They who were most busy herein and indeed the chiefest bellowes that blew this terrible fire were the Preaching Fryers and Monks who in lieu of obedience and conformity to Government and compliance with the necessities of the King having so many irons in the fire did teach and obtrude to the people nothing more then common priviledge and resumption of liberty whereby the affection of the vassall was imbitter'd and at last quite poyson'd against his Prince whence this Aphorisme may be collected That the best Instruments misapplied do greatest mischief and prove most dangerous to any State And as of the sweetest wines is made the sharpest Vineger so Churchmen who by their holy function and white robes of innocence should be the sweetest of all professions who should breath nothing but peace unity allegeance and love if they misapply their talent and abandon themselfs to the spirit of faction they become the bitterest enemies the most corroding cankers and worst vipers in any Common-wealth and most pernicious to the Prince In regard that they having the sway ore the conscience which is the Rudder that steers the actions words and thoughts of the rationall creature they transport and snatch it away whither they will making the Beast with many heads conceive according to the colour of those rods they use to cast before them The French having thus undertaken the protection of the revolted Catalan and cut the Spaniard work enough that way he did miracles against him about this time in the Netherlands for he made the Rat to eat the Cat and a Cow to spin out a bundle of Flax by rendring himself Master of Arras the chiefest Town of the Province of Artois after a strong stubborn siege which place the Flemins held to be inpregnable and as impossible to take as it was for the Rat and the Cow to do what was above said His Generall also in Italy the Count of Harcour did do strange exploits who having entred Piemont was besieg'd by the Spaniard in Chieri but he got through routs the enemy and succours Casal This he did with 1500. horse and a few foot who were nothing equall in number to the Spaniards who were thrice as many This ventrous achievement which some interpreted rashnes rather then true valor got him a mighty reputation Then he marcheth to Turin and besiegeth it but the gates were open'd to him within a short time so he made a glorious entrance into the Town and returns triumphantly ore the Hills to France having setled the King his Master in the protection of the Infant Duke of Savoy his Nephew which protection or tutele the Emperour seconded by the Spaniard alledg'd did belong to him by Imperial right during his minority There came a Messenger of State to Paris who brought notice of the Great Turks death in the flower of his youth though of a robust huge constitution He died by excesse of drinking some sorts of wine wherewith he was us'd to be oft distemper'd notwithstanding the strict law of Mahomet who us'd to preach this Doctrine That there was a Devill in every berry of the grape and therefore absolutly interdicted the use of wine in his Alchoran But such is the power of sensuall appetit in man that the spirit oftentimes is too weake to resist the motion of sense though the conscience should dictat that Hell it self stands gaping for him in the very fruition of the pleasure The genius of this great Potentat is very remarkable for when he came first to sit upon the throne of that mighty Empire he was of a mild gentle and peacefull nature but the Janizaries who may in time prove the bane of that Tyranicall Monarchy having violently cut off many of his great Officers and committed other acts of high insolencies whereat he had conniv'd and looked on as a sufferer a great while at last patience so often abus'd and stretch'd as it were upon the Tenter turn'd to fury in him and that in so high a degree that it came to alter and quite change his disposition and the very instinct of nature in him for of a soft easie and candid humour he became afterwards having bin so often provok'd by such bloudy spectacles as cruell and sanguinary as any that ever sway'd the Ottoman Empire And he order'd matters so that he found an opportunity to be reveng'd of all those that had affronted him before and bereft him of his Favourits and Officers He commonly carried with him a Ghelad an Executioner who at his sudden beck and in his sight took off many heads to offer up as Victimes for the life 's of his slain servants He grew to be so flesh'd in bloud that he was scarce capable of any compassion or appre hension of fear notwithstanding that his predecessor had been hacked to peeces not long before by one of his meanest soldiers for attempting to remove his Court from Constantinople t'other side the Hellespont to Damasco to be reveng'd of his cowardly Janizaries who would not fight the yeer before against the Pole as also of the Constantinopolitans for refusing to furnish him with moneys for that war Hence may be drawn this Caution That Princes natures are ticklish things to be tamper'd withall that it is dangerous to trench too far upon the softnesse of their dispositions as appears in this Monark who by often irritations fell from one extreme to another The horrid flames we spake of before which were kindled amongst those fiery Mountains the Pyreneys in Catalonia the chiefest part of Hispania Tarraconensis according to the old division did rage with such fury that the sparkles of them by a strong East-wind were caried into Portugall of old Hispania Lusitanica And as one torch lights another or any other thing whose matter is combustible and apt to take so this other Revolt was kindled by the first and Portugall was very well prepar'd to receive it as well for the aversnes and strong disaffection her Inhabitants have to the Castillan for I have heard them complain often that the greatest misery which could befall them was to lose their King Don Sebastian and to fall under the yoak of the Castillan as also for divers other causes First she complain'd that the King neglected to protect her against the Hollander in Brasil where he had taken Fernanbuck her chief
should be a generall peace now 'twixt the French people because of the businesse of the Valtolin where the Spaniard had a purpose to block out France in all places towards Italy which was very necessary to be prevented so that it was not fit to enfeeble France at this time by attempting to extinguish them of the Religion and to plunge the whole Countrey in an intestine war for it was as if one would cut off his left hand with the right This last counsell took more with the King and so he left no way unessayed to reunite all his subjects Hereupon to content the Reformists he caus'd their Temples to be reedified he appointed 60000. Franks for the payment of their Ministers and permitted them to call a Synod at Charenton with divers other acts of compliance provided that on their part they should entertain no strangers for preachers nor admit Ministers into politic Assemblies In these difficulties and anxious traverses of things the King made the Cardinal of Richelieu his principall Minister of State chiefe of his Counsell and Director generall under his authority in the government of the State He made this election by the advice of the Queen Mother principally nor was it an improper choice for the party had a concurrence of high abilities in him answerable to that transcendent trust and he prov'd as will appear by the sequele of things a succesfull Instrument though many doubt whether his Counsel was as succesfull to France as it was fatall to the rest of Christendom which he hath plung'd in an eternall war touching this we leave the Ingenious Reader a freedom of censure according as his judgement shall be guided by an unpartiall and unbiass'd relation of matters as they ly connected in the ensuing part of this story Thus our third Lustre concludes with the commencement of Richelieus greatnes The fourth Lustre of the Life of Lewis the thirteenth VVE began the last lustre with the espousals of the Lady Christina second daughter of France with the Prince of Piemont this begins with the mariage of the Lady Henriette Marie de Bourbon the yongest Royall branch of Henry the Great and this was the first great act that the Cardinal of Richelieu performed after he was come to the superintendency of affairs of State France had two causes of perpetuall apprehensions of fear one external th' other internal The still growing greatnesse of Spain without and They of the Religion within doors which were made frequent use of by any discontented Princes upon all occasions and were cryed up by the Jesuits to be as Matches to set France on fire at any time Therefore the first gran dessein that he projected with himself was to clip their wings and diminish their strength by dismantling their Cautionary Towns and making them dismisse their Garrisons The Cardinal knew the King his Master did not affect them since the Treaty at Lodun wherein they forc'd him to put another interpretation upon his Coronation Oth then his conscience did dictat unto him or the Prelat who administred it unto him meant which appear'd in a churlish answer that he gave them not long after when he was solicited to prolong the terme of holding their Cautionary Towns as Henry the Third and Henry the Great his father had done Which answer was That what grace the first did shew you was out of fear what my father did was out of love but I would have you know that I neither fear you nor love you To compasse that great work of taking from them their Garrison Towns it was thought very expedient to secure forren Princes from assisting them specially England and the united Provinces Touching the latter they were charm'd with money for in a fresh Treaty the King accorded them a million of Franks and six hundred thousand Franks every one of the two yeers next ensuing which they were to re-inburse the next two yeers that they should conclude a peace or truce with Spain The Holland-Ambassadors who were employed in this Treatie did promise the King that there should be libertie of conscience given the Catholiks at his Majesties request That the States should associat the French with them in the commerce of the Indies give them some choice ports for traffic and repaire some depraedations they had made by sea but the money being once got there was little care taken to perform these promises which were no more then parol engagements or rather complements whereupon an Ambassador was expressely sent to complain hereof but he effected little To secure England from succouring Them of the Religion the first overture that the Erl of Holland made for an alliance was yeelded unto to whom the Erl of Carlile was sent in joynt commission to conclude it The King told them that he took it for an honour that they sought his sister for the sole sonne of so illustrious a King his neighbour and Allie onely he desir'd that he might send to Rome to have the Popes consent for better satisfaction of his conscience and in the mean time the English Ambassadors might send for a more plenary power to England so in lesse then the revolution of nine moons this great businesse was propos'd poursued and perfected whereas the Sun ran his carreer through the Zodiac ten times before that Spain could come to any point of perfection This may serve to shew the difference twixt the two Nations the leaden heel'd pace of the one and the quicksilver'd motions of the other it shewes also how the French is more round and frank in his proceedings not so full of scruples reservations and jealousies as the Spaniard And one reason that the Statists of the time alledg'd why Spain amus'd the English and protracted the Treaty of the Match so long was that all the daughters of France might be first married to prevent an alliance 'twixt England and her There was a concurrence of many things that favor'd the effecting and expediting of this alliance some previous Offices and Letters of invitation from France wherein there were strains of extraordinary endearments wherewith the King of Great Britain corresponded also in an unusuall stile as appears by this Letter following Most high most excellent and most puissant Prince Our most deer and most beloved good Brother Cousen and ancient Ally Although the deceased King of happy memory was justly call'd Henry the Great for having re-conquer'd by arms his Kingdom of France though it appertain'd unto him as his proper inheritance Yet you have made now a greater conquest for the Kingdom of France though it was regain'd by the victorious arms of your dead father it was his de jure and so he got but his own But you have lately carried away a greater victory having by your two last Letters so full of cordiall courtesies overcome your good Brother and ancient Ally and all the Kingdoms appertaining unto him for We acknowledge Our self so conquer'd by your more then
at Sea might be dissipated without the employment of any Fleet Royall Finally that there hath bin a necessity to arme thus because there is no hope of accommodation otherwise the contrary will be most manifest to him who will consider the researches which have bin made at severall times as well by their own Ministers as by the Ministers of other Princes to the King my Master to treat of accommodating things at their instigation It appears by all this that the King my Master hath not bin forc'd to arme for any particular interest but only for the defence of the Churches for the security and freedom whereof he stood responsible Yet there are some who dare amuse the world that his Majesty hath a particular dessein in it and that he useth Religion for a pretext to gain a party by means whereof and by which conjunction he hopes to push on his purposes to the end at which they ayme No no our Religion teacheth us otherwise and the King my Master's piety wherein he gives place to no man living will never permit him His desscin is the establishment of the Churches his interest is their good and his ayme their contentment That being done these Drums beating these Ensignes displayed shall be folded up again And all this noyse of War shall be buried in night and silence which would never have bin but for their cause Given aboard of our Admiral this Wensday the 21. of Iuly 1627. Buckingham A good while before this Fleet was under sayle the French Cardinal by some pensionary Spies he had in the English Court had advertisement of the dessein therefore there was a Remonstrance sent from the King to his Town of Rochell to this effect That they were French and that the English were proud and insupportable that having vain pretentions upon this Kingdom if they took any place it was to reduce it to slavery That their Ancestors being acquainted with the nature of the English chose rather to lose half their goods then to be under their domination upon the accord made for the delivery of King John when he was prisoner in England That his Majesty had given proofs of the effects of his clemency so often and with so much favor that his grace seem'd to be above their crimes for their Religion if they thought to cast it upon the account he left them the free exercise of it touching Lewis Fort which seem'd to give some ombrage to their Town he assur'd them that continuing within the bounds of their obedience there should be a cours taken for their contentment but if it should come into the hands of the English doubtlesse they would turn it to a Cittadell to settle therein their tyranny That the present occasion was of that high importance that it might entirely and eternally gain them the affections of their King by their fidelity or that they might thereby offend him so sensibly that they might render themselfs incapable of grace ever after if they departed from their loyalty whereunto they were oblig'd as subjects towards their naturall Prince and as Frenchmen against a strange Nation and an ancient enemy of France By the Duke of Buckinghams Manifesto it appears the King of Great Britain had divers grounds of War against France first that his Merchants were so abus'd their ships seiz'd on and their goods taken away secondly that the French King grew so strong in ships which in former times was us'd to be a sufficient motif for War of it self and lastly that Articles were not perform'd of the peace which was made with them of the Religion wherein England was engag'd His Majesty of Great Britain waves the first two and layes hold of the last whereby the French Reformists had just cause to abet him in the quarrell it being more theirs then his Though there were reports blaz'd abroad of other odd motifs Howsoever the Policy of England was tax'd though her courage admir'd abroad to engolf her self into a War with France when she had another great neighbour King already on her back in actual hostility This Fleet gave a mighty alarme to France which made the King to send the Duke of Angoulesme before Rochell with three thousand foot and five hundred horse The King following a few dayes after fell sick upon the way and Monsieur was in mourning for his wife who died in Child-bed of a daughter The Duke of Angoulesms Quarter-masters when they came to take lodgings for the billeting of the Army in the small villages about Rochell took so much roome as would have serv'd an Army thrice as great and this was done of purpose for the report thereof being blown to Rochell and so to the English Fleet the Duke upon Soubize's advice cast anchor at the Isle of Ré whereas his first intention was for Lewis fort upon the Continent which dessein was diverted upon the false report of the greatnes of Angoulesms Army There were hardly 1200. English landed upon the Island of Ré but 1000. French foot and 200. choice horse who had layn invisible in a bottom all the while appear'd and charg'd them furiously the French horse did wonderful bravely and the English foot no lesse who having scarce step'd ashore were set upon and divers driven into the Sea and drown'd but by the brave example of their Commanders they resum'd courage and kill'd above one hundred and fifty of the enemies Cavalry put their foot to flight and remaind Masters of the field there was good pillage found among the French horsemen that fell divers of them being persons of quality and young spirits which being stripp'd many had their Mistesses favors tied about their genitories At this first act of invasion the English loss'd some hundreds of men amongst others Blaneart Monsieur Soubize companion who had bin one of the chief tracers of this voyage in the English Court was slain upon the sands and Sir Iohn Heyden was kill'd too who had afterwards honourable buriall The next day the English horse landed and so they began to intrench The chiefest Fort in the Island was Saint Martin where Monsieur Toiras a choice man had bin many dayes before he sent the next day in a bravado a Page and a Trumpet to tell the Duke he meant to give him a breakfast the Page had twenty peeces and the Trumpet five given him If the Duke had gon presently in pursuance of his victory for that breakfast toward Saint Martin he might in all probability have taken the Fort but he stayed divers dayes neer the Sea side and in the interim Toiras had time to fortifie and the cause he stay'd his march further was that Soubize Sir Will Beecher had gon to Rochell for more ayd which the Duke expected but the Rocheller gave them little countenance letting them in at the Postern gate Toiras after the first sent a second Trumpet to the Duke for burying the dead offering a thousand pounds for his brothers body and others
who were kill'd but he had them gratis Soubize afterwards came with five hundred from Rochell and so the English Army march'd towards Saint Martin in the way there was the little Fort calld Lapree wherein as there was advice had afterwards there was but one old woman Soubize counsell'd the Duke to march another way through the Vineyards and to leave the Fort this prov'd fatall and indeed the greatest cause of the ruine of the English for had they tane that little Fort it might have serv'd for a handsome retreat Being come before Saint Martins Fort Sir Io Burrowes view'd it and said positively it was impregnable but by starving and so advis'd the Duke to take what booty could be had in that Isle and go to Oleron but this counsell took not While the English Army lay before Saint Martin there was an Engineer came out of the Castle who desired conference with the Duke but being suspected by his looks he was search'd and a poyson'd dagger was found about him wherewith being put to the torment he confess'd to have bin sent to kill the Duke so he had no quarter All the time the Duke was there though it was concluded by the Counsell of War 't was impossible to take the Fort but by famin yet no intrenchments were made all the while to block them up but a way was taken to raise batteries before the Army had made its approaches which prov'd chargeable and fruitlesse for with the infinit company of shot made against the Hill there was nothing done by way of breach but more powder and shot spent then the spoyles of the Isle was worth and still the passage was open for the Town round about to carry in any thing At last the English began to entrench yet they could not hinder provision to come by Sea from the main at last a sicknes happned in the Army whereby many dropp'd away Sir Iohn Burrowes was kill'd and divers other ilfavor'd accidents fell out and discontents began to be fomented for there came divers messages from the Cittadell to the Duke which he made shy to impart to the Counsell of war whereat there was some distast taken The King of France was now recover'd and he his Cardinal were come before Rochell there were all means under heaven us'd to preserve Toiras the Cittadel of Ré whereupon the King writ his Letter encouragement unto him Monsieur Toiras understanding the rare vertis and courage wherewith you and the rest that are in that Cittadel do defend your selfs against the English I was willing to express unto you by this Letter the singular satisfaction that I receive thereby Therefore you ought to beleeve that I will acknowledge such signal service to every one who shall have a share therein in such a manner that they shall beare all the dayes of their life 's some mark of honor according to their merits Therefore I desire you would send Me the names of all those that are shut in with you in that Cittadell that neither Gentleman Officer or Soldier remain without his reward This Letter being safely arriv'd to Toiras it rais'd every ones spirit to a great height of resolution as also the Kings Person being come so neer them There were divers complements pass'd 'twixt the Duke and Toiras during the siege and Master Io. Ashburnham being sent to the Cittadel upon a Message and afterwards to the King of France himself Toiras was complaining of want of Melons the Duke sent him a basketfull the next day He return'd the Duke some bottles of Orenge flower water for which the Duke gave the Messenger twenty Iacobuses whereas Troiras gave but five for the Melons When the English had planted a serious siege before the Town Buckingham sent Toiras this Letter Monsieur The desire I have to witnesse upon all occasions how much I esteeme and prize persons of quality and merit shall make me alwayes proceed towards them with all courtesie I think I have comported my self towards you in that manner hitherto as far as the law of armes would permit me In poursuance whereof before the quality of my affaires obligeme to take other counsels and to alter my procedure I thought good to exhort you to the consideration of your necessities which you have already endured with much patience and your courage haply might transport you to continue under vain hopes of succour to the prejudice of your safety For these reasons and for the regret I should have to see greater displeasure befall you we judge it convenient to invite you to render your self into our hands with those that are of your company and under your command and withall the place possess'd by you upon such termes of honor that you may not expect hereafter if you oblige me to poursue the means I have in hand to accomplish my dessein and that you let matters go on to extremity So expecting your answer accordingly I rest Sir your most humble and most obedient servant Buckingham Toiras returned this Answer Monsieur Your courtesies are known to all the world and being done with that judgement they use to carry with them they ought to be chiefly expected by them who do good actions Now I do not find there can be a better then for one to employ his life for the service of his King I am here to that purpose with a number of brave men 'mongst whom he that is the least resolut would not beleeve to have satisfied himself if he did not surmount all difficulties to help to conserve this place In so much that neither despair of succour nor fear of being ill us'd in point of extremity are able to make me quit so generous a dessein Besides I should judge my self unworthy of any of your favors if I should omit the least point of my duty in this action the issue whereof must needs be honorable And the more you shall contribut to this glory the more I shall be oblig'd to be Monsieur Your most humble and most obedient servant Toiras The English assayed all means imaginable to render themselfs Masters of the Cittadell by their Ships and inventions at Sea and by assaults and storming a shore nor did they fayle in any thing that human strength and courage could contribut They took divers bottoms as they were transporting provisions from the Continent but at last the Marshall of Schomberg had the hap upon a high floud and in a dark night to bring safely into the Cittadell a mighty supply of all things that might conduce not only to releeve but to raise the spirits of the souldier so the approach of Winter sicknes with other inconveniences forc'd the English to be gone which the Duke though often advis'd and importun'd by the Counsell of War was loth to do having provision for two moneths longer and that he must be forc'd to leave a number of sick men behind to the mercy of the enemy But after a conference with
France Principall Minister and Director in chief of all affairs both of State and Warre c. having bin thrice General and once Generalissimo of three Royall Armies Questionlesse he was a man had a rare talent and rich intellectualls of a notable vivacity of spirit and constancy of resolution of a prompt yet profound imagination of a subtill discours yet solid judgement things which seldome meet in one subject under that Clime of pressing and powerfull reason and a tenacious memory in so much that all the faculties of his soule being summond to consult seriously upon any businesse they were enough to make a compleat Senat of themselfs Add hereunto that he had an admirable gift of elocution attended with state and gravity and very swaying as it went along Many examples could be produc'd hereof but we will instance in three only In a Complement in a Letter and in an Oration of his which may serve to make a judgement of the rest For the first when he had receiv'd the Cardinals Hat from Rome he attended the Queen Mother and told her as if he had been surpriz'd with a kind of amazement Madam I want words to expresse the thankfulnes of my heart to your Majesty all that I can say is that I will spend my best bloud and all my spirits in your service and this Scarlet which I weare by your goodnes shall make me always remember this vow For the second when the Queen mother was retir'd to the Netherlands out of a high displeasure against him he writ to her this ensuing Letter Madame I know my enemies or rather the enemies of this State not contented to have discredited me unto your Maiesty do endeavour also to make my attendance neere the King to be suspected as if my neernes to his Person tended to remove him from you and to separat what God and nature hath so closely conjoyn'd I hope by the goodnes of God that their malice will be discoverd that my cariage will be shortly justified and that my innocence shall triumph over calumny Neverthelesse Madame I shall account my self still infortunat in that I am made to cease from pleasing your Majesty and life it self is irksome unto me in the state I am in finding my self depriv'd of the honor of your favor and of that esteem which I valued more then all the greatnes of the earth and as those which I possesse proceed from your liberall hand so I cast and prostrat them all at your Royall feet Excuse Madame your own work and creature whatsoever shall proceed from your Majesties pleasure shall be receiv'd by me without murmuring and accepted with a thousand thanks But Madame out of that piety which is inhaerent in you be pleased to spare the purple of the Church wherewith you have adorn'd me which will lose its esteeme and lustre if your Majesty cast upon it such black spots How can it be that the most oblig'd of men should prove the most ingratefull And that my conscience my first inclination and interest binding me to your service I should now separat my self from it and thereby draw upon my self the name of Traitor to the best and greatest Queen upon Earth This Madame well consider'd should absolve me from all crime and free me from all suspition before your Majesties tribunal where I am almost condemn'd without being heard I appeal not from it in regard of the perfect obedience I beare to your will I only blame my misfortune but will not dispute with my Soverain Mistresse nor ask reason of her for what is pass'd nor do I intend to make use of the Kings favour or any ministers of his or of the remembrance of my former services against the bent of your indignation the very thoughts hereof would be a crime and opposit to my hopes which are to find glory in fidelity and safety in innocence I desire lesse to dragg my fortune in France or to cary it to Rome to see more lamentable ruines then mine own Wheresoever your Majesty shall be if I be not permitted accesse it will be death unto me and wheresoever I go it shall be to go out of the world yet I desire for my reputes sake and for the rank I hold in the House of God that it might be after the vindication of my innocence and if it be not too great a boldnesse after the recovery of your Majesties favor If fortune afford me this I shall little resent my going out of the Court nor out of the world because I die a thousand times a day since your Majesty gives out that I am not the same I was which is Madame Your Majesties most humble most faithfull and most obedient servant Armand Card. of Richelieu Concerning the third which discovers more then any thing the abilities of a Minister this Oration shall serve which he pronounc'd in the great Convention of Notables a new Court generated of the discontinuance of the old Assembly of the three Estates the King himself sitting there in Majesty Sir 'T is needles in my judgemetnt to represent unto this Illustrious Assembly the great Actions your Majesty hath perform'd within this yeer as well in regard the Lord Keeper hath acquitted himself very worthily of that task as also because they speak cleerly enough of themselfs And there is no man but sees that God hath been pleas'd to make use of that piety prudence and courage which he hath infus'd into your Majesty to work those advantages to France in so small a time which some held impossible to be done in an age Nor is there any need to let them know the vast expence these high actions have caried with them because every one knows that in matters of State great atchievements cannot be done with little charge and the numerous troupes of Combatants which your Majesty hath bin enforc'd to entertain at one time in sundry places as well within as without your Kingdom afford understanding men occasion to magnifie your power as well as to admire your vast expence There is not any amongst you my Lords who knows not with what purenesse this treasure hath bin issued and what necessity there was of it the probity of those who manag'd the finances justifieth the first point and the oppression of the Allies of this Crown and the rebellion of them who are Traytors to God in this Kingdom do sufficiently assert the truth of the second the desseins of some having bin no sooner projected then form'd to interrupt his Majesty in reducing France to her first splendor In so much that this State considering the utility she receives thereby together with her Allies have more cause to approve then complain of these charges Matters thanks be to God are now at a good point but one cannot promise that they will continue so alwaies and it were to want judgement to think that they must not be push'd on further Of necessity this Kingdom must be left expos'd to the attempts of