more particular Light into the State of Euâ—â—pe in Levis XIII his time The Czar John Basilovits fam'd for his Cruelties and the War which the brave Stephen Battori King of Poland wag'd against him with so much Glory and Advantage French Mercury 1605. as the Muscovite was oblig'd to have recourse to the Pope's Intercession for obtaining a Peace Basilovitz I say had left but two small Children behind him of seven Wives which he had Theodorus and Demetrius The eldest stupid and heartless succeeded him Whilst he diverted himself in ringing of Church-Bells Boris Frederovits a Muscovite Lord who had married his Sister govern'd the State This wicked Ambitious Man caus'd young Demetrius to be slain who dwelt with his Mother in a Castle remote from Mosco And the better to conceal his Crime he procured him to be assassinated whom he made use of to commit this Villany The Czar Theodore died in a little time after 'T was though Boris had poyson'd him The Masculine Line of the ancient Czars being thus at an end it was not hard for Boris Brother-in-Law to this last Prince to mount up into the Throne Being as crafty as he was cruel he had taken care to gain the Love of the People and to remove far from him under specious Pretences the Lords who were in capacity to oppose his Ambition He was crown'd at Mosco in all Forms and Ceremonies His bloody and suspicious Nature render'd him quickly odious to the Muscovites A Nation accustomed to Slavery doth not so patiently suffer the Tyranny of a Prince newly rais'd up to the Throne as that which is establisht in a long Succession of one and the same Family A Counterfeit Demetrius in Poland About the year 1604. Boris receiv'd News from Poland which put him to strange Difficulties A Russian Monk had carried thither a young Man who much resembled in Stature and Countenance the Prince Demetrius whom Boris had caus'd to be put to Death The Monk first puts this youth into the Service of Vietsnovisky a Polish Lord who had Marryed the Palatin's Daughter of Sendomir from whence he got into the Palatines Wine-House When the Monk thought he had prepared Men well enough he told the Palatine as a Secret that this young Man was Demetrius lawful Heir of the Empire of Russia who had been privately and happily convey'd away from the Cruelty of Boris by putting another Child in the Prince's room whom the Tyrant intended to cause to be slain This adventure was related with such probable Circumstances as the Palatine believ'd all that was told him He presently discover'd the Secret to Sigismond King of Poland who was willing to be fully acquainted with the pretended Demetrius The Youth who neither wanted Wiâ—â— or Education Rehearseth the Misfortunes of his Life in the presence of the King with much Craftiness and a good Grace he shew'd certain natural Marks on his Face and upon one of his Hands which he pretended to be undeniable Proofs of the truth of his Birth and then addressing himself to Sigismond he thus proceeded I am Sir very happy to have fallen into the hands of a King who having been himself unfortunate and persecuted during his Infancy by his Vncle must have the greater Compassion for my hard Fortune You was born in the Prison where the Cruel Erric had put your Majesties Father and Mother The Polanders have made choice of you before all the Princes in Europe This distinction Sir ought to render you the more respected by the Swedes your Natural Subjects Another Ambitious Vncle raiseth 'em against you he endeavours to snatch forcibly away your Patrimony Thanks be to God your Majesty is still powerful enough to help me to be Restor'd to mine As soon as you shall put me into a condition to be thankful for so great a Favour the Polanders and Muscovites united together shall quickly reduce the Swedish Rebel May Heaven grant that after this Happy Expedition we may joyntly set upon the common Enemy of the Christians If King Sigismond did not believe what was told him he hop'd however that the Story whether true or false might stand him in some stead against the Muscovites T' was resolv'd upon to Assist the pretended Demetrius and to send him first into Lithu mia that from thence to write to the Pope he might be nearer Muscovy He askt of him to do him all the good turns he cou'd in Poland The Court of Rome always attentive to what is capable of extending her usurpt Domination willingly gave an ear to the Person who made her hope to Reduce the Russians to the Obedience of the Holy Chair Demetrius enters into Muscovy and there Crown'd A private Rumor presently run aboroad at Mosco that the Prince Demetrius having scap'd the fury of the Tyrant Boris shew'd himself near to the Frontiers The Malecontents and they who lov'd Novelty confirm'd for truth what others had said The People easily drawn to believe extraordinary Contingencies and who flatter themselves with finding a milder and more supportable Government seem'd to wait with impatience Demetrius's coming Boris inform'd of what had pass't at Poland and of the practices begun at Mosco did not know which side to take whether he should despise this Story as if it was but a ridiculous Story the noise of which in a little time vanisheth or if he should downright prepare himself to press and quell a Party which seem'd to fortifie it self ev'ry day both at home and abroad Persuaded at last that nothing was to be neglected he caus'd it to be spread abroad on his side that the pretended Demetrius was a known Mag cian and after Orders for the safety of the Frontiers he sent Ambassadors to the Diet at Warsaw They were to complain to the King and Republick of Poland for that they had Transgress'd the Conditions of Peace made betwixt the two States by shewing their willingness to uphold the Impostures of the miserable Son of a Priest and to demand the delivery of him up to 'em alive or dead In case the Ambassador cou'd not obtain of 'em a favourable Answer Boris had order'd 'em to Negotiate with some Popish Lords for to engage them to oppose a design which the King might have against him Sigismond answer'd the Muscovites in general Terms and in the mean time prepared himself underhand to assist him who averr'd himself to be the rightful Heir of the ancient Czars Demetrius enter'd into Moscovy at the Head of an Army consisting of Ten thousand Poles and Cossacks which the Palatine of Sendomir commanded under him Demetrius and he not having known the advantage they had of so good an occasion to rout the Muscovite Army were themselves defeated in the beginning of the year 1605. Demetrius too weak to keep the Field any longer shut himself up in a Town which he had before taken he hop'd to receive new Succors from Poland before the Enemy could retake the places which had been taken from
HISTORY OF LEWIS XIII THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS XIII King of France and Navarre CONTAINING The most Remarkable Occurrences in FRANCE and EUROPE during the Minority of that Prince By Mr. MICHEL Le ASSOR LONDON Printed for Thomas Cockerill at the Three Legs and Bible against Grocers-Hall in the Poultrey 1700. Advertisement THE Remaining Parts of this History will be Printed in the same Size with this Volume TO MY Lord Viscount WOODSTOCK My LORD AS soon as I began to write the Book I now present you with My Lord the Earl of Portland your Illustrious Father did me the Honour to employ me in your Service to read History to you I was surprized with Pleasure to observe that the Providence of God having designed me for this Employment had turned my thoughts upon a Subject the knowledge of which is so absolutely necessary for you that so you may reap the full advantage of those wise Instructions which your Father who loves you tenderly will one day give you concerning those extraordinary Revolutions which Europe has with Amazement beheld for thirty years together He knows the secret Motives and hidden Springs which produced them all and he has always been the Depositary of the Secrets of that Great Prince who had the greatest hand in them he has served him in his brave and hazardous Enterprizes with equal Zeal and Courage 'T is from a Father so exquisitely skill'd in all the Arts of Politicks and War that you will learn my Lord the Intrigues of all the Negotiations which have been transacted in his time the present Interests of Princes the Account of Battels Sieges Marches of Armies in which he has always held a considerable Post In giving you the Narrative of his own Actions he will instruct you how a Person of your Rank and Quality may equally love your Country and a Prince who do's you the Honour to trust you with his Secrets what Rules you are to observe that so you may do good service for the one without intrenching upon that inviolable fidelity which you owe to the other In short he will teach you what a Peer of England is obliged to do that he may be serviceable to the King in Parliament and at the same time deserve the Esteem and Approbation of a People extremely jealous of its Rights and Priviledges Others besides my Lord the Earl of Portland may possibly be able to give you good Counsel in these Affairs But there is one thing yet behind which your incomparable Father alone can teach you And that is My Lord Moderation in an elevated Fortune He has himself lately given you a rare example of it The Greatness of his Soul in this respect is a thing so extraordinary that you will scarcely find an equal Instance in all those Ancient and Modern Histories which you design to read Keep your Eyes always fixt on this Domestick Example It can't but powerfully impress this weighty Maxim in your mind That to set bounds to your Ambition though just and reasonable is truer and more substantial Glory than 't is to rise to the highest Dignities I have told you my Lord that the History of the Reign of Lewis the XIII will be of great use to you to let you into the understanding of those Revolutions which have happened for some time past in Europe You will there see how the Affairs of the Empire put on a new face after the Peace of Munster And there find the causes and first beginnings of the Decay of the Spanish Monarchy which before that time was dreadful to its Neighbours You will there read the first steps of France to that height which it arrived at under the Conduct of the violent and refined Politicks of a Cardinal who renders his Master powerful at home by humbling the Princes and great Men there and formidable abroad by entring him into a seasonable League with the Crown of Swedeland and the United Provinces The good Correspondence which the great Frederick Henry Prince of Orange and this able Minister held together did not a little assist the Cardinal in compassing his vast Designs The Swedes were hitherto hardly known but for their Wars against Denmark Poland Muscovy and some extraordinary Revolutions which Religion or the differing interests of King and Subjects had produced in Swedeland We shall see in the course of this History a new Warrier arising out of the North with a small number of Troops for the Rescue of Germany almost entirely enslav'd by the Ambition and Arms of Ferdinand the Second Gustavus Adolphus King of Swedeland makes the Emperor Tremble for fear of losing his Hereditary Countries The Rapid course of his Victorius Arms carryed to the Rhine makes jealous even those Princes which call'd him to their Assistance and those Sovereigns which had desired his Alliance That which you ought particularly to be affected with My Lord is the reading of the resolute Efforts of your Dear and Illustrious Country to defend it's Liberty after the twelve years Truce was expir'd The Spaniard's pleas'd themselves with the hopes of making great Advantages of the Divisions which arose in Holland and some other Provinces after the Conclusion of that Truce But the Valour and Wise Conduct of Maurice and Frederick Henry Princes of Orange defeated those hopes which seem'd to be but too well grounded You will be very much pleased to find here Sieges Form'd by those Two Great Masters in the Art of Taking Towns and Victories Won by those Two Famous Generals to whom they came from all Parts of the World to learn the Art of War and in short That Courage not Inferiour to that of the Ancient Romans with which the United Provinces did weary out the King of Spain until he renounc'd all his Pretensions to 'em and was forc'd to acknowledge them in a Solemn Treaty for a Free Republick I believe you have not forgot that which my Lord your Father told you in one of his Pleasant and Profitable Discourses which he had with you the last Summer in the Walks of his beloved Solitude near the Hague He recited to you one Day the Prediction of Prince Frederick Henry a little before his Death That his Posterity would be under a Necessity one Day to declare against France as he had been to oppose the Ambitious Designs of the House of Austria It has fell out as this Judicious and Knowing Politician had foretold The House of Orange hath had the Honour to have given the first Blow which shook the Power of Spain and by a surprizing Turn of Affairs the only Remaining Branch of that Noble Stock which hath been so fruitful in Heroes can glory this Day that by his Prudence and Valour he hath defended that same Monarchy threatned with approaching Ruin Could that fierce and bloody Philip II. have ever thought that the Posterity of that Man whom he had basely murder'd after an unworthy and ridiculous Proscription should be one Day the best Support of
the New Institution was Dangerous to the Faith capable of disturbing the Peace of the Church and in one Word more tending to destroy than edifie When the Jesuits desired to be incorporated in the University she rejected them with Indignation and Contempt When they attempted to teach publickly she opposed them with Vigour The Pasquiers and Arnauds undertook her Defence The Learned Arguments are still extant in which they lay before the Parlement of Paris the Reasons which the University had to declare against this Hermaphrodite Body said they which is neither Ecclesiastical nor Regular The Attempt of John Chastel against the Person of Henry IV. was the cause which moved the Parlement of Paris whose most Eminent Members were bred in that University to give a terrible Sentence against them commanding all Jesuits to remove out of Paris and all other Cities within three days and out of the Kingdom in fifteen branding them for Corrupters of Youth Disturbers of the Publick Peace and Enemies to the King and Government After when Henry IV. at the Sollicitation of the Pope at the Instigation of Sillery and Villeroy and Instances of de la Varenne the Infamous Minister of his Pleasures had granted them his Letters Patents for their Reestablishment the President de Harlay employed all the power of his Wit and Eloquence to perswade the King this Act of his was inconsistent with the Safety of his Person the Preservation of his Authority and the Welfare of his Kingdom But neither the Decrees of Sorbonne nor the excellent Discourses of two Illustrious Advocates nor the wise Remonstrances of the gravest Magistrate of that time could hinder the King from being worse advised than the Mayor and good Commonalty of Troies in Champagne Henry resolved to forget the League was first conceived among the Jesuits and that Barricre and Chastel who made an Attempt on his Life were instructed and pushed on by Varade and Guignard Jesuits His Imprudence cost him dear poor Prince Ravillac profited by the Doctrines and Lessons of the Writers and Doctors of the Society The World was not exceedingly Surprized to see them within three Months after the bloody Death of Henry IV when all the Preachers of Paris were exclaiming against the Jesuits and an Infinity of Pamphlets had been published to expose their Temper and Doctrines have the boldness to desire a Permission from the New King to open their College of Clermont Mercure Francois 1611. which had been shut up ever since their first coming to Paris and to make their Publick Lectures there All Men were now pretty well acquainted with the humour of that Body A long experience had taught them that they are not confounded with Noise That Just and Reasonable Confusion which makes other Men fearful and modest encreases the Courage and Boldness of these good Fathers That which most amazed all Honest Men was to see the Regent and her Council give the Jesuits Letters Patents to be confirmed in Parlement at the same time that these Magistrates all well affected to the King and Government 's Repose declared peremptorily in their Decrees that the Doctrines of Mariana and some other Writers of the Society had plunged the Knife in the Heart of the two last Kings of France Father Coton was not less busie in the Hall than at Court He demanded the entring the King's Letters with the same boldness that he had Sollicited the Regent and her Ministers for them But the Rector and the Faculties of the University of Paris opposing this the Decision of the Affair was remitted till the following year During a pretty long delay caused by the Proceedings and Formalities of Law the Jesuits got together four-score or a hundred Scholars whom they taught in the College of Clermont At length the matter came to a publick Hearing This was in the Month of December 1611. La Merteliere Advocate for the University made a long Discourse where he repeated with Emphasis what Pasquier Arnaud and the first President de Harlay had formerly said against the Jesuits He added all they had been accused of having done in England Holland at Venice Genoa and elsewhere The Divinity of these good Fathers was not forgot He shewed the Corruption and Danger of it In the last place the University concluded by the Mouth of her Advocate that if the Parlement would not have regard to her wholsom Remonstrances she should at least have the Consolation of having done her Duty and having given more than once by her repeated Oppositions to the Enterprizes of the Society a certain Testimony of her sincere and continual Affection for the Service of the King and the Good of her Coutry Montholon Advocate for the Jesuits answered in a very short Discourse He affected too to speak so low that the greatest Part of the Auditory could not hear his Defence After this Hardivillier Rector of the University spoke a long Harangue in Latin This was rather the Declamation of a College Rhetorician than a Solid and Eloquent Discourse The Advocate General Servin spoke according to Custom after the rest and concluded in favour of the University The Parlement being tired with the Importunities of the Jesuits thought of a good Expedient to free themselves They proposed to them to subscribe to four Articles repugnant to the Doctrines imputed to them You cannot be incorporated with the Vniversity nor have Permission to teach publickly said the Magistrate to the good Fathers unless your Sentiments agree with those of the Sorbonne This Turn was well devised They foresaw the Jesuits would never sign such Propositions for fear of incurring Displeasure at Rome and their Refusal would clear the Parlement at Court for not passing the King's Letters Can we the Magistrates might have said allow a Body to teach publickly which refuses to subscribe the Doctrine commonly received in France The first President de Verdun then ordered eight Jesuits to be called who were in Court to hear the issue of their Cause Will you says he to them Subscribe these four Propositions and undertake your General shall likewise do it The first was That a General Council is above the Pope The second That the Pope has no power over the Temporalties of Sovereigns and that he cannot deprive them by Excommunication The third That a Priest who by way of Confession comes to the Knowledge of a Design or Conspiracy against the Person of a King or his Government or any Act of High Treason is obliged to Reveal the Matter to the Magistrate The fourth That Church-men are Subjects of the Temporal Prince and Civil Magistrate The Provincial of the Jesuits did not know how to extricate himself in this difficulty In our Statutes says he with a Modest and Devout Air taking a Book and setting himself to read We have a positive Order to obey the Laws of the Country where we live but we cannot promise any thing for our General We will write to him upon this Matter and do all we can
as you have already done to the Resentments of the Princes of the Blood The Duke of Epernon was yet more necessary to the Queen upon this occasion he was gone from Court much discontented but he was gently dealt with during his Absence as soon as he came back to Court they made him all imaginable Caresses The Prince of Conti the Duke de Guise and the House of Lorrain the Duke de Nevers all the Courtiers except the Creatures of the Prince of Conde and Count Soissons paid him extraordinary Honours The Chancellor Villeroy and Conchini shewed him as much respect and deference as he could possibly wish from them T' was the surest way to engage this proud and haughty Man by letting him gain to himself a point of Honour of being Victorious over the Princes of the Blood and opposing them vigorously when ever they should undertake to break the Treaty of the double Match The Ambassador of England complain'd aloud of this Alliance but t' was hop'd they could appease his Master by sending to him the Mareschal de Bouillon Aersens Ambassador from the Vnited Provinces made a great Noise he moved Heaven and Earth to hinder this Affair the Consequences of which appeared to be dreadful to his Republick Refuge was order'd to go to the Hague to secure the Amity of Prince Maurice and the States-General Lastly Schomberg was sent to the Protestant Princes in Germany in order to dissipate the jealousies which this Alliance might give them The Double Marriage is in fine carryed in Council The Prince of Conde and the Count de Soissons being come back to Court about the beginning of the year 1612. all Persons were brought about to consent to the double Match whensoever it should be proposed in Council but the two Princes were not yet satisfied Siri Memorie recondite To. II. pag. 618. 619 ctc. The same day they were call'd to Council Conde first demanded that every one might declare his Opinion according to his degree Chancellor Sileri spoke much in praise of the Queen's Administration of Affairs and laid open the great benefit which would accrue to the State from this double Match The Duke de Guise set forth the Eloquence which was natural to his Family There 's no need said he of Deliberation upon so Advantageous a Proposition we ought only to thank God that her Majesty hath happily brought about the Noble design which Heaven had inspired into her The Constable Montmorency with the Dukes of Nevers and Epernon extreamly approved of what was said The Mareschal Bouillon and Lesdiguieres said only this that they ought to take care the New Treaty with the Spaniards might not be prejudicial to the ancient Alliances of the Crown with other Sovereigns At last came the Prince of Conde's turn to speak but he was so startled with the Duke of Guise's positive way of delivering himself as that he was quite dasht out of Countenance and after an indifferent manner said that since this was an Affair resolved upon it was needless to ask our Opinion It was believ'd that the two Princes came with a design to oppose the Treaty The words which the Count de Soissons let fall confirm'd Persons in this Opinion You see Sir said he turning himself to the Prince of Conde that we are dealt with here as Fools and Serving-men The Queen vext at this Reproach would have spoke but the Chancellor cunningly turn'd her by from it by proposing some other matter to discourse upon and so it was concluded that the double Match should be publisht the 25th day of March following and the New Duke of Mayenne was design'd for an extraordinary Embassy to Spain to demand the Infanta with the usual Ceremonies The Prince of Conde and Count Soissons shewed a great weakness upon this occasion their Consciences would not suffer them to approve the thing and either fear or hope hinder'd them from speaking as they ought to have done Sir then said the Constable to his Son-in-Law the Prince of Conde you neither know how to Fight with Courage or yield with Prudence The Popes Nuncio's Complaint of the Edict of Parliament given in favour of the Vniversity against the Jesuits The Queen Regent found her self otherwise troubled upon the occasion of an Edict which the Parliament had made upon the Contest of the University of Paris with the Jesuits for the opening of their College of Clermont The good Fathers flatter'd themselves that the chief President de Verdun would be as favourable to them as his Predecessor had been to the contrary but they were deceived in their Hopes whether it was that this Magistrate affected to appear Zealous for the Liberties of the Gallican Church or that the Remonstrances of Dr. Richer Syndick of the faculty of Paris Siri Memorie recondite To. II. pag. 624 625 c. or the pleadings of the Advocate General Servin had convinc'd the chief President that if once the Society should set footing in the University of Paris it would Establish there its pernicious Doctrine or Lastly whether it was that Verdun did not love so much the Jesuits at the bottom of his Heart as other Magistrates had done before he pronounc'd the Edict he put on so gay and content a Countenance as the good Fathers believ'd they had gain'd their Cause But what was their Mortification when they understood that t' was ordered them forthwith to Sign a Conformity to the Doctrine of the Sorbonne Schools and even in what concerned the preservation of the sacred Persons of Kings the maintaining their Royal Authority and the Liberties of the Gallican Church according as it was mentioned in the four Articles which had been proposed to them and were recited in express words in the Edict From hence was the Society brought to great Extremity They must Subscribe a Doctrine detested by the Court of Rome or must be exposed a second time to leave the Kingdom The Curates of Paris had now bound themselves to present joyntly a Petition to the Parliament that they should be hinder'd from hearing of Confession The University put up another Petition that the Jesuits might be enjoyn'd to shut up their Colleges in all the Towns of the Parlement of Paris's Jurisdiction where they have taught without allowing their Letters Patent which the late King had granted them to be made good in Parlement Now the good Fathers had no other Remedy but to make use of the Nuncio's Intercession and cause the Cardinals and Prelates devoted to the Court of Rome to act for them Vbaldini the Popes Nuncio was very forward to bestir himself in favour of them he was no less alarm'd than the Jesuits The chief President brag'd that he would make the four Articles proposed to the Jesuits be made Solemnly received in the faculty of Paris and whatever the Advocate-General maintain'd in his Pleading The Nuncio in his first Audience he had of the Queen greatly complain'd against the New Edict and Servin
or against the Court of Rome as the Court of France would have it the Abbot Chanvalon I say propos'd in an Assembly of the Faculty of Paris that another Syndic might be chosen in the room of Richer The Dr. modestly opposeth this last Effort of his Enemies The Faculty was divided Duval was at the Head of 43 cowardly Doctors or Ignoramus's who upheld the Abbot's Proposal 25 Doctors of clearer Judgment and no less fearful declared for Richer The Division in the Sorbonne was so great as the Queen and Parlement made a Prohibition that the Faculty might not proceed to the Election of a New Syndic But Perron the Nuncio and other Creatures of the Pope's stickled so mightily as notwithstanding all the just Oppositions of Richer and his Friends the King sent an express Command to the Faculty to choose a new Syndic They must obey Richer protested openly that he would die in the Communion of the Roman Church that he was a good Servant to the King and Queen that he would ever defend without Stubbornness and Ambition the ancient Doctrine of the Schools at Paris that he believ'd he ought to oppose the Pernicious and Detestable Doctrine which was Artificially insinuated viz. That it is lawful to Depose Kings and kill Tyrants Lastly that he submitted his Book to the Censure of the Church and the Faculty of Paris and his strongest Passion was to see it examin'd by equitable and disinteress't Judges What remains to us of Richer proves that he suffer'd with much Moderation and Patience the Injustice done to him Filesac was chosen to Succeed him in the Syndicate Amongst all these Troubles the Queen Regent diverted her self more than Religion or Decency in the second year of her Mourning would allow of she Mourn'd not the Tragical Death of the Deceased King but for meer fashion sake Nothing said Mary de Medicis to the President Jeannin whose Son had been Murder'd Nothing hath so much appeas'd my Sorrows after the Death of the King as the Affairs of the Regency Her Majesty might have said with more Reality if she had said as to see my self Mistress The Dukes de Vendosme and de Cheureuse were with Bassompierre Memoires de Bassompierre to dance a Ball every Sunday sometimes at the Prince of Conti's House sometimes at the Dutchess of Guise's because the Regent dar'd not to hold publick Assemblies in the Louvre The double Marriage being solemnly declar'd the 25th of March by the Chancellor in presence of their Majesties the Prince of Conti the Peers and Officers of the Crown the Spanish Ambassador gave his consent to it from the King his Master From that time he render'd to Madam the Eldest Daughter of France all the same Honours which the Spaniards give their Queens But the French Courtiers whose Demeanours are much different from those of the Spaniards could not forbear Laughter observing the Ceremonies and affected Gravity of the Ambassador Mary de Medicis had order'd a Magnificent Tournament in the Royal Square for joy of the double Marriage The three Champions were the Duke de Guise the Duke de Nevers and Bassompierre The Constable and four Marshals of France were to be Judges This Festival which doth not deserve a place in any serious History cost an infinite Deal of Money Mary spent in shews and indiscreet Liberality the Millions which the Deceased King had spared with too much providence New Broils at the Court of France The Prince of Conde and Count Soissons were not present at the Declaration of Marriage They were retired from Court with a Resolution not to return till after the King's Majority and not to Sign the Contract of Marriage The Queen said they is able to finish all alone what she hath resolv'd upon Siri Memoire recondite Tom. II. p. 640 641 642 c. and Negotiated without our Knowledge God forbid we should do this injury to the late King's Memory as to consenâ—… that the word which he hath given the Duke of Savoy should not be kept whose House hath been so many times ally'd to this of France Such good Sentiments would deserve praises if Princes did not ordinarily use such Pretensions when they are acted only by meer Interest Conde and Soissons did not see that the Regent was forward to grant them the Gratifications which they were made to hope for The Queen being strengthned with the House of Guise and the Duke of Epernon assured of the Constable and the Mareschals of Bouillon and Lesdiguieres who had been brought over Discontented with what the two Princes had said in Council when the double Marriage was propos'd the Queen seem'd not to be any more concern'd for the Princes of the Blood The Constable only endeavour'd to serve them by putting Mary de Medicis in fear He oft-times represented to her that the Civil Wars and Miseries of the precedent Reigns had no other cause than the evil Counsel given to Catharine de Medicis for to despise and lay aside the Princes of the Blood They Madam said he who insinuate into you the same Methods think more of Establishing their Fortunes and Reputation than the good of the State If your Majesty gives ear to them I foresee that Trouble and Confusion will speedily follow The Advice of the Constable allyed to the Princes of the Blood and Enemy to the House of Guise was look'â—… upon as Partial the Regent gavâ—â—â—o Attention to it but at the last push The Guises and the Duke of Epernon Triumph'd while the Prince of Conde and Soissons were absent The House of Guise had taken care to order the Tournament Under pretext of contributing to the Queen's Diversion they became more powerful than ever Some Satyrical Wits said that she lookt upon the Chevalier de Guise with too favourable an Eye He ordinarily waited on her at Table when the Princess de Conti or the Dutchess de Guise regaled her Majesty Mary seem'd very much content to look near the fine Hand of the Chevalier which he himself affected to shew The Marquess d'Ancre who all of this House and the Duke of Epernon hated could not endure the great favour shew'd the Guises and their Ally The Ministers of State were much alarm'd at it They thought to pluck down the pride of these two Ambitious Houses Conchini was so much the more disquieted for that the Queen was angry with him Mary raised him up to this Greatness but in consideration of his Wife and the Marquess did not live kindly with her His anger at home proceeded sometimes so far as he talk't of leaving the Court They quarrelled lately at Table with so much heat as they threw Plates at one another's Head The Regent upheld the Marchioness The Guises and the Ministers of State who lov'd not Conchini took Goligai's part and bemoaned her to Exasperate farther the Queen against her Husband All this set Conchini forward to side with the Princes of the Blood who had a mind to humble the
Secretary Vargas to Milan to declare plainly to Charles Emanuel that if he would not consent to restore the Towns he had taken in Monferrat that Philip. would force him to it Besides that the Duke of Lerma hated the Duke of Savoy this Minister did not care for War whether it were that he thought Peace more proper for the Conservation of his Authority or whether he was willing to conform himself to the calm and pacifique temper of his Prince So that Charles Emanuel is in worse confusion than ever He had pretended to listen to some proposals of accommodation Siri Memoire recondite To. III. p. 81 82. c. Nani Historia Veneta 1613. which Massimi the Popes Nuncio had made him in the Name of the Pope Victor Amedeus Prince of Piedmont was also gone to Milan to Negociate that Affair But his Father always found some occasion when the matter was near being concluded And even at that very time when the Duke appeared inclined to Peace He endeavoured to carry on his Conquests in Monferrat Althô France and Spain then threatned him equally and the Princes of Italy had almost all declared against him yet he was not daunted but steddily resolved to make a new Effort to lay the Storm which roared on both Sides of him He sent out of hand the Prince of Piedmont to Madrid to represent his Rights to the Catholick King and he engaged his Brother the Duke of Nemours to make a Journey into France to bring over the Queen Regent if he could or at least to oppose the Duke of Maienne who made a powerful Interest in favour of the House of Mantua But they had less Respect for him in Spain than they had in France when Victor Amadeus arrived in Catalonia the King let him know that he forbid him to pass any farther till he should receive news of his Father's submission to his Majesty's last Orders The Emperor Commands the D. of Savoy to desist from his Enterprize upon Monserrat Siri Memoire recondite To. III. p. 84.85 c. According to the Project of Accommodation proposed by the Pope's Minister the Duke of Savoy was to deliver up to his Holiness the Places which he had Possession of in Monferrat At this the Court of Vienna took offence And indeed the Marquisat being a Fief of the Empire It belonged to the Emperor to decide the Controversie and to be the Sequester preferably to all others Matthias therefore sent Orders to the Prince of Castiglione his Commissary in Italy to go to Turin and tell Charles Emanuel that he should immediately raise the Siege he had laid before Nice de la Paille a Town of Monferrat and consent to the suspension of Arms which his Imperial Majesty had ordered on both Sides upon pain of forfeiting the Emperor's Protection and that he must with all speed lay down his Arms to dissipate the Jealousies which his Enterprize had given him But as the Emperor pretended to be the sole Judge of a Controversie concerning a Fief of the Empire so the King of Spain he too would be the Arbiter without the concurrence either of the Empire or of France All these incidents pleased Charles Emanuel What with Criticizing on some of the Articles that were proposed to him and expecting till the Competition should be decided he had time to push on his Conquests in Monferrat The Prince of Castiglione tired with the delays of the Duke of Savoy publisht a Proclamation in the Name of the Emperor where he enjoined Charles Emanuel to deliver up to his Imperial Majesty's Commissary all that he had taken in Monferrat to send within Ten days a Deputy who should Treat the Prince of Castiglione being present with him whom the Duke of Mantua should send about means to determine the Controversie to the satisfaction of those who were concerned in it And that the Affair must be finisht within a Month after they should meet on one Side and on the other But was it prudent to use a precise and absolute way of speaking before he had sufficient Forces in Italy to Command Obedience if either of the Two Sides should resist This was to expose the Authority of the Emperor too rashly The Dukes of Savoy and Mantua had no other regard for him but as his great Name might sometimes do them a kindness The Princes of Italy Feudatories of the Empire are willing to withdraw themselves as much as possible from any Authority which incommodes them as weak as it is The King of Spain himself undermines it slily upon this occasion His Catholick Majesty will have no other Arbiter in a Country where he is most powerful The Governour of Milan acts more effectually than the Imperial Commissary The Governour of Milan compels the D. of Savoy to submit to the K. of Spain Nani Historia Veneta Lib. 1.1613 Inojosa being perswaded that his Master was resolved to bring this Affair to a Conclusion without the interposition of France sends the Prince of Ascoli at the Head of Five thousand Men which joined Three thousand more of the Troops of Mantua Commanded by Prince Don Vincent the Cordinal Dukes Brother This Army advances towards Nice near to which that of Charles Emanuel lay the Savoiards did not then doubt Mercure Francois 1613. but that the Governour was firmly resolved punctually to execute the Orders of his Catholick Majesty There being no other way left but that of putting a good face upon it the General of the Dukes Army sent word to the Prince of Ascoli that the Duke his Master entred into Monferrat not imagining that King Philip would have espoused the Cause of the House of Mantua against a Prince which had the Honour to be his Majesties Brother in Law Since it is so added the Envoy the Troops of the Duke my Master are ready to retire I will only say that 't is not the fear of the Arms of Mantua but the Respect which his Highness has for the King of Spain that inclines him to this Resolution He will never Employ his Forces in any thing that shall displease his Catholick Majesty The Prince of Ascoli answered that he had Orders to Relieve the Town of Nice and to take Care that the Army of the Duke of Savoy leave Monferrat He added If the General will lead off his Army no body will pursue it but if he is resolved to stay we 'l presently be with him After so many cunning Tricks and Contrivances the Duke of Savoy was entaged to see himself once more the Jest of all Europe and to have spent a great deal of Money in Projects that were defeated in a Moment Before he would quite give up he had a mind to try Inojosa whose friendship he had always reckoned upon He proposed to him that he would blindly devote himself to the King of Spain in opposition to all the World on Condition he would leave him in Possession of what he had taken Offers so Honourable so