pretend to the Regency if the Queen were Excluded or oblig'd to have a Partner and both the Queen and the Duke of Orleans were equally hateful to him But Cardinal Mazarin would not be so put off For in regard he sooth'd the Queen with every thing that could flatter her Hopes he lost no time either in solliciting the King or causing him to be importun'd in Favour of that Princess And the better to bring about his Design and that at the same time he might have the greatest part himself in the Management of Affairs he took a Resolution to propound Conditions so little to the Queens Advantage that Lewis XIII who saw himself just dropping into his Grave thankt him for having disingag'd him out of that Irresolution wherein he had hesitated so long For in short altho' he consented at last that the Queen should be declar'd Regent yet the Power which he gave her was extreamly limited that Princess not being able to undertake any thing of her self without first imparting the Business to the Counsel of which the Cardinal was to be the Chief and where things were to be carrid by Plurality of Voices But how disadvantageous soever these Conditions were to the Queen the King however thought he had done enough and the Queen and the Cardinal who had their Prospects and their Ends were highly satisfid that Things were brought to that point Nevertheless in regard the Business was not concluded and for that the Kings mind might alter the Cardinal left nothing omitted to keep the King steady in the Resolution he had taken while the Queen on her side labour'd to win to her Party all the considerable Persons in the Court of which number was the Duke of Enguien and it was a long time before she thought of him But the Duke de la Roche Foucaut who had always an Antipathy against Cardinal Richlieu and sought all Opportunities to be serviceable to the Queen having one day put it into her Head that it would be of great Advantage to her to gain this Young Prince she took it for good Advice And the Duke of Enguien who was glad of an opportunity to oppose the Authority of the Duke of Orleans who aspir'd to the Regency willingly accepted the Queens offer The Queen promis'd to prefer him before the Duke of Orleans not only by the Mark of her Esteem and Confidence but also in all Employments from whence it lay in her Power to Exclude the Duke of Orleans by such ways as they two should agree upon together and which mighâ— not provoke that Prince to a Rupture with herâ— On the other side the Duke of Enguien promis'd to be inseparably devoted to the Queens Interest and to be beholding to her alone for all the Favours which he desir'd at Court And now the Queen thought her self strong enough when she saw her self assur'd of the support of this Young Prince and therefore relying on the other side upon the Cardinal she waited for the Kings Death with a great deal of Confidence About that time the Duke of Enguien departed to Command the Army in Flanders and lay the Foundations of those great Things which he performed with so much Honour Lewis the XIII also dy'd within a short time after that is to say the 14 th of May in 1643. the very same day that he began his Reign After the Death of this Monarch there happen'd one thing which perhaps never happen'd before in France where there is a greater regard had to the Kings Pleasure then in any other Monarchy that the Parliament of Paris which according to the Institution of it is the Trustee and Guardian of all the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom and which derives its Jurisdiction only from the King cancell'd the Declaration of Lewis XIII by which as has been already said he order'd a Councel for the Regency to the end the Queen whom he thought incapable to manage the Government might be under a kind of Tutelage For the Queen Four days after the King's Death went to the Parliament and there did what she pleas'd her self in a manner so Advantageous to her self that â—here could nothing more be done the whole Asâ—embly testifying that they desir'd nothing with so â—uch fervency as that her Authority should be â—bsolute In short the Queen was confirm'd Reâ—ent by a Declaration of Parliament bearing date â—he 18 th of May. This Digression was absolutely necessary as you â—ill find by what ensues Now therefore to return â—o the Duke of Enguien while these things were â—hus transacted in France and that they were preâ—aring to carry the King's Body to St. Denis the â—paniards besieg'd Rocroy and so vigorously press'd â—he City that it was greatly to be fear'd it would â—all into the Enemies hands unless it were speedily â—uccour'd But the Duke of Enguien who was alâ—eady set forward to Command the Army in Flanâ—ers resolv'd to relieve the Place and no less â—riskly to attack the Enemy who seem'd as willing â—o come to a Battel and he perform'd what he â—ndertook as he had laid his Design This Prince was then not above Two and Twenty Years of Age and one of his Panegyrists has said and that not without doing him Justice that he had form'd â— Design which was above the reach of the Old Experienc'd Hoary-headed Captains but which Victory however justifi'd The Enemies Army â—as much more numerous then that which he Comâ—anded It was compos'd of those Old Bands of Walloons Italians and Spaniards which never had â—een broken before but all that could not make â—he Young Duke desist from his Enterprize Don â—rancisco de Melos stay'd his coming with a firm Resolution to engage him He was a Captain formidable for his Consummate Experience and for â— great many Victories which he had won and beâ—ides all that he lay entrench'd among Woods and â—oggs All the Forces of the Kingdom were â—ow to be ventur'd in one single Combat Upon that day depended the good or bad Fortune of the Regency For in short had the Duke lost that Battel it would have been impossible for France to have stopp'd a Torrent which would certainly have delug'dall Champaigne Picardy and the Neighbourhood of Paris The Consideration of so many Dangers would have terrify'd any other Person but the Duke of Enguien However never did any General appear more Sedate or more Undaunted He lay the Night preceding that famous Battel as if he had not thought of any such thing as fighting and slept so soundly that they were forc'd to wake him the next Morning This Prince who by that Battel open'd the way for so many others upon that Occasion acted not only like a Man of his Birth but like a Common Officer He was in all places where danger appear'd He receiv'd several Shot in his Cloaths and in his Boots he had a Horse wounded under him with Two Musket Bullets and he underwent all the Hazards and Fatigues of Combat
Folding-Chairs and within two hours after it he sent for a Jesuit who was at that time at Fontainebleau He told him that he found himself ill and that since he was going to Travel towards Eternity it was time to think earnestly upon it The Duke of Bourbon was mentioned to him again but he continu'd to answer that the Satisfaction of seeing him ought not to prevail over the Danger he should be exposed to in coming to Fontainebleau The Duke of Enguien arriv'd about Six in the Morning He was seiz'd with a violent Grief seeing his Father so near Death The first thing he told him was That for his sake the King freely pardon'd the Prince of Conty for all that was past and that he was commanded by His Majesty to assure him therewith This News was very agreeable to him by reason that he had desired it above a Year with an earnestness suitable to the Esteem and Tenderness he for that Prince He likewise express'd a great deal of Gratitude for His Majesty's Goodness and whereas the Letter he had written to him over-night was not gone yet he unseal'd it to add Thanks to it in the following terms MY Son at his Arrival has given me an Account of the Favour Your Majesty has been pleased to to do me in forgiving the Prince of Conty I am very Happy to have so much Life left as to return Your Majesty my most Humble Thanks for it I dye contented if you will do me the Iustice to believe that no body ever had Sentiments so full of Respect and Devotion towards you and if I may say so of Tenderness as Lewis de Bourbon As soon as the Prince had sign'd what he had added to his Letter he thank'd the Duke of Enguien for his having taken his time so well to restore the Prince of Conty to the King's Favour again After which they had a very tender Conversation together and gave each other all the marks of the most sincere and greatest Affection that ever was between Father and Son When they had done the Prince desired the Dutchess to draw near He said the most moving and the finest things in the World to them both about their Conduct towards God towards the King and towards their Children whom he named all one after another In the next place he spoke to them about the strict Union that had always been between them and of their reciprocal Duties conjuring them to persevere in living in that perfect Union which had been admired by all the World He ended this fine Discourse by directing them how to behave themselves towards their Friends towards their Servants towards Persons of Quality and of all Conditions After which he embraced them and gave them his Blessing for themselves and for their Children wishing them all the Blessings of Heaven and Earth The Duke of Enguien equally mov'd with Grief and Gratitude took his Father's Hands and kiss'd them returning him a Thousand Thanks for all his kindnesses The Prince did not receive those marks of kindness from his Son with Indifference â—hey affected him too sensibly But considering that allowed too much to Nature at a time he ought to turn all his thoughts on Death he told him My Son you have no Father now They made a stop there and for a while only spoke with their Eyes But they broke that silence to determine with an equal Satisfaction what Employments should be given to the Officers of his Highnesses Houshold who express'd his being very well satisfied with them and desired they might be entertained still by reason of their Merit and Fidelity After this he turned to Monsieur de Gourville and said By all the kindness you have for me do not conceal from me how long I have to live Ask the Physitians He often made the same Question all the day long and he was still answered according to the Condition in which they found him When ever his Eyes met with the Duke or Dutchess he discovered the Sentiments of his Heart sufficiently without needing to express them by words However he could not forbear telling a Jesuit softly who was near his Bed The Tenderness I observe in my Son and in his Dutchess towards me toâ—ches me sensibly The Dutchess of Bourbon sent every quarter of an hour to enquire how he did She would have come her self had not the Distemper that kept her in Bed hindred her For the most part he would see those that came from her and made very obliging Answers for that Young Princess towards whom he exprest to the end an extream Tenderness About Nine seeing the Duke in a very great Anguish he told him that he was moved by his kindness that he was satisfied with him beyond what could be exprest by words At half an hour after Eleven the Prince of Conty arrived The Tendernesses began anew on all sides After which his Highness embracing the Duke and the Prince of Conty told them all that a good Father could say to his Children and conjur'd them to love one another like Brothers He added that they would never be great Men nor great Princes nor good Men but proportionably as they proved upright and faithfâ—l to God and to the King Father Dechamps arrived a quarter after Twelve his Highness opened his Arms to Embrace him expressing a great Joy to see him Every body withdrew The Prince discoursed with that Jesuit about all that he had resolved within two Years about his Duty and Obligations and made his Confession to him About Two a Clock the Duke of Enguien the Dutchess and the Prince of Conty being come near him again he spoke to them as he had done before expressing all the Tenderness in the World towards them At that time he ordered some body to tell the Duke that it was his deâ—ire that his Body should be carried to Valery but that nevertheless he left him absolut Master of all and that he might do whatever he thought fit about it either as to the time and place and the manner of Transporting him thither That in that as well as in all other things he abandon'd all to his disposition submitting to his Will to which he gave a full Consent from that moment But however that he should be glad his Heart should be carried into the Church of St. Lewis at Paris to be plac'd there with his Father's The Duke received his Orders with the Submission he ought And whereas his presence as well as the Dutchesses and the Prince of Conty's moved him and hindred him from applying all his thoughts on God he desired them to withdraw He also told the Physitians after having thanked them that they might retire and that he had no longer any need of their Assistance And pointing to the Curate of Fontainebleau Father Dechamps his Confessor and the other Clergy-men that were present These added he are at present my real Physitians who will put me in
a way to dye well In the mean time the Duke and Dutchess as well as the Prince of Conty begg'd his leave to see him once more to which he consented on Condition they should retire immediately They withdrew immediately having seen him but he was not long without thinking on them For within half an hour he desired a Jesuit to go to them from him to bid them a last Farewel After which Monsieur de Marege who belongs to the Prince of Conty being come into his Chamber he received him in that obliging manner he was wont to receive every body especially those he loved and esteemed as he did that Gentleman He told him You have always served your Master 〈…〉 well Continue so to do and never do anyâ—â—ing â—erogatory to the Honour you have of belonging to 〈◊〉 He confides in you You may tell him from me 〈…〉 present more sensible of than ever I wasâ— â—hat â— man must be Iust and Good during his Life and that there is nothing else solid After which he remain'd for some time silent But then resuming â—he Discourse again and giving some new Orders a Divine venturing to tell him that he lived like a Great Man and that he ought to dye in the same manner but especially like a good Christian he took him by the Hand and said You praise me and I do now deserve it From that moment he did nothing singular and expir'd so quietly that it was hardly observed Thus dyed that great Prince on the Eleventh of December 1686. after having lived Sixty Five Years Three Months and Three Days While the Prince of Conde lay a Dying at Fontainebleau the King caus'd that Great Man's Letter to be read at Versailles Those who observed the three Tenses of his Letter how slightly he pass'd over his Services at the beginning and at the end of his Life and how sincere an Acknowledgment he made of his Faults about the middle were extreamly mov'd by his Modesty and the King himself could not refrain Tears saying That he lost a great Prince these were his own words And when that part of the Letter was read where the Prince return'd his Thanks and declar'd that he dyed Contented and too Happy since he had so much Life left as to express his Gratitude his Devotion and if he might say so his Tenderness to the King every body did him the Justice to say that he had Written sincerely That very day the Duke wrote three Lines to the King to â—â—quaint him with the Prince his Father's Death The Duke went to Versailles on the 15 th of December to pay his Respects to the King who received him with all the Kindness imaginable And His Majesty express'd to him on the Occasion the Obliging Sentiments he preserved for him and for his Father He had taken the Prince of Conty along with him whom he presented to the King who made him sensible by his Reception that he did not repent the Pardon he had granted him three days before out of Respect to the Prince and at the Intreaty of the Duke The Duke did not tarry long at Versailles and return'd soon to Paris He received sufficient Testimonies both at Court and in the City that the Prince his Father's Death had made a deep Impression in the Hearts and Minds of all People In the mean time the Order that had been given for carrying the Prince's Body to Valery were put in execution All things being ready the Duke went away before any body on the 21 st of December and tarry'd at Fontainebleau for the Prince of Conty who came thither from the King The Princ's Body was carry'd to Valery on the 22 th and his Heart to the Church of the Professed House of the Jesâ—its at Paris on the 24 th being Christmas-Eve This Ceremony was perform'd with great Magnificence And the Duke who appeared in every thing omitted none of the Duties his Good Nature and Gratitude exacted from him After which the most Eloquent Persons in the Kingdom were employ'd in making Funeral Orations in the Praise and Honour of the Prince of Conde The King having mourn'd the loss of that great Prince and often declar'd in the middle of the Court sighing that he had lost the greatest Man of his Kingdom assembled the greatest Persons of his Kingdom in Notre Dame of Paris on the â—â— th of March there to pay in Pâ—blick what was â—ue to the Memory of that Princeâ— and Ordered the Bishop of Meaux to speak the Funeral Oration That Oration is very fine and worthy its Author and the Prince in honour of whom it was spoken The 26th of Aprill Father Bourdaloüe who about three Years and a half before had spoken in the Church of the Professors House of his Society in presence of the Prince the Funeral Elogy of Henry of Bourbon his Father spoke a Funeral Oraâ—ion in the said Church in Praise of that great Prince whose Memoirs I am finishing That Oration is very Elegant and most Magnificent especially that part of it where Father Bourdaloüe speaks without Dissimulation and at large upon the Prince of Conde's behaviour in the Civil War is incomparable Never was so skilful and so happy a boldness known And that kind of daring in an Orator if I may use the Expression seems to revive in our Minds that Bravery and Heroick Fierceness the Prince of Conde used to shew in Battles and in the greatest Perils the which was follow'd with so much Success The Abbot du Iarry likewise spoke a Funeral Oration in Honour of the said Prince in the Church of Maubuisson before the Princess Palatine who was Abbess of that Religious House whom we have mention'd several times in theâ—e Memoirs There are Master-strokes in this last Funeral Elogy Several other Orations were made in several Provinces of the Kingdom But whereas in those kind of Discourses iâ— is usual to insist upon the Vertues of those for whom they are spoken and that commonly tho nothing it said in them but what really is yet many things are omitted by reason that those things are suppress'd which deserve no Praise and that those things are disguised which cannot be conceal'd and that by a false Light in which the Orator's skill knows how to place his Hero's dress with cunning he covers and paâ—â—es slightly over those Parts that are defective It is necessary to have recourse to History to be fully instructed of every thing and that to a faithful History like unto this I am now going to draw the Prince of Condâ—'s Picture with the same Fidelity I have observ'd throughout this Work Lew of Bourbon second of the Name first Prince of the Blood Duke of Bourbon of Chateaurex of Montmorency and Bellegarte Governour of Burgundy and Bresse first Peer Lord High Steward of France Count of Clermont Stenay Dun and Iamets Knight of the Holy Ghost and General of the King's Armies was Tall
Duke of Enguien who aspir'd to a higher Alliance shewed at first a Reluctancy to match himself into the Family of that Minister and that he stood upon his Punctilioes like a Person of great Honour and Gallantry But in regard that Cardinal Richlieu to speak properly was then King some there are who say that Lewis XIII gave him to understand that 't was his Pleasure to have the Match concluded unless he had a mind to incur his Anger and that the Cardinal whose will was a Law had layd a Contrivance to have him arrested under some specious pretence if he should hesitate never so little upon the Proposal which was made him nay if he did not make the first steps of Courtship to the Lady However it were the Duke of Enguien went to visit the Cardinal who at that time was at Ruel So that the Match was concluded at that Visit and the 11 th of February the Nuptial Ceremonies were perform'd with Royal Magnificenâ—e War as I have already said being the prevailing Passion that sway'd the Duke of Enguien no sooner the French took the Field in the Year 1641. but he accompani'd Marshal de Meilâ—eray into Elanders and was at the Siege of Aire which was a most remarkable Siege and where he signaliz'd himself with no less Gallentry then in the Trenches of Arras Aire Surrender'd upon Composition but the Spanish Garrison was hardly march'd out of the Town before the Spaniards made themselves Masters of Lilâ—ers and immediately after were resolv'd to fall upon the French in their Lines or to starve 'em in their Entrenchments if they refus'd to fight General Lamboy's Army which the Spaniards had brought into Alsatia puft up with the Victory which they had won at La Marfee near Sedan march'd just before the Van-guard in the very Face of the French Army Of which so soon as Marshal Gassion had Intelligence he Salli'd out of the Camp with a part of his Regiment to observe the March of the Enemy and to Charge 'em in the Rear if they pass'd forward But he was so surpriz'd to see so numerous an Army making towards him that he retreated about a Mile and made a stand upon a Rising Ground at the corner of a little Copse where he stood secure But that which stopt the Marshal de Gassion could not stop the Duke of Enguien who being mounted a Horseback in Company with Marshal de la Meilleray and about three or fourscore Lords and some Volunteers to view the Enemy advanc'd so far that all of a suddain they found themselves environ'd with two great Squadrons of Horse from which they had much ado to free themselves but at length they did get rid of 'em in such a manner as redounded highly to their Honour For after a short but very hot Conflict for the time they regain'd their Linâ—s without much loss and particular Commendations were bestow'd upon the Young Duke for the Bravery and undaunted Courage which he had shew'd upon that Occasion In the Year 1642. Lewis XIII being desirous to make himself Master of Perpignan he order'd the Marshalls de Schombâ—rg and Meilleray to besiege it and that great Monarch was present in Person at the Siege for some time Nor could the D. of Enguien who follow'd the King fail of Employment in an Enterprize of that Nature He commanded the Gentry and Nobility of Languedoc and behav'd himself with so much Honour that the Town being constrain'd to yield aâ—ter a Resistance of four Months believ'd she could not make a more glorious Surrender then by delivering the Keys of her Gates to the Young Prince How many Lives would those Marks of Valour have suffis'd to Honour which the Duke of Enguien gave in his first three Campaignes He shew'd an Ability to Command so extraordinary moâ—e especially at the Siege of the last Place that Lewis XIII who in part had been a Witness of his great Actions thought he could not do France a greater piece of Service then to put him at the Head of his Armies After the taking of Perpignan which was attended with the Surrender of Salces and the total Reduction of the whole Country of Roussillon Cardinal Richlieu dy'd upon the 4 th of December 1642. All People imagin'd that upon the Death of that Minister the Face of Affairs would have strangely alter'd and that Lewis the XIII who had been as it were a Slave for twenty Years together would take that opportunity to break his Chains But through a strange Fatality not easie to be parallel'd that Prince who had boasted upon the News of the Câ—rdinals Death that now he should begin to be a King had not however the Courage to shake off so base and ignominious a Yoke and notwithstanding the aversion he had for the Memory of that Cardinal he saw himself constrain'd through his own Cowardliness not only to dissemble one part of his Sentiments but to authorize the Disposal which that Minister had made by his last Will of the Principal Employments and most important Preferments in the Kingdom In a word the Kindred and Favourites of Cardinal Richlieu enjoy'd all the Advantages which he had procur'd 'em altogether as peaceably after his Death as they did in his Life-time And Cardinal Mazarin who was the only Person of all his Creatures in whom he most confided and who was most deeply engag'd in his Interests was made choice of to Succeed him in the Government of Affairs Buâ— according to all probability there was some Prospect of a suddain Change For Lewis XIII had so long labour'd under a decaying and languishing Distemper that there was no hope of any Cure and then all People believ'd that so soon as the Queen or the Duke of Orleance camâ— to the Regency that Richlieu's Party would be utterly discarded but they flaâ—ter'd themselves in vain For Cardinal Mazarin who fore-saw every thing that could happen and who moreover had very powerful Reasons to side with the Queen and preserve his Authority by that means made use of all his Power over the King to infinuate into his mind that it behov'd him of necessity to declare that Princess Regent The King was no way dispo'd to follow the Cardinals Advice For besides the little Kindness which he had for the Queen he was so ill satisfi'd with her Conduct in regard of the Tyes which he believ'd she had with the Spaniard by the Mediation of the Dutchess of Chevreuse who was fled for Sanctuary to Brussels and he was otherwise so preposess'd that out of the design which the Dutchess had to Marry the Duke of Orleans she had had a hand in the Conspiracy of Chalaes Grand Master of his Wardrobe who would have assassinated him that tho' he gave great Credit to the Cardinals Advice yet he would not give him any positive Answer touching that Matter And indeed the King was at a great loss which way to turn himself There was no Body could
Noirmonstier might well assume to himself the greatest part of the Honour of that Action On the other side at the Principal Attack where Aubeterre was wounded with a Musket Shot the Approaches were briskly carryd on Chatillon in a little time had advanc'd the Works so far that there was not much ground to be gaind to come at the Counterscarp all things went on prosperously and the speed of the work answer'd the Prince's expectation In the mean time Intelligence came that the Enemies Armies were set forward out of Newport to â—ight the Besiegers and that the foremost Squadrons of their Vanguard appeaâ—'d between Furnes and Dunkirk This Intelligence was grounded upon the Advantageous Rumours which the Spaniards causâ—d to be spread about of great Succours which they were preparing and of their assurance to force the French Lines and all this to chear up the dejected Minds of the People Which Reports the Vâ—lgar believing had encreas'd 'em with great Additions according to Custome and the Cavalry that appear'd seemd in some Measure to confirm ' em However the Prince being inform'd that the Forces of Flanders were drawing together about Newport and desirous to know the truth of the Rumour of their March that he might prepare for all Accidents sent out for News and dispatcht away Orders to La Ferte Seneterre to approach with his Flying Camp The next day the French Scouts brought word that the Cavalry which had alarum'd the Peasants and the Spies was nothing else but a great Parâ—y sallyâ—d out of Newporâ— which fell upon the French Foragers and that having taken some of 'em they were retir'd again in hast Now tho this Report of Relief had spread it self among the Besiegers yet it wrought no disturbance There was no Alteration made in the Guard of the â—amp which was still dispos'd in the same manner as if the Enemies Army had been in view the works aâ— the Trenches and the attack of â—he Bastion went oâ— and Arnaud and Marsin were advancâ—d almost to the Foot of the Counterscarp but with some trouble and danger the Difficulties encreasing â—s they drew nearer and nearer to the Enemies defeâ—ces At length La Moussayâ— coming in his turn undertook to make a Lodgement He mounted the Guard with the Battallion of Switzers under Molondin 〈…〉 ring their great 〈◊〉 which 〈…〉 fore with extraordinary Fury 〈…〉 who were altogether expos'd by 〈…〉 workmen â—ighting with disadva◠〈…〉 had already receiv'd two morâ—â—l 〈…〉 most daring of his men not wil 〈…〉 but preferâ—ng deâ—th before igno 〈…〉 by him The Tâ—mult the Night the 〈…〉 Arms the Groâ—ns of the Wounded 〈…〉 Combatants caus'd a hidioâ—s 〈…〉 the news of this disorder waâ— carrid 〈…〉 who immediately flew into the 〈…〉 the daâ—ger and by his Preâ—ence settl'd all 〈…〉 order again he caus'd the Men to 〈◊〉 â—o tâ—e Works which La Moussaye repair'd 〈…〉 on with the same Couragâ— as he had 〈…〉 surviv'd some days the Honour 〈…〉 ervice but Death depriv'd him of all 〈…〉 ut the praises of Posterity At 〈…〉 on the Marshals side the Tumult was 〈…〉 nor the Combat no less furious For 〈…〉 carry'd on the Trenches and Chanâ—â—◠〈◊〉 possess'd the place of a Fortification 〈…〉 sieged had begun near theiâ— Counter 〈…〉 mounting the Guard after them had 〈…〉 Pâ—llisadoes one of which lookt toward tâ—e â—ea the other coverd the Hornwork whither the â—esiâ—ged were carrying on their Wâ—rks The 〈…〉 of Navarr had attack'd the first and the 〈…〉 Picâ—râ—y the other Now the Spaniards 〈…〉 while they defend any strong Hold thâ—â— when once the Garrison is distributed to the 〈…〉 most likely to be aâ—tack'd they never change 〈◊〉 dâ—ring the Siege When the Besiegers have 〈…〉 Outwork the Men that defended it retreat to 〈◊〉 Guard of the next Entâ—enchment Now 〈…〉 had been all along oppos'd to the 〈…〉 from the beginning of the Sieâ—e And ever since the opening of the Trenches tho always at Handâ—blows with the Assailants had defended their Outworks with Resolution and Valour But now tir'd with watching and hardship they quitted their Pallisadoes to the Besiegers almost without any Contest The Besiegers were Masters of em for some hours and had finish'd their Lodgments when Leda bringing along with him two Companies of natural Spaniards which he took out of Fort Leon and animating â—he Walloâ—â—s with this Succour and his Personal Presence made a Sâ—lly at the head of â—em tho fruitless as to the Decision of the main Business yet prosperous at the beginning He regain`d the Pallisâ—do with an extraordinary fury which led to the Counterscarp of the Hornwork and overthrew all that oppos`d him Grave Blancafort and Poix Officers of the Regiment of Picardy were wounded in sustaining the Assault and Breaute was kill`d The Death of the latter added to the Mournful Examples of the Misfortâ— ne of his Ancesâ—ors of which the French Histories are full and confirm`d the common opinion that the Destiny of the Wars of Flanders is always fatal to those of that Family La Vieuville Camp-master of the Regiment of Picardy assisted Miâ—ssans under whom he mounted the Guard He perceiving that the Souldiers gave ground and that the Commands of the Officers were not at all regarded and not broâ—king while he liv`d that his Regiment should receive an affront ran with some of his Men where the Conflict was hottest and throwing himself into the thickest of the Enemy put a stop to their Victory by his daring Boldness His Souldiers also spurr`d on by his danger and his Example returnd to the Onset with so much fury that they layd the Spaniards sprawling and regain`d the Lodgement which Miâ—ssans brought to Perfection without any Opposition This was the Posture of things in the Attacks of the Place In the mean time Beck arriv'd at Neâ—port and joynâ—d the rest of the Armies with three thousand Foot and five and twenty Corâ—â—â—s of Horse He found the affairs of his Party in very great Disorder and that there was no possiâ—â—lity of succouring Dunkirk For their Spies and the French Prisoners which they had taken had inform'd 'em of the strength of the Besiegers Lines and they judg'd the work so compleat that they â—oâ—ld not without extream rashness undertake to force 〈◊〉 They knew the Prince who defended 'em to be a Person accustom'd to Victory prudent in Danger and that success attended his Wisdom So that altho their Armies consisted of above twelve thousand Men that number was not sufficient to accomplish the Enterprize where multitude only could overlay the Valour of the Bâ—siegers and which is of great moment in maâ—ters of War the Reputation of the Prince had imprinted such a violent Terrour in the minds of the Soldiers that they dispair'd of Victory had they been to fight him in the open Field much less to force him out of Entrenchments that were fortifâ—â—d and better guarded As for their Negotiations in England they had mâ—t with little success in ' em They could obtain
mounted the two Trenches and resolvd together whatever it cost 'em to make themselves Master of the Counterscarp To which purpose Laval Commanded the Regiments of Eng. and Conty with some Polanders He divided to the Right and Left the Officers Soldiers which he resolv'd should begin the attack taking the mâ—ddle with those which he had had maâ—e choice of for himself and fell on pell mell upon three Places at once Presently there was nothing to be seen but Fire and Smoake and the Counterscarp of the Bastion was gain'dâ— but when they began to cover themselves Laval himself working hard among the Soldiers as he was placing a Barrel he was lay'd upon the Ground with a Musquet Bullet that took him in the Head and dy'd some few days after of his Wound His loss was generally lamented by the whole Army and the Prince in particular was deeply sorrowful for his Death He was a Young Gentleman of an Illustrious Family ambitious of Honour and capable to have advanc'd and vex'd to the Soul to see Dunkirk lost before their Eyes that they might omiâ— nothing which was to be done resolv'd notwithstanding the Wind was still against â—em to try what they could do by Sea and by the meâ—ns of several small Boats which they had got ready knowing that the Seamen were perfectly acquainted with the Coast to put in a considerable Succour by Water whiâ—h design if it succeeded they were in hopes that the bad weather and the Inconveniencies of the Encampment would constrain the French to raise the Siege or at least that by ruining their Men the taking of the City would cost 'em their Army To this purpose they hir'd 30 Beelands at Newport which they fill'd with their bravest Commandâ—rs and stoutest Souldiers and which they set to Sea under the Conduct of their most experieâ—c'd Pilots This Fleet put to Sea in stormy weather every Body being resolv'd to surmount all difficulties partly ambitions of Honour partly covetuous of Reward and spurr'd on by all those other Incitements that usually inspire Men with Contempt of Danger However the Success no way answerd their fruitless promises and the joy of the Dunkirkerâ— thaâ— from the top of their Walls beheldâ— the Beelanders coming soon turn'd to sorrow For so soon as the Spaniardâ— saw that they were discover'd by the Hollanders and that the Sea-men perceiv'd that Trump was preparing tâ— make up to 'em whither it were that fear depriv'd 'em of their Judgement or that they could not withstand the Wind and the Sea as afterwards they said they betook themselves to flight and without making the least Effort to weather the Storme they made all the speed they could to Newport whither Aâ—donville chasd 'em with the French Frigates All Men well skill'd in Sea Affairs unanimously agreed that tho many of the Beelands might have been taken or sunk yet had they ventur'd some might have escap'd and got into the Place but it had been to litâ—le purpose For the Town was then so sorely press'd thaâ— it mâ—st have been a very considerable Succour that could have preservd it The Mine that had been a delving under the Horn-work aâ—l Night and all the next Morning was found to be 15 Fâ—ot deep and there was no douâ—t but the effect of it would be very great in a place so proper as that was By consequence the Horn-work could hold out no longer and after the loss of tâ—aâ— Fortiâ—ication the Dunkirkers securd only by the Walls of their old City and being incapable of defending themsâ—lves would be constrain'd to Surrender And Fortâ—nâ— in this seconded the common Opinion and soon reduc'd the Bâ—sieg'd to the utmost Extremity For abâ—ut two of the Clock in the Afternoon the Mine was sprâ—ng and such was the violence of the Powder that of a suddain it carryd away the Earth and the Wall â—hat were next the Mine and leâ—t a great breach in one of the sides of the Hornwork Some lazie Souldiers surpriz'd by the Fury of it wâ—re blown up into the Ayr and fell down half dismember'd overwhelm'd with Stones and wrapt up in Dust and Smoak Preâ—ently Clanleu orderd Molondine's Swisses to the Breach who finding it without any defenâ—e began a Lodgement And they had already plac'd 40 Barrels when the Besieged powring out from behind two Traverâ—es where they had retir'd till the Mine was sprung â—inding there was nothing more to be afraid of then the ordinary Risco's of War fell on desperately and mangre all the Resistance of the Besiegers drave 'em from the top of the Hornwork where they had entâ—ench'd themselves The Switzers full of Indignation retuâ—nâ—d to the Charge and continud fighting a long time with dubious Fortuneâ— At length they fell to Handy-strokes which prov'd a cruel and desperate Conflâ—ct the Besieged having been accustom'd to Victory and 〈…〉 knowing themselves lost if they lost 〈…〉 All the while the Smoak of the 〈…〉 from the Trenches and the Town 〈…〉 and noise occasion'd by the Conflict having darkend the day and depriv'd the Combataâ—â—s of the knowledge of one another all of a suddain both Parties that believâ—d being each in the same Confusion that their Enemy had the Advantage retreated on both sides and left the Lodgement in the middle between 'em quite abandon'dâ— and this great Disorder lasted for two hours But at length the Skie being clear and all things in a Calm the Besiegers first began to recover themselves Clanleu then led 'em on again to the Breach where that he might act with more security and have his Orders eâ—ecuted without Confusion he was willing they should regaâ—n the top of the Lodgement Barrel after Barrelâ— and step by step And thus he spent the rest of the day the Enemy not daring to disturb him till Miossans reliev'd him and found the Lodgement almost brought to Perfectionâ— In this Encounter the Besiegers lost a Captain two Lieutenants were wounded and fiftyâ— Souldiers either slain or disabl'd the loss of the besieged being equalâ— Nor must we omit the Death of Semur the more to be pityâ—d for the oddness of the accident and for that his Generosity prov'd fatal to him while he lost his own to preserve the Life of his Friend Belloy and he did the Duty of Serjeants of Battel and with their Pikes in their hands sustainâ—d the fury of the Enemies Sally They had both an Esteem for each other and there was no less Emulation between ' em Neither of â—em would be first that fled from danger nor be the first that â—orsook his Companion Honour and Courage stopt â—em in the midst of Peril In this Noble Contest Belloy was struck down with a Stone Semur â— never minding his own Preservation but running to help him up again receivd a Musket shot in his Thigâ—â— of which â—e dy'd sometime after But Belloy return'd to the Fight and the next day was in a Condition to do Service At the same time that they so warmly engag'd at
very much decay◠〈…〉 means agree to such a loss Nor was 〈…〉 to sacrifice his particular Interâ—st to the 〈…〉 So that he returnâ—d with a resolu 〈…〉 utmost endeavours in persuading th◠〈…〉 a Surrender 〈…〉 were not conceal'd from the Prince 〈…〉 he had discover'd the Trouble and 〈…〉 that Veâ—re was in and penetrated the 〈…〉 to augment his Fears to the end 〈…〉 the more confirm him in his thoughts of a 〈…〉 To this purpose he made choice of 〈…〉 under colour of waiting upon Veere 〈…〉 ordered him to accompany him to the 〈…〉 eâ—trance into the City Pallâ—au had natural 〈…〉 and being a Person of a jocund 〈…〉 Conversation he gets ground upon all 〈…〉 hom he converses his Tongue being no lesâ— persuasive then voluble Therefore having discour 〈…〉 bâ— the way of the extremity to which the 〈…〉 was reduc'd the weakness of their Party the Clâ—mâ—ncy oâ— the Prince and â—he stedfastness of his Resolution as also of the Misfortune into which the Governor of Dunkirk might precipitate himself so soon as he began to find him wavering he fell insensibly to talk of Lamboy's men and the hardships of Imprisonment and feigning to be concern'd out of a Principle of Honour and Generosity in the Misfortunes that threatn'd him he manag'd his discourse so dexterously that he never left him till he judg'd him absolutely resolv'd to sollicit a Surrender With such a rapidness is the mind of man transported with the impressions of fear and so true it is that Reason serves only to augment the belief of Danger when a man is once dismay'd with the terror of it Being enter'd the Place he found Leda perusing Letters which the Spanish Generals had sent him by a Frigat from Newport which had stole into the Harbour in the night time the Wind and Tide favouring him Those Letters were stuff'd with high Encomiums of his Prowess and with great Promises encourag'd him to hold out some few days longer And he seem'd willing to prepare himself for it flattering himself with an Opinion that he should do the King of Spain a great piece of service and with hopes that the Generals would not fail of their Promises But after Veere had made it out to him That they did but delude him That there was nothing to be expected from the inability of Spain That all the Defence he could make would be to little purpose That it would but exasperate the Prince and that it behov'd him to prepare for a long Imprisonment in an Enemy's Country if he refus'd to capitulate These Considerations together with one more which was the chiefest and that was that he might preserve an Army for the defence of his Partyy by preserving his Garison compos'd of a great number of Officers the loss of which would not be easily repair'd in the miserable condition to which Poverty and long Wars had reduc'd Military Discipline all these Reasons I say bow'd his haughty mind and made him resolve upon a Capitulation And being thus determin'd he sent back Veere to capitulate with express Orders to gain as much time as he could in expectation of being succour'd by the Spaniards Being desirous to do that honour to the Arms of the King his Master though he expected nothing from them and the better to justify his surrendring the place by the more sufficient Testimony of their Disability He also wrote at the same time to the Generals of his intended Capitulation and inform'd them of the Reasons which oblig'd him to it Among other things That he was unwilling when it could not be any advantage or honour to them for five or six days holding out longer to venture his being made a Prisoner of War in his old Age and when he was almost worn out in the King's Service nevertheless That if they could be certain to relieve him within ten or twelve days he would do his utmost till that time otherwise that it would be but a fruitless waste of time and good Soldiers But this last point of relieving the Place was more difficult to execute then promise For on the Marshal's side Sicot with the Regiments of Orleans and Noirmonster had driven the Enemy from their last Intrenchment upon the Hornwork so that there remain'd no more then to carry on their Approaches to the side of the Moat of the Old Town In the attack of the Bastion also where Vignaut Serjeant of Battel was kill'd the greatest Difficulties were surmounted Moussaye who led the Regiments of Anguien and Tabert and a Battalion of English had finish'd the Bridge of Fagots and was raedy to set the Miners to work So that the Promises made to the Governour had more of noise then solidity more of show than truth Towards night therefore Veere return'd with a power to capitulate and immediately the Duke gave order to Balluaw and Arnaud men of understanding and long experience in War to treat with him After some Contests and Disputes at length the Articles of Composition were agreed whereby among other usual things it was concluded That all the Marks of Honour should be allow'd the Governor and the Soldiers That Lamboy's Regiments should march out with their Artillery That the Spanish Armies should have three days time to succour Dunkirk which if they did not do by that time the Town should be surrender'd to the Prince This Capitulation was forthwith sign'd by the Prince and the Governour At the same time also Hostages were deliver'd by the Garison by Lamboy's Regiments and the Townsmen and so without any more ado Veere departed for Nieuport where he was in hopes to meet the Governour That night the French Officers that were upon the Guard went on with their Approachesâ— In the Marshal's Attack Roanette with the Swiss Guards and Bournonvilâ—es Wallâ—ons carry'd on the Approaches even with the superficies of the Water of the Moat of the Old Town In the other Attack Chabot with the Regiments of Contâ— and Albret with a Battalion of Polanders retook some Traverses whither the Enemy were return'd But Fortune usually crossing Felicity at the very instant that the assurance of the Capitulation seem'd to warrant that all the danger was over and that the Besiegers were ready to reap the Fruit of their Victory and that Chabot having given his last Directions was re-passing the Bridge in order to retire he was struck in the Head with some pieces of a Granado and dy'd of his Wound in a few days after This Accident was the occasion of no small grief to the Prince who had always rank'd him in the number of his most familiar Friends As for his part he shew'd a great Resolution at his death no way daunted at the expectation of it and contemning iâ— when it came In the mean time Truces were made and all the Approaches were strongly guarded till Veere return'd that nothing might be attempted afresh Two days after he return'd no ways deceiv'd in the success of his Journey from which there was nothing to
were come to join ' em The Prince during his Imprisonment at Vincennes had written a long and elegant Discourse to justifie his Innocency to all France and to all the world and to display the Malice of his Grand Enemy The beginning of this Discourse was put into the hands of a considerable person by a Soldier who being won by 〈◊〉 â— was wont to bring News how the Duke did and â—hen the Princes were carri'd to Marcoussy anothâ—r Soldier that escap'd in the hurry brought the Remiâ—der The Piece is nervously and eloquently compil'd and justifies that the Illustrious Author knew more then how to manage his Sword Had it not beeâ— so long as it is we would have inserted it in this History but it would almost compose a Tome of iâ— self 'T is enough to let you know That the Prince all along keeps within the Bounds of Respect to their Majesties and that without murmuring at theâ—â— Orders he discovers the Malice of those who had rais'd so great a Persecution against him and gives admirable and home Answers to all their false Accusations But thaâ— you may the better see both the Accusations â—â—d the principal Answers we shall here insert the King's Letter to the Parliament of Pâ—ris concerning the Prince's Imprisonment and another from a private person to the Parliament which answers the King's Letter very home without omitting any thing essential And this last Letter which appear'd some time before their Removal induc'd the Paâ—liâ—ment to seek all the most proper ways to releasâ— the Princes from such an Unjust Captivity The King's Letter to the Parliament of Paris touching the Imprisonment of the Princes THE Resolution which we have been forc'd to take by the Advice of the Queen Regent our mâ—sâ— Honour'd Lady and Mother to secâ—re our Persoâ—s from our Cousins the Princes of Conde and Conti and the Duke of Longueville is of that Importance for the Welfare of our Service that altho we owe to God alonâ— the Account of our Actions and oâ— the Administration of our Kingdom we thought however that we could not let both you and the Publick know too soon the Motives that induc'd 〈◊〉 to it to the end that all our Subjects being informâ—â— of the absolute Necessity which through the ill Conduct of those Princes and the Duke constrain'd us to proceed with so much Rigor to prevent the irreparable Mischiefs that threaten'd this Monarchy may all redouble their Affection and concur so far as lies in their power with us in that aim which we propose to our selves to establish a firm Tranquility within our Kingdom as having understood by experience to bring our Enemies to reason whose opposition to Peace proceeds from no other cause but only in hopes that the Divisions which have for some time vex'd this Kingdom will at length turn all things Topsie-turvie which by the Assistance of God we hope to prevent We promise our selves that the Remembrance which all Christendom will resume of the Moderation and Mildness of our Counsels which we have follow'd since our coming to the Crown which has been such that often what has proceeded from our natural Indulgence or Prudence for other stronger Reasons has been imputed to the weakness of our Government will convince every body That we had not had recourse to this last Remedy till after we had found all others were of no force And in truth when we were to deliberate upon the Arresting a Prince of our Blood whom we have always tenderly lov'd and who is otherwise highly to be valu'd for his many Noble Qualities a Prince so often victorious over his Enemies against whom he has so frequently signaliz'd his Courage Certain it is that tho he soon made an ill use of that Honour which we gave him the opportunity to purchase and that his proceedings in divers Enterprizes have given us just occasion from time to time to 〈◊〉 his Deâ—igns we could not without extreme 〈◊〉 determine his Imprisonment and we â—â—uld have wink'd at all the Imprudences of his evil Câ—â—â—â—ct but only the imminent danger that the Kiâ—gdom was in to be torn in piecesâ— and unless we 〈◊〉 palpably discern'd that considering the way which the said Prince took and wherein he made large steps every day one of these two mischiefs was inevitable Either the utter destruction or the Diâ—â—olution of this Monarchy by the ruin of our Authority upon the preservation of which principally dâ—pends the Tranquility and Happiness of the people which God has submitted to our Obedience It is so nâ—tural to all men to love their own works and to desire as much as in 'em lies the kind acceptation and merit of 'em that there is no body witâ—out doubt but will presume in regard we have afforâ—â—d opportunities to our Cousin by means of those Military Employments wherewith we have entrusted him to acâ—uire a high Reputation and for that we have â—eap'd upon his Family and his own Person Favours of all sorts no body we dare say will believe that unlâ—ss Necessity had compell'd us we would hâ—â—e been willing to have lost the fruits of all our Favoursâ— and to have depriv'd our selves of the Services which our Cousin might have done us both by his Counsels and Performances in times of difficulty such as are those of a long Minority had he not deâ—iated so far as he has done from the Path of his Dutyâ— or if he could have satisfy'd his Ambition with living the Richest Subject this day in Christendom And câ—â—tâ—inly upon due consideration of the vast Settlements that belong to his Family either in Employments or Governments of Provinces or great Towns in Lands or Ready-Money or Church Reâ—â—nues it must be acknowledg'd that so many Favourâ— nor so considerable as we have conferr'd upon our said Coâ—sin were never in so short a time bestow'd upon any one Family not to reck'n in ouâ—â—rants to his Relations and Friends at his Requesâ— and out of the Respect we had for him He cannot deny but that he holds at this day from our Bounty solely all that he enjoys of Places or Governments in regard all became vacant upon the Death of our Dear Cousin his Father and that it was in our full Power to have dispos'd of 'em to such other persons as we should have thought sit to have preferr'd before him But to go a little higher every body may call to mind how that so soon as the Queen Regent our most Honour'd Lady and Mother foresaw the Misfortune wherewith Heaven was about to afflict France by the loss of the Deceased King our most Honour'd Lord and Father and that there was no longer any hopes of recovering a Health so precious to the Kingdom she apply'd her self to obtain the good will of our said Cousins giving order so soon as she was design'd Regent in the King 's â—houghts to those in whom that Great Prince put greatest Confidence to make it their business to perswade him to confer
several Favours upon that House Her Orders were happily obey'd tho the King thought he had already done enough having but a little before made the Duke of Anguien General of his principal Army To which at first he had so great a reluctancy that he had once resolv'd to order his retiring into Burgundy They also persuaded him to confer an Honour upon our deceased Cousin the Prince of Conde which he had long desir'd which was to make him President of his Council and some few days after he was made Grand Master of France tho the King was resolv'd to have utterly supprest it The Queen afterwards at the very beginning of her Regency bestow'd upon him in our Name the Houses of Chantilli and Dampmaâ—tin which was the Noblest Present that ever any King made to one person He was also 〈◊〉 to purchase the Estate of our Deceased 〈◊〉 the Duke of Bellegarde wherein the Town of 〈…〉 comprehended which considering the 〈…〉 oâ— the Place it self and the Scituation of 〈…〉 of our Cousins other Governments lay 〈◊〉 â—ost convenient for him of any of the Kingdom 〈…〉 so many Favours and those extraordinary 〈◊〉 granted to the Father were no less advantaâ—â—â—â— to the Son who enjoy'd the benefit of 'em 〈…〉 was still so Gracious as to confer consideâ—â—â—â—â— Fâ—â—ourâ— on the Person of the D. of Enguien Our 〈…〉 Mâ—rshal de L'Hospital had the Government of 〈◊〉 given him in Recompence of his Services 〈…〉 was rewarded with the Government 〈…〉 Toâ—n and Citadel of Stenay yet both the 〈◊〉 day â—â—ven to the Duke Upon the Death of 〈…〉 we bestow'd in one day upon his Family 〈◊〉 â—â—ployment of Grand Master of France the 〈…〉 of Three Provinces Burgundy Bresse 〈…〉 besides that of Champaigne which he had 〈◊〉 and three strong Towns the Castle of Dijon 〈…〉 and Bourges besides Bellegard and 〈◊〉 which he had in possession And we have 〈◊〉 to believe that there never was any Greediâ—â—â—â—â— afteâ— large Possessions and soaring Greatness so 〈◊〉 but would have been fully gorg'd by 〈◊〉 an Eâ—fuâ—ion of Benefits and Favours of all sorts 〈◊〉 our said Cousin then gave us formal Assurances That he would never desire any thing more for the 〈◊〉 â— confessing and acknowledging That whatâ—â—â—â— Seâ—vices he had done or whatever he could do 〈◊〉 Kingdom he could not in reason demand any 〈◊〉 â—â—â—n what had been done already for him Neâ—â—â—â—heleâ—â— in a little time after he set a foot other 〈◊〉 Clâ—ims under precarious and unjust Pretences 〈◊〉 the beâ—ter to attain his Ends renewing his forâ—â—â—â— Discontents because we had given to our most 〈◊〉 Lady and Mother the Disposal of the place of Lord High Admiral and Superintendent of the Maritime Affairs vacant by the Death of our Cousin the Duke of Breze his Brother-in-Law as if he had had a particular Privilege to make Hereditary in his Family all the Offices which his Kindred had possess'd during their Lives forgetting that he had positively promis'd to demand nothing more of us after we had gratify'd him with so many others upon the Death of his Father who dy'd presently after the D. of Breze Nevertheless we resolv'd upon one trial more to give him satisfaction in hopes that Age would moderate his Excesses and temper the exorbitant heat of his Ambition and to the end we might once for all deprive him of any Necessity and Excuse for demanding any more we heap'd up the Measure to the top and upon his renew'd Promises never to make any farther Demands we granted him a new Favour which surpass'd all the rest by adding to the Towns of Burgundy which he had already and to Stenay that of Clermont with a Gift of all the Demeasnes belonging to it as also to Stenay and Iamets which are worth near a Hundred thousand Livres a year After that we admitted the Prince of Conti into our Councils at Twenty years of Age tho his Brother and his Brother-in-Law had a Pension there already of a Hundred thousand Livres and Danvilliers's Employment for which he was to give a Recompence to the Sieur Danevoux and had settl'd upon him in our Name divers Bodies of Horse and Foot We omit several other Favours which we have conferr'd upon our Cousin the Prince of Conde which alone were sufficient to satisfie any reasonable mind besides considerable Sums of Money which we have bestow'd upon him every year and all the Augmentations of Pensions for him or his Family and Relations for whom he desir'd em We speak not of the respect which we always had for his Requests â—or Patâ—ents for Dukes for the Promotions of Maresâ—hals of Frâ—nce and a world fo Military Employâ—eâ—ts and others of all sorts as Abbots Bishops and â—overâ—meâ—ts of Places bestow'd at his Recommendaâ—â—â—â—â—pon persons at his Devotion Lastly we call God to witnâ—ss That there is no sort of study or inâ—â—â—try which we have not put in practice as well toward himself as with his most familiar Confidents â—o â—ix his mind and give him satisfaction And upâ—n this account we are oblig'd to testifie That our mâ—st deâ—r and most beloved Uncle the Duke of Orâ—â—â—ce pâ—eferring the Tranquility of the Kingdom and the Good of our Service before any other parâ—iculâ—r â—nterest or Consideration has all along persâ—â—ded us to these Sentiments and by that means highly contributed to the advantages of the said Pâ—â—â—ce and the satisfaction of all his Demands But all in vain no Favour no Application no Confiâ—ence having hitherto been able to limit his irregular Amâ—iâ—ion The nature of the several pretensions which he has set on foot from time to time and from which he has eâ—deavour'd to exempt himself with â—ildness and Prudence may easily evince to the world that they were the Sentiments and Transports of such a mind Sometimes he has vehemently insisted to have the Command of an Army for the Conquest of Frâ—nche Conte upon condition that he might have the Sovereign Possession of it In the midst of the last Campaign while our Army was advanc'd into Flanders and that it could not be enfeebled without running the Risco of some great Blow laying aside all other thoughts which way to annoy the Enemy even to the hazard of exposing our Fâ—ontiers and Strong Holds to the Assaults of our Enemies he would needs have a Detatchment of a â—reat Body of Horse drawn out to go to Liege â— to support the Design which he had to help his Brotheâ—â—he Prince of Conti to the Coadjutorship of that Biâ—â—oprick by that means to render more conâ—iderable the places which he holds upon the Mense and in his Government of Champaigne besides another great Establishment wâ—ich he projected to erect on that side as we shall afterwards make appear All which clearly shews by many remarkable Circumstances to what a degree he was possess'd with a desire of Sovereignty An Imagination the more dangerous in a Mind all Fire like his because we are moreover well inform'd That among his intimate
prov'd nevertheless less Fatal to him than to Monsieur de Chavigny who having had a very rough Esclaircissement with the Prince he was seiz'd with a Fever of which he dyed few days after Hiâ— Miâ—fortune did not end with his Life and Death which should terminate all Hatreds seem'd to have reviv'd his Enemy's against him All manner of Crimes were imputed to him and the Prince particularly justify'd himself at his Cost of the Jealousie the Spaniards and the Frondeurs conceiv'd of a secret Treaty with the Court He complain'd that Chavigny had hearken'd to some Propositions of the Abbot Fouquet without his participation altho' he had order'd him so to do in Writing and that he had promis'd to make him relinquish some Articles which he could not do The Prince likewise caus'd a Copy to be written of an intercepted Letter from the aforesaid Abbot the Original of which I have seen whereby he acquainted the Court that Goulas would incline the Duke of Orleance to abandon the Prince unless he accepted the Conditions of Peace that were offer'd him But in the Copies the Prince had written of it he put the Name of Chavigny instead of Goulas whereby he accus'd him of Treason without giving any other Proofs thereof besides a falsify'd Copy of that Letter written by the said Abbot Fouquet with whom the Prince daily treated and gave an Account thereof to Chavigny I can only impute the cause of so unjust and so extraordinary a proceeding to the extream desire the Prince had of making War the which being oppos'd by his Friends had made him alter his Conduct towards them and place all his Confidence in the Spaniards The Duke of Bouillon dy'd at that very time at Pontoise whose Death should have cur'd Men of Ambition and disgusted them from making so many different Projects in order to Rise For the Ambition of that Duke was accompany'd by all the extraordinary Qualifications that could render it prosperous He was brave and was a perfect Master in the Orders of War he had an Easie Natural Insinuating Eloquence A clear Understanding abounding in Expedients and fit to manage the most difficult Undertakings a sound Judgment and an admirable Talent in distinguishing He hearken'd mildly to the Counsels that were given him and he valu'd other Peoples Reasons so much that he seem'd to draw his Resolutions from thence But yet those Advantages prov'd almost useless to him through the obstinacy of his Fortune which always thwarted his Prudence The Spaniards were Revenging the Duke of Guise's Enterprize upon the Kingdom of Naples by a long and cruel Imprisonment and had long prov'd inexorable to all those who interceded for his Liberty However they granted it to the Prince and on thâ—t occasion they renounc'd one of their principal Maxims to link him the closer to their Party by a concession that is so extraordinary among them Thus the Duke of Guise receiv'd his Liberty when he least expected it and he came out of Prison engag'd by so great a Favour and by his Parole to enter into the Prince of Conde's Interests He came to him at Paris and perhaps believing he had acquitted himself of what he ow'd him by some Complements and some Visits he went soon after to meet the Court to offer the King what such great Obligations exacted from him towards the Prince As soon as Chavigny was dead the Prince began to take his Measures to go away with the Duke of Lorrain and indeed his Conduct had rendred his departure so necessary that it was the only way he had left for the Peace was too generally desir'd at Paris to remain there in safety with a design to oppose it The Duke of Orleance who had desir'd it all along and dreaded the Evil the Prince of Conde's Presence might draw upon him contributed so much the rather towards his Removal by reason that he found himself thereby free to make a particular Treaty Altho' Affairs stood on these terms the ordinary course of the Negotiation had not been interrupted for even at that time when Cardinal Mazarin was quitting the Kingdom for the second time to put a period to the pretences of the Civil War or to shew that the Prince had other Interests besides his Removal he sent Langlade Secretary to the Duke of Bouillon to the Duke de la Rochefoucault either out of a real desire to Treat thereby to facilitate his Return or hoping to draw great Advantages by his shewing that he desir'd a Peace In fine Langlade came with Conditions that were much fuller than all the others and almost conformable to what the Prince had demanded but they were equally refus'd and his Fate which drew him into Flanders did not permit him to discover the Precipice until it was too late to retreat Finally he departed with the Duke of Lorrain after having taken vain Measures with the Duke of Orleance to hinder the King from being receiv'd at Paris But his Credit was not sufficient at that time to cope with the Court 's He was order'd to leave Paris the very day the King was to arrive there and he obey'd immediately to avoid being a Spectator of the Triumph of his Enemies as well as of the Publick Joy MEMOIRS OF THE Prince of Conde BOOK VI. THE King came back to Paris on the 29 th of October A vast concourse of People went out to meet His Majesty and when he entred in the Evening into his Metropolis all the People gave marks of an Extraordinary Joy The next day the King caus'd a General Pardon to be read in the Gallery of the Louvre where the Parliament had been Conven'd by the King 's Writ after which the said Declaration was recorded In the next place His Majesty order'd the Duke of Orleance to retire to Limours and Mademoiselle de Montpensier to Bois le Vicomte The Duke of Beaufort the Duke of Rohan the Duke de la Rochefoucault and all the Prince of Conde â—s and the Dutchess of Longueville's Servants and all the near Relations of those who were in the Prince's Service were also order'd to quit Paris and to retire elsewhere The Prince of Conde who did not think himself safe by the General Pardon was gone towards the Frontiers of Picardy there to receive some Spanish and Lorrain Forces in order to joyn his Army After he had receiv'd this Reinforcement the remainder of the Spanish Forces and of those of Lorrain divided themselves to March on both sides of him in order to joyn and succour him in case of Necessity After which the Prince march'd towards Rheâ—â—l â— with a design to make himself Master of it He prâ—sented himself before it on the Thirtieth and took it the same day without any Resistance He left the Marquess of Persan there with some Infantry and little Horse and then he march'd directly to St. Menehoult with the Forces of Virtemberg with half those of Fuensaldagne and with Three Thousand