their Left having lost Colonel Sclang that Commanded it wwre so disheartned that they wou'd have never rally'd if Count Coningsmark had not hasten'd up to them and done personal Wonders Having thus restor'd Courage to those that had lost it he caus'd a Body of Reserve to advance who turn'd the Victory on his side which seem'd as yet unwilling to declare it self The Arch-Duke with Picolomini betook themselves to flight and the Principall Commanders of the Army some of whom however dy'd upon the Spott all the Baggage was left to the Suedes with the Generalls Silver Service they having had enough to do to Escape in their own Persons After this Victory the Suedes laid siege again to Leipsick notwithstanding the inconveniencies of the season allready farr spent which made the Garrison believe they cou'd never prosper in their Design they made so vigorous a resistance that the Suedes were ready a thousand times to desist from their Enterprize However standing to 't they made themselves masters of the Town contrary to the Opinion of many People With this Exploit did they end the Campagne of 1642. But Seasonable weather was no sooner return'd then that they augmented their Conquests with the taking of Tornaw Mellerstald and Melvick Then they block'd-up Magdebourg and Ostervic and Surpriz'd the City of Halberstat whose Garrison they put to the Sword Galas wou'd have stopp'd the Current of these Prosperities but Ostervic being the Closer shut up this did not hinder it from falling also into their hands In the mean while they fail'd little of surprizing the Emperour himself as he was coming to his Army and if he had not turn'd out of his way it had been a terrible augmentation to so many losses but through a great happyness having avoided this Ambuscade he sent his Troups against Olmutz while these of the Suedes were Employ'd in taking of Demitz The Army we had in Germany fought not with so much good luck for it had been forc'd to detach a part to the Succours of the frontier of Champagne then menac'd with an Army of five and twenty thousand men Commanded by the Count de Fontaines and the Enemies had still another in Artois which Employ'd the rest of our forces The Duke of Anguien who had hitherto serv'd only as Volentier but in whom was noted an Unparalell'd Courage and a Conduct above his Age was sent against the former and the Duke of Angoule'me observ'd the other with a flying Camp Neither the One nor Other had found Occasion to do any great matter but the Count de Fontaines having beleaguer'd Rocroy the Duke of Anguien march'd against him and having giv'n him Battaile he won so signal a Victory that the Spaniards cou'd not of a long while recover it The Count de Fontaines was kill'd in that action all his Infantry cut in Peices with part of the Horse and what remain'd in such Disorder that much ado had it to scape Then the Duke d'Anguien without trifling away his time turn'd his Armes against the frontier of Germany and having open'd himself a passage by taking of Thionville and Cirq he march'd to the Succours of the Mareschal de Guebriant then penn'd up between the Troups of Bavaria those of the Duke of Lorrain The Enemies not daring to stay his Coming up he re-inforc'd the Mareschal de Guebriant's Army and this having enabl'd this Mareschal to make Enterprizes he beleaguer'd Rotwiel where he was wounded with a faulcon Canon Bullet whereof he dy'd His Death was follow'd with a sad Event the Army that had a Wonderfull Opinion of him having lost all manner of Confidence after his Death retracted to Teutling after having however taken Rotwiel and suffer'd it self to be Surpriz'd in it's Quarters by the Duke of Lorrain who gave it a Total Defeat In the mean while great Alterations occurr'd at Court where Cardinal Richelicu dy'd the year last past and the King on the fourteenth of May following Nought but Cabals were then on foot who shou'd have the Regency and after the Example of the Court of Savoy where the Unckles had sided against the Nephew the Duke of Orleans was just ready to set the State in a Combustion Not but that the King had settl'd all things before he dy'd but none were pleas'd with his last Will because he limited the Power of those to whom he attributed some Authority The Queen his Widdow being vext that he had ty'd her hands said openly that Tutours were rather appointed Her than she Elected the King her Son's Tutour and with Design of having His Will broken she was liberall of her Caresses now to One then to Another and Especially to the Parliament that had much Power at that time Mazarin who had render'd himself recommendable by severall Services he had done in Italy and had been made Cardinal at the late King's Recommendation was in her Confidence with the Bishop of Beauvais But this Bishop being not a man of Sufficient ability to Support the Burden of Affairs the Other Supplanted him quickly and govern'd the Queen's mind at his Pleasure At length the Queen having found the means by her Addresse to Extend her Authority thought her self oblig'd to gain Creatures and having a most peculiar Esteem for the Viscount de Turenne she made him Marcschal of France This Prince return'd into Italy after his Brothers Business and had so won the heart of Prince Thomas that he undertook nothing without him Insomuch that having advis'd him to the Siege of Villeneuve d'Ast the Troupes had forthwith Order to march thither This Town made but a sorry Resistance after which they march'd against Alexandria and haviâ—n there fixt their Quarters just as if they meant to take it by force it created a Phancy in the Governour of Millan to leave unprovided Other Places for the relieving of this To decoy him on to this Design by facilitating to him the means some Interval was left between the Quarters and the Spaniards having slipt between imagin'd they had gain'd a mighty point but their Enemies fell immediately upon Trin then unfurnish'd of men and where according to all appearances they could meet with no great opposition Prince Thomas finding himself indispos'd at the very beginning of the Siege Committed the care of it to the Viscount de Turenne who was wonderfully well seconded by the Count du Plessis All the Out-works were won with much Vigour and the Governour of Milan despairing of being able to Succour it march'd towards Ast and Nice thinking that the jealously this wou'd give him wou'd oblige him to raise the Siege But the Viscount de Turenne having provided against that by sending a Reinforcement to those Garrisons pursu'd battering the Town so briskly that it Surrender'd upon Composition This was the last Enterprize he was present at in Italy for having been made Mareschal of France a little afore and receiv'd the Staff he left the Army under the Orders of the Count du Plessis whose Right it was to Command
Now to appease a little his Complaints the Spaniards sent him some Money with a promise of aiding him Suddainly with a potent Army And indeed they began to make many Leavies in their territories but they were no sooner Compleat but that their own Interests being dearer to them than those of another they design'd them for Flanders whose Conquest the King had laid aside tho' he seem'd to apply his thoughts a little more than formerly to th' Affairs of Italy Nevertheless as the passes were Stopp'd up these New-rais'd forces were to be shipp'd to be transported into that Countrey But the Hollanders having as much Interest as we to hinder their landing put forth at the same time to Sea under the Command of Admiral Tromp which so Startled the Spaniards tho' much stronger in Men and Shipping that they retir'd into the King of Englands Ports with whom they had made an advantageous Treaty Yet as the King of England was under no rupture with the Hollanders they hop'd still to find some favorable Occasion to beat the Spaniards But the King put forty Men of Warr out to sea under Colour of Securing his Coasts and those Ships being posted between the Spaniards and them broak all their Measures In the mean while a thick fogg arising the Spaniards by favour of the English who cover'd their Motions attempted to pass on to Dunkirk and the Hollanders not perceiving it till a little late cou'd not hinder some Ships from Entring the Port nevertheless the greatest part having been cut off before they cou'd Joyn the rest were forc'd to fly without the English making any shew of giving them Succours for the King of England against whom the Hollanders wou'd have been reduc'd to declare Warr if he persever'd thus in protecting their Enemies wou'd not proceed openly to Hostilities for fear of making his People still more Malecontent they having thro' Presbiterian Cant and Artifice been brought to degenerate much in their Loyalty to the Crown The Spaniards retir'd again into his Ports but seeing they spent and moulder'd away dayly more and more without hopes of being able to induce the English to do more for them they resolv'd to return into Spain as soon as they shou'd find the Occasion A mist again arising at two or three days End they fancy'd that as it had been favourable to them the former â—â—me it might be stâ—â—â— so this But Tromp Suspecting their Design having been more amply informâ—â— of it by some Slight Vessels which he kepâ— cruizing up and down that he might have due information set Saile immediately and after an Engagement of Nine Hours continuance obtain'd so signal a Victory that he took Sixteen Ships and sunck severall Others This good success was of great moment for us as well as for the Hollanders â—oâ— it afforded us the means of besieging and taking Arras the Capital City of Artâ—is and Shelter'd the frontiere of Italy on the side of Doullens In the mean while the King of England being jealous of this Conquest was just ready to proceed to a Declaration but Cardinal Richelieu who had as many Creatures in Other Kingdoms as in our own procur'd an Insurrection of the Scotts against him which giving him as much bus'ness as he couâ—d turn his hands to he was oblig'd to leave Others at Quiet Much about the same time was it that the Portugals being encourag'd by his Promises all so cast off the Spanish yoak and that he sent the Prince of Condé against the fortress of Saâ—sâ—s standing at the Entrance into Roussillon but as if fortune delighted in favouring him still more and more it happen'd that the Spaniards meaning at any rate to defend that Place caus'd a powerfull Army to march into Catalonia which having laid desolate that Province by an Infinite Number of Vexations erected a desire in the Catalonians to break out also into a Rebellion The beginning of their Revolt burst out against the Count de 〈◊〉 st Colombe their Viceroy to whom they imputed most of their Sufferings and to whom the City of Barcelona Especially boar a great deal of ill will by reason he had Caus'd one of it's Sherifs to be poyson'd for opposing his Intentions in the Defence of it's Priviledges The Vice-Roy seeing the fury of the People against him wou'd have escap'd into the Arsenal but not thinking himself there in Safety he design'd to have embark'd upon a Galley when he was pittiously massacred by an infinite Number of that Seditious People Cardinal Richelieu wont to frame Revolts was not wanting to foment this framed to his hand He sent to assure the Catalonians of a powerfull Protection and they having deputed some among them he recâ—iv'd 'em with so much honour and Caresses that he would not have done more to the Ambâ—ssadouâ—s of the Princes ally'd to the Crown Now having Excited so many troubles in the Dominions of our Enemies and of those who were capable of giving them Succours he the more effiâ—â—aciously set himself to the Affâ—irs of Italy The King at the very Beginning of the Campagn had taken a Progress to Grenoble from whence he had allready sent Succours and where he had seen the Dutchâ—ss of Savoy his Sister she being come so farr to implore his Protection but she had not bad all manner of Contentment for such strange Propositions were made her Royal Highness â—s those of admitting a French Garrison into Montmelian and sending her Son to Paris to be brought up with the Dauphin that she perceiv'd but too late the French had a design rather to invade her Countrey than restore the Lawfull Master to it However having had sufficient Constancy to resist these Proposals in favour of which the Court offer'd her a thousand advantageous things the King at length desisted from it and the Brother and Sister parting afterwards so so content with one another the King return'd to Paris and the Dutchess of Savoy to her own home Cardinal de la Valette dying during these Occurrences he left the Army under Viscount de Turenne's Command he having been made Lieutenant General but laid the Cardinals Death so much to heart that he could not relish the pleasure he wou'd have had at another time for his new Dignity The Dutchess of Savoy being return'd conjur'd him a-new but with Earnest desires that he wou'd not abandon her but besides it 's not lying in his pow'r to do so without order Cardinal de la Vallette's Death did not allow him to desire it not that what he had done had been out of jealousy but because it wou'd have seem'd he had refus'd to take upon him the Conduct of the Army for that it was a troublesome Province at that time as consisting not of above six thousand Men but his Prudence supplying all he put himself in a posture of disturbing the Enemies Designs they pretending to avail themselves of the Generals Death However the Court had no sooner notice of this Accident than that it nominated
those they in the Town had so long Suffer'd This Capitulation in which Mazarin who had been sent by Cardinal Richelieu on purpose into Italy had a great share gave great Umbrages to Leganez And indeed he knew this Minister had made Sundry Propositions to Prince Thomas nay and that this Prince had giv'n 'em so farr a hearing that he had promis'd to put himself under the Kings Protection with his Wife and Children provided he might have left to him the Places he possess'd They say too he had promis'd to joyn his forces with those of the Count de Harcourt to wage Warr in Conjunction upon the Spariards but whether it be so or not oâ— that he cou'd not perform this Design before he had got his Wife out of their Hands who was at Madrid as I say'd afore he enter'd into New Engagements with them and continu'd his Hostilities as he formerly had done Nevertheless he made a Truce with his Sister in Law during Endeavours which were us'd to reduce him to his former sentiments by offering him still greater advantages both for himself and for his Adherents but he still wav'd Complyance on the score of his Wife who was narrowly guarded in Spain as a sure Pledge of his fidelity And indeed the Spaniards having without much difficulty got the Wind of these Negociations which we were not over-Exact in Concealing on our side that so we might render him suspected fancy'd this to be the only means to keep him Close to their Combination The Success of Turin and the raising the Siege of Cazal gave not only reputation to the Count de Harcourt but allso to the Crown which had been sufficiently slighted 'till then in Italy but seeing it to have the Alpes open by the means of Pignorol and its Pow'r mightily augmented by the Possession of Cazal all Princes with Emulation courted its Protection and the Amity of the first Minister to whom they attributed so many prosperous Events Yet this did not hinder his particular Enemies from declaring against him I have before said how that the Count de Soissons was withdrawn to Sedan with other Persons of Consideration and there was br 〈◊〉 ng a Rebellion then just upon the point of breaking-out Mr de Bouillon had been tampering very far in these Practices and besides several Leavies he had made he had allso sent to the Enemies who had promis'd him great Succours The Duke of Lorrain to whom part of his Dominions had been newly restored combin'd allso with these Malecontents and they all prepar'd for War As it was impossible but that this must be come to the Viscount de Turenne's Knowledg he lay under an unconceiveable Apprehension and dayly Expected such sad news from all these things that he had not one Moments repose At length the Design broak out by the Troups Lamboy put into the City of Sedan and as this Town was under the Kings Protection which Monsieur de Bouillon by this means renounc'd the Cardinal having for a while conniv'd at Passages of this nature seeing he cou'd no longer do it at least without betraying Weakness caus'd an Army to march under the Conduct of the Marschal de Chatillon The Count de Soissons to whom as Prince of the Blood the Duke de Bouillon had deferr'd the Command assembled his on his side and being come in sight of one another they fought and the Battaile provâ—d fatal to Both Partys For after the Count de Soissons had entirely broaken the Mareschal de Chatillon a certain Person calling out to him at some distance that the Enemies rally'd again he lift up the vizor of his Helmet with his Pistol either to take air or view the man that brought him this tydings But the Pistol going off he kill'd himself to the great Grief of all his Party Others say he was kill'd by a Trouper of the Company of Orleans and some by the hand of an Assassinate hired for that purpose by the Cardinal but I have heard it affirm'd by Persons then present and among Others by Lamesan who dy'd Sub-Lieutenant of the Kings Gendarmes that he killâ—d himself in the manner I have now related Thus I think it more fitting to credit those then upon the Spot than such as speak out of passion or upon the testimony of Persons at that time far remote His Death did not Change the face of the Battle but wrought a great Change in the affairs of his Party whom this accident having plung'd into amazement or rather Consternation gave the Mareschal de Chattillon time to bring his Army again on foot The Cardinal being rid of so dangerous an Enemy sent this Mareschal more fresh Troups and the Mareschal drawing near Sedan after having giv'n out the report that the King himself was going to follow with another Army the Duke de Bouillon had recourse to Supplications and Prayers and obtain'd by this Marschal his Kinsman's Intercession a Pardon for all that had pass'd As for the Duke of Lorrain he was devested anew of his Dominions and pitty'd by none as ever occasioning his own misfortune The Cardinal after having so happily terminated this Affair seeing himself above all had a design to be reveng'd on the Prince of Conde Whom he accus'd of having Clandestinely Conspir'd his Ruine and as he never wanted a Pretext when he meant to use one he resolv'd to revive the Business of Fontarabia and Dole which had been discourst to that Princes disadvantage The Prince of Conde having an infinite deal of Wit entertain'd some suspition of what was in agitation and attributed it to the Coldness he had shew'd to a Proposal that had been made him on this Cardinal's behalf touching a Match with his Eldest Son But going one day to make him a visit he converted his suspicions into Certainty when he observ'd at his going away Guards had been set to secure him he mounted up again immediately and pretending he had forgot something he return'd into the Cardinals Chamber with whom he discourst of a marriage of his Son with his Niece This Proposition mollify'd the Cardinal having at the very instant sent orders to the Guards to withdraw he reconducted the Prince of Conde to the very Door of his Antichamber giving to understand by this Civility which none receiv'd from him that a great Change was wrought in his Mind The Viscount de Turenne whom his Brother's Concern had Extremely ruffl'd being again at rest thro' the Upshot it had had thought himself oblig'd to make his Acknowledgements to the King who had the goodness to declare it to have been in consideration of him that he abated of his justice He also wrote to the Cardinal upon this matter and this Minister having a particular value for the Viscount and willing to Wedd him to his fortune had him offer'd by the Count de Harcourt to marry one of his Kinswomen But this Prince having more Disposition to a Single Life than to Matrimony wav'd the Match upon
himself with his Spoils without desiring to traverse him in his Pretensions In the mean while on another side he knew not what Confidence to put in the Cardinal who had so often broke his word with him and who wouâ—d perchance wreak his Revenge on him by still a harsher Imprisonment than the former In so uncertain a condition he was extremely to be pitty'd when after having made Reflexion upon his last Actions that gave him little hopes for Pardon he resolv'd to think no more of France and to abandon his Fortune entirely in the hands of the Spaniards And in truth he had notice that his Brother's Marriage had been concluded on at Fontainbleau and that his Place of Grand Maistre of the King's Houshold was allready conferr'd on Prince Thomas which did not over well please the Prince of Conti for it had been promis'd him before his Marriage But the Cardinal who thought he had him fast enough by that Match no longer minding to husband him chose rather to gain a New Creature than keep his word with him In the Interim this Minister who had his own Interest in a peculiar Recommendation had caus'd a great part of the Benifices he possess'd to be resign'd up to him and it being seen how that he enrich'd himself with all he cou'd clutch while that he Empoverish'd others he was dayly the more and more hated tho' People were less in a condition to give him tokens of it for he had been carefull to gain such of the Grandees that cou'd still foment Stirrs and insurrections and those that had done him most Mischiefs were those that had been the best Rewarded Thus they had seen the Count d'Ognon the Marquess de Saint Germain Beaupré's Younger Brother made Mareschal of France with a Present of a Hundred and Fifty Thousand Livres for having abandon'd the Prince of Condé s Interests In the mean while the Court of Spain practis'd a different Policy towards the Duke of Lorrain then become suspected to it more Especially since he had suffer'd the Viscount de Turenne to Escape as was before related for when he fancy'd himself in the best terms with them and thought he had regain'd their Confidence by new Treaties he was Seiz'd on at Bruxelles and convey'd thence into Spain from whence he did not stir out of Prison 'till the Peace had been made between the Two Crowns The Prince of Condé having dayly disputes with him for the Rank was not otherwise Sorry for his Misfortune but having learnt by his own Experience that the Spaniards were not of a humour to pardon he was more than ever Confirm'd in his Design of renouncing all the Intrigues he had kept a-going on that side Wherefore being willing to give them certain Marks of his Intentions he Egg'd them on to besiege Arras which was no sooner known of at Court but that the King went on purpose to the Parliament to have him declar'd Guilty of High-Treason and one that had forfeited the Quality of first Prince of the Blood with all the Prerogatives due to his Birth and in short to dye such a Death as his Majesty thought fitting Those who follow'd his Party were in like manner Condemn'd to be Beheaded and among Others Marcin Persan Senior and President Violle for in regard of th' Others they were only cited in judgment to give them time to know themselves but not a man of them All would abandon him on this score save the Prince of Tarante for tho' they hereby lost their Estates yet they lost not their Lives the Court not daring to push things to that Extremity for fear the Prince of Condé might use Reprisals And indeed since his being in France those of his Party had caus'd an Officer of the Kings Army to be Hang'd upon the Notice they had that the Cardinal had serv'd one of theirs in the same manner and the Prince of Condé far from Checking them for their Proceedings had utter'd his mind so roundly upon this Article that the Court cou'd not doubt of his Intentions The Viscount de Turenne upon the Suspicion he had that the Enemies had an Eye upon Arras march'd that Waywards in all haste and after having put a re-inforcment into that Place he pass'd the Meuse and march'd against Stenay which had been too long the Azylum of Rebells to leave it any longer in their hands The Concern the Prince of Condé had in it the Propriety of the Place appertaining to his Highness as I suppose I have already intimated making the Viscount de Turenne nevertheless believe that this Prince wou'd not suffer it to be taken without a push he thought not fitting to stay within the Lines but took an Advantageous Post to fight him And this was indeed the Prince of Condé's main Design who pretended at any rate to save this Place but the Spaniards who wou'd have got nothing thereby choosing much rather to Besiege Arras which if they cou'd take was to be their Potion invested it the same day the Trenches were Open'd before the other Place The Viscount de Turenne thereby perceiv'd he had no Apprehensions to lye under as to the Succours of Stenay for which reason after having giv'n the necessary Orders to the Marquess de Faber whom he left before the Town he repass'd the Meuse with a Design to Starve the Enemies 'till such time as he had forces sufficient brought him to fight them The Mareschal de la Ferté joyn'd his Troups to the Viscounts and both drawing near the Lines of the Spaniards they Seiz'd on certain Posts from whence it was Easy to Cut them off their Victualls and Forrages The Neighbourhood of the Two Armies dayly produc'd some Skirmishes wherein fortune did not yet seem to decide any thing for they were one while to th' advantage of one side and another to the adverse Party but at last the Chevalier de Crequi now Mareschal of France having found the means to get Succours into the Town caus'd it to declare for his Party And indeed this Success as much flush'd the Courage of the Besieg'd as it dejected that of the Besiegers The later besides standing dayly more and more in need of Provisions and Forrages so as that they were ready to raise the Siege if the Duke of Luxembourg then call'd Bouteville had not conducted a Convoy to the Camp across a thousand Ambuscades that were laid for him This Succours having thus made them persevere in their Design they pusht on briskly their Attacks insomuch that Mondejeu that Commanded in the Place sent to the Viscount de Turenne to come and relieve it This Prince having hitherto deferr'd doing it thinking to Effect it without Fighting but having seen the Contrary by what had happen'd he made all things ready for the Succours wherein he was Seconded by the Mareschals de la Fertè and d'Hocquincourt the last of whom had brought him the Troups that had taken Stenay and others which he had drawn out of the Towns
Recommendation in his behalf that they shou'd not engage him in it in case their affair was ticklish in the least The Treaty above-mention'd being concluded with the Duke of Bavaria the year 1647. was allready far spent when that the Suedes having no mind to evacuate the Places they held were not in a humour to ratify the Treaty unless they might be left in Possession of what they then had in their hands In the mean while the Prince of Condé Dy'd before the Year was finisht and the Duke d'Anguien assum'd his Name so as when I shall henceforward mention the Prince of Condé I shall mean that Duke The Contests that arose between the Suedes and the Duke of Bavaria occasioned the Viscount de Turenne to remain still sometime upon his Territories where he fought a short and smart Battle for having Notice that the Enemies were marching towards the Rhin he attack'd them Vigorously and pursu'd them to the very Gates of Newbourg he also took several small Cities of of his Electoral Highness's Country for to oblige him to give all manner of Contentment to the Suedes it became him to exert still the same heat In the mean while as Affairs spun-out into a Length a Part of the Army advanc'd towards the Lake of Constance and alarum'd the Cantons by the taking of Bregens and of some other places They sent Deputies to the Viscount de Turenne to know his Intentions but this Prince having assur'd them that the King his Master had not the least thoughts of making any Innovation in their Regard they return'd very well satisfy'd as being persuaded he would not have giv'n them this assurance if he meant afterwards to Violate it And indeed those who knew him knew that for any thing in the world he wou'd not have been prevail'd with to deceive any body And it was also a Common saying of his that there was a great Difference between the Stratagems of War and Cheats and forasmuch as a man was esteem'd who knew how to put the former in practice so much ought he to be blam'd who made use of the later to bring about his Designs that a man's word ought to be inviolable as well to Enemies as to Friends and that if they were to be surpriz'd 't was not to be by promising them what a man never meant to perform At lâ—st the Treaty before-mentioned being made the Suedes having been thereunto oblig'd by the French harbour'd a Secret Resentment in their Hearts of which they were not long without giving them Instances During these Transactions the Viscount de Turenne having left Bavaria turn'd his Arms against the Electour of Mayenz and the Landâ—grave of Darmstadt from whom he recover'd the Cities of Aschaffemburg Sclingenstadt and some Others for while he was busy'd on the One side the Enemies Acted on the Other and sometimes in one and the same Campagn a Town Charg'd its Party three or four times He allso took the City of Darmstadt the Capital of the Landtgrasts of that name's Dominions and having Cast a Terrour into the Electorate of Cologne he oblig'd those Princes to demand a Neutrality All these Treatys would have startl'd the Emperor if he had believ'd them any thing long-liv'd but he expected what in effect happen'd that the Duke of Bavaria having left his Principal Towns in the hands of the Suedes and being Constrain'd to remain Armed could not Subsist any longer without endeavouring to affranchize himself from their Slavery that this wou'd rather make him Chuse the hazzards of War than Moulder away by little and little For which reason he resolv'd to try if he cou'd induce him sooner to the Rupture than he wou'd have fall'n to 't of himself In the Interim his Circumstances were so low that all his Credit seem'd lost in Germany For we were Masters of the Bancks of the Rhin from Colin to Basel and as the means to pierce into the Countrey We had also reserv'd to our selves Heilbronn and Lawinghen which afforded us a free Passage as far as into the Hereditary Countreys On another side the Suedes possess'd an infinite Number of Places in the heart of the Countrey but the Emperour hoping to avail himself of the strangeness between them and Us since the Treaty of Bavaria expected not only to recover what he had lost but also to sustain with some sort of Repute the Affairs of Flanders that were under great Decadency since the taking of Dunkirk For considering that if the King cou'd once render himself Master of those Provinces he wou'd be capable afterwards to give Laws to all the Empire he fancy'd that tho' he had not so much Interest therein as the King of Spain he ought nevertheless to Espouse it as his own Bus'ness For this purpose he sent the Arch-Duke Leopold thither that so the Grandees being Excited by the Grandeur of his Birth might rid themselves of a certain jealousy to which he attributed the Unhappiness of the foregoing Campagns The Arch-Duke being accompany'd with Numerous and well-disciplin'd Forces and being desirous to Signalize his Arrival in Flanders by some Considerable Exploit he lead his Army against the City of Armentieres whose Governour made a Valiant Defence but after having held out about three Weeks without the prospect of any Considerable Succours it at length Surrender'd upon Honourable Conditions From Armentieres the Arch-Duke March'd against Landrecies where he had Intelligence with the Marquis d'Haudicourt Commanding in that Place Thus having taken it with much Ease the French Leaguer then Marching to its Succours was oblig'd to turn its Arms another way To repair these Losses it took Dixmuyden and La Bassée but it kept the former of these Two Places so little a while that 't is not worth the pains to boast of it for the Arch-Duke laid Siege to 't immediately while the Mareschal de Gassion Attack'd Lens At the siege of this fastness was it that this Captain who had acquir'd great Renown in all his Enterprizes receiv'd a Musket-shot of which he dy'd he was much Lamented by his Men esteem'd by the Enemies and his Relations who were great Losers by his Death nevertheless lost still less by it than the State did to which he was more than ever capable of rendering great Services In the mean while the Arch-Duke's Army still Augmenting and the Court being afraid it might make advantage of Gassion's Death sent Orders to the Viscount de Turenne who staid upon the Banks of the Rhin to Secure his Conquests to repass it on to this side But by taking Care of the Affairs of this side those on that fell into Decay for the Emperour improving this Diversion drove the Suedes from several Posts For a Height of Misfortune Colonel Rose who serv'd in the Viscount de Turenne's Army being gain'd and egg'd-on by his Country-men who as I said before were Exasperated at the Treaty of Bavaria made Caballs in his Regiment and in that of some Suedes that serv'd as well as
not Slept heartily but that since the Peace was made he was content to pardon him The Viscount de Turenne receiv'd as became him these testimonies of Esteem and this first Interview of the two Kings being terminated with much Civility on either side each withdrew his own Ways In the mean while all things were put in readiness to forward the Marriage and Don Lewis de Haro to whom the King had sent his Procuration to Marry the Infanta having satisfy'd this Ceremony she was put into the King her Husband's hands who after having Marry'd her anew in the face of the Church return'd to Paris where a Magnificent Entry was prepared for his Majesty The Viscount de Turenne did not leave him one step in all this journey and from his Goodness he receiv'd Sundry takens of Esteem and Acknowledgment for the King being not contented with giving him the Charge of Colonel-General of the Horse vacated allso that of Mareschal de Camp General with which he gratifâ—'d the Viscount The King wou'd have conferr'd on him many other savours if he had not been chill'd in those his kind Intentions by the Aversion he bore People of the Religion for which reason he himself propos'd to him to turn Catholique and made him hope that in case of Conformity he wou'd revive the Charge of Constable in his favour that had been Suppress'd after Lesdiguicre's Death who had last possess'd it but after having thank'd the King for his goodness towards him he desir'd to be Excus'd if he cou'd not obey him in this point adding that he would not betray his Conscience for all the Riches and the Honours in the World The King did not Esteem him the less for this nor did any of the Courtiers knowing the Offers he had slightâ—d In the mean while the King being come to Paris was receiv'd there with an admirable Magnificence Every Individual with Emulation striving to testify the Value and Affection he had for his Majesty and this Prince began from that time to attract the Admiration of his People by the manner of his management of the Government But it became quite another thing after the Cardinals Death which happen'd suddainly For as all Transactions cou'd only be attributed solely to his Majesty they plainly saw that nothing but great matters were to be Expected from this Prince who from the beginnings gave such great Marks of Prudence and Wisdom Both which were principally manifested in the Choice he made of his Ministers after he had caus'd Fouquet the Superintendant of the Finances to be Confin'd who being become Suspected to his Majesty by the Memoires the Cardinal had left him Compleated his own Downfall by an Expence above the Pow'r of a Subjâ—ct For besides his Houses and his Moveables wherein Profusion equally reign'd he gave the King one Entertainment that cost him above fifty thousand Crowns He was secur'd at Nants and the King having intimation that he had gain'd many of the Governours of the Places by the means of his Money he bid the Viscount de Turenne follow him that if any thing happen'd he might have him ready at hand to serve him with his Counsel and to Execute what he shou'd Command But no Body stirring tho' Memoires were found among his Papers that justify'd the Intelligences I have mention'd the Court return'd to Fountain-Bleau where the Young Queen had staid with the Queen-Mother In the mean while this Superintendants Process was drawn-up But the Desire that Colbert His Successour in the management of the Finances had to destroy him having made him seek after shamefull means to bring that Design about this latter Crime made the other appear the more Innocent so as that the Judges sav'd him In effect as if Colbert had been afraid of his justifying himself he caus'd his Papers to be taken away from his House of Saint Mandé but it being the Will of God that Berier whom he had Employ'd in that business should leave there out of Carelessness a Request that was Presented to Colbert This justify'd the Robbery that Fouquet had Suffer'd and this later alledging it to be impossible for him to make his Defence since he was bereav'd of the means by taking his Papers from him he was only condemned to Banishment tho' there was more than needed to put him to Death Colbert's favour occasion'd his Punishment to be commuted into a perpetuall Imprisonment wherein he remain'd till his Death which did not happen till above twenty years after but this may be said to have been for his happyness for making a good use of his Prison he acknowledg'd his faults and repented his having liv'd as he had done amid Disorder he compos'd in his Confinement some Books of Devotion and Morality which were publish'd in his Life time but out of Modesty wou'd not attribute them to himself Be it as it will the long Penitence he underwent attracted him the Compassion of the People and as they extremely hated Colberts Ministry they regretted his and they express'd as much grief for his Death as they had express'd joy for his imprisonment During these Transactions the young Queen was brought to Bed of a Son which rejoyc'd all France All the Grandees complimented the King on this occasion and the Viscount de Turenne having acquitted himself of it as well as Others the King told him he shou'd be very glad he wou'd be one day like him but that his Religion wou'd be the Cause he cou'd not commit to him the Care of his Education which he wou'd have willingly have desir'd for th'inspiring Sentiments into him worthy of his Birth The Viscount de â—urenne did not answer this new Onset otherwise than with a low Bow but the King not for this desisting was dayly attacquing him with the like Discourses which did not at all perplex the Viscount de Turenne for he was still so zealous for his Religion that the Offer of a Crown wou'd not have been capable of Making him Change it Three or Four years Slipt away in this manner without any considerable matter occurring in that State unless that the Warr that had been Extinguish'd had like to have been reinflam'd by an Unexpected Accident The Count d'Esirades was th' Ambassadour of France at London and the Baron de Vatteville that of Spain In an Entry made by another Ambassadour as it is usuall with those possess'd of the Same Dignity to send their Coaches to such a Solemnity the Baron de Vatteville brib'd some Englishmen to favour his Design of getting his to pass before that of the Count d'Estrades In effect th' Ambassadour of France his Coach coming up they cut his Horses Harness and while he was setting them again to rights the Baron de Vatteville's took the First place which oblig'd th' other to return Home As this was a signal Affront for the Crown the King made a great noise at this Action and having demanded satisfaction for it in Spain without prevailing he sent Orders to his