and went to the Duke his Father having past his word that he would forget what was past The King tarried at Pontoise from the 17 th of Iuly till the 19 th of August in which time great sickness grew there by reason of the straitness of the Town and the scarcity of all things Many dyed amongst which the Duke of Bullions death was lamented and this malignant influence dilated it self even unto Paris where a great many men of all sorts dyed in a few days the Duke of Vallois the only Son to the Duke of Orleans being about two years old dyed also this September to the great grief of his Father and Mother by his death Conde returned to be the first Prince of the blood as he was before the other was born for the Sons nor Brothers of the King are not called Princes of the blood but Sons of France Whilst affairs went thus in these parts Count Harcourt keeping still with his Army in Guienne to observe what the Princes Forces did went to besiege Villaneus upon the River Lot which was fortified only with old Wals and Towers but well garrison'd under Marquess Theubon wherefore he was forced to raise his siege after two months attempt The Kings men had ill fortune also in Flanders for want growing hourly greater in Dunkirk the Plague and dysentery grew so violent amonst the Soldiers as above a thousand of them dyed in eleven days and the rest were so weakned by continual watching as the Archduke resolved to approach it with 8000 Foot and 3000 Horse and Ten pieces of Canon there were not above 700 Foot in the City who were fit for service of which 200 of the Inhabitants who wished well to Spain did still keep Guard and the rest defended the Fortifications who were continually in Arms without being misled whereat there was such murmuring as they were thrice ready to revolt had not the Governor by hopes of speedy succor and by his much reverenced Authority detained them The Spaniards fell upon the Counterscarp on the sixth of September upon three sides with a Thousand men on each part the Spaniards and Italians won it and lost it again with some prejudice but being assaulted a second time with fresh men they won it wherefore Monsieur de Estrades finding that his men had given back and that the Enemy began to lodge upon the same Counterscarp fell upon them with 500 Foot and 40 Officers and charged them so furiously as after a bitter and bloody bickering he recovered the Counterscarp losing Seven Officers and Twenty five Soldiers and he himself was shot with an Harquebuse on the Thigh After this unfortunate but glorious accident followed treachery framed by three Soldiers who were bribed by the Enemy which being discovered cost them their lives and the Governor was commended for discovering and punishing it for six weeks past the Soldiers had but six ounces of Bread the day wherefore Estrades and all the chief of the Garrison thought it fit to yield to necessity and to parly wherein it was concluded on the 12 th of September that if they were not relieved within six days the place should be surrendered that in the interim there should be a cessation of Arms and that the besieged should be permitted to send two Captains one to Callis to the Marishal de Aumount and another to the Duke of Vandosme at Diepe to acquaint them with the condition of the place and in what need they stood of speedy succor Rivilliers went to Callis Rouvie to Diepe and they arrived so luckily as Marishal de Aumount began the same day to lade six months Victuals in several Barks and 1500 Foot at Callis to attend the Fleet which was gone from Diepe wherein they were to go to Dunkirk which being block'd up by some few Spanish Vessels it had not been hard to have fought them and to have made way through them But before we speak of the going of the Fleet we must acquaint you with what past in the Seas of Britanny before it went from thence the Duke of Vandosme vvho vvas Lord High Admiral of France vvas gone into that Province and had armed some Frigats about Rochel against Count de Ognons Fleet which was re-inforced with some Ships from Spain which threatned Rochel not a little When he had gathered together Twelve Ships Three Frigats one Gally and some other Vessels in Brest he went from thence on the 19 th of Iuly and coasting along Eiavet and other places some other Ships and Gallies joyned with him so as being about Twenty Ships and Frigates Four Gallies and Twelve fire Boats he went towards Olone and from thence to the Strand of Pallisse over-against the Fort Preda where Monsieur Souches Commander of the Isle of Rhe furnished him with some French Foot The Spanish Fleet consisted of Seventeen Frigates commanded by Admiral Antonio Misnell and by Antonio Dies who being drown'd between Blavet and Grois Cornelius Meigne succeeded him to this Fleet was joyn'd Twenty five Vessels and five fire Ships when news came of the Arrival of the French on the Ninth of August two hours after Sunrising they were at a competent distance to begin battle with their Canon which roared on all sides they advanced warily not to ingage themselves in danger a brisk wind blowing a little before night the Fleets were severed The Nativity a Spanish Ship was burnt and taken Commanded by Antonio Gonsales a Dunkirker a Ship of the Neapolitan Squadron vvas sunk aftervvards Vandosme vvould have done more but vvanting necessary provisions and monies he vvas contented to have driven them avvay sent his Ships into Haven and he landed at Rochel vvent tovvards the Court vvhich vvas then at Campagne vvhither he came on the Fourth of September from vvhence he vvas suddenly sent vvith orders to relieve Dunkirk to vvhich purpose expresses vvere sent into Britanny and the neighbouring Provinces at the nevvs brought by Monsieur Rorur of Dunkirks capitulating the Commanders of the Fleet made that vvays presently hoping to relieve the Tovvn But the Parliament of England at the desire of the Spanish Ambassador in London and the rather for that they liked not that that important Haven so near the Thames mouth should remain in the French mens hands they apply'd themselves to divert their succor vvherefore that Kingdom being strong at Sea by reason of the War declared against the Hollanders vvhen the French Ships appeared before Callis to receive in provisions and necessaries for the relief of Dunkirk assoon as they had cast Anchor Blake the English General fell upon them vvith many of his Fleet vvith such fury as they prepared rather to fly than fight though in vain for unless it vvere Three Ships vvhich held out at Sea and got into Flushing all the rest were taken but that the Parliament of England might not appear an open Enemy to France now that they were at War with the Hollanders they sent all the people that were in
Bulwark de Chene was fired and took good effect the Governour was also shot in the head with a Musket Bullet but he ceased not for all that to cause himself to be carried in a Seat wheresoever his presence was necessary In the mean time two breaches in the face of the Bulwarks were made and fiercely assaulted by the besiegers and with no less constancy defended by the besieged The same Night after they had been repulsed from another assault given to the Half-Moon having lodged themselves upon the point thereof they became Masters of it because the besieged not being able to maintain it thought fit to quit it especially because there was no Port of Communication which made them doubt that not being able to defend it those men would be all lost which was a matter of great consequence considering the need which they had of them Finally the Governour having taken view of his men which were fit for Service and finding they exceeded not 300 seeing the breaches in the Bulwarks opened and an attack begun upon the Curtain which had only a dry Ditch the same Night when they were ready to give the assault resolved to Capitulate and yield the Town which was concluded the 30th of September and he marched out the first of October with 220 Souldiers upon Honourable Terms and was convoy'd to Charleville This Enterprise cost the Spaniards dear because according to the common opinion they lost 2000 men who were killed and 7000 or 8000 by sickness and that ran away so as in the last assaults they were forced to bring the Horse up to the breaches who dismounted came to fight with Boots on their Legs and Pistols in their hands whereby 't was thought the Conquest was rather hurtful than profitable considering that in the beginning of the Campagne with such a numerous and well appointed Army they might have gone into the heart of France and thereby have given Fuel unto the intestine discontents which had been much more advantageous unto the Catholick King 's Interests than the taking of one simple Town with the loss of so great a number of men and the expence of so much Money and Amunition it being computed that there past no day wherein there was not at least 500 great shot made so as all things being considered the taking of Mouson by the French with the loss of a few men and with that Reputation which in War is looked on as the Life and Soul of Armies was esteemed to be a thing of greater consequence Mean while the pang's wherewith the resolute couragious heart of Conde was tormented were very great who blamed the Count of Fuensaldagne that he had taken an entire and secure Victory out of his hands he said his prudence was void of daring that he was envious of his Glory and distrustful of his Actions and among his friends he would make his complaints that he had engaged himself with a Nation whose manners and Genius were so different from the French and sigh to be i' th' head of 10000 of his own Countrymen with whom he could have done more service than with 15000 Strangers and to be kept from it by engaging himself amongst a people where never any stranger was exempt from Envy and from Emulation and where no French-man could ever yet Enjoy a lasting quiet This Town was after put into the Prince's own hands Garrison'd by the Forces depending on him and the Government thereof given unto the Duke of Anguien his Son not without some resentment of divers who had served the Crown of Spain who discoursing politickly amongst themselves would say that they had lost Mouson and were not Masters of Rocroy because it being in the hands of Conde 't would rather be a means to encrease his pretensions by the jealousie would be had of him that he might the better make his peace with France by being Master of that Town than any way make him more constant to the Spanish Service The Spaniards were forced to take this course because conceiving that after those disgusts which he had taken he did not press things with his wonted earnestness and that in case that Enterprize could not be suddenly effected there might happen some disaster to the Army they thought fit to engage him with the promise of that place to give a quick dispatch unto the Siege Rocroy being taken the Spanish Army staid there some days to throw down the Line of Circumvallation and repair the Breaches and after in regard it was much weakened and harrassed out retired into the Country d' Avennes to refresh themselves the Prince of Conde remaining in Rocroy sick of a quartane Ague The Court made this Voyage to Amiens to take the Government of that City and Cittadel from the Duke de Channes who had thrust himself into the possession of it after his Brother's death and seemed willing to keep it against the will of the King's Councel and although the said Duke having a great estate in France and his mind well affected to the King's Service was not conceived to have any other design but onely to give some jealousie unto the Court and make his profit thereby being a thing much more usually practised in France than elsewhere yet 't was thought good Policy to secure themselves against the very shadow of those who might by their change of thoughts any way prejudice the Soveraign Authority And although the Duke had sent to Court the Letters written to him by the Prince of Conde full of promises and hopes if he would enter into his party yet 't was however esteemed to be a seasonable Service to be entirely secured of that most important Town which was by this means done without noise the Duke himself being content to quit it unto Monsieur de Bar and accept the Government of Dourlans which the said Bar had with the addition of the Title of his Majestie 's Lieutenant General in that part of the Province which lyes about the said Town and being paid for all the Armes and Ammunition which were bought into the Cittadel upon his account Mouson being in this manner gained the Mareschal Turenne left there a Garrison of 500 or 600 Foot with the Count de Grand Pre his Regiment and made him Governour and he with the Army past the Mose and marched directly towards Maziers and being lodged thereabouts he had news of the taking of Rocroy at the same time the Count de Navailles advanced to Vervins with 1500 Combatants and Turenne after the said taking marched near to Aubigny that he might be near at hand to observe the motion of the Enemy and hinder him from making of any other attempt and there he made a halt two days Turenne being at Maziers sent the Marquess d'Uxelles from the Army with 1200 men unto the Castle of Bousancy which being not to be relieved from the Garrisons of Stenay Clermont and St. Menhaud because they were watched by Monsieur de St. Maur
with Links and Torches it being then far in the night the people were extremely frighted and presently suspecting that the Duke of Beaufort was imprisoned which by some of the Prince's friends was given out many of them took Arms and began to rise but they were presently quieted when they saw Beaufort who took horse to hinder the Prince's party who began to draw together about L' Hostel de Condé from doing any thing and certainly if those of Condé's party had followed after them instead of going to condole with the Princess of Condé they might easily have rescued them they being guarded onely with sixteen Troopers who by the breaking of the Coach were forced to stay a long time as you have heard upon the way er'e they could get unto the Castle The Frondeurs were so well pleased with this Arrest that many of them made Bonfires and divers others sung Ballads and Rhymes whereby they and their actions were censured and whereas it always happens that few are friends to those in misery there now appeared many who made it their business to censure the Princes and their actions who were before thought very much devoted to their service Orders were at the same time given for arresting the Prince de Marsillac and Count de Moussay but they suspecting it retired out of the way and escaped and now as in a Lottery where the loss of one man is anothers gain so this misfortune of the Princes was the reason of great good hap unto some others The Marquiss de Ranzau who as we have before told you had been a Prisoner in the same Castle for about a year was about this time released Messieurs de Charost de Chadenier and de Geunes being all three Captains of the Guard who had in Iuly before been banished the Court and put out of their Commands were now restored and the Duke of Beaufort the Coadjutor Broussel and Chartou were all of them quitted by the Parliament from the imputation which lay against them who thereupon waited on their Majesties and the Cardinal to return thanks A Judgment was also given in favour of Monsieur Iolly and others And his Majesty gave a general Amnesty for all who were engaged in the Broyl that hapned on the 11th of December before The City of Paris where the Princes were much hated being thus satisfied by their imprisonment the Cardinal began to be of better courage and to apply himself more closely unto the Functions of his Ministry and to the end more notice might be taken of the good Correspondence between him and the Duke Beaufort by whose means he had quieted the rising of the people and removed the prejudice they had against him as thinking him an Enemy unto the Duke He went to give him a Visit at his house au Rue de Provelles which was in the midst of the City but the Duke received more prejudice than advantage by that Visit because they took occasion thereupon to murmur and give out That he was grown a Mazarinist Notwithstanding which the Frondeurs after the Princes imprisonment became united both in Friendship and interest with Mazarine and that continued until the Coadjutor for attaining his own private ends enterprized that Novelty whereof in the sequel of the ensuing discourse you shall have notice Presently after this Monsieur de la Ferte Imbaul was sent with several Troops unto Nivers and Commissions were given out for the government of several Provinces That of Burgundy was given to the Duke Vendosme Normandy to the Court Harecourt Compeigne to the Marshal de L'Hostel and Berry to the Count de Sant Aignon The Government of the Provinces and Fortifications in France are always given for life and are never vacant but by the death or voluntary cession of the party intrusted which is always done by a publick Instrument with his Majesties consent Now these cessions being required from the Princes who were imprisoned in his Majesties name they all three refused to make them and therefore the Commissions to those persons of Quality were made onely by way of provision for the time being because the Governments were not void but when a Governour is found guilty of Treason his Command ceases though he be living the Condemnation being accounted a civil Death There was besides an Exempt de Garde sent to the Duke de Richlieu in Havre de Grace to give up that Fort into his Majesty's hands The Duke refused to speak with the Exempt and seemed unwilling to obey the Order whereupon the Court endeavoured to gain it from him by a Treaty and to that purpose a Pass was granted unto the Dutchess his Wife that she might come to Court and treat about it And because the Ladies in the Court of France are very considerable by reason of the great regard is had unto their Rank and Quality the Dutchess having made an Agreement returned to Roan where the Marriage between her and her Lord being confirmed the Tambouret which is a priviledge granted to the Dutchesses and Peers of France to sit in the Queens presence and other Recompences being allowed in lieu thereof she agreed that her Husband should quit the place which he did and Monsieur de St. Maur was put into it by order from their Majesties Monsieur de Montigny also gave up the Castle of Diepe and that Command was by his Majesty conferr'd upon the Marquiss du Plessis Belliere and his Government of La Basse was bestowed upon Comte Broglia a person of great valour and wonderfully affectionate unto the service of his Majesty The Castle of Caen taken from Monsieur de la Croiset Lieutenant-Governour to the Duke de Longueville was given to the Count de Quince In Pont de L' Arche Monsieur de Beaumont who had been formerly Governour there was resetled the same being taken from Monsieur de Chambois and Monsieur de Goville a Mareshal de Camp was placed Governour in the Fortresses of Charbourg and Granville At this same time the Count de Sant Aignon who had made his entry into Bourges the principal Town of Berry wrought so by his Authority and obliging carriage on the affections of the Inhabitants that he not onely gained them but induced them also to take Arms for him and joyn with 300 Gentlemen that he brought with him The great Tower of that City which serves for a Castle was kept by Monsieur de Grasset who had been placed there by the Prince of Condé's Father Aignon thought it not sit to be in a City where the Castle was disobedient to the King and therefore made a Speech in the Town-house unto the Citizens so efficacious and full of vigour that he perswaded them not onely to undertake the Enterprize but also to be sharers in the Glory of it He therefore presently sent to Grasset to yield the Castle which he upon the confidence he had in the strength of his Garrison and the Fortifications about it refusing to perform
That the liberty taken by those Forces to plunder his Majesties Subjects had caused many Soldiers to go from his Majesties Camp and to go into the other which did what they would that he had thought fit to acquaint them with all these things though the most of them were already sufficiently known believing that these publick proceedings of the Prince would prove that his secret designs could be no less dangerous nor could be no longer dissembled without abandoning the rudder of the State which God had put into his Majesties hands and which he was constantly resolved to maintain That without speedy remedying disorders the Enemies of France would never apply themselves to the so much desired general peace nor reform the abuses of the Kingdom without stopping the course thereof which his Majesty was resolved to do This writing being read the Prince of County who was present told the Queen that the Prince his Brother had done nothing but what he was able to justifie and that these were the impostures of his Enemies whilst things continued in this disorder Conde continued to visit the Counsellors to assure himself of their favours and indeavour'd to keep his friends well dispos'd to him in all parts and upon all occurrences The Queen on the contrary advising continually with her friends and making particularly use of Abbate Vndedey who did all he could for the service of the Queen and Cardinal found it was necessary to chuse new Counsellors to supply the places of those that were put out And the Duke of Orleans being of the same mind who was therein advised by the Dutchess of Chevereux and the Coadjutor it was resolved that assoon as the King should be of years the Marquess of Chasteauneuf should be made chief Minister of State that Marquess Vieville should be made superintendent of the Finances and that the first President should be confirmed Guarde de Seaux the first because he promised to use all his power in getting the Cardinal recalled though he failed therein afterwards as shall be said Vieville because President Maison who was superintendent of the Finances was thought to be too much concern'd in Conde but the Prince declaring that all this was prejudicial to the decrees of Parliament and to the King and destructive to the Princes of the Realm promised he would never consent to Chasteauneuf's return who would prove worse than the Cardinal saying that those that favor'd him were his implacable Enemies That the Dutchess of Chevereux and the Coadjutor were the chief Plotters saying that they and the three Barboni were Authors of the writing which was pretended against him he therefore desired his Royal Highness to maintain his interests as he would do his till death For what remain'd he absolutely declared that rather than to see the King put into the hands of his Enemies he would throw himself into the hands of the Spaniards and after so much freedome of words he bewail'd the unhappiness which threatned France and all good men wherefore the Coadjutor thinking that the Prince his words might work something with the Duke of Orleans he strove to keep the Duke in his former opinion A treaty was this mean while begun between Chasteauneuf Villeroy and Chavigny by the means of Counsellor Croisy and Monsieur de St. Romain whereby they had almost brought the Prince to consent to the establishment of the aforesaid Council provided that the Queen would speak to him therein But these Lords not daring to move the Queen to do so least she might suspect they held some intelligence with the Prince the Dutchess of Aiguillona and Count Brien were imploy'd to desire the â—ueen that she would suspend the business for a few days but she fearing that this was a new trick of Conde's to keep her from performing her word proceeded in the establishment which afforded afterward cause of new complaints This writing was followed by divers other pressings that the Prince his actions might be known to be such as did not become his duty and which were condemned for such when the Parliament met the Prince appeared waited upon by some of his followers but Orleans came not thither that day wherefore Conde intreated the Assembly to adjourn the handling of what was communicated to them at the Palace Royal as also the reading of the King's writing to the end that the Duke might be present at the reading of them pretending to justifie his actions wherein the Parliament was pleased to gratifie him and sent to invite Orleans to come thither but it was thought he would not come having heard that what was done against the Prince at Court was thought to have been done by his knowledg for that it was imagined the Queen would not have attempted it without holding intelligence with him but foreseeing that unless he were protected by Orleans his adversaries might undo him by what was alledged in that writing he again desired his presence in Parliament that he might not want such a prop in a business of such importance The Duke having excused himself for several reasons the second time the Prince desired him that at least he would give him a Declaration of what had past between his Highness and him the Duke could notwithstand the violence of these pressures which were seconded by President Viola but yielded thereunto rather inforced than willingly So as sending immediately for the Secretary without giving the Duke leave to repent he caused it to be written the 18 th of August the contents thereof being as followeth His Royal Highness declared that till after Seven a clock at night on Wednesday last Count Brien had not acquainted him with the Queens resolution of calling the Sovereign Assemblies together and those of the City to tell them that her Majesty had no intention to recall the Cardinal and that she would issue out all necessary Declarations to that effect and that she might say that the Prince had not been at the Palace Royal since he the Duke had brought him thither That the next day the Queen made him come into her Oratory and caused the aforesaid writing to be read unto him whereof he had had no knowledg wherein there were many things which might be gain-said and particularly touching his intelligence with Spain which he judged not fit to be read but that the Queen would absolutely have it done saying that it was necessary for her discharge the King being to be of years within Twenty days He moreover declared that the Prince had propounded unto the Queen and Council after Marquess Sillerey was sent to Brussels that there were two ways whereby to make the Spaniards go out of Stenay the one by a treaty the Spanish Agents having offered the said Sillerey so as a suspension of Arms might be had between them and the Towns of Luxemburg during that Campagne the which being by the Queen denied the Prince had told the Queen that he could not drive 500 Soldiers who were in the Town out
so infamous a death Theubon gave not over for all this to set a fort new Engines for compassing his ends and together with Count Maria one of the King's Mareschal's de Camp had frequent intelligence with all those whom he thought fit to serve in this occasion amongst which pitching upon a Treasurer of France called Filiot a Person very bold and zealous who passed to and from the City he made choice of him to Confide in and to keep a foot the correspondence Marin held with the two Brothers de Chateau and with the Counseller de Sault Son to the Advocate General who growing desperate to see the Authority of Parliament submitted to the impertinences of the Olmiera was entred into the party and determined to put himself in the Head of some Citizens and open one of the Gates to the King's forces The business was wisely carried and the success was in a manner certain as being managed by Persons in whom the People put their trust but for as much as 't is a Maxime of the French Nation more frank and open than any other That secrets in the Breasts of Young Men are kept like Water in a Sieve Chatein one of the Brothers having discovered the business to the Count d'Autell Governour to the Duke d' Anguien 't was discovered by means of a young Citizen of whom the Count was Enamoured Filiot was taken and the Counseller de Sault and both imprisoned the other Brother who knew nothing of this discovery was gone to advertise the Duke of Candale that he should draw to Bourdeaux with the forces believing 't was impossible it should miscarry The King's forces advanced with so much secrecy and speed that notwithstanding the discovery of the Plot if the Prince of Conty had not been in person at the Port they had entered in that Confusion without the help of any other Complices This March of Candale did so confirm the certainty there was a Plot and filled those of the Olmiera with so much Rage that like Fools and Mad-men they all ran about furiously in Arms crying that better 't were to suffer Death a thousand times with Armes in their hands then to be betrayed with so much baseness They made presently a Solemn procession to give thanks to God and charged a Franciscan Fryer to make a Sermon exhorting to Union and Loyalty unto the Country the Fryer went into the Pulpit and although he were by Faction a Frondeur and of that judgment yet being in that moment enlightned by the Eternal Wisdom he spake in presence of the Princes Princesses Frondeurs and those of the Olmiera so well to dispose them unto Peace that all were marvellously touched and confounded and the People wonderfully Edified at his great Eloquence and Learning Whereby 't is seen that the Divine Providence Concurrs both to the settleing and overthrow of Crownes The Innocence and goodness of his Majesty being protected and the ingratitude of Subjects being there opposed by the Divine Justice Filiot's Process was after made and no sufficient proofs coming against him he was put upon the Torture which was Cruelly given him in the presence of Duratesta head of the Olmiera and of the Advocate Pontellier When he was first put upon it he swooned but having implored the help of God and of the blessed Virgin he found himself so much comforted and strengthened that he endured it Valliantly without discovering any of his Complices There was no farther proceeding against de Sault the Teares of his Father and Services done by the Son unto the Fronda prevailing against the punishment due for a Treason against the Princes which had it taken would have exposed them unto the fury of the Souldiers without Capitulation Conspiracies and Plots having all failed to reduce Bourdeaux under the King's obedience and the Forces which Vendosme and Candale had being of themselves too weak to overcome a City so strong and obstinate The Cardinal gave order unto Monsieur d'Estrades Lieutenant General in Rochel to draw what Souldiers he could out of the bordering places and to March up with them forthwith unto the Duke of Vendosme Estrades was extreamly diligent and being a Person very expert in War and affectionate unto his Majestie 's Service came thither speedily with a good Strength of Men near Bourg the taking of which Place as necessary towards that of Bourdeaux was enterprised by his counsel But there being a necessity for the vigorous carrying on thereof to invest it on three sides and the Foot being sufficient onely to do it upon two the Duke of Candale was desired That he would furnish Forces necessary for that purpose The Duke corresponded with all readiness to the Desire of the other Generals and coming to discourse it with the Duke of Vendosme and d'Estrades in the Fort Casar he gave Orders to his own Regiment with that of Lorrain and Champaigne to march and he himself would be of the Party having agreed with Vendosme touching the Command Bourg was Attack't and on the 29th of Iune they broke ground on three sides On the first the Duke of Vendosme was with the Regiment of Britanny and that of Monsieur de Rozacerviere Mareschal on the second the Duke of Candale with the Regiment of Champaigne and that of Monsieur de Saint German on the third Monsieur d'Estrades with the Regiment of Douglas and that of Monsieur Saint Romain This last Approach was so vigorously advanced that on the fourth day Monsieur Delas Mareschal de Camp lodged on the brink of the Fosse and cut in sunder a great Pallisadoe in the middle of it notwithstanding a perpetual shower of Musquet Bullets and a multitude of Bombo's Granadoes and other wild-fires which were continually rained from the Walls to hinder his attempt This advance was made by the King's Forces without the help of any Battery by the negligence of the Canoneers and the failing of the Pieces which were but twice discharged The besieged were so astonished with this extraordinary Courage of the French and so cowed with the lustre of their Arms and Cloaths trimmed after the new Mode that they were in such confusion it seemed they could do nothing else but gaze upon that gayety which perhaps was new unto their eyes Don Ioseph Osorio who Commanded there without thinking farther then on his own safety and to get out of these broils Capitulated the Third of Iuly and marched out from thence the 5th with 800 Men Arms Baggage and two Pieces of Cannon but to his great blame of Cowardise and baseness and as such he was by order of the King of Spain imprisoned after at St. Sebastians although he justified himself by reason of want of Victuals This Important Place being then lost by the Spaniards in five dayes onely for keeping whereof they had laid out a great Sum of Money in fortifying it a la Royalle and circling of it with strong Walls the Generals and Captains of that People were not onely troubled but all
Lord High-Admiral which place was taken from him by the late King the Queen who was not well pleased with that Family desired Mercoeur to accept the Place thinking thus to satisfie him and to revenge her self of the rest Orleans and Condé were of the same minde being glad to see Vandosme and Beaufort humbled and they did what they could to perswade Mercoeur to it but he thinking it unfit to accept of what did of right belong unto his Father refused it unless it might be with the Duke his Father's good will The Queen was indued with the place of Admiralty after the death of the Duke of Brets and enjoy'd all the Emoluments thereof and yet she was content to forego them so as the Marriage between the Cardinal's Niece and Duke Mercoeur might take effect She therefore excluded the Duke of Vandosme and his Son Beaufort out of the favour of the Prince of Condé but Mercoeur being constant to his Father's Interests who being reconciled unto the Queen was restored to his Estate in France and was with great submission brought to Court it was not hard for him to overcome the Contrasts of Fortune Vandosme though he shewed the contrary did inwardly rejoyce to see his second Son Beaufort in such favour with the Parisians for he thereby grew more considerable at Court where the Cardinal's Friends continuing to shew the necessity of keeping this Family in obedience to the King they considered that the Marriage of Mercoeur and his Father's satisfaction hapning at the same time they should both have won the good Will of those Princes and have fastned the Cardinal better Vandosme and Mercoeur were well pleased with these Proposals whilst by alliance with the chief Minister of State they might raise up their House which was in a low condition The Cardinal on the contrary knowing what bad effects come usually of Marriages made for Interest and not for Affection seemed to be far from exposing himself to more Persecution and Envie which do usually accompany rising Fortunes but being finally overcome by the reiterated Reasons alledged by his Friends and being much more convinced by the necessity of getting a considerable support in the Kingdom and that he might win Beaufort from the troublesome thoughts that were insinuated into him by the Frondeurs which might cause more disorders he suffered the Treaty to proceed But the Duke of Bullion and Count Chavigni infused Jealousies of this into the Prince's minde moved thereunto principally out of self-interest for Bullion thought that by raising a contrary party in Court he might make himself necessary and manage his return to the possession of Sedan the better And Chavigny being displeased to see himself totally excluded from Government hoped that if the Prince should reassume the government of Affairs he might come to his former condition He therefore durst not at first meddle in dividing the Royal Family nor oppose the Prince to the Cardinal But Condé being very sensible of his own Interests he told him afterwards That nothing could be denied to his deserts and that he might easily obtain the Admiralty if he would desire it That he had reason to pretend thereunto since he was possess'd of the estate of his Brother-in-Law the Duke of Bresse and ought therefore to inherit that as well as his other Possessions and that he might reap great advantage by obliging many in the distributing of Places at Sea and by the Commands of the Fleet. Wherefore the Prince was easily perswaded being like those Plants which being shined upon by the Sun grow strong and lively and when the Sun sets fade and languish for sometime approving and sometime disapproving the designe he seemed not to assent thereunto And yet he made it be known under hand by Monsieur Mazarolles a follower of his That he could be content the Admiralty were conferr'd upon him Nor was it onely the Duke of Bullion and Count Chavigny who sought to interrupt this Marriage but President Peraut Superintendant of the Prince his house and who had been his ancient Servant failed not to inform him of what he thought fit The Prince who had the honour of Arms and the desire of Glory added to the greatness of his Birth approving of such Councels grew full of jealousies and suspitions which lessened the friendship and confidence which he seemed formerly to have in the Cardinal and occasion'd the disagreements which ensued for seeing that Paris had been by his means reduced to Reason and knowing how the people were minded towards the Cardinal he designed to assume unto himself all Regal Power and to make himself sole Arbitrator of all things He therefore carried himself Imperiously at Court making small account even of the Queen and thought wholly to abolish the Frondeurs to the end that their Heads being quell'd and dispers'd they should not be able to oppose him but as the strength of a weak Twig joyn'd to many others gives not way to a great piece of Wood all the Prince's Cunning and his Partakers Wits seemed to aim at nothing but at keeping mens minds and interests divided And the Frondeurs studying also how to keep Condé divided from the Court did all they could to keep Beaufort who was then little less than Idolatrized in Paris from fastning to the Cardinal insinuating unto him that to keep himself in the esteem which he was in he must appear an irreconcilable Enemy not onely to the Queen and Cardinal but even to his Father and Brother as he beyond all expectation did Condé was also troubled to hear that the Cardinal treated touching the having of the Government of Picardy from the Duke d'Elboeufe who was Governour thereof which notwithstanding did not ensue for that the Price was not agreed upon and for that it was not considerable without the particular Government of the City and Citadel of Amiens which were held by the Duke Chaunes as also of Peronne which was in the possession of the Marquiss d'Ochencourt of whom the Court had then some jealousies for having received the Dutchess of Chevereux into that Fort when she returned from Flanders during the War without the Kings permission By reason of two Accidents which casually ensued Ochencourt grew so afraid as made him get into favour with the Cardinal and become his partial friend And thus it was As some of the King's Guards went to the Frontiers of Flanders to joyn with some other Troops of the King 's though they had no order to touch upon Peronne yet being desirous to go thither the Marchioness his Wife was jealous shut the Gates upon them refused them entrance and sent word to her Husband who commanded the Army upon the Frontiers as Lieutenant-General and a Gentleman of the Cardinals coming thither at the same time whom he suspected was come to make him Prisoner he forsook his Command and went to Peronne Which case the Cardinal commiserating and Oquincourt not daring to come neer him the Cardinal chose a place to
Victuals which were to be brought from afar off the Convoy whereof being encountered neer Quesnoy by 1000 Foot and 2000 Horse commanded by Colonel Bruch they after a lusty Skirmish pass'd happily on the Spaniards being somewhat indamaged and pursued even to the Ditch of Quisnoy losing 80 men and the French losing not above ten and Monsieur de Sassey who was taken Prisoner The Cardinal returned to Compeigne before the Army went into that Island and found the Prince of Condé come thither who prest that the King might return to Paris wherein he was seconded by the Duke of Orleans The Court removed from Compeigne to Paris with such general applause and satisfaction as it might be rather said to be a glorious Triumph than an usual arrival Then the Articles of Marriage were treated of between Mancini and Duke Mercoeur wherein the reversion of the Admiralty was promised him after his Father the Duke of Vendosme's death but when all this was upon concluding the Prince of Condé's jealousies mar'd all The Match between the Duke of Candale Eldest Son to the Duke of Espernon and the Cardinal 's other Niece the Countess Martinozzi was also treated of and agreed by all parties interested but not effected for reasons which you shall hereafter hear The more the Kings Authority did increase in Paris the more did that of the Frondeurs decrease who notwithstanding ceased not to be Enemies to the Cardinal and all men observed Beaufort's proceedings who for his Reputation and to maintain himself Head of the people would appear to be faithful to his party by going to visit their Majesties at the Court without visiting the Cardinal glorying to be the onely man in the Kingdom who made head against him But though he was admitted by the King the Queen to shew that she could not tolerate the little esteem that was put upon her in the prime Minister of State seemed not well pleased with his Visits whereat he in a distasteful manner flung out of the Room saying aloud in a scornful manner That he would return thither no more since he was so badly received And though the Cardinal applied himself to moderate the unquiet Spirit of this Prince who by the peoples adherence might cause new Convulsions to which purpose he made great proffers to his Parents the Duke and Dutchess of Vendosme yet all proved vain for as it was said the Prince of Condé did underhand endeavour to keep them at odds that the Court being weakned by a contrary Faction he might thereby the more increase his Authority and govern in the Council as he lifted And Beaufort by this means got an opinion amongst the people of being undaunted But whilst by often frequenting the House of Monbason as he pass'd to and fro from the Court during his abode in L'Hostelle de Vendosme he exposed himself to the will of the Kings Guards being told of what hazard he ran he changed his Lodging and lodged in the Street of Prâ—velles neer St. Eustace and nearer to la Hostelle de Monbasan whereby he shewed his distrust of the Court the more Now because since the Decree of the 2 d of March the Parliament was not called for publick affairs whereat the Court was well pleased the Frondeurs being back'd by the Malecontents promised to make both that and all the supreme Chambers meet at the usual Audience of St. Martins and though it was agreed upon by Articles that the Chambers should not meet without express leave from the King yet they said these were unsufferable errours and complained much that the Cardinal had replaced Monsieur d'Emery in his former place of Superintendant of the Finances but they were not aware that this was done meerly by Conde's means who having won much favour at Court after the War of Paris saw it necessary to have the Superintendant of the Finances his Friend so as contrary to the opinion of all men and contrary to the Cardinal's pleasure he would have him restored to his Place declaring That none was so fit for it as Emery which made Condé's action the more suspected and more vigilantly observed But Emery continued not long in the place for being seized on by Sickness he died soon after and the Mareshal Milleray succeeded him and though Condé was he who was to be blamed for the replacing of Emery yet he turn'd the fault so cunningly upon the Cardinal as all men attributed it to the Prime State-Officer which made the Court and Court-Officers to be hated by the people who hoped that being fomented by him they might facilitate what they had agreed upon But whilst things went thus at Court the Emergencies which arose in other Provinces were no less remarkable which will occasion us to look a little backwards Amongst several ways found out to raise Moneys the Court had resolved to introduce Semistry which is an addition of as many Officers as were before to the end that they might not exercise their places as before for the whole year but by turns from six months to six months whereby not onely much Moneys might be raised by the sale of Places but the exorbitant authority of Counsellours was thereby moderated Orders being issued forth for the putting the Semistry in practise in Provence as it was in Normandy the Count â— Alets Governour of Provence undertook the work and without acquainting the Court what Novelties it might occasion caused the Kings Commands to be published and gave order for the sale of the new Places wherein some of his Domesticks interessing themselves negotiating their own advantage with the Purchasers considerable Commotions arose whereof one was That one called Lughet that he might make way for others was one of the first that bought one of the said Semistry which did so anger the Counsellours as he was not onely looked upon as a new Companion or Fellow-brother but as an Enemy to his Country and e're long was unhumanely treated for as he was one night at Supper with his Friends certain people came in Masked and slew him whereat the Governour was so scandalized as he caused several that were thought complices to be imprisoned that the Malefactor might be found out which not being done for those that were guilty were escaped he banished those from the City whom he suspected most and particularly those who had most opposed the new Edict in the Parliament who withdrew to their Country-houses many of them going to Carpentras a City in the County of Avignon who though they were asunder held such Corrâ—spondency with their Friends who remained in Aix the Metropolis of Provence and with other Friends in the Country insomuch as a considerable number being assembled together the Count grew jealous who being unprovided of Souldiers and wanting part of his Regiment who were imbarked in the â—leet which went to Naples thought himself not able to withstand the contrary Party if they should attempt any thing So as he treated of Accommodation which was concluded by suspending
great sum of Money Hennet and two other of his Companions had their Heads struck off and the City was sin'd to keep from being Sack'd The Elector came thither afterwards and to keep them from the like Rebellion he took all the Chains from the Streets and gave order for the building of two Citadels And thus did this War end At the same time that these things hapned in these parts new Broils were heard of in Italy for Pope Innocent being resolved to force the Duke of Parma to pay the Creditors of Monti Farnest which he was not able to do by reason of the great expence the Duke his Father had been at in the late Wars in Ianuary this year some Commissaries of the Apostolick Chamber were sent to Borghetto a Town in the State of Castro and carried with them four Companies of Souldiers to put the Sentence in execution which was made against the said Duke in behalf of the Dutchess of Nerula who being withstood by the people of Parma and made to return without doing any thing such distastes grew thereupon as did by degrees increase and were much increased by the assassinate which was committed on the Bishop of Castro as he went to his own residence though it hapned against the Duke's will for hereupon open War broke forth Duke Ranuccio did what he could to stave it off and the Pope declaring that his designe was onely to gather in the approaching Crop to satisfie the Montesti therewith the Duke professed much respect and reverence to his Holiness listning to all Proposals of Agreement being as desirous thereof as the way was easie if the Declarations which came from Rome had been as those of Parma said as sincere in effect as they were in appearance for since it was civil Interest that was treated on they thought the Pope might not make it criminal and that instead of spending his Men and his Money against a Prince who was obsequious to the Holy Church he might with more glory have employ'd them against the Enemies of Christ and of the Catholick Faith The Duke offered to disburse as much money as the pretended Harvest would come to and did at the same time desire his Holiness that touching the lapsed Fruits if it should be found that he were liable to the payment thereof they should be added to the whole sum which he promis'd to pay together with Interest within the space of twelve years To these Proposals the Pope answered sometimes in one manner sometimes in another and though he gave out that he had given order to the great Duke's Embassador to pretend onely to such payments as were due whilst the State of Castro was in possession of the Family of the Fernesses It was at last resolved that the Duke should be bound to make payment for the whole time though the Apostolick Chamber had possessed the State during the late War Whilst these Treaties were on foot and that the Pope declared he intended not to take Castro not to suffer any Hostility to be done in the State his Forces were no sooner entred thereinto but they did the quite contrary they fate down before Castro commanded by the Counts David Vidman and Girollimo Gabriele The Duke being loth to lose it and finding that the Great Duke's Negotiation nor that of Cardinal Albernots and of the Marquiss Caracene in the name of his Catholick Majesty did no good raised some Forces in the Territories of Parma and Piacenza and resolved to go to the relief thereof the same Gaufredi and Count Francisco Baiardo led on his Forces who advancing by the way of Vastalla and Mirandola toward the River Lens in the Bullonese with no little terrour to those Inhabitants they were met by the Church-Army commanded by Marquiss Matthei accompanied by the Marquiss Villa and the Marquiss Tassoni and coming together on the 13 th of August neer the Town St. Pietro in Cassal those of Parma were routed after five hours fight and Gaufredi was forced with little honour to return to the Territory of Parma with the remainder of his worsted Army whereat the Duke was highly offended especially for that he had heard that Gaufredi had abused the Duke's Name upon many occasions and that amongst other things he had put the Bishop of Castro to death he made him be imprison'd in the Castle of Piacenza where Process being made against him and he being convinced of inexcusable Faults he was in publick view beheaded Gaufredi was Son to a Physitian of a little Town in Provence called Ciutal and being by his Wit gotten to be Secretary to Duke Edward he got to have the whole power in the Court and in this his greatness giving distaste to the Dutchess and chief Lords of the State he drew upon him that envy which usually attends so violent a Fortune as was his and instead of altering his haughtiness with the death of his Master he still grew prouder under the Duke his Son whom he did totally govern in despite of his Mother and of the great ones of the Court and confiding in this his prosperity he fancied to be a General though he had never been a Souldier and to go with these well-appointed Forces to frighten Rome as the Duke of Bourbon had done But at his first encounter with the Church-forces he ruined that Enterprize and his Fortune being dazled with the splendor of that Ambition which always when unaccompanied with the lustre of Birth proves dark and cloudy Sauson Arsinelli Governour of Castro who till then had defended the Town valiantly despairing of Relief by reason of this unfortunate encounter parlied on the first of September and surrendered the Town upon as honourable and advantageous terms as in like cases are given to men of Honour He delivered up the Town and State into the Popes hands whose Garrison entred thereinto and his Holiness became Master thereof without any more ado And though by this Surrender all Hostility should have ceased yet the differences between the parties pretending was not so quickly husht For the Pope being resolved that the Duke should not onely pay and discharge the Fernesan Debts but that he should be further proceeded against for having made opposition by way of Arms they did still continue At last all the Spanish Agents together with the Great Duke being become Mediators and being desirous to oblige the said Duke left he might desperately throw himself into the hands of the French the Agreement was made by their means the State of Castro remaining in the Pope's power till the said Principal should be satisfied by the Duke which was not without some prejudice to the esteem which France was then in in Italy since the Princes thereof were forced to have recourse to Spain whose reputation the greater it grew the more did that of the French lessen who were not less prejudiced by Duke Charles of Mantua his joyning in straighter alliance with the House of Austria whilst thereby he left depending
in this whether they were to have the Queens permission or whether it was sufficient to have leave from the Lieutenant General that the Nobility had Assembled for three reasons for the liberty of the Princes for driving out the Cardinal and for the maintaining of the Nobilities priviledges which were lost by the bad Government of State Ministers That nobody could doubt but that the two first points were contrary to the Regents desire since the Princes had been imprisoned by her that therefore it was unnecessary to ask leave for the Assembling of the Nobility seeing it was contrary to her sense wherefore not being able to address themselves to her Majesty they had be taken themselves to the Lieutenant General who having given them leave to meet the occasion of taxing them for having taken upon them an unjust power ceased That those who sided with the Cardinal said this was a Criminal fact but that they could not shew any other way which was more innocent that they were shut up between two great extreams either to become guilty by complaining or to be opprest by holding their peace and to suffer that without remedy the honour of their Wives and Daughters their Goods their Houses and all they had should be exposed to the insolence and violation of Soldiers Marishals Task-masters and to the avarice of Officers and that their liberties and immunities should be opprest through the jealousie of those who had neither birth nor worth thatthe Kingdom of France was a free Kingdom and that the most noble and freest part thereof ought not to be forbidden lamenting and demanding justice against such excesses and their conclusion was that any thing might be done which was just and reasonable at last the Clergie and after them the Nobility did acquiesce upon the reiterated desires and perswasions of the Duke of Orleans and of the Prince of Conde and much the rather for that they had not met with such correspondences as they looked for from the meeting of the third order without which and contrary to the King's power the Clergy and Nobility could of themselves do nothing So all was husht up upon hopes of the next Assembling of the States General which Orleans and Conde did under their hand assure them of The Cardinal being gone from the confines of France Paris grew weary of keeping continual Guards at the gate for which the Soldiers had no pay wherefore those Guards were taken away so as the Court being at liberty to go into the City and Country the Princes party was thereby not a little weakned who confided much in Armed men Conde began to apprehend a second imprisonment which he feared as himself said more than death wherefore he grew more circumspect than usual The Court began to take courage and to think how to uphold the King's Authority and because the Cardinal at his departure counselled the Queen to recall Count Chavigny who was Conde's friend to keep him from thinking to return by some other means he was sent for back and the seals were taken away by the Queens direction from the Marquess of Chastauneuf who was suspected to be become a friend to the contrary party and were given to the first President Mole which made it be believed that the Queen did all by intelligence with the Prince who was a friend to Chavigny and Mole and an Enemy to Chasteauneuf the next day he took the wonted Oath and the Queen used him with honour and esteem whereat the Duke of Orleans was much amazed in whose House the Prince of Conde Duke Beaufort the Dutchess of Chevereux and of Moâ—bason met together with the Coadjutor and other conspicuous persons of that party and they discoursed long upon the Queens taking too much upon her contrary to their pretentions speaking openly that if the Duke of Orleans would suffer such shame he would incourage his Enemies who would grow the more haughty But because the Council differ'd in their opinions it will not be amiss to lay open the affections of the one and of the other because private interest is more minded in France than in any other Court or Nation and is prefer'd before any publick consideration The Duke of Orleans his Daughter Madamoselle Duke Beaufort and the Dutchess of Monbason minded only their own greatness The Prince of Conde and his adherents cared not much for this mutation as being adversaries to Chasteauneuf and friends to the first President the Dutchess of Chevereux and the Coadjutor as friends to Chasteauneuf were more incens'd against the Queen than all the rest the rather for that they thought they had been upon good terms with her Majesty Orleans broke forth into sore complaints against the Queen for making such alterations without his knowledg Duke Beaufort offer'd to make the people rise in his behalf when he should please Count Montresore a great friend to the Coadjutor said it was no longer time to dally that the people must forthwith take up Arms and force the first President to forgoe the Seals and afterwards go with the like fury to the Queens Court and do as occasion should serve it was thought that this being a violent proposal came from the Coadjutor who was of the same opinion but the Prince of Conde who held private intelligence with the Court declared he would not ingage himself in a War in the Streets of Paris as not being accustomed to fight with stones and that therefore he would leave the care thereof to others That he would be ready to obey the Duke of Orleans if he should so command him in going presently into Burgundy to raise men and make War wheresoever he should please Upon these speeches of so renown'd a man the diversity of opinions ceased and the Marishal de Estampes one that loved not troubles said it was now late and that the business might be defer'd till the next morning which was done The Coadjutor finding Conde to declare thus much intreated the Duke of Orleans to give him leave to withdraw himself from the intrigues of the Court and follow his study and seemed to continue a while thus resolved The Queen was somewhat troubled at the taking the Seals from Chasteauneuf and giving them to President Mole by reason of Orlean's so highly resenting it which the Frondeurs also did so as fearing some extravagancy though she did much protect the first President she was at last forc'd to forsake him and to take the Seals away from him and to deposite them in the Lord Chancellor's hands with promise under hand to the said President by Marishal Grammont that they should be restored unto him when the King should be of years yet was not he well pleased since the Queen had made him accept that place against his will not being able to protect him therein but he was more offended with Conde from whom for his past service he promis'd himself more fervent assistance wherein the Prince failed him to keep from breaking with the
that he made use of the Cardinals name to foment the divisions of the State he said he had nothing to do in any thing that had been said or done against him before his disimprisonment and that if he had afterwards joyn'd with the sense of all the Parliaments of the Kingdom and with the Votes of all the people it was only to maintain the quiet which might be disturb'd by his return and that if the Kings Council had been so diligent as they ought to have been in taking away the jealousies occasioned by so many sendings to Colen the Parliament should not have needed to be troubled at his return nor to desire a Declaration in confirmation of the Decrees which had been made which it seems was indeavoured to be deluded by that writing which wanting the usual form ought to be of no consideration That though this were enough to say That he had no need to answer that notwithstanding since it had been said in the presence of that Assembly and in the rest of the body of the City and which had moreover been Printed he thought it fit to convince all men of the calumnies which were laid upon him for what concern'd the favours conferred upon his Family by the King he said he had deserved them by the service he had done the Crown That Sfenay and Claremont had been given him in recompence for the place of Admeralty and for the settlement of his Brother in Law the late Duke of Bresse which by his death was lost That the Governments had been justly confirm'd upon him having been held by the Prince his Father that he held his liberty from the favour of their Majesties at the desire of the Duke of Orleans and Parliament that he thought he should be faulty in gratitude if he should partly alledge justice for this obligation and that the Declaration made by her Majesty of his innocency was a sufficient proof of the violence which he had suffered under that he thought it strange that after Thirteen months imprisonment without any known cause his liberty must be acknowledged as an act of Grace and that he did no less wonder that it should be said he was restored to the Kings Council since that place having been given to the Prince his Father by the late King and since the time of Regency he could not attribute that to favour which did of right belong unto him as Prince of the blood and whereof he could be no more be justly deprived without apparent injustice than of his Towns and Governments That it was ridiculous that the Cardinals new confidents who as it was likely had dictated that writing should give out that he strove rather to make himself be feared than loved by reason of thenumber of Towns which he past though he had no more besides Stenay and Claremont than those that had formerly been in his Family no complaint having ever been made of any violence by those that commanded and that he was not troubled to defend himself against any thing that was upbraided unto him had he not in some sort sacrificed his interest and glory to the obedience which he ought unto the King whereof his Enemies made use of now to discredite him and that he refer'd himself to the judgment of the Parliament whether or no these intrigues of the Cardinal were enough to upbraid him with the number of his Governments since the Cardinal and his Domesticks possest Pinarole in Italy Salse Perpignone and Roses in Rosiglion Dunkirk Mardike Bergue Dorlans Bapumes la Bassea Ypre Cotra in Flanders besides Portalongone and Piombino which he had suffer'd to be lost not reckoning an infinity of other places the Governours whereof did wholly depend upon him which was sufficient to denote that more than words were requisite to secure the Kingdom of the absence of one who had so many gates to enter by and when it was experimentally known too fatall to France that his policy was always to make himself formidable to all men That for what was said that the Forces which the King had given him might make a whole Army it was well known to all France that the advantages which his Majesty had gotten over his Enemies were partly got by them that his having changed the Government of Burgundy for Guienne was occasioned by the Queens desire merely for the peace of that Province which could no longer tollerate the Duke of Espernoun that he had preserved the Towns which he held in Burgundy because none were given him in Guieâ—ne and that having bought them it was not just they should be taken from him without having some others given him in charge or at least without having the monies repaid that his Father had given the Duke of Bellegrade That he had not received above 5000 pounds for all that had been assigned to him as well for maintaining the King's Kitchin as for the maintenance of his Troops and all this because the monies were otherwise diverted by the Cardinal and his friends as he could prove unto the Parliament that his having solicited the sending of Count Servient Lyon and Tillier from the Court could not be termed an undertaking against the Regal Authority since the Parliament justified him therein by their Demonstrances and for that he had seen their Majesties but once it was by reason of their new ordering the Council putting in persons newly ingaged in the Cardinals interest without his knowledg or consent it being most certain that none were admitted into the Council but such as did depend upon and were partial to Mazariâ—e wherefore he could not hazard himself any more in their hands who were swaid by ambition and who consequently had given him just occasion to apprehend their Counsels and to declare that whilst they were without his advice of the Council he could have no safety there That for these reasons he had forborn coming to Council not having any other considerations than those which he had declared to the Duke of Orleans in his last Declaration That his having written to the Parliaments of the Kingdom and to several Cities was done to give them an account of his actions and to make them lose the opinion which was given out that he would introduce civil wars into France in consequence of the Letters which the King writ to all the Provinces after his retreat to St. Maure with the faults therein imputed unto him it being false that he had written to raise any men more than usual as also that he had re-inforced the Garrisons in his Governments and fortified them of late forcing the people of the neighbouring Towns to work which had he done ought rather to be commended in him than blamed and that it were to be wish'd that all Governours of Frontier Towns would do the like That the retreating of his Wife and of his Sister the Dutchess of Longueville was upon the consideration that they were to preserve his Family which after so many jealousies
private ends of the King's Council he anticipated them by Letters from the King commanding the same things which he thought the Parliameâ—t would ordain and did studiously apply himself thereunto upon these emergencies with intention to save thereby the King's reputation seeming as if he were the Authour of those decrees changing the aspects of those decrees which tended much to the prejudice of his supream Authority but the Parliament finding out these artifices made no more account of the King's Letters thinking that the Court did not therein desire what it seemed to do and that all was but tricks to make vain their designs And the Queen suspecting not without reason before the Prince departed that Marsine General of the Catalonian Forces was turn'd to be of his party as being much affected to him and that by his concurring with Conde he might much prejudice the King's service she thought she might make him lay aside all sinister opinions by putting some esteem and honour upon him and to keep him loyal out of mere gratitude as he had been till then much to his glory and this was by sending him Letters Patents to be Viceroy of Catalonia but the Messenger who carried them came too late for he had already abandoned the King's service and betook himself to serve the Prince as hath been said and shall be said hereafter Count de Ales was at this time in Paris his Father the Duke of Angolesme being dead who was Governour of the Province where those that sided with him Maugre Vandosme kept the City of Tolon a famous haven in that Province where he was particular Governour and having out of a desire of returning thither consented that Conde's friends should attempt some novelty there The Baron of St. Marke a Gentleman of Aix and friend to the Prince was sent thither with others that related to him intending to raise a party for Angolesme and to interest the Prince therein but after some rather Chimera than undertakings it turn'd all to nothing by the vigilancy of the King's Commanders who diverted all their plots and the City remained as before in obedience to the King wherefore the divisions failing in that Province whereby the Prince had thought to bring Forces into several parts of the Kingdom and to divert the punishment wherewith Guienne was threatned the Male-contents were mightily affrighted and confused The Prince of County Dutchess of Longueville the Duke of Nemeurs and others who were in the Castle of Montrond fearing least they might be therein shut up went out by night with 200 Horse leaving Marquess Persan there with a good Garrison of Foot and Horse afterwards the Town was besieged by Count Paluau with about 3000 men at a distance commanded by Cavaliere Barada and others the besieged were constant in the defence thereof as well against Famine as against the assailants County with his Sister Longueville and Duke Nemeurs went to Burdeaux losing some of their baggage for the Marquess of Sauntbeuf with many Gentlemen of those Provinces was continually upon their backs The King came to Burges to the great content of those people whom he permitted to demolish the Tower which belonging to Conde's Government was interpreted the beginning of a breach and it was known that they were to think of War rather than of Peace which being resolved upon they were treated with to raise men the Towns of Dordognia were secured by Conde he put Garisons into Bergerack St. Foy Libourn and Perigreu good Towns which commanded a great tract of Country All the Towns upon the Garomne till you come to Agen were secured by Conde who treated with Count de Ognone Governour of Rochel Brouages and the Isles of Oleron and Ree and with much ado having drawn the Count over to his party he provided diligently for all emergencies Ognone joyn'd with the Prince hoping to be made Duke and Peer of France by the Prince his means which he had indeavoured to do by the Court but could not at this novelty not only the Kings party was much troubled but all others who wished well to the State It was therefore resolved that the King should go into Poictou to secure that important Province which is esteemed one of the best of all France and to provide against the eminent dangers of Rochel Count de Ognone was second Brother to Marquess St. Germain Beaupre and as one who had been Page to Cardinal Richelieu had contracted a particular friendship with Marishal de Bresse chief of the Navigation he was imploy'd in the Fleet and after made Lieutenant in the Government of Brouage which belonged to the said Bresse and in Rochel Oleron and the Isle of Ree which belonged to the Queen after the said Bresses death it was not hard for him to get to be wholly master thereof though he were not well beloved by the people He entred into Conde's party by the Princess her mediation who was Sister to the said Bresse The King wrote to the Duke of Orleans before he went from Burges that out of the great desire he had of his Subjects quiet he did again refer Conde's business totally to him and desired him to speak with him and to know the reason of his discontent wishing him to take along with him the Marishal de L' Hospitalle Messieurs de Alegre Marguiri Mesmes Menardeau Champre and Chaumont assuring him that he would do what he could to serve him In pursuit hereof the Duke sent Monsieur de Serre Son to Marishal de Aubettere to desire the Prince that he would give him a meeting in Richelieu Conde sent la Serre back with answer that he should hear from him in this particular within three days Soon after the Prince was come to Burdeaux Gurville went thither and told him from the Duke of Bullion that if he would listen to reason the Duke would mediate for him and indeavour his satisfaction and how the Cardinal did much fear that if civil Wars should arise in France they would not be well able to maintain War abroad wherefore he studied how to divert it and that he had declared that he would procure the Government of Blay for him and all fitting satisfaction for his Friends Gourville made this proposal to him but the Prince having then sent to treat with Bullion and Marquess Turenne would not listen to the proposition but said That if he would put the treaty in hand he must first declare in his behalf and that his Brother Turenne must go to head his Forces which were gone into Flanders and that when this should be done he would give ear to what had been proposed The Prince spoke high because he thought that Turenne would not refuse the command of his Army and that when he should have so famous a Commander on his side whom he only feared it would make much for him in treaties of peace or in making War And being that very day assured of Count de Ognons joyning with him as
rather for that he found part of the same Suburbs already fortified by Baracadoes made formerly by the inhabitants for fear of the Lorrainers The Kings Camp and all the Court was already on Horsback being resolved either to conquer that day or to end the War not only in respect of the superiority of their men but by reason of the long way the Prince was to go with his Baggage The Cardinal was so confident of this as having given fitting orders to Turenne he brought the King to the top of Sarone that he might be an eye witness of so famous an action and being upon the point of having the Prince either dead or alive he sent to his friends in Paris wishing them to be of good courage and that they should by all means take care that the Gates might not be opened for the Enemy to retreat nor for succor to be sent them from the City The Kings Army being come to Vilette within half a league of Paris and knowing that the Army of the Princes was gone from whence if they could have light upon them they would undoubtedly have routed them Marishal Turenne going on the left hand past by the Hills of Sarone and came into the Plain the Fauxburg S. Antoyne and Charenton drawing all his Troops out in order whilest the rest stayed on the right hand with Marishal Ferte Senetre And though the Prince being got to underneath the Walls of Paris had the advantage of place yet the Kings men knowing that he could not withstand them and the Court being assured that the Princes their Forces should not be received back into Paris they having been kept out the night before they resolved to advance boldly and to fall upon some Squadrons which were advanced into the Suburbs and who were pursued even into the Houses Here the Prince who with unparalleld valor bore the whole weight of that important fight made use of his wit where his Forces failed and gallopping on all sides divided all his Men in form following His Highness Brigade was placed on the left hand of the Suburbs those of Languedock Vallois and Ligueron on the right Conde and Burgondes Brigades on the right hand that of Languedock and that of Pelleins at the Baracado in the way which leads to the Castle of Vincennes And wanting Foot to furnish all the stations he ordered some of the Cavalry to back the Foot The Artillery was placed at the Heads of the Streets of the Suburbs and all the Avenues were Trenched and Baracadoed General Turenne having drawn out his Majesties Army in good order designed the French Guards to Assault his Highness and Languedock and the Brigades of Picardy and Marine to Assault the Vallois Two Batteries were placed against the Baracado which was Guarded by Tavannes One plaid upon the High-street of the Suburbs and the other on the Street which answers to the great Market Things being thus ordered whilest the Prince was ordering his men how to defend themselves the Kings men came on furiously charging the Eneâ—â— in two places and were valiantly withstood and for a while repulsâ—â—â— But the Brigades of Languedock Vallois and Langueron not being able to resist longer leaned with some loss towards the Market-place to whose relief the Prince himself came in the Head of his Horse Regiment and of that of Anguieâ— accompanied by Nemeurs Taranth and Vallon And here the fight grew hot the Prince gave high proofs of his skill in War and of his incomparable courage he thrust himself is he had been a Common-Soldier into the midst of the Enemy killed many with his own hands and with his Sword repulsed many To his eternal glory those who were formerly affrighted were incouraged and those Brigades replaced in their former stations who were driven away Marine having lost together with some that were wounded forty men here was Monsieur Goville slain but Tavannes and Languis did not play their parts so well For here Marquess S. Magrin gave on furiously on the Head of some Voluntiers and others upon the Princes Forces which he did much indamage and was likely to have utterly routed them had not the death of the sâ—id St. Magrine cooled the courage of his men he being slain the Kings Forces were repulsed but not without much blood of the Princes men who received here their greatest loss Marquess Rochecaufolt and Count Bossue a Dutch Colonel of Horse were there slain and Count Tavanes the Marquess of Ierse Cavaliere la Force Marquess Cogna Count Melune Baron Lorese with others of good quality were there slain In this interim the Count Navailes had taken the Street Rambulliet with some houses and two Barracadoes though they were vigorously defended by the adversary to whose succour came Monsieur de Laudes with a Dutch Brigade the Prince of Conde made good the Street which leads from the Gate to a large Piazza where the Kings men had seized upon some houses the Dukes of Nemeurs and Beaufort came just then to the Prince and these two who were not upon very good terms resolved to attack the Barracado which was taken by Navailes rather out of Emulation than Military wisdom though it were hard to take it which was well sheltered with weary and worsted men Yet Conde who though he foresaw the mischief did never forbear any hazardous bickering was perswaded by reason that though things should not sort according to his desire he should by so generous an action afford the Enemy matter to think upon and spin on the business which made most for his safety so as Rochefaucolt Marsilliack Flammarin and many others of the Nobles coming in unto him Rochefaucolt who saw Beaufort and Nemeurs forwardness joyn'd with them and fell to the assault but the Soldiers being weary and timorous to attack the Barracado marched along the Wall to shelter themselves from the Enemies shot and would advance no further this mean while a Squadron of German Horse being got into the Gardens where they were much incommodated by shot from the neighbouring houses retreated in disorder the Prince taking them to be the Enemy who were come to take that place and to charge him on the Flank and his Genreals finding that their Foot fell not upon the Barracado advanced to charge the same Squadron but finding them to be their own men they forbare any further attempt they and those Horse being exposed to a shower of shot which came from the houses and Barracado and here were Flemmerin Count Castres Monsieur Forneau and others of quality slain Which when the Generals saw they thought of themselves to assault that Barracado and though they went to ingage themselves in an eminent danger of desperate event yet excited by heat of blood and glory they considered nothing but their own boldness Thus did the Three Dukes and Prince Marsilliack themselves alone unassisted by the Foot which staid behind light from Horse-back and with their Swords in hand advanced against the
contrary to the good and just intentions and the great disservice of his Majesty Finally Seeing my self reduced to an extreme and pressing necessity and to avoid the greater evil I have endeavoured to perswade the Marquess Caracene to grant me together with a Cessation of Arms the convenience of taking the possession of that Place and City with the exclusion of all others who assented thereunto and that I might with ease and without let compass the Design offered me in case of opposition all the Forces of his Catholick Majesty that I might with more security compass my intention engaging himself not to enter into those Places upon other occasions and that in case he were necessitated to it that he would leave them freely and without reserve under my absolute command And forasmuch as the Season doth advance and that the said Marquess the Governor presses and protests that he will lose no time of this Campagne being unable by reason of the sickness wherewith I am much weakened and of that which the Arch-duchess my Consort fell into since her lying in to go in person as I had resolved I have been forced to make use of Don Camillo Gonzaga for execution of this Design to whom by reason of his near Relation being of my House and of his Valour and Prudence I have entirely trusted the execution of this important Design whereby I have at the same time provided for my own Preservation in the peaceable possessâ—on of my Dominions for the ease and relief of my own Subjects and the general repose of Italy Protesting nevertheless that I shall notwithstanding still preserve as I have ever done an inviolable affection towards his Most Christian Majesty and endeavour with all industry to give Testimonies thereof to the whole World hoping in his Majesties goodness that when he shall be pleased to make reflections upon the present state of Affairs he will not upon this occasion lessen his good opinion of and kindness towards me which I so highly prize and value And I doubt not but all that with sincere eyes and minds disinteressed shall consider the resolution I have taken and shall examine the before-mentioned important Motives which have induced me to it will perceive they were no less just than necessary and will find no occasion to blame me that in the extremity of my Affairs I have rather chosen to give a Remedy unto my Misfortunes than to augment them by declaring my self an enemy unto a Neighbour Nation more powerful than my self and whose Dominions do divide mine at a time when they offered to assist me The Duke then came to Casal about the end of October where he staid till Christmass following at what time he returned to Mantua drew off the Mantuans and left there only those of Monferat with some French who were married in the City the Marquess Don Camillo returned to Bozolo with great glory having highly merited from the Duke the Marquess de la Val staid some days at Casal to give such Orders as were necessary as General of the Duke's Forces and conferred the Government of the Cittadel upon the Marquess Sigismuâ—â— Gonzaga and that of the City upon the Count Ottavio Brambati Son to the late Count Francisco who had so worthily served the house of Mantua until his death at Paris whilst he was Extraordinary Ambassadour there for the Duke After the departure of which Brambati who was by his urgent Affairs called home into his own Country there was placed to Command in it first the Marquess Bonifacio Fassali Casalasio and afterwards Count Giouanni Emilis Veronese There followed also the change of divers of the Officers and Ministers some of them being brought away to Mantua and in their places several others sent to succeed them The Duke after gave an assurance unto the Ministers of France That as soon as the Country of Monferat should be restored unto the pristine state and put into his peaceable possession without disturbance he would renounce the 3000 Crowns monthly which the Empress was obliged to furnish him for payment of the Garrison and would maintain them at his proper costs which he did for taking away of all colour or pretence the French might have formed upon that point unto the prejudice of his Declarations it being a thing certain that he had no imagination to let go that noble Town out of his hands which rendred him considerable to all Italy and valued both by the one and the other Crown and these were always the true thoughts of the Marquess de Val with whom the Spaniards notwithstanding they dissembled it were in truth highly dissatisfied But all these Declarations of the Duke and his Ambassadours were little worth because things being represented in the Court of France different from what they were the suspicion had so much force that things were sinisterly interpreted neither could the Kings Ministers be satisfied with the loss of a place of that importance and which gave so much lustre over all Italy to their Authority The other Princes of Italy were in a manner all of them jealous that Casal would finally fall into the Spaniard's hands and were therefore sorry the French had not in time provided for it which it was said they might have done with a small matter if they had not applyed themselves rather to persecute Cardinal Mazarine and overthrow his Designs than provide for the concernments of the Crown And these Jealousies and Apprehensions were much increased by the Report was spread That the Spaniard after beating the French out of Casal negotiated earnestly a Peace with Savoy insinuating into the minds of the Ministers there that the King of Spain would restore Versellis drive the French out of Pignaroll and the Cittadel of Torino adjust their differences with Mantua and probably Marry the Infanta of Spain unto the Duke of Savoy whereby they endeavoured to gain that Family and chasing the French beyond the Mountains to restore Peace unto Italy and their own Authority unto the Pristine Splendour These Treaties were listened unto by those of Piedmont with no small attention and the rather because they suspected that the most Christian King being engaged in a Civil War and not able to contribute unto the defence of Piedmont the Spaniards might with ease be able to make some powerful Invasion upon them so as if they deferred the remedy until another time they should perhaps find no means to compass it The Court of France and most particularly the Cardinal was highly jealous of this Treaty who being mindful of the prejudice it might bring to the King's Interests in case the Spaniards having secured all things in Italy should employ all their Forces in Catalonia and Flanders laboured with all industry as well by means of the Ambassadour Servient as of the Abbot of Aglie who was well disposed towards France to uphold the Savoyards in hope of a ready and secure Assistance anâ— the Cardinal having a great credit and confidence with
She with her blandishments and arts prevailed upon her Husband to treat with the Spaniard made a great progress therein and wrought so powerfully in the minds not onely of the Officers of the Garrison but of the Houshold Servants also of the Marquess de Fara Governour of the place that even his most antient and reputed most faithful Servants were engaged in this amorous Frenzy and became complices in the Treason by a wonderful and almost incredible example wherein 't was seen that the allurements of a lascivious imagination prevailed against the obligation of their vowed Loyalty unto the loss of their Reputation and the destruction of their Lives and Fortunes The design of this Conspiracy was to kill the Governour at a certain Post one Night as he went the Round and then to open the Gates unto the Spanish Troops who under the Command of the Baron of Sabac were entrench'd near unto them The coming of this new Recruit cooled the Affair and drew it out at length because the Officers of this new Succour were to be treated withal and gained whereby it came to be so long delayed that the Plot was discovered in this manner There was a Spanish Drum used to go and return for Exchange of Prisoners and other Occurrences of Warr by whom Ganot used to communicate all things with the Enemy it came into the Governour 's Mind one day to have him searched and see what Letters he carried whether they were the same which he shewed as he went out of the Port the Governour 's Brother a young Cavalier took them from him and the Drum growing first pale and then blushing upon the taking of them from him put the Cavalier into some suspicion of him he brought the Letters unto the Governour who finding them the same which had been at first shewed thought no farther of it but as he was upon the point of restoring the Letters and discharging of the Drum it came into his mind that Ganot himself had taught him to write with a certain water the Characters whereof could not be seen but near the fire he thought therefore to review these Letters and try it perhaps they had the secret of this water and by that means the whole business came to be discovered Ganot was forthwith called and strictly examined whether he knew any thing of the Conspiracy which the Spaniards had about the betraying of the place and desired if he did he would discover it promising him pardon and â—ecrecie in the Affair this the Governour did to make him serve as a double Instrument that he might countermine the Enemies Designes Ganot denied it absolutely but being afterwards convinced by these Letters he suddenly abandoned himself unto that baseness which is usually the companion of guilt confessed the whole and all his Accomplices who being seized upon and tried by a Court-Marshal to the number of above twenty were cast and suffered deservedly an ignominious death amongst whom to the admiration of all was one Giardeni Secretary to the Governour a person who had long served him and had in many occasions by experience been found trusty and of an unblemisht reputation In Guienne the King's Armies began to prosper by degrees as those of the Bourdelois grew weaker who were divided amongst themselves and governed by particular Interests and Passions The Duke of Candale who as hath been already said was sent to Command his Majestie 's Forces in that Province in lieu of the Count d' Harcourt took presently the Castle of Piniols and seized upon Marmanda and Arguillon Towns fortified after the ancient manner scituated beyond Bourdeaux and Agen on this side of the Garonne and being afterwards informed that the Count Marsin had caused the Colonel Baltassar to pass the Garonne with five or 600 Horse to gain some advantage by the division of the Cavalier d' Aubeterra's Troops which were placed in Garrison and that he had also made Monsieur di Bas Mareschal de Campe to march towards Granada he sent Orders to the said Cavalier d' Aubetterre to be watchful unto the preservation of the Town as a Post which would be of great advantage to the Enemy because it not only hindred their entrance into the Country of Chalosse and Armagnac but made him Master of the River of Adour which is the principal Stream of all that Province the which having for its Head a Fountain called Cap Adour in the Mountain of Tourmalet in the Barrois washes the Soyl of Bigorne the Cities of Turbe and of Aire and after receiving into her self the Rivers of Isle Leckez Larras upon the Confines of Bigorre and Gascoigne and after of Lons and Douse passeth to Mugron where growing Navigable with a less rapid course it discharges it self into the Ocean near to Baione To hinder this Design Aubeterre rallied his Troops with so much diligence and so good fortune that in less than thirty hours he had gotten together more than three hundred Horse and better than four hundred Musquetiers with which he forthwith marched against the Enemy but finding him possessed already of the said Post of Grenada he advanced notwithstanding to the Banks of Douse in a place called San Mauritio where had already passed 100 Horse and as many Foot whom he set upon and charged so briskly that almost all their Foot were lost either by the Sword or by the River the Horse saving themselves by a hasty flight and rallying behind the River with a Squadron of Horse as great as the other and five hundred Musquetiers The King's Troops forthwith passed the River with so much fury that those of the Princes terrified with fear after they had given one Volley of Shot with their Fire-arms all fled recommending their safety unto the swiftness of their flight Monsieur D' Avennes who commanded a Squadron of d' Aubeterre his Regiment with the Monsieurs de Troe and Villeneuf Officers of the Regiment of Crequi following them with extraordinary diligence attacqued them so furiously that amongst the dead and Prisoners were accounted more than one hundred and fifty Irish and amongst them was taken Monsieur Faget eldest Captain and Serjeant Major of Baltassar and Monsieur de Danansin mortally wounded those who escaped shut themselves up into Grenada against which place the same Cavalier d' Aubeterre forthwith advanced with some Recruits come unto him from Mont de Marsan being a Town with a Bridge upon the said River of Douse but he was not expected by the Enemy for they escaping privately in the night time escaped to Tortas the most important place they had in all that Quarter standing upon the same River of Douse and fortified with strong Walls ancient Turrets and a numerous Garrison The Duke of Candale after these fortunate Encounters having first assured himself of Mont de Marsan and other Towns in those Quarters by sufficient Garrisons and banishing such of the Inhabitants as he found ill-affected left there Aubeterre with part of the Cavalry and
following will know this only can be said That the Price of 50000 Crowns set on his head and all the Scorns and Contempts cast upon his Reputation were onely the Effects of a Passion which being wisely dissembled by this Cardinal served afterwards to let them see his good and just Intentions and made him at last triumphant overall his Persecutions and rendred his Ministry Glorious to all Posterity The same Night his Majesty kept him to Supper with himself in the Lodgings of the Mareschal de Villeroy that Night were many Bone-fires made and the next day as he returned from Mass he cast some Money amongst the people as he had done the day before upon the way in the Countrey as he passed along And the Visits which he received from the Grandees at Court and other particular Persons of all Orders and Conditions being over he betook himself unto the management of the Affairs of the Crown The same day there came to Paris also his three Neeces who had been alwayes with him who were also met out of the Port of St. Honorè by the Princess of Carignan the Marshal of Guebran his Lady the Marchioness of Ampous and several other Ladies of Quality These Ladies were also Lodged in the Louvre in a Quarter apart over the Queens Lodgings The King since his return had not done any thing in the distribution of Offices and Charges either Ecclesiastical or Secular although many were void and there were a great number of pretenders being desirous to expect the Cardinal's coming and to give him the Honour of disposing them as he who was best informed of each man's merit whereby he made himself also to be much more observed whilest every man being in hope to be rewarded according to his merit became more ready and careful in the Service of his Majesty He had notwithstanding of himself passed the Edicts for New Impositions and done all other things which were like to prove displeasing to the People because had it been done after the Cardinal's Return it might seem to have been done at his sollicitation whereby those Crimes would have been afresh imputed to him whereof he had formerly though without cause been esteemed guilty But there remaining unto him now by the special Favour of his Majesty the disposition of the Church Benefices and divers other Offices and Charges of the Court and Kingdome he began presently to make a distribution of them among such persons as he esteemed best deserving and fittest for the Imployments reserving notwithstanding a good part of them undisposed that he might keep up the hopes of such as were for the present disappointed of Imployments To the Count Servient who was a Minister of State of great Wisdome well deserving of the Crown and most Affectionate to his Majestie 's Service in which he was grown old having spent his time in the management of sundry Charges to the advantage of the Publick he gave the Office of super-Intendant over the Finances vacant by the death of the Marquiss of Vienville with whom was joyned Monsieur Fouquet Procureur General who was also made Minister of State a Person of great Merit for his continued Loyalty to his Majesty to whom upon all occasions and particularly in the Translation of the Parliament to Pontoise heâ—â—ad rendred very particular Service so as there was then seen at the same time two super-Intendants of the Finances as there was also a Chancellor and a Keeper of the Great Seal a thing seldome practised although the like hath been before during the Ministry of the Cardinal Richelieu To these Super-Intendants were also added four Intendants of the Finances who were the Monsieurs Paget Boisleue Housset and Brisaccier he took also good order for payment of the King's Revenues to the great ease and satisfaction of the Farmers of them Cardinal Anthonio Barberini coming about that time to Paris the Dignity of Great Almoner of France vacant by the death of Cardinal Richelieu Archbishop of Lions was conferred upon him by the means of Mazarine who endeavoured to give testimony of his gratitude and to oblige him more strictly to the Crown as conceiving his protection in Rome necessary unto the Interests of France the Cardinal Francisco his Brother being accounted averse to them by whom ill offices had been then lately done unto his Majesty by Letters censuring the Conduct and direction of Affairs It was reported in Court That this change in Cardinal Barberini was because he was gained by the Pope and Spaniard upon the hope of restoring to him the Profits of the Ecclesiastical Benefices of Naples and Sicily and the Money sequestred in Rome when the Pope pretended by calling him to account to undo the House of Barberini That which moved the Pope to a re-union with the Barberins was because having not long to live he thought not fit to leave a lasting Feud between his own Relations and that Family which was still powerful in Rome and the Spaniards also desired the same that they might take off the dependence of that Family upon France and find no opposition from them upon the Election of a new Pope The Cardinal Francisco therefore being transported with this hope because he had no other pretext made use of this That he had been neglected in France the Cardinal Mazarine having married his own Niece to the Duke Mercoeur without concerning himself to find a party for his Niece as he might have done And seeming to resent this highly he commanded the Abbot his Nephew who was at Lions to take away privately the Prince Praefect and all his Family from thence causing them to retire into Italy near Vincenza and this he did whilest Cardinal Anthonio was in Paris without giving him the least notice of it This sudden Resolution appeared strange in France and the rather because there had been alwaies a good intelligence between that Baberini and Cardinal Mazarine unto whom he had proposed some years before the Marriage of one of his Nieces Colonel Vaini her Cousin being sent into France about it and the thing had been agreed by his Majestie 's consent and Writings drawn up touching the Marriage After this Reconciliation of Cardinal Barberini with the Pope that this Union with that House might be more firm there was a Marriage concluded between Don Maffeo Barberini then the Abbot and a little Niece of the Pope in consideration of which Marriage the Prince Prefetto was promoted to be Cardinal and renounced the Inheritance unto his said Brother the Bridegroom The Bishoprick of Poictiers worth about 30000 Crowns yearly was also given to the said Cardinal Anthonio the same being void by the death of Monsieur Rocheposay an Excellent Prelate who had enjoyed that Dignity 40 years and had in two important occasions preserved that Countrey to the King himself with a halfe Pike in hand followed by the people who were much devoted â—â— him standing in opposition to the Nobility who in the former Wars had taken Arms for
of stairs They were condemned unto the deserved punishment of the Gallows and being broken upon the Wheel in Paris near the Bastile the 11th of October in the great street of St. Anthony The Cardinal Mazarine who by reason of the mildness of his nature and the Character he bears of being a Prince of Holy Church abhorres these bloody Spectacles did what lay in him to procure their pardon and would surely have obtained it if being so enormious a Crime it had been grantable without a notable prejudice to justice which in such cases must not at all give way to pity There followed after divers other Executions in Paris done upon several persons who were imprisoned for heynous Crimes but without doubt the effects of the King's clemency were much the greater those being many more in number who were pardoned then who were punished I cannot here omit the mentioning of one who being condemned to be beheaded pretended by his Ambition to Triumph over death he before he was brought out to Execution with an undaunted boldness as if he had been going to a Wedding dressed himself up shaved turned up his Mustaccio's powdred his hair and made his boasts That Civil Men though suffering Ignominious death ought to dye honourable And although to encourage subjects by too much levity to a relapse into their former errours be by some qualified with the name of a false Maxime yet that could not discourage the King's Ministers from using it because to generous minds the occasions of meriting the thanks of such as are obliged are much more welcome then the imprecations of those who suffer which having drawn down Heavenly favours on them hath let us see those miracles which have rendred his Government most happy who having inherited the Title of Most Christian hath joyned unto it the glorious appellation of Most Clement Truly they may be well called miracles which were seen in France in the year 1653 because whilst it seemed likely that the Kingdom combated every way by furious storms should fall in pieces it became suddenly more serene and every way more glorious then before because being by the quieting of Bourdeaux and all Guienne freed from that powerful diversion which imployed so many Forces those being now at liberty have secured all the borders from those dangers wherewith they were threatned and marching into Catalonia and Lombardy have interrupted all those designs the Spanish party hoped for from their precedent Victories The Ministers of which Crown were thought to have committed a great oversight in that they had not four years before agreed unto a general Peace the ease whereof tempering the fierce and stirring nature of the French would have proved much more useful to them then the necessitating of them to a War which raising the desires of it in a youthful King and so a great number of young Nobility may probably make the effects thereof bitter unto them it being certain that no Victories are so severely prosecuted as those which are in prosecution of a just revenge The same time that the Affairs of Warr in Catalonia Guienne and Champaigne passed in the manner before related the French concerns also in Piedmont put on a better face so as there was no farther cause of fear that the Piemontois should for want of considerable assistance be forced to free themselves from the Inconveniences of Warr by making some agreement with the Spaniard for that the Count de Quincè being gone as hath been said into Piedmont and some French Troops being joyned to him he advanced into the Enemies Countrey with between 5000 and 6000 Men and incamping at Annone upon the Banks of the Tanaro for about a moneths time during which he staid there he infested continually the Countrey about Alexandria with frequent parties sent into those parts after which quitting that Post he returned to Monferrat and passing the Po at Verna went to incamp above Crescentino to observe the Marquiss Caracene who having taken the Field with 8000 Souldiers was marched to Fontant and Palazzuolo three miles distant where the Armies stayed some dayes observing each other in which mean time the French sent abroad several parties and particularly one even to Vercelli of 1500 Horse Before he dislodged thence drawing up all his Horse in the Plain of Bertola about a Cannon shot from the Spanish Camp he sent to defie the Marquiss Caracene to fight a Battel but he holding a Maxime That the French Fury was to be stopped by the Spanish Gravity made a mock of him These attempts of the French being vanished without effect Quincè repassed the Po in Iuly and entred again into Monferrat crossing the Tanaro upon a Bridge of Boats near Asti and from thence staying two dayes at Rochetta went to encamp at Monbersel Upon notice of this march by the French the Marquiss Caracene passed the Po again with his Forces near to Pontestura and having marched cross Monferrat went to lodge at Felizzano intending to cross Tanaro at Rochetta but finding opposition from the Enemy he went to pass lower towards Alexandria advancing unto Nizza della Paglia Quincè stayed at Castel Nuovo Brusato observing his motions about 15 dayes there being daily skirmishes between the Horse of either party But Caracene being at last resolved to break into Piedmont and by that diversion to make the French quit Monferrat passing the Po at Pontestura he began to scour over the Countrey thereabouts but that sufficed not to make Quincè stirre who judging that it would be of great prejudice to his Affairs to bring his men to make the Warr in a Friends Countrey took a contrary course he sent his Baggage into Asti and foording over the Tanaro at Rochetta and after passing Bormida came by the way of Novi unto Saravalle a great Town above Alexandria in the Confines of the Genouese Countrey between the Rivers of Sirvia and Orba and having sacked it went towards Tortona and Castel nuovo de Scrivia taking great Booties in those Towns where he was not expected Caracene was thereby forced to quit his designs in Piedmont and march in all hast to Alexandria gathering together all the Garrisons and forraign Souldiers to cut off the retreat of the French towards Nizza but Quincè advertised thereof marched by Cassino de Strada by Aicqui and by the Valley of Bistagno to the said Town of Nizza whither the Spanish Army was already come for which cause the French retired that Night to St. Spefaro and went with great care to get the Pass of Our Lady at Tenello and prevent the Enemy who came thither just as the French had seised it with their Vantguard where they began to skirmish but with great reservedness of the Spanish side because they would not engage in a Battel with the French who although they were inferiour in number had the advantage in the Experience and valour of their Horse Quincè went from thence directly towards Alba and thence between Alba and Asti
notwithstanding that he might escape by Night either by favour of the Citizens or some other way kept a most strict watch at the Gates the next day the news was spread abroad over the City and coming to the Duke's ears he answered I fear not Night being come a while before Sun-set the Duke being with a Father Confessor at the Magdalenes in their little Church he saw Count Garcia Sergeant Major General come in with many Officers attending on him the sight of whom made him change colour The Count told him That the Arch-Duke was to confer with him immediately about several Affairs of great importance to the Crown and expected him at the Palace The Duke answered He thought the hour something late and that in the morning he would perform his Duty The Count then replyed That he had order to bring his Highness to Court that Night Upon which the Duke said Your Lordship may please to go and I will follow When they came unto the street before the Palace where the Courtiers use to walk the Count said to him Your Highness is to go towards yonder other appartment for I have the King's order to arrest you The Duke then stood and after he had with a frank speech ripped up the Services he had done the House of Austria to the total ruine of his own he highly blamed the Spaniards usage and refused to go farther till he had spoken to the Arch-Duke But he could not obtain that satisfaction for Garices had told him That in case he refused to go willingly he must be enforced to carry him by violence Finally the Duke being perswaded was brought into the lodgings appointed for him shewing at first an extraordinary cheerfulness but the Cavaliers being afterwards retired he resolved 't were better since by force he could not do it to endeavour his own release by submission He writ very calmly to the Arch-Duke and recommended to him the Countess Cantacroy his wife though their marriage was at Rome declared unlawful Whilst he was writing the Secretary Navarre entred the Chamber and made him subscribe an order unto his Troops That for the time to come they should be obedient to the Arch-Duke That night he was served at Table by principal Cavaliers and when Bed time came two of his own Valets de Chambre were appointed to wait upon him at their first entrance into the Chamber he cryed out with a great sigh See the remainder of my Fortune That night all the Citizens had order to be in Arms to prevent any inconveniences which was presently executed there being none that dis-approved what had been done In the morning they waked him but he would not rise saying 't was yet too early to which no reply was made but he was left to his own liberty At last when he thought good he arose and after he was dressed they brought him several Dishes of Meat and he was served by the Arch-Dukes Camariers in extraordinary The Count Garcies after came in and told him That he came to wait upon his Highness to Antwerp upon which the Duke rose up presently without reply Being come out into the Hall in presence of a numerous Guard he opened his Doublet and shewing his Breast said aloud to them I am a Souldier and fear not all these preparations made for me I only desire that some of you would take my Life and by my Death all troubles will be ended Many would have it that he believed they were absolutely resolved to kill him by some lingring death but Garcies with all sweetness told him He wondred his Highness should entertaine such thoughts that the King his Master intended nothing but to secure him for some time He then went on and it being now late all the people ran togehther to see him pass in a Coach being Guarded through the City by 300 Horse The Duke made no shew of sadness to the people but with courtesie and in a pleasant manner saluted the Citizens by name and passing by a lodging wherein some French belonging to the Prince of Conde lay he said to them Ah! What will the World say that the Duke of Lorrain should be made a Prisoner by the Spaniard for whom he hath lost all his own Country Being come out of the City the said Count Garcie who was something sickly had License to return and the Guard of him was assigned to another Colonel when he took leave the Duke told him with Tears in his Eyes That he had brought him through the City at Noon day to make him a laughing stock unto the People Garcie answered His Highness had been cause of that by remaining so long in his Bed The Duke replyed That he was a faithful Servant to the King and his actions would speak him so and that he had never done any dis-service to the House of Austria and prayed him to inform and assure the Arch-Duke thereof when he should relate uno him what had passed and that he would also give an assurance unto Fuensaldagne of his affection He was conducted unto the Castle of Antwerp where he was kept for some time before he was sent into Spain his House was after searched his Papers seised and all the Goods sequestred which were found in his or the Countess Contueroy her house which were amongst other things Jewels of the value of 500000 Crowns which belonged to the House of Lorrain and amongst the rest a very fair Diamond given heretofore by the Emperour Charles the fifth unto a Duke of Lorrain one of his Ancestors which was called Charles the fifth his Diamond What sum of money there was found was not declared and although the general report was that the Duke was considerably rich therein yet 't was thought the Spaniards did not find him to be so But in regard the Ministers of Spain suspected that the Lorrain Souldiers and particularly the Nobility who purely for affection towards their natural Prince had followed him preferring his service before their own particular interests even to the leaving of their Country and loss of their estates would not endure the injury done to their Soveraigne Prince but rise up against the Spaniard and put things into confusion The Count of Ligneville therefore who was Lieutenant General and the other principal Commanders were gained by money and other promises to the affecting whereof the Antipathy between them and the French to whom they bear a natural hatred contributed in a great measure So as by means thereof and the declarations which the Arch-Duke made that he put the command and whatsoever else belonged unto the Duke into the hands of the Duke Francis his Brother the Souldiery was quieted and all those stirs they feared were avoided The Arch-Duke after published a Manifesto setting forth the reasons which moved his Catholick Majesty unto this Resolution the substance whereof was That when the Duke retired into the Dominions of Spain to preserve himself from the violence exercised by France against