favourable to Cinqmars as to allow him some larger Proportion of the Glory The Duke of Bouillon having but a small Knowledge in the Laws of the Kingdom was perswaded that he had acted only like a Man of Honour in not revealing his Friends Secret and it was sufficient to excuse him from any Guilt of Treason That he had never given any Powers nor signed any Treaty that was made with Spain But when he heard of de Thou's Condemnation he doubted not of his own Ruine and for three days that he continued without receiving any News he did nothing but prepare himself for Death However no Sentence was pronounc'd against him either for want of Proofs or through the Instances made by the Viscount Turenne his Brother who was very Considerable and grew daily more so by his extraordinary Actions and signal Services But that which contributed more effectually than any thing to the Duke of Bouillon's Safety was That as soon as ever his Dutchess had the News of his Seizure she dispatched her Sister-in-Law Madamoiselle de Bouillon who was a Princess of great Parts and capable of Business immediately away to Court She ordered her to tell the Cardinal from Her That if he put her Husband to death she would deliver Sedan to the Spaniards and that he need not doubt it since she had already sent to 'em to come thither But when Madamoiselle de Bouillon saw de Thou executed she went back to the Cardinal to tell him she had full Power to negotiate with him and to engage in any thing for the Duke of Bouillon's Life and Liberty At last the Treaty was concluded on It was Agreed That the King should have Sedan and that he should give the Duke an Aequivalent in Lands within the Kingdom That whilst these Articles were in Execution the Duke of Bouillon should come out of Prison and the King's Troops enter into Sedan Mazarine one of Cardinal Richlieu's Creatures was sent thither to take Possession for the King and to give all necessary Securities The Dutchess of Bouillon being likewise perswaded That both her Husband's Life and Liberty depended upon the rendring up of Sedan parted with it as willingly as she would have receiv'd a considerable Favour and went to Turenne to meet the Duke of Bouillon who was retired thither THE Third BOOK THE Year before The Duke of Bouillon arriv'd at Turenne after having gain'd a Victory and making so advantagious a Peace that his Glory had spread it self throughout all Europe but now he came just out of a Prison where he had been in great danger of his Life depriv'd likewise of the Sovereignty of one of the best places in the World This unhappy State which render'd him no farther now considerable than his own Personal Merit could make him yet did not hinder the Nobility of the Neighbouring Provinces from coming in large Companies to visit him and since they expected to find his thoughts in a posture conformable to his Affairs they could not but admire to see no manner of alteration in so different a Fortune He convers'd with every one as he used to do before agreeably to their humour and the quality of their Persons But he never enter'd upon any Apology for what had pass'd nor any insinuation of the hopes he might conceive for the future As for the rest of his time he took exact Cognizance of his Revenue and the condition of his Estate he enquir'd into the management of his Servants In several places he set up Fathers to preach against the Reformed Religion which most of the Inhabitants thereabouts profest and he himself enter'd so far into the Controversy as to dispute with divers Gentlemen some of which recanted afterwards and in their private Affairs he decided several Cases and reconciled as many differences He spent everyday a set number of hours in reading and particularly in the perusal of the ancient Fathers He often hunted as well for Exercise as Diversion He made very few Visits because tho' Cardinal Richlieu look'd upon him as a Prince that was fallen beyond retrieve yet he could not but have regard to him as an Enemy that would be ready for any undertaking when a favourable opportunity should present it self either for his Revenge or the Reestablishment of his Affairs Besides he had notice that the Intendants and Governours of the Neighbouring Provinces had Orders to observe him So he look'd upon Turenne and his other Seats as the places of his Exile But by comporting himself after the manner I have spoke of it is easie to judge that he was not dejected at it and that it only encreased the esteem they had already conceived of him So true a thing it is That when Fortune has reduced Great Men to a private Life they are able to employ themselves so well as to maintain their Bravery and their Glory Five or six Months after his continuance at Turenne Cardinal Richlieu died at Paris The very moment that the Duke of Bouillon received the News he ordered Prayers to be said for him in the Places that belong'd to him either out of the pure Motive of Christian Charity or else because a Personal Hatred makes so little Impression upon Men of great Souls that they cannot carry it to the Graves of their most mortal Enemies The Duke of Bouillon did not change his Conduct upon the Death of Cardinal Richlieu but the Death of the King which happened four or five Months after made him take up new Resolutions Seeing the Queen was declared Regent and Monsieur the Duke of Orleans President of the Council the Duke of Bouillon had Reason to believe and all France thought the same That he could never expect a more favourable Conjuncture He therefore went for Paris He was very kindly receiv'd by the Queen and Monsieur the Duke of Orleans and the whole Court look'd upon him as a Person that could not fail of re-entring Sedan and becoming more considerable now than ever In the mean time he perceived by degrees that their way of Treating him began to be much cooler than at first and the Silence as to his Affairs which accompanied this Change began to let him apprehend that if they had not intirely forgot the Losses he had sustain'd and the Dangers he had run through yet at least that Remembrance of them which remain'd serv'd rather to make his Presence seem importunate than to inspire any Sentiments that might be to his Advantage There could be no Addition to the Grief he conceiv'd at seeiug himself in so different a Condition from what he might reasonably have expected but he thought it Prudence to dissemble the Knowledge he had of this Misfortune and in the mean time that he might be certain what to rely upon he judg'd it convenient to demand an Audience of the Queen and Monsieur They both promis'd him one But after having waited several days to have a time assign'd him they remitted him at last to the Abbot
propos'd it to the Duke to tarry there himself and to let him alone run the hazard of a War in which the Duke was engag'd only upon his Consideration This generous contest was concluded by their Resolution that both should march The same day the Duke of Bouillon having heard Mass and taken the Sacrament at the Capuchins Church and afterwards left Orders in Sedan and sign'd some Papers that he judg'd necessary for his Houshold return'd to the Army and Monsieur the Count came thither likewise some hours afterwards In the mean time Marshal de Chatillon who was an undaunted General but incredibly negligent being perswaded that Lamboy's Forces were still on the other side the Meuse march'd to oppose his Passage But he found the Duke of Bouillon at the head of them who having advice of his march was advanc'd with a great Body of Horse and being drawn up on a rising ground had plac'd his Squadrons so thick that they could not see there were any Foot to support him Then he immediately secur'd all the places thereabouts that might incommode the Enemy In the mean time Lamboy came up with the Infantry and Cannon and Monsieur the Count with his Troops The two Armies being thus drawn out and ready to join Battel the Duke of Bouillon rode up to the reserv'd Body where Monsieur the Count was He found him at Confession behind a Bush which was his third time that same day Having tarried a little time to speak with him he heard the Cannon so being in hast to return He charg'd the Captain of the Count's Guards to tell him That as things stood it was of the utmost importance not to delay Fighting one moment and that he was going to give the Onset I shall not relate the particulars of this Fight there are several Printed Accounts of it and if I should repeat the Praises which are there given to the Duke of Bouillon I should seem instead of the Memoirs of his Life to have undertaken his Panegyrick The Duke of Bouillon with his Horse charg'd those of the Enemy and broke 'em so that falling back upon their own Infantry they created so great a Disorder that in a little time the whole Army was Routed All things went likewise well on Lamboy's side who fought like a Captain and a Man of Courage There was no brave resistance made but by the Cannon which the Duke of Bouillon attack'd with great hazard of his own Person But after he had taken and routed the Troops that he found there there appear'd no Body of Men that could rally again sufficient to make a Stand. Then the Duke of Bouillon seeing himself near the place where Monsieur the Count was went himself to acquaint him with the Defeat of his Enemies but found him dead The Fate of this Prince is the more strange and unfortunate because he lost his Life without having fought and lost it even after the Victory encompass'd with his Guards and several Gentlemen and no one yet could ever truly know by whom nor how he was slain As for my own part having laid together all the Circumstances that those who were then about him have related I am perswaded that he kill'd himself This was likewise the Opinion of the Duke of Bouillon For it is certain that he twice lifted up the Visor of his Helmet with the Barrel of one of his Pistols and that Riquemont his Gentleman of the Horse fore-warn'd him of the danger that might happen by it It is certain that the Blow was in the middle of his Forehead and that the Shot was so near that the Paper went into his Head Nevertheless because that the very moment he gave himself this Blow it chanced that no one's Eyes were upon him the Shame and Despair of those that were about him and above all the great Prejudice they had to the Cardinal made 'em say That it was he that had caus'd him to be assassinated by a Traytour who had mix'd himself with his Guards If we consider throughly how much the Duke of Bouillon had hazarded for Monsieur the Count we cannot doubt the Interest he had in the Preservation of his Person And then if we judge into what a Condition the gaining of this Battle would have put the Fortune of the Prince it will be no hard thing to comprehend how great a loss his Death must be every way to the Duke of Bouillon and consequently how great his Sorrow for him In the mean time knowing of what Importance it is to hinder the Disorder which generally happens in an Army through the Desire of Spoil and Heat of Victory he return'd immediately and omitted nothing that might secure it to him It was so intire that the Mareschal de Chatillon lost all his Infantry and almost all the principal Officers were slain or taken Prisoners The same day the Duke of Bouillon sent Salaignac to the Cardinal Infant to carry him the News of the Victory and Death of the Count and to assure him at the same time that the Treaty between the Prince and him being mutual he was ready to maintain it in every part provided he would oblige the Spaniards to perform their parts for the future and prepare what they had been wanting in heretofore Whilst the Return of Salaignac was expected the Duke of Bouillon with General Lamboy went to besiege Doncheri a Place upon the Meuse two Leagues from Sedan He carried it in four days after this he was for marching into France being perswaded that if the Fame of his Victory had already rais'd the Hopes of the Cardinal's Enemies yet the Death of the Count which they must no doubt have had notice of at the same time would put them into a Consternation so that it was of very great Consequence to let 'em see by the continuation of their Progress That the Party did still subsist But Lamboy without contradicting the Duke's Reasons propos'd only the deferring it for some days till he had refresh'd his Troops During all this Interval what-ever Instances the Duke could make it was impossible to oblige him to march further on the contrary he sent Three of his best Regiments to Aire and after that repass'd the Meuse to follow the Cardinal Infant who march'd to the Succour of Aire and who had sent him Orders to join him The Duke of Guise in a little time after returning from Brussels retir'd with Lamboy being offended that the Duke of Bouillon did not stay for his Arrival before he fought The Duke of Bouillon made a Gentleman go after him to tell him That to follow the Spaniards when they had abandon'd him did not look like a Performance of the Treaty which they two had sign'd If he had any Designs that respected their common Interests it was necessary they should concert them and that if he would give him a Meeting he would be sure not to fail him The Duke of Guise return'd Answer That he would be at Sedan in three
days and there they would take their Measures However he did not come back nor was there one word heard of him Lamboy to whom the Duke of Bouillon made a Compliment by the same Gentleman wrote him a Letter the Original of which is in my keeping and which shews the very great Esteem he had of him After having spoke to him of his private Concerns touching the Prisoners he had left at Sedan and the Cannon taken in the Fight He added these very Words As for what remains my Lord I see your Highness is about making your Peace with France upon which Subject I have nothing to say But it is with great Regret that I see my self remov'd from serving any longer under the Command of so great a Captain to whom I shall always continue and with Respect c. The Duke of Bouillon seeing himself in this manner abandon'd sent back Salaignac with speed to the Cardinal Infant with an Instruction signed by himself He first complain'd That since the Death of Monsieur the Count he had never vouchsafed to send any Person to signifie the part he took in so considerable a Loss both for the Quality of the Person and the Interest of the Party That in the very Letter that he had receiv'd from his Royal Highness by the Hands of Salaignac he was so far from speaking of the Count in terms due to a Prince of the Blood Royal of France That he had mixt him without distinction with Persons that were not of equal Birth when he spoke of the Duke of Guise and himself He assur'd him further That he was ready to execute the Treaty But he declar'd he would not stand to it unless the Spaniards would perform what was behind and both the Emperour and they immediately send the Troops and Money which they had promis'd for the carrying on the War He spoke also of Money advanc'd and Losses both by the King's Army and Lamboy's He represented the Freedom with which he had acted during the War He left it to others to tell him how much he had contributed to the gaining of the Day and desir'd his Royal Highness to be pleas'd to consider That the Posture their Affairs were in appear'd so advantagious that there was nothing they might not hope for if he would but put him into a Condition of pursuing the Victory He further added That he should take the delays made in answering him and not satisfying his Demands for a manifest Rupture That in this case he must be off of the word he had given and charg'd Salaignac to demand the Papers he had sign'd protesting before all the Princes of Europe That having been abandon'd without Regard had to the Faith of a solemn Treaty nor to the Advantages of a Battle gain'd and a Town taken he was reduc'd to seek his Safety in an Accommodation The Answer of the Cardinal Infant was fill'd with nothing but the Praises of the Duke of Bouillon and the Examples of those who had been ruin'd by confiding in Cardinal Richlieu after having once declared against him but he avoided any positive Answer to his Demands and Remonstrances and concluded in these Words If the Spaniards says he have failed in their part of the Treaty the Emperour having executed his 't is just that his Highness should address himself to him for an account of their Failings and that he cannot acquit himself without knowing what he will answer But Lamboy being retir'd no Answer that was to come so far could be expected without exposing him to a manifest Danger The Mareschal de Brezè at the Head of an Army had join'd the Mareschal Chatillon since the Battle The King was likewise advanc'd towards the Frontiers and come as far as Rethel so that all the Forces together were Five and twenty thousand Men. The Duke of Bouillon seeing himself in this Extremity forced to retire into Sedan and to rely upon his own Forces doubted not but he should be besieged He therefore apply'd all his Thoughts to put himself into a Condition to make a glorious Resistance In short it was no hard matter to imagine that the Cardinal incens'd against him to that degree that he was would not have an extreme Desire to ruine him intirely But considering the ill Dispositions that the Court and the rest of the Kingdom had towards the Cardinal and the uncertain Condition of the Siege of Aire it was of dangerous Consequence to undertake that of Sedan Besides all the considerable Persons about the King both the Cardinal's Friends as well as Enemies spoke in favour of the Duke of Bouillon The latter desirous to hinder a Prince that had been so declar'd an Enemy of the Cardinal 's from sinking The others out of Generosity seeing him after so great an Action expos'd without any Hope of Succour In short the King being arriv'd at Meziers the Cardinal offer'd his Mediation to the Duke of Bouillon He accepted it with a Confidence equal to the Sincerity with which it was offer'd him From the moment that the Negotiation was begun and the Truce agreed on Cinqmars Master of the Horse to the King who had been so far declar'd a Favourite that he was already very much suspected by the Cardinal sought the Duke of Bouillon's Friendship by the Mediation of de Thou who made several Journies to Sedan under pretence of the Obligations and Friendship that he had for the Duke but indeed to offer all things he could hope for from Cinqmars He assur'd him That Cinqmars had already laboured very much to mollifie the King and to make him recede from that Bitterness and Anger which the Cardinal had infus'd into him The Duke of Bouillon answer'd these Offers and Advances with such Decency and good Breeding as the State of his present Fortune required He was convinced in the Sequel that in reality these good Offices had not been unserviceable to him In the mean time the Peace was concluded in the most glorious manner that the Duke of Bouillon could desire The Cardinal would appear in the Treaty as Caution for the Duke of Bouillon and as Guarantee to Him that his Majesty should execute it sincerely even to the Articles of the smallest Consequence The Duke of Bouillon went to Meziers to see the King He was receiv'd there with all possible Demonstrations of a great Esteem and entire Oblivion of what had pass'd The Cardinal omitted nothing to perswade the Duke that he heartily desired his Friendship He told the King in publick that he ought to give him the Command of an Army and that since even with the Spaniards he had been able to beat the French Forces there would be nothing that might not be expected from his Experience and Courage when he should be at the Head of them Nevertheless after all upon Consideration of what had happened before and the general Notion that the World had of the Cardinal's Reconciliations the more Earnestness he express'd to the Duke of Bouillon the
prevail the Duke still repeating the same thing Towards the end of March Monmort going to Tholouse rode Post through Turenne He was a Gentleman of Quality and Merit devoted to Cinqmars and more his Confident than Fontrailles himself Cinqmars had charg'd him to tell the Duke That it was a thing of the greatest Importance to them that he should speak with him once more he desired him instantly to take his Measures so that in going into Italy he might meet him at Lyons when the King should pass that way in his Journey to Catalonia But on the contrary the Duke of Bouillon delayed his Departure on purpose that he might not meet him there not only that he might avoid the trouble of new Proposals but because Cinqmars had appointed a great number of Gentlemen of Auvergne his Friends to meet him there which caus'd the Duke to make his Reflections upon what Fontrailles had said That there were more secure and expeditious Methods for the ruining the Cardinal than an open War The Duke of Bouillon therefore did not part from Turenne before he judg'd by the News he receiv'd from Court that it was already remov'd from Lyons and so he could not meet it in his way The Dutchess of Bouillon bore him Company for some days and afterwards returned to Sedan with her Children When the Duke of Bouillon lay at Tarare near Lyons Monmort came thither Post the same Night Cinqmars had sent him after the Duke of Bouillon to tell him that the Cardinal lay a dying That for himself he had never been so much in the King's Favour as he was at present and so he hop'd in a little time the Duke of Bouillon would have no cause to repent his having admitted him to such a share in his Friendship Monmort added farther That Fontrailles was come back from Madrid with a Treaty Sign'd in as ample manner as Monsieur had desir'd but in the condition that the Cardinal was then there would be no need of it The Duke of Bouillon after having answer'd Cinqmars his Complements desir'd Monmort to tell him that Monsieur was very happy that he should be in no want of Spanish Succors because by a Letter that he had receiv'd from Liege he was better assur'd than ever that they were not able to spare him any that would be considerable The Cardinal was really very sick some few days after his departure from Lyons and continued so upon the Rode and was carried to Tarascon whilst the King went to the Siege of Perpignan but it was not his Illness only that oblig'd him to stay there The Power which Cinqmars had over the King was so far increas'd during this Journey that the Cardinal thought he had reason to be much afraid of it and if the publick saw plainly this advance in the King's Favour by the exteriour marks of it the Cardinal saw still better by what pass'd in the management of Affairs and the manner that the King often us'd to speak to him concerning this Favourite Cinqmars himself was so far from concealing this Happiness that he lost no opportunity of having it took notice of It seem'd to the Cardinal that the King was wholly alter'd as to him and that the Face of the Court chang'd likewise in favour of Cinqmars In short this Minister and his Creatures lay under such great uncertainties that he had it in deliberation whether instead of going to the King when his health would permit he should not wholly retreat and write him word that the occasion of his removal was because he could no longer have any security for himself near his Person Cinqmars being his declar'd Enemy and having engag'd almost the whole Court in his Cabal In the mean time the King fell sick before Perpignan and was carried to Narbonne where it was infallibly believ'd he would have died Cinqmars sent a Courier to Monsieur to acquaint him with it He was advanc'd as far as Bourbon under pretence of drinking the Waters and he had no sooner receiv'd the news of the King's Condition but that he sent the Count D' Aubijeux Post away to find the Duke of Bouillon with all Diligence D' Aubijoux carried only a single Credential and was to demand of the Duke of Bouillon the necessary Orders for the receiving of Monsieur the Queen and her two Children into Sedan D' Aubijoux had contracted a very strict Friendship with the Duke of Bouillon He was a Man of great Quality of the Family of D' Amboise and had the reputation of much Honour and Courage The Duke of Bouillon kept him three days conceal'd in the Camp not being able to determine what to do and in the Conversation they had together the Duke of Bouillon oftentimes repeated to him the same things he had already told to Monsieur when he saw him at Venice House and they spoke about Sedan the Treaty with Spain and what was to be done if the King should chance to die For indeed the more the Duke thought of it he was the less able to comprehend that the Queen and Monsieur should ever imagine that upon the King's Death they should be oblig'd to leave the Kingdom so that when he join'd these Arguments which possest his Mind to the memory of what had pass'd between Mounsieur Cinqmars and himself he could scarce doubt but this last instance about Sedan was a pure Artifice of Cinqmars The Pretext of providing a Retreat for the Queen her Children and Monsieur was very plausible and glorious for the Duke of Bouillon But he had all the reason in the World to fear lest by this Engagement he should find himself Embarqu'd with the Spaniards to maintain a Civil War against his own Inclinations In the mean time D' Aubijoux who knew with what impatience his return was expected omitted nothing that might remove the Duke's Suspicions and the Duke of Bouillon did not doubt but that if they had a design of deceiving him they would not have begun it with deceiving D' Aubijoux Besides he had been several times assur'd by D' Aubijoux that he was too much his Servant not to admonish him That if he should send him back without agreeing to any thing he might be certain Monsieur would resent it mortally and if the King as it was probable should dye at Narbonne it was easy to apprehend that in the posture things would be then it would be of no small consequence to have the Cardinal for his conceal'd Enemy and Monsieur for his profest one The Duke of Bouillon had resisted all these Considerations but at last there arriv'd an express from Court with Letters for him and several Officers in the Army which all imported That the King's Life was despaired of Then the Duke of Bouillon fix'd his resolution and gave D' Aubijoux the Letters he demanded but with this precaution that he made him swear they should not go out of his hands till after the King's Death and that if the
above Nine or Ten years old when having stoln from his Governour and being sought for a long time he was found upon the Rampiers of Sedan laid down to sleep upon the Carriage of a Cannon being resolv'd to pass the Night there He had heard his Father the Duke of Bouillon often say That it would be a great while before he would be able to endure the Fatigues of War and the Young Prince thought this was a Proof sufficient to undeceive him He began his first Service in Holland under the Prince of Orange his Uncle and was sent thither when he was but fourteen Years old He had naturally an extraordinary Inclination to War which being very much heighten'd by the Desire of Glory He apply'd himself so earnestly to that Art that in his Childhood he seemed to be truly sensible of no other Passion He acquired a great Reputation in a little time and being in War all his Life and living till 63. he at last in all Mens Opinion seem'd fit to be compared to the greatest Generals among the Ancients He was born with a great deal of ' Spirit but was less Remarkable for a Quick and Easie Wit than for a Profound Judgment In Matters that were pressing and of Consequence he determined without Suspence and continued firm and faithful to the Side which he had taken but he was better at foreseeing the End proposed than in providing for the different Means by which it was attainable He passed his Life without any Personal Quarrel however in the beginning he did not always serve under Persons for whom he had much Esteem several likewise serv'd under him that had no greater Value for him and he was join'd in Command with others whose Humour and Manners were very inconsistent with his own and the more so by reason of the Emulation and Jealousie which they had of his Glory for besides that he gave no Credit to Reports and that he despised such things as were spoke against him He was always intent upon some great Design and troubled himself with very few things that were not a real Obstacle to it He was never tempted by the Assurance of a present Success to any Enterprize that might advance his own Glory when he thought it would interrupt the Course of a Design greater and more useful for the State though at a farther distance and naturally he was so set upon the Publick Good that to promote it he often sacrific'd his Private Fortune and sometimes hazarded his own Reputation He was so far from throwing the Blame of ill Accidents upon those Officers he employ'd that he never lost any Occasion of encouraging them when they happened to have met with ill Fortune Amongst so many Subjects for his Anger and Displeasure which he must have met withal from the Time he began to be a Commander He never offended any Body he was never heard to speak one passionate Word to his Servants and though he was naturally mild and patient yet a Vertue so rare and practised with so much Constancy could not have been the Effect of his Temper only One day when he was preparing to mark out the Lines of a Place which was to be besieged he found that he wanted some necessary Instruments and remembring that a Mareschal of France who commanded one of the Attacks had more than he used he sent one of his Guards to borrow some of him The Soldier came back very much troubled and repeated aloud several disagreeable things which the Mareschal said when he refused to lend them The Viscount Turenne turning to the Officers near him Since he is so angry says he we must e'en let them alone and do as well as we can without them After this he attack'd the Lines forced them and gained all the Glory of the Action At this last Campagne in Flanders several Courtiers came from the Army very much incens'd against him but without any reasonable Ground The Viscount Turenne who did not return till a Month after the King found that from their private Discontent they had raised One so general that there was scarce any Body in the whole Court who did not do himself the Honour of speaking ill or complaining of him Several of the Cabal and some of the first Quality spoke to him to accommodate Matters and to clear things with him All his Answer was That he would not be at that trouble It was enough for him to be assured that he had given no Person Reason to complain that he did not despair but upon some other occasion where perhaps he might be really to blame the Gentlemen of the Court would be favourable to him Afterwards they all came back upon their own accord as if nothing had passed and he acted with them as if he had heard nothing of it He was incapable of Hatred but very sensible of Friendship he was seen to shed Tears in the Steets of Pontoise upon the News he receiv'd at the Gate of the Town That the Duke of Bouillon his Brother lay there dangerously sick of the Disease whereof he died and his Tears were so much the more natural and moving because it was easily seen that he had a Mind to refrain them He spoke generally of his Brother with so much Modesty and Heartiness that discourssing with a Friend two or three days after the Duke of Bouillon's Death he said these very Words to him It is believed that I know something of War but there is nothing truer than I might still have learn'd a great deal more from the Duke my Brother and then for Business How far was his Talent beyond mine He was not always happy in the Choice of his Friends however he bewailed the Death of several of them and his natural Goodness was so great that he was never hardened by all the Blood he had seen spilt Nor could he hinder himself from having always in his Mind the Design of Promoting some Person or other notwithstanding so much Ingratitude as he had met with For several Years he had no good Success in War nay he was look'd upon as unfortunate however in those Encounters wherein he did not succeed Fame has always done Justice to his Courage and Conduct and he has often acquired more Glory than those who had gained the Advantage over him He had a very great Ambition which the Conjuncture of the Times and his own Prudence made him for the most part moderate or else conceal but if he had lived in some past Ages that have been favourable to Conquerours though he would have set no Bounds to his own Glory yet he easily would have done it to his Fortunes During the Regency in the Year 1649. Paris took Arms to drive out the Cardinal Mazarine the Viscount Turenne either by the Fatal Constellation which reigned then or through the Discontent he had conceived at that Minister in regard of his private Fortune and that of his Family took a Resolution contrary to the
was thought to be dead The Cardinal not thinking that he stood fair with the Duke of Orleans who was onely Brother to the King would assure himself of those who were about him but he had Reason to fear they would not be very favourable to him In this Extremity he had Recourse to the Viscount Turenne his Design was to go and join him in case he should be forc'd to retire from Court He sent the Count de Moret to him to engage him to offer himself and to secure the Army The Count had Order to negotiate this Affair with much Address and rather to insinuate things than speak 'em but he knowing that this was the most improper Method of gaining upon the Viscount de Turenne he spoke to him in his ordinary way without any manner of Disguise The Viscount de Turenne promised immediately That he would Speak and Act publickly as a Friend to the Cardinal that he would represent likewise to Monsieur when he came to the Crown that in the Condition things stood then it would be very dangerous to take Affairs out of the Hand of a Minister who was so able and so well establish'd The Count de Moret judging that the Cardinal would not be satisfied with this Answer represented to Viscount Turenne all that he thought might induce him to comply with his Demands He told him amongst other things that the Cardinal could never resolve to form a Party in France and that infallibly the Queen-Mother would uphold her Fortune That there was no doubt to be made of the Credit she had with Monsieur nor the Protection she would give the Cardinal and so by offering to follow blindly the Interests of this Minister the Viscount Turenne might without any Hazard lay such Obligations upon him as he would always remember The Viscount Turenne answered That there was a great deal of probability things would go thus but that he would never promise more than he now had offered adding that no Advantage how great soever was able to oblige him to give such promises as might afterwards bring him into a Necessity either to break them or to fall into the Misfortunes which he was now got out off The Cardinal was in effect so little content with this Answer that after having several times sworn his Ruine he said a great many extravagant things sometime as enraged sometimes as dejected but the King grew well and his Care or the Continuation of the War made the Cardinal forget or suspend his Resentment He diverted himself with Men of Sense and Letters but had no patience with those who professed themselves to be the Beaux Esprits they had no share in his Bounties nor he any great one in their Works When free from business he used to recreate himself and especially in his Entertainments but without excess He would laugh easily at pleasant Discourse and Raillery and he himself would make use of it in his turn but always with a great deal of Civility and Discretion He was moved with such Writings as were natural and lively loved to read good Books and especially History He made his use of it but scarce ever spoke upon the subject He could not bear a moments Flattery as such but when it was under the appearance of a true Friendship and such occasions of praising him were taken as fell in naturally he took it easily and then a Flatterer might insinuate himself into him be establish'd in his good opinion and reap the advantages He was born in the Reform'd Religion he profess'd it more than fifty years without being well instructed in it At this Age he began to have some scruples and without declaring them to any Body he endeavoured to clear them up by his reading but this serv'd only to multiply and strengthen them Then he came to Conferences but only as by way of Conversation lest his condition might be discovered The Queen-Mother first apprehended it spoke to him and declared that besides the motives of his Salvation there were other Temporal ones which made her ardently desire to see him become a Catholick This Discourse which would have wrought great Effects upon other Minds set all the good motions of Viscount Turenne in suspense and threw him for several years into great indifferency of advancing further for it is true that he was afraid lest his Conversion should be followed by some remarkable favour which might make the purity of his Intentions to be called in question and bring a stain upon his Glory but at last urg'd by his Conscience he declared his doubts openly sometimes to the Bishop of Tournay sometimes to the Bishop of Condom and to Monsieur de Boucherat Councellor of State afterwards Chancellor of France his particular Friends in whom he placed a great confidence but he opened himself still more freely to the Cardinal Bouillon his Nephew whom God would make an Instrument to perfect the Conversion of so great a Man In short being convinced that he was out of the true Church he went to make his Abjuration to the Archbishop of Paris without giving him any notice till the night before He was there only with Monsieur de Boucherat whom he had desired to Accompany him thither but without having declared his design till a few days before There have been evident proofs of the sincerity of his Conversion during the rest of his Life he testified it likewise by his Will which appeared since his Death for after having thanked God for granting him the knowledge of his Truth he gave considerable Legacies to contribute towards the subsistence of those who should follow his Example To this end he gave to the Poor who should be converted at Sedan and the Lands thereon depending the sum of 50000. Livers and to the Poor that should be Converted at Negrepelece the summ of 20000. Livers to the Poor that should be Converted at Chastilion the like summ which summs he would have to be distributed to the Poor who should be Converted in the foresaid places or laid out in Rents for them all at the Discretion of Cardinal Bouillon and Monsieur Boucherat whom he desires to be his Executors This Will is punctually Executed in all points by the Duke of Bouillon and Monsieur Boucherat The Love and Veneration which the Souldiers had always for him were much increased in the latter Campaigns this appeared amongst other occasions the year before his Death when in the midst of Winter he made an extraordinary march to attacque the Enemy at the Passage of the River D' Ill in Germany All his Campaigns since the War with Holland contained Prodigies of Valour and Conduct which would furnish matter for several Volumes should we enter into particulars but after having escaped a multitude of Dangers for fifty Years together which he employed in War his Army and that of the Enemies facing one another at Sulsback in Germany He was killed by a Cannon Bullet discharged almost at a venture in a Place
where they were raising a Battery He received the blow in the midst of his Heart at the same instant that he stopt his Horse to speak to Saint Hilaire Lieutenant of the Artillery Saint Hilaire had one Arm carried away at the same time and said a thing very remarkable to two of his Sons who wept to see him in that Condition Alas Children said he you ought not to weep for me but this Great Man shewing them the Viscount Turenne which is the most irreparable Loss that France has ever suffered Perhaps there was never seen any Example of a Grief which was so great and general at the same time and I cannot think that of the Roman People after the Death of Marcellus Germanicus or Titus could be compared to the Condition France was in upon this Occasion Especially it 's impossible to express the Concern of the Soldiers It appeared for several days together after his Death to be very fresh and moving Those who commanded the Army having caused a Halt to be made to hold a Council what way they should take the Soldiers concerned to see the Delay of their Resolutions began to say aloud and with one Voice They have nothing to do but to let la Pie which was an Excellent Horse known by the whole Army and one that the Viscount Turenne generally mounted go loose and where the poor Creature stops let them encamp there In the distant Provinces where this Prince was scarce known but by his Reputation the News of his Death made a very surprizing Impression the Nobility and People for several days together could speak of nothing else but the Greatness of their Loss Many bewailed him without having ever seen him Some excited to this Grief by the Memory of his Actions others in Consideration of the Services which he might still have rendered them and all in general as being sensible of the extraordinary Misfortune by which so Great a Man came to his End At Paris and the Countries thereabouts and particularly upon the Frontiers which were the Seat of War the Passion was more touching and lively because they knew him better and were used to see him come back every Winter with a new Load of Glory In short it seemed as if his Loss had been the entire Defeat of an Army or that each private Person in the whole Kingdom had lost their best Friend or their whole Fortune Since in his Life-time there came out a Comparison between Him and Caesar I think I may Remark That as the small Agreement that there is between a Monarchy and a Republick made them tread different Paths to Glory so their Deaths bore no greater Resemblance Caesar was assassinated in the time of Peace by his own Citizens whom he had oppressed and the Viscount Turenne lost his Life in War with his Arms in his hand beloved by all the World and serving his King and Countrey without any other Interest than that of Glory and the Performance of his Duty He began to appear in the Reign of Lewis the XIII th and being upheld by his Merit and Quality he pass'd without Favour or Disgrace all the time that Cardinal Richlieu was Master of Affairs Under Cardinal Mazarine's Ministry Fortune used him variously but for the last 20 Years of his Life he had no Reason to complain of her He found a thousand Occasions of gaining such a Glory as will be immortalized by all the Histories of Europe and he esteem'd himself so much the happier in living under a King who had all the Qualities desireable in a Master and who treated him with such Confidence and Esteem that he might love him as a Friend I leave it to such as write his History to say how far he extended the King's Conquests in the last War and what his Thoughts were touching the Affairs in Germany No one knew certainly what the Motives were that made him take so long and difficult a March to seize that Post where he was slain all we can learn is that some hours before his Death he had promised himself great Advantages from this last Action of his Life and he was so far from all Presumption that when he began to think well of his own Undertakings other People might take his Hopes for an entire Certainty of a happy Success so that if those who were at the Head of the Army after his Death have deserved Rewards and Praises the Viscount Turenne being no less above them in his great Knowledge of War than by his Quality of General We have Reason to think that the Event of a Design which he had so long before premeditated would have been much more Great and more Glorious FINIS Books Printed for and Sold by Thomas Bennet at the Half-Moon in St. Paul's Church-Yard FOLIO'S A Thenae Oxonienses Or an exact History of all the Writers and Bishops who have had their Education in the University of Oxford from 1500. to the end of 1690. Representing the Birth Fortunes Preferments and Death of all those Authors and Prelates the great Accidents of their Lives with the Fate and Character of their Writings The Work being so Compleat that no Writer of Note of this Nation for near two hundred years past is omitted In Two Volumes A New Historical Relation of the Kingdom of Siam by Monsieur de la Loubere Envoy Extraordinary from the French King to the King of Siam in the Years 1687 1688. Wherein a full and curious Account is given of their Natural History as also of their Arithmetick and other Mathematick Learning In two Tomes Illustrated with Sculptures Done out of French By A. P. Fellow of the Royal Society The Works of Mr. Abraham Cowley The Eighth Edition To which is added The Cutter of Colemanstreet Never before Printed in any Edition of his Works Fifty Tragedies and Comedies By Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher Mr. William Shakespear's Comedies Histories and Tragedies Comedies and Tragedies By Tho. Killigrew Sir William D'avenants Works Dr. Pocock's Commentary on the Prophet Joel Voyages and Adventures of Ferdinand Pinto who was five times Shipwrackt sixteen times sold and thirteen times made a Slave in Aethiopia China c. Written by himself The Second Edition 1693. QUARTO'S A Critical History of the Text and Versions of the New Testament wherein is firmly Established the Truth of those Acts on which the Foundation of Christian Religion is laid In Two Parts By Father Simon of the Oratory Together with a Refutation of such Passages as seem contrary to the Doctrine and Practice of the Church of England The Works of the Learned Or an Historical Account and Impartial Judgment of the Books newly Printed both Foreign and Domestick Together with the State of Learning in the World By J. de la Crose a late Author of the Vniversal Bibliotheques The first Volume is finished with compleat Indexes A Sermon before the King and Queen By the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Worcester The Bishop of Chester's
King should recover he would keep 'em to give him again or else burn 'em if he found any danger like to be in preserving them Whatever hast D' Aubijoux could make he found things strangely alter'd at his return The King was out of Danger and the Cardinal amidst his Fears and Uncertainties had advice of the Journey which Fontrailles had made to Madrid and waiting till he could learn more he in the mean time sent Chavigni Secretary of State to acquaint the King with it but gave him express Order to engage his Majesty upon his Conscience to keep the Secret However Cinqmars perceived some alteration in the King He spoke of it to Fontrailles who advis'd him to retire to Monsieur Fontrailles seeing he could not perswade him to take this Resolution gave the Duke of Espernon a Challenge that he might have a pretence to go from Court without increasing the suspicions that might arise against Cinqmars by his absence after this he disguis'd himself and got safe into England Cinqmars sent Monsieur advice how things stood Monsieur desired him to come to Moulin's at a day appointed and that he was resolv'd to get out of the Kingdom by the way of Franche-Comté In the mean time the Cardinal who set every thing at Work to discover the cause of Fontrailles's Journey by some means got a Copy of the Treaty with Spain though no one could ever yet learn how he came by it nor from whom The same moment he sent Chavigni to shew it to the King with Orders to assure his Majesty that this Copy was taken from the Original and that upon his Life he should have Proofs of it Cinqmars and de Thou were immediately Arrested and necessary Orders were dispatch'd with speed for the Observation of Monsieur But when he saw that he had lost the Opportunity of saving himself by the Franche-Comté he be thought himself of sending the Abbot de la Riviere who was his Favourite to the Court He gave him a Letter to the Cardinal which express'd his hearty Repentance in very passionate Terms and his Desire that his Pardon might be owing to him The King at the Cardinal's Intercession promis'd to forgive him all upon Condition That Monsieur should declare the Truth In short the Abbot de la Riviere manag'd the business so well that his Master mov'd with the Cardinal's Proceedings and the King's Goodness confess'd in general what had pass'd excus'd himself for having burnt the Original of the Spanish Treaty gave a Copy of it which he signed to certifie it and made it be counter-sign'd by the Secretary of his Dispatches When the Cardinal had got so important a Piece in his hands he sent a Dispatch to Paris to order the Chancellour to come with all speed that He with the Commissaries might frame a Process against Cinqmars and de Thou In the mean time they were sent to Lyons and because Fontrailles to give the Spaniards a greater Idea of the Party had not omitted the Duke of Bouillon's Name in the Treaty notwithstanding all his Praecautions and had assured them that he would ratifie it and deliver Sedan for a Place of Retreat a Messenger was dispatch'd with great Speed into Italy to have him Arrested The Orders were directed to the General Officers that commanded under him the Count du Plessis-Praslin Couvonges and Castelan When they had all three consulted together about the Manner how they should put them in Execution they agreed that they ought to defer it till the next day when the Duke of Bouillon would go to visit the Cittadel of Casal judging they could not without danger attempt to Arrest him at the Head of the Army so great was the Veneration they had for him and the Esteem that he had gain'd among them He had found so extravagant a Licentiousness in the Army that nothing was wanting to a Revolt but a Man to Head 'em and yet by his great Cares and the perfect Knowledge he had in the Orders of War he had reduc'd it in six Weeks time to a most exemplary Discipline without the Execution of more than two Soldiers so that perhaps never any General in so little time gained the Reputation of a Great Commander without besieging any Place or fighting any Battle or having any considerable Enemy to make Head against him The Army was then near Casal Couvonges who was Governour of it went thither betimes to set all things in order The Duke of Bouillon carried Castelan along with him and left the Count du Plessis to command in the Camp After the Duke of Bouillon had supp'd in the Cittadel he went down into the Town where his Lodgings were prepared and by the way meeting with an Officer that was just come from the Army he ask'd him what News from thence the Officer told him he knew of none but that if there were any he might be inform'd of it by the Count du Plessis who had arriv'd there long before him The Duke of Bouillon turning himself to Couvonges told him that he did not understand what the Count du Plessis meant by leaving the Army without his Order Couvonges answer'd him with much Concern that he had been at Casal but one Moment and drawing nearer gave him in his Ear so mean an Excuse for his coming that the Duke of Bouillon began to have some Suspicions and immediately after retired to his Chamber saying he would write his Dispatches Couvonges who had taken notice of the Duke of Bouillon's Surprize as the Duke had likewise done of his went immediately to the Count du Plessis to tell him what had happen'd He had conceal'd him in a Lodging near the Duke of Bouillon for they had resolv'd among themselves not to Arrest him till he should be in Bed The Chance fell to Couvonges to carry him word of it but he had already conceiv'd so much Esteem and Respect for the Duke of Bouillon that he could never bring himself to the Resolution of Arresting him in the Cittadel and it seem'd to him that by Arresting him in the Town he should only break the Laws of Hospitality in a less Degree and have fewer Difficulties in effecting a Design that could never be defended Couvonges having related to the Count du Plessis and Castelan what had pass'd between the Duke of Bouillon and himself they both judg'd that there would be danger in deferring the Execution one Moment Couvonges return'd directly to the Duke of Bouillon's Chamber and finding him walking there desired a word with him in private pretending that a Spy had brought him considerable News from the Enemy When the Duke of Bouillon had order'd those about him to retire Couvonges began with the Compliments that are usual upon such Occasions that he was extremely concern'd at the Orders he had received from the King to Arrest him as his Prisoner The Duke of Bouillon told him that if he had an Order it was Counterfeited and desired to see it Couvonges told him