to the Prince answer'd still to all the Instances and Menaces made them That they would not restore the Princess without the Consent of her Husband who had entrusted her with them A very generous Resolution indeed But is there not ground to think their secret Desire to excite some Commotions in France to traverse the vast Projects of Henry inspired them at least as much as their love to Equity and Justice Henry IV. prepares to march at the Head of his Army The great Preparations in France and other places kept the World in suspense None doubted the King had some greater Design than to drive Archduke Leopold out of the Countries of Cleves and Juliers In the mean time the House of Austria appeared Serene It could not be observed that she made any Provisions against this approaching War which openly threatned her either because she expected that Stroke which soon changed the State of Affairs or that the King of Spain a stupid and unactive Prince suffer'd himself to be perswaded by a weak Minister that the Ardour of Henry would cool when the French had spent their first Fire on the Countries of Cleves and Juliers and some other places of Italy The King had Thirty Thousand Foot and Six Thousand Horse in Champagne Sixty Pieces of Artillery and abundance of Money and Provisions Twelve Thousand Foot and Two Thousand Horse waited in Dauphine the Orders of Lesdiguieres to go and join the Duke of Savoy's Army The Venetians promised to declare themselves on condition they might have that part of the Milanese which lay most conveniently for them Henry burned with Impatience to march at the Head of so fair an Army Sometimes he would try the Arms he design'd to bear in the Day of Battel at other times he took pleasure to see the brave Prince Maurice of Orange bring him the best Troops of the Vnited Provinces Vex'd at the Advantages which Alexander Duke of Parma had gain'd over him in the Sieges of Paris and Roan he hoped to take his Revenge against the Marquiss of Spinola whose Reputation began to equal that of the other He was the only General now which the House of Austria had to oppose to the King Measures were taken for the Administration of Government in his Absence The Queen was to be Regent and the Duke of Epernon President of her Council It is amazing that Henry would trust his Wife and Children in the Hands of a Lord whom he never loved and whose Fidelity was ever suspected by him But after all he could never have made a better Choice Of the Three Princes of the Blood the first was in the Enemies Hands Conti passed for a weak Man and the Count of Soissons was disgusted 1610. Their ancient Enmity and the strict Tie the Guises had to the Spaniard made it unsafe for him to trust any of that House Epernon had Wit Courage Honour and was not without some Vanity So great a Mark of Respect engaged him to exert himself to answer the good Opinion the King had shewn of his Prudence and Fidelity Henry had yielded to the Importunities of the Queen Henry is Assassinated the 14th of May 1610. who ardently desired to be Crowned in all the Forms He imagined this Complaisance would make that jealous Princess forget the ill Humour the Kings Mistresses and above all the Marquise de Vernueil had so oft put her in The Ceremony of Consecration was perform'd at St. Denys with great Magnificence All things were disposed for the solemn Entry of the Queen into the Capital of the Kingdom When on the Eve of the Day design'd for that Pageantry Henry going in his Coach to the Arsenal to confer with the Duke of Sully Superintendant of the Finances and great Master of the Artillery received two or three stabs with a Knife one of which cut through the Artery of the Lungs He fell down dead on the Duke of Epernon who was on one side of him and to whom he was whispering in the Ear when he received the first blow Francis Ravillac a Native of Angoulême committed this execrable Parricide the 14th day of May 1610. In the Hurry and Confusion which attend Accidents of this kind he might have saved himself by hiding his Knife But perswaded this was an Action worthy of Reward he kept it in his hand till he was seized One of the Kings Gentlemen in ordinary and some Footmen would have given him a thousand stabs upon the spot but the Duke of Epernon remembring the fault committed in killing in this manner the Monk who murthered Henry the III forbid any on pain of Death to touch him So he was secured and carried to the Hôtel of Retz By a Negligence which appear'd suspicious and affected instead of throwing this Wretch into a Dungeon every one had the liberty to speak to him during the two days he remained there If the first Persons of the Kingdom thought they had more pressing Affairs than to revenge the Death of the King what hindred the inferiour Magistrates from doing their Duty in discovering the Authours of so black an Attempt The Queen labours to procure her self to be declared Regenâ—… during the Minority of Lewis XIII her Son The Queen wiped off her Tears as soon as the Chancellour and Villeroy had made her sensible every Moment was precious and she must labour incessantly to make her Advantage of the absence of two oâ—… the Princes of the Blood and the weakness of the other to procure her self to bâ—… declared Regent during the Minority oâ—… her Son The new King Lewis XIII was about to begin the tenth year of his Age being born the 27th of September 1601. The Dukes of Guise and Epernon seemed the most proper Persons to execute the Project The unbounded Ambition of both these Men made them equally believe by doing this service to a Foreign Princess unskilled in the Arts of Ruling a Nation they should make themselves Masters of the Government Behold then both of them marching through Paris at the Head of divers Armed Men to suppress any Tumult might be caused by the unexpected Death of the King Guise goes directly to the Town-House Epernon arrives a little after and both exhort Lejay Provost of the Merchants the Echevins and the Citizens met there to continue faithful to the Son of him whose Loss they Regretted and to take all necessary care to prevent Disorder and Confusion The Duke of Sully came from the Arsenal as soon as he heard of the Death of his good Master He went to the Louvre as other Persons of Quality did who all ran to offer their Services and swear Fidelity to the New King and the Queen his Mother Memoires de Bassompierre Surpriz'd to find Bassompierre at the head of a great number of Horse he thought fit to exhort him to take an Oath of Fidelity to Lewis Well Sir replyed Bassompierre in a haughty disdainful Tone We come here to require that
the Memory of his Father by the Love you ought to have for your selves and your Zeal for your Country I will instruct him to follow your Advice in all the concerns of State It is your part to see this be wholsom and good When she had done she came down within the Bar as if she would still give them a liberty to agree in their Opinions concerning the Regency The Princes Lords and Magistrates convinced there was more Ceremony than Reality in this begg'd her to take her place again Mary skill'd in the Art of Dissimulation suffer'd her self to be prest for a long time till the Instances she required seem'd to be a force on her Modesty and Grief Young Lewis rehearsed well enough the Discourse prepared for him It was not omitted here to insert the young King would follow the Advice of his Parliament This is a Language which ancient Custom has made usual in the beginning of a Minority but is never remembred by Princes when their Authority is once Established Ann of Austria and her Son said the same thing Nevertheless we have seen with our own Eyes in the present Reign and we shall see in that whose History I now write that Lewis XIII and his Successor have too much given ear to vile Flatterers who have prompted them to annul the Authority of a Body of Men on which the Preservation of France does depend Reisel Hist de Louis XII dans son livre de la Monarchie de France 1. part chap. VIII X. and which was Established to curb the Absolute power of the King Thus Men talked in the time of Lewis XIII And this Discourse is Seditious under the Reign of Lewis XIV The Chancellour assured them the late King had more than once signified his Intention according to divers preceding Examples that the Queen his Wife should have the Administration of Affairs in case he died before his Son was a Major After the Chancellor's Harangue was over the first President began He exhorted the young Prince to strive to deserve the Title of Father of his People as the good King Lewis XII had done on whose Throne he sat and to follow the Instructions which St. Lewis left to Posterity Servin Advocate-General did the same and all was concluded by the King's Decree sitting in his Seat of Justice and confirming that made the preceding Day and by sending it to other Parliaments and publishing it throughout the Kingdom The Speeches of these Two great Magistrates would have been worthy of their Gravity and Reputation if they had given less excessive Praises to a Princess who never deserved the most moderate ones The New Decree being given out the King returned with mighty Shouts and Acclamations of the Multitude who admire whatever strikes their Senses All People wished a long Prosperity to the Son of the Great Henry crying for Justice on the Authours of his Father's Death Happy had it been if the Prayers and Wishes of his Subjects could have obtained for him the Qualities of Mind and Inclinations necessary to tread in the Steps of the good Kings who preceded him the number of whom is very small But he had not Genius enough to acquire the one and his Mother would not permit him to have a Governour to form him for the other The Count of Soissons was extremely surprized to find all done in his Absence He made haste to Paris Intrigues and Cabals at Court in the beginning of the Regency of Mary de Medicis accompanied with Three Hundred Gentlemen on Horseback To lessen his Discontent which began to discover it self he had the Government of Normandy given him The Regent next rewarded those who had servâ—…d her well The Pensions of the Princes of the House of Lorrain were very moderate in the preceding Reign But Sully who strove to support the greatest Enemies of his Religion raised them to a Hundred thousand Livres The Duke of Guise obtained Two Hundred Thousand Crowns to pay his Debts and the Queen promised to favour him in the Design he had to marry the Heiress of Joyeuse Widow of the Duke of Montpensier by whom she had only One Daughter Epernon was so wealthy and had such Places he seem'd above the Gratifications of the Court He was rewarded according to his own Humour He had great Honours done him and all the Marks of a particular Distinction The Queen lodg'd him in the Louvre I do not said she Vie de Duc d' Epernon L. IV. think my self safe there wihtout him The Secretaries of State communicated all Dispatches to him In a word he seemed on the Point to render himself as formidable now as he had been under the Reign of the weak Henry III. The Count of Soissons sought his Friendship with great earnestness He He aimed by this to strengthen himself against the Prince of Conde who was invited to return and take his Rank at Court The Princess of Montpensier was Daughter to a Niece of the Duke of Epernon and the Count hoped to bring the Wealth of that rich Family into his House by marrying his Son to that Heiress This Match could not be concluded without the Consent of the Uncle Soissons hated Sully mortally He flatter'd himself that Epernon exasperated against that Minister who had done very ill Offices to the One and the Other with the late King would join with him to rid themselves of their common Enemy The Duke did not refuse the Friendship of a Prince of the Blood but would not engage to serve him in all his Projects The Edge of the Count was not taken off by this He proposes to his new Friend to stab the Duke of Sully in the Louvre A base and cowardly Action unworthy I will not say of a Prince but of the meanest Man in the World It struck with Horror one who valu'd himself on his Virtue and Probity Epernon reply'd as civilly as he could his Trust would not permit him to suffer a Violence of that kind in the King's House The Count took this Denyal ill However the secret Desire he had to raise himself above the Prince of Conde who fill'd a Place that Soissons thought belonged of Right to him made him dissemble his ill Humour Could Epernon after this maintain a Friendship with a Man who had discover'd so villainous a Heart However great a Prince is by his Birth or Interest he can deserve nothing but Hatred and Contempt when he once becomes guilty of so black a Crime Jealousies broke out and Intrigues grew numerous State of Affairs in the beginning of the Regency when the Debates began about forming the Regents Council The Princes of the Blood justly pretended to have a place there by Right of their Birth The Constable of Montmorency and the Duke of Joyeuse thought they ought not to be excluded Those of the House of Guise assured of the good Intentions of the Queen towards them hoped to raise themselves They were too weak
Blasphemies against the late King Henry III. and against the Persons and States of Kings and Soveraign Princes The Jesuits have ever had their Partisans and Adversaries The first were ready to excuse them and the latter rose up against them with great Zeal and Vehemence The Abbot Dubois preaching at St. Eustace in Paris undertook in one of his Sermons to refute the Opinions of Mariana By a figure of Rhetorick lively enough he addrest his Speech to the good Fathers and exhorted them strongly for the future to take care in the Books published in the name of their Body and with Approbation of their Superious to let nothing pass offensive to France unless the Jesuits would expose themselves to Dangers which all their Prudence strengthen'd by the Power of their Friends would not be able to avoid This Discourse made a great Impression on the Audience They went away enraged against the Society and the People appeared extreamly incensed against them Complaint was made to the Queen of this Sermon and she remitted the Affair to the Archbâ—…shop of Paris Dubois protested before that Prelate he meant no hurt to the Society My Love said he to Truth my Grief for the Death of the King and a just Dread of the fatal Effects that the Doctrine of Mariana may produce such Sentiments as these made me speak in that manner The Archbishop of Paris had nothing to reply and contented himself with exhorting the Preacher to live well with all the Servants of God and particularly with the Jesuits But it had been more to the purpose to perswade effectually those good Fathers to pardon the Abbot the injury which they thought they had received I do not know how it came to pass but Dubois had the Imprudence to go to Rome the next year and then they did not want colour to shut him up in a close Prison The Patience of Father Coton Confessour to the late King could not bear to hear the General Exclamation against his Brethren He resolved to justifie the Society against the Imputation on the account of Mariana's Book His Wise and discerning Friends advised Coton to say nothing for fear of any Misunderstanding in an Affair that must be so nicely handled Every one wonder'd that a Man who knew the World so well and wanted not Prudence should not take so good Advice He published a long Letter addressed to the Queen to perswade the World Mariana was a private Person disown'd by their Body who had true Notions of the Authority of Princes and the Obedience due to them The thing happened at the Friends of the Jesuits had foretold A thousand Pamphlets were instantly published against the Fathers Letter It is full say they of Ambiguous Expressions and Tricking They insulted him on his pretended disclaiming the Doctrine which was plainly forced to comply with present necessity It comes too late said some maliciously enough to the good Fathers but perhaps it will not be useless to the Children of him who is now in his Grave Indeed the defence of Coton was weak and ill put together What he said of the Complaints of the Provincial Congregation held at Paris some years before and the Answer of their General Aquaviva gave an Advantage to the Enemies of the Society The French Jesuits having desired their Superiour to stop the Liceace and Suppress the Books of some Authours who had written some things to the prejudice of France the Father gave them this Answer We approve the Judgment and Care of your Congregation And we are very sorry that this was not discover'd till after the Impression of those Books We have taken order they shall be corrected and we will have a care that nothing of the like nature shall happen for the future This is very cold and ambiguous for an Opinion which allows Attempts on the Lives of Soveraigns Here are some of the Prudential Managements of the Children of this World But there is no formal disavowing that execrable Dogm the Defenders of which deserve an Exemplary punishment We must be very simple to believe that the Superiours of the Society did not know what Mariana and others of the same stamp wrote till after the Publication of their Works do's not all the World know what are their Statutes relating to the Publication of their Books It is to little purpose that Coton cites several Authours of different Sentiments from Mariana If among so many able Men there was none to be found who maintain Homicide to be absolutely forbid by the Laws of God it would be a very extraordinary thing The permission of the Society to print Mariana's Book is ground enough to conclude they approve it or at least do not condemn it as ill These Writers pass for grave Authours but according to the Principles of Probability a Dogm which ows its Birth to or at least is adopted by the Society in all its Forms James Clement could on the Authority of Mariana Assassinate Henry III. And his Successour might be kill'd with a safe Conscience at least at a time when Sixtus V. and Gregory XIV darted all the Thunder of the Vatican against him The Jesuits bore the most violent Assaults of the Preachers of Paris The Funeral of Henry IV. at the time of Henry's Funerals The Ceremony was performed with the usual pomp The Heart was sent to the College of Jesuits which the King had founded at la Fleche in Anjou He had ordered it thus before his Death Coton made his Funeral Oration there The Body was first carried to the Cathedral Church of Paris and from thence conveyed to the ordinary Burying-place of the Kings of France The Bishop of Aire pronounced the Elogy of the Deceased King at Notre Dame and the Bishop of Anger 's at St. Denys Tho' Henry might deserve in the Eyes of the World the Title of Great his Vertues and Actions did not deserve the Church of Rome should interrupt her Holy Rites to make his Panegyrick in a Pulpit which ought to be Sacred to the Preaching of the Truth What can a good Christian say in praise of a Prince dead in several Criminal Habits on the point of putting all Europe in a Flame and causing a great Effusion of Blood to satisfie his Ambition to revenge himself of his Enemies who were not in a condition to hurt him to force away a Princess in the face of the World whose Husband took Refuge to defend himself from the Solicitations and Pursuits of a King whom love had deprived of all Senseand Reason His pretended Conversion was a fair Field for prophane Orators void of Religion to exercise their Eloquence Their Triumph in so Important a Conquest served to cover his ill Life and impenitent Death But were they ever assured Henry was sincerely a Catholick Let us leave that to the judgment of God If it be true this Princes Conscience was setled in matters of Faith it is certain his irregular Life did not do much honour to the
League for the Safety of Italy we are ready to give our ancient Allies proofs we desire nothing more than to preserve and secure that Repose they enjoy Upon this Declaration the Senate answered very Wisely to the Duke of Savoy that it very much concerned all the Sovereigns of Italy to keep a good Understanding and provide for their common Safety But it is to be feared said they this will only serve to incense the Spaniards more and encrease the Distrust and Jealousie of a Crown whom it behoves as much nay more than its Neighbours to seek for Peace The Wise Politick Old Ministers of Henry IV. saw very well the Spaniards were not so much to be feared and there was more Ostentation than Reality in the threatning Advances of the Court of Madrid The Death of the Count of Fuentes Governor of Milan which happened at that time helped to revive their Courage They thought Spain would not be able to find a Subject capable of so well Supporting the Reputation of the Crown and covering so artfully the weakness of Philip III. and the Duke of Lerma his first Minister Pedro Gusman of Toledo Count of Fuentes died aged 85 years on the 22d of July 1610. He was a Man of extraordinary Capacity and great Experience in all Civil and Military Affairs He gained mighty Reputation in the Campagnes of Picardy about the end of the preceding Age and especially at the taking of Cambray But the care he took to profit by the Lessons of his Master Philip II. sullied the good Qualities of so finisht a Statesman and Soldier The ill Designs of the Court of Spain against the Duke of Savoy As Charles Emanuel was the boldest and I will add the most Imprudent of the Italian Princes to declare against Spain so he was the first and chief Object which felt the Displeasure of that Revengeful Court. In the first place all the Spanish Troops in his Service were remanded back He saw plainly they were seeking for an Occasion to pick a Quarrel with him being assured of a speedy Aid from the Mareschal Lesdiguieres his Friend Siri Memoire recordite Tom. II. p. 282 304. who commanded in Dauphine the Duke was not struck with the Threats made him from the King of Spain He spoke not only like a Man who was resolved to defend himself Couragiously but like one who would pursue the Designs set on foot before Henry's Death All the World was so fully convinced that the Superiority of Genius and Strength which had formerly made Spain formidable were entirely wanting in Philip III. that Princes far inferior to him haughtily insulted him The Imprudence and double dealing of the Duke of Savoy The Duke of Savoy might have securely despised all the Threats of the Spaniards if he had been more prudent and less Knavish Could he not plainly see France had no design to break with Spain but that the Regent would stir to prevent him from being Opprest He ought not then in point of Discretion to have provoked a Neighbour who notwithstanding her Weakness was stronger than a Duke of Savoy At the same time that Charles Emanuel was earnestly pressing Mary to obtain what the late King had promised him he was at the same time keeping secret Intelligence with the Count of Soissons and the rest of the discontented Lords and Heads of the Protestant Party in hopes of kindling a Civil War in France Being perswaded that the King of Spain would be glad to be reconciled to him and sought his Friendship he endeavoured to insinuate into the Court of Madrid that if she would grant him good Conditions he would do her very good Service against France Both Parties soon saw his Ways Thus was he equally odious and suspected in all the Courts of Europe suffered the Disgrace of being humbled in Spain despised in France and Italy and hated in his own Country which he ruined by his Chimerical Projects Divers Negotiations to oblige the Kingâ—… of Spain and Duke of Savoy to lay down their Arms in Italy Whilst these Intrigues were carrying on the King of Spain was in Arms in Italy and the Duke of Savoy had a considerable number of Soldiers there Strange Confusions for France and the Sovereigns of Italy The Regent was very impatient to Disband the Army in Dauphine Commanded by a Hugonot General but Prudence would not suffer her to do it in such a Juncture Siri Memoire recâ—…ndite Tom II. p. 335 336. The Pope apprehended least the Mareschal Lesdiguieres should pass the Alps under colour of coming to the Assistance of the Duke of Savoy When Mary pressed Charles Emanuel to lay down his Arms he asked such conditions as she did not care to grant him The Pope too made his Instances that Spain and Savoy should send away those Troops which gave France and Italy so great uneasiness But Philip pretended Charles Emanuel ought in the first place to lay down his Arms and make him Satisfaction The Duke on the contrary alledged that the weakest ought to stand upon his Guard when he seemed to be threatned by a Powerful Neighbour so that the Difference now seemed only to consist in Ceremony Nevertheless the more discerning Men thought they saw a Collusion here The Duke Dissatisfied to find the Regent intended in earnest to fall in with the Spaniard he began to talk too of sending Prince Philibert his Son to Madrid The King of Spain demands the Duke of Savoy should first of all make him Satisfaction Whether it were that the Court of Spain were assured that the Regent of France would willingly suffer the Duke of Savoy to be humbled provided no harm were done him or that Philip was absolutely resolved to reduce his Brother-in-Law who behaved himself so Haughty at a time when he sought the King of Spain's Favour Charles Emanuel received News from Madrid That his Catholick Majesty was exactly informed of his Ties to the late King of France and that before the King would consent to an Accommodation he required a very mortifying Preliminary of the Duke of Savoy Siri Memoire recondite Tom. II. p. 336 337. This was that he should send his Sons or at least one of them to Madrid to remain there as a Pledge of their Fathers Fidelity and farther that he should ask Pardon for his secret Treaties with France to the prejudice of the Crown of Spain Charles Emanuel presently summoned his Council together No Expedient could be found to evade these hard conditions but to press France earnestly to send a speedy Aid For now the Spanish Troops in the Milanese seemed ready to pour into Piemont Lesdiguieres gave the Duke fair words but Mary de Medicis very far from breaking with Spain in favour of Charles Emanuel advised him to send Prince Philibert to Madrid to pacifie King Philip. Thus did the two Courts make sport with a Man who thought himself crafty enough to deceive them both There was no way
Condition but was drunk before he finished it The Elector caused him to be set in a Chair and ordered the drunken Preacher to be carried back to the Princess The next time Madam he bid them tell her Make a better choice of your Men. If you would have me profit by your Advices send such Men as are more proof against the Temptation than I am Princes often would want place in History if it was not necessary now and then to divert the Reader and paint the Folly of Vice The Electoral Diet at Nutembergh John George the New Elector of Saxony came to Nurembergh with his Collegues about the beginning of October The first Affair treated of there was the Contest between the Dukes of Deux-Ponts and Neuburgh about the Administration of the Electorate during the Minority of the young Count Palatine of the Rhine Mercure Francois 16â—â— 1611. This was to continue till he was arrived at 18 years of Age according to the Golden Bull. Frederick VI. Elector Palatine deceased the preceding year had given by his Will the Guardianship of his Children and the Administration of the Electorate to John Duke of Deux-Ponts He was received at Heidelbergh in this Quality notwithstanding the Opposition of Philip Lewis Duke of Neuburgh who pretended to the Administration as being the nearest Kinsman as is appointed in the Golden Bull of the Emperor Charles IV. The Counsellors of the Palatinate liked the Duke of Deux-Ponts best because he was of the Established Religion of their Country whereas Neuburgh was of the Ausburgh Confession They grounded this Preference on the Examples of several Electors Palatine who appointed Guardians to their Children and Administrators of the Electorate to the prejudice of their nearest Kinsmen The Affair was remitted to the Emperor Till a full Decision of the Guardianship and Administration were adjudged with a provision to the Duke of Deux-Ponts The Electoral Diet of Nurembergh did not any more give a Defensive Judgment It was concluded here that the Duke of Deux-Ponts should keep the Place of Count Palatine without prejudice to the Duke of Newburgh's Title In the beginning of November the Electors sent a Deputation to the Emperor The Electors Demands of the Emperor to represent to him the things which they thought proper to desire from him These were that Justice should be Reestablished That he should chuse more Faithful Counsellors That he should Summon a General Diet That the Electors having no design to chuse a King of the Romans without the consent of his Imperial Majesty or to remove the Empire from the House of Austria Rodolphus would Name his Successor The Electors assured him at the same time they did not approve of the Attempts of his Brother Matthias In the close they Admonished him that the ill Administration of the Empire proceeded from his Majesty 's not following the example of his Predecessors who used to consult with the Electors The Answer of the Emperor Rodolphus Rodolphus only gave a General Answer I know says he the Empire do's want a King of the Romans The Electors have spoke to me of chusing one and I design to Nominate one who is fit to fill the Place I should have done this sooner if the Troubles in Bohemia had not entirely taken me up But before I declare my self I shall be glad to see a General Diet and I will be present there The Electors should take care that I may speak freely there what I think to be for the good of the Empire The Electors having received the Emperor's Answer broke up the 12th of November after they had resolved to hold a Diet at Francfort in the Month of April the next year for the Election of a King of the Romans Europe was then in Mourning for the Death of Margaret of Austria The Death of the Queen of Spain Wife to Philip the III. King of Spain She left behind her four Sons and two Daughters Philip Charles Ferdinand Alphonso and Ann whom we shall soon see Queen of France and Margaret There was a Solemn Service for the Queen of Spain in the Cathedral Church of Paris The Princes of Conde Conti and the Duke of Guise performed the Honours and the Archbishop of Ambrun spoke the Funeral Oration The Death of the Duke and Dutchess of Mayenne The House of Guise had not long before lamented the Death of the Duke of Mayenne the Famous Head of the Holy League in France He died at Soissons the beginning of October The Duke of Aiguillon his Son Succeeded him and took the Name of the Duke of Mayenne The Father had gained a mighty Reputation in War but his Remissness made him lose many fair opportunities of encreasing it His Revolt against King Henry the III. was pardonable for the desire he had to Revenge the Death of his two Brothers if it were lawful I will not say for a Christian but for any Man whatever to kindle a Civil War to Revenge a private Injury His Opposition of Henry the IV. was not wholly the effect of his Zeal for the Old Religion The Duke of Mayenne was more moderate against this Prince after he left the Communion of the Reformed than before The ill Humour which the Miscarrying of the League had put him into made him take in Despair a Resolution to retire into Spain But the Clemency or rather the Policy of Henry stopt him The King proposed very Advantagious Conditions to him The Duke had in some manner deferved well from him though he strove to exclude him from the Crown Whilst the League was active Mayenne always opposed the design of Philip to procure a Prince of his House to be chosen Farther he kept the Duke of Guise his Nephew steddy who was dazled with the deceitful promises of the Spaniards When they proposed to the Duke of Mayenne to follow the Example of Hugh Capet who reserved the Sovereignty for himself permitting the Governors of Provinces and considerable Towns to make themselves Dukes and Counts Vassals of the Crown I would sooner die replied he generously than make an Advantage of the Misfortunes of my Country Henrietta of Savoy his Wife died of Regret a few days after him and both had the same Funeral Solemnity at Soissons The Dutchess of Lorrain and the Cardinal de Gonzaga came to the Court of France The Court was at Fontainblean when they heard of the Death of the Duke and Dutchess of Mayenne The Cardinal of Gonzaga and the Dutchess of Lorrain his Sister were come thither to pay a Visit to Mary de Medicis their Aunt They had great Honours done them and were regaled with all the Diversions which the place afforded It is reported the Dutchess of Lorrain came to mention the Match which the late King had proposed himself of his Eldest Son with the Princess of Lorrain This was the best thing the Regent could do for the young King's advantage Siri Mem. recondite To. II. p.
Crown to be Entailed on his Heirs Male in short for setling Luther's Reformation in his Country and Abridging the too great Power of the Clergy Eric the Eldest Son of Gustavus Succeeded him but wanted the Virtues of his Father He introduced into Sweden the Dignities of Count and Baron which before were unknown there It was thought this was done to divide the Nobility among themselves The too great Union of this Powerful Body was able to create Trouble to a Family newly raised to the Throne The Dignities bestowed on some gave a Jealousie to the rest Those who had most Ambition made their Court to the King to obtain the same Distinction And the New Nobility were obliged to support the Authority of the King and adhere here to his Family to preserve their Privileges Eric made himself Odious by his Cruelties and Despicable by his Debauches and Extravagancies His ill Treatment of John Duke of Finland and Charles Duke of Sudermannia obliged them to rise and put themselves at the Head of the Malecoutents These two Princes Attacked Eric in Stockholm it self He first delivered up his Favourite whom all the Kingdom Exclaimed against They inflicted an Infamous punishment on him John and Charles would have something more than all this They agreed to take the Sovereign Power from Eric who abused it unjustly and that the Duke of Finland should be declared King and the Duke of Sudermannia should share with him in the Government without having any outward Marks of Royalty John thought himself now discharged from the Oath he had taken when Eric delivered him out of a close Prison where he had kept him three or four years The Duke had given Assurance by a Writing under his Hand that he would continue faithful to the King and not aspire to the Crown neither before nor after the Death of the King his Elder Brother and that he would acknowledge those Children for lawful Heirs of the Kingdom which Eric had by a Mistress of Mean Birth whom he afterwards Marryed Solemnly But John was not very anxious about the Religious observing his Promises When he was Master of his Eldest Brother not contented with shutting him up in a Castle he soon poisoned him John and Charles continued to attack Stockholm The Senate of the City delivered it up to them and poor Eric reduced to Extremity was left to the Discretion of his two Brothers The States of Sweden declared him fallen from the Crown and John Duke of Finland was set up in his place John King of Sweden endeavours to alter the Religion Established by his Father The New King of Sweden was not truer to the Duke of Sudermannia than he had been to his Predecessor Charles had no share in the Administration of the Kingdom Men promise any thing when they are to ascend a Throne but when they are once Established in it they find other Principles of Religion and Honour John had Married Catherine Jagellon Daughter to the King of Poland Whether the Princess had inspired her Husband with an Aversion to the Protestant Religion or the Reading the Books and Conversation of able Men of the Papal Communion had raised doubts in him or he hoped to be King of Poland after the Death of Sigismund Augustus his Brother-in-Law who had no Children as soon as John had made a Peace with Denmark by the Treaty of Stetin in Pomerania he applied himself seriously to change the Religion which his Father had setled in Sweden It is not a place here to relate all the Artifices he made use of to prepare the Minds of his People for the Alterations he designed I shall only observe that the King who wanted not Wit or Judgment was convinced there were a great many things to be altered in the Worship and Doctrine of the Church of Rome He can neither be reckoned among the good Catholicks nor the true Protestants Ever uncertain and wavering sometimes he relished the Project of Accommodation which Cassander had given to the Emperor Maximilian II. at other times he was inclined to the Greek Church The Answers of Jeremiah Patriarch of Constantinople to the Divines of Wirtembergh pleased him so much that he once thought to unite with that Communion Possevin a Learned Jesuit whom Pope Gregory the XIII had sent into Sweden thought he had persuaded King John to Reunite himself in earnest to the Church of Rome He confessed himself to that Jesuit the Popes private Nuncio he received the Communion in the Form used in that Church Possevin imposed as a Pennance on him for the Murther of his Brother Eric whom he had poysoned to fast every Wednesday throughout the year It is said John observed this Practice regularly all the rest of his Life Nevertheless he frequented the publick Service of the Church of Sweden There was a New Liturgy used which himself had introduced and the Pope refused to approve of The Mixture of these two Religions was one of the ways by which this Prince pretended insensibly to bring the People to forsake the Worship and Belief of the Protestants of the Ausburgh Confession Several Romish Churchmen came into Sweden The Irresolution of King John and his Indulgence drew them thither Several of his own Subjects too favour'd his dissembled Designs By their manner of Discourse the more unthinking People took these Preachers for free Protestants But others observed in spight of their Disguises all they spoke tended to insinuate into the Minds of the People the Doctrines of Popery The Archbishop of Vpsal suffered himself to be won by them Some Prelates and divers ignorant or ambitious Churchmen follow'd his Example There were some Bishops ordained according to the Roman Pontifical The Bishop of Linkoping several of his Brethren and a great number of Churchmen couragiously defended the Reformation setled by Gustavus Ericson The Clergy of the Dutchy of Sudermannia shewed a firmness of Mind which much confounded King John Charles his Brother declared highly for the Ausburgh Confession He opposed this Alteration with all his Might Neither the King nor I can make any Innovation in the Religion established by Law he replied to those sent to dispose him to comply All things are well regulated by the last Will and Testament of the late King our Father We must fix there For my part I am resolved never to depart from it The States of Sweden shew'd great Vigour on several Occasions They represented to the King that mighty Jealousies were risen in Sweden and Foreign Countries that his Majesty would overthrow that Constitution which his Father had wisely established and that to put an end to all those Rumours it concerned him to declare publickly that the Reformation received in that Kingdom was conformable to the Sense of the Primitive Church Farther the States commanded several Popish Books brought into that Country to be suppress'd they press'd the King to place able Men of unblemish'd Reputation in the Publick Schools to instruct the Youth In the last
have the liberty to follow her Religion in private and in the most Retir'd Chamber of her Apartment I confess that these are too strait and narrow Conditions but if France speaks sincerely I don't question but that she will be contented with them Henry very well knew his covetous Fathers Humour For this reason he had a touch upon the Article of her Fortune in a somewhat more nice manner If your Majesty continued he regards the greatness of a Dowry I think you will prefer the Princess of Savoy she brings with her Two hundred thousand Crowns more than the Lady of France for at least I can scarce persuade my self that the Regent will give more to the second Daughter than to the Eldest But if your Majesty lays aside Interest to do what shall be more to the mind of the General Body of Protestants abroad it seems to me you will rather encline to France than Savoy Lastly concluded the Prince I fear lest your Majesty should not be content with the indifference I shew for all the Propositions of Marriage which are made me I most humbly beg your pardon for it T' is you Sir who is to take the most advantageous Resolution that may be for the good of the State I have but little experience in politick Affairs and can't speak like a Man smitten with Love upon this Occasion I have with the greater willingness inserted into History this Letter because it might be perhaps the last he ever writ T' was dated the 14th of October 1612. and the Prince died the 16th of November Having drank some small Beer to quench his Thirst after hard Riding he fell dangerously Sick All the skill of the ablest Physicians could do no good against the violence of his Distemper Heaven was deaf to the prayers of all England for the recovery of a young Prince Nineteen years of Age the Hopes and Delight of the Nation Those Persons who at first affected to shew the greatest grief for his Death were not sorry for't heartily At least t' was so believed The Affliction of the common People was more sincere and of deeper impression than that of the Court. They generally said the Applauses which we have so heartily given the Prince of Wales have been Ominous and Fatal to him They who will Reign as absolute Masters don't love to see their Children too popular The Affection which young Henry had for Religion and the Libertie's of his Country had caus'd the course of life to be cut off which had been so happily begun Charles his Brother and Frederick Elector of Palatine who was come to visit the Princess of England design'd in Marriage for him were present at the Funeral in close Mourning The Tears of the People who accompanied him to the Grave in reckoning up his Vertues which shin'd already in his Person and in bewailing the irreparable loss which England had suffer'd were the greatest Ornament of this Ceremony The Prohibition the King his Father made some few days after to appear at Court in Mourning redoubled the suspitions and indignation of the English-men Did not he think as a Roman Emperor did once heretofore that it did not become the Majesty of a Prince to sully his Face with Tears that great Afflictions are for little private Persons and that Kings may die but the State is Immortal This was the reason why King James thought he ought not to Interrupt the Divertisements which were usual at the beginning of a new year T' was said that France was not sorry to hear of the Death of the Prince of Wales who seem'd rather to have the Inclinations of the ancient Kings of England than of the Kings of Scottish Race and one could but very badly Interpret the Sentiments which the Prince shew'd when he heard of the Death of Henry IV. I have lost cry'd he my second Father The common Opinion is that young Henry had resolv'd to steal away from the English Court and go learn the Trade of War under the King of France as soon as he march't at the Head of his Army At the same time the Prince of Wales lamented the Tragical Death of Henry the IV. a Courtier resolv'd to tell him that this Occurrence would give his Highness the means of making the pretension of England's Kings to France more strong and prevalent Get you gone idle Flatterer replyed the Prince in Anger dare you talk to me of making War against an Infant I am ready to defend him against all those who shall venture to attack him The Son of that Person for whom the Prince had so Noble Sentiments hath not had this delicate Generosity though he was much more advanc't in Age. I doubt whether it be needful to carry the Suspitions of young Henry's Death as far as many in England have carried them If it was hasten'd as the report of Physicians made People believe the Viscount of Rochester may have committed so horrible a Crime He and his Wife were accus'd since then as being guilty of Poysoning The Prince had no kindness for his Fathers Favourite he always look't sourly upon him and shew'd a great Repugnance of Spirit to suffer him near his Person Robert Carr a Gentleman of a mean Birth in Scotland having found out a way to be Page to the King his pleasant Countenance fine Stature insinuating Behaviour pleased him extreamly In a little time Car was Knighted and the King disgusted with the Count of Montgomery set all his Affection upon the Scotch Knight He raised him up further to the Dignity of Viscount of Rochester and afterwards to be Duke of Somerset The Fall of this unworthy Favourite was as shameful as his Rise was astonishing He at last fell in Love with the Countess of Essex who sought to engage him and he afterwards married her This is not a fit Place to relate this Lady's Adventures 'T is said that the Prince of Wales was struck with her great Beauty but Rochester was preferr'd before him The Despite which the Prince harbour'd from hence encreased the Aversion he had for his Rival The Countess having let fall her Glove as she was dancing he who had taken it up presented it to the Prince of Wales thinking to please him in giving him an Opportunity of shewing the Lady a Civility whom he seem'd to have a Kindness for But Henry threw the Glove back with Disdain saying Another hath stretched it out As the Two Lovers were expert in the Art of Poysoning so 't is very probable they had a mind to be rid of a Prince and make him away who would have been a great Impediment to their Repose and the Establishment of their Fortune The Count de Soissons dead some Days before the Prince of Wales left behind him vacant Places of great Dignity the Governments of the Dauphiny and of Normandy with the Office of Lord High-Steward of the King's Houshold The Regent gave this Office to the new Count Son of the Deceased with the
Nevertheless Condi Duc de Rets joined Vendome they gathered together some Troops and set about Fortifying Bâ—…avet of which they had made themselves Masters as also of some other Places of the Dutchy of Ponthievre which belonged to the House of Mercoeur whose Heiress Coesar had married He writ to the King to Complain of the unjust Treatment that he found Instead of Answering this Duke who was never feared nor valued they sent Orders to the Comte de Vertus and to the Parliament of Britagne to hinder him from Levying or Assembling any Troops not excepting his Company of Guards unless he shewed express Orders from her Majesty Caesar wrote a Second Letter to the King he Complains there of the Affront which was offerd him in degrading him from his Government and justifies himself as well as he can with respect to the Fortifications of Blavet The Court as little regarded this Letter as the First Being more concerned about her Negociations in Champagne the Regent slighted the Duke of Vendome and Concluded a Treaty with the Prince of Conde The death of the Connetable de Mont morenci Henry Duc de Montmorenci Pair and Connetable of France died in his Government of Languedoc during these Troubles The late King had invested him with the First military Dignity which had not been filled since the death of Anne de Montmorenci his Father History gives us no great Character of this Connetable he was a Man of moderate Merits The judicious President de Thou is far from giving us so fine a Description of him as of his Eldest Brother the Mareschal de Montmorenci Henry his Son had married some time ago the Daughter of the Duke de Bracciano of the Family of the Vrsins in Italy He left Three Daughters Two by a First Wife one of which married the Duke de Ventadour and the other the Comte d'Auvergne afterwards Duke d'Angouleme The Third by his Second Wife was married to the Prince of Conde Whilest the Duke de Ventadour the President of Thou and Jeannin Boissise and Bullion Counsellers of State were in a Conference at Soissons for Mary de Medicis with the Prince de Conde and the Lords of his Party the Marquiss de Coeuvres Ambassador Extraordinary from France in Italy was there finishing his Negociation concerning the Affair of Mantua The Duke of Savoy The D. of Savoy avoids meeting the Marquiss de Coeuvres the Fr. Ambassador in Italy Memoires de lo Regence de Marie de Medicis Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 109. 191. who was not Ignorant that this New Minister of France was to join with the Ambassador who was sent from Spain at the same time to press his Highness to Disarm and to Conclude the marriage of his Daughter the Widow of Duke Francis of Mantua with the Cardinal Ferdinand de Gonzagua his Brother and Successor Charles Emanuel I say went out of Turin as soon as he heard of the Arrival of Coeuvres under a pretence of going to settle some Disorders which had happen'd in his County of Nice in Provence He could not digest the loftiness of the Court of Spain towards him Two of his Sons were Hostages as it were Victor Amadaeus Prince of Piedmont the Eldest which his Father had sent into Spain very imprudently upon the occasion of his Quarrel with the House of Mantua and Philibert whom the Spaniards had the precaution to hold in Custody ever since Charles Emanuel had sent him to make Satisfaction to his Catholick Majesty as we said before Indeed they had given Prince Philibert the Command of the Spanish Gallies but this Important Charge was properly spèaking but an Honourable prison The Guards and Officers which were about his Person had an Eye upon all his Steps and Actions Althô Two Hostages so Dear to their Father might have Secured the King of Spain that Charles Emanuel had no ill Design upon the Country of Milan yet his Majesty Ordered him to Disarm presently and Acting upon this occasion in Concert with the Regent of France his Orders were the more positive and pressing The Jealousie of the Princes of Italy by reason of the Correspondence between the two Crowns with relation to the Affairs of Italy The Republick of Venice and the Secular Princes of Italy saw with excreme Concern that the Alliance made between the Two Crowns by the Treaty of the Double Marriage tended only to Enslave Italy and that they must be contented for the future with whatsoever Spain should resolve upon in Conjunction with the Regent of France who willingly sacrificed the Interest and Authority of her Son to a prejudice which she had taken up that the surest way to be absolute in France was to hold a good Correspondence with the Court of Madrid The Cardinal Duke of Mantua whom the Two Crowns pretended to Protect Complained that the Catholick King endeavoured to marry him to a Woman he did not care for and to take away the young Princess his Neice from him Charles Emanuel made a greater noise because they would have the absolute disposal of his Daughter and compell him to lie at the Discretion of the Spaniards when he was Disarmed What now said he to the Ministers of the Princes of Italy which were about him Are we become the Subjects of the King of Spain Where we shall do the least thing that displeaseth him must we humbly beg his Majesty's Pardon and undergo the penance that he shall impose upon us Shall we bear the Caprices and the Haughtiness of his Ministers and Governors who upon any pretence will wage War against us and we be not in a Condition to oppose them Althô several Princes of Italy were not sorry to see the Duke of Savoy humbled yet they murmured Every one was afraid that upon the first occasion the Court of Madrid would Treat them in the same Imperious manner The Prince of Piedmont gave his Father notice that the Duke of Lerma an Enemy to their Family threatned to humble the Pride of the Duke of Savoy and to punish him for his Attempts We must submit said Victor Amadeus or prepare to feel the Effects of an angry and imperious Favourite against us All these Remonstrances did not shake the Duke of Savoy being resolved to do nothing unworthy of his Quality He protested he would rather abandon his Two Sons to the Discretion of the Spaniards and die with his Sword in his Hand than be anothers Slave And this is the reason why he left Turin when he understood that the Ambassadors of France and Spain were come to speak with him He would not stay to have Terms imposed upon him by these Two Ministers who had before agreed together to make the same Proposals Charles Emanuel had yet some hopes that the Face of Affairs in France would be changed by the motions of the Prince of Conde and that he should then find some way of coming off with Honour The Spaniards privatly traverses the Negociations
was afterwards Confirmed in all its Articles in the Orders and Acts which were made and lastly in every thing that was since agreed to either in the Interpretation of it or in its Execution which they would as 't was said inviolably keep and observe After having forbid his Subjects to enter into any Leagues contrary to the Well-being of the State with foreign Princes and to receive any secret Pensions from 'em the King confirm'd his Father's Edicts against Duels and the Ordinances of his Predecessors against Swearing and Blasphemy I should not refuse to give so pious and just a Declaration in all appearance its just Praises if the Son of him who made it had not declared Solemnly that neither his Father or his Grandfather had ever any Intention to continue such an Edict which they had promised so many times to maintain as a Perpetual and Irrevocable Law How then Were these Two Kings who had the magnificent Sirnames conferred upon them of Great and Just by the Confession of their Son Men without Conscience and Probity Will Posterity ever believe a thing of this Nature As for my self I shall always preserve a better Opinion of Henry IV. and Lewis XIII I can't be persuaded that they were so bad as Lewis XIV represents them to us The K. takes his Seat of Justice in the Parlement at Paris The next Morning being the Second day of October the King went to take his Seat of Justice in the Parlement at Paris as he was going and in his Seat he was accompanied with all imaginable Pomp and Splendour Mary de Medicis made a short Discourse there Mercure Francois 1614. in which her Majesty declared That she put the Administration of Affairs into her Son's hands who for some days had been in his Majority Lewis greatly thank't his Mother and ended in declaring that he was willing that his Mother should always continue to take Care of him and Govern the State and this is what the good Princess had discreetly brought about with a great deal of diligence She preserved her Authority without making her self Responsible for what should be done hereafter Too happy If the Favourite who began already to insinuate himself into the young King had not banisht her from the Court and the Chief Minister of State whom shâ—… her self had Establisht in the place of the deceased Favourite had not drove her away out of the Kingdom Sileri Chancellour and Verdun Chief President made Speeches upon the Majority of the Kings of France Servin the Advocate General 's Discourse was more remarkable for the prudent and Religious Remonstrances he made to the young King There 's only this one thing I have to find fault with that so grave a Magistrate was himself ensnared with this base flattery which was introduc'd then into the Parlement and is since establisht there so shamefully Servin heap'd up upon Mary de Medicis excessive Praises for her Administration of the Government Amongst the good Counsels he gave Lewis with a Christian and French liberty ought he to have inserted that he should behave himself as his Mother should Advise who rather aimed at the maintaining of her Authority and the Advancement of her Creatures and Favourites than at the Instruction of her Son in Religion and Virtue and the making of his People happy and satisfied in her Administration of the Government The Ceremony ended with reading and registring a Declaration despatcht the day before Searching as carefully as 't was possible for me what regarded the History of Lewis XIII in his Minority I oftentimes wondered to find so little matter touching the young King's Education His Father had made Gilles de Souvrè his Governor But it seems that upon this occasion Henry IV. less thought of choosing a Gentleman who had the Qualities which this important Employment required than of Recompensing the faithfulness of an old Servant I can find out that Souvrè bestirr'd himself to settle his Family and procure his Son the Marquiss of Courtenvaux a considerable Office But I could never learn what he did to give Lewis a Royal Education Souvrè's Family which this Prince hath made Illustrious did not continue long after his death The Heiress carried all the Means away into another Person 's House who was a Minister of State and whose Father of an obscure Birth was advanc'd to the chief Dignity of the long Robe Memoires de la Regence de Maried Medicis Melanges d'Histoire de Litte-rature par Vigneul-Marville Vanquelin des Ivetaux was the King's first Tutour A Person of Quality whose Memoires we have saith that Vanquelin was a Man of great Merit and very capable to Instruct a Prince But the Character which a Modern Author gives us of the exâ—â—vagant and romantick Amours and of the Epicurean Life and Death of this Man is a certain proof that Henry IV. did not well distinguish Men of Worth The Cardinal Perron used many Intrigues to get his Brother into the place of being his Tutour He offered himself to take the care and directions of the Dauphin's Studies Yet Henry IV. of his own Inclination chose Vanquelin He did not long continue in the Employment The envy and jealousie of some caused him to be removed from it in a years time after the death of Henry IV. Nicholas le Fevre succeeded him This was a Person noted for his Knowledge and Piety The late King had sent him to the Prince of Conde who was willing to Recompense le Fevre in being a means to procure Vanquelin's place in which he behaved himself with much approbation Le Fevre died the year after and Fleurance Rivant an able Mathematician as 't is said rose from the Office of being Sub-Tutour to be Tutour in Chief A Youth who passeth through so many different hands doth not usually become a Man of Abilities Bernard Historie de Louis XIII Liv. 1. Lewis XIII learnt very little Latin Falconry and the exercise of Hunting pleased him more than Study he lookt very well after Hawks and became in Hunting the greatest Rider in his Kingdom His Majesty saith an Historian called to his Dogs in Perfection Had it not been much more to the purpose to have taught him how to speak to Men 'T was likewise observed that Lewis was no bad Gunner and that he very well understood Fortification These Qualifications which might be of some use to a younger Brother of the Nobility who is to seek and make out his own Fortune are not in any wise fit for a King if you except from hence understanding and knowledge in Fortifications He may for his diversion Hunt and flie his Hawks but he ought to Employ his time in something that 's better than to be expert in Falcons and Hounds I should have nothing to say against Lewis's having some knowledge in Artillery which is necessary for a King who ought to make himself capable of Commanding his Armies when the publick-good requires it But is not this ridiculous that he is suffer'd to burden his Memory with the names and use of the smallest things in Artillery They ought to have been constantly instilling into his Head Precepts useful and important to one who intends to Govern well In a Pack of Hounds he could call every one of them by their Names But t is a business more worthy of a Prince to learn the knowledge of Men to distinguish from others those who are more capable of Places of greatest Dignitiy in the State and to Reward those who are of good Use and Service to the Publick Lewis XIII had always good Inclinations and Principles in him of Virtue and Equity Courtiers dared not speak any thing of obscenity or Swear in his Presence He feared God loved Justice and was willing to do good to his People If Souvrè and others had been diligent to Instruct and Cultivate what God had given him of Judgement and Integrity they might have done considerable Service to their Prince and Country Lewis then might not have been in the unhappy necessity of leaving all to a Favourite or Minister of State who did not think of any thing but the better Establishment of their Credit and Fortunes in raising to day a Civil War and to morrow a Foreign one The End of the First Tome Books Printed for and Sold by T. Cockerill at the Three Legs in the Poultry ANnotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Pool in Two Volumes Folio The Works of the Reverend and Learned Divine Stephen Charnock B. D. in Two Volumes in Folio Historical Collections by John Rushworth Esq the Third Part in Two Volumes in Folio Sermons Preached on several occasions by John Conant D. D. in Three Volumes in Octavo A Discourse against customary Swearing by the Honourable Robert Boyle Esq Geography Anatomized or the Compleat Geographical Grammar being a short and exact Analysis of the whole Body of Modern Geography after a new and curious Method by Patrick Gordon M. A. and Fellow of the Royal Society The private Christian's Witness for Christianity in Octavo A Preservative against Deism by N. Taylor in Octavo Memoirs of the Countess of Dunois Author of the Ladies Travels into Spain written by her self before her Retirement in Octavo Essays on several Projects in Octavo A Practical Discourse of God's Sovereignty with other material Points deriving thence by Elisha Cole in Octavo English Exercise for School-Boys to Translate into Latin by J. Garretson in Duodecimo An Exposition on the Assemblies Catechism by J. Flavel Tales of the Fairies by the Author of the Ladies Travels into Spain in Duodecimo The Reasonableness of a Personal Reformation by John Flavel History of England by James Tyrril Esq in the Press and will shortly be Published in Folio Geography Rectified by Robert Modern in Quarto Devotions for every Day in the Week by Dr. Dumoulin
HISTORY OF LEWIS XIII THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS XIII King of France and Navarre CONTAINING The most Remarkable Occurrences in FRANCE and EUROPE during the Minority of that Prince By Mr. MICHEL Le ASSOR LONDON Printed for Thomas Cockerill at the Three Legs and Bible against Grocers-Hall in the Poultrey 1700. Advertisement THE Remaining Parts of this History will be Printed in the same Size with this Volume TO MY Lord Viscount WOODSTOCK My LORD AS soon as I began to write the Book I now present you with My Lord the Earl of Portland your Illustrious Father did me the Honour to employ me in your Service to read History to you I was surprized with Pleasure to observe that the Providence of God having designed me for this Employment had turned my thoughts upon a Subject the knowledge of which is so absolutely necessary for you that so you may reap the full advantage of those wise Instructions which your Father who loves you tenderly will one day give you concerning those extraordinary Revolutions which Europe has with Amazement beheld for thirty years together He knows the secret Motives and hidden Springs which produced them all and he has always been the Depositary of the Secrets of that Great Prince who had the greatest hand in them he has served him in his brave and hazardous Enterprizes with equal Zeal and Courage 'T is from a Father so exquisitely skill'd in all the Arts of Politicks and War that you will learn my Lord the Intrigues of all the Negotiations which have been transacted in his time the present Interests of Princes the Account of Battels Sieges Marches of Armies in which he has always held a considerable Post In giving you the Narrative of his own Actions he will instruct you how a Person of your Rank and Quality may equally love your Country and a Prince who do's you the Honour to trust you with his Secrets what Rules you are to observe that so you may do good service for the one without intrenching upon that inviolable fidelity which you owe to the other In short he will teach you what a Peer of England is obliged to do that he may be serviceable to the King in Parliament and at the same time deserve the Esteem and Approbation of a People extremely jealous of its Rights and Priviledges Others besides my Lord the Earl of Portland may possibly be able to give you good Counsel in these Affairs But there is one thing yet behind which your incomparable Father alone can teach you And that is My Lord Moderation in an elevated Fortune He has himself lately given you a rare example of it The Greatness of his Soul in this respect is a thing so extraordinary that you will scarcely find an equal Instance in all those Ancient and Modern Histories which you design to read Keep your Eyes always fixt on this Domestick Example It can't but powerfully impress this weighty Maxim in your mind That to set bounds to your Ambition though just and reasonable is truer and more substantial Glory than 't is to rise to the highest Dignities I have told you my Lord that the History of the Reign of Lewis the XIII will be of great use to you to let you into the understanding of those Revolutions which have happened for some time past in Europe You will there see how the Affairs of the Empire put on a new face after the Peace of Munster And there find the causes and first beginnings of the Decay of the Spanish Monarchy which before that time was dreadful to its Neighbours You will there read the first steps of France to that height which it arrived at under the Conduct of the violent and refined Politicks of a Cardinal who renders his Master powerful at home by humbling the Princes and great Men there and formidable abroad by entring him into a seasonable League with the Crown of Swedeland and the United Provinces The good Correspondence which the great Frederick Henry Prince of Orange and this able Minister held together did not a little assist the Cardinal in compassing his vast Designs The Swedes were hitherto hardly known but for their Wars against Denmark Poland Muscovy and some extraordinary Revolutions which Religion or the differing interests of King and Subjects had produced in Swedeland We shall see in the course of this History a new Warrier arising out of the North with a small number of Troops for the Rescue of Germany almost entirely enslav'd by the Ambition and Arms of Ferdinand the Second Gustavus Adolphus King of Swedeland makes the Emperor Tremble for fear of losing his Hereditary Countries The Rapid course of his Victorius Arms carryed to the Rhine makes jealous even those Princes which call'd him to their Assistance and those Sovereigns which had desired his Alliance That which you ought particularly to be affected with My Lord is the reading of the resolute Efforts of your Dear and Illustrious Country to defend it's Liberty after the twelve years Truce was expir'd The Spaniard's pleas'd themselves with the hopes of making great Advantages of the Divisions which arose in Holland and some other Provinces after the Conclusion of that Truce But the Valour and Wise Conduct of Maurice and Frederick Henry Princes of Orange defeated those hopes which seem'd to be but too well grounded You will be very much pleased to find here Sieges Form'd by those Two Great Masters in the Art of Taking Towns and Victories Won by those Two Famous Generals to whom they came from all Parts of the World to learn the Art of War and in short That Courage not Inferiour to that of the Ancient Romans with which the United Provinces did weary out the King of Spain until he renounc'd all his Pretensions to 'em and was forc'd to acknowledge them in a Solemn Treaty for a Free Republick I believe you have not forgot that which my Lord your Father told you in one of his Pleasant and Profitable Discourses which he had with you the last Summer in the Walks of his beloved Solitude near the Hague He recited to you one Day the Prediction of Prince Frederick Henry a little before his Death That his Posterity would be under a Necessity one Day to declare against France as he had been to oppose the Ambitious Designs of the House of Austria It has fell out as this Judicious and Knowing Politician had foretold The House of Orange hath had the Honour to have given the first Blow which shook the Power of Spain and by a surprizing Turn of Affairs the only Remaining Branch of that Noble Stock which hath been so fruitful in Heroes can glory this Day that by his Prudence and Valour he hath defended that same Monarchy threatned with approaching Ruin Could that fierce and bloody Philip II. have ever thought that the Posterity of that Man whom he had basely murder'd after an unworthy and ridiculous Proscription should be one Day the best Support of
Poland He succeeds to the Kingdom of Sweden Differences between King Sigismund and Charles Duke of Sudermannia The States of Sweden give the Regency of the Kingdom in the absence of King Sigismund to the Duke of Sudermannia The Duke of Sudermannia and the Senate of Sweden are divided King Sigismund Attempts in vain to reduce the Duke of Sudermannia by Force The States of Sweden depose King Sigismund Charles Duke of Sudermannia is chosen King of Sweden The King of Sweden sends the Challenge to the King of Denmark The Death of Charles King of Sweden BOOK III. THE State of France since the Regency of Mary de Medicis The Treaty of the double Marriage between France and Spain The double Marriage is concluded between the two Kings Intrigues in the Court of France when the Treaty of the double Marriage was known there The double Marriage at last passes in the Council of France The Popes Nuncio complains of the Sentence of Parlement on the Process of the Vniversity of Paris against the Jesuits The Nuncio's Invectives against the Advocate-General Servin The Nuncio's Advances to the Parlement to procure a Modification of the Sentence The Nuncio's Intrigues with the Clergy The Difficulties of the Jesuits to keep even in their Conduct to the Court of Rome and Parlement of Paris A Book of Doctor Richer Syndic of the Faculty of Paris makes a great Noise there The Cardinal du Perron and the Bishops of the Province of Sens assembled together to Condemn Richers Book Richer has the Syndicat of the Faculty of Paris taken from him Publick Rejoycings for the double Marriage New Disturbances in the Court of France The Duke of Mayenne is sent into Spain to demand the Infanta for the King Matthias King of Hungary and Bohemia is Elected Emperor after the Death of Rodolphus II. Antonio Memmi is chosen Doge of Venice after the Death of Leonard Donato The Embassy of the Mareschal of Bouillon into England The Discontent of the Mareschal Lesdiguieres Mary de Medicis depresses â—…e Factions of the Duke of Guise and Epernon The Count of Soissons undertakes to ruine the Ministers and engages outragiously to Attack the Chancellor de Sillery The Marquess de Coeuvres diverts the Count of Soissons from this Enterprize The Impostures of the Marquess of Ancres Some Persons suborned to accuse him of Magick The Affair of the Duke of Rohan at St. John of Angeli The Reconciliation of the French Protestant Lords The Protestation of the National Synod of Privas in the Name of all the Reformed Churches of France against the King's New Declaration The Entry of the Duke of Pastrane into Paris The Signing of the Marriage Articles between the Prince of Spain and the Eldest Daughter of France The Duke of Mayenne's Entry into Madrid The Signing the Marriage Articles between Lewis XIII and the Infanta of Spain A Conspiracy against the Duke of Parma A Discourse of Marrying Christina second Daughter of France to Henry Prince of Wales The Death of Henry Prince of Wales The Fortunes of Robert Carr in England The Death of the Count of Soissons A New Face of the Court of France The Condemnation of a Book of the Jesuit Becanus The Sentence of the Parlement of Paris against a Book of Schioppius Peace between the Crowns of Sweden and Denmark Revolutions in Muscovy A False Demetrius in Poland Demetrius enters Muscovy and causes himself to be Crowned there Demetrius and a great number of Poles are Massacred at Moscow Susky is made Czar of Muscovy and after lays down Ladislaus Prince of Poland is proclaimed Czar of Muscovy The Polanders are driven out of Muscovy and Michael Federovitz is elected Czar BOOK IV. THE Baron de Luz is killed by the Chevalier of Guise The Regents Anger against the Guises The Duke of Guise desires to combine with the Prince of Conde The Queen becomes jealous of the Prince of Conde The Violence and Mercenary Temper of the Duke of Guise The generous Sense of the Duke of Epernon The Regent is Reconciled to the Dukes of Guise and Epernon The Ancient Ministers are recalled The Confusion and Perplexity of the Prince of Conde The young Baron de Luz is killed again by the Chevalier of Guise The Death of Francis Duke of Mantua New Projects of the Duke of Savoy upon this occasion Artifices of the Duke of Savoy The Governor of Milan demands the Dutchess Dowager of Mantua and her Daughter The Regent of France opposes the Duke of Savoy's designs The Pope's Conduct in the Affair of Mantua The Republick of Venice supports the Cardinal of Mantua Ferdinand Cardinal de Gonzaga takes the Character of Duke of Mantua New Efforts of the Duke of Savoy to fetch away from Mantua the Princess Mary his Grand-daughter Ambitious Projects of the Duke of Savoy The Duke of Savoy carries Montserrat This Enterprize is the cause of New Metions in Italy Manifesto's of the Duke of Savoy and the Cardinal Duke of Mantua Artifices and Bravades of the Duke of Savoy His Intrigues at the Court of France are discovered The Marquess of Ancre being found Intriguing with the Duke of Savoy is exceedingly Embarassed The Ministers are reconciled to the Marquess of Ancre The Court resolves to send a powerful Aid to the House of Mantua The Queen is diverted from sending Aid so soon to the Cardinal Duke The King of Spain declares against the Duke of Savoy The Emperor requires the Duke of Savoy to desist from his Enterprize on Montferrat The Governor of Milan constrains the Duke of Savoy to submit to the King of Spain's pleasure A difference between the Duke of Nevers and the Governour of Milan The Marriage of the Elector Palatin to a Daughter of the King of England A Discourse concerning the Marriage of Charles Prince of Wales with Christina of France The Emperor Matthias comes to the Diet at Ratisbon The Catholicks and Protestants reciprocally complain of each other The ill success of the Diet at Ratisbon The Fortune of Bethlem Gabor Prince of Transilvania A difference between the Houses of Brandenburgh and Neuburgh about the Government of Cleves and Juliers Prince Wolfgang of Neuburgh Marries the Sister of the Duke of Bavaria and changes his Religion Difficulties to make the Peace concluded between the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua lasting The Governor of Milan presses the Duke of Savoy to Disarm The Dukes Evasion The Governor of Milan demands the Princess of Mantua on the King of Spains part The King of Spains Views in this demand The Republick of Venice traverses the King of Spain's Designs The Perplexity of Mary de Medicis in the Business of Mantua A Proposition made to the Council of France to cause Troops to march into Italy The Regent sends the Marquiss de Coeuvres into Italy to treat an Accommodation between the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua The vast Ambition of Conchini made a Mareschal of France and Galigai his Wife A Continuation of the Disputes about Grace
Religion which Politicks probably induced him to embrace The flattering Bishops who praised him after his Death had never the Courage to reprove him for his Debauches as the Protestant Ministers had done before he left them At and after the Funeral The good and ill Qualities of Henry IV. wise Men spoke very differently of the Qualities and Actions of the Deceased King Some admired his Happiness in coming to the Crown from so remote a Degree that it was doubted if the Right of Succession could extend so far Others praised his Valour in War his undaunted Courage in the most dangerous Occasions his Experience and Ability in the command of Armies his Moderation in his good Fortune his Constancy in Adversity his Clemency to his greatest Enemies his Affability his Love to his Subjects his Prudence not to drive them to Extremity but to leave them to return to their Duty when they went beyond Murmurs and lastly the Mildness with which he heard their Remonstrances Other more discerning Persons said there was more Rashness than Prudence in the Bravery of Henry That he exposed himself to Dangers without Necessity That if he had met with an Enemy more active and able than the Duke of Mayenne he would have been forced to fly into England a little after the Death of his Predecessour That the Heads of the League were better rewarded than his most faithful Adherents that instead of being Liberal he was Prodigal to Persons that deserved nothing That he gave with Profusion to his Mistresses and those who served him in his Pleasures That he had an exorbitant Passion for Play That he discover'd a covetous Humour very little agreeable with the Character of a great Prince That under the colour of easing the People he laid on New Taxes That he introduced into the State Selling of Offices The Ill natured People did not spare to reflect on his Domestick Conduct They censur'd him sharply for his manner of leaving Queen Marguerite to follow the Gallantry of her Temper More insensible than the Emperour Claudius said they he suffered this new Messalina whom he owned for his lawful Wife to dishonour him publickly Did he intend at his own Expence to teach those whose Wives he Debauched to be easie Husbands All Men spoke with Indignation of his advances towards marrying Gabriéle d'Etrees and his Ingratitude to Harlay de Sancy whom he turned out of his Places for delivering his Thoughts freely on so scandalous a Match They laught at his promise to the Marquise de Vernueil given under his own hand Writing to take her for his Wife in case she brought him a Boy within the year His continual jars with the Queen His easiness in suffering the Insolence of Vernueil who always spoke of the Queen with the last Contempt So true it is that Persons of good Sense will not judge of the Solidity of the Merit of a Prince by studied Panegyricks flattering Titles Statues erected to him or pompous Inscriptions engraved on Marble or Brass The Resolves of the Counâ—…il to send Aid to Juliers Sometime before the Body of Henry was in his Tomb there was a debate in private concerning the Armies which the late King had Raised which were very chargeable to keep up The Opinions were very different about them It is not a time now said some Persons to give it to the House of Austria Memoires de la regence de Marie de Medicis A Potent and Crafty Enemy will find ways to embroil the State His Catholick Majesty proposed to the late King the double Marriage of the Infanta with Mons the Dauphin and of the Prince of Spain with Madame the Eldest Daughter of France We ought to Disband the Troops which give Jealousie to the King of Spain and resume the Negotiation of the two Marriages to make a firm Alliance This Mary most ardently desired being Prepossessed by her Italian Confidents who were corrupted by the Court of Madrid the new Regent imagined the Establishment of her Power depended upon her good Understanding with the Pope and the King of Spain This latter indeed had made diverse steps before the Death of Henry to conclude this double Alliance and Paul V. labour'd to effect it The Court of Rome hoped to find her Advantage in it Being convinced it was not possible to ruin the Protestants without the Concurrence of the two Crowns she labour'd with all her Might to form an Alliance between those Rival Powers Whilst the one was busie to overthrow the Protestant Interest in Germany and the Low Countries they Projected to engage the other to reduce the Hugonots in France For the King of Great Britain and the two Northern Crowns they were not in any great pain about them The first did not seem difficult to win Sweden was imployed against the King of Poland who attempted to recover the Dominions of which he thought himself unjustly deprived The King of Denmark being unable to do any thing of himself none doubted he woulâ—… take that side which James the I. his Brother-in-Law should embrace This was the Project of the Courts of Rome and Madrid but Henry too well understood his own Interest and that of the rest of Europe to fall into the snare laid for him Very far from giving ear to the double Marriage proposed to him he promised his Eldest Daughter to the Prince of Plemont and sent Bassompierre into Lorrain to treat with the Duke who had no Male Children for the Marriage of his Eldest Daughter with the Dauphin of France No sooner was Henry dead but the Court of Rome resumed the Treaty of Alliance between the two Crowns by a double Marriage The Regent had always desired it and the private Pensioners of Spain supported it with all their Interest in the Council of France The Chancellour was one of the number of those who approved it But he had reason enough to oppose those who proposed to have all the Troops Disbanded Shall we make the World believe says he that we all stand in awe of the King of Spain Shall we bid Defiance to our best Allies They will think we intend to abanâ—â—n them Who will hereafter seek the Alliance of this Crown I think it adviseable to keep up the Army in Champagne and send Aâ—…d to Juliers to drive out Archduke Leopold The Arms in Dauphiné gives more jeaâ—â—usie to Spain This is commanded by a Protestant Mareschal of France I think â—…hese two Reasons should move us to Disband it But common Prudence will not suffer us to disarm our selves entirely before the return of Monsieur the Prince before we have certain Information of the Disposition of the Court of Spain before the Power of the King and Queen Regent be well Established This Advice was looked on as best The choice of a General to carry the Aid design'd for the Countries of Cleves and Juliers caused new Perplexities The Mareschal de Bouillon pretended to that Employ and Villeroy gave him hopes of
Man believe they were about to form a Potent League against the Turk and hoped to engage the King of Great Britain the Vnited Provinces Prince Maurice of Orange and the rest of the House of Nassau in it These Men says the Queen Lovers of Glory they will not be uneasie to have this occasion to add more to that which they acquired by their Valour The Picture which she makes of King James the I. must not be omitted here I own continues Mary that he persecutes the Catholicks cruelly But in shortâ—… he is a Prince who loves nothing but Peace He do's not seek to make himself Great aâ—… the Expence of his Neighbours he declareâ—… himself an Enemy to all Subjects who Rebel against their Princes If he could bâ—… sure of the Fidelity and good Intentions of thâ—… English Catholicks he would let them live peaceably As he is very averse to the Calvinists he will soon change in favour of his Catholicks if they give him no occasion of Suspicion or Distrust Complaints of the Court of France against the Duke of Savoy The Principal Article of this Instruction regards the Duke of Savoy He seemed to threaten to Attack the City of Geneva and the Country of Vaux belonging to the Canton of Bern. The Queen will have it represented to the Pope that the Ambition and Turbulent Humour of the Savoyard would put all Europe in a Flame and hinder the conclusion of the League which it was pretended was designed against the common Enemy of Christendom and that Henry III. and Henry IV. having taken Geneva and the Country of Vaux into the Protection of their Crown honour and Justice engaged their Successors to defend the one and the other in case the Duke of Savoy should attempt to attack them He beasts adds the Queen that his Holiness approves and favours his Designs that it is not probable The Pope knows better than any other Man in the World the Humour Power and Interest of Charles Emanuel His Enterprize can never succeed And when the King of Spain shall Reflect on the ill Consequences of these Motions of the Duke he will be the first Man to Condemn them Besides it is not well known what are the true Designs of Charles Emanuel When we demand why he keeps so many Troops afoot he answers the Spaniards being in Arms in the Milanese Prudence requires him to provide for the Security of his Dominions The Catholick Swiss Cantons making the same Demands the Ministers reply their Master will Reinstate the Bishops of Geneva and Lausanne in their ancient Rights He promises one thing at the same time he is under contrary Obligations to the King of Spain We have great reason to believe he keeps secret Intelligence with the Protestants of France and other Countries At present he is Intriguing to make an Alliance with the King of England by a double Marriage of their Children For the better understanding this Article it is necessary for me to take things a little higher and relate the several steps of Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy after the Death of Henry IV. The great Perplexily of the Duke of Savoy upon the Death of Henry IV. This unforeseen Accident mightily embarast him and he was forced to act an hundred different Parts sometimes to pacifie the Court of Spain incensed against him at another time to preserve the powerful Support he had from France and lastly to find an Opportunity to gratifie his unbounded Ambition In the first place the Duke was Sollicitous to gaiâ—â— from the Regent a Confirmation of thâ—… Promise which Henry had made him 〈◊〉 give Madame the Eldest Daughter 〈◊〉 France in Marriage to the Prince of Piâ—â—mont whom he preferred to the Prinâ—â— of Spain who had likewise been propose to him If I would make my Son a Great King said Henry Mem. de la Regence de Marie de Medicis like a Man of good Sense it is not necessary my Daughters should be Queens Care was taken to amuse Charles Emanuel with fine Words whilst a Treaty was privately managed with King Philip. As soon as the Duke discovered this he made complaints to the Court of France but the Regent very far from having regard to his Instances Demanded of him all the Writings about the Marriage designed by Henry IV. The rest of the Princes of Italy not less Embarassed than the Duke of Savoy The other Sovereigns of Italy were not involved in lesser Difficulties than Charles Emanuel The Republick of Venice and some others had a share in the Designs of Henry on the side of the Alpes As soon as they heard of his unfortunate Death they were all equally afraid Spain delivered from so Formidable an Enemy should now in earnest think of over-running Italy under colour of chastising the Duke of Savoy and the rest who kept Intelligence with Henry in order to drive the Spaniards out of the Milanese Paul V. scared sent for the Venetian Ambassador to him Write instantly to the Seignoury Siri Memorie recordite T. II. p. 285 286. says the Pope that I intreat them for the love of God to take care we may all agree in so Terrible a Juncture Measures must be taken for preserving Italy and the young King of France I plainly see he is in great Danger The Spaniards are busie to create strange Work for him I am ready to labour in Concert with and declare my self with the Republick The Wise Conduct of the Sâ—…nate of Veâ—…ice The Duke of Savoy had sent his Secretary to Venice to press earnestly the Senate to conclude with all Speed a League Offensive and Defensive against the Spaniards Siri Memorie recondite Tom. II. p. 288 291 They make new Levies says his Minister and Distribute Money to draw Officers into their Service The Duke my Master sees these Preparations are more designed against him than any other He is resolved to continue steddy to his Vnion with France will defend himself to the last gasp of Breath and sooner submit to the Turk than Spaniard You are to consider whether his Fall will not be followed by that of your Republick The speedy Conclusion of a League Offensive and Defensive is the only Means to prevent the Disasters which threaten us alike The Venetians who very well knew the Power of Spain did not presently take the Alarm They thought it necessary before they declared to be well assured of the good Intentions and Concurrence of France the Minority of the King having changed the face of Affairs there To engage Mary de Medicis to declare her self the Seignory wisely caused the League Offensive and Defensive against Spain to be proposed to her The Regent did not in any manner intend to pursue the Designs of Henry This therefore without farther Consideration she replied to the Senate that the Under-age of her Son would not suffer her to engage in a Foreign War but if the Senate thinks it Expedient that she make a Defensive
and Strength of France These Princes who were Apprehensive of the too great Power of the House of Austria were enter'd into a League with the Deceased King The good Correspondency that he took care to maintain in this sort of a Confederacy which he Headed did keep Spain in awe and within due bounds This put Henry in a capacity of undertaking any thing whenever he should think it most expedient But so soon as these Allies of France perceived that the Queen Regent was entring into a strict Alliance with the House of Austria they presently grew Jealous and betook themselves to other Measures The Venetians did not so openly declare themselves The Duke of Savoy extream angry that no regard was now had of the Treaties that had been made between King Henry and him sought all manner of ways to raise Commotions in France he had thoughts of siding with Spain if he might be secured of any thing to content his Ambition France taking no care to preserve the old good Correspondency that was between the Protestant Princes of Germany and elsewhere they fell off one from another The House of Austria that has always a watchful Eye to its own Interest was wise enough to make the best of these Divisions James King of England might have in this case supplied the Place of Henry the 4th and compel'd the Queen Regent to keep to the Model of Government that was left with her by the late King her Husband The concern of the Protestant Religion as well as the Wellfare of England did require that James should have at that time thought on 't better But alas the good Prince never lov'd sincerely either one or th' other Such a State of Affairs as this did well for the Court of Rome The Popes have been ever Spaniards by Inclination The Kings of Spain are wont to bring the Popes over to their Interest by affecting a great Zeal to ruine Heresie The aim of these is to raise their Worldly State and of the former to serve those that will best contribute to restore their Spiritual Monarchy It appears that the Court of France at this time was pleased with this old policy of Spain whereby to gain the Popes favour But was it not a little too late to think of this way The Court of Rome never keeps a Neutrality with France but when reduced to it by some emergent Necessity The French have Principles that are opposite to the Pope's Pretensions and to the greediness of his Courtiers The Factions which had formerly put France into such a Confusion under the Regency of Catharine of Medicis were now seen to revive under this Government of Mary For the maintaining of her own Authority Mary took care to bring down the Princes of the Blood Royal as that other Queen her Cousin had done before She thought fit to make use of the House of Guise which enter'd into a new Knot with that of the Duke d'Epernon Instead of joyning with the real Friends and Well-wishers of the Crown she gave her self over to be led by the Popes and King of Spain's Counsels who could not grow great but at the cost of young Lewis The Princes of the blood understood this great Evil. They were in the Right but in renouncing their Forefathers Religion they had lost all their Credit They likewise wanted Strength to oppose the Queen Regent's Designs They of the Reformed Religion in France being well inclin'd sought to prevent the Mischief this double Alliance with Spain would bring on the Head of the Protetestants But alas how could they help themselves There were now no Princes of the Blood to Head them any more The Grandees of that Communion divided more than ever since the Assembly at Saumur were now ready to undoe one another I come now to particulars of the History of the year 1612. We shall in it begin to see these three different Parties following their Intrigues and the different condition they are in The Queen Regent and her Confidents shall make use of the Kings Authority to cover their wicked Designs The Princes of the Blood shall exclaim against the ill Management of the Government but either no ear shall be given to what they 'll say or their Mouths shall be stopt by false Promises or slight Gratifications The Hugenot Party fully convinced that â—…ll effectual ways are taken to ruine them totally shall make loud Complaints and shall bestir themselves without being able to mend their Matters in the least thereby Their mutual Divisions will hinder them from having sufficient Strength to cause their just Remonstrances to be heard Negotiations touching a double Marriage betwixt France and Spâ—…in Cosme Grand Duke of Toscany now enter'd into a Closer Alliance with the House of Austria by a Marriage with Magdalen Arch-Dutchess of Grats does set on foot the Negotiation that was begun by his Father Ferdinand concerning a double Marriage to be concluded betwixt the two Crowns of France and of Spain The better to succeed for to obtain the Deceased Kings consent he proposed a third Match between Don Carlos King Philip the 3d's second Son and the Princess Christina second Daughter of France The King of Spain did offer to give with the Infant the Sovereignty of the Low Countries after the Arch-Dutchess Isabella's Death But Henry gave no ear to this New Proposal no more than to the former being convinced that it was only a Snare for to get him to Abandon the Protection of the Vnited Provinces As soon as the News of his Death was brought to Madrid Siri Memorie râ—â—â—ndite pag. 3â—…0 3â—â— c. the Duke of Florence's Embassador at that Court did again sâ—…t on foot the Business of the double Marriage He knew well enough how agreeable it would be to his Master to gratifie Mary of Medicis who had an extream desire this Affair might Succeed The Duke of Lerma and the other Spanish Ministers of State readily agreed to the renewing of this Negotiation but they finding that France was not now so much to be feared as heretofore they made some other lower Proposals These Gentlemen would hear no more of that third Marriage of Don Carlos with the Princess Christina pretending that their King was unwilling to Alienate and cut off for ever the Sovereignty of the Low Countries from the Monarchy of Spain and they did even give out that Philip was not out of Hopes of reducing the Vnited Provinces as soon as the Truce was expired or broke And on pretence that the Daughters of France do not carry along with them into another Family any Right of Succession to the Crown the Council of Spain scrupled moreover to give the Eldest Infanta of Spain to the New King of France so that they would offer only the Second Daughter Mary of Medicis would have been contented with this it self so that Philip would also accept of the Second Daughter of France By this means a way was left to satisfie the Duke
more particular Light into the State of Euâ—â—pe in Levis XIII his time The Czar John Basilovits fam'd for his Cruelties and the War which the brave Stephen Battori King of Poland wag'd against him with so much Glory and Advantage French Mercury 1605. as the Muscovite was oblig'd to have recourse to the Pope's Intercession for obtaining a Peace Basilovitz I say had left but two small Children behind him of seven Wives which he had Theodorus and Demetrius The eldest stupid and heartless succeeded him Whilst he diverted himself in ringing of Church-Bells Boris Frederovits a Muscovite Lord who had married his Sister govern'd the State This wicked Ambitious Man caus'd young Demetrius to be slain who dwelt with his Mother in a Castle remote from Mosco And the better to conceal his Crime he procured him to be assassinated whom he made use of to commit this Villany The Czar Theodore died in a little time after 'T was though Boris had poyson'd him The Masculine Line of the ancient Czars being thus at an end it was not hard for Boris Brother-in-Law to this last Prince to mount up into the Throne Being as crafty as he was cruel he had taken care to gain the Love of the People and to remove far from him under specious Pretences the Lords who were in capacity to oppose his Ambition He was crown'd at Mosco in all Forms and Ceremonies His bloody and suspicious Nature render'd him quickly odious to the Muscovites A Nation accustomed to Slavery doth not so patiently suffer the Tyranny of a Prince newly rais'd up to the Throne as that which is establisht in a long Succession of one and the same Family A Counterfeit Demetrius in Poland About the year 1604. Boris receiv'd News from Poland which put him to strange Difficulties A Russian Monk had carried thither a young Man who much resembled in Stature and Countenance the Prince Demetrius whom Boris had caus'd to be put to Death The Monk first puts this youth into the Service of Vietsnovisky a Polish Lord who had Marryed the Palatin's Daughter of Sendomir from whence he got into the Palatines Wine-House When the Monk thought he had prepared Men well enough he told the Palatine as a Secret that this young Man was Demetrius lawful Heir of the Empire of Russia who had been privately and happily convey'd away from the Cruelty of Boris by putting another Child in the Prince's room whom the Tyrant intended to cause to be slain This adventure was related with such probable Circumstances as the Palatine believ'd all that was told him He presently discover'd the Secret to Sigismond King of Poland who was willing to be fully acquainted with the pretended Demetrius The Youth who neither wanted Wiâ—â— or Education Rehearseth the Misfortunes of his Life in the presence of the King with much Craftiness and a good Grace he shew'd certain natural Marks on his Face and upon one of his Hands which he pretended to be undeniable Proofs of the truth of his Birth and then addressing himself to Sigismond he thus proceeded I am Sir very happy to have fallen into the hands of a King who having been himself unfortunate and persecuted during his Infancy by his Vncle must have the greater Compassion for my hard Fortune You was born in the Prison where the Cruel Erric had put your Majesties Father and Mother The Polanders have made choice of you before all the Princes in Europe This distinction Sir ought to render you the more respected by the Swedes your Natural Subjects Another Ambitious Vncle raiseth 'em against you he endeavours to snatch forcibly away your Patrimony Thanks be to God your Majesty is still powerful enough to help me to be Restor'd to mine As soon as you shall put me into a condition to be thankful for so great a Favour the Polanders and Muscovites united together shall quickly reduce the Swedish Rebel May Heaven grant that after this Happy Expedition we may joyntly set upon the common Enemy of the Christians If King Sigismond did not believe what was told him he hop'd however that the Story whether true or false might stand him in some stead against the Muscovites T' was resolv'd upon to Assist the pretended Demetrius and to send him first into Lithu mia that from thence to write to the Pope he might be nearer Muscovy He askt of him to do him all the good turns he cou'd in Poland The Court of Rome always attentive to what is capable of extending her usurpt Domination willingly gave an ear to the Person who made her hope to Reduce the Russians to the Obedience of the Holy Chair Demetrius enters into Muscovy and there Crown'd A private Rumor presently run aboroad at Mosco that the Prince Demetrius having scap'd the fury of the Tyrant Boris shew'd himself near to the Frontiers The Malecontents and they who lov'd Novelty confirm'd for truth what others had said The People easily drawn to believe extraordinary Contingencies and who flatter themselves with finding a milder and more supportable Government seem'd to wait with impatience Demetrius's coming Boris inform'd of what had pass't at Poland and of the practices begun at Mosco did not know which side to take whether he should despise this Story as if it was but a ridiculous Story the noise of which in a little time vanisheth or if he should downright prepare himself to press and quell a Party which seem'd to fortifie it self ev'ry day both at home and abroad Persuaded at last that nothing was to be neglected he caus'd it to be spread abroad on his side that the pretended Demetrius was a known Mag cian and after Orders for the safety of the Frontiers he sent Ambassadors to the Diet at Warsaw They were to complain to the King and Republick of Poland for that they had Transgress'd the Conditions of Peace made betwixt the two States by shewing their willingness to uphold the Impostures of the miserable Son of a Priest and to demand the delivery of him up to 'em alive or dead In case the Ambassador cou'd not obtain of 'em a favourable Answer Boris had order'd 'em to Negotiate with some Popish Lords for to engage them to oppose a design which the King might have against him Sigismond answer'd the Muscovites in general Terms and in the mean time prepared himself underhand to assist him who averr'd himself to be the rightful Heir of the ancient Czars Demetrius enter'd into Moscovy at the Head of an Army consisting of Ten thousand Poles and Cossacks which the Palatine of Sendomir commanded under him Demetrius and he not having known the advantage they had of so good an occasion to rout the Muscovite Army were themselves defeated in the beginning of the year 1605. Demetrius too weak to keep the Field any longer shut himself up in a Town which he had before taken he hop'd to receive new Succors from Poland before the Enemy could retake the places which had been taken from
to represent to you further Madam that they put you to needless Expences to gain certain Persons of our Religion We know who those mercenary Souls are They deceive your Majesty who tell you that they can he Serviceable to you I can tell you a far less Chargeable way to have all the Reformed at your Devotion That is to give Orders that all Promises made to us be performed our Griâ—…vances be redressed some ambiguous Expressions in the Edicts be more favourably Interpreted and some things be granted us which may secure the Peace of our Churches and do no great Injury to the Roman Catholicks The ardent and sincere Zeal which I have for your Majesty makes me speak against my self Pursue the Method which I take the liberty to propose you may take away when you please our Offices and Pensions Our Churches living peaceably under his Majesty's Protection will never concern themselves in my favour or for any of the Lords of the Kingdom This Advice was generous and worthy of a truly Christian Gentleman It might have had some good Effect upon such as had no other design but to preserve Peace in the Kingdom by doing Justice and perhaps some small gratification to the Reformed But they were resolved to Ruine them and to effect a design long since contrived and pursued For almost an Age together the Court could not take more convenient Measures than the corrupting of those who had any Credit or Authority in the Reformed Church The ambition and avarice of the Lords and a great number of Hugonot Gentlemen has done more mischief to the Religion than the haâ—…red of the Pope and his Clergy or the Zeal of the blind and superstitious Kings and Queens of France If the Dukes and Peers the Mareschals of France the Lords and Gentlemen of Note had had as much Religion and Probity as du Plessis Mornai I question whether the Son of him whose History I write would ever have ventured to attempt the overthrow of the Reformed Churches of his Kingdom The Posterity of a corrupted Gentry who had no great Concern for their Religion does at this day bewail the fatal Consequences of the Baseness of their Ancestors The Regent received at Tours The K. and Q. his Mother go to Poitiers Letters from the Duke of Maienne He informed her that the Prince de Conde was retired to Chateauroux and that he defired at the present no Reparation of the Injury Mercure Francois 1614. which he had complained had been done him at Poitiers It was wisely done to seem to neglect an Offence for which the Court would never have granted him the Satisfaction which he expected The Bishop was too much favoured by the Queen He went boldly to Tours with Two hundred of the Inhabitants to pray their Majesty 's to come to Poitiers That day when Chataigner made appear that he understood the Office of a Captain better than that of a Bishop was in his Opinion the day of the preservation of Poitiers Their Majesties went thither They were Received with all imaginable Expressions of Joy They Elected a Mayor Mazurier had Orders to remain there as Intendant Rochfort Lieutenant General for the King in that Province a-little after resigned his Office The Count de la Rochefoucaut of the Party of the Guises succeeded him They had a mind to have Poitou in their Power that they might go and Receive the Infanta of Spain when the time should come Memoires de Duc de Rohan The Duke de Rohan being admonished by Velleroi that the Queen was surprized that he did not appear at Court since she was so near to St. Jean d' Angeli came to pay his Respect to their Majesty's They received him kindly and the Regent taking all oportunities to get him near her self made him promise to be present at the meeting of the States of Bretagne which was to be held at Nantes their Majestys being present and to go afterwards to the States General which were already appointed to Meet Mary de Medicis The Q. goes to hold a meeting of the States of Bretagne at Nantes Vie de M. du Plessis Mornai Liv. III. pleas'd that every thing went according to her mind took the Road of Anger 's to go to Nantes Her Majesty had a mind to give a Proof of her Confidence in du Plessis Mornai as she passed through Saumur He went to meet the King being followed by an Hundred Gentlemen As soon as the Young Lewis had enter'd the Castle du Plessis Offer'd to make the Garrison march out But his Majesty would not permit him It is not against our Kings said the Governor that we have strong Places in our Possession they have been willing to grant them us that we may be secured against the hatred of our sworn Enemies If at any time his Majesty does the Honour to be present there Mercure Francoise 1614. we desire no other Security but his Presence The Duke de Vendome seeing their Majesties came in good Earnest towards him submitted himself They gave him New Letters of Re-establishment Memoires de Bassompierre which were Registred in the Parliament of Rennes But he had the Mortification of see that in the meeting of the States of the Province of which he was Governor they made Invectives against him and took Resolutions injurious to his Person and utterly contrary to his Interest So bad a Beginning was no good Omen for the rest of the Life of Coesar de Vendome He could never after recover his Reputation or Respect Henry IV. his Father had Married him to the Heiress of the House of Mercoeur and one of the greatest Fortunes of a Subject in Europe He wasted the great Estate which she brought him The death of the Prince de Conti. Maâ—…y de Mâ—…dicis Returned triumphantly to Paris She found there a Court deprived of a Prince of the Blood The loss was not very great Francis de Bourbon Prince de Conti who died the 13th of August made no great Figure in the World His Widow was soon Comforted after the loss of a weak Husband She was desperately in Love with Bassompierre There had passed between them that which they call Marriage before God Entragues the famous Marchioness de Vernueil's Sister and Daughter to Mary Touchet Charles IX his Mistress had commenced a Suit against Bassompierre upon the account of a Promise of Marriage which he had made her This happy Spark had Two Wives at the same time The First out of a Family more Renowned for the fine Ladies which were Married into the Family or were of it than for any of its Military Exploits the Second being the Daughter of the Duke of Guise and the Widow of a Prince of the Blood might have done Bassompierre great Honour But by an odd Accident Bassompierre would never own the one for his Lawful Wife the other never dared to make her Marraige Publick New Contests between the Princes of