to be read in men Fortune having taken much away from me hath left me the conversation of the French Natures which I do here in a manner limbe This in truth is more profitable than to be informed of bare particular occurrents I compose and write what another Age will read Our own disregarding it self as having left off to do commendable Actions thinks it impertinent to be praised or dispraised and defies Images because it dreads them As to Mazarine I speak not of his Fortune but of himself who was known to me not for any obligation but many wrongs that I received from him since my whole family is beholding to him singly for its calamities Nevertheless such is the power of truth that I cannot slothfully suppress the praises of so great a Personage but am over-ruled to give them their due Encomium leaving to others to dilate in flattering Discourses THE SECOND BOOK OF THE HISTORY OF FRANCE The CONTENTS Of the Actions at Home and in the Field during the happy five years under the most prudent Conduct as ever was from the Year 1643. wherein Lewis dyed to the Year 1648. when the Civil War was unfortunately commenced IN such a State of Affairs although flourishing there is no question to be made but that the House of Austria would have lifted up their head many amongst us having already plotted a Rebellion and got together by divers practices fuel for the Combustion had not Mazarine his Envyers carp at it the ends being secret obviated the imminent dangers by entertaining the quieter sort of men with hope gifts and the sweetness of ease and by scattering the active and military men through Germany Flanders Italy and Spain upon hard and desperate Services towaste and repel the Enemy lest he should be hindered by intestine dissensions to carry on his Plot at home and abroad What would have been the consequent if such a multitude of idle persons having got head under a minor King and casting of the Princes awe should have been sollicited to raise Civil Disturbances Before the pledges of the Kingdom were grown to full age and the dearness of their Soveraign which is made habitual by time had cemented their spirits The Estate not yet firmly setled would have been broke to pieces with discord which his gentle moderation did cherish for five years and brought to such perfection that being grown to full strength it could bear any shock though the malignancy of the French Fate should charge it never so furiously Therefore waving Occurrents rather ordinary than worthy the relating I shall write only those passages whose knowledge hath influence upon life counting it more eligible to edifie the Understanding than to feed the Fancy with an empty Narrative of Proceedings Here is not to be expected any Journal to give a particular account of Actions with their Circumstances but you will find secret Advices refined from vulgar Errours short and mystical so that I confess he had need have a piercing Judgment that can reach and fathom my meaning He that is not provided of that let him not offer to meddle with my Book but go about some other business The first Essay of the new King was the Expedition of Rocroy Roc-Roy or the Royal Rock is a Garrison at the Entrance of the Forest of Ardenne fortified with strong Works Hardly any foot of arable Land is near it All the parts round about it are over-run with Heath and Bryars The place is of such importance that the Garrison which holds it may freely march up as far as Paris and the vast Plain of Champaigne lies open to be scoured over by the Scouts from Rocroy Nothing was accounted more advisable among the Officers of the Army in the Low-Country after the death of Lewis than to reduce that Frontier Therefore May 12. 1643. Rocroy is closely beleaguered the Out-works are presently stormed the Defendents which were about 500 not being able to make good such a Line against so furious an Attaque The Spaniards lodge in the neighbouring Quarters more like Conquerors than Combatants Don Francisco Melo was Captain General The Count Issemburgh Duke Albuquerque and Count Fuentanon Lieutenants The Army consisted of 20000 men Intelligence being brought of this Enguien who was quartered in Picardy united his Infantry which lay upon the Ause with his Cavalry lying upon the Oyse and immediately sent away Gassion with 500 Horse to scout and do such farther Execution as the matter should require Gassion giving the Enemy perpetual Alarms whilst he and a Party are engaged conveys a 100 choice Musquetiers into the besieged Castle no small relief to the Garrison that was now sorely distressed Enguien with hard marches having drawn together the whole of his strength on the 17. of May quarters at Bossue a Town four miles distant from Roc-Roy Hither comes also Gassion A Counsel of War is called about the relieving of Rocroy There were some of opinion that they needed not give Battle but only send in succour the prevailing advice was to put it to a pitched Field There were narrow Lanes and By-paths to be got over before the Forces could come to draw up on even ground That part is gallantly performed and with notable success The French could hardly be kept in from running upon the Enemy even at the very break of day That was the fiery courage of the French yet there was this farther consideration that a French-man coming over from the Enemy had informed that Beke was upon his march drawing near with a Recruit to re-inforce the Spaniards Now Beke was of no mean esteem among both Wallons and French Such reward being given the Informer as his condition required all things are prepared for the hazard of a final decision And now the whole order of the future Engagement is brought under the eye All things are marshalled with exquisite care and providence on both sides and such preparations made that night as though a Battel had been bid against the next day Enguien judging it better to stay till broad day-light encouraged them and afterwards sent them to refresh themselves when this was done he went about the Companies standing to their Arms with the Field-Officers and his Attendants inspiring into the Troops of Souldiers a fortitude worthy of their ancient Glory and past Monuments He could neither endure to stand still nor would relieve his wearied body with sleep The Army had at no time seen the General so sprightly and did readily draw from his undaunted looks an assured conjecture of Victory At length when the clear light discovered ours and the Enemies Battalia Enguien rejecting the advice of his cautious friends clapt on a sleight Breast-plate and no Helmet that his face might be open and manifest to the Souldiers during the whole Engagement The Battel was thus set in array Gasston to command the right Wing Hospital the left with Seneterre The Wings were inforced with the reserve of Espenan Enguien turned his quick eyes to
afterwards fell upon all that lay in their way in general without so much as regarding the situation of Places This War proved unproportionable to the expectation of the German Nation whose valour heretofore victorious over the Romans at this juncture appeared to have been superannuated At the same time Enguien scarcely having a beard and but newly writing man seemed both to have dispatched Germany and to enter upon Triumphs in all places rowing along the conquered Rhyne Like fire which having preyed upon the obvious Wood is checked by the intervention of a River The Inroad a while stopped at Mariandale the neighbouring Inhabitants call it Mergenstheim There Thurenne Enguien was a great way off being straightned for provision had dispersed his Forces for Forrage whilst himself secure of the Enemies consulted what was to be done The Austrians and Bavarians under the Conduct of Merck and Hans Werth suddenly assault him He gathering together what Forces the pressing necessity would permit refused not to stand the utmost tryal Thurenne acting the part both of Commander and Souldier stoutly seconded by Rosa withstood the Enemy charging with desperate rage and at length when he could not be safe even in Merindol leaving behind him his Baggage and Artillary retired to the parts about the Main with his Horse Trac did gallant service in heartning the Souldiers The rest of ours escaped towards Flesburg and having passed the Rhyne at Spire got safe to Mentz to joyn with Thurenne Enguien being certified of this unfortunate Engagement obliged Conismark the Swede and Guez Colonel of the Hessians although they were averse and pressed after returning home into their Country to tarry but so long with him till he had got a pass upon the Nicer Glen was come up to re-inforce the Enemies Army not a little puffed up with their success at Merindol Enguien having left all his Baggage at Wisloque designed to surprise Hailbrun between the Danube and Rhyne The Enemies which had a suspicion of some such intention march with unwearied haste and pitch upon a Hill not far off from the Walls of Hailbrun lying so that the Nicer running before them ours could neither enter Hailbrun nor assail the Enemy Therefore it is resolved to march on towards Frankendale and the Danube Conismark left our Army and followed his own designs The Hessians endeavouring to do the like but being restrained and countermanded by the Landgravinne stayed with us After many Proposals debated on all sides it is resolved to beat the Enemy up as far as the Danube and return to Hailbrun but both Armies each day marching in a parallel line there were not wanting light Skirmishes A long time they shot their Guns off in view of each other A Moor lying between hindred their engaging Ours bent their course towards Norling the Enemies towards Donavert Enguien had an intention to turn for Hailbrun when of a sudden he is informed that the Enemy came on eager upon fighting and was between the River of Weran and our Army Enguien might easily have avoided it had he not been resolved for the Encounter His cheerfulness filled the hearts of all with hope Never was he more undaunted never more secure both Armies fell to prayers after a laudable custom to encourage the Souldiers who having performed this duty appear to fall on more couragiously although God called upon in due order doth not always come in to assistance Grammont led the light Wing Thurenne the left the Foot in the main Body was commanded by Marsin Chasteaâ—nâ—â—f and Bellenauw the Hessians with their Guez and Heems in the Rear Chabot brought on the Reserve Moussay delivered Enguiens orders on every part But what shall I speak of the presages in the minds of mortal men At Paris before the â—ight the Victory was published nor were there hidden the imminent signs of the destined success The like hath been heretofore remarked among the Romans A Village with a Castle lying between both Armies was furiously battered with our Canon Thither came down the Enemies from the top of the Hill and ours at the same time The Dispute seemed to have been about the surprising a paultry Dorp Enguien was every where conspicuous in his most noted Coat of Armour and rid among his Troops commending or reproving as every one merited and stoutly inforced what parts were weakned by the Enemies execution When our Army seemed to decline Grammont comes in who having restored the day is with Chatre taken Prisoner and carried to Muncken the Metropolis of Bavaria The right Wing had bin utterly lost unless new courage had been infused into the Souldiers by the valour of Thurenne who commanded the left Thither also comes up Enguien twice wounded and having had two Horses killed under him The Enemy having shewed what stubbornness they could were compelled to retire towards Donavert which Town having plundered they past the Danube never thinking themselves safe till they had got on the other side It was not judged prudential to pursue Their Guns and Baggage were taken the evidence of a compleat Victory Merck the General was slain Glen taken and the Duke of Holsten 4000 destroyed 2000 taken Enguien having transferred the whole glory upon Thurenne possessed Norling How should â—onismark be vexed at our prosperity to have been absent because he had not appeased with Austrain blood the Swedes that is his Country-mens Ghosts and had not washed the field a few years before stained with so much gore for our Army stood upon the same ground as the Swedes had done before The same furrows were once more watered Once more Norlingue saw Armies drawn up in Battalia and that petty City in it self ignoble was ennobled by having its Plains scoured over with a double pitched fight but the news of the success was carried with such speed that the King knew his having vanquished before his having been engaged and the news of the Victory out-run the message of the danger but in truth as hath been already said it was presage not the swiftness of the Post After Enguien had wearied his body with so many toils he fell into a sickness but being soon recovered of that he returned to Paris The City rung of nothing but Enguien his excellent accomplishments of mind that ripeness wherein heâ— so early surpassed great Commanders his resolution in running through dangers his expedition in laying and executing designs his faith in keeping Articles clemency towards Prisoners temperance even in lawful pleasures His maligners gave out that all these good qualities were spoiled by his hearkning to paultry Counsellors his following debauched Treats his deriding vertuous and grave men with bitter jests his being more penurious than his Father Such were the rash speeches of some men It was believed by the wiser that his accumulated successes were the causes of all the Troubles that afterwards he fell into to his great prejudice the Princes mind having been depraved by Flatterers who presuming too much upon himself and false Counsel
Nation Falconbridge is honourably received by the King and having been presented sumptuously and magnificently returned home In the mean time Thurenne assaulted Dunkirk the Marquess of Leyds more stoutly defending The Spanish Low-Countries bent and restrained their whole Power to relieve the distressed City Dou Juan d'Austria and Conde drew up not far off and sent in Hoquincourt who as he views the French Camp was shot through by a common Souldier happy in his misfortune because by looking out his Fate he anticipated the destruction that was imminent over the Spaniards Thurenne June 14. 1658. about nine in the morning having left the care of the Trench to Richlieu went to seek the approaching Spaniard and met with him which gave the Enemy terrour The Marquess of Crequi commanded the right wing and he was matched with Conde who understood not to be conquered Chaste aunaud Mauvissier led the left Squadron where stood Lockhart with his English Scarce was ever a more bloody Fight in so short a time Whatsoever old Souldiers were in the Spanish Forces fell before the face of Don Juan who being himself obliged to retreat is reported to have cryed out That he was conquered by savage Beasts that rushed on furiously without any sense of danger Few of the French were lost Conde having his Horse killed under him escaped hardly mounted on anothers His most intimate friends were taken Guitault Mely Boutteville Collins and others The Baggage and Colours left upon the place fell to the Victor Thurennes valour was extolled even by the Enemy who in so great a Battel acted more than commanded And what less could be expected of such a Captain to whom no face of War is new and strange who hath imbibed all Military Discipline and perfected it by long practice having been so often exercised by Fortune and always out-done others and himself No farther hope of Relief being left the besieged Leyda held out Dunkirk to the last undaunted and at last crushed under so many cares and hazardous attempts dyed of a shot fortunate in this that he did not survive the destruction of the City but had its monumental Walls the Witnesses of his Valour The besieged City followed his Fate which surrendred to the French King He on the 25. of June entred it thinking himself abundantly satisfied in securing the old Religion Lockhart in the Name of Cromwell engaged by solemn Oath that the Catholick Profession should be preserved entire at Dunkirk The neighbouring Cities Bergen Dixmuid and Feurne readily render to the King Crequi is sent in a pompous Ambassade to Cromwell with Mazarines Nephew in his Train This was the last Blaze of that petty Tyrant who dyed not long after in his Bed a rare instance The whole World run a madding after the Fanatick to whose industry was attributed what should be imputed to the Vicissitude of Times The dulness of his stupid Age acquired him Reputation Such Monsters do arise when unavoidable Alterations are imminent which must be without delay taken off or the proper time attended yet for all this passions of cruelty are not to be provoked nor mens spirits inflamed to Revenge They oftentimes fall into no great inconveniencies who take wrongs patiently Amidst these prosperous successes the King falls into a Feaver at Calais judged mortal His Mother groaned over the Fate of her Son France of her King Mazarine of his Master Supplications are made at all Altars and Prayers for his Majesties Recovery publickly enjoyned Mazarine day and night sate by his Bed-side to make him governable in taking Physick which he would taste himself either to take off the unpleasantness or make proof of it The eleventh day accounted Critical the King seemed at the point of death could scarcely lift up his eyes that now appeared almost set in his head The agony of the disease a little remitting he came to know them that stood by him his Majesty never being totally eclipsed Oftentimes turning to Mazarine whom he obligingly called by the name of Friend would ask him to advise him freely of the extreme danger of his life since his Mother out of tenderness of affection could not Philip Duke of Anjou the Kings Brother to whom upon the death of Lewis the succession had devolved demeaned himself modestly Plesse Praslin was his Governor Although there wanted not among the Courtiers Spirits desirous after Alteration that before the setting of the Sun adored the rising one The King having Antimony with judgment administred him by Geunault recovered and being conveyed to Paris payed his Vows in Nostre-dame-Church a Heart of massie Gold was hung upon the Wall as an Oblation Afterwards to confirm his Health he retired to Fountainbelleau Mazarine stayed some time behind to advance the Siege of Graveling Mareschal Ferte carrying on the Expedition whilst Thurenne gives terror all abroad over Flanders The taking of Graveling was the last Monument of the French Glory before the Conclusion of the Peace Ferdinand III. was dead and before his Father Ferdinand the King of the Romans The Imperial Throne was vacant for Leopoldus being in his Minority was not yet of an Age capable to manage the Empire Thus was there a wide field set open for the Ambition of the Princes This seemed a fit opportunity to rend the Imperial Dignity from the House of Austria It is a hard matter to throw down from its ancient Seat a reigning Family that is confirmed by the uninterrupted succession of so many years Gustavus Adolphus King of Swethland having a just quarrel against the Austrians had indeed laid aside all thought concerning himself but promised his Service to promote the Interest of others There occurred worthy of the Empire in the Bavarian Line Ferdinandus Maria Duke of Bavaria if you consider his power if prudence and maturity of Age Philip William Duke of Newburgh An honourable Embassie is ordered by the French King for the performance of which Gramont Mareschal of France and the Marquess Lyonne are chosen by the King with these Instructions To go to Frankfurt upon Meyne where the Electoral Diet was held that there they should possess the Electors minds should pervent the Spanish designs should obviate the applications of Pigneranda who was manifestly designed a Broker of Voices That the Germans should be minded of their ancient liberty and of chusing an Emperour not of the House of Austria upon the remembrance of their arrogant exercise of their Authority to steer their motions by the directions of the Bishop of Mentz Upon his Advice this Embassie was undertaken The Ambassadors perform their parts diligently â—ating that of Bravery and Magnificence wherein they did not so much feed the eyes of the Vulgar as the hopes of the Grandees They decently address to the Elector of Mentz and the rest That their Master did not sue for the Empire in his own behalf but for some German Prince That the Electors should assume Spirits worthy of their Predecessors and not suffer the Empire gotten by
the right and to the left presuming upon Victory while the Event was yet in suspense Never was Fortune braved with a more forward joy yet there were called to prayers for obtaining Victory the Priests a generation believed by alas too many a useless burden of the earth The Conflict was sharp and the Dispute maintained with a stiff obstinacy Our left Wing came to a sad misfortune Seneterre discharging manfully the part both of Commander and Souldier was shot and cut He having had his Horse killed under him was carried off and soon after came in again The Enemies too were possessed of our Ordnance which the excelling valour or Hospital recovered but when he was wounded in the Arm were lost again and turned upon us the fortune of the day was changed by Syrot who charged gallantly and came to succour the left Wing that was in apparent danger and almost trampled down The Wallons Germans and Italians being slain the hardest part of the work was behind to deal with a Regiment of Castillians stout and invincible The Infantry of the right Wing had often charged but always without any success At length Gassion being not ignorant of what importance that Regiment was bringing up with him the Horse of the right Wing broke in upon the close Ranks and routed them Presently the Enemies Army was totally defeated The cruel rage of our Switzars discharged their fury upon the Spaniards who counted it brave to die before the face of their Commanders rather than to take Quarter Fuentes the Master of the Ordnance in the Enemies Camp avoided the disgrace of flight by dying in the Bed of Honour Their Switzars affected the reputation of having their Colonel killed who during the Engagement was carried about in a Sedan he had made oath never to fight against the French neither on Horse-back nor on foot The Count of Issemberg accounting that there was less danger in running away than in being made Prisoner escaped away wounded and a little after dyed of his wound Melo leaving behind him his Commanders staff which came afterwards into the victorious hands of Enguien having rid full eight miles by the swiftness of his Steed hid himself within the Town of Mariemburgh attended by a few that bore him company in his flight having abandoned his whole Army and it was a confessed truth that the Souldier that day fought like a most valiant General and the General run away like a most cowardly Souldier only the renown of Enguien gave him the glory of having been vanquished by so great a Person It was now no longer a fight but a mixt Carnage A slaughter here of one there of whole Companies Limbs of men lye scattered about upon the ground Souldiers maimed and disabled yet would not leave grasping their Arms till through the expence of much blood they sunk down and dyed Some fled the shortest way others got into the opposite Wood and paths unknown to the Pursuers Naked men encounter with such as are armed and the wounded with such as are whole As is the fashion when fear possesseth the spirit Enguien would no longer pursue them upon the flight but commanded their weary hands their thirsty bodies their blunted Arms to be quiet and having gone through a business of singular danger entred Roc-Roy in Triumph Now he owed this Victory more to his Valour than Fortune For he both drew up his Army most skilfully fought couragiously and with excellent judgment despised the loss of his great Guns knowing that the main concern was the keeping the Army in order and holding the field Then what is rare in that heat of Passion and Age. He pursued them upon the flight with more prudence than eagerness All that were present confessed that Hospital Seneterre Gassion Syrot Espenan deserved to have Enguien for their General and Enguien to have such Officers This hath been too large in the Relation but so many following Engagements shall be all comprehended under this one Roc-Roy being relieved Thionvilles Attaque is resolved upon It is a City of the Dukedom of Luxemburgh cut by the Mazelyn in two parts the one looks towards Metz the other Triers for it hath two Gates situated in a Valley fortified with Trenches and Bulwarks incomparably well At that time judged to have been of great importance not so much to expiate the slaughter of Fequier by putting it to the Sword which had been a quarrel suiting our bravery but that the French Territory might be enlarged by such an Acquist Therefore having wasted the Country and reduced some few Villages on the thirtieth day after the Battel at Rocroy the French Army came within view of Thionville with the same push of fortune carried Guere and Gassion went before to take up the Armies Quarters Conde with prodigious swiftness by the fourth days march came to Metz and a Recruit of new-raised men being taken on there his Army was compleated in numbers By the Counsels of the Commanders by the works activity and patience of the Souldiers by the valour of Enguien within four months time after the Siege was laid there came into our hands that City famous to the memory of posterity for the antiquity of its Original and frequent varieties of Fortune which having escaped many casualties now as it were restored the new Peace cherishing all doth rest quietly under the protection of the French clemency Because there had been assaults with variety of success and many men lost before it when News came to Paris that Thionville was taken there was infinite rejoycing the Churches were full of those that give God thanks for the Victory the Entry too of Enguien being more celebrated than is the custom by the people running in multitudes out of Town to meet him exceeded the usual measure of Honour The League that we had struck with Gustavâ—â— Adolphus the great King of Sweden lasted as long as he lived When he was dead it was renewed with his Successors amongst whom Duke Bernard of Weymar a Branch of the House of Saxony or rather the very stock was eminent for his great merits Our Arms were joyned with the Gothick under that renowned Duke who dying of the Plague not being poysoned as was malignantly given out that he might not oppose Richlieu's designs the Commandâ— in chief over the Army was committed to Weybrantz who was already acquainted with the German Souldiers and Discipline a name well known to the Hercynian and Rhyne His Engagements proved very fortunate by a victory over Lamboy and divers Enterprises still successful At length as is the usual Fate of Martial men having his Arm broken with a Canon bullet before the Walls at the Siege of Rothuel he lived to come into the City Those that accompanied him weeping gave an appearance to the Army looking on as if they had been following not Weybrantz but his Corps His mind continued unshaken and after he had given all his orders as though he had discharged the duty of his
vengeance on them being penitent We are not afraid of falling under the suspicion to have been debauched from our Allegiance although your people having been harassed by the oppression of some bad Officers hath foolishly endeavoured to vent their passions upon their King and Country For the pardon of their past licence your City will acquiesce in your Royal Word and judge it self safe in that as in a Garrisn Our obedience whensoever you but please you may command This boldness secured by your Parole will be no more invited to transgress by the taking up of Arms. Your Majesty sent us a Herald to try our Allegiance and honesty That we sent him back without Audience must be imputed to our Reverence not obstinacy We had not so far forgot our selves as to stand upon even terms with our Liege and Lord. Soveraign Powers send and receive Heralds one from the other If you range us in co-ordination with them we have reason to desire herein to be excused and disclaim an Honour above our Rank affecting only the glory of Loyality and having no higher pretences than of being dutiful If we have done amiss we submit condemn us to what punishment you please we are ready to undergo it as sensible to have deserved it When he had done speaking the Queen softned with such Language answered They should find none more dear to her than such as did heartily repent and this the issue should demonstrate In the mean time they were referred to hear her farther pleasure from the Chancellor He discoursed much and pertinently bewailed the misfortunes of the people yet they must look to it that there never be occasion given to repent of the favour in chastising the Faction rather by Law than the Sword In conclusion he did not incense the Queen but disposed her to mercy Afterwards the door was opened and they were carried to a place of feasting and made very welcome Orleans and Conde seemed earnestly to advise them to render themselves to the Queens mercy from whom they might promise themselves any thing They returned to Paris with better success than they expected Leopoldus Arch-Duke of Austria was then Governour in chief over the Low-Countries not without secret instructions to have an eye over the French Tumults That is the Spaniards old custom to look always obliquely upon our prosperity and to rejoyce at our misfortunes One Arnolfin is sent from Leopoldus express with Letters to the Parliament and Conti which he first discharged himself of in the house of Elbaoeuf The Prince being scarce full eighteen had neither hatred nor love but such as were suggested to him by his Sister and Marsillac such then was his Junta by whose instigations Noirmont and Legué were dispatched to the Arch-Duke Leopoldus promised to send Forces to relieve Paris so that some fortified Town or Castle of ours upon the Frontiers might be put into his hands for Caution This discovered that the Spaniards have not yet left their old Arts. Such was the madness of some that they did impudently advise it as reasonable to be done The more judicious were utterly against it There was in company with Leopoldus when they entred France Lewis Trimonille Noirmont carried away by the stream of the Faction rather through his Fate than any inclination he had to the Party from which he was so averse that he trembled at the Enemies entrance and went as Quarter-master before more to warn the people to save their Cattel and Goods from plunder than any design to farther the Invasion of the Spaniard yet for this he was attainted and innocent man suffered When as with the sole memory of the Battel at Lentz where being forced upon disadvantage of ground and the charge of the whole Enemies Battalia to retreat at the passâ—â—â— over a Brook that lay between when he was joyne with Conde did such excellent Service as might easily erase what he did after which swerved from Allegiance to the King Arnolsin desires to be admitted to the Parliament and what was to be admired or detested rather he was admitted anâ— presented the Arch-Dukes Letters to so venerablâ— an Assembly making brave and great promises iâ— Leopoldus his Name It has hardly been known that any matter was more nicely scanned Aâ— length the well-affected Party reclaimed the seduced Members to better courses They scattered the mist of Errour and pierced the Spanish Artifices and subtile Designs and resolved it is upon the question that in all cases the Spaniard be suspected though he bring Presents The Parliament of Paris neither wrought off by the vain preparation of the Commanders nor the promises of the Spaniards chuse certain Commissioners to send to the King and Queen their prime President Mole Meâ—mius and Violet with the chiefest of their Members for honesty and experience About the same time what I must not pass over in silence the pestilent Star of Rebellion did influence England with the like Contagion which forgetting its Allegiance and Interest and breaking in upon the Sacred and Venerable Presence of Majesty did not spare its own natural and lawful King Charles held his Kingdom by Succession from his Father A Prince of a most mild temper nor moved with necessary severity against Offenders Not naturally much addicted to business as diverted perchance by the security of a long Peace intrusted Himself and his Estate to some imfaithful Counselâ—ors From whence were all the mischiefs occasioned which befel that Best King to the particular Odium and Infamy principally of Cromwell who taking advantage of Charles his temper and of the weaknesses and errours in the Government poysons and corrupts all the parts of the Kingdom Hereupon Phrensie and Ambition take up Arms against the King and when he was brought low lay violent hands upon him The King awakned too late began to assert his Honour and Cause but was now debarred of his Liberty a Prince for Gallanty of Spirit inferior to no King and that could not have been over-reached but by his excess of Goodness was driven by the Villany of others to exert his own Vertues Cromwell a Person bold and of a deep reach that had fair words at will to carry on his own designs second to no man living in Cruelty and Pride whensoever he might exercise it with safety at length went so far whether by Fate or the corruption of the Times that upon the Scaffold as is notorious to all King Charles in a pretended form of Law by Sentence of a High Court of Justice in the view of his Subjects had his Head cut off by the wicked hand of the Hangman Thus much by the by because I have already hinted it in the former Book there will be elsewhere a fitter place to dilate upon Cromwell who yet reaking with the blood of his Soveraign soon after invaded his Throne The storm seemed now to allay at Paris when in these condescensions an Accident about Thurenne had well-nigh disturbed the Treaty of Peace He was