the Counsel that the Duke should withdraw from Court where if he had appeared he would have been received by their Majesties with extraordinary testimonies of their cordial affections But because it was not thought good that so great a Prince should be left under the notion of the Kings enemy the Wednesday following the Duke d' Anville was sent to Limours to treat with him where the King desiring that Cardinal Mazarine might be comprehended they could not agree the Duke continuing firm in his resolution never to be friends with him more nor to come to Court so long as he should have the management of Affairs but in every thing else he should be ready to give His Majestie all manner of satisfaction The Secretary Tellier and others of the Kings Ministers went some days after to try to gain him but the Duke that he might not seem mistaken in his deliberations would not yield to their reasons and having at length given notice of this to the Prince of Conde by the Sieur de Godovin Field-Mareschal whom he sent expressly to him and receiving Answer that the Prince was of the same opinion with the Duke of it was concluded in this manner that he was contented to live quietly at Blois that he would call back his Forces from the Prince of Conde's Army and unite them to the Kings upon condition that they might not be employed immediatly against the said Prince to whom by reason of the entire friendship that he professed to him he could not be wanting in what unfortunate estate soever he might be cast The Affairs of the Duke of Orleans being concluded in this manner he executed punctually all that was agreed upon and withdrew himself from the care of all worldly affairs applying himself to live quietly and free from all disturbance The Duke of Beaufort went to live at Vendosme and the rest of those who were exiled leaving Paris retired to their Countrey-houses very much grieved but especially when they saw Mazarine triumphant in their misfortunes The President Maison and Counsellour Vedeau proposed to assemble the Chambers of Inquest to treat vpon means how they might protect their Companions fallen into disgrace and gave out that they would rather renounce their places then support a grievance so prejudicial to the publick dignity But the greater part being of another opinion the Chambers met not and Maison being sent for to the Louvre received a sharp reprehension with some threathings which were afterward put in execution for he and Vedeau were also banishâ—d some of these were backward to quit Paris but it helped nothing being constrained to do it for fear of greater violence Only Brussel being old poor and without any Countrey-house did not stir from his in Paris where he remain'd privately saying boldly That he feared nothing because he was guilty of nothing that if the Court desired his life they might take it for he was now old enough and for a year or two more or less he cared very little seeing that the praises of good men have their birth from the bosom of death These expressions made deep impression in the hearts of many of the people whose spirits were not yet quieted and who had not forgot the good-will they had had for him nor their Prejudices against the Court. The Court took no notice of this and made as if they believed he were out of the Town being out of Commerce and sight of the people Brussel therefore remained private and retired in the City although he was banished by name Afterwards there was very good order taken for the Government of the City the security of Paris consisting in winning the affection of the people which succeeded happily by the help of him who governed in a time when by the weakness of the Court they might have expected great misfortunes it was no small marvel not to say a miracle to see in so short a time the fury and indignation of a multitude appeased of its own accord which boasted of nothing more then their firm and immutable resolutions of maintaining their own phrenzies to see the Meeting of the Fronda broken and dispersed the Parliament curbed the most audacious brought low and lastly the King triumphing more by the Power of Justice of his Innocence and Mildness then by the force of his Strength and Authority Whilst things pass in this manner at Paris many new disturbances broke out at Bourdeaux Those of the Faction called de l' Olmiere dismantled the Palace du Ha and committed many insolencies upon those of the Parlement so that there was great disorder amongst them The Parlement sought by all means to keep this Faction under but in vain seeing it was backed by the greater part of the common people Mazarine fail'd not also to use all industry to appease these disorders endeavouring to sow discord amongst them and to render them diffident of one another and in the end obtained his intent as shall be related The Spaniards in the mean-while engaged in the siege of Barcellona failed not to do their utmost for the gaining of that most important place The Cardinal though absent took care that the King gave necessary Orders for the relief of it and the Marquess de St. Andre Monbrun was commanded to march from Piemont into Catalonia with a good number of Horse and Foot which he did with all speed there ensued divers exploits The besieged making a Sally by night out of the gate of Trussana upon the 16. of July 1652. with design to drive the enemy further off assaulted and took the Fort upon the Mountain of Mongirick but not having furnished it with Provision and Ammunition it was attacqued again and retaken by the Spaniards giving good quarter St. Andrew Montbrun had relieved the Town if he had had money enough for Provisions to have put into it and for the maintaining his Army for having happily attaqued the line He entred in but was afterwards forced to retire for want of Provisions and the Horse mutinying by reason of the great hardships they endured the Spaniards took all the places which are beyond upon the Sea-Coast from Palamos to Barcelona and so deprived the besieged of that little which used to be brought in to them by night in small barks so that being reduced to the greatest extremities upon the eleventh of October the Mareschal de la Motte capitulated with Don John of Austria for the surrender and so that City returned again under the obedience of His Catholick Majesty Upon the 21 of October the same year neither the French nor the Savoyards being able to relieve Casal in Italy the Governour thereof Monsieur de St. Angel was constreined to surrender it upon Articles and to put the Citadel into the hands of the Duke of Mantua's Captains who put in a Garrison of his own souldiers laughing at them who imagined and even after the taking of it were so confident to maintain that the Spaniards should have
party they might be able to make a vigorous Inroad upon the French on that side whilst the forces of Bourdeaux gave them strong and considerable diversion on the other The money which was remitted was very welcom to those that had the good fortune to receive it who for the most part misappli'd it and converted to their own what was intended for the publick use by which means the designes and deliberations of the Catholick Court were not only retarded but oftimes precipitated for being so remote from those Provinces in which the War was carried on it could not contribute nor proportion its Recruits according to the suddenness and variety of the Accidents which hapned an inconvenience of great importance to that Crown by which the wisest and most prudent of their resolutions have been many times enervated and lost To these Reasons another may be added and that is that the Royal Council of Spain was from time to time deluded by the successive relations they receiv'd from the French in their service who magnifying the power and interest of their party and villifying that of the Kings fill'd the heads even of the gravest of them with vain and impertinent hopes and they taking their measures accordingly found themselves at last not only mistaken but involv'd in greater difficulties then before On the other side the French being an united and entire body able to derive Orders immediatly to its several members and being animated and directed in their affairs by Cardinal Mazarin a Person of miraculous knowledge in the nature and interest of all Nations no wonder if he knew how to make his advantages and apply remedies to the maladies of that Country which without his Judgment and dilligence would by degrees have grown incurable In the mean time then whilst in the Court of Spain they were contriving expedients to foment the troubles in France and in France the Cardinal was as busie to re-invigorate the declining Grandeur of that Kingdom the Generals of the Armies on both sides omitted no opportunities that might advance the interest of their several Princes The Count Marcin General for the Prince of Conde in Guienne desirous to enlarge his Quarters by the taking in of such places as were most easie to be attaqu'd he commanded out Colonel Baltassar with 800 Irish to fall upon Grenada on the Garonne in the County of Grave as a place which would facilitate his passage into the County's of Armaniack and d' Auches The Sieur Baz endeavor'd to possess himself of a Pass upon the River call'd La douxand hoping to force the Chevalier de Aubeterre to abandon those places that he might enter with great profit and advantage to himself and his Party Bat Monsieur de Aubeterre having intelligence of his design with a Party of 300 Horse and some commanded Musquetiers fell so furiously upon his Forlorn which consisted of some select Horse and Foot drawn out of their Gross that without so much as drawing a sword they betook themselves to their heels part of them being drown'd in the River and part taken Prisoners by the enemy The inhabitants of Sarlat being much infested by the Garrisons belonging to the Princes took heart at this good success and signifi'd to the Marquess of Sovebeuf that if he pleas'd to advance at a certain time with his Troops they would receive him into the Town by a private Water-course which ran under the Town-wall but that design miscarrying the Towns-men attempted to corrupt some of the Officers of the Garrison whom they perceiv'd discontented with their General and having concluded an intelligence with them they gave notice thereof to the Duke of Candale who sending them a party of four hundred men under the Command of the Count Marin On the 23. of May an houre before-day they were receiv'd by the Sieur Boreel Advocate and Counsellor for the City where having joyn'd with what forces could be made in the Town they march'd immediately to the Bishops Palace where Chavagnac was quartered at that time Chavagnac being awak'd with the noise leap'd out of his bed and endeavor'd to escape in his shirt but he was pursued by the Citizens and taken Prisoner The main Guard in the Market-place made some little defence till the Sieur Boismale their Lieutenant Colonel three Captains and other inferiour Officers were slain Chambelloy their Camp-Master della Roche their Field-Marshal and the rest of the Officers who had barricadoed themselves up in the houses surrendred and voluntarily took up Arms for the King This fortunate Acquisition was seconded by the taking in of several other places and walled Towns in which the Princes forces were quartered so that the Kings Army advancing towards Bordeaux on all sides and the City every day streightned more then other the sober and more provident part of them were in no little distraction to consider the consequences which were too likely to follow they foresaw that without a sudden and a vigorous supply the Kings Army encreasing daily as it did all would in a short time be reduc'd to the utmost extremity The City of Bordeaux was at this time capable of relief but two ways either from England or Spain To which end the Sieur de Couppes and Count Marsin's Secretary were dispatch'd to Saint Sebastian and from thence to the Court of Spain to sollicit the performance of their Promises made for the support of those Parts which being the most expos'd of all the Provinces and Cities in France brought Bordeaux into a dilemma of becoming a prey to those that fought against it or those which defended it In the mean time the Sieur de Saint Agolin had not been wanting in his solicitations in Spain to press the dispatch of their Fleet and the supplies of money which had bin promis'd and at last practised in the name of his Master the Prince of Condy that unless a considerable sum was sent before the last of that month which was February he should be constrain'd to depart They had already disburs'd 100000 Crowns which they had sent to Bordeaux but upon the Arrival of de Chouppes who was immediately followed by a Deputy from the Counsel of Olmiera the Court of Spain being fully inform'd of the danger all Guienne was in by the vigilancy of Cardinal Mazarin they immediately dispatch'd 30000 Pistols to Priscay with peremptory Orders to put forth six of their most considerable Ships and four Fireships with all possible diligence that they might force their way into the Garonne and oppose themselves against the French The said Persons were likewise immediatly returned with 150000 Crowns more for the Prince of Conde and because it was conceived that the Sieur Lenet had not observ'd the respect which was due to the Prince of Conty by reason of his particular intimacy and correspondence which he held with Conte Marsin who had no great veneration for the said Prince there were Instructions given by the Spanish Ministers which way they should conduct themselves
Three weeks together the Armies lay facing one another in this posture without any Action at length the Prince of Condy and Spanish Generals despairing of their design'd Inroad into France or of giving them battel or surprizing any Town upon the Somme by reason of the great vigilancy and precaution of the French Generals they grew very confus'd and variable in their Counsels Condy had insinuated into the Spanish Ministers and Captains that upon his entrance into France he should meet with so much welcom and assistance that they should make their way more by the good-will of the people then by the sword But not managing his Interest dexterously and wanting the means the Cardinal had to inveigle and cajole by recompences those who were of a contrary judgment he found himself deluded and those persons who had promis'd him their fidelity in lieu of proving constant to his party let themselves be corrupted by the said Cardinal and served more to endamage and prejudice him then to assist and profit him The generous mind of the Prince being netled in point of reputation which being lessned already by his daily misfortunes would be absolutely lost if with so much preparation and so great forces he should consume unprofitably a whole Campagne which at first did seem to promise so much advantage and glory to Spain and threaten so much ruine and destruction to the Kingdom of France in a full Counsel of War he propos'd the Enterprize of Rocroy making good his opinion both with martial and politick Arguments He acquainted them that he was inform'd the Garrison was very weak by reason the Chevalier Montague Governor of the place upon confidence that he could not be attaqued had sent away the Regiment of the Crown to Rhetel That therefore in 12 dayes time it might be taken That there would be no great difficulty to invest it in respect there were no great Rivers to pass and the Siedge would be very easie since the Town lying betwixt thick woods whosoever were first to gain the Passes might be able to maintain them defend their lines with a very few men That Rocroy would be of very great importance being a Key of the Frontiers of Picardy and though indeed the loss of it would be no great detriment to France yet it was very considerable to the Spaniards for by this place the French made all the adjacent Countrey pay Contribution and a great part of the Province of Luxenbourg These Considerations of the Prince of Condy were excellently good and his opinion credited and receiv'd as an Oracle by all the Commanders But the Spaniards who seldom put their foot into the water till they have first sounded the bottom and who hold Prudence as an inseparable Companion of all their Actions though in appearance they inclined to the Propositions of the Prince by way of Complaisance yet in reality they did not assent in their hearts for it being formerly by agreement betwixt them and the said Prince declar'd that all such Towns as should be taken within the distance of three Leagues from the Frontiers of Flanders should belong absolutely to the Prince they considered that they should expose and consume their Army in the acquisition of a place that would adde nothing to the advantage of their Crown and would be rather instrumental towards the reconciliation of the said Prince with the Court of France then any furtherance towards the General peace of Spain To this they added that if the Siege should happen to prove longer then was propos'd they ran a great hazard of consuming their Men their Money and their patence So that at length their Souldiers failing they should no longer be Masters of the Field in which consisted the hopes of those who relying upon their assistance were contriving new Cabals in France The Count de Fuensaldagne's judgment was to lay siege to Arras seeing they had an Army big enough to undertake it and maintain a line of Circumvallation about it Others were of opinion that encamping still with their Army in the Enemies Countrey they should not only put them to a great burden of the War but might with money and promises encourage and propagate their Intelligence whereby to obtain an advantageous victory which could never be compleat unless they advanc'd into the very bowels of France and divided that powerful and opulent City of Paris from their Union with the King But as this had been endeavored even from the beginning without any effect so was there less hopes now especially since by the pacification of Guienne the interest of the Princes was in a declining condition and the credit of the Cardinal much increased At last the Enterprise of Rocroy was resolv'd on To which effect the Count de Ligneville advanced with 3000 Horse with all speed to block up the Town the 5th of September by break of day and was followed by the whole Army which was so unexpected and not foreseen by the Governour that 100 of his best Souldiers were shut out of the Garrison being gone a scouting according to custom The French Generals did their utmost to put in supplies but the ways being narrow and difficult they could by no means effect it The Spaniards having possest themselves of all the Passes the Prince of Condy took up his quarters at a place call'd l' Vnghero The Count de Fuensadagne in the Champion Country extending his quarters from the Main body to the watch above The space from thence to the Prince of Condy's Post was possess'd by the Lorainers Their Army being Lodg'd in this posture they began immediatly their line of Circumvallation which in 4 days was compleated and on the 11th of September they open'd their Trenches directing their approaches to the Bulwarks of Chene and del Perdu and to the Half-moon or Ravelin betwixt them The Commanders in chief of the Spaniards in this Leagure were the Count de Fuensaldagne General the Count de Garzias Lieutenant-General and the Prince of Ligny in the third place Prince Uldric of Wittembourg was Captain-General of the German Horse The Lorraine Troops were Commanded by the Count de Ligneville The Prince of Condy's by the Marquess de Bouteville the Count de Briole the Count de Duraz and the Prince de Tarante who a while after left the Camp disgusted with the Spaniards because they would not admit him to the Command conferr'd upon him by the Prince Rocroy was well-provided with Victuals Ammunition Cannon Forts and a good wall Their chief want was of men there being in the whole Garrison not above 450 Foot 50 Horse 30 Inhabitants in Armes and about 90 Peasants that had fled thither The foss was full of water and the Plain without the Works spungie and morish but 4 or 5 Foot deep chalkie and firm The French Generals at the first motion of the Enemies Army perceived immediately they could nave no other design but upon Rocroy and because they judged it impossible either to
to a battel on which depended their hopes Grancè sent out the Marquess of Monpesat his Lieutenant General who had the Command of the Rear to possess himself of the most advantageous ground and having drawn up the rest of his Army himself in a large field reaching to the Neighbouring Hills He advanc'd with 4 Squadrons to descry the enemy and having discover'd that Caracene began to pass his men over upon a Bridge of Boats followed by the Infantry under the Conduct of Don Vincenzo Monsuri and that the Horse foorded the River a little beneath led by the Duke de Sesto General of the Gens d' Arms and Count Geleazzo Trotti General of the Neapolitan Cavalry He thought it best not to give the Spaniards time to finish their Passage but by possessing himself first of the Field to necessitate them either to retire or to engage upon disadvantageous termes he caused therefore his main body to advance with all possible speed Caracene not being able to prevent the French by reason of the slowness of his men in passing the River and the loss of two houres time in staying for the Bridge resolv'd to expect them under the Advantage of the Posts where he was and because he had not time to draw into the Plain and the ground being somewhat strait on that side the Tanaro accommodating himself as well as he could both as to his time and his ground he drew his Horse into Squadrons behind his Infantry Thence he possess'd himself immediately of two Cottages placing there the Tertia's of Don Luigi Benaudes and Don Inigo de Velandia and in the space betwixt the two Houses the Regiments of Don Giuseppe Velasco Don Diego d' Arragon and of Beltin with design to have united them by a branch of a Trench which for want of time could not be perfected The Mareschal observing the posture of the enemy and perceiving that by the advancing of his Van he might put the Spanish Camp into some disorder by the advantage of the hill though without Musquet-shot and provided only with two little Field-Pieces he drew his Army into two lines with all possible expedition The Marquess of Monpesat had the Command of the right Wing consisting of the Regiments of Navarre Perault Aiguebonne the Kings Swiss-Guards the Squadron of the Mareschals Guards the Regiments of Orleans Feron of Prince Maurice of Savoy Marcoussè Ferues and Epinchat The left Wing was commanded by the Marquess de Vardes with the Regiment of Foot of Orleans Lionnois and Quincè and of Horse there were the Regiments of St. Andrè Brigy and Villefranche on the left hand of which stood all the Companies of Voluntiers the Cavalry of Savoy under the Command of their General the Marquess de Monte of Verona to whom were joyned the Infantry of the Regiment of Monpesat and Villa Lieutenant-General of the Savoy Horse In the second line stood the Regiment of Saux as a Reserve to the Regiment of Navarr with the Regiment of Carignan de Sault and on the left the Regiment of Grancè sustein'd the Regiments of Orleans and Lyennois having with them in the same line the Guards of Savoy the French Gens d' Armes with the Regiments of Ris Deoncly and Saint Agnan In this Order the French advanc'd and with great fury charg'd three Companies of light Horse and some parties of Foot which appearing upon the top of the Hills were repulsed as far as the Battalions of Benavides Velandia and Beltin by whom the French were received so couragiously both with Pike and Musquet which flanked them thorow several holes of the Cottages that Monpesat finding it impossible to advance further made a stand The French resolv'd to possess themselves of a little Church or Chappel towards the River about some 20 paces distant from the little Houses where Caracene had placed two Files of Spanish and Italian Musquetiers with Orders if they were attaqu'd to retire to a body of his drawn up hard by compos'd of the Tertia's of Don Carlo d' Este Don Giusippe Brancaccio Danel Assy Count di Santi lana and some foreign souldiers of the State of Milan Grancè caus'd the said Chappel to be Assaulted by 200 Foot seconded by some Horse which was immediately taken the Musquetiers retiring according to their Orders to their main Body which stood firm in their Post He sent out after them his Company of Gens d' Armes who advanc'd within 30 Paces of the Trenches on the Spanish left wing and as the same time he made a brisk charge with his Foot hoping that if he could disorder the Enemies Battalion the French Horse might fall in and put them to an absolute rout but meeting with a certain torrent of Waters which in that place falls into the Tanaro the Horse were forc'd to stop their carreer In the mean time the Troops of Savoy made their charge betwixt the River and the right Wing of the Spaniards which was the most open place where at the first volley of the Enemies Masketiers the Marquess Monte a person of great Conduct and experience and of great same for several valiant Exploits was shot in the Head and died immediatly The Marquess Villa had a slight wound in the Arme and was afterwards made General in the place of the said Monte the Count de Medavid son of the Mareschal and the Sieur de Boussy Mareschal di Battaglia and several other Officers were hurt Whereupon Grancè observing the resoluteness of the Spaniards animated by the presence of their General Caracene who according to the example of an excellent Captain kept still in the front among his first Files thrusting himself forward where the danger was greatest commanded up his second line with two small peices one of which was disabled at the first shot by the breaking of the Carriage the French continued shooting with the other but to so little purpose That being repuls'd in all places at length about Sun-set their fury beginning to abate for want of Artillery and Amunition it being observ'd that the Swissers for want of leaden Bullets had shot away most of their Pewter-buttons off their doublets they retreated to the Hill where and the next Morning took their March towards Montemagno and Granai There were slain of the French in this Engagement besides the Marquess de Monte 4 Captains and several other Officers with a considerable number of common souldiers which was not precisely known and above 100 wounded amongst which several Officers The Spaniards lost but few Souldiers and few or no Officers but several were wounded and among the rest the Marquess de Caracene was slightly hurt with a Musket-shot After this Fight the French Army remained 17 days at Mountemagno and neither the one nor the other being in a condition to undertake any considerable Enterprize all the rest of that Campagne was spent in Marches and Counter-Marches from one place to another The French to keep themselves in the Territories of Milan and to subsist
finished and a Mine ready to spring under a Corner of one of the Towers the Garrison knowing themselves not able to hold out capitulated and surrendred upon honourable terms with obligation to return into Spain by the way of Fonterabbia which was a long way about The French found in the Town six Pieces of Cannon and 5000 pound of Powder which came very seasonably to them having ventured upon that Enterprize very ill provided Ammunition During this siege Plessis Belliere sent the Marquess de Bellefonds with part of his troops to attaque Empouries the Tower Medes and some other small places all of them yielding upon the same Conditions as those to Castillon The French before they entred into Catalonia knowing the Irish not to be over-well satisfied with the Spaniards they invited them to their party made them very advantageous Offers which were accepted with a promise to come over to them with seven Regiments upon the first opportunity presented While the French were before Chastillon it was signified to the Irish that were within to perform their Promise but they reply'd that they could not abandon the Spaniards like Cowards While they were in that Town they would defend it like persons of honour but when the siege was over they would perform their word as they did presently after so soon as they came into Rossilion where taking their leave of their Neapolitan Camerades they march'd into Danphine where they took up their quarters and by degrees were followed by many more of that Nation So soon as the Spaniards were march'd out of Chattillon Plessis Belliere renew'd his Orders already given to all the Neighboring-Villages after the taking of Barcelona compelling them to bring in Provisions to Roses he commanded them likewise to throw down the works the Spaniards had made about Roses and Chattillon committing the care of it to the Governour who remain'd in the place with a Regiment of Foot and another of Horse but he neglecting to put these Orders in execution was punish'd severely Having intelligence afterwards that the Enemy was retired to Girona and entrenched there he suddenly took his March that way with resolution to engage them but finding it not feasible he march'd along by the River Fer putting himself at the Head of his Scouts the better to observe the posture of the enemy Here he discover'd that their Horse-Guard which they kept at the Great Bridge was retiring towards Girona whereupon the foremost Squadrons of the French left the said Bridge of their left hand and descending along the River side till they came past the town they found the Spanish Horse at forrage on the other side of the River who immediately drew themselves up into Squadrons and the rest of the troops marching out of Girona with their Cannon they drew up into Battalia without the trenches and here whilst the Scouts were skirmishing together from one side of the River to the other those who went closing up placed themselves directly before the Spanish Army whose Commanders perceiving the design of the enemy they retired immediately within their lines which were very large strong and deep with a well contrived bank and flanked with four or five Stone-houses well-lined with Musquetiers These fortifications made exactly according to the Rules of Art began at the walls of an Hospital in the Suburbs and ended at a little Brook that was not fordeable In the mean time the Night approach'd most part of the Souldiers wanted powder and the Waggons which carried that little they had were not come up this notwithstanding the Souldiers express'd great desire to fight wherefore not to deny them this satisfaction any longer Plessis Belliere took all his Horse along with him with 700 Foot and causing every one of them to take a faggot on his back he past the River on the left hand not far from the Town and Bellefonds did the same about 50 Paces below him There were other troublesome Passes betwixt the River and the Spanish Camp so that it was Midnight before their Forelorn could arrive there where they found the Trenches stuck with lighted Matches and approaching perceived the enemy was gone Plessis Belliere sent out several small parties for intelligence which way they were gone who having sought them all night to no purpose in the Morning they descried them upon the Mountain behind the City The French had left their Baggage on the other side of the River with some few Foot to secure it and attend the coming of their Cannon the Spaniards perceiving it caus'd their Horse to march down from the Mountain passing thorow the Town with design to have plundred it but they reckon'd without their Host for no sooner were they observ'd to march that way but the French immediately sent seven or eight Squadrons over the River who constrain'd them to quit their design and betake themselves again to the Mountain after which the Baggage and Cannon past over the River with the rest of the Foot So soon as their Ammunition arrived which was expected from Narbon the French encamp'd in the open Field within half Cannon-shot of the Mountain and the town so that if the enemie drew down their Foot to defend Girona in that case they resolved to attaque the Mountain and if they stirr'd not they should be able to attaque and take the Town at a cheaper rate Girona is a great City situate upon the side of a Mountain encompass'd with a wall and flanked with some little Towers The Houses of the Town serve as a Parapet on that side next the River Fer which washes it on the right side so that it would have been no hard matter to have taken it had there not been an Army to defend it The French were Masters of the Field their Convoys came to them without any danger and in every skirmish which were very frequent the Spaniards were still worsted Belliere endeavor'd by all ways to debauch the Spanish Souldiers who both Horse and Foot came over to them in such numbers that the Officers themselves were forc'd to be a Guard to their own Souldiers the Irish had promis'd to come in entire Companies to the French service The Town began to be straitned for want of Provisions Their Horse already for some days had nothing to sustain them but what Grass they could gather upon the Parapetts of the Wall The Spanish Generals perceiving their troops daily decreasing to preserve themselves on the Mountain they had built three Forts And design'd as was collected by some intercepted Letters to send away part of their Horse to Barcellona as well to give them some refreshment from their sufferings in the Siege as that they might joyn with the Constable of Castile who was preparing an Army to releive Girona The French hereupon were constrain'd to very hard duty in so much that they kept their Horses Sadled Night and Day Whilst the Siedge went on in this manner Plessis Belliere had gain'd an intelligence with the
Boda Governour of the Town with his Tertia of French Foot and march'd himself to observe the motions of the Prince of Condy and the Spaniard who during this Leagure were joyn'd at Hayes d' Auvenes having been retarded in their Campagne both by their want of Horses as abovesaid and also by a Negotiation they had with a Citizen of Arras for the surprize of that City But the same Person held Intelligence likewise with the Cardinal as he had done with the Prince to gain money on both sides This Correspondence was began the Year before and continued till the Prince found himself deluded and cheated at several times of about 2000 Pistols The French having notice that the Spaniard had not yet their Forces united to engage the French Army which was then numerous and flourishing till they were reinforc'd which they most sollicitously endeavor'd by express Order from the Cardinal they advanc'd against the Prince with full resolution to attaque him But he had drawn up his Army betwixt two Woods behind a streight Pass by which means he prevented being fallen upon in a disadvantageous place as it might have hapned had it bin but one half houre longer before he had had the News of the French Army The Mareschals him in so good a posture return'd to their Posts and afterwards march'd towards Vervins passing thorough certain Villages not far from the Abby of Tougny they drew near to Vervens about Proussy and thence coasting by Guise they encamp'd at Riblemont to observe the motion of the enemy who being reinforc'd with the Lorrain Troops and other supplies from Flanders did principally design to make an Inroad into France upon presumption that at their first appearance many would declare for them The French Generals being inferiour in number were oblig'd for that reason to be more wary and circumspect and to have a care how they ran the risk of a Battel which if it went cross would be more dangerous in the consequences then in their present loss The Cardinals design was to protract time and to set the Affairs of the Kingdom to rights by the reduction of Bourdeaux to incapacitate the Prince to raise new troubles by the assistance or intelligence of his friends and to let the Spaniards at length see they were mistaken in the opinion they had conceived of that Juncture to ruine France and the confidence they had repos'd in the reputation and interest of the Prince in his own Countrey thâ—t being the principal mark to which all their Councils were directed it seeming unlikely to the Court of Spain that that Crown of it self with its States and Kingdoms so distant and depopulated should act any thing with advantage against France whilst it was entire and unanimous for this cause they spared no money but were many times lavish and profuse in their distributions to the discontented French who always deceived them with vain hopes and pretences endeavoring still to draw more of them into rebellion that by that means they might be able as it were to compel the French to a solid Peace to which his Catholick Majesty was seriously inclin'd but could not hope to obtain any other way But the effects did not answer Expectation for placing their hopes upon particular persons more sollicitous of their own then of other peoples advantage who propos'd only such things as might render themselves necessary to the Spanish affaires founding their principles upon this Maxime That to draw benefit from Princes they ought to make them expect more then they intended to perform forasmuch as their custom is when they are once delivered to regard them no longer who brought them out of their exigence Things being acted in this manner and hastned by the Spaniard in order to the approaching Campagne the Princes and Generals of the Armies held many Counsels what way they were to proceed The chief of of the Spanish Officers and particularly the Count de Fuensaldagna a person of great judgment propos'd to fall upon some of the most considerable of the King of France's Towns by the benefit of which they might be enabled to pass on and upon a solid foundation maintaine the War afterward in the Enemies Country Some propounded to ship 5 or 6000 men under the Command of the most expert Officers could be chosen and to send them into Guienne to reinforce the Princes Troops in that Province and support the courage of the Bourdelots thereby to sustein the War in those parts which was the strongest diversion could be given to the French Armes To that end it was proposed they should sit down before Bayon and the Princes repair thither with their Troops which would be more feasible in respect that Colonel Baltasser had made himself Master of Tarsas But the hopes that the Reliefe from Spain would be sufficient and having no Orders for dividing their Army in Flanders confuted all those Propositions The Count of Fuenseldagne was of opinion that laying all other things aside they should sit down before Arras whilst their Army was fresh and the Alarmes so hot in other parts of the Kingdom for which reason he look'd upon the Enterprise not so difficult as other people might imagine and that the Prince of Condy might consent he offered to give him Mouson But the Prince insisting upon his Intelligence in Paris prest hard and upon very good reason that drawing all their forces together they should pass the Soma march up to Paris and give their party in that City opportunity to rise while the Court growing jealous of them would be easily perswaded to quit the Town and that in these confusions their Army advancing to Mantes might possess themselves of all the Countrey about Pontoise Saint Lis and other adjacent Towns where recruiting themselves with the discontented party which in probability would throng to him daily they should reap extraordinary advantage and foment the Civil War in France This Proposition was in appearance plausible and so well represented by the Prince that the Council were of the same minde and esteemed that his opinion ought really to be followed as was seemingly desired by those who applauded his Actions with their tongue more then by their deeds But there were two considerable difficulties objected The first was that by the loss of Bellegard and Rhetel the minds of many people were much dejected so that there were but few of the opinion but the King of France would be stronger that Campagne then the Prince of Condy who had lost two such considerable places as it were under his Nose to the great diminution of his credit The other was that the French Army being come into the Field much stronger then was imagin'd it was dangerous to pass so many Rivers and put themselves into the Enemies Countrey without any place of Retreat in case of disaster whilst also the Spanish Army was attended by another though less numerous yet superiour in courage being all French bold and experienc'd besides 4000
the same time Charleroy having received his Arrears the Garrison was changed and Monsieur de Besemaux Captain of the Cardinals Guards was made Governour with whom were left several other Officers entirely depending on the King This Affair having succeeded as the Cardinal contrary to the opinion of many of the Council had presaged contributed much to his reputation and rendred his merits more considerable to the Crown The Cardinal after all this assured the Duke d' Elbeuf that being thorowly informed of the sincerity of Count Harcourt he had the same kindness for him as formerly that seeing he had submitted himself so ingenuously he would take an opportunity that he should have absolute satisfaction The Court remain'd very well pleas'd with the Respect and Generosity of the Count in that Action but those who were emulous of his glory and with several suggestions had wounded his reputation were much astonish'd and confus'd The Duke d' Anville who not many dayes before had been banish'd the Court was recall'd and receiv'd into favour again both by the King and the Cardinal The displeasure was grounded upon this that having promised to resign his Government of Limousin which was design'd for the Mareschal de Turenne in recompence of his services perform'd for the Crown by the instigation of the Arch-bishop of Burges d' Anville seemed unwilling to give his Consent whereupon to Court having engaged their word to Turenne thought themselves obliged to make it good as well to satisfie him who otherwise might have thought himself eluded as to signifie his Majesties resentment to the Duke but he acknowledging his fault and having perform'd what he promis'd was restor'd again to Court Whilst the Mareschal de Hoquincourt was preparing for his journey into Catalonia the States of Languedoc that Winter were held at Pezenas a Town and Castle seated upon the Confluence of the two Rivers the Peyne and the Eraut the Marquess de Plessis Belliere residing there and finding the humour of those people by the infelicity of the times more dispos'd to Factions and Cabals then to pay their Contributions to the King he used all possible means to reduce them to their obedience and at last perceiving the said States resolved to contribute nothing unless the Troops were drawn out of that Province and knowing that the Provisions of Oats for the Horse and other Necessaries for the Camp were to be made out of the Benevolences of that Country which would amount to a very little if nothing was given by the States and by consequence the Army would be uncapable of doing any thing considerable He offered to take the Field if any reasonable Contribution would be made towards the subsistence of the Army to which the States were well enough inclined He considered moreover that the time of the year was far spent That supplies of men were coming to the Spaniards out of Italy That the Enemy were drawing together and made Provision of Cannon Powder Ladders and other Necessaries of Warre at Castillon in order to the besieging of Roses wherefore concluding it would be too late to relieve it if their Line of Circumvallation should be finished before his Arrival it was necessary to provide against it in time He departed from Pezenas the 25. of May and advanc'd to Rigean and Rivesalta where he made some stay to get his Troops together and to see what the final resolution of the States would be Above all he consider'd the importance of conserving Rossilion about which the Cardinal had writ to him and recommended that Province particularly to his care He rendezvouz'd his Army at Baulori from whence he marched the 16. of July to pass the Mountain of Pertus his whole Number consisted of 2500 Horse and 4000 Foot all expert and veterane souldiers The Spaniards Army was a Regiment of Foot more in number then the French and was commanded by the Baron Saback the Constable of Castile and the Marquess Serra so that it was probably judged they would have opposed the French at that Pass but they only put a Guard into the Tower of Longuiera purposing that whilst these had stopp'd them to come in opportunely and defend the entrance but contrary to all expectation the Tower yielded at the sight of two small field-peeces which the French had brought with them from Rossillion here they stay'd a day attending the coming up of their Baggage and Rear-Guard thence they advanc'd into the Plain beyond Oustelnau Plessis Belliere divided his Army into two Battalia's upon intelligence that the enemy would expect him about Castillon who the more to engage their men to keep the Field had set fire on their Forts before Roses and drawn out the Garrison from Teguiers The French March'd in good Order directly towards the Spaniards leaving Teguiers on their right hand Their Vanguard discover'd the Spaniards drawn up in Battalia behind Castillon under the shelter of the Town a great Moor and several Canals and Ditches but as soon as they saw Night approaching and that the French Rearguard was at hand Their Horse which had faced the enemy till their Foot and baggage March'd off began to face about and retire under the benefit of the Night leaving only 1200 Men in Castillon to hinder the advance of the French The Marquess de Plessis Belliere call'd a Council of War to consider whether they should follow the Enemy or not and iâ— was concluded in the Negative because in a Country full of difficult and strait passes as that was it was impossible to force the Enemy to fight unless he had a mind to it himself Besides their provision of Victuals was not yet come up to the Army and they should be necessitated in a short time to return for want of it to the great prejudice of their reputation amongst those people accustomed to judg of things according to their outward appearance and it concern'd the French to preserve their friendship It was resolv'd on therefore to take Castillon before they procdeded any further and to advance fair and softly and not engage in long Marches that they should not afterwards be able to prosecute To this purpose two Pieces of Cannon were sent for from Roses and having taken a view of the Town they began presently to open the Trenches which were in a short time advanc'd to the very brim of the Ditch notwithstanding the perpetual firing from the walls Castillion has a Rampart about it lin'd with stone made curtain-wise with a small dry ditch the Garrison were Irish and Neapolitans commanded by Colonel Milon who being made Head of the people of Naples to their late Revolutions deserted their Party and entred himself into the Spanish service in which he behav'd himself with much reputation The Besieged made no Salleys as having no works to shelter them without but they threw such quantities of stones that the Assailants were obliged to raise a Gallery in the Ditch to get to the wall with more security which being
Inhabitants of San Tibeau a small Town with a very strong Castle lying upon the Sea betwixt Pallamos and Blanes whose Garrison suspecting nothing and not keeping strict Guards were easily surprized Affairs standing thus the Mareschal d' Hoquincourt taking his leave at Court hastned with all speed into Languedoc where having got together the Souldiers that were design'd to serve under his Command he march'd away to the Army before Girona Plessis Belliere having notice of his approach sent his Brother-in-law Monsieur de la Rabiliere to complement him and give him an account of what had passed in the Leagure He acquainted him likewise with their want of powder and how necessary it would be to cause that to be sent to the Camp which was expected at Narbon and in the mean time to endeavour to borrow a quantity of the Governours of Perpignan and Roses he advertiz'd him likewise that if he intended to storm Girona or continue the Siege it would be convenient to hasten the levies of the Catalonians which were raising in Rossillon to cause the Regiment of Swisses which remain'd at Locoman to advance as also the Queens Regiment the Regiments d' Anjou and Languedoc which refused to march with the rest by reason of the precedence to which the Regiment of Auvergne pretended and stayd at Constans under the Command of Tilly. The Mareschal did what Belliere had desired him he brought these Regiments along with him who renewed their pretensions to that height that he was forc'd to cause all the Officers of the Regiment of Auvergne to be secured till the Enterprise of Girona was over besides which he brought 3000 pound of Powder with him from Perpignan Plessis Belliere went out to meet him and brought him to the Camp the 27. of July He took upon him the Command of the Kings Armies in those parts Belliere fell sick of a Feaver which kept him in his bed several days The French resolving to put an end to the siege batter'd the walls made a breach and attempted to have carried it by assault but whether the breach was not wide enough or that the Parapets and Flankers were not well razed or whether the Souldiers commanded to the assault did not perform their duties not following their Officers They could not make their way through and desisted from their Enterprize in hopes that the besieged forwant of provision would yield of themselvs and indeed they were reduc'd to the utmost extremity when their supplies began to appear entring on the 24. of Septemb. at the most difficult side of the Town to pass with a great quantity of meal in Mailes The Swiss and the Queens Regiment seconded by the Regiment of Horse of Carvisson had the Guard of that quarter but these were no sooner charged by the Spaniards but they fled and gave them liberty to joyn with those who sally'd out of the City The Mareschal was gone to visit certain Posts where having News that the said Regiments were attack'd he repair'd thither with all diligence but arriving found his own men Flying and the enemy united Belliere at the Alarm made likewise to that quarter and meeting with the Mareschal he participated to him the Accident after convenient Consultation they resolv'd to abandon the Enterprize without losing more time Hoquincourt intreated Belliere to take care of their Retreat in order whereunto he sent his own Regiment of Foot and the Swisses to make good the Great Bridge to facilitate their passage over the River after which he caus'd the Army to march in good Order and passing the River they encamp'd at Madignan So soon as the Guards had quitted the Bridge the Spaniards took possession of it and whilest the French were march'd away the Constable of Castile sent 400 Horse over the River with some Musquetiers who placed themselves in the houses on the other side of the water They were no sooner over but the French faced about and charg'd them so briskly that they forc'd them back to the River and took most of them Prisoners This blow so cool'd the Spaniards that they pursued their enemy no further From Madignan Hoquincourt march'd to Barca And on the 26. of September came to Villeneufve d' Ampuries where he remain'd for some time to take up what corn was to be found in that Countrey and convey it to Roses causing each Company to carry six quarters of that measure along with them After this having nothing more to do in that Countrey of Lampurdam and not being able to maintain his Troops any longer there he order'd them to pass the Mountain Pertus the 28th following The Regiments of Anjou Languedoc Roquelaure Gramont and Harcourt were left in Roses On the 30th the rest of the Army arriv'd at Bouillon a Town upon the River Teich The Mareschal quartred his Troops in Rossiglion and those of Belliere in Conflans All these Forces remain'd in that little Countrey till the appearance of those from Guienne under the Command of the Marquess de Marinville upon whose Arrival in Rossillion Hoquincourt resolv'd to put Provisions into Roses He caus'd all things to be prepar'd to that effect and resolv'd to conduct them himself with all his chief Officers and such of his Army as could be spared from the posts which were necessary to be kept about Conflans On the 29. of October 1653. he passed the Mountaines and the next Morning put the said Convoy into Roses The French Army advancing eagerly against the Spaniards They were in an ill condition near Lousteneau but the French being a little slow in passing the Hills they had opportunity to retire The Marquess de Marinville who led the Van that day with the Troops of Guienne followed the enemy as far as Feguiers where the Spaniards taking the Garrison along with them The Inhabitants upon the sight of Marinville's Troops cry'd out Viva Francia Long live France The Garrison in Castillion retired likewise in all haste The 6. of November Belliere having the Van commanded out 100 Horse to discover the enemy who bringing intelligence of seven Squadrons of Spaniards on the other side of the River towards Servia Hoquincourt and Belliere being at that time together they march'd with all speed to the River bank and Belliere being acquainted with the Fordeable places by order of the Mareschal he pass'd over and put himself in pursuit of these Squadrons with so much expedition and so good success that he overtook them charg'd them and beat them as far as Bordilles one of their quarters where they endeavoured to rally by the assistance of those that were there but they were routed again and pursued to another of their Posts and from thence to their Head-quarters where meeting with fresh Troops they turned face and fought bravely for some time but having the disadvantage of the ground they were at length quite broken and dispers'd many slain and wounded and many Prisoners and all their baggage taken and plundred Of the French few were slain and wounded
is despised As an example they alledged Cardinal Richlieu who by his extravigant greatness was become so odious to Lewis the 13th that without doubt had they lived longer together that Minister must of necessity have fallen That it would be better therfore to settle his Alliance further off to secure a retreat if any accident should happen without exposing himself to the inconstancy of that Nation who are friends to none but their own fortune But the Cardinal esteeming the advantage to be reciprocal his inclination to his own interest prevail'd above all other Advice so that the Contract was at last agreed on and the Marriage concluded by their Majesties to whose determination the Cardinal left the whole disposure of that Affair submitting his will to their pleasure as he said he had sacrificed all the rest of his faculties to their service but the consummation was put off because the Prince was unwilling to be present in the Parliament of Paris whilst they were forming a Process of High Treason against his Brother the Prince of Condy. He obtein'd therefore to protract his coming to the Court till the latter end of the Carnevale about which time he arrived and was received with all applause and satisfaction imaginable The first Saturday in Lent the Ceremony of touching the hand and signing the Articles of Marriage was perform'd The Princess had a Dowry of 200000 Crowns given her by her Uncle and 50000 by the Kings bounty besides a Pension to the Prince equivalent to his Ecclesiastical Revenue which he resign'd into his Majesties hands after this followed the Espousals and the Nuptials which were honoured by the continual Presence of their Majesties the Duke of Anjou and all the Princes and great Lords of the Court where there was not any one found so stimulated with envy or overwhelm'd with rancour no mind so enraged or corrupted that durst cavil at this Alliance since the deserts of the Uncle towards the Crown were unparallel'd and the Beauty of the Bride such an entire Compendium of the most conspicuous qualities in a woman which were able to excite the praises and commendations of the greatest Emulators and Detractors The Queen her self would needs do her the honour to see her in bed by which incomparable Civility her Majesty made appear how much she was pleased with this Wedding The King afterwards made a Present to the new married Prince of all the Estate and Offices belonging to his Brother the Prince of Condy but he out of an exemplary Grandeur of mind refused that grace as despising the riches which came from that spoil To express the content and joy every one conceiv'd for the reuniting this Branch to the Royal Stock The days following were spent in Balls Feasting Musick and other Recreations and Divertisements becoming a Royal and Majestick Court as is that of the most Christian King The HISTORY of the Managements of CARDINAL MAZARINE Lib. II. Part III WHilst Paris was thus full of joy and festivity at Brussels all was in sadness and confusion for the Imprisonment of Duke Charles of Lorrain who was Arrested Prisoner in that City as shall be related in the ensuing Narrative The Spanish Troops were retiring into their Winter-quarters and the Count de Fuensaldagna considering that by reason of the Numbers of great Officers and the Generals of the three Armies it would be impossible to quarter them all in the Low Countreys he treated with the Duke of Lorrain and paid him a sum of money upon condition he would quarter his Troops and some of the Prince of Condy's out of the Countreys belonging to his most Catholick Majesty as he was accustomed to do at other times under pretence of being General of the Empire by which he made bold with several Neutral Countreys in those Provinces and other Principalities of the Empire as were most expos'd to that inconvenience The Duke began to take up his quarters accordingly and about the middle of Winter marched with his Army into the Countrey of Liege pretending the Elector of Colen had given Sanctuary to Cardinal Mazarine in his State permitting him to make levies there and giving him other assistances against the Prince of Condy. The Elector desir'd help of the King of France against the Troops of the Prince and take Duke Immediately Orders were sent to Faber the Governour of Sedan to draw a Body of an Army together and march to the assistance of the Elector He executed the Orders with all possible expedition marching with the French Troops directly towards Liege The Duke of Lorrain so soon as he had notice hereof in stead of meeting and engaging them as he might easily have done being much stronger then Faber retired into the Territories of the King of Spain took up quarters there for his men and came himself to Brussels The proximity of these Troops of the enemie being as it were in the heart of the Countrey and the Dukes retreat without attempting in the least to oppose them The various Advices they received from several parts that what was acted by the Duke of Lorrain was done by private Intelligence with Cardinal Mazarine gave no small trouble to the Arch-Duke and the Count of Fuensaldagne and so much the more because these Advertisements did quadrate with the Treaty the Duke made with the King of France near Paris deserting the Princes in their greatest need With the withdrawing of his Troops from the siege of Rocroy with the Negotiations which were lately discover'd he had held with the Crown of Swedeland and other Princes to hinder the New Election of the King of the Romans hoping himself by the help of his money and the assistance of the King of France and the Protestant Princes in Germany to be able to pretend to that dignity This jealousie was not a little fomented by the strait correspondence he held at that time with the Elector Palatines Family with the Swedes and with other Princes of Germany to whom he had sent Ronselot his Secretary having sent likewise for the Prince Palatine of Sultzbach in the place of his Brother killed at the battel of Rhetel with design to marry him to his daughter By the displeasure he expressâ—d for the assistance granted to the Prince of Condy by whose Treaty with the Court of Spain he pretended to be very much prejudiced by reason that all the acquisitions made in France being to be deliver'd into his hands there remain'd no place in the power of the Spaniards to exchange afterward for those of Lorrain at the General Peace He began therefore to doubt that the bare Protection of Spain would not be sufficient to restore him to the Sovereignty of his Dominions This was one of the principal Reasons that renewed in the Duke the ancient emulation betwixt the Houses of Lorrain and Bourbon not being able to endure that the Prince of Condy should be Master not only of Stenay Clermont and other places belonging to Lorrain but of the Conquests
German Horse the remainder of the famous Waymers forces and supported by several strong Towns and Fortresses all firmly devoted to their King Nevertheless as there is nothing deludes the imagination more then a mans esteem of himself the Prince of Condy was so transported with an opinion of his Reputation in France he thought that sufficient to do his business without being troubled to fight for 't This opinion therefore was embrac'd contrary to the judgement of Fuensaldagne who for two secret reasons was really averse The first was that he believ'd the Princes designs were not upon good foundation and if they were it did not consist with the interest of Spain to advance them forasmuch as it was most certain if he reduc'd the Cardinal to any streight he would find some way or other to accommodate with him and then the Spaniard would run great hazard of having him engag'd against them and the troubles in France would cease of themselves The other was that it was not convenient for him to expose the whole Forces of Spain without a certainty of gaining some considerable place and with the hazard of some dangerous disgrace not daring to be too confident in the Prince who was a Frenchman or in the Duke of Lorrain who the Count of Fuensaldagne knew had his ears always open to any Proposition of advantage and might easily be gain'd by the Artifice of the Cardinal These two Reasons reflecting so nearly upon the Prince of Condy and the Duke of Lorrain could not be publickly urged in the Council and therefore the other opinion prevailing the Spanish Army marched towards Cambray from thence to Crevecoeur and came to Chastelet without interruption and so to Fonsomme where the River Somma arises which was but two Leagues distant from the French Camp The Spanish Army comprehending the Prince of Condy's and the Duke of Lorrain's forces consisted of 30000 effective men it was compos'd of Spaniards Italians Walloons Dutch Burgundians Flemins Irish and other Nations who by the diversity of their Languages and customs were the cause of great confusion in that Camp Their Train was very great both for Cannon Ammunition and Baggage Here the Prince of Condy made a halt for several days in the face of the French Camp passing the time in frequent but inconsiderable skirmishes with their Horse which with most exact diligence were kept scouting upon the Roads The Princes hopes were impregnated with strong conceit of his Party in Paris by whose assistance he thought his success would be in infallible but he reckon'd without his Host for the King being there and the Cardinal very watchful against the least insurrection there was not one person durst appear in the City nor one Officer of those which were banish'd who durst venture to come into Paris and head the Male-contents who wish'd the Prince well in their hearts though they durst not shew it his design vanishing in fumo He lost his Reputation among the Spanish Commanders who discover'd him to be without that interest and dependence which he was suppos'd to have in France and which his friends had promis'd upon their Parols Perplex'd therefore and in confusion about the resolution they were to take the Armies confronted one another for several days The Prince of Condy being stronger in number desir'd by all means to come to a general Engagement but the French unwilling to hazard themselves on so great a disadvantage endeavor'd by the benefit of their Incampments and the convenience of the Fortresses they had thereabouts to give impediment to their Progress and make them lose time This posture of affairs gave occasion to the discovery of the valour and conduct of two Captains Competitors at that time in point of Glory and Renown the disadvantage under which the Mareschal Turenne then lay in respect of the disparity of his Numbers making his Prudence in that Juncture more remarkable then his courage But the Cardinals designs proceeded at another rate his principal Object was to reduce Bourdeaux to its obedience he knew very well that to secure this part of the Kingdom would be the safety of the other His judgment was approved by the whole Council and resolution was taken to amuse the Prince on the Frontiers of Picardy or Champagnia till the Affairs in Guienne were dispatch'd where all things tended to a fortunate Conclusion though the means used in the management were not entirely successful The Marquess de Theubon who had defended with great courage and better fortune the Town of Villeneuf de Agenois against Count Harcourt disdaining that Count Marsin should arrogate to himself the glory of preserving that City for that during an inundation of waters which had forc'd the Kings Army further off he had put into it 200 Horse as also because by his Order the Houses of some of his Relations were plundred amongst which was that of Colonges and of the Marquess Dowager of Villefranca which said houses he had taken into protection he came to Bourdeaux to make his Complaint to the Prince of Conty who intreated him to lay aside his animosity at that time and not to think of revenging himself upon Marsin as he had publickly threatned but neiher that nor the giving him 500 Crowns by way of Reparation prevailing he dispatch'd a Messenger to Blaye to negotiate his Accommodation with the Duke of Saint Simon and Vandosme the last of which was newly arrived at that place the Dukes giving the Cardinal Advice thereof were required by all means to bring him off if it were possible and what other of that Party they could This business was of importance and in a fair way to succeed but the Advocate Literie being banish'd in the interim upon some suspitions though nothing was perfectly discover'd that design was for the present laid by Theubon was advised by his friends and by those that were true servants to the King to remain in Bourdeaux to make himself Head of that Party in the Town and never to reconcile himself to Marsin but to study a revenge for if he could be so happy as to kill him he would not only satisfie his private resentment but put a Conclusion to the War and perform an Action extreamly meritorious to the publick Nevertheless being too much taken notice of he departed the Town having first setled there a good correspondence and communicating his thoughts to the Duke of Candale they agreed that advancing the Fleet to Lermont he should endeavor to introduce the Army into the City by the assistance of the Sieurs Mousnier and du Sault both highly disgusted at the Princes Government and by the help of the Counsellor de Bordes exceedingly incensed for having been imprisoned by the Princes Order though he was presently releas'd and receiv'd with great courtesie These three persons were of the chief of the Frondeurs and of great Authority in the Town and therefore with their directions it was no hard matter to compass their design especially