he went to Dorlans a Town in Picardy under the Government of the Sieur de Bar who was one of those that followed him being received with great honour and civility in all those Provinces He stayed there some time to resolve where he might best retire out of the Kingdom The Parisiens renewing their clamours to the Queen constrained her to write to the Cardinal that for the good of the State he would speedily go out of the Kingdom inducing her moreover to make a Declaration that all strangers though naturalized should not for the future be capable of being admitted into the Council of State some insisting that even the French Cardinals should be comprehended and this chiefly to keep off the Coadjutor from being Chief Minister of State to which he aspired together with the Cardinalship who was really more hated then loved being held to be a man very violent and hardy in his resolutions though he was doubtless one of the bravest Persons of France This Declaration was passed in Parliament but by reason of the contrariety of opinions in the particular of the French Cardinals according to the inclination of those Counsellors thought it passed also in this particular it was moderated and had not its full force and was put in execution only against Mazarine who staying still in France expecting his Pass-port from the Spaniard gave new occasion to his adversaries to murmur who induced the Queen again to sollicit his departure out of the Kingdom to which the Cardinal shewed himself most ready though his friends offered him 10000 fighting men to defend him against the persecution of his enemies and even the Spaniards themselves promised him all vigorous assistance with a Pension not inferiour to what he had in France The Cardinal rejected all most generously into whose Heart the French his Enemies with all their injurious dealings could never introduce the least sense of revenge to the damage of France since that the sense of gratitude towards their Majesties and his Cordial affection for those that were Loyal were too prevalent in his Noble Soul He departed therefore speedily from Dorlans from whence he wrote two very handsom Letters which were seen in Print on to the Queen and the other to the Count de Brienne at that time chief Secretary of State full of cordial expressions of his constant fidelity to their Majesties and of prudent counsel for the good of the State the tenour of which Letters moved a tender compassion in the minds of his Friends and inwardly convinced and staggered his Enemies From thence he went to Perone not without some inconvenience where he found his Nieces conducted thither in safety by the Abbot Ondedei He went with them to la Fere and thence to Rhetel from whence Generel Rosa with 300 Horse conducted him to Barleduc Where in sequence of the Honours done him in every place in this his Retirement by an express Courrier he received the most courteous proffers of the Elector of Colen who sent to invite him offering him his whole State to be at his service with all the kind expressions that could possibly be expected from a generous Prince and a true Friend For which having given to that Prince most affectionate thanks he proceeded on to Clermont by the assistance of the Mareschal de la Ferté Seneterre who in that Rencounter gave him many authentick proofs of a loyal and faithful friendship which he made more particularly appear in refusing to put the Town into the hands of two Gentlemen of the Prince of Conde's who had brought him the Kings Order the Mareschal excusing himself by telling them that he had too much cause to believe that that Order was extorted by violence and that therefore he would not give credit to it unless he were commanded by him that intrusted it with him which was as much as to say the Cardinal who understanding this notwithstanding the foresaid reflexions to shew how much a Kings Order ought to be respected prayed the Mareschal to obey it which immediately he did From Clermont he went to Sedan where once more by the importunity of his enemies receiving the Queens Orders to depart quite out of the Kingdom he went to Boullon in the State of Liege convoyed by Don Antonio Pimentelli Major General of the Spanish Army with 500 Horse the Spaniards themselves concurring to demonstrate to the world that they understood the Merits of the Cardinal and the Honours due to the Sacred Purple better then the French From Liege he continued his journey towards Aix la Chapelle and from thence he passed to Brul a place belonging to the Elector of Colen who sent immediately to complement him offering him all manner of courtesie and being Royally received in the Electoral Palace he was first visited by all the Cannons of the Archbishoprick of Colen the principal Gentlemen of the Country and afterward by the Elector himself who came expresly from Bona place of his residence The Cardinal went to return his Visit where he was received with all the Honours that could be done to the greatest Prince and came back to Brul infinitely obliged to the Elector for his civilities Here he fixed his abode and the concourse of all sorts of people that came to see him was such that that place seemed a great Court He was complemented here by Expresses from the King and Queen of Poland from the Queen of Swedeland from the Electors of the Empire and finally from most of the Princes of Europe who sent to offer him their Dominions to the great mortification of his enemies who the more they sought to abase him by their passionate resolutions the more they saw him honoured and extolled by all the world The Princes in the interim arriving at Paris and the Queen with the King remaining in a manner prisoners in the Palace Royal where they were begirt on all sides by the armed Parisiens all the concourse of the Cavaliers was at the Prince of Conde's and of the Ladies at the Dutchess of Longueville's so that there seemed to be no such thing as a King But although the Cardinal was absent in person yet he was virtually present applying himself continually with the greatest artifice to divide the minds of the Frondeurs from the Union of the Princes and the Dutchess of Chevreuse being the person that together with the Coadjutor governed the whole Caball he applied himself to those means that might draw her from the Prince's party or indeed make her their enemy for which he knew no better way then to frustrate the Match betwixt the Prince of Conty and her daughter Taking this business in hand he suggested to his Confidents at Paris such items which being by them punctually observed they made Conty believe that the Princess of Chevreuse was not of that Quality besitting his birth and they intimated to the Prince of Conde that if the Prince his brother should marry it would much prejudice the Revenue of his Family by the
he would not engage himself far in France with so many strong Towns at his back and an Army in his flanck in stead of following him as seemed requisite by the Rules of War On the 9. of August he marched to Magny where they made Bonefires and rejoycings in the Camp for the happy news of the reduction of Bourdeaux which much encouraged the Army so that speedily passing the River he dispatch'd the Comte de Schomberg with 400 Horse and 200 Foot to reinforce the Garrison of Corbie and prevent the Princes design At the same time the whole French Army march'd towards Ham pass'd the River in the night and lodg'd on the other side where Turenne having intelligence that the Count de Maille with a large Convoy of Ammunition and 4000 Pioneers was departed from Cambray to reinforce the Spanish Army in case they should invest any place Incontinently with the greatest part of his Horse and a commanded party of Foot the the next morning at break of day he clap'd himself in the way that the Convoy was to pass with resolution to set upon them But the Prince having smelt his design as being no less acquainted with the Practices of Turenne and the greatest part of his Commanders most of them having serv'd under him and that there was nothing to be done at that time turning head with his light Horse and marching with all diligence towards the Somme sent advice by Polenet Groom of his Chamber to the Count de Maille to return again with his Convoy to Cambray Polinet returning back the same day was taken Prisoner by a Party of the Royallists who understanding by him and afterwards by the Scouts which had been at the very Gates of Cambray that Maille was retreated and that the Prince having cast two Bridges of Boats over the Somme had pass'd it and lodg'd himself upon the banck of it betwixt Corbie and Bre Turenne return'd with great dexterity towards his Camp which was already advancing towards him and having joyn'd with the Mareschal la Ferte they secured their Baggage under the walls of Peronne and encamp'd at a Village not far from that Town and at no great distance from the Spanish Army taking possession of a convenient place to sustain a battel if occasion offered it The Prince in the mean time believ'd he should catch Turenne unprovided and constrain him to fight and in this confidence he march'd all night long and with so much expedition that the next morning in sight of Peronne he found the enemies baggage with its Guards who having no Alarm thought his coming impossible But his men being very weary with the tediousness of their March he forbore falling upon them Turenne in the mean time having drawn his Army to Mont St. Quintin which is an Abby upon a Hill The Prince found him in so good Order he had no minde to provoke him at such a disadvantage However Condy made as if he was come on purpose to attaque him thereby to hold him in suspence till he could receive the Convoy from Cambray without which there was no probability of being able to lay Siedge to any place But in the mean-time while he endeavored by small skirmishes to amuse them with the expectation of a Battel he caus'd his Vauntguard to march directly towards Saint Quintin leaving the Kings Camp on the right hand and a great Wood betwixt both Armies Turenne having his eyes open upon all occasions and not willing the enemie should march directly before him as the Prince of Condy did design he advanc'd with equal diligence and prevented him at a Post which the Prince thought to have possest Condy was hereupon obliged to make a halt by which means the Armies were once again brought to face one another there being nothing betwixt them but a little valley and that very easie and accessible above which the French placed a strong Guard over against a Wood which ran up almost to the Enemies Camp not above a Musquet-shot distant Here both Armies stood their ground facing one another three or four days with great wariness the Prince and the Spanish Generals being unwilling to come to an Engagement in a place the Mareschals had chosen so much to their advantage On the 14. of August there happen'd a smart skirmish in which the two Counts brothers of Russy ingaged themselves too far and Turenne's Lieutenant-Collonel was slain The same day the Prince of Taranto the Marquess de Bouteville and the Count de Duraz being upon the Prince of Condy's out-Guards and curious of seeing and saluting the Mareschal Turenne who at the same time was by accedent at his they sent a Trumpet to desire they might have the honour to kiss his hands which being granted they were received by Turenne with his usual kindness and affability and discours'd together with reciprocal Complements Some Gentlemen also ftom the Kings Camp went to pay their respects to the Prince of Condy who drew near within 200 Paces of Turenne and possibly with a desire to speak with him but Turenne being aware of it pretending some business he departed from that place without staying for the Invitation which as was supposed the Prince was about to send him by one of his Gentlemen Two houres before day upon the 25. of August the Prince raised his Camp and march'd towards St. Quintin of which Turenne having advertisement and suspecting the attaque of some of those places he caused the Count de Beaujen to repass the Somme with 1200 Horse and 600 Foot with Orders to keep nigh Ham and Saint Quintin to be ready to succour which of those places he should fall upon The French Generals repass'd the River at Peronne marching all Night and the next day directing their way towards Ham. Beaujeu being arriv'd at Saint Quintin he had news that the Count de Duraz was with 2000. Horse commanded out of the Enemies Army and advanc'd to invest Guise whereupon with all diligence crossing the Fere he put a good supply of men very seasonably into that place of which the Prince of Condy having notice he commanded the said Count back to the Army after he had fac'd the Town 12 houres together The Prince perceiving his designes hitherto ineffectual and much troubled to find so much Conduct and Courage in the Kings Captains he resolv'd to try another way advancing his Army within a League of Ham distending it along a little River which there dischargeth it self into the Somme with a resolution to attaque that place or if the Kings Army appear'd to relieve it to fall desperately upon them and with his sword in his hand in that field to determine all differences and emulations He was no sooner arrived at his appointed Post but he saw the French Army on the other side ready to flanck him and at his back the Count de Beaujeu who having repass'd the Oyse had placed himself at Fargny to take such resolutions as the accidents of Affairs should direct
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
it had made the Duke promise them never to consent to it but the easie nature of that Prince submitting after his accustomed manner to the Genius of the Queen and to her Caresses he could not deny to give his assent for the transport of the Princess to Havre de Grace which was done the 15th of November following the Count d' Harcourt being their Convoy This blow much confounded the Frondeurs and therefore they sought anew to possess the Dukes mind with fears and suspicions and joyned themeselves again with all the Princes Kindred Friends and Partakers with the Dutchess of Chevreuse the Marquess of Chasteauneuf the Dutchess of Orleans and Madamoiselle and imployed all their thoughts on the liberty of the Princes But they doubted by what course to attempt it Some were of opinion that they should gain the Cardinal for the Prisoners once delivered and la Fronda uniting himself with them they might ruine him at pleasure But the major part concluded that they ought to make use of la Fronda's power The first way was tried but proved in vain Mazarine opining that for the safety of the Kingdom they ought not to trust them at liberty till the Kings Majority wherefore they had recourse to the second making the Duke of Orleans Head of the Caball who at length having by his intreaty won the Queen to remove to Paris gained a great step to the designs of the Frondeurs By these intestine distractions France continued to feel in divers parts more and more the effects of the present calamities losing at the same time Flix Miravet and Tortosa in Catalonia and Mouzon in France The Cardinal to recover these losses and to clear Champagne from the enemy who was fortified there upon the gaining of the Rhetel resolved to go in person to regain that place which he accordingly did about the end of November with 12000 Souldiers and recovered it within the space of five days to the great glory of the Mareschal du Plessis Pralin who commanded the Army The Opinions were various whether they should prosecute the Victory by giving battel to Turenne who was drawn near to succour it the Cardinal concluded contrary to the rest that they ought to fight him which they did and gained a remarkable Victory with the total rout of Turenne taking prisoner Don Stephano di Gammara a Cavalier of considerable condition and General of the Spanish Troops that were united with Turenne The Cardinals enemies considering that notwithstanding all their Machinations he had the hap in a few moneths and in the heat of the greatest troubles to imprison the Princes to secure their Towns to relieve Guise to conserve Havre de Grace to recover the Castle of Dijon the Towns of Danvillers Bellegarde Clermont St. John de l'Ausne Verdun Caen Diepe to confirm Rouen in the Kings obedience which had began to rebell to quiet Bourdeaux and put an end to the commotions of Guienne and lastly driven the Spaniards from Rhetel Successes able to bring his enemies to the greatest despair but which quite contrary gave occasion to his friends to do him that mischief by their flatteries which the others could not do by their persecutions for while he was resolved to continue yet some time with the Army those that had an affection for him invited him with great importunity to return to triumph in Paris to the end that as they said by the splendour of his glory he might dim the eyes of his Maligners which so awakened their envy rancour and jealousie that minding nothing else but his ruine judged there could be no better way to compass it then to free the Princes so that all uniting themselves with the Duke of Orleans and the Parlement they caused this last to make a Remonstrance to the Queen for the Princes liberty Her Majesty very prudently endeavoured to gain time hoping by these means to effectuate her designs but the Combiners continued their Assemblies and after divers Treaties they concluded with the Duke of Orleans and by engagements of Alliances and other ways took the boldness whatsoever came on 't to have the Princes out of prison The Cardinal was not well served in the management of these Treaties not having those Advertisements that were necessary for if he had been thoroughly inform'd of their designs there is no doubt but he would have found ways to have frustrated them The Coadjutor appeared in Parliament the first of February 1651 and enlarged himself in an eloquent speech in favour of the Princes giving weight to his discourse by shewing that it was wholly conformable to the sentiment of the Duke of Orleans whereby he more and more disposed the minds of the Parliamentarians in favour of the Prisoners and confirmed the Duke in his resolution perswading him openly to avow to the Court not to appear any more at Council so long as the Cardinal came there with whom he shewed himself extreamly offended The Court was much perplexed at the found of so many Alarms and knowing that the present constitution of Affairs disabled them to shun the blow they resolved to prevent it by setting the Princes free before it came to force of Arms wherfore the Mareschal de Gramont the Marquess de Lionne and Secretary Goulas were dispatched away secretly to treat with them The Coadjutor in the mean-while was much afflicted that the Parliament could not be induced to decree against the Cardinal whose innocency appeared so much the more clear that notwithstanding the most diligent Inquisition of his very enemies they could not find any proofs of the accusations laid to his charge Finally another invention was found out to incense the Parliament more highly which was to make them believe that the Cardinal had publickly communicated those Counsels with Fairfax and Cromwell which so exasperated even those that had yet some kindness for him that they not only voted the innocency of the Princes but also the Cardinals Condemnation aggravating that he had dissipated the Treasure hindred the Peace and aspersed the Parliament with injurious and dishonourable words propounding in conclusion to supplicate the Queen to send him away from Court and accompanied this their deliberation with publick cries and clamours against Mazarine The Duke of Orleans went after to the Parlement to confirm what the Coadjutor had delivered in his name and sollicited for the effectual removal of the Cardinal and for setting the Princes at liberty earnestly speaking in their behalf and with great sharpness against the Cardinal which emboldened the Parlement to persist in their deliberations against him although the first President Mollé a well-meaning man did seek to allay those too licentious discourses but he himself was constrained to go to the Queen to remember Her Majesty of her promise to free the Princes to whom the Queen answered that she did continue in the mind to set them at liberty and to that purpose had dispatched Gramont and Lionne to Havre de Grace to treat with them about it
the Dutchess of Chevreuse and the Marquess of Chasteauneuf Condé's Enemies endeavoured to separate the Duke of Orleans from the Prince and unite him to the Court that so remaining together near the King they might hinder the return of Mazarine and having ruined the Party of Condé get the management of Affairs into their own hands And this was the onely true cause of all the Caballs of these Lords for they had no ill will against the Kings service onely thought to do it handsomer then Mazarine did who was hated by many as a stranger and not beneficial Yet notwithstanding the troubles of the Court the Kings Troops went on with the Siege of Monterond and took it obliging the Defendants to yield it up for want of Provisions Brisac was likewise put into the Kings hands by the Mareschal of Guebriants Lady through the Address of Mazarine after strange occurrences happened in that place by the Intrigues of Charlevois who was taken prisoner and of the Count d' Harcourt who under some vain pretences that he was not secure at Court retired into that Fortress and staid there some time till he had spent all the Money he had got in managing the Kings Army in Guienne in which Affair Mazarine had the whole direction and ordered the matter so dexterously that the Count d' Harcourt refusing the Offers of the Spaniards and Imperialists returned at last to his due obedience The Princes in the mean time prosecuted their design to streighten so the Camp of Turenne that forcing them to quit the Post they might fight him and destroy him by the superiority of their Forces Turenne staid there with much hardship hoping to weary out the Parisiens and reduce them to their duty obliging them to drive away the strangers from the Town But all this while there happened no Action of moment because both Parties proceeded with caution and reserve lest they should receive any disaster so that the Countrey being on all sides overrun by the Souldiers Paris chiefly found the trouble and incommodity none being secure to traffick without the gates without danger of being robb'd and kill'd Upon these disorders the Townesmen began to frequent the Assemblies more then ordinary to devise how to free themselves from these tedeous miseries The 5th of September it was resolved on in the Town-house to send some of the Body of the City to supplicate the King to come to Paris For the same effect the Clergy likewise deputed some of theirs and the Cardinal de Retz was chosen their Head as Coadjutor of that Archbishoprick He went in a very splendid Equipage and made a most elegant Oration to their Majesties exhorting them to return to Paris The motive of this his going as the report went was to gratifie the Parisiens in their desire for the Courts return to gain the credit as Mediator of so great a work for the universal good and drawing advantage by Mazarines absence render himself necessary at Court gain the Kings favour and by means of the Duke of Orleans make his way The Kings answer was in general and like to the others formerly given to those that went upon the same account which was that he was ready to grant their request whensoever the Enemies of the publick peace should be driven away And this was the result and drift of the Court according to the advice of Mazarine to stir up the City against the Princes who though they laboured all they could to make them understand that the Amnesty given at Pontoise was full of Prevarication they could not so prevail but the major part accepted it and not onely in Paris but also in Bourdeaux it caused some dispute 'T is true that the Princess of Condé the Prince of Conty the Dutchess of Longueville and others being in this remote City their Presence and Authority prevailed The new Council of the Ormiera determined not to permit by any means the Parlement to accept it without the consent of the Prince of Condé The Bourdelois were in this point more resolute and constant because the Kings Army in Guienne wanting a General after the departure of the Count d' Harcourt they hoped encouraged thereunto by Count Marcin to recover the Towns and places possessed by the said Count d' Harcourt especially the Kings Troops being grown lasie and negligent they let Marsin attempt what he pleased Wherefore it being necessary to provide another Chief by the counsel of Mazarine the Government of the Army and the Province was conferred on the Duke of Candale onely Son of the Duke of Espernon a young Prince sprightly and generous and valiant above measure who undertook divers Enterprises and finally constrained the Bourdolois to return to their obedience THE HISTORY Of the Managements of Cardinal MAZARINE LIB III. AT the same time the Duke de Mercoeur was in Provence with Commissions for Governour of that Province yet without the dismission of the Duke of Angoulesme who was the true Governour but by order of the King was kept Prisoner in Berry because having promised His Majesty not to go into Provence without his Permission but to stay at Paris he notwithstanding afterwards under colour of going to his estate went out of the way with design as it was discovered by Mazarine to foment the sedition begun in the City of Tolon by this imprisonment with the diligence of the Duke of Mercoeur and the direction of Cardinal Mazarine Tolon was restored to its former obedience and the gates were opened to the Kings Troops and all the Province thereupon kept in peace which was otherwise threatned with sedition and troubles The Duke of Angoulesme remained prisoner three months but afterwards the King being assured by the promises and good intentions of the Dutchess his wife and by the interposition of the Duke of Joyeuse his son-in-law he was set free the beginning of October following and was permitted to stay in Paris and at Court keeping all this while the Patents of Governour of Provence but few months after he passed to another life and with his death his Family was extinct At the same time that the Cardinal of Retz with the other Deputies of the Clergy were compleating their business with their Majesties at Compeigne the Deputation of the Commons of Paris was sent back by the King with the Answer which followeth That his Majesty always preserving a gracious inclination for his good City of Paris and having a perfect knowledge of their fidelity and disposition to his service and their due obedience did suffer an unspeakable grief of heart to understand the oppression which it underwent and particularly since the fourth of July all seeming to be perverted which he had endeavor'd to make known his right intentions in opposition to that malice and violence through which those Conflagrations Massacres and other strange effects had taken place for no other end then to turn away his faithful subjects from their obedience that the Officers and lawful Magistrates
above 2000 persons they assaulted the house of Bleru who was at that time an Agent in England that by this means the tumult which they noised abroad to be much increased might dispose the Prince and the Assembly to satisfie the Petition of the City but the unstable Rout soon gave a proof of their inconstancy deserting their Leaders in the very height of the Action who did what they could to keep them together but to no purpose and in the mean time night coming on and nothing done Virlada resolv'd to give some money to his Kinsman Cabanieux if with other of his Companions he would go and take down a red Standard which had been set up by the Olmeisti upon Saint Michaels Steeple and in stead of that funest and bloody colours put up a white one the Kings colours in its place which being done and another of the fame in like manner advanc'd on the Steeples of St. Remy and St. Peters by the well-affected of those parishes as also on the Gate next the Exchange the appearance of these colours had so great an influence that Marsin himself who did all he could to divert the Propositions for Peace condescended to all the Deputies of the Merchants desired upon a suspicion of some unavoidable surprize Twelve Deputies therefore were chosen to consult with the Princes Counsel upon such terms and expedients as should be most proper for the Conclusion of the Peace but Marsin perceiving that their fear was without any foundation the same night coming to the Town-house where the Prince of Conty lodg'd with all the Officers of the Army and the chief of the Olmiera they consulted how to disturb and prevent the designes of the well-affected to the King The Olmeisti propos'd to fall upon those that were assembled in the Burse Marsin and Fiesco were for standing upon their defence and bringing in their Troops to place them in the street before the Town-house as far as the quarter of Santa Eulalia towards the Archbishops Palace and the Castle of Ha where the inhabitants had not declared against them it was resolv'd also to make use of an Arrest of Parliament offer'd by the Frondeurs which under pretence of Remonstrating for Peace forbade all Assemblies as unlawfull and seditious to the end that the Olimiera might unite with the remainder of the Parliament against the other Citizens The Prince of Canty did not approve of bringing in the Troops as a thing which would make the Citizens disperate and and force them to open a Gate to the Dukes of Vandosm and Candal which would prove the utter desolation and ruine of the whole City so that the result was that they should only make use of the Ordinances of Parliament The next day the Counsellors of Parliament going to meet were hindred by a party of Citizens telling them the Parliament was at Agen and not at Bourdeaux Virlade clap'd a Court of Guard before the Palace of Judicature to hinder the Entrance of the Counsellors and upon the Exchange ordered the Sieur de Lovergnac one of the Advocates to reade a Letter publickly from the Duke of Candale in which he offered the Citizens his Mediation and a General Amnesty The people though they did not accept thereof yet they desired Virlade and Baccalan that they would be present as their Tribunes at the Counsels held for publick business in the Archbishops Palace This being the posture of Affairs in Bourdeaux and the greater part of the Citizens dispos'd for Peace the Kings Generals thought it not amiss to encourage these Proceedings and to hinder the seditious spirits of the Olmiera from interrupting them to cause their Troops to advance from their Quarters about Begle towards the Gate of Saint Julian and at the same time to bring the Fleet above Lormont This Council was immediately put in execution the Duke of Candale's Troops marching forward by Land to the number of about 4000 Foot and 200 Horse The Clouds of dust which the trampling of the Horses rais'd in the Air and the noise of the Artillery from the Ships against the Post of Bacalan was seen and heard with so much confusion and terrour that the Frondeurs and some Counsellours of the Parliament who were met in the Burse or Exchange dissolv'd the Assembly suddenly in great fear upbraiding the others that under the colour of Peace they had plotted the surprize and desolation of the Town Virlada did his utmost endeavor to change the Officers that had the Command of the Gates which were all of them Olmiesti but being yet all alone with the Advocate Dalon advising what was to be done their design being discover'd and seeing the people incens'd against them he resolv'd to repair to the Town-house and there with the help of some of his friends attempt the nomination of new Captains Here he found the Prince of Conty and represented to him that in respect of the confusions within the City and the approach of the enemy without the Citizens also being refractory and unwilling to follow their old Officers not so much as their serjeant-Serjeant-Major Periera it was better as he did most humbly intreat for his own proper security to accept of those few Captains which in the name of the Citizens he tendred to him insinuating withal a jealousy of the pretension of the Jurates of the City against his Authority if it should happen into their power to choose them as they desired The Prince to rid himself of him quickly fearing to be surprized having taken their Oaths they took possession of their places in the Council held in the Arch-Bishops Palace and fell into debate immediately about the most probable Expedients to obtain a Peace to which end Virlade offred himself to go forthwith and negotiate with the Duke of Candale without expecting a Passport not to lose time Marsin thought to elude him appointing him for his Companion Baz a Mareschal de Camp and his very great Confident But Virlade departed at Midnight with the single Permission of the Prince without the said Baz Bacalan was nominated also to go to Vandosme with Calapian another Mareschal de Camp Brother to the Marquess de Lasignan and strictly engaged in Marsin's interest Virlade represented to the Duke of Candale the intention the City had to submit themselves to the obedience of the King and shewed him the full power they had given him to treat as also a Letter of credit from the Prince of Conty who to prevent the fatal effects of a Conspiracy contrived against his life by certain persons which had been banish'd and were return'd again into the Town condescended to treat with the said Duke his particular friend in the behalf and for the security of his Nephew the Duke de Enguien the Princesses and the rest of his Party and he entreated him most earnestly to interpose his Authority that the good Citizens might receive the effects of the Kings Clemency rather then of his justice The Duke receiv'd these Overtures
Catholique Majesty That Baltasser with his Troops might retire to Tartas The Article concerning the Passport into Spain was disputed and at length altered by the Prince of Conty it being agreed on that only notice should be given to the Generals of the Spanish Fleet But with order not to come near Bourdeaux for if they did they should neither be received nor assisted All these Transactions being highly displeasing to Marsin and all such as were enemies to the peace they raised new murmures and divisions in the City and plotted all ways to break or disturb the Treaty They assured the people that there was Corn enough in the Magazines for three Months That the want of provisions and sickness encreasing daily in the Kings Army they could not long subsist nor be able to make the least opposition against the Spanish Fleet which was expected every moment with ample supplies both of Victuals Money and men so that holding out but a few days longer they should obtain a Peace much more advantageous That the Prince of Condy was in Flanders with a powerful Army able to march to Paris without any obstruction by reason of the weaknes of the Kings Forces and the peoples disaffection to the Cardinal Marsin continued to declaim aganst the Propositions of the peace as dishonourable to the name of their Union and to their Promises and oaths so often reiterated not to abandon the Prince of Condy That it was nothing but the effect of a Conspiracy of a few persons corrupted by the flatteries of Mazarine and inveigled with the thoughts of bettering their own fortune by the ruine of the publick interest That their Offers were to be shunn'd as the singing of a Sirene That having offended a Prince to the quick the best Counsel was to see him no more except in a Picture But on the contrary those who understood the Artifices and machinations of seditious persons were of another judgement and declar'd That things were reduc'd now to such an extremity they must fall inevitably into the hands of the Spaniard and live under their yoke and dominion or become miserable sacrifices to the armes and vengeance of their own King That the State could never fall under greater Tyranny then what they then suffered under the Officers of the Princes who had no other aim then to satisfie their insatiable desire of robbing them both of their honour and estates leaving them in a miserable and languishing condition That the City not being to be brought to a worse plight ought to embrace so happy an opportunity of redeeming it self from such imminent dangers whilst the Generals with unexpected Courtesie distributed every where his Majesties grace and favours full of clemency and pity and thought it greater honour to be the instruments of his mercy then revenge That now was the time to wipe off all the unworthy stains of rebellion by making it appear they were rather the effects of a few peoples violence then any universal disgust That Marsin as a stranger was manifestly more solicitous for his own private interest for the Princes and therefore he ran things to Extremity with false and pretended promises of releif which if soberly consider'd was rather to be abhorr'd then receiv'd seeing by prolonging the War all the people must of necessity be precipitated into an eternal and inextricable confusion and their revenues brought to nothing consisting principally in trade with strangers and in the fruits of the field the one absolutely precluded and interrupted and the other like to be destroy'd by the spoiling of their Vintage They further added that the Princes professing the ease of the people to whom they had so many Obligations it was to be suppos'd they would not consent that for the advantage of a few of their party so many innocents should be ruin'd and that themselves being of so high a birth by returning to their obedience they might restore themselves to their pristine Authority and Grandeur in the Kingdom of France where no true Frenchman by reason of their natural antipathy could willingly brook the Spaniards who sought to advantage themselves by these troubles alluring the uncautious by the lustre of their Gold and deluding the people more with false hopes then really assisting them with any formidable and effectual force Finally they concluded that having for their own Sovereign a King given them by God they ought not to doubt of his being endowed with so Noble and Generous a mind as to forget injuries and pardon Offences These Reasons with the Engagement into which most of the Citizens had publikely entred and the fear of falling again under the outrages of the Olmeira in case they should recover their former Authority by the means of foreign force was the cause that the Assembly of the Olmeisti was expresly forbidden and the Captains of the quarters renewed with all diligence and strict Guards placed at the Gates to hinder the entrance of forreign Soldiers They treated also privately with Colonel Baltasser to gain him to their side as a valiant and generous person and one that was capable of doing much mischeif were he united with Marsin with whom by reason of several disgusts past betwixt them he held no very good correspondence Virlade being in the mean time return'd to Begle to accompany the Duke of Candale to Lormont and assist at the General Truce receiv'd an express from the Duke of Vandosme at Mid-night that 33 Sail of Spanish Ships were arriv'd within sight of Blay Whereupon the three days Truce being expir'd the Duke of Candale thought it expedient to give them another indefinite till the conclusion of the peace and the publication of the Amnesty which he did to engage the Citizens in a Treaty before the news of the approach of the Spanish Armada lest they should change their resolutions and concurr with the contrary party It being concluded therefore and establish'd as firm as was possible Virlade was dispatch'd back to Bourdeux to draw the Prince of Conty to a peremptory resolution to declare puplickly for the service of the King where being arriv'd he found the City much altered by the Artifices of Marsin who having been at the Burse to clear himself and Lenet of the machinations wherewith they were charg'd he had in some measure mollifi'd the hearts of those who had been exasperated against him and by the distribution of Money amongst the Plebeians captivated a good part of them particularly those of the Fraternity of Saint John which are so numerous they seldome appear less then 1500 in their procession upon that Saints day so that he caus'd them to fasten peeces of Red Ribbon to their Procession-staffs and to cry up and down the streets and in their very Procession Viva i Principi Long live the Princes Virlada astonish'd at this change rid amongst them with a Trumpet of the Duke of Candales before him snatching from some of them their Red Ribbons giving them white and casting some Moneys amongst
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