oppos'd the Passage of our Forces the Army disperst of it self for want of Provisions or rather thro' the Intrigues of the Queen Mother who had gain'd the Principal Commander to draw upon Richelieu this Check and Affront This Disgrace was rewarded by the English being baulk'd of their expected Successes for they being call'd by the Hughenots of Rochel to free their Town from it's Blockade made a Descent into the Isle of Rhe But having neglected out of too much Confidence to Secure the Fort de la Pree Thoiras made such a Brave Defence as gave time to Canaples to come to his Succours with Eight hundred men and afterwards to Schomberg with a Greater Number So that the English leaving their Canon behind retir'd in some Disorder to their Ships This happy Success hasten'd the Design of the Siege of Rochel for the Execution of which the Hollanders promis'd Men and Ships tho' the Conformity of Religion seem'd rather that they should have undertaken the Defence than the Ruine of that City But other Considerations having prevail'd over this they perform'd their Promises The Rochellers despis'd at first this Enterprize as being above the Kings Forces But when they saw that the Cardinal Caus'd a Dyke to be made in the Sea to divest 'em of all hopes of Succours they joyn'd Joaks and Mockeries to Contempt imagining this Work wou'd only turn to his Confusion And indeed 't was as a Dream to many People to see 'em aim at Subduing so furious an Element But when they perceiv'd the Work advanc'd they began to change that great Confidence into a fear which did not however bereave 'em of the Courage to stand upon their Defence On the Contrary the more they saw the Danger was pressing the more things they did to remove it they call'd in the English to their Assistance Who Fitted out a brave Fleet under the Command of the Duke of Buckingham But still not finding the Occasion to wreek his Revenge on the Cardinal against whom he was infinitely enrag'd he return'd to England after having been worsted in two or three Encounters The King of England still persevering in his Good intentions for the Rochellers having given order for repairing the Fleet and putting out new Ships to Sea the Duke of Buckingham was again nominated for that Expedition But was assassinated at home upon the point of his Departure which occasion'd the King to name another in his stead This latter was not more Prosperous than the Lord of Buckingham for after having in vain attempted to give Succours to the Beseiged and been repuls'd he return'd in like manner into England abandoning the Rochellers to their own Defence At length after they had made the utmost efforts of Resistance even to eating the vilest things for want of victuals they Surrender'd the City which held out from the 10. of September 1627. to the 29 of October 1628. The taking of Rcohelle look'd upon as an Impregnable Place not only Surpriz'd Strangers but likewise most of those of the Nation who in the Broiles and Confusions the State had been in for near a Century had ever found their Sanctuary in that Town against the Royall Authority And indeed it was reckon'd as the Center of Rebellion and this is what most powerfully excited the King and his Minister to undertake it's Reduction Thus amidst the Publick Rejoycings which the Court order'd to be made for that happy Success tokens were seen in Peoples faces which bely'd Appearances But the King without otherwise minding what they harbour'd in their Bosomes receiv'd indifferently from Strangers and from the French Congratulations upon that Great Event Among those however who plaid the Plain-Dealers and spoke from the Bottom of their Hearts were the Parties concern'd in the Affairs of Italy who were under a total Despondency unless a speedy Remedy was apply'd For the Emperours Troups were not only before Cazal but also before Mantoua around which Place they had seiz'd all the Considerable Posts For this Reason When they made him the Complements upon his new Conquest they desir'd him to run in to the Succours of Italy certainly lost without his Aid The Queen Mother covertly oppos'd this Expedition to which the King seem'd of himself inclin'd But Cardinal Richelieu to whose management the taking of Rochelle was indebted Soaring to blaze his Name among Forreigners egg'd the King on in his Design Thus the Italian Expedition having been resolv'd on notwithstanding the Rigours of the Season and the obstacles thwarting it the King sell to march with his Army and the Rumour of his Coming being Spread far and near long before his appearing Upon the frontiers His Adversaries thoughts were wholly employ'd in barring him Entrance either willingly or by Force The first means seeming more easy than the second The Duke of Savoy having declar'd against the new Duke of Mantoua sent his Son to meet the King and encharg'd him with Sundry Proposals but not one of 'em being Satisfactory to the King or Cardinal to whom the King referr'd all things this Prince was oblig'd to get him back to his Father and return with new Instructions In the mean while the Pass of Susa was forc't but while the King was preparing to make the Duke of Savoy repent the Resistance he dar'd to make his Son arriv'd who in virtue of the Pow'r he had from him submitted to all the Conditions the Court of France thought fitting to impose As soon as the Spaniards knew of the Accommodation they drew their Troups from before Cazal for that otherwise the Land of Milan had remain'd Expos'd The Imperialists did the like and the King overjoy'd with having sav'd the place by the bare Rumour of his Fame sent Thoiras thither without engaging himself farther The King's journey into Italy had been the Discourse in all Courts long afore it's being undertaken for we were very willing to shew thereby to Our Allies that in the hurry of Domestick Combustions we were not wanting to take care of Forreign Affairs The news of it came to the ears of the Viscount de Turenne still in Holland as well as to the ears of many Others and being enflam'd with a desire to signalize himself in his own Countrey he thence took occasion to desire his return into France But Prince Henry Frederick wou'd in no wise grant it alleadging the War of the Hughenots not to be yet terminated and perhaps wou'd be again renew'd in a very little while that thus it was not justice to go draw his Sword against his Brothers who had ever had so much regard for their Family that it became him to follow his Fathers example who retir'd and staid at his own home as soon as he saw the Ministry benâ— upon infringing the Edicts under whose Faith those of their Communion had thought themselves in safety His Mother wrote to him to the same purpose upon this Subject and as he was all Obedience to her Monsieur the Duke of Bouillon being Dead at
from becoming Masters of the Town then was it that the Marquis de Louvoy perceiv'd but a little too late the necessity there was of abandoning so many needless places The thing at length having been resolv'd on the Court signify'd it's Resolutions to the Duke of Luxembourg that he might draw-off his Troups But as Parcimony and Griping had the Ascendant at Court as well as o'er that Dukes temper who had in all things ever manifested much self-Interest he oblig'd the Towns to give him Money and having in all this lost much time the Prince of Orange had Ieisure to intercept his way so that if we had not come-in to his Succours either he wou'd have been obligâ—d to fight with unequal Forces and in a disadvantageous Post or wou'd have Perish'd for want of Victuals Of so many places we only retain'd the City of Maestricht and that of Graves both upon the Meuse and of an extreme importance by reason of their scituation and of the Contributions that might be exacted by their means However the Generality murmur'd that this had been so long deferr'd and the Viscount de Turenne more than others who had by this means been oblig'd to retreat The Marquis de Louvoy to appease him promis'd that he should be thenceforward distinguish'd from all others which he had often the hopes given him of without effect for tho' that the King had Created on purpose in his favour the Charge of Mareschal General of his Camps and Armies this was a Dignity which subsisted rather in th' Imagination than in Reality For the Ministers that they might not give any body Discontent had never sent a Mareschal of France with him Thus he had never seen himself in a condition to enjoy the advantages of that Charge Nevertheless the Marquis de Louvoy kept his word with him this time and the Mareschals de Crequi and Humieres having been Commanded to Serve in his Army they repair'd thither but refus'd to obey him which occasion'd their being Exil'd Tho' the Viscount de Turenne had reason to Complain of them and particularly of the Mareschal de Humieres to whose Fortune he had no been ill friend as I have already said he would not however be the Cause of their Disgrace Thus having himself desir'd the King to recall them he shew'd that the goodness of his temper did not allow him to do any body harm The King answer'd him several times that it was not his business but his own for he did not willingly Pardon Disobedience But this not making the Viscount de Turenne desist he persecuted him in such manner that he could not at length refuse him what he demanded of his Majesty In the mean while some hopes there were of Peace by the divers Glimmerings that had appear'd of it The Marquis de Grana being at Cologne the better to Cut-off all hopes of the Peace then there in agitation seiz'd on some Money the King had there and caus'd Prince William of Furstemberg to be kidnapt being a German by Nation but who had abandon'd the Interests of his own Country to espouse the Adverse Party By this means and by that of the Bishop of Strasbourg his Brother had the King attracted the Electour of Cologne to his side and to render the Marquis de Grana's Action odious to all Good People France proclaim'd it as it was true to be contrary to the Right of Nations for Prince William waâ— at Cologne on the behalf of this Electour and ought to be consider'd as a Publique Person Nevertheless whatever noise the King made he was convey'd to Neustald where they talk'd ev'n of making his Process as a man that had betray'd his Countrey But the King taking this Affair to Heart Protested that if any Person of Consideration fell into his hands he should be treated in like manner as the Emperour shou'd use that Prince Thus for fear of Reprisals all his Punishment lay in a harsh Captivity The King did what he cou'd to have him releas'd but the Emperour shewing himself inexorable the Assembly of Cologne was broken insomuch that His Most Christian Majesty press'd the King of Sueden to lay aside the Quality of Mediator to take up another from whence he might derive more Advantage And indeed his Majesty needed Succours in the Present State of things for England having granted a Peace to Holland the Most Christian King was then in great Perplexity For the Hollanders who were much more Potent than he at Sea prepar'd to enter France by the Coasts of Normandy aad Brittany so as that the King was constrain'd to cause the Ban and Arriere-ban to advance The Spaniards pretending to derive great Advantages if this Prosper'd treated with the Chevalier de Rohan who promis'd them to deliver them Quilleboeuf by the means of the Intelligences he had in Normandy and they suffering themselves to be amused by his Promises gave him a great deal of Money as well as to La Treaumont whom he had intrusted with his Secret The Chevalier de Rohan was a Man of Great Quality but of a very mean Credit He had never had any considerable Martial Employment not that he wanted Courage but because his Intellectuals were not over-sound he had spent the better part of his fortune so that not knowing where to put his head no more than La Treaumont who had in like manner Squander'd away all he had they both sought the means of Supplying to their Debaucheries and the Spaniards having been so Credulous as to put Credence in their Promises the Hollanders to whom they had imparted this Intrigue put to Sea to see what might be hop'd for from it But the Chevalier de Rohan having not sufficient Credit to procure so much as one Village to rise they quitted the Coasts of Normandy to try if they could speed better in Brittany where however they had not any Correspondence Being near the Isle of Rhé a Ship Arriv'd from the Indies and was so fortunate to scape them the Enemies being on one side while on the Other it put into the Port of Rochelle In the mean while the King having got the Wind of the Chevalier de Rohan's Treason his Majesty sent Brissac Major of the Gardes du Corps to Rouen to secure La-Treaumont and had the Chevalier de Rohan taken up at Saint-Germain Brissac being come into the Town went to La Treaumont's Lodging whom he found in Bed and having shewn him his Commission he suffer'd him as he was his friend to go into his Closet where La-Treaumont said he went to fetch something But having seiz'd a Pistol he Clapt it to Brissac's Cheek who having bid him fire two Gardes du Corps that were with him thinking that he spoke to them Discharg'd their Pieces and wounded la-Treaumont of which he dy'd on the Morrow-Morning As he had been the Person that had Manag'd all this Intrigue the King was much vex'd at the fault Brissac had Committed in suffering him to go into his
a Suddain become Constable by having had the trick to ingratiate himself with his Majesty by teaching several sorts of Birds to fly promoted this Expedition which he might have hinder'd by his Credit But being very willing not to Embroil himself further with the Queen-Mother with whom already he stood not in over-good terms by reason of the Murther of the Mareschal d'Ancre of which he was the Principal Cause for he it was Whisper'd the King that this Mareschal was more in a Certain Princesse's favour than suted with her Honour and as the King had already admitted some suspicion from certain occurrences the Duke found little Difficulty to obtain Orders to Kill him In Effect their Intrigue was become so much the Publick Discourse that nothing was more Common than the hearing it talk'd of and the Count de Lude was banish'd on that account for this Lord who to the Prejudice of his fortune lov'd to flush a Wittycisme when Occasion serv'd had one day answer'd a Lady who said she was going to fetch that Princess's Vail there 's no need of a Sail for a Frigat that rides at Anchor Great Preparations were made for the War against the Hughonots out of whose hands the Court was minded to wrest the Places they had demanded for their Security Four Armies were brought on foot one of which was design'd against the Places in the Neighbourhood of Rochel another against the Hughenots of Berry another against those of Guyenne and the King in Person March'd against St. Jean d'Angelâ— with the most Powerfull This War was quickly terminated the King Subdued all the Places he undertook with more ease than he durst have hoped for Division reigned in the Party where the very heads were the First that Betray'd 'em For under Colour of giving all contentment they took Care of a great many Places that cou'd do 'em no Good and left Others that were Strong and Desensible wholly unprovided Lâ—sdiguires was made Constable in the Room of Luines Dead of sickness for the Good Services he did in that Occasion and Chang'd his Religion La Force had the Staff of Marechal of France and Chatillon had money so as the whole Party had no hopes save in Messieurs de Rohan Soubize who remained faithfull Montpellier having by their means made a vigorous Defence the King was compell'd to stay a long time before the Town to reduce it but fearing his inability to compass that Design and the hazzarding his Reputation he made a Treaty with the Hughenots which prov'd short-liv'd In the mean while the Princes of Italy not listen'd to while the War continu'd nicking the advantage of this Peace brought the affairs of the Valteline again into consultation and having accus'd Puisjeux either of corresponding with the Spaniard or of Male-administration in the King's Service he was expell'd the Court and Chancellour de Sillery his Father involv'd in his Downfall The Chancellour's Brother was likewise recall'd from Rome being there in Quality of Ambassadour on the Pretence he had exceeded his Instructions insomuch that the Count de Bethunes was sent in his stead for the Pope began to understand the Affair of the Valteline and necessary was it to have about him a man in whom Confidence might be put All this as I have said made the world conclude that a War was drawing on with the Spaniards for they far from listening to any Restitution built Forts in several places to secure their Conquests Besides this they endeavour'd to gain over England or at least to amuse it with some Hopes that so it might not beard and thwart their Ambition For this purpose they had propos'd the Marriage of their Infanta with the Prince of Wales Heir Apparent of the Crown and the Pourtraict of that Princess flattering the Original being seconded with plausible offers and Assurances invited this Prince to undertake a journey into Spain which Court was in reality no wise inclin'd to conclude this Allyance for that Crown aspiring to the Universal Monarchy and thinking to attain it by affecting a zealous steddyness to the Court of Rome was far from closing-up this Match and deferr'd it from day to day under various Pretences At length the Prince of Wales finding the Pageantry of the Spaniards proceedings and the insincerity and trifling of their Conduct towards him return'd thence Extreamly Piqu'd against that Nation and resolv'd when occasion serv'd to make 'em feel his resentment The Marquess de la Vieuville succeeding into favour at the French Court after Puisieux's Disgrace and willing to avail himself of this Discontent to do his Countrey service propos'd then the Marriage of that Prince with a Daughter of France and the thing having been approved of by all the Parties concern'd the Allyance was quickly concluded on with a War against the Spaniard For besides what I have newly instanc'd England was Wonderfully Edg'd against the House of Austria that had stript the Elector of Palatine of his Dominions and Vow'd his Ruine for having accepted the Crown of Bohemia to the Prejudice of it's Interests Nevertheless this Allyance which must have produc'd a good effect between the two Nations only serv'd to alienate their minds by the Interest of the two Ministers for the Duke of Buckingham being come into France in Quality of Embassadour Extraordinary fell in Love with a Lady of the first rank whom Richelieu loving also became jealous and made use of the credit he began to have with the King to mortify the Duke so as instead of concuring together to the Ruine of the Spaniard their thoughts were wholly taken up how to ruine one another and their animosity drew-on in a little time that of the two Nations The Prince of Wales coming suddainly after to the Crown was not wanting to Arm powerfully by Sea to Execute his first Intentions But Richelieu to be reveng'd on Buckingham who had a great Ascendant at the Court of England not only refus'd him the Succours which the French were bound to supply him with by the Treaty but likewise prevail'd with his most Christian Majesty to forbid that Duke Entrance into the Kingdom whither his Master meant to send him in Quality of Embassadour And the pretext for all this was a pretended ill treatment to the Queen of England and her Domesticks part of whom for their Insolencies were sent back into France and the others disturb'd in the exercise of their Religion Besides the Feud between those two Ministers some Reasons were there of Policy which induc'd Richelieu to act in this manner for his being in favour had Created him a considerable number of Enemies among whom was the Duke of Orleans with most of the Princes of the Blood Thus he fear'd that if he undertook a War against the Spaniard they wou'd have the more means to harm him joyn'd to this that the Queen Mother tho' much declin'd in her Credit never ceas'd threatning to ruine him if he was so hardy as to undertake it
against her Consent These Conjunctures having brought prejudice to the Intentions of the King of England his Fleet return'd into Port after having been notably endamag'd by foul weather The King of England being incenc'd at France's Breach of Promise and having resolv'd to be reveng'd was still excited by Buckingham who joyn'd to the Resentment of the King his Master his own Private Piques The occasion was quickly offer'd The Hughenots having found after the Peace they had newly concluded that it had been only made to divide and set them at odds threw themselves into his Arms and having implored his Protection he promis'd it tho' not so much for their sakes as his own This Transaction was not so secretly manag'd but that Richelieu a Minister that spar'd no Costs for Intelligence had intimation of it from several parts but tho' this gave him some Alarum yet was it nothing in Comparison of the Disquiet things put him under that were brewing in the Kingdom The Spaniards to prevent their medling in Forreign matters endeavour'd to find 'em work at Home And knowing the bent of the Duke of Orleans's temper who turn'd and Weather-cock'd it as I may say with all winds they had prepar'd him for strange Novelties This Prince being look'd on as Presumtive-Heir of the Crown for that his Brother had no Children nay and without hopes of having any wanted not Creatures to in-blow him with ill Counsel for some out of the Spleen they bore the New Minister and others in hopes of a better fortune had a furious grudging for a Change The Queen her self had a deep hand in this Intrigue for the Spanish Embassadour having possess'd her she shou'd be suddenly repudiated on the score of her Sterility she bent her thoughts to ruine Richelieu whom she look'd upon as the Author of that Counsel The Queen Mother out of the same Passion of removing him from Affairs still augmented her Daughter in Law 's Suspicions so as she was inclin'd to baulk no means as might prevent this Misfortune The Count of Soissons Prince of the Blood espous'd the Interests of the two Queens with Messieurs de Vendôme and many other Persons of the first Quality at Court and their Intention was to Marry the Duke of Orleans with the Infanta of Spain the Queen Regnant's Sister that in Case the King came to dye she might remain in France with Honour without being oblig'd to return into Spain as a Person unhappy and a Fugitive The Duke of Orleans had another Design he lov'd the Queen and wou'd have been well Content his Brother had been Dead or put into a Convent that he might be in a capacity to satisfy his Passion But the Mareschal D'Ornano who had been his Governour and still retain'd a great Authority over his Mind jumpt in neither of their Projects He was enamour'd of the Princess of Condé and to ingratiate himself the better with her he had promis'd her his Master should never Marry any other than the Princess her Daughter since marry'd to Mr. de Longueville This Obstacle retarded the Queen's Design But Madam de Chevreuse their Confident occasion'd another sturdy Impediment For being in love with Chalais Master of the Queen's Wardrobe and having told all to him in Private he went and told it again to the King and alarm'd him to that Degree that his Majesty wou'd have had forthwith confin'd his Mother Wife and Brother with all those engag'd in their Intrigue Richelieu had all the pain imaginable to Moderate his Passion But having remonstrated to him that if he wou'd secure his Revengâ— it was needfull to Dissemble He went to Fontainebleau where he Causâ—d the Mareschal D'Ornano to be secur'd with Mr. de Vendôme The Count of Soisson's withdrew into Italy and by his flight evaded â— like treatment and perhaps a Worse for neither the King nor Richelieu lov'd him and perchance might have made sure of him against the future by some fatal Resolution The Queen was Ill treated both by the King and Richelieu who meant by this means to be reveng'd for her slights to him had Chang'd his Love into Hate Messieurs de Vendôme were releas'd some time after out of Prison but the Mareschal D'Ornano dy'd in 't not without suspition of having been poyson'd The Duke of Orleans's Chastisement was to be match'd out of hand to the Courts mind and he marry'd Mademoiselle de Montpensier a Princess of the Blood and extremely Rich. Nevertheless he wou'd more willingly have Embrac'd a forraign Allyance out of the Design he had of raising a Commotion But what made him desire it being a Reason not to grant it he was under an obligation to Conform to the Will of the King his Brother who promis'd in consideration of this Complyance to forget all former Passages The Queen Mother having been at first desirous for another Allyance shew'd herself in the sequel passionate for this But the most sagacious attributed it to her Policy which did not allow her to declare her Reall Sentiments So as that the World did this notwithstanding entertain the Opinion that this still the more incens'd her against Richelieu to whom she before bore sufficient ill will because gradually as he made Progresses in the Kings Favour he endeavour'd to drive her thence All that I have now said did not however hinder this Minister from making a Treaty with the Spanaird for tho his thoughts were wholly upon the Grandeur of the Kingdom he was still retain'd by the fear of the Queen Mother who ever threaten'd him if he came to an Open Rupture with that Crown But underhand he neglected Nothing that might tend to Create it troubles He sent Money into Holland and endeavour'd to Engage the King of Sueden to make head against the Greatness of that House the German Branch of which was become so formidable to Other Princes that it had nothing left to do but taking of Straelsundt for the reducing them into an absolute Slavery The Duke of Mantoua's Death happen'd also very seasonably to furnish him with new Designs of Greatness Several Princes pretending to his Succession oppos'd the Investiture of it demanded by the Duke of Nâ—vers the Lawfull Heir and Ferdinand the Emperour requiring only a Pretext to take Possession of the Dukedome of Mantoua and the Marquisate of Montferrat then in Debate sent vast Armies into Italy All the Princes to whom that Enterprize was capable of giving jealousy had recourse to the King as they had done in the Affair of the Valteline and Richelieu notwithstanding the Cabals of the Queens and Spaniards promis'd the Venetians who seem'd more alarum'd than Others that an Army shou'd be sent beyond the Alpes to Secure the Succession to whom it belong'd And indeed the Marquis D'Vxelles had orders to draw together the Troups that were upon the frontiere and Conduct them to the succours of Cazal which the Imperialists being assisted with Spanish Troups had allready besieged But the Duke of Savoye having