The King seeing his men so pressed gave two vigorous Charges during which they drew forth the greatest part of the Baggage out of the Bourg but all the body of the Dukes Cavalry coming on the King lost many of his men and himself ran great danger of being slain or taken prisoner but God permitted that he was only wounded with a Pistol-shot on the Reins which had been mortal if the Bullet had had more force but it pierced only his cloths and his shirt and somewhat razed the skin His valour and his good fortune both equally contributed to draw him out of this peril and to bring after so sharp a check both his person and what remained of his Troops into safety The Duke of Parma admired this action but praysed the Courage which our Henry had testified more then his Prudence for when he was demanded what he thought of this Retreat he answered That in effect it was very gallant but for his part he would never bring himself into a place where he should be forced to retire This was tacitely to say that a Prince and a General ought to secure themselves better And so all the Kings faithful servants came the same evening to intreat him that he would spare his person on which the safety of France depended And the Queen of England his most faithful friend prayed him that he would preserve himself and at least keep within the terms of a great Captain who ought not to come to handy-stroaks but in the last extremity After the raising the siege of Rouen the greatest part of the Kings Army passed into Champagne in pursuit of the Duke of Parma and laid siege before the City of Espernay and took it The Marshal of Byron was killed by a Faulcon-shot which carried away his head as he was viewing the place His eldest Son who was named the Baron of Byron as great a Captain as the Father and much loved by the King was a little after honoured with the same Charge of Marshal of France but he lost his Head somewhat less gloriously then his Father The Duke of Mayenne and the Duke of Parma being parted ill satisfied one with the other it was not difficult to renew the Conferences between the first and the Royalists however things were not yet ripe there were some seeds sown which some time after brought forth fruit for the King consented that he would within six moneths permit himself to be instructed by those means which might not wrong either his Honour or his Conscience He gave leave likewise to the Catholick Lords of his party to depute some towards the Pope to let him understand the duties he applyed himself to and to intreat him to add his Authority and that in the mean time Peace should be dayly treated of The Duke of Mayenne and his party demanded Conditions so advantagious that they were ill resented and to speak truth many things in this Conjuncture did much trouble our Henry that which most of all perplexed him was that the Duke of Mayenne violently pressed by the instances of the Pope and the King of Spain by the remonstrances of those great Cities which took his party and likewise by the necessity of his Affairs had called the Estates-General to Paris to proceed to the Nomination of a King Now this Nomination had been the indubitable ruine of France and possibly caused the absolute expulsion of our Henry For there was much appearance and likelyhood that all the Catholick Potentates of Christendome would have acknowledged that King whom the States should have elected that the Clergy would have done the like and that the Nobility and people who followed not our Henry but because he had the Title of King would not have made conscience to have quitted him for another to whom the Estates had granted it To the end therefore he might hinder this mortal blow he wisely advised with himself to propose a Conference of the Lords of his Party with these pretended Estates The Duke of Mayenne was well content with this Expedient because he saw well that the King of Spain desired that he who should be elected should espouse his Daughter Isabella-Clara-Eugenia and thus the Election could not regard him since he was married and had Children but likewise out of fear lest they should hearken to an acknowledgement of our Henry he under hand stirred up some Doctors to say That this Conference with a Heretick was unlawful and by vertue of this advice he wrought in such manner that the Estates agreed they would not confer with him neither directly nor indirectly touching his Establishment nor touching the Doctrine of the Faith but that they would confer with the Catholicks holding his party for the good of Religion and the publick Repose The Legat knowing well what this would come to endeavoured with all his power to hinder the effect of this Deliberation of the Estates but in the end he was constrained to lend his hand to it The Conference was then concluded and the Deputies of one part and the other assembled at the Borough of Surene near Paris The Estates were assembled in the month of January in the year 1593. and sate in the great Hall of the Louvre There were few Noble-men a great number of Prelates and a sufficient quantity of Deputies of the third Estate but the most part Creatures of the Duke of Mayenne or payed by the King of Spain This Prince desiring at any price soever to have the Crown for his Daughter had destined to send a puissant Army into France which should hasten the Resolutions of the Estates but happily for our Henry the incomparable Duke of Parma was dead and the Spaniard had not in the Low-Countries any Captains capable of great things The Count of Mansfield had order to lead his Troops the Duke of Mayenne went to meet him They re-took Noyon but that was all afterward they melted away and became so weak that not daring to pass any farther they returned into Flanders where Prince Maurice of Nassaw found them sufficient employment During the Siege of Noyon the young Byron to whom the King had newly given the charge of Admiral yeilded up by the Duke of Espernon in change for the Government of Provence had besieged Selles in Berry to take that Thorne out of the foot of the City of Tours The King perceiving that this paltry Town held him too long time had called him thence to go and relieve Noyon which notwithstanding he durst not enterprize These little disgraces wonderfully puffed up the hearts of the Kings enemies cool'd his friends and eâ—boldned the faction The third party who had kept under a covert now began to move and likewise a report ran that there were some Catholicks who had conspired to seize the person of the King in Mantes under colour of snatching him out of the hands of the Hugonots and would carry him
pleasure it causes a thousand troubles and a thousand mischiefs even in this world it self The King being now but just fifty years of age began this year to have some small feelings of the Gout which possibly were the doleful effects of his excessive voluptuousness as well as of his labours To return to the Marchioness it happened one day that the Queen being very much offended at her discourse threatned her that she should know how to bridle her wicked tongue The Marchioness upon this seemed sad and grieved shunn'd the King and let him understand that she desired that he would no more demand any thing of her because she feared that the continuation of his favours would be too prejudicial both to her and her children Her design was to inflame more his passion by shewing her self more difficult But when she saw that her cunning had not all the effect she hoped and that the Queens anger was encreased to such a point that indeed there was some danger for her and hers she advised her self of another thing D' Entragues her Father demanded permission of the King to carry her out of the Kingdom to avoid the vengeance of the Queen The King granted her demand easier then she thought he would wherewith being excessively enraged her Father and the Count d' Auvergne her Brother by the Mothers side began to Treat secretly with the Ambassador of Spain to have some retreat in the Territories of his King casting themselves absolutely they and their children into his Arms. The Ambassador believed that this business would be very advantagious to his Master and that in time and place he might serve himself of that promise of marriage which the King had given to the Marchioness he therefore easily granted them all that they demanded and added all the fair promises with which weak and feeble spirits might be entoxicated The King had granted them permission to retire themselves out of France but yet without the Children out of a belief he had that they would go into England to the Duke of Lenox and the Earl of Aubigny of the house of the Stuarts who were their near kinsmen but when he understood that they consulted of a retreat into Spain he resolved to hinder them but to employ fair means to do it He sends therefore for the Count d' Auvergne who was then at Clermont so much beloved in the Province that he believed he might securely stay there He refused to come before he had his Pardon Sealed in good form for all that he might have done This was a kind of new crime to capitulate with his King however he sends it him but with this Clause That he should make his immediate appearance His distrust permitted him not to obey on this condition he stayed still in the Province where he kept himself on his Guard with all precautions imaginable Nevertheless he was not so cunning but the King could entrap him and by an Artifice very gross He being Colonel of the French Cavalry was desired to go see a Muster made of a Company of the Duke of Vendosmes He went well mounted keeping himself at a good distance that he might not be encompassed Nevertheless d' Eâ—â—â—re Lieutenant of that Company Nerestan approaching him to salute him mounted on little Hobbies for fear of giving him suspition but with three Souldiers disguised like Lacquies cast him from his horse and made him prisoner They led him presently to the Bastille where he was seized with a great fear when he saw himself lodged in the same Chamber where the Marshal of Byron his great friend had been Immediately after the King caused d' Entragues to be Arrested who was carried to the Conciergerie and the Marchioness who was left in her lodgings under the Guard of the Cavalier de Guet After desiring to make known by publick proofs the ill intention of the Spaniards who seduced his subjects and excited and fomented conspiracies in his Estate he remitted the prisoners into the hands of the Parliament who having convicted them of having complotted with the Spaniard declared by a sentence of the first of February the Count of Auvergne d' Entragues and an English man named Morgan who had been the Agent of this fair Negotiation guilty of Treason and as such condemned them to have their heads cut off The Marchioness to be conducted with a good Guard into the Abby of Nuns at Beaumont near to Tours to be there shut up and that in the mean time there should be more ample information made against her at the request of the Attorny-General The Queen spared no sollicitations for the giving of this sentence believing that the Execution would satisfie her resentment but the goodness of the King surpassed her passion The love which he had for the Marchioness was not so far extinct that he could resolve to Sacrifice what he had adored he would not permit them to pronounce the Sentence and two months and a half afterward to wit on the fifteenth of April he by Letters under his Great Seal changed the penalty of Death on the Count of Auvergne and the Lord d' Entragues into perpetual Imprisonment Some time after he had likewise changed the prison of Entragues into a Confinement to his house of Malles-herbes in Beausse He likewise permitted the Marchioness to retire to Verneuil and seven months being passed without the Attorney-Generals procuring any proof against her he caused her to be declared absolutely innocent of the crime whereof she was accused There rested onely the Count of Auvergne who being the most to be feared was the worst treated for the King not onely kept him prisoner at the Bastille where he lay for twelve whole years but likewise deprived him of his propriety in the County of Auvergne He had bore the title and enjoyed it by vertue of the Donation of King Henry the third Queen Margaret newly come to the Court sustained that this Donation could not be valuable because the contract of the Marriage of Katherine de Medicis her Mother to whom that County appertained allowing Substitution of her goods and that Substitution said she extending to Daughters in default of Males that County was to come to her after the death of Henry the third nor could he give it to her prejudice The Parliament having hearkned to her reasons and seen her proofs annulled the Donation made by Henry the third and adjudged her this County In recompence of which obligation and many others she had received from the King she made a Donation of all her Estates after death to the Daulphin reserving to her self onely the fruits of them during life The Count of Auvergne thus despoiled remained in the Bastille untill the year one thousand six hundred and sixteen when Queen Mary de Medicis having need of him during the troubles delivered him from thence and caused him to be justified She
in the year 1607. by which appeared Acquittances for eighty seven Millions which established the reputation and credit of France among strangers by whom it was before much cried out upon That done he continually laboured to joyn in his great design all Christian Princes offering to give them all the fruit of his Enterprizes against the Infidels without reserving any thing for himself for he would not said he have other Estates then France He likewise proposed to himself the seeking of all occasions to extinguish disorders and to pacifie differences among the Christian Princes so soon as they should see them conceived and that without any other interest then that of the Reputation of a Prince Generous disinterested wise and just He began to make his Friends and Associates the Princes and Estates which seemed best disposed towards France and the least indisposed to its interests as the Estates of Holland or the United Provinces the Venetians the Swisses and the Grisons After having bound them to him by very strong ties he endeavoured to negotiate with the three puissant Kingdoms of the North England Denmark and Swedeland to discuss and decide their differences and likewise to endeavour to reconcile them to the Pope or at least to obtain a cessation of that hatred and enmity by some formulary in such manner as they might live together so that it had been advantagious to the Pope in that they had acknowledged him for the first Prince of Christendome as to Temporals and in that case rendred him all respect He endeavoured in fine to do the same thing among the Electors the Estates and Cities Imperial being obliged particularly said he to take care of an Empire had been founded by his Predecessours Afterwards he sounded the Lords of Bohemia Hungary Transylvania and Poland to know if they would concur with him in the designe of taking away and rooting up for ever all causes of trouble and division in Christendom He treated after that with the Pope who approved and praised his Enterprize and desired to contribute on his part all that should be possible These were the dispositions of his great designe of which I shall now shew you the platform and model He desired perfectly to unite all Christendom so that it should be one body which had been and should be called the Christian Common-wealth for which effect he had determined to part it into fifteen Dominions or Estates which was the most he could do to make them of equal power and strength and whose limits should be so well specified by the universal consent of the whole fifteen that none could pass beyond them These fifteen Dominations were the Pontificate or Papacy the Empire of Germany France Spain Great Britain Hungary Bohemia Poland Danemark Swedeland Savoy or the Kingdom of Lombardy the Signory of Venice the Italian Commonwealth or of the little Princes and Cities of Italy the Belgians or Low-Countries and the Swisses Of these Estates there had been five successive France Spain Great Britain Swedeland and Lumbardy six elective the Papacy the Empire Hungary Bohemia Poland and Danemark four Republicks two of which had been Democratical to wit the Belgians and the Swisses and two Aristocratical or Signories that of Venice and that of the little Princes and Cities of Italy The Pope had had besides those Lands he possesses the whole Kingdome of Naples and Homages as well of the Italian Common-wealth as for the Island of Sicily The Signory of Venice had had Sicily in faith and homage of the holy Seat without other rights then a simple kissing of feet and a Crucifix of gold from twenty years to twenty years The Italian Commonwealth had been composed of the Estates of Florence Genoua Lucca Mantoua Parma Modena Monacho and other little Princes and Lords and had likewise held of the holy Seat paying onely for all by advance of a Crucifix of gold worth ten thousand Franks The Duke of Savoy besides those Lands he possessed should likewise have Milain and all should be erected into a Kingdom by the Pope under the title of the Kingdom of Lombardy from which should have been taken Cremona in exchange of Moâ—tferrat which should be joyned There should have been incorporated with the Helvetian or Republick of the Swisses the French County Alsatia Tirol the Country of Trent and their dependences and it had done a simple homage to the Emperour of Germany from five and twenty to five and twenty years All the seventeen Provinces of the Low-Countries as well Protestants as Catholicks should have been established into a free and soveraign Republick save onely a like homage to the Empire and this Dominion should have been encreased by the Dutchy of Cleves of Juliers of Berghe de la Mark and Ravenstein and other little neighbouring Signories To the Kingdome of Hungary had been joyned the Estates of Transylvania Moldavia and Valachia The Emperour had for ever renounced aggrandizing himself or his by any confiscation disinheritance or reversion of Fiefs Masculine but had disposed vacant Fiefs in favour of persons out of his Kindred by the consent of the Electors and Princes of the Empire It should likewise have been held of accord that the Empire should never upon any occasion whatsoever be held successively by two Princes of one house for fear of its perpetuating as it hath for a long time in that of Austria The Kingdome of Hungary and of Bohemia had been likewise elective by the voice of seven Electors to wit 1. that of the Nobles Clergy and Cities of that Country 2. of the Pope 3. of the Emperour 4. of the King of France 5. of the King of Spain 6. of the King of England 7. of the Kings of Swedeland Denmark and Poland who all three had made but one voice Besides to regulate the differences which might arise between the Confederates and to decide them without sight of Fact there should have been established an Order and Form of Procedure by a general Council composed of sixty persons four on the part of every Dominion which should have been placed in some City in the midst of Europe as Mets Nancy Collen or others There should likewise have been established three others in three several places every one of twenty men which should all three make report to the grand Council Moreover by the consent of the general Council which should be called the Senate of the Christian Commonwealth there should be established an Order and Regulation between Soveraigns and Subjects to hinder on one side the Oppression and Tyranny of Princes and on the other side the Tumults and Rebellions of Subjects There should likewise be raised and assured a stock of money and men to which every Dominion should contribute according to the Assessment of the great Council for the assistance of the Dominions bordering upon Infidels from their
sends likewise to complement him and he answers it by Byron To whom she shews the Earl of Essex head The King Queen enjoy the Jubilee at Orleans The Queen brought to bed of a Daulphine who is named Lewis after surnamed The Just. The King gives him his blessing and puts his sword in his hand Birth of the Infanta of Spain named Anne who after espoused King Lewis xiii The King makes divers Orders for the good of the Estate He suppresses the Triennial Officers for Revenues He establisheth a Chamber of Justice to call Treasurers and Collectors to account The onely remedy against their thefts The King prohibites the transport of gold or silver out of his Kingdome and wearing gold and silver lace or gildings Introduces the manufacture of silk into France The usury excessive in France which caused the ruine of the best families and the Merchants to abandon all traffick The King reduces interests to six in the hundred His great care to enrich his Kingdom He favours the establishment of manufactures After his example all labour for their benefit Idleness punished 1602. The King remedies two things capable to overthrow France The tax of a Sol pour livre burthensome It causes commotions in the Provinces The King to appease them goes to Poictiers His wise and just remonstance to the Deputies of Guyenne * He had sold the Lands of his Patrimony He calms the seditions and revokes the Sol pour livre Conspiracy of the Marshal Byron Laffin discovers it to the King * Vidame is a Lord who holds his Lordship in Fief of a Bishop How he got the Notes written with Byron's own hand The Duke of Savoy keeps Renaze Laffins Secretary Propositions betwixt Byron the Duke of Savoy and the Count Fuentes Byron had demanded pardon of the King but after fell again He speaks ill of the King and boasts excessively of himself Two things compleat his loss Laffin comes to Court and reveals all to the King The King sends for Byron to Court who at first excuses himself In the end Byron comes The King conjures â—im the first time to confess the truth He insolently vindicates himself The King prayes the Count of Soissons to exhort him to confess his crime But he is more obstinate The King speaks to him the second time but in vain He is troubled what to resolve on He resolves to leave him to Justice Yet tries the third time to draw truth from him He finds it in vain leaves him By on and the Count of Auvergne Arrested prisoners His kindred intercede for him The Parliament make his Process He defends himself weakly Letters of the King revoking the pardon granted him at Lyons He reproacheth not Laffin Renaze appears before him at which he is much astonished He is conducted to the Parliament and heard Sentence of death voted against him The King removes the execution to the Bastille Sentence pronounced His head cut off He was very ignorant but a great lover of predictions A reflection very necessary for great men Laffin and Renaze pardoned * That is the Rack So is the Baron of Lux and confirmed in his Charges Montbarot imprisoned and soon released Fontanelles broke on the wheel Duke of Bouillon had a hand in the conspiracy The King sends for him to Court but he presents himself to the Chamber of Castres After he retires to Geneva thence to Heidelberg to the Prince Palatine his Kinsman The favour of Rosny a pretext to the discontents of the great ones Yet the King gave him not too much power but keeps it to himself An important truth A memorable example that a King ought not to yeild too much to his Ministers Enterprizes of the Duke of Savoy on Geneva Thirteen of the Enterprizers â—anged The Duke of Savoy excuses himself to the Suisses From whom the City of Geneva was held It was an Allie of the Suisses and under protection of France The Genevans make War on Savoy But the King obliges them to peace The inhabitants of Mets rise against Sobole their Governour The Duke d' Espernon kindles the fire more The King goes in person The Jesuites present their request to the King for their reestablishment He re-establisheth them gloriously 1602 1603. He visits his sister at Nancy Renews his alliance with the Suisses and Grisons Hears of the death of Queen Elizabeth of England She beheaded Mary Queen of Scots James 6. King of Scotland and Son of Mary succeeded to the Kindom of England He was James the first of that name among the Kings of England Ambassadors go from France and Spain to desire his friendship Piety yeilds to Interest The King labours to conserve peace Excellent speeches of a good King His divertisements Employs of the Nobility Duels too frequent The King makes an Edict against this madness He makes Acts for working the Gold Silver and Copper Mines An enterprize to joyn the Seine and Loire Another design to joyn the two Seas Navigation to Canada Establishment of Religious Orders at Paris The King gives Verneuil to Madamoiselle d' Entragues She despises and offends the Queen * Alluding I suppose to the Dukes of Florence who are all Merchants The Queen on her part troublesome to the King Leonora Conchini her husband foster the Queen in ill humors 1604. The Kings debaucheries cause the Gout The Queen threatens the Marchioness Who prays the King to see her no more And her Father demands leave to retire with her out of France They treat with the Ambassador of Spain The King resolves to hinder them To this end he sends for Auvergne who is at Clermont and refuses to come He is Arrested prisoner and carried to the Bastille D' Entragues and the Marchioness likewise Arrested * The Common Goal of Paris Sentence of Parliament against them The King pardons them and justifies the Marchioness But the Count of Auvergne remained at the Bastille and is despoiled of his County Which is adjudged to Queen Margaret who gives her Estates to the Daulphin The designes of the Duke of Bouillon discovered The King had done him many favours and he had as well served the King But after the Kings conversion he excites the Hugonots against him and would make himself chief of their party His Emissaries endeavour to form a party in Guyenne The King goes to prevent them All the Conspiracy dissipated The King returns to Paris He in vain endeavours to make the Duke of Bouillon humble himself He resolves to besiege Sedan Rosny makes all necessary preparations The King makes him Duke of Sully Inconveniences in the siege of Sedan The King chuses rather to receive the Duke into favour On what conditions The Duke demands pardon of of the King who enters Sedan and thence goes to Paris A great example of generosity in our Prince Notwithstanding which there are many conspiracies Treason of l' Oste. 1605. Treason of Merargues He is surprized talking with the Spanish Ambassadours
THE HISTORY OF HENRY IV. SURNAMED The Great King of France and Navarre Written Originally in French By the Bishop of Rodez once Tutor to his now most Christian Majesty And made English by J. D LONDON Printed by James Cottrel for Samuel Speed at the signe of the Rainbow near the Inner Temple-gate in Fleet-street 1663. To his Sacred Majesty CHARLES THE SECOND King of Great Britain France and Ireland Dread SIR WIth all that humble Reverence that becomes a Low but Loyal Subject and Servant to his Soveraign Lord and Master cast I at Your feet this present Address Those Stars that move in the Lowest Orb receive their light and lustre from the Sun as well as those that wander in a more exalted heaven and therefore may possibly be capable to return some grateful Influences though not in so great a quantity yet in a quality as pure and candid However all my courage could not have inspired me with a presumption to present any thing of mine to so glorious a Majesty had it not born in its Frontispice the name of HENRY THE GREAT Your Royal and Renowned Grandfather a Prince of so Sublime a Virtue of so Heroick a Courage of such Activity in War and such Prudence in Peace that he justly became both the love and terror of the age he lived in And Great Sir give me leave to tell you that never did the Life of any Prince since the Creation bear so equal a Parallel with Your Maiestie's as that of this Renowned King If your miseries and misfortunes have exceeded his God hath made it by evident Demonstrances appear that he intends to make your Glories and Happiness as far surpass those of your Royal Grandfather You both had Leaguers armed with Rebellion Obstinacy and Ambition under a Cloak of zeal to Religion to oppose you and you both assisted by a Miraculous Providence of Heaven overcame them You both by Arms long strugled for your Rights but as if God had intended you both for true Fathers of your Countries and the Foundations whereon he would settle an absolute happiness in your Kingdoms so long afflicted with Civil Wars and those terrours which attend them he brought you both to spotless Thrones unbesmeared with blood How soon was France redeemed from those plagues it so long had endured at the entrance of the Great Henry into the Chair of Royalty who as a Rising Sun darted forth those Salutiferous rayes which shone upon and enriched the remotest parts of his Territories How soon were all Factions dissipated and how soon did he by his Prudent Conduct reconcile the most obstinate Spirits In fine in how short time was France from a Den of Atheists Theeves and Robbers become the Nursery of Piety Arts and Industry England Dread Soveraign suffered under the same Fate her neighbouring Sister had long since been Subject to when Heaven was graciously pleased to restore you to your Crown And you have already made us not onely hope but see that you have designed to restore to us such happinesses that we cannot justly envy those which France enjoyed under her beloved HENRY How well have you setled both our Church and State How well have you reconciled our Dissentions with how much too great a mercy give me Sir leave to fear so have you pardoned the most obstinate of your enemies and how may we hope if the malice of those obstinate Spirits yet disturb not our Tranquillity to enjoy under your Government the most happy and flourishing daies that ever Great Britain beheld But Sir that I may conclude and not seem tedious to your Majesty may the God of heaven inspire into the hearts of your people a true sense of your goodness and paternal love to them may he correct the improbous malice of those who yet dare to be your enemies may he incline you still to prosecute such Maximes of good Government both in Church and State as may make both equally Flourish may he Augment your Glories and raise them above those of your Grand-father HENRY the Fourth may he bless us all by giving you a long and happy Reign and when that misery though late arrives us of losing you may we yet be made blessed in that Succession from your Loynes that may endure for ever Thus Prayes SIR The humblest and faithfullest though the meanest of your Majesties Subjects and Servants J. D. The Translator to the Reader BEhold here a History compiled by one of the most able and let me testifie thus much one of the most moderate and impartial Pens of Europe It was fitted for the hand of a King and is the Life of one whom his own Actions will declare to have better deserved the name of Great then that proud Macedonian who wept that he had no more Worlds to conquer For though he gained not such signal Victories nor over-ran so many Countries yet he was possessed of more Vertues then the other of Cities and Vertue is the fairest Mother of true Greatness But Reader I forestal thy delight in its Reading go on therefore but with Deliberation J. D. THE AUTHOR TO THE READER READER THis History of Henry the Great is onely a small part of the Summary or Epitomy of the general History of France which I have composed by the command of the King and for the instruction of his Majesty It having been my intention onely to gather together all that might serve to form a great Prince and render him capable of Reigning well I have not thought it convenient to enter into a particular Recital of things or to recount at length all Wars and Affairs as Historians do who are to write for all sorts of persons I have onely took the Sum and recounted those Circumstances I have judged the fairest and the most instructive leaving apart all the rest to shorten matter and to give in epitomy an account of all that passed which might inform the spirit of the King without surcharging his memory This hath been my designe if it hath not succeeded so well as could be wish'd I hope READER that my Endeavour will appear praise-worthy I doubt not but there are in this Work some Mistakes which I may not have perceived but which cannot escape Eyes more clear-sighted The History is accompanied with so many Circumstances that it is almost impossible not to be deceived in some Yet I believe I have written nothing for which I have not my Warrant And if you finde in any Author the contrary of what I have said I intreat you to consider that our Historians do in many things so differ among themselves that who takes the judgement of one must necessarily contradict the other In this diversity I have followed those whom I believed the best and most assured I acknowledge likewise that I could not refrain borrowing from them whole Paragraphs where they have pleased me and that I have thought I could better explain my self by their Expressions then my own However if this be a
pretext for raising his Siege from before Paris To put his body in a place where the resentment of the Duke of Guises creatures might not outrage it he carried it to Compeigne and laid it in the Abbey of S. Cornille where he celebrated all the funebrous Ceremonies as honourably as the confusion of the time would permit Not able to assist himself because of his Religion he committed the care to Bellegarde and Espernon the last of which accompanied him thither and then retired into Angoumois There were three advices given concerning the place to which he ought to retire when he raised his siege from Paris The first was to repass the Loire and abandon to the League all the Provinces on this side it because he could difficultly maintain them The second to re-advance along the Marne and seizing those Bridges and Cities expect an assistance from the Protestant Suisses and Germans promised to come to him And the third to march down into Normandy to assure himself of some Cities whose Governours were not yet engaged in the League to gather the mony received for Taxes and to joyne with the Assistance of England which Queen Elizabeth had promised him and which could not be long absent He concluded on the last of these advices and so many of the Nobles who accompanied him desiring some time to go and refresh themselves he gave them leave He sent a part of his Troops into Picardie under the Conduct of the Duke of Longueville another into Campaine under that of Marshal d' Aumont and with three thousand French foot two Regiments of Suisses and twelve hundred horse only which he kept with him he descended into Normandy The Duke of Montpensier who was Governour there came to joyne him with two hundred Gentlemen and fifteen hundred Foot Rolet Governour of Pont d' Arche a man of Courage and Spirit brought him the Keys of that place demanding no other recompence but the honour to serve him Emer de Chattes a Commandadoâ—e of Malta did the same with those of Diepe After which the King approached Rouen where he believed to have some intelligence This Enterprize put him in extream danger but in revenge gave him a fair occasion to acquist Glory in retiring himself from so great a peril See how it passed The Duke of Mayenne came to the succour of Rouen with all his forces and passed the Rivers at Vernon The King much astonished retires to Diepe and sends to the Duke of Longueville and d' Aumont to return to him with diligence with their forces The Duke in the mean time takes all the little places about Diepe to inviron and invest himself within In effect he shuts him up so close that if he had not amused himself by an untimely motion to go to Bins in Hainault to confer with the Duke of Parma he had in that disorder dissipated the greatest part of his little Army He had already caused a report to be spread through France and had writ with assurance to all strange Princes That he held the King of Navarre so he called him shut up in a little corner from whence he could not get but either by yeilding himself to him or leaping into the Sea The danger appeared so eminent even to his most faithful servants that the Parliament at Tours sent expresly to him a Master of Requests proposing as the onely expedient they saw to save the Estate the associating him and the Cardinal of Bourbon his Uncle in the Royalty giving to One the conduct of Civil Affairs and the Other of Martial There were likewise the greatest part of the Captains of his Army of opinion that leaving his Forces on shore well intrenched in their posts he should as soon as possible embarque for England or for Rochel for fear lest if he should longer delay it he might be shut up by Sea as well as by Land To the Proposition of the Parliament he made answer That he had taken such good order that the intrigues of the Duke of Mayenne could not deliver the Cardinal of Bourbon as they apprehended and the Marshal of Byron so stoutly opposed those who counselled him to embarque that they desisted It appeared soon after by the proof that the Forces of the League which were thrice as great as his were not to be feared in proportion to their number and that the more Commanders they had the less their power was to be doubted The King was lodged at the Castle d'Arques which is seated on a little Hill to stop the passage of the Valley which goes to Diepe The Duke had formed a Designe to take this Post by Sea by four or five Reprises and on divers days he essayed to assault the Suburbs of Polet and four or five times was driven back Our Henry dayly doing wonders and exposing himself so much that once he thought he should have been surprized and encompassed by his Enemies In fine the Duke having lost eleven days time and a thousand or twelve hundred men raised the Siege and retired into Picardy It was believed that he passed into this Province upon a fear lest the Picards a free and honest people but very simple should permit themselves to be surprized by the Artifices of the Agents of Spain who would engage them to cast themselves under the protection of the King their Master It was observed likewise that that which hindred the success of his enterprize at Diepe and which kept him two or three days without enterprizing any thing at the time he ought to have done it was the jealousie and contentions between the Chiefs that accompanied him particularly of the Marquess dâ— Pâ—ntâ—-Mousson Son to the Duke of Lorrain of the Duke of Nemours and of Cavalier d'Aumale for they believing the taking of the King infallible or at least his flight assured and disposing already of the Kingdome as of their Conquest regarded one another with an Eye of jealousie and each formed designes in his head to have the better part of it It was observed likewise that in one of these Combats of Diepe the Duke of Mayenne having at present some advantage had gained an entire Victory if he had advanced but a quarter of an hour quicker but marching too slowly he let slip that opportunity he could never redeem which made the King who well observed his faulâ— say If he act not in another manner I shall be assured always to gain the Field I have recounted these Particularities because they make known the defaults of that great Body of the League and the true causes which hindred its progress and reduced it to nothing I finde three principal ones The first was the distrust which the Duke of Mayenne had of the Spaniards for though he could not be without them yet he could not but regard them as his secret Enemies and they assisted him not for love of himself but out of the
several Petitions of complaint against them accusing them of a great number of Exactions and Cruelties The Duke d' Espernon who without doubt sustained these Burgesses at the Court was sent by the King to accommodate this difference The Soboles who had offended him no longer trusted him they would not permit him to enter into the strongest Citadel nor let the Garison go out to meet him so that being justly incensed he envenomed the plague instead of healing it and animated the inhabitants in such a manner that they Barricadoed themselves against them The King who knew that the least sparkles were capable to kindle a great fire was not content to send La Varenne but went himself being moreover willing to visit that Frontier Sobole gave the place into his hands and he gave it to Arquien Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment of Guards with the Quality of Lieutenant of the King to command in the absence of the Duke d' Espernon Governour who had no great power so long as the King lived The King passed the Feast of Easter at Mets. Whilst he was there he hearkned to the request which the Jesuites made for their re-establishment He referred the doing them Justice till he should come to Paris and gave leave to Father Ignatius Armand and Father Coton to come to sollicite their cause They were not wanting to do it and Father Coton being of a sharp and witty discourse and a very famous Preacher gained so soon the favour of all the Court and pleased the King so well that he obtained from his Majesty the recalling of the Society into the Kingdom contrary to the opinion and advice of some of his Council He then re-established them by an Act which he caused to be confirmed in Parliament and caused to be thrown down that Pyramide which had been erected before the Palace in the place of the house of John Castel where there were many writings in Verse and Prose very bloody against these Fathers Thus was their banishment gloriously repaired and after all the King kept with him Father Coton as his Chaplain in Ordinary and Confessor and Director of his Conscience This was not accomplished till the year 1604. In these two years of 1602 and 1603. we have yet three or four important things to observe The first that the King at his departure from Mets went to Nancy to visit his Sister the Dutchess of Bar who died the year following without Children The second that he renewed the Alliance with the Suisses and some months after with the Grisons notwithstanding those Obstacles by which the Count of Fuentes endeavoured to oppose it The third was that in returning to Paris he received news of the Death of Elizabeth Queen of England one of the most Illustrious and most Heroick Princesses that ever Reigned and who Governed her Estate with more Prudence and Power then any of her Predecessors had ever done She was Daughter to King Henry the eighth and to that Anne of Bullen for whose love he had left Katherine of Arragon Aunt to Charles the fifth Emperour his first wife There was nothing wanting to the happiness of her Kingdom save the Catholick Religion which she banished out of England And we might give her the name of good as well as great if she had not dealt so inhumanely as she did with her Cousin-German Mary Stuart Queen of Scotland whom she kept eighteen years prisoner and after beheaded induced to it by some conspiracies which the Servants and Friends of that poor Princess had made against her person The Son of that Mary named James the sixth King of Scotland being the nearest of the blood-Royal of England as Grandchild to Margaret of England Daughter to King Henry the seventh and Sister to Henry the eighth married to James the fourth King of Scotland succeeded Elizbeth who had put his Mother to death He caused himself to be called King of Great Britain to unite under the same title the two Crowns of England and Scotland which indeed are but one Island formerly called by the Romans Magna Britania The Alliance of so powerful a King might make the balance incline to which side soever it were turned either of France or Spain For which reason both the one and the other immediately sent Magnificent Ambassadors to salute him each endeavouring to draw him to his side It was Rosny who went on the part of Henry the Great he obtained all the favourable Audience he desired and the confirmation of the ancient Treaties between France and England The Ambassador of Spain found not such facility in his Negotiation the English appeared resolute The Spaniards were forced to yeild that the place of the Treaty should be appointed in England and to grant the English free Taffick in all their Territories even in the Indies and give them liberty of Conscience in Spain so that they should not be subject to the Inquisition nor obliged to salute the holy Sacrament in the streets but onely turn from it France was in a profound peace as well without by the renewing of the Alliances with the Suisses and with England as within by the discovery of the Conspiracies which were quite dissipated the King enjoyed a repose worthy his labours and his past travail made his pleasure more sweet However he was not idle but was seen daily employed for he endeavoured with as much diligence to conserve peace that divine daughter of heaven as he had used courage and valour in making War He was often heard say That though he could make the house of France as powerful in Europe as that of the Ottomans was in Asia and conquer in a moment all the Estates of his neighbours yet he would not do so great a dishonour to his word by which he was obliged to the keeping of the Peace His most ordinary divertisements during this time were Hunting and Building He at the same time maintained workmen at the Church of the holy Cross at Orleans at St. Germain in Laye at the Louvre and at the Place Royal. The Nobility of France during this peace could not live out of action some passed their time in Hunting others with Ladies some in Studies of Learning and the Mathematicks others in travelling into Forraign Countries and others continued the Exercise of War under Prince Maurice in Holland But the greatest part whose hands as it were itched and who sought to signalize their valour without departing from their Countries became punctilious and for the least word or for a wry look put their hands to their swords Thus that madness of Duels entred into the hearts of the Gentlemen and these Combats were so frequent that the Nobility shed as much blood in the Meadows with their own hands as their enemies had made them lose in Battails The King therefore made a second and a most severe Edict which prohibited Duels confiscating the