they had contrived to let them in by a great Tower which stood in the Sea belonging to the Sieur de Briqueville as also into the Town and Haven de Vire in hopes that they of their party who were at Caen Falaise and other adjacent places would rise in a body together and so force the King to leave Rochel that he might retake these places of so great importance Politique Observation REbels at their first rising may perchance get some advantages either by intelligences in strong Towns or surprisal of those which are but ill kept but in fine they do moulter away and are reduced to nothing It were to be wished that before they attempted any thing they did but know what is the true Reason hereof which it this they are to seek for those things which are necessary to continue a War with good successe for the beginning there need little or nothing but those beginnings must of necessity terminate in disasters if he who is the first mover have not store of Forces and power to recruite them if he be not furnished with expert Officers and Treasures if he have not very good intelligences with the Lords Princes bordering upon those places which he pretendeth to assault lastly if himself too be not endewed with a soul courage truly great that he ought of necessity to have Forces and power to recuit himself cannot be doubted because otherwise his soveraign will presently crush him the inconstancie of his Souldiers will by disbanding leave him naked and sicknesses will help to take away some too so that in fine he will be reduced to nothing if he cannot repair his losses by recruits and new fresh Regiments That which gave the Romans such advantage over other Nations was first their discipline of War but secondly their Numbers now the means used to get such great Armies was to exercise those Enemies whom they had overcome in their Militia as Tacitus observeth on the Life of the Emperour Claudian and on the other side the Lacedemonians and Athenians not entertaining any Strangers though by them subjugated never brought any great considerable Armies for number into the field and consequently could never attain unto so great an Empire Next to the great numbers of Souldiers which he ought to have comes Treasures without which it is impossible to prevent an Army from wanting victuals clothes and necessaries and by consequence from disbanding Quintus Flaminius seeing Philopoemon Captain of the Grecians with a great Army both of Horse and Foot but without any mony laughed at him he hath indeed quoth he store of Legs and Arms but no Belly meaning by like that he wanted wherewithal to feed them Caesar how great a Souldier soever and how valiant soever his Souldiers were brake open the Treasure Gate at Rome contrary to Motellus the Tribunes will for he wisely foresaw that it would be impossible to give a good account of the War without he were provided with store of Treasures Next of all I come to expect Officers who are not lesse needful because they are as the soul of the Souldiers and as it is true that a Body cannot move without it's soul neither can any Souldiers do any thing considerable if not conducted by the example of their Commanders and instructed how where and when they ought to fight And then ought he to hold good intelligence too with the Grandees and those places which border upon that part which he designeth to attaque for otherwise his Convoyes will be stopped every day will make some hole in his Coat and they will serve for retreits to his Enemies to contrive Ambushes and designs against him For this Reason it was that James King of Scotland contriving to make War upon Henry the eighth King of England was careful to hold intelligence with the English who else might have endangered and troubled his Forces that Hannibal assaulting the Romans first made sure of the Spaniards French and Africans and that the Romans bending their powers against Philip of Macedon first sent their Ambassadors to make a League with Ptolomei King of Egypt Lastly and most especially he himself ought to be of a genius and courage every way truely extraordinary for every day he must be exposed to new dangers the successe of the greatest part of his affairs will depend upon his own prudence and addresse the least distrust or fear that shall appear in him will drive away whole troops from him extraordinarie designs requiring a proportionate conduct to carrie them on in regard Revolts have the more need of Fortunes assistance because they are the most hazardous exploits in which a man can ingage never any mean Low heart arrived to any good succusse or Fortune by them These are the chief things necessary for a great enterprise and they that engage themselves without these do rashly run the hazard of their own destruction It is only by the want of these supports that so many Authors of Revolt have gone out with shame and confusion Divers Religious persons settled in the Hugonot Provinces by the Cardinal's diligence and industrie THE Cardinal was not idle though he had weakned the Hugonot Towns diminished their power and clipt the wings of their Rebellion but he endenvoured at the same time their conversion To this end his Majesty was perswaded to settle divers Preachers and Religious persons who behaved themselves with great zeal and courage The Cardinal was not indeed lesse expert at Theology then Policy so it was unreasonable but that he should be stil careful as well at this as at his Arms. His Piety let him so seek out occasions for it and having at last found out by divers conferences which he had with the Duke of Trimouille that he was not averse from being instructed he himself would needs take the pains to become the chief instrument of his conversion He bestowed divers houres of his leasure time to that purpose and there being nothing which is equal to his doctrine and the clearnesse of his soul he soon discovered such lights to him as quickly cleared all his doubts and dissipated those mists which error had laid upon his eyes The Duke of Trimouille converted to the Catholique Faith by Monsieur the Cardinal THE Duke of Trimouille was a person very moderate and temperate in all his actions his very youth was without heat and passion neither had he any of the pride and insolency which is too usual with those of his birth and as moderate sober men are more desirous of instruction then the contrary sort so he was contented to be guided by the hand of God yet would he see the truth and first be convinced of certain scruples and difficulties which did arise in which till then he could not be satisfied but having bin so happy as to be instructed by the Cardinal it was the easier for him to see and leave his error in regard the incomparable soul of this grand Minister did so
That History records above twenty Alliances between France England and Scotland That it would be easie to assure her Ladyship the exercise of her Religion considering what had been granted to the Spaniard That great Princesses are in this particular in a worse condition than Ladies of a meaner Quality by reason half an Age hardly produceth a Match correspondent to their Birth so that having once lost their opportunities they live to see the Harvest of their Beauties reaped by years without ever marrying whereupon it was resolved to see what particular Proposals would be made this result was signified to the Earl of Holland who assured them that the King his Master would receive it with much joy yet deferring to enter into any further Treaty untill he had received particular instructions from his Majesty Who upon the receiving of that news dispatched with all diligence the Earl of Carlisle with full power to conclude the Match The Earl of Holland went to Amiers to meet him that they might confer together what they had to do and afterwards being come near to Campeign the King hearing of it commanded the Duke of Cheuruse to go receive them with twelve Coaches full of Nobility and withall to entertain them magnificently and defray their charges during their abode at Court The day after their arrival they had Audience given them and the Proposals which they made appeared so reasonable that the King presently judging that they might easily be resolved appointed Commissioners to treat with them The Cardinal was at that time newly advanced to the Administration but he made it apparent that he was not a Novice in the management of it for the King desiring his opinion of this Treaty he not onely added many other reasons to those alledged in the first consultation but moreover suggested to his Majesty such judicious means to carry on the business that he could not enough admire his Prudence Amongst other reasons of the commodiousness of this Match hee represented to him that England once leagued with France by this Alliance there was hopes that they would joyn their Forces to assist the German Princes since it was yet more for the Interest of England then France to re-establish them which being so their powers would not onely ballance those of the house of Austria but overpoize them too with never so little assistance from those Princes That the happy successe which would follow would adde as much Glory to his Crown and State as discredit and confusion to his enemies Moreover that it being very expedient to curb the Insolencies of the Hugonots this marriage would be of great use as well because it would with-hold the King of Great Brittain from assisting them as also because it might be a means to procure shipping from him for the reducing of Rochel in short That there was great hopes to beleeve the Princess might much advance the Catholick Religion in England if as there was no doubt she were beloved by the King and the Prince her Husband So that of all sides there was nothing Prognosticated but great happinesse judging it requisite to use addresse and prudence for the speedy effecting of it The King did very wel relish the Consideration and thereupon commanding him to have a particular eye upon the Treaty his judgement which presently penetrates into affairs and quickneth expeditions did negotiate it with so ready a Conduct that he shortly brought it to such a passe that it might receive a Conclusion and that which I finde in it most to be admired is That the success hath shewed he was not mistaken in his conjecture England also did forthwith joyn with France to give means to Mansfield to enter with a puissant Army into Germany that he might attempt the re-establishment of the Palatine and the year following the King of Great Brittain sent ships to the King which helped him to gain a glorious Naval victory against those of Rochel The same effects had assuredly continued without the Intregues of Madam de Cheuruse without the ill conduct of some who accompanied the Princess and without the death of King James For his Majesty from that time shewed himself so affectionate to France that one day he openly said before divers Lords of the Court that the King had gained more upon him then any of his Predecessors and that he would not onely imploy his Subjects lives but his own too in defence of his interests and to oppose the Rebels who should attempt any Insurrections in France and lesse could not be expected from the Princess in the behalf of Religion if death had not prevented that Monarch from seeing the marriage consummated for the Passion which he had already in her behalf though he had never seen her was so sensible that he was heard say with a great deal of tenderness which was taken notice of amongst other discourse of the same nature That he would quarrel with her because she would not read his Letter nor that of the Prince his son without leave from the Queen her Mother but withall that he was much bound to her because after she had read them she laid his under her Pillow but his sons in her Bosome to shew that she did rely upon him and lodge his son in her heart Politick Observation ALliances with strangers by Marriages have passed amongst others for the Principal means which are thought proper to augment the Peace and Power of a Kingdome By them it is that we oâ—ten see those great fires of War which consumed them extinguished and the sweetness of a happy Peace restored to the people Thus Hugh the Earl of Câ—aâ—lins son by his Marriage with Alice Inheritrix of the Earldome of Bourgogn restored peace to both who had along time groaned under the miseries of War Thus those great enemies which exasperated the houses of Bourgogn and Orlâ—ance were allayed for some time by the Marriage of Philip Count de Vertus second son to the Duke of Orleance who had been slain by the Duke of Burgogn with Katharine of Burgogn And to re-inforce this truth with ancient examples Thus Argas King of Cyrene promised to bestow his onely daughter Beonice upon the son of his Brother Ptolomei whereby to obliterate the memory and resentment of the hatred which had been between them But Peace is not the onely benefit recorded to attend Marriages For how often have Princes inlarged theiâ— bounds by that means Who knows not that the House of Austria had not been thus Potent but by Alliances and that the marriage of Hetiâ—gis Inheritrix of Vltrich Burg Longravat and Alsace with Albertus sirnamed the Sage of Elizabeth Inheritrix of Austria Carintia Tyrol and Goricie with the Emperour Albertus the first of Jane Inheritrix of Castile Arragon Sâ—ciliâ— and Naples with Philip Arch-Duke of Austria of Anne Inheritrix of Hungaria and Bohemia with the Emperour Ferdinand the first brother to Charles the Fifth have been the true Rise of its Grandure which was inconsiderable
consideration of that diversity of Religion between the Princess and the Prince of Wales his Majesty should send to his Holiness to procure a Dispensation before the Marriage were effected to obtain the said Dispensation the Cardinal proposed to the King to send Father Berule Superior General of the fathers of the Oratory and to commit the charge of it to him as a person capable of such a negotiation and whose Piety which amongst the People is extreamly recommendable might take off all shadows or apparencies which the weakness of their senses or the malice of the Spaniards might raise abroad concerning it It should seem he did fore-see that Fury wherewith the Spanish Partisans writ against this marriage So angry they were that they had not prevented it not reflecting that for eleven whole years they had testified to the world that they would have done the self-same thing But that I may not be hindred by those outragious speeches which proceeded from those spirits puft up with Ambition who then began to discover that France had a Minister capable to countermine them and to oppose their unjust designs I shall inform you that the instruction which was give to Father Berule was to go to Rome with all diligence and to obtain the Dispensation from the Pope to which purpose he was to represent to his Holiness That the King of Great Brittain having demanded the Princess Henrietta Maria the Kings Sister in marriage for the Prince of Wales his son his Majesty was the more inclinable to hearken to the Proposition because hee looked upon it as a probable means to convert the English as heretofore a French Princess married into England had induced them to imbrace Christianity But that the Honour which hee owed to the Holy Chair and in particular to his Sanctity who had formerly held him at the Font of Baptism in the name of Pope Clement the Eighth had not permitted him to conclude upon the Treaty before the obtainment of his Dispensation That this Marriage ought to be regarded for the Interest not onely of the Catholicks in England but of all Christendome who would receive great advantages by it that there is not any thing of hazard for the Princesse seeing she is as firm as could be desired both in the Faith aâ—â— Piety That she should have a Bishopâ— and eight and twenty Priests to do all Offices That she should have none but Catholicks in her Houshold That the King of Great Brittain and the Prince of Wales would oblige themselves by Writing and Oath not to solicite her directly or indirectly neither by themselves or any other persons to change her Religion Moreover that there being nothing to be feared in relation to the Princesse there were great hopes that she might be intirely beloved by the King who was well disposed already to become a Catholick and by the Prince of Wales That shee might the more contribute to their conversion in regard that women have very great power over their Husbands and Father-in-Laws when Love hath gotten any power in their affections That for her part she was so zealous in Religion that there was no doubt but she would employ her utmost industry in so pious a design That admitting God should not succeed her iâ—tentions either upon King James or the Prince of Wales there were hopes her Children might become restorers of that Faith which their Ancestors had destroyed seeing she had the education and bringing of them up in the belief and exercise of the Catholique Religion until they were thirteen years old and that their first seeds of Piety having being instilled into their souls and cultivated with carefulnesse when they became capable of good Instructions might infallibly produce stable and permanent Fruits that is so strong a Faith as might not be shaken by Heresie in a riper age And after all That the Catholiques of England would forthwith receive great advantages by it seeing both the King of Great Britain and the Prince of Wales his Son would oblige themselves by worâ— and deed not to hunt them out or when they were discovered to punish them To free out of Prison all such as were layed up to restore them their Monies and Goods which had been forced from them after the last Act if they were possible to be had and generally to treat them with more favour than if the Treaty with Spain had gone on Lastly he had order to inform the Pope that to render a greater respect to the Church he had conditioned that the Princess should be affianced and contracted according to the Catholique form like that which was observed they Charlâ—s the Ninth in the Mariage of Margarice of France with the late King Henry the Fourth then King of Navarr These things spoke in their own behalf and were so eminently visible that no doubt could be made of them The Father Berule too wanted neither Ability nor Good-will but represented them to his Holyness with such dexterity that his Sanctity gave him hopes of a favourable answer 'T is true the Pope would not grant him a dispence without conferring with the Cardinals that he might give no jealousie to Spain who had been dealt with in the very same manner when they desired a Dispensation for the Inâ—anca but they were of his own naming and such as no one could think were more subject to Passion than Justice So they met divers times about it and though it were with the ordinary delayes of the Court at Rome without which they esteem no affair can be discussed and judged with Prudence or Majesty enough yet in sine they referred the expediting of the Dispensation to the Popes pleasure All that was cross in the business was barely this Father Borielâ— being naturally addicted to refine all things was perswaded that there had not been assurances strong enough obtained from the English for the securing and hindring the placing of Protestant Officers over the Princesses children the solicitation of Officers to change their Religion the continuation of forcing English Catholiques to take Oaths of Abjuration against the Catholique Religion and the holy See though indeed it had been expresly concluded and agreed on That the King of England and Prince of Wâ—lâ—s should engage both by Writing and Oath not to enforce them any more However this induced both the Pope and Cardinals to think fit not acquainting the â—ieurâ—dâ— Bethune with it though the Cardinals Prudence had tyed up the said Father Bâ—rulâ— in his Instructions not to doe any thing without him to oblige the King in the Instrument of Dupensation to procure from the King of Great Britain new assurances in these parcicuâ—ars So that he following his own sense and specious reasons upon which he relyed his Holyness dispatched him upon those conditions and sent him back to the King with all diligence Politique Observations IF Piety prohibit Ministers to doe things contrary to Religion Prudence obligeth them to referre the management of affairs to Persons who
of bringing his Master into such trouble as he wil have somewhat to do ere he get clear of them The Athenians did heretofore think this to be a business of so great importance that they condemned their Embassadours to die whom they had sent into Arcadia for onely returning home by another Coast then that which they were commanded though they had well dispatched the Affair they were imployed on as it is reported by Elian It is true the face of things may alter after an Embassadours departure and if so he must have his eyes in his head it being permitted him to vary the means which are prescribed to him for the easier obtaining the end of his Affair But in case Affairs be not altered he is bound to stick close to his Instructions under penalty of being very faulty Manlius did not spare his own son for fighting with the Enemy contrary to his order though he got the better of them for a Captain never ought to assault an Enemy contrary to his Generals command though he be assured to overcome him And that Embassador deserveth severely to be chastised who shall propose things contrary to those which are commanded him for the management of a Treaty is sometimes not a jot less considerable to the good of a State then the Conduct of a War Those spirits which are most acute and subtle are most subject to slip into this defect because they are more wedded to their own opinions and will ever be refining of things more then need requires esteeming more their own thoughts then all the orders which shall be given to them and this is it which made Thucydides say Those Souls which are a little more steady are propperer for negotiations then those which are so full of mettle and sprightfulness The difficulties which did arise in pursuance of the dispence for the Match with England THE Dispensation was sent to the Nuntio with expresse order not to deliver it untill the King of England should ingage himself by Oath to observe those Conditions which his Holiness had inserted and untill the King of France had given it under his hand that he would undertake and promise to see all the Articles to which the King of England should ingage to be fully accomplished The Nuntio gave notice of this order which the Pope had sent him to the King and his Majesty was not a little surprized at it to find himself reduced to the making of new conditions with the King of England and to seek for a new dispence from Rome when some moneths had been passed over in the soliciting for the former Indeed it was so much the more troublesome in respect that these obstructions might totally break it off which might not onely breed quarrels between the two Crowns but divers mis-fortunes upon the Catholicks in England A Conference was at last had with the Nuntio and it was there represented to him of how little importance these new Articles â—ere in comparison of the danger of a total breach to which it did expose things especially seeing that the Children were to be brought up by the Princess that is by her Domestiques and servants and by those of the Princess were to be Catholicks which did tacitely imply that the Children should be brought up by Catholicks This was easie to be demonstrated but the Nuntio being of an impertinent nature in affairs as also obliged to follow his Holinesses Interests beseeched the Ministers to find out some expedient to satisfie his Holiness without imbroyling the business with the King of England promising that he would write to him very effectually about the necessity that did appear for the taking away all obstructions and difficulties which might bring any delay to the marriage In prosecution whereof the Earls of Carlisle and Holland were consulted with and the King writ to his Majesty of England to desire him to condiscend to those alterations which the Pope had made letting him see how frivolous they were The King of England did not receive the news without much wonder but however seeing it had been agreed that the children who should be born of this match were to be educated by the Princesse untill their respective ages of thirteen years and that her servants were to be Catholicks and to have all freedome for the exercise of their Religion hee consented to all that was desired as that the Officers of those Children should be Catholick and should have no trouble in their Religion accordingly hee sent all manner of assurances to the King but not a word of swearing to it which was enough without urging him to take his oath for performance The King gave all those assurances in writing which his Holiness expected the Princess also writ a Letter to the Pope wherein she promised upon her Parol not to chuse any Officers for those Children which God should hestow upon her but such as should be Catholicks All Conditions being thus resolved on it was verily beleeved there could be no further difficulties raised at Rome There were two extraordinary Courtiers dispatched one by Sea the other by Land to the Sieur de Bethune with Orders to procure the dispense to bee amended withall expedition and to beseech the Pope in his Majesties name to dispatch it according to the Articles which had been newly agreed on without exacting a new Oath The Sieur de Bethune having received one of these Dispatches acquitted himself of his duty with all kind of Prudence and did not forget to use his very utmost diligence to procure that satisfaction for his Majesty he spake to the People with a great deal of affection by re-presenting to him those great blessings which heaven had bestowed on the Church since his Majesty came to the Crown and with what zeal his Majesty had imployed his Arms against the Hereticks all which ought to make him be much esteemed by the holy Chair in regard his demands could not be refused without some kind of injustice both in relation to the acknowledgements which are due to him as also because his Actions gave great assurance that he would never omit any occasion which might tend to the advantage of the Church He forgot not to represent to him the dangers that would ensue from a total breach by the longer retardment of concluding the marriage and the severe usage that the Catholiques in England would consequentially lie under That what his Holiness had thought fit to adde to the Articles already concluded on was in a manner included in them already and that the chief executing of them would rest upon the discretion of those who should have the honour to be neer the Princess however that his Master the King that he might testifie the respect which he bore his Holiness had written to the King of Great Brittain who had consented to it excepting onely in the point of taking a new Oath which he would no more press him upon in regard of that Oath which he had
for the Country where they live so that they do not heartily embrace the Interests of it and in case a war should break out none would be so ready as they to entertain intelligence and give advices to the enemies They are also easily provoked against the natural inhabitants of the Country upon any suspition that they are lesse esteemed by them then others which induceth them to stick close together and to raise Factions against the State withal their bodies may not be punished though there be some kind of reason for it least they should generally resent it and raise up a thousand Broyles These are the chief reasons why it is impossible to preserve a Family of Officers Strangers in a Queens Court This was it which did oblige those of Sparta as Xenophon reporteth it not to suffer any strangers to live in their Commonwealth which made the Athenians take the same resolution as Plutarch observeth in the life of Pericles and which made Suetonius commend Augustus that he would rarely grant to any the being free or naturals of his Kingdome and which induced Polydore Virgil to say in his History of England That it was not the custome of English to admit of many strangers amongst them least the difference of their customes and fashions might cause them not to live in a good intelligence with the natives of the Country The King sends the Marshal de Bassompierre into England THe Queen Mother having been acquainted with the disorder which had hapened in the Queen of Englands Family first sent the Sieur de Barre to her to testifie to her that she was sorry for her and took part in her discontents and shortly after there being no reason to put up such an injurie the Cardinal advised his Majesty to dispatch the Marshal de Bassompierre as extraordinary Ambassador to the King of England for a redresse in the business Amongst divers others he was more particularly made choise of for that employment because there had been many of his near kindred retained near the Queen who were now all sent back again So that it was thought considering the near Interest of his family that he would be the more zealously affectionate in dispatching such instructions as should from time to time be sent to him He was but coldly entertained in England because audience had been denied to the Lord Montague who was sent into France upon the return of those Officers however he was no whit discouraged at it knowing that any Ambassador ought to shut his eyes at all little difficulties and obstructions so he may carry on his Masters work to a good issue The King of England appointed Commissioners to treat with him upon that affair who being met together he represented to them in order to his instructions that amongst other things comprehended in the Articles of Marriage it had been concluded and agreed on That the Queen of England should have free excercise of her Religion that she should have a Bishop and a certain number of Priests to exercise the Offices of her Religion That all her houshold should be Catholiques and French and that all the English Catholiques should in general receive greater priviledges then had been granted them if the Treaty with Spain had been effected That the late King James and the present King Charls his son then Prince of Wales had confirmed it by oath and that King James had commanded his Officers not to trouble or molest the Catholiques any more whereupon that the King his Master had conceived great hopes of prosperity and happiness for the Queen his Sister neither could he believe that the King of England his Brother in Law would break his word given upon the consideration of Royal Marriage who until then had amongst other virtues the reputation of being Just to his promises That this new Alliance instead of reuniting their persons and Interests would now rather breed great divisions between them and at such a time when they had most need of being in amity with one another both for assisting of their Allyes and their own particular preservation And that notwithstanding all these premises the King of England had sent back all those Officers of the Queen contrarie to the Treaty which had been confirmed by oath that he placed about her Officers who were English and of a Religion contrary to hers and besides all this that the Catholiques in General were every where troubled and ill treated for their Religion sake So that the King his Master unable to abandon the Queen his Sisters Interest had sent him to his Majesty of Great Britain to put him in mind of his promises and to perswade him That her Majesties Catholique Officers might be re-admitted to her as also that his Catholique subjects might be more favourably dealt withal The English Commissioners could not deny what had been concluded in the Treaty but they would lay the fault of the Officers return upon their own shoulders pretending that they had raised troubles in the Kingdome in his Majesties own Family and that of his dear consort the Queen but they did not produce any sufficient proofs upon the business And as to that which concerned the English Catholiques they pleaded that it had only been granted for formalities sake and to satisfie the Pope But the Marshal producing before them the late Kings Oaths confirmed too by another of the present King then Prince of Wales they could no longer tell what to say to the business but fled to other complaints not material or any wayes relating to the matter in question The Marshal replyed and that very tartly that he could not sufficiently admire that the Articles of Marriage and confirmed by Oath were not observed That the Queens Officers were sent back under pretence that they troubled the State without giving the King his Master any notice of it and without acquainting him in the least with those crimes which were presented to be committed That presently thereupon English Officers and those Protestants should be placed in their rooms That indeed those accusations were to be esteemed as frivolous and admitting them for just yet ought they to be chastised only and others French and Catholique put into their places by the rules of the Treaty But that indeed those pretended quarrels or Jarrs raised by the Queens French Officers were so far from being the true cause of their return that on the contrary the Lord Moâ—ntague had been at Nantes not many dayes before their being sent over to congratulate the King and Queen Mother concerning the good understanding which was between their Majesties of Great Britain and concerning the great satisfaction which the King received at the Queen his wifes behaviour That of the suddain and unlookt for discharge of her Officers happening so immediately upon the neck of this joy could not but appear strange and that as it did much wound the King of Englands Reputation so it likewise injured the King his Masters Generosity who was
their entring into France resolved to redouble the Forces which had been alloted to take shipping and others too were no lesse jealous of it They knew how much it behooved them to uphold the Hugonot party in France which would disunite the Force of the Kingdom and so employ the King whenever they had a mind to it that he should not be able to march out of his own Frontiers to oppose any designs of theirs or attempt any thing upon them They well knew France was not a little to be feared when as it was at it's full liberty and no remora at home to hinder the going out of their powers That it hath pretensions upon all her neighbours and that if the Hugonots were but once quashed and Rochel their strongest support destroyed his Majesty would then be at full liberty to prosecute his pretences So every one preferring his own Interests before Justice and Religion sought for opportunities to divert his Majesties Arms and force him instead of assaulting others to defend himself they consulted together by means of their Ambassadours and made a league to assault France in divers places at one and the same time The King of Great Brittain being Chief of the league took care to send from one place to another to resolve particularly what should be done Politick Observation POlicie obligeth Kings to foment the beginnings of division amongst their neighbours but it ought to be accompanied with Justice else it cannot passe for a vertue and is to be used onely towards enemies The Laws both of nature and Christianity forbiddeth the doing of that to others which we would not have done to our selves they who deal otherwise do invert the rules of humane society Bajazet the Turkish Emperour was to be pardoned for that answer of his to Sigismonds Ambassadours who remonstrated to him that having no right or Title to Bulgaria he was bound in Justice to withdraw his Arms from it that he had such Guns in his Arcenal as gave him a right not only to Bulgaria but as much as he could finger too in any other place An answer I say excusable in a Tyrant who openly professeth to trample all Equity under foot but not so in Christian Princes whose victories ought alwayes to be bounded in with Justice That which Antigonus the Great replyed to one who would needs perswade him that whatever Kings had a mind to was lawful was much more praise worthy he told him true it was so but amongst Barbarian Kings not them who professe Justice and to whom all injustice is an abomination God hath in the Scriptures apointed distinct Laws both for Princes and private men and as particular persons may not do any thing against the Common good so Princes cannot attempt any thing of injustice without offence Plutarch blameth Marius very much for not executing Justice but when it was advantageous and because he alwayes took profit to be honest not regarding truth so he might be stronger but measured the worth of the one by the value of t'other and attempted the executing of that by craft which he could not obtain by Force God saith Isaiah reproveth the counsels of them which are not conformable to his Laws and Princes do but in vain hope to bring their designs to a good passe when as there is no resistance of Gods decrees Prosecution of the Historie THe Abbot of Scaglia was one of the Prime men in this confederacie by the Duke of Savoys means who desirous to reveng himself because the Treaty of Mouson had been concluded without his knowledge made choise of him as a person capable to embroyle things who went about it the more passionately because he was offended with the Cardinal for having driven him out of France for making of cabals against the State His first voyage was into Holland to see how they stood inclined and to draw them into the league But meeting with some there who negotiated his Majesties affairs he could make but little progress in it his reasons not being seconded with that mony which theirs was Thence he went for England where finding their minds according to his own desire he still used his best endeavours to drive on the quarrel which being once concluded The King of England sent about the month of April the Lord Mountagu to take particular orders for execution of it both in Savoy and Lorrain and with the Duke of Rohan It was needful to have some pretence to disquite Montagues Journy and no one was thought more fit then for him to pretend he was desperately in love with Madam de Cheurcuse then in Lorrain with whom he was to discourse that he might be fully informed of all the Factions at the French Court the Chief of which kept a strict correspondence with her So he began his Treaty with the nearest State first and that was Lorrain besides Buckingham had a particular intercourse with Monsieur de Lorrain by Madam de Cheureuses means and all that he might fully know the State of the Intreagues of France He having found the Duke much exasperated and that he only wanted an oportunity to let the King feel effects of his anger he ingaged to him to enter upon France at the same time that the English Fleet should land there The Duke also gave him hopes that his attempts should be the more considerable in regard the Emperour who he was assured did blow the coals of the French Faction would send him Forces for his assistance being at last fully instructed and having disposed the Duke of Lorrain to the doing whatever he could demand he went into Languedoc where meeting the Duke of Rohan he gave him an accompt of their whole design who being thus filled with hopes of potent succours from England Savoy and Lorrain he resolved to rise at the same time with the rest Thence he went to Savoy where the Duke animated against France and particularly against the Cardinal his only work there was to receive the Dukes assurances of entring upon Dauphine as soon as the English put to Sea to which purpose part of his Forces were already upon their march He presently dispatched one to the Duke of Rohan to assure him of the assistance of six thousand foot and five hundred Horse exhorting him to be careful and courageous for that their business was in a good condition They fancied to themselves that they did all ready cast that thunder bolt with which they ruined the whole Kingdom of France Mountagu shortly after returns through France to Lorrain but the King was not ignorant of his Intreagues having had a continual watch upon him foure months together that he might snap him upon his return and learn more particularly by the contents of his Papers the quality of his negotiations and accordingly he was very fortunatly taken upon the Borders of the Kingdom by the Marquis de Bourbonne whom his Majesty had commanded to apprehend him About him was found a little cabinet of papers which
to the Kings Fleet might cover them and give the English means to passe the Channel But his Majesties small Boats went to the Fire-ships at the mercy of the great shot seized on them and diverted their execution onely losing one man without any greater hurt and the Vessels which followed them durst not advance which the English Fleet seeing and how much the Forts did trouble them they drew off to the Road not without great disoder leaving the Rochelois to despair Neither was this the onely mis-fortune that befell them for at that very instant so great a storm arose that they were forced to let themselves be carried at the mercy of the wind The English finding how unlikely they were to do any good proposed under hand that some accommodation might be made they thought it would bee more advantagious to retreat after the making of a Peace then to run the hazards of a worse successe Monsieur the Cardinal desired his Majesty to observe that his onely aim being the taking of Rochel this accommodation would much contribute to it for then the Rochelois would remain without any succour at all which induced him to give ear to those Proposals which should be made But their souls being yet exasperated the Peace could not so suddenly be resolved on and all the conferences which were had to that purpose ended in a Cessation of Arms for some few dayes Politique Observation ALbeit they who have been once vanquished in War may recover the advantage which they have lost either when their forces are recruited with a sufficient strength or when shame shall excite their courages yet so it is that when neither of these two conditions happen there is a great reason to apprehend the successe of their second attempt Fortune hath sometimes smiled on those who formerly never saw but her frowns but after she hath been once and again discourteous it will be needfull to imploy more force and greater courage for she is a professed friend to the bold and prudent Great Routs are attended with dangerous consequences whence Titus Livy speaking of a certain faction of Marcellus against Hannibal at Nola said that it was much more difficult to worst an Army fleshed in Victory then that which begins to lose its credit He gives the same reason for that victory which the Romans under the command of Consul Manlius obtained against the Gauls in Asia where he saith that as Victories do heighten the courage of the Victorious so they do much abate that of the vanquished and withall the Victorious are desirous onely to fight as may be observed in the example of Pompey's Souldiers after the advantage which they had of Caesar as Plutarch reporteth upon the life of Pompey whereas they who are worsted are hard to be drawn to the Battel for being seised with their usual fear and the most part of them fighting by constraint they behave themselves with so little mettle that they are easily overcome a second time Thus the Duke of Guise returning from Italy after the Battel of St. Laurence to command those French Troops which had been rallied and new listed writ to his Majesty that he had more ado to put them in heart and courage then to beat the victorious enemy and therefore he judged it necessary before he hazarded a second Battel to cure them of their first baffle by getting some little advantage upon the enemy an advice which he well knew how to execute as he did in the taking of Calais Guines Thionville The Deputation of Montague to the King from the Earl of Denbigh General of the English Forces DUring the cessation of Arms the French Rebels who were in the English Fleet finding they had lost their courages and despaired of forcing the passage concluded themselves utterly lost without obtaining the Kings grace To which purpose they beseeched the Earl of Dexbigh to employ his power with their King in the behalf of his Master the Earl of Denbigh thought it reasonable and upon deliberation had with the Officers of the Army what was fit to be done to procure them this satisfaction they agreed to send Montague to his Majesty in the behalf of the King their Master to endeavour the making their peace for them Mâ—â—tague came to his Majesties quarter and having audience declared that he was sent from the King of Great Brittain his Master to begge a pardon for the Rochelois that he would be pleased to promise them the liberty of their conscience to forgive the Sieur de Soubize and the Comte de La Val and to give quarter to those English which were in Rochel The King answered them that as for those of Rochel they were his own subjects and that the King of England need not intermeddle in their interest and as for the English who were there in garrison that they should receive the like usage as the French prisoners in England yet his Majesty received him with a great deal of honour shewed him the Forts of the Camp the Batteries the Bank the Pallisadas and the range of Vessels which over-spread the Channel The truth is it was not done so much to gratifie him as that upon the relation of what he had seen the rest of his party might be discouraged from making any further attempts After he had been an eye-witnesse of those things he returned to England to the King his Master to reduce him to some accommodation A Treaty between the King and the Rochelois THE Cessation of Arms being expired the English to testifie it was not out of fear that they retreited or had made those proposals renewed the fight on the twenty third of October which lasted above two houres yet all this while had they not the courage to come up to his Majesties Fleet whereupon those French who were with them resolved to send some Deputies to the King in their behalf to cast themselves at the Kings Feet and to emplore his mercy First of all they sent four to Monsieur the Cardinal who humbly requested him that he would be pleased to obtain the Kings favour and grace for them which they heartily beseeched with all real acknowledgements of their faults The Cardinal answered them he would speak to his Majesty concerning it and commanded they should be kindly entertained and put into some place apart that they might not enter into discourse with any one The King was easily perswaded to grant them what they demanded the Cardinal having told him how necessary it was to win them off from the English which if he could once bring to passe the English would withdraw of their own accord and leave Rochel to shift for it self He then acquainted them how his Majesty had granted them the mercy and favour which they had beseeched of him yet however he thought good that two of them should remain with him whom he would make use of as I shall hereafter declare for the regaining of the Rochelois to their former duties and
besides the blemishing of their glory with the brand of ignorance do withal render themselves undeserving to be assisted in like necessities There is not any Prince who is not aâ—med at in his turn or able alwaies to subsist by his own force many times they are necessitated to stoop under the armes of an invader for want of the assistance of their confederates who forsake them as they were before forsaken by them If a King may with Justice defend the weak and his confederates doubtlesse he may as justly imploy his power to revenge an injury God who hath intrusted the Scepter in the hand of Kings hath also obliged them not to permit that the respect due to their Soveraign Majesty be violated by any other Prince as well as to maintain their Subjects within the bounds of their obedience He hath given them a Sword to correct any indignities offered to their Crowns There is not any one above them who is Arbitrator of their quarrels they are legal Judges of their own differences and in this Independency God hath given them power to take up Arms to carve their own right It is enough to justifie their War if the Princes against whom they fight haue given them occasion and the misfortunes which inevitably follow the disorder of Souldiers cannot be imputed but unto him who first gave the occasion of taking the field A Kingdome would be very defective as Aristotle observeth if the Soveraign had not Authority to châ—stise with his Arms him who hath injured him in like manner saith he as the body of creatures is not perfect if unable to repell those objects which offend it So an estate is not in that perfection which it ought to be if destitute of power to repay any injuries done against it The Justice of the Kings Alliance with the King of Swede THere is no doubt but the Alliance of the most christian King with him of Swede for the defence of their common confederates was very just seeing the War it self undertaken by the King of Swede was just and that all Alliance contracted for the support of a just War is in it self justifiable Yet there was no device unassayed by the house of Austria to induce the World to condemn it The first reason by them alledged in discredit thereof was that it was undertaken in the defence of Heretick Princes but what reason was there so long to have invaded the States of other Princes under the pretence of Religion After Charles the Fifth had joyned the Imperial Crown to his Kingdomes of Spain and Italy with the Provinces of the Low-Countries he thought that having forces enough to re-conquer all those Countries which formerly belonged to the Roman Emperour he might with justice attempt it as if Kingdomes were the division of force and as if birth and succession of many ages were not bars enough to stop ambition Now as Germany is the Bulwark which serves all he States of Europe to defend their liberty as Henry the Second King of France writ unto the Princes of the Empire in the year 1552. he resolved to over-run it concluding that having once mastered it he might with ease invade France England and the rest of Italy The Emperor who reigns at present knew as well how important it was seeing in his letters sent to Zuinga chief Counsellour to the King of Spain he particularly nameth it the foundation of the Authority of the House of Austria Germany indeed doth so abound in men and riches that it is alone able to entertain Armies and those great ones for ever nay to supply the very Indies in case of a defect This is the true ground of the War and that which obliged the King of Swede to assist it although the Spaniards pretence was the rooting out of Heresie It is long since the great St. Leon writ to the Emperour Theodosius that men palliate their Passions with Religion but much more reasonably may it so be said of the Austrian Princes as Mariana hath well observed in his History that being it which makes so great an impression upon the people The World sees by experience how advantagious it was to them when Ferdinand usurped Navarre from his own Neece they themselves have seen that it wanted but little of putting our Scepter into their hands during the League It is the best title by which they hold part of both the Indies where they have put to death not only lawfull Princes but at least fifty Millions of people with such cruelty that they have died the earth with blood and made Heaven to groan with horrour and well will they now make use of it to despoil the German Princes of their estates But who is ignorant of their injustice seeing that as the true Religion gives no right to Empires so force cannot deprive him of it to whom it falls by succesion Politique Observation HEresie doth no more dis-ingage Subjects from obedience to their Prince than infidelity but this being a point of Doctrine peradventure some mean capacity will make a scruple to believe it if only proved by the verity of politick maximes I shall therefore back it by the belief which the Apostles-left in the Primitive Church which the Father 's taught in their Precepts and Examples and which the ancient Christians did most religiously observe amidst their greatest persecutions Did not the Apostles St. Peter and Paul write to the christians in their Epistles at what time Nero made the earth tremble with his cruelty execrised upon them Let every one be subject to the higher powers For there is not any Dominion which is not established by God and those which now are are by his gift Whoever rebelleth against them opposeeth his Commandment and they who indeavour to shake off the yoke of their obedience expose themselves to damnation A Prince is God's servant it is not to no purpose that he holds the sword it is to make himself known for the Almighty's Officer He ought to be obeyed not only because he can punish but for Conscience sake neither are these the only exhortations left unto us upon this subject their Epistles are fraught with divers others so frequent that I need not recite them leâ—t I play the Dâ—vine and forget the Historian Who likewise knoweth not how all the ancient Fathers of the Church would have sealed this Doctrine with their blood notwithstanding they lived under Atheistical and Pagan Princes who were as so many firebrands to Religion and sworn Enemies to our Faith S. Ignatitus writ very earnestly to the people of Antioch to perswade them to serve Justinâ— the Emperour and gave all Pagan Princes to understand by a learned Apologie that their hopes were in vain to force the faithful by the violence of their torments to worship Idols and false gods who in all other things would render a full and intire subjection to their Emperours Tertullian acknowledgeth none but God above Kings and confesseth that their commands tie the
summs of money or assist him with Ships according to the Proportion of that which was lent them That they should cause such French Regiments as should be entertained in Holland to be conducted to Calais or Diepe And thus in one and the same moneth the Cardinal made his entrance upon the Administration very remarkable by the resolution of the Match with England which ingaged the King of Great Brittain in his Majesties interests by the entertaining of the Spanish Forces in the Low Countries by which he diverted them from assisting the Valtolines so powerfully as otherwise they had done Politick Observation IF Marriages serve to augment the Power of a King certainly those Alliances which are made with neighbour States for reciprocal assistance in War do no less contribute towards it provided they be well established Two States well united are undoubtedly stronger then one alone and as an ancient Author saith if an enemy should prevail against one yet two would be able to oppose him Partnership is that which inricheth Merchants in Trading and Alliances enable Princes to make forraign invasions with their Forces and if there be such profit to be made out of it I suppose they are very necessary for the divine wisdome hath so disposed all Kindomes that they have all need one of another Aristotle saith nibil pâ—r se subsist it nothing is able to subsist by it self onely and if in the Microcosm every part is needfull for one another not excepting the most noble God hath also imparted Power to Soveraigns with such equality that they are never able to increase it without mutual assistance from one another Upon this foundation it is that all Alliances are established It is absurd to beleeve that the bare friendship of Princes can be a sufficient Bond seeing that it is interest which onely ties them effectually as is apparent to all men for that they usually break them when once they appear against their concernments If ever there be occasion to unite them together it is chiefly when there is danger of a common enemy and that they would hinder his growing strength and prevent him from making attempts upon their bordering neighbours and consequently upon themselves In fine it was upon that score that the Iâ—alian Ambassadors perswaded King Antiochus to league himself with them against the Romans representing to him that if he did not keep them in continual exercise they would render themselves Masters of his Allyes and then enter upon his own Country too And it was for the same reason that the Princes of the house of Orleans finding themselves too weak to make head against the Burguignions allied themselves with the English though otherwise they hated them and that Ferdinand King of Naples allyed himself with Lewis Sforza Tutor to John Galeazzi his Nephew and Laurence de Medicis that they might oppose the French who then threatned them Colonel Ornano is made Prisoner in the Bastile and thence sent to the Castle of Caen. VVHilest the King negotiated these two important Treaties and that the Cardinal gave a happy progress to them by his Counsails the Marquis de la Vieville who for the two last years had a great hand in the affairs inform'd the King that the Colonel d' Ornano Governour to the Duke of Orleans his Brother took such a course as would in time trouble the State The he had not forgot any artifice to render himself agreeable to the Monsieur and to gain such a power over his spirit that the Honour which he had to be his Governour gave him a great power in his Family That before he had gained the Mounsieurs affection he made his brags openly that he would get the Mastery over him to the intent he might raise his fortune to a higher pitch That he began to sow distrusts in the mind of that Prince and to extinguish the seeds of that Respect Love and Obedience which Nature had given to him in creating him That he took advantage of his good favour to make himself feared and that he vaunted to have done many things contrary to his duty of which there were many particulars and that he was observed to take great care to hold Intelligence with the Grandees of the Court This was so much the more to be feared for that the greatest misfortunes and the most part of Civil Wars have no other beginning then misunderstandings of Princes against their Kings The King thought good to impart it to the Cardinal and having demanded his advice of what was proper to be done in that occasion he did not at all dissemble the danger it would be to permit this procedure of the Colonel But the moderation of his spirit would not suffer him to carry him on to use such violent remedies as others did advise him to but on the contrary he represented to him that the Laws of Mercy obliged Kings to pardon the first faults of Grandees provided that they would confesse their errors especially if there be a meanes to prevent any consequence of danger That the wisest are sometimes subject to miscarriages and are also capable to repent them and afterwards to doe great services That the moderation which many wise Princes have shewed towards such offenders hath made them more faithful and affectionate then those who never committed any miscarriage at all That this Repentance was the more reasonably to be hoped from the Colonel d' Ornano who till then had lived within those limits which ought to be observed by those of his condition that his Father had given him a good example by those services which he had done until his death That he had indeed forgot himself but that his omission might be remedied which seemed to deserve pardon so much the more in regard it is almost impossible for the greatest part of Mankind not to forget themselves whenas fortune shall advance them into a place of Eminency Moreover there was reason to hope that the onely removing him for some time from the Monsieur would make him reassume his former countenance would make him sensible of his fault and he himself would easily be induced to judge that this embroyl wherein he had suffered himself to be surprised would undoubtedly precipitate him into utter ruin instead of raising him into a higher condition This counsel was accompanied with a much Prudence as Moderation and the King who is ever carried of himself to follow the best advice onely commanded the Collonel d' Ornano to retire himself to his Government of Pont-Sainct-Esprit untill he were permitted to return to the Court but the Collonel being confident that there were nothing but surmises and conjectures against him had the boldness to refuse obedience to this order perswading the Monsieur to keep him near him and to procure from the King by any extraordinary instances that he might not be forced from the Court The Monsieur beseeched his Majesties with all possible affection However the King gave him to understand that
ALthough it be expedient to detect the chief contrivers of a compiracy either against the Publique quiet or their Kings person yet wise Politicians have not thought it proper to prey too exactly into all the complices or the plot it self if any great number of potent leading men have ingaged in it It being to be feared least either their quality or number might draw others in or that the pretences of their design might be so specious that many persons might be concerned in it who never knew at all the true depth of the business It was upon this accompt that the Senate of Rome condemned Lucius Vectius and Tarquinius for discovering that Caesar and Cressus were parties in Catalines conspiracie it being by them feared and that with reason least a greater number who were admirers of those two eminent persons might betake themselves to the same party A little dissembling upon such an occasion will be more then the strictest inquisition as Pompey made appear upon Sertorius his death for Perpenna having sent him a great chest full of Letters which the Romans had sent to Sertorius ingaging themselves in his quarrel he would not read one of them but cast them all into the fire fearing least instead of one Sertorius twenty might spring up in Rome when they should find themselves discovered and for his part it was not his desire to force or oblige them by violence to unite themselves together for their own defence Thus Alexander having intercepted some of Darius his letters by which he had incouraged certain Grecians of his own Army to kill him was in a great doubt whether he should suppresse or discover them at least to those to whom they were directed but having asked Parmenios advise in the business he was counselled not to speak of it to any one whatever because in a multitude there are never wanting some seditious persons who only lack a head and prop to make the wickednes of their hearts apparent and are naturally so base-minded that the bare report of a Faction is ground enough to ingage them in it Certain Broyles sprung up in the Court of England by the ill Counsel of some of the Queens household THe Court of France was not the only Scean of Factions England was no lesse pestered with imbroyles by those divisions which happened between the King and Queen but ended by the returning into France all the Queens officers though by the Articles of marriage it had been concluded That her Majesty should be attended by officers who were French and Catholiques But it was most certain the English never intended long to keep them which they sufficiently shewed by the entertainment given them at Dover where they could hardly get meat for their mony and soon after their arrival they laid hold on several occasions to put what that had concluded on in execution It is reported that some Ecclesiastiques and women did sow jealousies and discontents between the King and Queen which exasperated the King very much against them whereupon the Duke of Buckingham designed that his Wife Sister and Niece might be her Bed-chamber Women which being contrarie to the Articles of Marriage which did prohibit any to bear office in the Queen's Family who were not Catholiques it was denied him which angered him the more in regard he had used to dispose of all affairs in England with a great deal of Authority It was indeed proposed not long after to do that Honour to his Mother who was a Catholique and to his Wife who was that way inclined but he being unsatisfied with it did from that time forward use his utmost endeavours to foment and revenge it But it is on the other side reported that Madam de Cheuureuse discontented in the French Court and having got a good acquaintance in England blew the Coales of this division only to be revenged and withal that Buckingham was much blamed by the Parliament of England for having admitted of divers Articles the Treaty of Marriage which were prejudicial to the Religion of the Country and threatned to be called to an accompt for a vast summe of mony which was pretended he had diverted to his own use Now to satisfie the Parliament who are of great power in England he made it his business to fall upon the Catholiques especially the Queens officers and all that he might testifie to the Parliament how he would conform himself to their pleasure in every thing But he was vexed most of all when he went into Holland upon some affairs with design to passe to the Court of France and the King gave the King of England to understand that he did not like of the Journy The Earle of Holland too did not a little set on those divisions for that the French who were neer the Queen had hindred him from being over-seer of her Majesties Revenue and had perswaded her to bestow that place upon the Bishop of Mande which exasperated him very much so that he made use of his power both with the King and Bukingham to drive on the business to such a height that it was at last concluded that all her Majesties officers should be returned into France which was accordingly performed and about the beginning of August they were forced to crosse the Sea Politique Observation IT is Common upon the marrying of great Princesses with a Forraign King to give them officers of their own Country but it is seldome seen that they continue any long time neer them It cannot be avoided but that there will jealousies and heart burnings arise between them and the Natives of the Country concerning their enjoying those offices which they believe are due to themselves which jealousie doth usually raise such storms that their ruine is included in it but admit no jealousie did arise yet the meer diversity of their language and Customes were enough to create differences and divisions between them Forraign officers cannot forbear discoursing together in their own language which createth suspitions in those who understand it not By reason of the diversity of their fashions they laugh at one another which commonly breeds quarrels between them and withall let a man be never so complaisant in his humour yet there is alwayes a jealous eye upon them that they contrive some thing against the State Of this there are divers examples in all times as particularly in the raign of Francis the first in which Bellay reporteth that Affairs were very much imbroyled by strangers instancing the Bishop of Liege the Prince of Orange the Marquis of Mantua and Andreas Doria hence Bodin in his Commonwealth doeth much blame the Venetians for admitting of all kind of strangers amongst them Lypsius observeth That as when many crickets come into a house it is one assured sign of their sodaine destruction so when a great multitude of strangers shall live in a Nation it is a certain Index of some revolution neer at hand Indeed they have not usually any great deal of affection
to lose these hopes sent amongst the Deputies the Sieur de Blancard a person of quality to procure a quick dispatch they had many fair promises made them and a confirmation of whatever had formerly been resolved on so that the Revolt was now concluded on It was so much the easier to obtain those succours for that of late England had conceived some ill designs against France It much troubled them to see the Hugonot Party and those of Rochel reduced to greater weaknesses then ever and they took so great a share in their Interest that one of the Chief Ministers of State there said in full Counsel that it was less considerable to his Majesty to lose Ireland then to suffer Rochel to be taken by the King of France Withal Buckinghams particular Spleen which carried himself and swayed most of the great ones there did not a little encrease it who were all mad to be dealing with France so much do Courtiers follow the inclinations of Favorites We have in the former year laid down the causes of his particular hatred I shall now only add the resentment which he took at his Majesties denial to let him come into France was that and only that which incensed him to that height But the Cardinal foreseeing what effects that refusal would in reason produce advised his Majesty to permit him to come to the Court assuring him that it would be easie to raise some advantages out of that earnest passion which he had to come thither and that at last he could only end as Icarus did who perished for aspiring too high Yet however the Queen Mother seconding the Kings resolution for his non-admittance she became Mistres of the Counsel which so exasperated Buckingham that he vowed shortly to come into France so well attended that they should not be able to deny him entrance Madam de Cheureuse who was discontented too and then in Lorrain did not a little blow the Coales of his passion and serve to nourish his anger but as it would have been more to his discredit then Honour to have openly declared it so he wanted some pretences to cloak it He pretended that the King of England his Master had been surety for the performance of those promises which the King and his Ministers had made to the Hugonots upon the conclusion of the Peace Now the Chancellor having told their Deputies in presence of the English Ambassadours that though the King could not be induced to assent unto the demolition of Fort Lewis yet that they might hope for it from his Bounty in Time in case they lived within the bounds of a due obedience These hopes would he needs have passe for absolute promises and for Articles agreed on with Ambassadours and in prosecution of them he would fain have it be believed that the King his Master was bound by way of caution to see the demollishing of it put in execution He had likewise the boldness to let the King know from his Master of Great Britain by his Ambassador that he was likewise ingaged to see the performance of a certain Declaration made to the Hugonots by the Earle of Holland and the Lord Charlton Extraordinary Ambassadours then at that Treaty in which they had construed the Chancellour Haligres words in that sence as was most agreeable to the Hugonots and all that they might ingage them the more unto their Interests and not want a pretence to imbroyle things when ever they had a mind to it But it was absolutely denied that the King of England did ever become engaged to see those promises made to them of Rochel performed or that he had been treated with or his Ambassadours in any sort whatever But on the contrary it was represented to them how it was not forgotten what message his Majesty then sent to the Earle of Holland and the Lord Charleton by the Duke of Cheureuse and the Bishop of Mande which was that in case they should pretend to intermeddle in the Treaty the King would not give his consent to any thing but if upon condition that the King of England would engage to assist him with a strong Fleet to compel the Rochelois if they should fall back from their duties This had been told them once and again and that plainly enough as also confirmed by Monsieur the Cardinal so that their pretences of the King of Great Britains being Pledge for Performance of those Articles granted to the Rochelois were groundless as also that frivolous pretext of making use of the Earle of Hollands and the Lord Charleâ—ous Declaration which being a thing of their own drawing and done as best pleased themselves was of no value However it was one of the chiefest Arguments they made use of in their Declaration to justifie their Arms when they entred upon Ree And the Duke of Buckingham manifested to all people that his only design was to protect the Rochelois and reformed Churches of France though it was not unknown that his private Spleen was the true cause of his design yet he was cunning enough to dissemble it to the King of England and pretend assisting of the Rochelois and withal to assure him that the whole party of the Hugonots would revolt and upon the arrival of his Fleet put such and such Towns into his hands that he might set on foot his old pretences upon France and enter upon it with security and advantage Upon these scores the King of England laboured very industriously for the rigging out of his Fleet all April May and June not at all discovering his design though both his Majesty and the Cardinal were not so ill informed but that they perfectly knew it was prepared for France Politique Observation KIngs when they have a mind to make a war never want pretences to disguise the injustice of it however it is an absurd rashness to ingage in any without urgent necessity I like well of T. Livius Judgment who saith war is then Just when it is necessary and that Arms are never attended with Justice but when there are no other hopes but from them And who can think otherwise of it seeing war is followed by all sorts of miseries War it is which ushers in disorders and evil customes which taketh away the lives of the Innocent which bringeth the Rich into want and which generally banisheth all the pleasures of life to set up troubles and afflictions So that a man can hardly fancy any thing more to be deplored then war from whence it followeth that who so begins it without absolute necessity may be well compared to those Chymists who administer such potions to their patients that they thence suffer more griefs and pains then from their sicknesses and diseases A wise man will abstain from war saith Xenophon though he have some reason for it Craesus did ever prefer peace before war if onely for this reason because in war Fathers did burie their Children against the Laws of Nature The He Wolf is so
the same Rochelois were embarqued after the exhortations of their Ministers and their Captains had solemnly sworn to passe the Bank in dispight of all opposition or die in the attempt just then they should be struck with such faint heartednesse that not a man durst stir his hand and their Minister Vincent who exhorted them could no longer speak unto them as himself confessed in a Letter to a Friend of his was not that a real miracle which hapened two dayes before the English departed when there fell so thick a myst that one could hardly see his hand which opportunity they intended to make use of to force the Bank and on a sudden to see it dissipated though it was thought that it would have lasted three hours at least and the wind which was at that time fair to change about and that into so violent a storm that one of their Vessels was forced on shore neer Pont de la Pierre Was it not miraculous to see the Kings Army clear from all contagious diseases notwithstanding that the Rochelois had often sent out infected persons on purpose to infect others Was it not strange that the Sea should grow so rough at the first laying the foundation for the Bank and break it open without doing any other hurt then enlarging of the ground-work a thing necessary in it self and too narrow to uphold so great a bulk And besides was it not a miracle that whilest the Bank was not yet finished the Sea Floods which yeeld to nothing should not do any hurt to it They who are eye-witnesses of so many wonders could not but confesse that Heaven fought for his Majesty and that the Winds which observe nothing but inconstancy were by God subjected to him to become favourable to his designs Who can refuse to acknowledge these things to be the effects of Gods extraordinary power for his Majesty at the same time did a great and evident miracle upon a child of 12 years old who never having spoke word onely Ay and No spake perfectly as soon as ever the King had touched her She was born at St. Jean de Angely and brought by her Parents who confidently beleeved that she would be well if his Majesty did but touch her Politique Observation THE Piety of a King avails much in the obtaining of Victorie Who can doubt it seeing God is the Authour of them and that Piety is a charm which captivates him as the Royal Prophet hath said To hear the Prayers of them who fear him and to defend them from their enemies Antiquity used to say according to Plutarch that Fortune gave to Demetrius those Towns which he took in Nets of Gold Mercurius Tresmegistus saith that he whose Piety puts him into Gods protection is not easily surprised by any ambush and St. Augustine writeth in his Book de Civit. Dei That the Romans had not been Masters of the Universe by Force and Prudence but by the Virtue and Piety which they practised The Victories they obtained being the rewards of their deserts indeed Justice and Piety are the strongest weapons a Soveraign can imploy to suppresse his enemies And if any one ask the reason of it I shall onely alledge this that Piety renders them worthy to obtain Victories from the hand of God who hath promised in a thousand places of holy Writ to imploy his power in the behalf of those Kings which are righteous And how often hath God made the Winds and Tempests to fight their Battels who have been carefull to walk in his ways How often hath he opened inaccessible places to them and calmed the Sea for their sakes Hath it not been often seen that an handfull of men by his assistance have brought strong Armies to confusion and became Masters of places thought to be impregnable To speak truly nothing is so strong so powerfull so invincible nor so generous as that valour which marching under the Banners of Christian Piety submiteth its self to Gods protection the true strength of all Christian Princes And as it were in vain to seek for Light without the Sun Water without Fountains or Rivers and heat without fire so it would be ridiculous to expect true strength from any other then his protection who is the God of Battels The more a Prince is in favour with him the more courage will he give him especially when he fighteth for his glory and this is a maxime which may serve for a foundation to the happinesse of all Kings and who so observeth it not buildeth his designs upon the sand Alphonsus King of Sicily and Arragon taught his son Ferdinand in such terms as were very proper to be learned by all young Princes in their infancy It was then when he sent him to revenge the injuries which he had received from the Florentines Behold his words My son said he That which I chiefly command you is Trust not so much upon your souldiers courages as upon your hopes of assistance from Heaven learn to day from me Victory is not the effect of the Discipline or industry of men but of Gods power who is the judge of Battels The Military Art can never assure of an happy successe in our designs if we be once defective in making God our friend by the Piety and Innocence of our actions In fine all the maxims of War not link'd with the Laws of God are weak foundations and all the fortunes which are not grounded upon him who turns the Globe of the Earth with his hand are nearer to destruction then advancement The Greeks though brought up in the darknesse of errour did they not design to teach us when in their fables it was said that Mercury who was adored by them for the God of Prudence was nursed by the hours For to what end was it if not to teach their people that all humane wisedome if not regulated nor sustained by the measures of Heaven could not have any nourishment or subsistance The Dissentions amongst the Rochelois upon the Departure of the English THE departure of the English cast the Rochelois into such despair that they had doubtlesse set open the Gates to his Majesty so much were the inferiour sort oppressed with necessity and want had it not been for the Dutchesse of Rohan and the exhortations of their Preachers who never ceased from crying out unto the people that they never ought to despair of assistance from Heaven which never forsaketh them who are the Protectors of the Gospel There presently did arise great dissentions between them but the prevalent party imprisoned some and executed others whom they found disposed to an accommodation insomuch that from that time the poor people were ready to perish by famine and durst not complain of it They were perswaded of a new succour from England for the procuring of which they sent new Deputies to his Majesty of Great Brittain with instructions to incite him upon the score of honour representing to him that he could not suffer their
clearly evince the Catholique truth to him and his own error as himself hath since often acknowledged It was not riches nor honor which induced him to change his Religion for he was both born rich and great but it was the only knowledg of Truth which perswaded him to it neither did he that until a most particular and exact satisfaction in all things The King was overjoyed at the newes of it never was any spoil or Trophee of an Enemy so welcome as this Victory and the more to testifie his real joy for it his Majesty promised him that the next Feast he would receive the Communion with him as also the Sieur de la Curee being dismissed of his Charge of Master de Camp which his age had made him uncapable any longer to perform his Majesty honoured him with it studying to shew to all his Subjects in his person how dear their salvations was unto him Politique Observation IF it be a work of Justice to chastise rebellious Heretiques by the sword it is no lesse charitable to labour for their conversion by letting them see the truth for the better discovering of which much charity clearnesse of spirit and profound Doctrine are required a Soul not well informed instead of allaying raiseth more doubts insomuch that knowledge hath as great a part in the Church as the Sun in the Firmament and just as it is difficult to restore a Traveller into his right way during the night untill the Sun appear to instruct him where he is so neither can a man of understanding be disabused unlesse it be by Doctrine at whose light a knowing Genius makes him perceive that he is at the brink of a Precipice and far from being in the right way to Heaven But amongst those for whose conversion it is requisite to labour no doubt but the chief men are first to be attempted for if the Stars continually follow the motions of the Heavens unto which they are affixed it is in like manner as common for men of mean quality to follow as well the Religion as the interest of the Grandees The people of Rome being once in a Mutiny retired to the Capitol upon an accident which befell Virginius were easily appeased by the Senate by reoson as T. Livy saith that they had no Leader there that durst speak a word in answer to those who had been sent unto them For my part I hold it for certain that it will be no more difficulty to reclaim an Heretique Faction who should rebel without a powerfull Commander But I likewise think it necessary besides Doctrinal instructions not to spare either money or dignity for the gaining of those whose Birth renders them capable of such qualities Temporal interests do much conduce to Spiritual and though the advantages of Fortune be not the chief motives of conversion amongst them who are strictly Religious yet it is most certain they are no mean inducements thereunto Thus Justinian according to Evagrius converted many Heretiques by dispersing store of monies amongst them And the Emperour Leo the sixth made use of the same device for the gaining of many Jews and there need no more but the example of Constantine de Bergo the Portugal Viceroy in the Indies who drew a number of those people to the Christian Religion by the carresses and favours which he shewed to them that were newly baptized Soubize and the Deputies of Rochel obtain a third saccour from the English but in vain WHilest the Duke of Rohan was making divers attempts in Lauguedoc and used his utmost indeavours to preserve those Towns of which he was become Master The Sieur de Soubize and Deputies of Rochel were negotiating in England for a third assistance they hoped to obtain it without any great difficulty for that Buckingham incensed as hath been formerly related did every day rig up move ships and raise new Forces but they found it a hard task both in regard of the troubles in which Buckingham was then involved by reason of the complaint made against him in Parliament as also of the impossibility to remove the obstacles in the Channel according to what the Earl of Denbigh had related yet at last Buckingham having overcome all his enemies devices and contrivances by the favour in which he was with his Majesty of Great Brittain had perswaded him to Embark the Army then on foot and to give him leave to command them in his own person to which end all things were put in order for a present dispatch But as God over-ruleth mens designs he was pleased by Buckingham's death to put an end to this storm he being assassinated by one Feltou an English man discontented because the Captains place of the Company whereof he was Lievtenant had been twice vacant and both times given over his head to another and who by hearing what complaints there were made against him by the Parliament imagined that by revenging his own quarrel he should likewise do his Country good service in it yet for all this the Deputies would not be denied they continued their instances perswading the King of Great Brittain that the forcing of the Bank was easie if resolutely attempted and that the glory of his Crown did in some sort oblige him to make one more attempt and that more vigorous then the former The Fleet was then resolved to put forth and there were added three other ships full of stones and some other with dung which were to be set on fire when they entred the Channel to the intent the smoke might hinder them from the sight The Sieur de Soubize the Comte de Laval and all the French Rebels then in England composed the Van-guard next to them followed those Vessels which were for the relief of Rochel next went the Body of the Army commanded by the Earl of Denbigh General of the Expedition and on the twenty eighth being Thursday they arrived at Glonne The Cardinal having notice of it the very same night dispatched a Courier to his Majesty to acquaint him with it who presently made himself ready got on horse-back and came to the Camp and after some discourse with the Cardinal he sent to discover the Enemy as also to call the Voluntiers who were disperced some here and some there to be in a readinesse together This once done his Majesty visited all the Quarters of the Army that he might put every thing in good order and got himself an immortal glory by his travel labour and diligence by those dexterous orders which he dispatched both as to the Sea and Land by his raising of Batteries designing of Plat-forms and levelling of the Cannon with his own hand Upon Saturday the thirtieth the English Fleet came up to the Road of the Chef de Bay and some few of them came before to draw out the French to fight but the Kings Vessels having order not to stir because they were onely to hinder the Passage into Rochel not one of them moved on Anchor onely
a Deity They knew Heaven would be very severe in punishing those who violated it and they would not only be overwhelmed with Infamie but that it would be of ill consequence to the State considering how true it is that Justice and Fidelity are the two chief things which support the Thrones of all Kings Prosecution of the Subject I Cannot omit the great assistance which the Venetians did this year send unto the Duke of Mantua it being impossible for his Majesties whole Army to have been with him soon enough although some few Troops had already come to him The King had by his Ambassador negotiated those Succours with the Venetians upon the first discovery of the House of Austria's design Now the Venetians were the easier enclined to send these Succours it being their very great Interest to hinder the Spaniards growing power in Italy especially so neer them they having so often and so long had designs upon them Besides they well knew that they had at that present several good Towns and places which formerly belonged to the Dutchy of Milan but had been taken from it by their Common-wealth which peradventure the Spaniard might have a mind to recover from them In conclusion they send divers times Mony Victuals and some Troops unto the Duke of Mantua which did not a little help to preserve him Politique Observation THere is not any thing more dangerous then to suffer a potent Ambitious King to seize on a Neighbour Princes Country by violence seeing his conquest will only serve for a Bridge to the next Kingdome An Ambitious King is like a great River ever eating into it's Banks without regard had either to the Justice or Injustice of his designs When he hath once proposed his end he careth not by what means it is atchieved His chief care is how to make a party in his Neighbours Country how to raise a division which may open an entrance for his Ambitious designs He spareth no cost to corrupt their Officers and Ministers He is like some people in Affrick who sleep with their eyes alwayes open and as he believeth the greatest glory to consist in possessing the greatest empire so he imagineth the design of Command to be a just cause of War If his Forces be not strong enough he bloweth division amongst his Neighbours to make them revolt and maketh use of those who are credulous that he may subject their fellows to his Dominion He winks at Justice not that he may Judg with Equity but that he may not behold if possible the injustice of his own intentions In short there is not any thing which he will not do if it lead him to new conquests Which being thus who can be ignorant of the obligation which lyeth upon all Allyes to assist one another when any attempt is made upon any single Country amongst them The assistance which they lend is a security to their own States and in fighting for him they confirm their own quiet But above all they who are nearest bordering upon one another ought to be careful in this particular because they run a greater hazard When an Army is at our Gates it is little worth then to call upon a relief far from us for great Armies do not flye no they march but slowly and before they can arrive to assist us we are lost and taken He who being unable with his own strength to defend himself calleth in a friend far distant from him is like a sick person who being taken with a sodaine dangerous fit sendeth for an able Physitian to another place twenty miles distant and in the mean time before his Doctor arrives becomes incurable Antiquity hath furnished us with an admirable example of the thing in that of Sâ—gâ—nte which being besieged by the Carthaginians was taken before the relief from Rome could come up to it And of later times the City of Sienna being besieged by the Imperialists was in expectation of the French assistance but to little purpose they being at too great a distance to come up to them In such occasions those Countries neerest at hand are to be employed they being in reason bound to rise in their behalf and hereupon it is that Alliances and Leagues made with them are much more advantageous then any others whatever Prosecution of the History NOtwithstanding that the Treaty of Peace and the Renewing of Alliance between France and England had been concluded in April whilst his Majesty was at Suze yet the final confirmation of it was used to be done by oath and by extraordinary Ambassadors interchangeably sent which Ceremony had been put off until his Majesties return back to Paris from his Italian-Expedition and was now performed in September at Fontain-bleau whither the Lord Esmond came from the King of Britain for that purpose The King caused him to be entertained with very great honour as had been accustomed on such occasions particularly invited him to dine with him at his own Table that day when the Ceremony was celebrated The appointed hour being come he was conducted into the Church of Bourg magnificently prepared for that purpose where the King and all the Princes of the Court wayting on him hear'd Vespers At his entrance he saluted with great respect the King and Queens after which he took his place in a Scaffold made ready for him The King made the oath in his presence and swore upon the Holy Evangelists to observe and perform all the Conditions of the Treaty which he had signed The same oath was made at London the same day with no lesse Ceremony by the King of England in the presence of the Marquis de Chasteauneuf Extraordinary Ambassador there forth at purpose Politique Observation AS Sacraments render Actions the more venerable so have all people thought it fit to confirm their Treaties therewith that Princes might be obliged the more Religiously to observe them But in all times they have been as various as Nations That which was most universally observed was to drink in the same Glasse It is true those of Thracia and Aegypt did not use the same Cup but the same Ox-horn The Jewes used to kill certain Beasts and divide their entrailes The Caldeans passed through certain Flames holding a Sword in their hand to confirm their oaths But the Ceremonies of the Arabians seem to me more extraordinary then all the rest Some eminent Person of the Treaters placed himself in the midd'st and beating his hand with a sharp stone drew bloud which was gather'd up with some part of their Cloths wherewith they besmeared seven other stones about which they stood invocating the names of Denis Vrania The Scythians mingled blond with Wine dipp'd their Arrows their Hatchet and Javelins in it with several Protestations of Fidelity and then drank it up causing the witnesses of their oath to do the same The Romans were accustomed to call their Great Priest who raised an Altar of Turf placed a Hog on it which he smit with a
hatred into admiration Lucullus finding that the glory of his Triumph had laid him open to the hatred of some leading men in the Common-wealth withdrew himself from the management of Publick affairs to spend the time in studying of Arts but he was instantly intreated by the wiser sort not to follow his own inclinations in that particular and at such a time for it was not unknown that he was only able to curb the ambition of Pompey And Augustus as Suetonius reporteth did often desire to quit the Empire when he found how difficult it was to deal with the people of Rome The Pope St. Gregory the Great in the like manner knowing that the course of his life did offend many persons who could not indure that his example should oblige them to live retiredly and reservedly and had designed to chuse another Pope in his place he declared to them that he for his part should be very much afflicted to find any storms arise in the Church upon his score and that he would much more willingly surrender the Government then see any Schism arise amongst them But this his modesty and humility represented him so venerable a person that those very men who did not resent his Government were obliged to acknowledge the greatnesse of his worth Lastly although it be commendable in a great States man to make shew of such moderation to the end he may silence that Envy to which he is exposed yet a King is bound to make some difficulty in ascenting to his retirement on such an occasion No Counsel can better bee followed then that of the wise man who said he who hath found a faithfull servant ought to cherish him like his Soul and to esteem him as a brother and it cannot be denied but that to deprive a Kingdome of the assistance and guidance of a Soul highly generous and understanding were to take away the Sun from it and to fill it with horrour and confusion The Imprisonment of the Duke de Vendosm and the Grand Prior of France his Brother at Blois IT had been little to the purpose barely to have imprisoned the Marshal de Ornano if some others too of the chief Complices had not been secured and especially the Grand Prior who was much to be feared he being a person of greater abilities to carry on a design then all the rest His Brother too the Duke of Vondosm was not to be neglected considering the intelligence which his Majesty had but newly received of his indeavours to withdraw the people from the obedience which they owe to his Crown That he had caused himself to be called Monsieur the Duke without any other Title That he had commanded this form of Prayer to be used in the Church Pro famulo tuo duce domino nostro That he had sundry times attempted by money to corrupt the Sieur de Cange then Lievtenant of the Castle of Nants That he felt the Pulse of the Nobility the Parliament and Chamber of Accompt that he might the better fortifie himself in the Province an intelligence which ought so much the more to be looked into in regard two brothers do not usually enter upon any great design but by a joynt consent that some pretensions they might have though weak ones upon Britain and that nothing doth sooner ingage great men in the Factions of a Court then Ambition Now although it was very needfull to arrest him yet it was difficult to be done in Brittain by reason of the great Power he held there so it was thought fit to withdraw him and ingage him to wait upon his Majesty upon some pretence or other No way was imagined to be more expedient for it then to work upon the Grand Prior by feeding him with hopes of the Admiralty concerning which he was to treat with the Sieur de Montmorancy or at least by perswading him that in case that charge were taken away as it was then intended he was the onely man who should have the Commission to discharge that Office These Proposals were made to him with so much addresse that they made sure of him and absolutely convinced him that there was not any suspicion in the least of him and the King going to Blois where it was not known that he intended to passe on any further his Majesty told him how glad he should be that the Duke of Vendosm would come to him so hee presently tooke upon himselfe to goe to him and to perswade him to come and pay all signes of obedience â—o his Majesty Some have said that hee being doubtfull lest his Majesty had already conceived some apprehensions against the Duke of Vendosm did demand assurance for his bringing him to his Majesty at Blois and that his Prudence returned such an answer which though it obliged him to nothing yet it gave the Grand Prior satisfaction enough to ingage the Duke to undertake the journey I passe my word to you quoth the King as is reported that he may come to me and that he shall have no more hurt done him then your self though for my part I cannot but much doubt of this particular passage but true it is he went from the Court and shortly after brought the Duke his Brother with him to Blois where his Majesty received them with so many embraces and endearments that they could not in the least suspect the resolution which was taken for securing of their persons Before I proceed to the manner of their being taken I cannot but observe how very recessary it is that the Chief Offices of the administration be supplied with persons of courage as well as of Integrity The King sent for the seal to the Lord Chancelor Haligie the very same day that the Grant Prior went to fetch the Duke of Vendosme The Honestie of his Minister was not unknown to all the world but it could not be denied that his mind was low and full of fear which he did sufficiently make appear wen as upon the taking of the Marshal d'Ornano he had not the courage to justifie his Majesties counsels in that particular before Monsieur although the thing it self were one of the most important accidents that had a long time happened for the good of the State This passion of timerousness is a very improper quality in a supream Minister of Justice who is bound to make head against all wickedness and not only that but also to use courage and force to resist and overcome it this was it which obliged his Majesty to take the seal from him and to intrust it with the Sieur de Marillac superintendent of the treasury whose loyaltie was then in great credit amongst all well affected men and who had testified a great deal of resoluteness in the dispatch of those affairs which presented themselves unto him The super-intendency was bestowed on the Monsieur d'Effiat whose judgment and discret conduct was well known in sundry occasions particularly in the late affair of the Match with England
But that I may now return to the two Brothers who were come to wait on this Majesty at Bloys his Majesty being retired to his bed sent about two howers after mid night to find out the Sieurs d'Hallier and the Marquis de Moicy Captains of his Guards and commanded them to go into their Chambers and make sure of their persons accordingly they seized on them and it is reported that the Duke of Vendosm beginning first to speak should say looking on his Brother well Brother did not I tell you in Britain that we should be arrested and that the Grand Prior should answer would I were dead upon condition you were safe there again and then that the Duke should reply I told you the truth when I said the Castle of Blois was a place fatal to Princes They then made a thousand excuses each telling the other that he was the cause of their imprisonment and that they themselves confessed that they were advised that evening by a letter how they should be imprisoned but that they could not believe it That whole morning they had liberty to disburthen their miracles by their complaints of the misfortune in which they found themselves imbroyled Afterward they were carried to the Castle of Amboyse and thence to the Bois de Vincennes This blow gave the allarum to the whose Cabal though his Majesty who would content himself with punishing of some few pretended to be ignorant of the rest He also sent a commission to the Count de Soissons to command during his absence in and about Paris for the securing of it It 's true he would not trust himself there but chose rather to passe away some little time either in Savoy or Italy A certain Princess took the boldness to say unto some who went to visit her that notwithstanding the assurance which the King had given to the Grand Prior in behalf of his Brother the Duke of Vendosm yet that both of them were arrested which did clearly evince that those were near his Majesty did perswade him to break his promises which being reported to the King it is said he was pleased to answer that the was not well informed of the whole passage and that he was not concerned to entertain such discourse for that if they knew themselves innocent they would never have thought of demanding a security to come and wait upon him and that who so doeth require an assurance for his attending on his Soveraign doeth in effect condemn himself to be guilty and that the promises which are made on such an occasion ought not to be his warrant unlesse they be very clear and expresse to that purpose Politique Reflection ALthough all absolute promises which are made by Kings ought to be kept and that even with seditious persons yet it is not the same thing where a divers sence may be imposed on them or where there is an apparent good will shewed on purpose to draw them on into a snare prepared to arrest them To punish them and hinder their troubling the repose of the Kingdom cannot be denied for an Act of Justice which if it cannot be done but by giving them fair hopes and good words to a muse them then such means are to be made use of accordingly provided alwayes that there be no expresse promise granted unto them King Antigonus having understood how that Pitho Governour of Media did raise Souldiers and money to revolt against him pretended not to believe those informations but gave out that he would send him an Army to command upon some exploit or other designing that Pitho when he once heard how affectionately he was esteemed would peradventure come to wait upon him which indeed hapned accordingly for he presently repaired to the Court shewing himself highly pleased with the Honour which the King did him and that he came on purpose to receive his Majesties Commands whereas Antigonus finding him within his power chasticed him according to his deserts Pope Leo made use of the self same device to imprison John Paul Baylloni and to punish him for those Crimes which he had committed and he answered those who complained of being deceived by his promises that evil doers could not think themselves deceived when they were chasticed for their fals but that they were deceived when as there were permitted to continue Scot free in their Crimes and when their liberties and lives of which they were unworthy were continued and granted to them The proceeding of Artaxerxes King of the Persians towards Artaban is not improper to be remembred on this occasion This Prince having unâ—eâ—sâ—ood how the other had contrived to kill him and seize upon his Kingdom resolved to prevent him but he being cunning and alwayes well guarded he had recourse to his wit dissembled the suspition which he had against him and that so handsomly that Artabanus imagined himself to stand very right in his opinion To compleat his designe he gave out that he intended a certain forraign invasion and gave him order to levy his Troops and draw them together which being all assembled Artaxerxes desired to see them mustered in his own presence and comming up to him in the head of his Forces seemed to be much taken with the handsomness of his Arms and desired to make an Exchange with him Artaban finding himself obliged to put them off forth with disarnied himself and presented them to the King who seeing him naked would not loose that opportunity but fell on him and killed him with his own hand I know there are some Politicians who are of opinion that there need not any great care be taken concerning performance of promises nay not those which are absolute and expresse though made by Princes in the way of assurance and security and that it is sufficient for them to answer those who shall complain of the breach of them as Agesilaus did a friend who taxed him upon a promise which he afterwards had found to be unreasonable If what you demand be Just I have promised it but if it be unjust I am not obliged to be as good as my word and when he was answered that a Prince ought to perform whatever he promiseth yes Quoth he and a subject ought not to request any thing of his Soveraign which is unreasonable But for my particular I am of opinion that a Prince is obliged inviolably to observe all expresse promises and that it is only permited to his Ministers for Justice sake to be lesse then their words I should rather imagine that a Prince should on such occasions make use of all violent means rather then delusions because Force is reputed for a vertue when backed by authority and nothing can be alleadged against it whereas deceipt cannot be taken for any other thing then a kind of mallice unbecoming the Majesty of a Soveraign The Assembly of the States at Nantes the King being present UPon the Duke of Vendosm's imprisonment it was mistrusted least divers persons whom
by the Treaty of Monpellier Fort Lewis ought to have been demollished but with all That they had made themselves unworthy of it by their refusal to execute several Articles of the Treaty and amongst others to establish the excercise of the Catholique Religion in their Citty as they had engaged to his Majesty and moreover that the Honest's men of the Citty the most sufficient and such as had most to loose having represented to his Majesty that in case the Fort were slighted They should be exposed to the mercy of the Rascality who would put a thousand outrages and affronts upon them he could not deny their so just a request Besides the sixth Article of Peace granted them in February last year did expresly say that his Majesty would not assent to the destroying of that Fort They were also told That being subjects of his Majesty they had no cause to complain of the Commissaries being there especially seeing one of them too was of their own Religion and that they had not been then there but for those delayes which were by them made in the execution of the Treaty As to the quartering of Troops about their City and the adjacent Isles it was answered That they had no reason at all to complain of it for that they gave the occasion by their daily mutenies by their slow proceedings in the demolishing of Fort Tadon and which they did so slightly too that it was an easie matter to repair it and that last of all those Troops living very civilly they enjoyed the self same liberty which his Majesties subjects did many other Town where there was a garison and that they could not think it strange his Majesty should so watch them who had so often revolted after several protestations of obedience to procure his pardon for their faults But nothing would satisfie them so that finding they could not procure their desiers they concluded to prosecute it with Arms and to form themselves into a Commonwealth Politique Observation JT is neither safe nor Just for a City born under a Regal power to shake off that obedience and become a Commonwealth The injustice of them who should attempt so to do cannot be defended seeing Kings are the Lively Images of the God head Livenants of his power and that he hath subjected people in such dependancies that no one but himself alone can revoke their Commission I advise thee saith the Wiseman to have a care of the Kings mouth and to keep the oath that thou hast sworn unto him beware that thou withdraw not thy self from his power or slight his commands for otherwise he will deal with thee as he listeth and no one can say unto him What doest thou And as this Procedure is very unjust so it is not safe for them who would ingage in it for that no Government is so bad as a Popular There is indeed a certain kind of apparent liberty which charmeth and worketh upon the Souls of them who do not under stand it but it is most sure that it is a liberty which exposeth a City to the greatest misfortunes that can befall to it All Kings propose Honour and the Publique good for the end of their Government knowing all their glory depends thereupon whereas in a Popular State every one proposeth his own particular advantage and by that he measureth the Weal Publique and then comes Honour in the very rear of all other thoughts Wise discreet Counsels are so little esteemed in Popular States that they cannot remedie any inconvenience though accompanied with a very little difficulty For though in State affairs most voyces ought to be considered yet it is not to be thought in point of number but the Prudence of them who Judge whereas admitting the people to be Master most voyces carrieth it clear from the rest though better grounded by far The Senate of Rome chose rather to allot Tribunes to the people by whose mouths they might deliver their opinion then to leave them in a Licentions power concluding that though the Authority of those Tribunes would be in some sort superlative yet that it would be much more supportable then that of the people that many headed beast which having no Judgment loveth change and mooveth more by impetuosity then reason This Beast nourisheth it self with a thousand vain hopes its designs are accompanied with fury when the danger is farthest off but soon looseth his courage when brought upon peril and as it hath but a small portion of abilities so it knoweth not who are men of understanding or who do them good service Whence it doeth ordinarily well reward such as do them ill service and ill reward such as do them good service Was it not heretofore seen that the Athenian banished Miltiades ordered him to pay a great fine and kept him in durance until he had paid it as a reward for having with ten thousand men saved their City from a dangerous siedge and beaten one hundred and ten thousand Persians by his good Conduct The like they did to Themistocles Aristâ—der Alcibiades and divers other Captains who had served them very eminently without any regard had to their services He that would esteem a Popular Authority ought not to know what it is And Agesilaus did wisely answer one who would have changed the Goverment of Parthia into a democracy when he advised him only to set up a Demoraty in his own Dominion which would discover to him the rashness and disorder of a Popular Government The Designs of the Duke of Rohan in Languedoc THe Duke of Rohan discontented for that he had made no advantage by the Peace at least to render himself the more considerable did not a little foment those Mutinies of the Rochelois to which end he under hand sowed divisions among the Consuls of the Chief Hugonot Towns in Languedoc and some he made for his own party that they might lead the people to rebel when ever he should hold up his finger but finding that his design did not absolutely take in those parts he resolved to accept of those proffers which the King of Great Britain had made to the Duke of Sonbize his Brother and the deputies of those of his party presently after the Treaty of Peace which had been then newly concluded about the end of the last year They could not away with the putting off the Treaty in execution as to many particular Articles which the discreerest men among them had perswaded them to agree unto They dispatched certain Deputies towards the King of England to beseech him that he would use his power and Authority with the King his Brother in Law to perswade him to demolish Fort St. Lewis which kept them in a wonderful subjection who being presented to him by the Duke de Sonbize who retired himself into England in the year one thousand six hundred twenty and five they were well received and had promises given them of a strong assistance Now the Duke of Rohan not