THE HISTORY OF THE LIFE and ACTIONS of that Great Captain of his Age the Viscount de TVRENNE Written in French by Monsieur du Buisson Eldest Captain Major of the Regiment de Verdelin And Translated into English By Ferrand Spence Licensed Feb. 17. 1685 6. Roger L'Estrange London Printed by J. B. for Dorman Newman R. Bentley at the Kings-Arms in the Poultrey and at the Post-House in Russel-Street in Covent-Garden 1686. To His Grace Christopher Duke of Albemarle Earl of Torrington Baron Monck of Potheridge Beauchamp Teyes Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter and One of the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privy-Council My LORD IT is not long since that History seem'd a Province so peculiar to the Greeks and Romans that the Actions of any other Part of this Globe were look'd upon as unworthy the Recording as if Homer and Plutarch's Heroes were only fit to be produc'd and that it were not only Barbarous but Impious to offer at measuring them with the Moderns But we are at length made sensible that all Regions and Ages afford Valour Ability and Politeness We are grown weary of talking ever of Alexander and Caesar and dayly discover New Conquerour◠as much to be Valued and possibly to all intents their Equalls In this File we may place the late Monsieur de Turenne whose Life I do not a little glory in the Occasion of laying at Your Graces feet A more than ordinary Analogy of Circumstances Authorizes this Dedication The Viscount's Partizans boast him to have Barrier'd France more than once from Inundations of its formidable as well as Numerous Enemies Your Grace's Illustrious Father may well be stil'd the Restorer of England in bringing back the Defender of its Faith and re-establishing him upon the Throne of his Ancestors and this is what does unquestionably give him the Preheminence o'er that so very Eminent French Captain But as the Glory of this Personages Life rather requires my Shadowing the Piece I may well be tax'd with a Design of lessening his Merit by producing him into a greater Light For tho' the Viscount had the Superiority of Conduct over most of the other Generals of his time yet must we needs o 〈◊〉 that all his consummated Prudence and Experience in the business of Bonn receiv'd a foil from Montecuculi's finess whereas the Lord General of England thro' all Disadvantages and Difficulties gloriously and untarnish'd carry'd the Honour of that Character to the last Wherefore Sir a Passion for the Credit of my Subject withholds my hand from pushing on the Parallel Nevertheless I have urg'd sufficient to Entitle this Piece fit to challenge your Princely Patronage Besides as your own Constant Magnificence and Magnanimity on all Occasions in the Service of the Crown Vigilance Bravery Successfull Conduct speak you in every thing the Heir of your Fathers Virtues so do they render so great an affinity between Yours and the Viscounts Life that tho' the Laters long Experience may Weigh down a little on the one hand your unspotted Loyalty does again more than Ballance it on the other and stamps Merit on this Oblation and renders it a Duty And here My Lord I might value my self upon resisting the Temptation of improving the Pompous matter I have before me into a Panegyrique A thing indeed unnecessary since the World is satisfy'd your Grace has with Devotion made Your Fathers Great Actions the Model of Your Own which is sufficient to Chronicle you to all Eternity in the first Ranck of the Illustrious Men and Princes of this Age and Nation and to make me proud of the passion I had to Subscribe my self May it please your Grace Your most Obedient and most Humble Servant F. SPENCE The LIFE of the Viscount of Turenne Marechal General of the Kings Camps and Arms Colonell General of the Light Horse of France and Governor of High and Low Limosin IF Men Writ only for their Contemporaries very Cautious shou'd I be of undertaking here the Relation of the Viscount de Turenne's Life seeing all I can say of him will in no wise come near the Idea left Us of him in his Great Actions In effect when I shall have urg'd many instances of his Goodness Wisdom Justice Prudence Courage and all the Other Virtues he in a Soveraign Degree possess'd have I not reason to fear that this will rather Weaken than augment the Opinion we have of Him For tho' a Book may seem sufficient to acquaint us with the Vices and Virtues of a Man yet We have seen such Great things of this Prince both for Manners and for Actions as require a man's having been an Eye-Witness of 'em to have an Idea of him proportionable to the Truth But as we willingly admit the Pleasure of hearing such Persons as have been Dear to Us made the Subject of the Discourse I hope this Work far from Displeasing will be acceptable to all such as shall peruse it Very willing will they be to be re-minded of a Prince for whom they had as I may say a kind of Adoration and whose Death they could not refrain Solemnizing with their tears tho' attended with such Glorious Circumstances As for those that come after us I also hope this Piece will afford them a Delightfull Entertainment For if they are pleas'd in Reading the History of Alexander the Great and Other the famous Captains of Antiquity whose Virtues were tarnish'd with many Vices with much more Reason must they needs take some satisfaction in Reading the Life of a Prince who having been no less Wise or Expert than those Great men in the Trade of War was Exempt from all their Imperfections But besides I hope something more will be found than Pleasure in the Life of so virtuous a Personage and that it will raise both Admiration and Emulation And if it be true that manners are commonly fashion'd after the example of the Company People usually frequent may we not believe that Reading another sort of conversation is capable of producing the same effect I will add to all these Considerations that have enduc'd me to enter upon this work the Desire I had to hand down truth to Posterity a Virtue not much known to the greater part of our modern Historians who suffer themselves to be led on by their Interest or their Passions All mankind are Unanimous in This that Greatness of Birth is a Present of Fortune nay I have not yet met with any Person but reckons it to give a Great Lustre to virtue We value indeed Virtuous Persons in whatever Rank it has pleased God to place them but 't is Clear we rate those much higher that are equally Virtuous born with the Advantage of Extraction 'T is a lustre that dazzels all men and for which let People talk what they will Every man has Naturally a respect Henry de la Tour d'Auvergne whose Life I now undertake to Write was born at Sedan the 11th of September
Sedan in the Year 1623 he was far from insisting any longer upon that journey Nevertheless he was in no wise content to remain any longer in Holland where the Climate and the Demeanour of the People did not in the least sute his humour he said they in France breath'd a more pure and Temperate air and to express the aversion he had for those who took Tobacco he sometimes maintain'd out of a kind of Raillery it to be the smoak that came out of the Pipes which rendred the air so thick and heavy yet knowing it to be a thing the Souldiers cou'd not be without he said nothing to them when he found 'em funcking but had not the same Complaisance for others but told 'em freely his Opinion He had still more aversion for Drunkards whom he cou'd in no wise endure He said if Drunkenness was a Defect in all sorts of Persons a much greater was it still in a Martial man who had not like others the times of Recreation and Repose that it became a Souldier to be ever ready for the first Command which when Drunk he could not be He never was the first to broach these sort of Discourses for fear of being tax'd with the Arrogancy of rebuking others but when once flush'd in Conversation he cou'd not well refrain letting them slip without speaking his Sentiments in the Case for most of the Officers without so much as Excepting the French had such a Propensity to Debauchedness that it seem'd to make part of their Profession In the mean while the occasions of Signalizing himself were not very frequent in the Country he refided in since his abode there they had allmost ever been forc'd to play the Defensive Part and tho' they attempted several enterprizes not one of them sped They fail'd in that of Antwerp where they had Correspondence and this young Courage became pawl'd as I may say to see that Fortune did not appear in favour of it's Party Afraid he was that Maurice who had not been over-Successfull a Year or two before his Death had left his Brother the Heir of his Ill Fortune as well as of his Estate and like to those Hunters who are not content unless they take the Game they have pursu'd he wou'd have had all things tune in Consort with his Expectation Prince Henry Frederick blam'd him sometimes for his Impatience but considering it only departed from an excess of Courage he found not much to incurr his Censure and Rebuke He only told him it to be sometimes needfull to moderate one's self and acquainting him with the Reasons for all he did he instructed him in what he had the most Passion to learn In short this Prince being desirous to see some great Occasion remain'd not long without having satisfaction Boisleduc at the Extremity of Brabant was if a man may say it a Thorn in the State 's foot of which they dayly found the smart and inconvenience and being necessary to pull it out the States gave order to Prince Henry Frederick Prince of Orange since his Brothers Death to lay Siege to that Place This Fortress is much stronger by it's Scituation then by Contrivances us'd for it's Fortification 'T is Scituated in the midst of a Marsh which seems to secure it from all Insult and no Approaches can be made to 't but on the side of the Gate of Maestricht wherein two Forts have been rais'd in which consist all it's Fortifications Nevertheless these Fortifications seem sufficient for the safeguard of the Place for the Ground is so narrow as not to bear more than ten men afront nay and out of this compell'd have they been to raise a Caussey for the conveniency of Waggons for the Water is so deep both on the Right and Left that without this Contrivance no means wou'd there be for their Passage In this so difficult a place was it the Prince of Orange made his Attack and to repair the inconveniences of Nature he employ'd all the stratagems of Art Yet new Difficulties arose to those allready in view for eight hundred men of the Garrison of Breda got into the Town in despite of those that had planted themselves upon the Avenues to hinder that Design yet this did not discourage the Prince of Orange but as he thence foresaw new Difficulties he demanded new Succours of the States who sent him a Reinforcement of six thousand men The Viscount de Turenne's Assiduity was a remarkable thing in the Beginnings and Prosecution of this Siege for tho' he had been present at that of Grol which the Prince of Orange had taken the Year afore that seem'd to him nothing in comparison of this He admir'd the address us'd to divert the Course of the Rivers the Invention of Mines that of Bombs and all the rest employ'd for the Destruction of his Enemy But amid all this far from being in the least wanting to his function of his Charge of Captain he was present at all the Attacks nor more nor less than if he had been a Volunteer and oblig'd to expose himself to all sorts of Perils The Sieur de Vassignae his Governour being under a continual Disquiet for his Life made his Complaints to Monsieur de Bouillon and to the Prince of Orange himself desiring them to moderate the excess of his Courage But Monsieur de Bouillon whose humour delighted in those sort of things was far from condemning an Action he approv'd On the contrary being the first to do like him he stopp'd Vassignae's mouth who after this cou'd not do otherwise than follow them whereever their Courage carry'd them to seek out Danger But the greatest risque the Viscount de Turenne ran in all the time of this Siege was in an occasion created him by the Duke of Bouillon who being Engag'd in the pursuit of four or five hundred men of the Garrison of Breda that aim'd at putting themselves into the Town receiv'd two shots in his Cloaths The Sieur de Vassinae seeing him in the hottest of the Action and all cover'd with Fire threw himself in with him to do the best he could to bring him off or at least to interpose between him and Danger but was not so happy as his Master being somewhat dangerously wounded After the Enemys had made still some further Resistance the Duke of Bouillon drove them from certain Hedges to which they had made their Retreat but still flying to others he was fain to dismount The Viscount de Turenne was he that first set foot to ground and that had not the least part in their Defeat The Prince of Orange well knowing to how great danger he had expos'd his Person Dissembl'd the joy he had upon this occasion by giving him an honourable Check but withall cou'd not forbear telling his Principal Officers that he was very much mistaken if that Young Prince wou'd not one day come to Eclipse the Glory of the Greatest Captains For he was noted to retain a cool temper in the
hottest occasions He courted indeed the greatest Perils but did not expose himself hand over head he weigh'd things before he undertook them and in a green youth exerted the Conduct of a man of Fifty Years Boisleduc was of too great Consequence to the Spaniards to suffer it to be taken without endeavouring to relieve it for which reason the Marquis of Berghen one of their Generals was encharg'd with that Expedition and advanc'd as far as Boxtel with eighteen thousand Foot four thousand Horse but after having in vain endeavour'd to lure the Prince of O 〈◊〉 ge out of his Lines and perceiv'd he was not in a capacity to force his Camp without exposing himself to an evident Defeat he took his way towards the Rhine and having pass'd without any Obstacle that River he thought to make him raise the Siege by the fear he shou'd be under for the Places that were in the heart of the Country In effect the Prince of Orange was alarm'd at his March and much more so when he heard he had pass'd the Yssel taken Amersfort and made excursions to the very Gates of Amsterdam But while he made all the Provinces tremble the Governour of Emerick knowing he had led along with him the better part of the Garrison of Wesel took that City by Scalade and freed his Party from their Apprehensions The Marquis of Berghen fearing to be coopt up between the Rivers made a hasty retreat but not without leaving a strong suspition of Correspondence with the Prince of Orange Boisleduc having expected some Great matters from this Diversion seeing it self Closely press'd and without hopes of Succours Surrender'd after a competent long Siege and wherein the Parties on both sides had Signaliz'd their Bravery The Affairs of Italy had now had a Breathing while but were not as yet compos'd Indeed the Siege of Cazal had been rais'd but besides that the Imperialists were still around Mantoua that Siege was just upon the point of being renew'd Spinola having acquired a great Reputation in Flanders had quitted those Provinces by the King his Masters order and after having Embark'd with Numerous Troups without any Bodies taking Wind of his Design he came to land at Genoua in order to Execute the Enterprizes contriv'd against the Repose of Italy The Viscount de Turenne who notwithstanding the Remonstrances of his Mother had a great Passion to Signalize himself in the Service of his own Country seeing that according to all imaginable appearances a furious War was upon the point of being kindled between the two Crowns he lay perpetually representing to her that more Honour was to be acquired in Serving a Great Monarch than a Commonwealth not yet well settl'd But Madam de Bouillon having been born in those Provinces Cover'd under the Cloak of Religion the Inclination she had for continuing him there She durst not however openly oppose a sense of things so reasonable but to weaken them the best she cou'd she gave him to understand there was no Difference between the Service he did the King in another Country and that he did him in his Own that besides the Allyance which this Prince had with the Commonwealth he it was that furnish'd it with necessaries for Carrying on the War maintaining there actually a Body of ten thousand Men in the head of whom was a Mareschal of France and that fighting as he did in those Troups 't was fighting for the King for whose Service he manifested so much Passion that besides she had the Comfort of knowing him with the Prince of Orange her Brother who wou'd ever take more Care of him than wou'd do another not so near related that he must have patience at least wait till the King desir'd him and that if he meant to enhance his Value he must not Discover his Eagerness But the Viscount de Turenne knew the Thoughts it became him to Entertain of this Answer For tho' Youth is ever very prone to flatter it self he did himself so much justice as not to presume so highly to his Advantage He knew well enough that at his years he was only considerable for his Birth but if that was an advantage in respect of some Persons it was not so much considerable with a Monarch that had so many greaterthan himself that reckon'd it their Glory to do him Homage Thus through the Passion he had of making himself known to his Majesty more particularly than he was he ventur'd to write to him but fearing Monsieur de Bouillon would oppose his Intention and knowing his Governour wou'd never suffer him to do it he Conceal'd the Bus'ness from 'em Both and gave his Letter to the Mareschal De Chatillon then returning to Court The Mareschal DeChatillon having deliver'd it without acquainting any other as he had promis'd the Viscount the King read it with Delight and having already heard advantageous things of this young Prince he judg'd the Good they spoke of him to be still less than what might be Expected from him Nevertheless for Reasons to me unknown he did not send for the Viscount to him for to Credit what I have heard affirm'd by certain People namely it to be on the Score of some Dissatisfactions giv'n him by the late Monsieur De Bouillon is a thing not meriting much belief The King was a Prince of too good nature to bear a grudge so long in his heart Monsieur De Bouillon had then been Seven years Dead and cou'd be of nought else accus'd than of having been too free with his Majesty in favour of those of the Religion Much more reason is there to believe Monsieur De Chatillon had serv'd him but by halves and that at the same time when he presented his Letter to the King he represented to his Majesty it 's not being convenient to take him yet from a School where he render'd himself capable of doing him one Day Great Services This was Monsieur De Turenne's thought but as he was extremely reserv'd and Prudent for his Age he only unbosom'd his Mind to his greatest Confidents adding in Excuse of Monsieur De Chatillon that if he did so he did it with a good Intention that it was out of fear he might lose his time in France where there was more prospect of a Civil than of a Forreign War In Reality the Duke of Orleans suffering himself to be led dayly away by Evil Councils was still upon the Point of giving some disquiet to the King his Brother His Wife was Dead in Child-Bed and aim he did again to match himself with some Forreign Princess to have thereby the more means to trouble the Kingdom The Enemies of Cardinal deRichelieu taking it ill that he made them so little privy to his Affairs put these thoughts in 's head People were dayly expecting that some Commotion or other wou'd break out iustead of the advantages that they might promise to themselves in the Flourishing Estate the Kingdom began to be in at
Brave Defence and layd several dead at his feet After this manner dy'd Albert Wallestein Who after having render'd the Empire Flourishing and been depos'd out of jealousy had had the Pleasure to see his Enemies so confounded that they were reduc'd to have recourse to him who sav'd the Empire when just upon the point of falling but having conceiv'd Criminal Designs was at last treated as he merited Though he was of Eminent Extraction yet born to a very scanty Estate but his Courage Supplying this Defect he found means to acquire such immense Riches that he several times brought Armies on foot at his own Cost built Stately Palaces in fine Equall'd the Greatest Princes whether for the Number of Domesticks for the Sumptuousness of Movables for the Delicacy of the Table or for the Beauty of his Stable The next day after his Death Duke Albert Francis of Saxony whom the Duke of Weymer sent to agree with him the Conditions under which they were to make War upon the Emperour was Seiz'd on without having had notice of what Occurr'd Such Great Mutations cou'd not happen in the Empire without Occasioning it new Losses Cardinal Richelieu having had correspondence with Wallestein and having the faculty to improve all things to advantage imagining some time wou'd be spent before the Emperour cou'd retrieve and settle his Authority he had so prevail'd with the Duke of Weymer as that he had made him beseige Brisac while the Rhingrave with another Body of Troups had taken Ensheim Fribourg and Rhinfeld Two Battails had also been fought against him wherein he had had the Disadvantage the one against the Rhinegrave near Tarn the other at Lignitz against General Arnhem So many Great Successes Courted the Attention of all the World and at the same time the Admiration But they still waited to judge of the Event of Things by what should happen at the Siege of Brisac which was to open to us the Gates of Germany and furnish us with the means of joyning our selves to our Alleys This only seem'd wanting to the Kings happyness he having newly reduc'd the Duke of Lorrain to Reason and constrain'd him to put his Metropolis into his hands for he cou'd take no other Assurance of a Prince who had fail'd him so often in his word In the mean while tho' the Viscount De Turenne took as much Interest as any Body in the Success of the Kings Arms he cou'd not hear so many Great events discourst of without being affected with a strong Emulation It vext him to remain a Spectatour of so many Great things without having more share in them and it seem'd to him as if all the Glory of 'em was reserv'd for Others while he himself was only an eye-witness of 'em For which Reason after Alexanders example whose Courage he had he was seen to shed tears several times at the recital of the Actions of so many Great Captains which the Age was full of But as he admir'd not any one so much as the King of Sueden he wept and bewail'd him no less than if he had been his Father He said it to be great Pity for so Great a King to dye in the flour of his Age but that he shou'd nevertheless be content to Live much less than He to acquire a like Reputation He caus'd all his Glorious Exploits to be related to him and cry'd so great a Man ought to be immortal An Officer unwittingly having told him that he that had kill'd him had done his Country a great kindness and I said he believe he has done it a great injury for never any other will fight with so much Courage for the Interest of the Religion These Words seem'd very fine to those who took Notice in what sence he had said them for by this they perceiv'd that he prefer'd Religion before all things yet he did not love to dispute about it for he knew that these sort of Disputes rather engender Division than reunite Peoples minds He said that People never brought the Necessary Disposition for such sort of matters that it was rather amidst Wine and Debauchery that points of Religion were canvast than when they were fasting Though he was very passionate as I may say for the Memory of the Great Gustavus yet was he not wanting to bewail and Commiserate Wallestein's Destiny whose Services he fancy'd merited a Better treatment I do not doubt said he but that he conceiv'd Criminal Designs against his Master all his Actions are reputed as so many Crimes and as things of this World may be diversly interpreted it is not to be wonder'd that if his have been explain'd in ill part In reality some there are that assert he did not fall into Cabals till after the Particular Knowlege he had that his Ruine was resolv'd on Be it as it will the Viscount De Turenne did not thus take his part but thro' the Goodness of his Disposition which did not suffer him to hear any Body spoke ill of for as well for Others as for himself he was enclin'd to judge favourably of all things He said a Worthy Man that is a man of some Extraction and had been brought up by Virtuous Parents had ever an inclination prone to Good that true it is Ambition as well as several other Vices often Corrupted Manners but that it must be granted that the Ambitious ever retain some shadow of Virtue and that before they throw themselves into the Precipice they are hurry'd thither by several ill treatments People generally delighted to hear him discourse in this manner for tho' his Speech was not absolutely free what he said was attended with more gracefullness in his Mouth than in the Mouth of many others gifted with a more easy utterance And indeed they only consider'd the Sentiments without dwelling upon an Infirmity of Nature which serv'd only the more to Set of and Enhance his Merit for he was so much the more Circumspect in speaking and when he spoke they were as so many Sentences I know not whether the kindness we have commonly for those who have some conformity of humour with us made him esteem those who talk'd little like himself or whether this Esteem was naturall to him but as much as he lov'd them as much did he hate great Talkers He said it to be impossible for those sort of People to Obviate bolting frequent fooleries and as there sometimes arose Quarrels among the Officers from over-much babbling he thence took occasion to remonstrate to Others that they could not with too much Precaution abstain from that infirmity Yet he never address'd his Speech to any one that could be suspected of this Defect but spoke indifferently to all People Nay and sometimes out of fear that some one of the Number might apply to himself what he said he discourst with the Wisest and most reserv'd as if it had been to him he directed his Discourse Yet he was very well content not to be allways applauded for he
and if something else had not giv'n some Subject of Discontent But the Duke de Rohan who had made his accommodation with the King and had dexterously seiz'd upon the Valteline was newly drove thence by force Insomuch that all the Pretensions that had been conceiv'd to the Land of Milan vanish'd into Smoke The Duke of Weymar on his side having undertaken to Succour Hanaw besieg'd by the Imperialists had been routed and put to flight As fortune was thus ballanc'd on Both sides the Pope fancy'd the Two Crowns would listen the more willingly to a Peace and he endeavour'd to mediate it by the Interposition of his Nuncio's But he had to overcome the hatred of the two Ministers who out of the Aversion they bore one another troubled their heads little as to the Mischiefs vvith which they were preparing to molest all Europe These two Men did all in the two Kingdoms and the two Kings were only two Phantasmes to amuse the People with the Grandeur of their Names The One was introduc'd into the Ministry in Spight of his Master and in spight of him maintain'd himself in that Station the Other had been call'd to it by the Princes Inclination after the Duke of Lerma's Disgrace a Man so hated as to have had his own very Son for his Enemy They had both the Glory of their Countrey in Recommendation or rather they only sought to raise it upon the Ruines of each Other for their Animosity was the source of most of their Great Designs Not but that the Cardinal de Richelieu was a great man but he gave himself entirely to Revenge so as to ruine one of his Enemies he would not have much Boggl'd to ruine all the People Now he remembred it to be in the View of procuring his Destruction that Count Olivarez vulgarly call'd Conde-Duke Minister of Spain had induc'd the Duke of Orleans so often to Rebell and contriv'd so many Caballs and his Design was now to be reveng'd for these Transactions For this Reason did he formally oppose the Peace to which he oâ— purpose raised Difficulties He wou'd not own Ferdinand's Son for King of the Romans and grounded his Opposition upon the Electour of Treves having protested against his Election Ferdinand dying in these time of the Occurrences this Cavil occasion'd still more Obstacles for then the thing in Agitation was no longer a King of the Romans but an Emperour whose Quality was disputed The House of Austria on it's side did not want Pretexts to cover the jealousy it had against the House of France so as that all the Good Offices of the Pope were without Effect Thus the War that had allready made such Waste and Havocks Spread still with more fury The Spaniards induc'd Prince Thomas to return into Italy that so his Presence might the more powerfully Excite his Creatures and he fram'd in a little time so Dangerous a Party that with the Succours of the Spaniards he reduc'd the Dutches of Savoy to Extremity This Princess was not as yet very handy in the Government of her Dominions she just came from under the Check of a Husband who never having had any Inclination for Us had not giv'n her any Share in Affairs imagining that being as she was a French-woman she wou'd ever have much inclination for her Countrey However he had been oblig'd for Reasons I have before deduc'd to declare himself for us but tho' he had joyn'd his Arms to Ours his Captains had still some Secret order rather to Spinn out in Length than to finish the War Now the Dutches of Savoy having follow'd at first this Policy Cardinal Richelieu was very willing to suffer her by little and little to be undermin'd that to be freed out of Danger she might blindly follow his Will for this Reason instead of sending her a Succour capable of screening her he caus'd at first only to pass into that Countrey some troups of New Leavyes that quickly for want of Discipline were totally dispers'd In the mean while the Spaniards taking advantage of the Conjuncture resolv'd to drive us out of the Milanese where we had made some Conquests but the Beginnings were so unfortunate to them that they were beaten in two Incounters at the last of which Martin d'Arragon who commanded them had much ado to Escape Yet as it was only a detatchment of the Army they had quickly repaired this loss and thinking themselves in a Posture to take their Revenge they laid siege to Breme wherein a Gentleman of Brittany call'd Montgaillard commanded The Savoyards had no sooner been inform'd of what occurr'd but that forgetting their Policy they press'd the Mareschal de Crequi to give succours for so blear'd were they not but that they foresaw how after the taking of Breme the Spainards would turn their Arms againct them The Common Peril having thus reunited Peoples Minds they joyn'd the Mareschal de Crequi notwithstanding the Aversion they boar him for they suspected him of having poyson'd their late Duke in an Entertainment and what the more corroborated their Suspicion is that most the Guests dy'd of some days after or had like to have dy'd Be it as it will this having not obstructed the Conjunction of the two Armies they march'd to the Succour's of Breme wherein they Endeavour'd to Enter some Men by the Po. A certain Number of Barkes were sitted out for this purpose on Board of which they Shipt some Infantry with Ingeniers for whom they had Occasion in the Place But the Spaniards possessing the Bancks of the River and having provided them with Cannon fir'd so furiously that after having kill'd some Men and sunk two Barkes the Rest chose to return This Unfortunate Success Startled the Mareschal de Crequi but not in such manner as to abandon his Enterprize However having no other means save to attack the Lines Needs would he view 'em first of all but as he advanc'd to that purpose came a Cannon shot that kill'd him stone Dead and Cast a Great Consternation into his Party The Rumour of his Death being quickly Spread among the Enemies they forthwith signify'd it to the Governour as a means to terrify him into a Surrender but he did not seem so startled but that he Defended the Place some time longer with great Courage However having yeilded sooner than he ought he was beheaded at Cazal whither he had Permission to retreat with his Garrison The Mareschal de Crequi's Death occasion'd much Disorder in our Army as well as in the Affairs of Italy and before the Court could give New Orders the whole Army disbanded for want of Discipline and Pay In the mean while the Spaniards after having setled their New Conquest caus'd their Troupes to march without our being able to guess at their Design for Leganes who commanded them had dayly Protestations made to the Dutchess of Savoy that the King his Master Design'd no Warr with her and that provided she departed from that secret Intelligence she was suspected
for it and indeed he ever sold it him as Dear as possible he could for as he was considerable of himself and gain'd dayly more and more regard by the Merit of the Duke d'Anguien he fancy'd all things were due to him The Cardinal saw himself in truth at the head of Affairs but was reduc'd to such an Exigency that all the pains he took was for Others And indeed the Duke d'Anguien himself prompted perchance by these Examples or perhaps allso because his Father was not over-Liberal had not been so strongly affected with Glory to which nevertheless he was very sensible as to be prevail'd with to be gone without that Ministers having giv'n him wherewithall to supply to a Great Expence Thus all the Treasures were for these Three Princes and as the Cardinals own affairs were not in over-good terms and that he had as good an Appetite as Others he on his side appropriated to himself all he could Insomuch that the finances being thus unprofitably Squander'd away recourse was to be had to Edicts which made the People Clamour and render'd his Ministry Extremely Odious Not a man of 'em besides the Viscount de Turenne who Neglecting his own Interests only Study'd those of the Crown tho' the Consideration he was in might have made him hope as well as Others to have gain'd by the Weakness of the Ministry for the Grandees after the Example of the Princes set their Services at a Price and in Case the least Neglected they fell into Caballs which made the Cardinal quickly recall them with a grant of still more than they had demanded The Duke d'Anguien after having obtain'd what he desir'd was departed for the Army and having caus'd it to pass the Meuse he joyn'd the Count de Marsin who brought him a Considerable re-inforcement General Bek being to observe his Motions retreated from before him and being under apprehensions for the Towns in Luxemburg he provided them with Men But this Princes Design was not to stop so near at hand and he had reasons which oblig'd him to pass on The Imperialists to give the Suedes work had set upon them their Ancient Enemies the Danes who having no want of Pretexts to declare Warr against them made so powerfull a Diversion of their forces that hardly any of 'em were left in Germany Thus the Viscount de Turenne found no small Difficulty to resist with Six or Seav'n thousand Men the forces of Bavaria and Lorrain that were joyn'd together for as to those of the Emperour the Prince of Transilvania had been rais'd up against them and he gave them Sufficient Employment Thus the Warr was extended into so many Parts that one wou'd have said Men had been bent upon Worrying one another In the mean while the Hollanders gain'd dayly by these Disorders and by little and little setled their State which we have since seen so flourishing As for Us besides Domestique troubles some Sparkes of which were already perceiv'd the Affairs of Germany began to render us uneasy The Viscount de Turenne with all his Experience and Capacity found himself so weak as has been allready hinted that he was oblig'd to retire upon the Rhin and put himself under the Shelter of Brisac while the Bavarians and Lorrainers being puft up with some petty Advantages they had gain'd march'd with displaid Ensignes against Fribourg As their Forces were Numerous in Comparison of those of the Viscount de Turenne he durst not venture a Battail but neglecting nought of what cou'd serve for the Defence of Fribourg he provided it with men Provisions and Ammunition and keeping hovering himself he sent to the Duke d'Anguien to advance with all speed This young Prince naturally coveting Glory but whose hands itch'd still more than usuall since his victory of Rocroy march'd day and night to come up in time But the Garrison not having made the Resistance Expected he found the Town taken at his Arrival which provok'd him to a high degree against the Governour Being however a thing for which there was no Remedy he conferr'd with the Viscount de Turenne to see what course was thereupon to be taken and Comforting one another in that it was neither of their faults they went together to view the Enemies who upon the rumour of the Duke d'Anguien's arrival were Encamp'd upon two Mountains whose Accesse though Difficult of itself was render'd still more so by several Retrenchments and by the Trees they had fell'd to Embarasse the ways But all these Empediments having rather Whetted than paul'd their Courage the Duke d'Anguien sent Marsin order with whom he had left his Army to bring it him with all Expedition Hardly would he allow it a day or two's Rest after so long a March and as if he had been afraid the Enemies shou'd have scap'd him he lead it himself on to the Battle which was long and obstinate on both sides The Enemies trusting in the strength of their Retrenchments and Scituation of their Camp seem'd at first to make a mock of the efforts he made but coming to perceive that the Viscount de Turenne after having made himself Master of a Wood which they had lin'd with Infantry came to attack them thorough a Place not so difficult they caus'd their Horse to march which Stop'd our foot that had pass'd sooner than our Cavalry by reason the Wood was fill'd with trees and Ditches that hamper'd the ways The night coming on hinder'd things from proceeding farther The Viscount de Turenne spent that time in passing the Cavalry which he had drawn up in Batalia at Break of Day But the Enemies making use of the Darkness to Conceal their Rerreat abandoned their Camp without having had time to break their Baraques or Carry away a thousand Conveniences we found there both for Men and Horses The Duke d'Anguien having suffer'd his Army there to rest after being Extreamly tyr'd and harrass'd with the Business of the day before by reason of the Continuall Rains departed again at Break of day with a resolution to pursue the Enemies who were retreated near to Fribourg He found they had Chosen an Advantageons Post which caus'd him to make a halt before he attack'd them But as he was Squaring his Measures by the Viscount de Turenne's and some Other Officers Advice the Souldiers fell a Skirmishing and had so far engag'd into a Battle as wou'd have render'd it impossible to have avoided it if the Viscount de Turenne to hinder the Disorder which began to appear among our men had not plac'd himself at the head of the Regiment of Flexâ—eim with which he repell'd the Enemies The vigour wherewith he broke in among them made them return into their Retrenchments out of which they came in hopes of an impending victory Things being thus retriev'd as well as cou'd be desir'd the Resolution was to attack them in their very Camp But we found the Passes so well intrench'd that after having fought on till night Our men were oblig'd
himself and still continu'd his old Road being well persuaded that many were there that did him Justice But in short the Enemies quickly decided the Question and made appear with whom they most fear to have to do After the taking of La drceies th' Army divided into Two Ths Viscount de Turenne took one part of it and the Mareschal de la Ferté th' other the later March'd against St. Guilain the former against Condé The two Garrisons were very different As th' Enemies were particularly under Apprehensions for the later of those two Towns they had put two Thousand men into the place and above three Hundred Reformed Officers Th' other was nothing near so well provided However the Mareschal de la Ferté having lost time to no purpose in trifles th' Enemies March'd against him and oblig'd him to Retreat He return'd and joyn'd again the Viscount de Turenne's Army who had been more cautious and directed his Measures better so as that th' Enemies drawing near durst not undertake to force his Lines Having thus had time to continue his Attacques he won the Out-works and forc'd the Garrison to Surrender The Spaniards having lost this Town made divers motions to hinder him from attacquing St. Guilain but having provided for all the places they might threaten he laid Siege to 't and carry'd it under their Nose They endeavour'd to Revenge themselves on Quesnoy round which they held divers Posts but the Viscount de Turenne went and Encamp'd upon the Avenues and their Army durst never attempt to open the Passage So prosperous a Campagne still augmented his Repute and if the Cardinal had not still had a Secret jealousy of him the King wou'd have heap'd on him so many Bounties as wou'd have put him into a Condition to Envy no Bodies Fortune But this Minister told the King in Private that it was not conveuient to raise him so high and that after having twice sided with Rebells he was more than rewarded for the Services he had since perform'd The King was not wont to resist the Cardinalls Wills thus things stopp'd there tho' there was a great deal of difference between his Actions and those of th' other Captains that Commanded the Armies In effect People observ'd sundry faults they committed during this Campagne and yet all the Rewards were for them The Prince of Conti who was in Catalonia after having taken Cepdaquiers that incommoded the City o◠Roses instead of quickly passing the Mountains trifl'd away his time in Debauchery with the Duke of Mercoeur his Brother-in-Law who was arriv'd upon the Coast with the French Fleet so as that he gave the Enemies time to Assemble on whom he might have made considerable Conquests For the Cardinal to take away a thousand Distasts that People endeavour'd to give him of his Allyance had done all he had been able to put him in a Capacity of acquiring Honour But all this was bounded in taking Castillon and Solsonne two sorry Places but whose Conquest was Highly Boasted among those who knew not what they were for the offering Incense to the Cardinal This gave him Occasion to shed his Bounties upon this Prince who was in no good Condition to enjoy them for in the Middle of the Campagne he was forc'd to leave the Army to go seek for Remedy to a Malady that was become too inveterate to be cured The Count de Merinville had the Command of the Army after his Departure and made the Spaniards raise the Siege of Solsonne which they thought to have recover'd But the same Misfortune befell him before Bergues which they had taken and he wou'd have retaken from them Insomuch that neither side had any great reason to Vaunt of its Great Successes Much the same thing was it in Italy where if we had the Advantage of Causing the Siege of Reggio to be rais'd which the Governour of the Milanez had laid out of spight to the Duke of Modena our Ally We had afterwards the vexation of discamping from before Pavia whither we march'd under the Orders of that Duke and under those of Prince Thomas As divers faults had been noted in the Conduct of all those Generals it was a Subject of enhancing the Viscount de Turenne's Glory who knew so well how to disgest his Entirprizes that without some great Misfortune he was sure of bringing them about However tho' his friends made use of all these things for matter in his Praise it was not needfull to go seek it so far of and there needed only to make reflexion upon what he dayly did to judge that few there were like him For without mentioning Military Actions he gave every moment Occasion to admire his Virtue this was principally manifested in point of Interest which may be said to be the touch-stone of Men since the truth is few there are but shew Weakness upon this Chapter As his Charge gave him the Pow'r of Establishing Safe-Guards this was a sure means of making himself Rich and the Mareschal de la Ferté set him th' Example deriving thence dayly three or four hundred Crowns for he sent Troupers thither to whom he gave a Crown of the five or six he Exacted of each Place and the Number produc'd him a vast Revenue The Viscount de Turenne did not want People that advis'd him to do the like Especially those that had the management of his Expences who remonstrated to him that this was a Succours ready at hand for a thousand things that were wanting in his family But the Prince was ever so far from being prevail'd with to be tampering in so Villanous a Commerce that he chid those very much that made him the Proposal and left those sorts of Profits one while to his Captain of the Guards and another to Officers that needed it Not a man cou'd refrain admiring a Generosity that had no Example among the Generals but he said when he was spoke to upon the point that he did not believe they did all that was imputed to them and that he wou'd lay a Wager the same thing was said of him tho' the truth was he was never reckon'd in that Number Thus did he endeavour to excuse others for the avoiding the Praises People wou'd have conferr'd on him and he evaded them in such manner that often he prevented them by Discourses as would have made it believ'd he had been in Anger if the reason of his speaking so had not been known However to hinder any one from being so hardy as to give him the like vexation he was wont to say there was nothing savour'd more of the Flatterer than a man that pretended to commend another in his Presence That it was with them as with those Women who after having told one another a Thousand obliging things are no sooner at a distance from one another than that they bespatter one another as much as possibly they can However in the time that this Prince was the most esteem'd it wanted little
as he shutt himself up with him sometimes sev'n or eight hours together without admitting any Minister he was by all look'd on as a favourite in a Condition to do whatever he pleas'd The Marquis de Louvoy became jealous and tho' the Warr gave him still the more access to the King than he commonly had he was afraid he might bereave him of his Majesties kind opinion The King the longer he converst with the Viscount de Turenne the more he relished his Wit press'd him then to accept the Charge of Constable upon the Conditions he had offer'd him for an Example he cited to him the Duke de Lesdiguicres who had not boggl'd to Change Religion upon the like Account But the Viscount de Turenne stopp'd his Majesties Mouth with telling him that he thought himself in the Right Way and that if he had another Opinion he shou'd be very unhappy if he did not do what he desired In the mean while the Campagn began or rather the Disorder of the Spaniards for properly speaking I cannot call War what was not attended with any Defence Charleroy open'd his Gates as soon as we came before the Town Douay made but little more resistance nor Tonrnay At h Courtray and Oudenarde and if L'Isle had not held out a little longer all this Expedition wou'd rather have had th' Appearance of Intelligence rather than of any thing else All these Conquests with some Others of less Importance were owing to the Viscount de Turenne's Prudence and Conduct while that the Marescal d'Aumont with a flying Camp took Bergues Furnes and Dixmuyden which we had restor'd to the Spaniards upon the General Peace They saw all this without being able to oppose it for they could hardly bring five or six thousand men into the field with whom Marsin who had been Excluded the Amnesty upon the Conclusion of the Peace attempted the Relief of L'Isle but not coming near it 'till the Town was reduc'd to Extremity it Surrendred before they had news of one another The King then pass'd thro' L'Isle to go to Marsin and surpriz'd him in such manner as that he thought only of retreating However as the King had march'd only with one Detachment he was not only in a Condition to make his Defence but allso of giving a stroak that might have repair'd so Disadvantageous a Campagn but thinking he shou'd have to do with the Whole Army he gave ground by which his Rear suffer'd much The Spaniards feebleness was matter of much thinking to such Potentates as did not love such Neighbours as the French The Hollanders especially whom the thing more nearly toucht than Others were alarm'd and not having been able to oblige the King upon their Requests to leave the Spaniards in Peace they resolv'd to Employ Arms to that purpose since there was no other way to secure their Quiet For this purpose they made a Treaty with England and Sueden by which these three Powers united themselves together to save Flanders which ran a great risque without their Succours However as it was none of their Interests to proceed to Warr they only put themselves into a posture of making themselves feared after having made considerable warlike Preparations they signify'd to the King that they wou'd declare against whoever wou'd not make Peace Tho' this Term was a little less harsh than another they might have made use off the King had not the less resentment against the Hollanders to whom he imputed more than to Others the Obstacles that interven'd to his Enterprizes However as after so formall a Declaration it was for him to choose his Course he promis'd to lay down Arms if the Spaniards for a Compensation for his Pretentions wou'd leave to him his Conquests These Offers appear'd harsh to the Spaniards who gave out that these Pretentions were only imaginary but th' Other Pow'rs having their Reasons as I have newly said to terminate Matters by mildness these proposals of the King were put into Deliberation and a Convention was held at Aix-la-Chappelle where the Spaniards after their Wonted rate Spinning out things into a Length gave the King time to make New Conquests He took the Franche-Comté in Eight days space not in truth by the force of his Arms but by the Treachery of the Governour who had sold it to him before he left Paris The Marquis de Louvois who as I said before cou'd not Support Mr. de Turenne's favour Employ'd the Prince of Condé in that Conquest that by substituting so fam'd a Captain in his Room the King might insensibly lose the Esteem he had for the Viscount The Loss of the County not only startled the Spaniards but allso th' Assembly of Aix-la Chapelle so as that to stop the Course of so good a fortune they all determin'd at length to grant the King what he had demanded but he wou'd needs have comprehended in his Conquest that which had been newly made which none agreeing to the World Expected things were coming to Extremity so much the more as that Preparations for War were made on all sides However the King making Reflexion that it was exposing himself to strange Consequences He that had not any Ships to resist the English and Hollanders who were extreme Powerfull at Sea as to expose himself to a War whose Success might have been so uncertain It Is inconceivable how much Confidence the King put in the Viscount de Turenne in all those Parleys of Peace and War and but that the Interest of the State requir'd that the one shou'd be preferr'd before the other I shou'd say that the Jealousy the Viscount de Turenne conceiv'd on this account smoothen'd many Rubbs that otherwise wou'd have been met with Be it as it will never Courtier appear'd so Moderate in his favour as did the Viscount de Turenne he requir'd not of the King either the least favour for himself or for his Friends which extremely pleas'd the King who offer'd him again several times the Charge of Constable on the Conditions he had propos'd to him afore But it was for the Glory of this Great Captain not to Change his Religion in a time when it might have been thought to have been done out of Interest and tho' that one of his Nephews who had obtain'd a Cardinals-Cap from Rome had allready begun to stagger him very much in his Opinion he wou'd not make a step in a time when the least Motion might have been suspected yet he had still a certain Scruple left which made him dread taking that leap But the Fathers of the Oratory with whom he had secret Conferences at the Celastins having found the means to persuade him to all intents he at length declar'd his Design which as much Rejoyc'd the King as it Afflicted the Protestants But it was impossible but that a Prince who knew better how to manage the Sword than to disentangle himself from so many things as lay not within his Sphere could resist able men as ply'd
with his Highness to disabuse the King of the Great Confidence he had in him The Prince of Conde being provok'd against the Marquis de Louvoy with joy receiv'd the Proposal made him by the Viscount de Turenne and they agree'd together that the Prince of Conde should speak of it to the King first and that the Viscount de Turenne shou'd back what he shou'd say But Mr. Le Tellier having known by I know not what means what had been resolv'd of between these two Generals he employ'd the Bishop of Authun much in favour with the Prince of Conde so as that this Prince no longer remembring what he had promis'd the Viscount de Turenne let several days slip without speaking to the King The Viscount Suspecting the Occasion of it wou'd not suffer this to make him be wanting to what he ow'd to himself without complaining to the Prince of Conde for his having forgot his word he repair'd to the King beseeching his Majesty to give him a private Audience The King having granted it him he told his Majesty that as perhaps he was not inform'd of what pass'd he was very glad to acquaint him with it that he knew not whether it was by his Order that the Marquis de Louvois had Written to him several times touching what he had to do during the Campagne but as the Directions he had receiv'd were sufficiently ill digested he attributed them rather to his Minister than to his Majesty who was too Illuminated to commit those soâ—ts of faults that he who was upon the place was more capable to decide what there was to to be done than the other that was at a Distance that besides he left him to judge which was the man of the two that had the most Experience that he did not tell him this to gainsay what was necessary but to let him know that the Marquis de Louvois not content with doing his own Office wou'd needs also perform that of Others that if he had resolv'd to confer on him again the command of his Army he besought his Majesty that he wou'd vouchsafe to send him his Orders himself and receive his Letters that the Cardinal de Bouillon his Nephew would encharge himself with Both if not his Majesty would Extremly oblige him by dispensing him from serving any longer because that as it too much lessen'd his Honour to Commit the faults he was caus'd to make he was very willing to husband his Reputation The King receiv'd this advertisement as a Wise Prince and who was not so blinded with his Minister as to refuse to do justiee to others he permitted him to write to him directly by the means of the Cardinal de Bouillon adding also that he wou'd have him to be the Person to convey him his Orders However as the King knew that the Viscount de Turenne cou'd not forbear speaking a little bitterly to the Marquis de Louvois of what had happen'd he wou'd needs for the keeping of Peace between Persons so necessary to his Service have this Minister go to the Viscounts House and desire his Amity Many Others in the Viscount de Turenne's Room would have thought themselves very much honour'd in the Visit of a Man possess'd of the Kings favour and wou'd indubitably have made use of that Occasion to the Advancement of their fortune But this Prince acting only thro' a Motive of Glory receiv'd the Compliment of this Minister with such great Indifferency that the Marquis de Louvois remain'd alltogether Surpriz'd However as he had order from the King as I newly hinted to require of him his friendship he made all imaginable Advances to obtain it But the Viscount de Turenne answer'd him with his wonted flegme that as he knew very well that these Words proceeded only from the Kings Command he wou'd thenceforward Examine his Conduct and when he shou'd have done as many things to be of the Number of his friends as he had done to be of his he wou'd see what it became him to do This Answer was admired by the Prince of Condé who cou'd not forbear saying That the Viscount de Turenne had in this perform'd a finer Action then in Winning so many Towns and Battles And indeed we meet with more Captains capable of those great Successes than such as struggle thus against favour And of this the Prince of Condé himself gave testimony in that Occasion since he had as was said so soon forgot what he had promis'd the Viscount de Turenne In the Interim this Affair that had made so much noise among the Courtiers far from puffing up the Viscount de Turenne seem'd to render him still more affable towards All People All those that had admir'd what he had done in the foregoing Campagn no less admired his Modesty for he generally went all alone in his Coach and without the Attendance of more than two or three footmen Every one stopp'd to see him pass and he return'd to Every Individual the Salute with so much Goodness that the Parisians that are easily Won upon by Civility wou'd as I may say have Sacrific'd themselves for him and this pleas'd 'em so much the more as that other Persons of Condition did not do the like Especially the Marquis de Louvois who Affected minding no Body in his passage In the mean while the King did not suffer the Winter to while out without endeavouring to attract several Forreign Princes to his Party by the means of his Money and among others the King of Sueden who had till then deferr'd proceeding to a Declaration but at length resolving upon it at the suscitation of several of his Council that were Pensioners of France he took the field and oblig'd the Electour of Brandenbourg and the Princes of Brunswic to draw back the greatest part of the Troups they had upon the Rhin As it was a long way to return into their own Territories Especially for the Marquis de Brandenbourg His Subjects were very much alarum'd at the Approch of the Suedish Army which must needs if it had been well manag'd have made advantage of this Sovereigns Absence But stopping without any Necessity at some Sorry Burroughs the Marquis of Brandenbourg had time to draw near as well as the Troups of Brunswick those of Munster and those of the King of Denmark that joyn'd all together against this Common Enemy However as there needed not so many to bring him to reason they quickly separated to act in different places The Marquis de Brandenbourg having reassured his Dominions by his Presence pursued the Suedes who had giv'n ground upon the Notice they had of his being near at hand and having over-taken them at Ferbâ—rlin he beat their Rier This Victory having open'd him the way of Regal Pomerania he attack'd several Places that made not any Resistance while the Troups of Brunswick and Munster fell upon the Dutchy of Brâ—mâ—n As concerning the King of Denmark he took the Isles of Dussedom and Wolin