Crown to be Entailed on his Heirs Male in short for setling Luther's Reformation in his Country and Abridging the too great Power of the Clergy Eric the Eldest Son of Gustavus Succeeded him but wanted the Virtues of his Father He introduced into Sweden the Dignities of Count and Baron which before were unknown there It was thought this was done to divide the Nobility among themselves The too great Union of this Powerful Body was able to create Trouble to a Family newly raised to the Throne The Dignities bestowed on some gave a Jealousie to the rest Those who had most Ambition made their Court to the King to obtain the same Distinction And the New Nobility were obliged to support the Authority of the King and adhere here to his Family to preserve their Privileges Eric made himself Odious by his Cruelties and Despicable by his Debauches and Extravagancies His ill Treatment of John Duke of Finland and Charles Duke of Sudermannia obliged them to rise and put themselves at the Head of the Malecoutents These two Princes Attacked Eric in Stockholm it self He first delivered up his Favourite whom all the Kingdom Exclaimed against They inflicted an Infamous punishment on him John and Charles would have something more than all this They agreed to take the Sovereign Power from Eric who abused it unjustly and that the Duke of Finland should be declared King and the Duke of Sudermannia should share with him in the Government without having any outward Marks of Royalty John thought himself now discharged from the Oath he had taken when Eric delivered him out of a close Prison where he had kept him three or four years The Duke had given Assurance by a Writing under his Hand that he would continue faithful to the King and not aspire to the Crown neither before nor after the Death of the King his Elder Brother and that he would acknowledge those Children for lawful Heirs of the Kingdom which Eric had by a Mistress of Mean Birth whom he afterwards Marryed Solemnly But John was not very anxious about the Religious observing his Promises When he was Master of his Eldest Brother not contented with shutting him up in a Castle he soon poisoned him John and Charles continued to attack Stockholm The Senate of the City delivered it up to them and poor Eric reduced to Extremity was left to the Discretion of his two Brothers The States of Sweden declared him fallen from the Crown and John Duke of Finland was set up in his place John King of Sweden endeavours to alter the Religion Established by his Father The New King of Sweden was not truer to the Duke of Sudermannia than he had been to his Predecessor Charles had no share in the Administration of the Kingdom Men promise any thing when they are to ascend a Throne but when they are once Established in it they find other Principles of Religion and Honour John had Married Catherine Jagellon Daughter to the King of Poland Whether the Princess had inspired her Husband with an Aversion to the Protestant Religion or the Reading the Books and Conversation of able Men of the Papal Communion had raised doubts in him or he hoped to be King of Poland after the Death of Sigismund Augustus his Brother-in-Law who had no Children as soon as John had made a Peace with Denmark by the Treaty of Stetin in Pomerania he applied himself seriously to change the Religion which his Father had setled in Sweden It is not a place here to relate all the Artifices he made use of to prepare the Minds of his People for the Alterations he designed I shall only observe that the King who wanted not Wit or Judgment was convinced there were a great many things to be altered in the Worship and Doctrine of the Church of Rome He can neither be reckoned among the good Catholicks nor the true Protestants Ever uncertain and wavering sometimes he relished the Project of Accommodation which Cassander had given to the Emperor Maximilian II. at other times he was inclined to the Greek Church The Answers of Jeremiah Patriarch of Constantinople to the Divines of Wirtembergh pleased him so much that he once thought to unite with that Communion Possevin a Learned Jesuit whom Pope Gregory the XIII had sent into Sweden thought he had persuaded King John to Reunite himself in earnest to the Church of Rome He confessed himself to that Jesuit the Popes private Nuncio he received the Communion in the Form used in that Church Possevin imposed as a Pennance on him for the Murther of his Brother Eric whom he had poysoned to fast every Wednesday throughout the year It is said John observed this Practice regularly all the rest of his Life Nevertheless he frequented the publick Service of the Church of Sweden There was a New Liturgy used which himself had introduced and the Pope refused to approve of The Mixture of these two Religions was one of the ways by which this Prince pretended insensibly to bring the People to forsake the Worship and Belief of the Protestants of the Ausburgh Confession Several Romish Churchmen came into Sweden The Irresolution of King John and his Indulgence drew them thither Several of his own Subjects too favour'd his dissembled Designs By their manner of Discourse the more unthinking People took these Preachers for free Protestants But others observed in spight of their Disguises all they spoke tended to insinuate into the Minds of the People the Doctrines of Popery The Archbishop of Vpsal suffered himself to be won by them Some Prelates and divers ignorant or ambitious Churchmen follow'd his Example There were some Bishops ordained according to the Roman Pontifical The Bishop of Linkoping several of his Brethren and a great number of Churchmen couragiously defended the Reformation setled by Gustavus Ericson The Clergy of the Dutchy of Sudermannia shewed a firmness of Mind which much confounded King John Charles his Brother declared highly for the Ausburgh Confession He opposed this Alteration with all his Might Neither the King nor I can make any Innovation in the Religion established by Law he replied to those sent to dispose him to comply All things are well regulated by the last Will and Testament of the late King our Father We must fix there For my part I am resolved never to depart from it The States of Sweden shew'd great Vigour on several Occasions They represented to the King that mighty Jealousies were risen in Sweden and Foreign Countries that his Majesty would overthrow that Constitution which his Father had wisely established and that to put an end to all those Rumours it concerned him to declare publickly that the Reformation received in that Kingdom was conformable to the Sense of the Primitive Church Farther the States commanded several Popish Books brought into that Country to be suppress'd they press'd the King to place able Men of unblemish'd Reputation in the Publick Schools to instruct the Youth In the last
the Memory of his Father by the Love you ought to have for your selves and your Zeal for your Country I will instruct him to follow your Advice in all the concerns of State It is your part to see this be wholsom and good When she had done she came down within the Bar as if she would still give them a liberty to agree in their Opinions concerning the Regency The Princes Lords and Magistrates convinced there was more Ceremony than Reality in this begg'd her to take her place again Mary skill'd in the Art of Dissimulation suffer'd her self to be prest for a long time till the Instances she required seem'd to be a force on her Modesty and Grief Young Lewis rehearsed well enough the Discourse prepared for him It was not omitted here to insert the young King would follow the Advice of his Parliament This is a Language which ancient Custom has made usual in the beginning of a Minority but is never remembred by Princes when their Authority is once Established Ann of Austria and her Son said the same thing Nevertheless we have seen with our own Eyes in the present Reign and we shall see in that whose History I now write that Lewis XIII and his Successor have too much given ear to vile Flatterers who have prompted them to annul the Authority of a Body of Men on which the Preservation of France does depend Reisel Hist de Louis XII dans son livre de la Monarchie de France 1. part chap. VIII X. and which was Established to curb the Absolute power of the King Thus Men talked in the time of Lewis XIII And this Discourse is Seditious under the Reign of Lewis XIV The Chancellour assured them the late King had more than once signified his Intention according to divers preceding Examples that the Queen his Wife should have the Administration of Affairs in case he died before his Son was a Major After the Chancellor's Harangue was over the first President began He exhorted the young Prince to strive to deserve the Title of Father of his People as the good King Lewis XII had done on whose Throne he sat and to follow the Instructions which St. Lewis left to Posterity Servin Advocate-General did the same and all was concluded by the King's Decree sitting in his Seat of Justice and confirming that made the preceding Day and by sending it to other Parliaments and publishing it throughout the Kingdom The Speeches of these Two great Magistrates would have been worthy of their Gravity and Reputation if they had given less excessive Praises to a Princess who never deserved the most moderate ones The New Decree being given out the King returned with mighty Shouts and Acclamations of the Multitude who admire whatever strikes their Senses All People wished a long Prosperity to the Son of the Great Henry crying for Justice on the Authours of his Father's Death Happy had it been if the Prayers and Wishes of his Subjects could have obtained for him the Qualities of Mind and Inclinations necessary to tread in the Steps of the good Kings who preceded him the number of whom is very small But he had not Genius enough to acquire the one and his Mother would not permit him to have a Governour to form him for the other The Count of Soissons was extremely surprized to find all done in his Absence He made haste to Paris Intrigues and Cabals at Court in the beginning of the Regency of Mary de Medicis accompanied with Three Hundred Gentlemen on Horseback To lessen his Discontent which began to discover it self he had the Government of Normandy given him The Regent next rewarded those who had servâ—…d her well The Pensions of the Princes of the House of Lorrain were very moderate in the preceding Reign But Sully who strove to support the greatest Enemies of his Religion raised them to a Hundred thousand Livres The Duke of Guise obtained Two Hundred Thousand Crowns to pay his Debts and the Queen promised to favour him in the Design he had to marry the Heiress of Joyeuse Widow of the Duke of Montpensier by whom she had only One Daughter Epernon was so wealthy and had such Places he seem'd above the Gratifications of the Court He was rewarded according to his own Humour He had great Honours done him and all the Marks of a particular Distinction The Queen lodg'd him in the Louvre I do not said she Vie de Duc d' Epernon L. IV. think my self safe there wihtout him The Secretaries of State communicated all Dispatches to him In a word he seemed on the Point to render himself as formidable now as he had been under the Reign of the weak Henry III. The Count of Soissons sought his Friendship with great earnestness He He aimed by this to strengthen himself against the Prince of Conde who was invited to return and take his Rank at Court The Princess of Montpensier was Daughter to a Niece of the Duke of Epernon and the Count hoped to bring the Wealth of that rich Family into his House by marrying his Son to that Heiress This Match could not be concluded without the Consent of the Uncle Soissons hated Sully mortally He flatter'd himself that Epernon exasperated against that Minister who had done very ill Offices to the One and the Other with the late King would join with him to rid themselves of their common Enemy The Duke did not refuse the Friendship of a Prince of the Blood but would not engage to serve him in all his Projects The Edge of the Count was not taken off by this He proposes to his new Friend to stab the Duke of Sully in the Louvre A base and cowardly Action unworthy I will not say of a Prince but of the meanest Man in the World It struck with Horror one who valu'd himself on his Virtue and Probity Epernon reply'd as civilly as he could his Trust would not permit him to suffer a Violence of that kind in the King's House The Count took this Denyal ill However the secret Desire he had to raise himself above the Prince of Conde who fill'd a Place that Soissons thought belonged of Right to him made him dissemble his ill Humour Could Epernon after this maintain a Friendship with a Man who had discover'd so villainous a Heart However great a Prince is by his Birth or Interest he can deserve nothing but Hatred and Contempt when he once becomes guilty of so black a Crime Jealousies broke out and Intrigues grew numerous State of Affairs in the beginning of the Regency when the Debates began about forming the Regents Council The Princes of the Blood justly pretended to have a place there by Right of their Birth The Constable of Montmorency and the Duke of Joyeuse thought they ought not to be excluded Those of the House of Guise assured of the good Intentions of the Queen towards them hoped to raise themselves They were too weak
followed the Impressions of the Court of Rome Mary disliked too the Austere Humour of the Duke who would not fail to oppose her excessive Expences and Imprudent Liberalities The fear of causing Murmurs amongst the Protestants in discarding a Lord of their Religion without Reason possibly would have restrain'd the Queen and defeated the Cabals against him But they reckoned upon the Interest of the Mareschal of Bouillon with the Party He mortally hated the Duke of Sully and the Prince of Conde tempted by the Confiscation of the Estate of a Superintendant which Bouillon made him cast his Eyes on Declines interceding for a Man whose Plunder would enrich him Mem du Duc de Rohan Liv. 1. a Powerful Spur to make a Prince Act says one of the Wisest Men of that Time THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS XIII King of France and Navarre BOOK II. 1611. The Quarrel of Bellegarde and Conchini IN the Year 1611. Conchini entred upon the Exercise of his New place of first Gentleman of the Chamber Bellegarde who had served the preceding year in the same Quality was loath to leave the Apartment in the Louvre appointed for him who served in that Quality The Marquess of Ancre having already Lodgings in the Louvre upon the account of his Wife but the latter had not respect enough for him to give him any thing which of Right belonged to himself The Key of the Apartments was demanded of Bellegarde Divers pretences were found to defer this The Marquess of Ancre tired with these affected Delays demands it himself of the Great Esquire in the Queens Closet Upon a positive Refusal several Affronting Words past on both sides Conchini did not want Courage He goes out of the Louvre to avoid a Prohibition of Fighting and with a Design to demand the Reason of the Affront and Wrong Bellegarde had done him This Quarrel made a great noise at Court Memoirs de la Regence de Marie de Medicis every one followed that side his Passion or Interest led him to The Count of Soissons and old Friend of the Great Esquires forgot all his New Ties to the Marquess of Ancre He threatned Conchini to drive him from Court and his Passion of which he seldom was Master had Transported him farther if the Marquess de Coeuvres his Confident had not stopt him Is this the way you take said the Marquess to him to compass your Design of Marrying your Son to the Princess of Montpensier and ruine the Duke of Sully your Enemy to quarrel with the Queen and her Creatures Bellegarde is your Friend but the Duke of Guise whom you don't Love has he not contracted an Alliance with this Gentleman by Marrying the Dowager of Montpensier his near Kinswoman Do you think for the future your Interests will be dearer to Bellegarde than those of the House of Guise if you have no Consideration for Conchini at least consider your self The Count began to reflect a little when a Gentleman came to tell Coeuvres the Marquess of Ancre desired to have some Discourse with him in the Hôtel d'Etrees Coeuvres go's instantly exhorts Conchini to consent to an Accomodation Monsieur the Prince and the Duke of Epernon have offer'd me their Mediation says the Marquess of Ancre but if it comes to that Monsieur the Count will be more grateful to me Coeuvres made his Advantage of this Offer The Count of Soissons valued it as a piece of Merit with the Queen to accommodate a Quarrel which gave her Majesty some Disturbance The Count of Soissons quarrels with the Cardinal of Joyeuse and the Duke of Epernon Conchini thought himself extreamly obliged to the Count for having so dexterously managed his Honour Full of Gratitude the Marquess of Ancre promised Soissons to labour effectually to procure the Marriage of Mr. of Enghien with the Rich Hieress of Montpensier and to ruin the Duke of Sully The Queen consented in effect to the two Propositions which the Ministers and Marquess of Ancre strenuously pleaded for But when the Duke of Epernon and the Cardinal of Joyeuse came to understand the Queen disposed of their grand Niece without their consent they complained to her Majesty she had not Communicated to them a Matter which concerned them so nearly Farther they made great Complaints that the Count of Soissons had slighted them in carrying on a Matter of that kind with the Regent without their Privity This Prince full of Life but very Indiscreet took a Pique very unseasonably against two Persons whom he sought to engage in his Interests Endeavours were used for an Accommodation but all in vain Soissons was too passionate and Epernon too haughty The late King had designed the Princess of Montpensier for the Duke of Orleans his second Son and had declared this only to the Cardinal Joyeuse and the Duke of Epernon otherwise the Match would have been agreeable to the Niece and the Uncles But how could they prefer the last Prince of the Blood to the first Son of France The young Duke of Orleans died the 17th of November this year In default of him the Princess of Montpensier was desired for Gaston Duke of Anjou third Son of Henry IV. A Quarrel between the Count of Soissons with the Psince of Conti â—…is Brother The Count of Soissons had the beginning of this year two Notorious Quarrels one with the Prince of Conti his Brother and the other with the Duke of Guise Three days after the Marriage of this latter with the Dowager of Montpensier the Prince of Conti going in the Evening to the Louvre in his Coach met near the Croix du Tiroir the Count of Soissons who likewise was in his There being a stop in the Street it was necessary one of the two Coaches should put back to make way for the other The Counts Gentleman began to be rough and without observing the Liveries to use Threats and command the Princes Coachman to put back immediately Conti's Men would not yield bid the Coachman drive on and fear nothing The Count of Soissons then saw it was his Elder Brother in the Coach he instantly sent to make excuses for the Indiscretion of his Gentleman They protested to the Prince in the Name of the Count this happened by Accident and not by Design The weak Conti was not contented with the Deference which Soissons paid him When a Man has little Merit he easily thinks he is despised To Morrow with your Sword drawn cries the Prince as he passed by his Brothers Coach To stifle brutally for a small point of Honour all Sense of Religion and Nature was this the way to make himself less contemptible The two Princes are reconciled The Regent being informed of what had happened prays the Prince of Conde to intercede and Reconcile his Uncles She sends the Duke of Guise whose Sister Conti had Married to dispose his Brother-in-Law to receive the Excuses that Soissons made
Condition but was drunk before he finished it The Elector caused him to be set in a Chair and ordered the drunken Preacher to be carried back to the Princess The next time Madam he bid them tell her Make a better choice of your Men. If you would have me profit by your Advices send such Men as are more proof against the Temptation than I am Princes often would want place in History if it was not necessary now and then to divert the Reader and paint the Folly of Vice The Electoral Diet at Nutembergh John George the New Elector of Saxony came to Nurembergh with his Collegues about the beginning of October The first Affair treated of there was the Contest between the Dukes of Deux-Ponts and Neuburgh about the Administration of the Electorate during the Minority of the young Count Palatine of the Rhine Mercure Francois 16â—â— 1611. This was to continue till he was arrived at 18 years of Age according to the Golden Bull. Frederick VI. Elector Palatine deceased the preceding year had given by his Will the Guardianship of his Children and the Administration of the Electorate to John Duke of Deux-Ponts He was received at Heidelbergh in this Quality notwithstanding the Opposition of Philip Lewis Duke of Neuburgh who pretended to the Administration as being the nearest Kinsman as is appointed in the Golden Bull of the Emperor Charles IV. The Counsellors of the Palatinate liked the Duke of Deux-Ponts best because he was of the Established Religion of their Country whereas Neuburgh was of the Ausburgh Confession They grounded this Preference on the Examples of several Electors Palatine who appointed Guardians to their Children and Administrators of the Electorate to the prejudice of their nearest Kinsmen The Affair was remitted to the Emperor Till a full Decision of the Guardianship and Administration were adjudged with a provision to the Duke of Deux-Ponts The Electoral Diet of Nurembergh did not any more give a Defensive Judgment It was concluded here that the Duke of Deux-Ponts should keep the Place of Count Palatine without prejudice to the Duke of Newburgh's Title In the beginning of November the Electors sent a Deputation to the Emperor The Electors Demands of the Emperor to represent to him the things which they thought proper to desire from him These were that Justice should be Reestablished That he should chuse more Faithful Counsellors That he should Summon a General Diet That the Electors having no design to chuse a King of the Romans without the consent of his Imperial Majesty or to remove the Empire from the House of Austria Rodolphus would Name his Successor The Electors assured him at the same time they did not approve of the Attempts of his Brother Matthias In the close they Admonished him that the ill Administration of the Empire proceeded from his Majesty 's not following the example of his Predecessors who used to consult with the Electors The Answer of the Emperor Rodolphus Rodolphus only gave a General Answer I know says he the Empire do's want a King of the Romans The Electors have spoke to me of chusing one and I design to Nominate one who is fit to fill the Place I should have done this sooner if the Troubles in Bohemia had not entirely taken me up But before I declare my self I shall be glad to see a General Diet and I will be present there The Electors should take care that I may speak freely there what I think to be for the good of the Empire The Electors having received the Emperor's Answer broke up the 12th of November after they had resolved to hold a Diet at Francfort in the Month of April the next year for the Election of a King of the Romans Europe was then in Mourning for the Death of Margaret of Austria The Death of the Queen of Spain Wife to Philip the III. King of Spain She left behind her four Sons and two Daughters Philip Charles Ferdinand Alphonso and Ann whom we shall soon see Queen of France and Margaret There was a Solemn Service for the Queen of Spain in the Cathedral Church of Paris The Princes of Conde Conti and the Duke of Guise performed the Honours and the Archbishop of Ambrun spoke the Funeral Oration The Death of the Duke and Dutchess of Mayenne The House of Guise had not long before lamented the Death of the Duke of Mayenne the Famous Head of the Holy League in France He died at Soissons the beginning of October The Duke of Aiguillon his Son Succeeded him and took the Name of the Duke of Mayenne The Father had gained a mighty Reputation in War but his Remissness made him lose many fair opportunities of encreasing it His Revolt against King Henry the III. was pardonable for the desire he had to Revenge the Death of his two Brothers if it were lawful I will not say for a Christian but for any Man whatever to kindle a Civil War to Revenge a private Injury His Opposition of Henry the IV. was not wholly the effect of his Zeal for the Old Religion The Duke of Mayenne was more moderate against this Prince after he left the Communion of the Reformed than before The ill Humour which the Miscarrying of the League had put him into made him take in Despair a Resolution to retire into Spain But the Clemency or rather the Policy of Henry stopt him The King proposed very Advantagious Conditions to him The Duke had in some manner deferved well from him though he strove to exclude him from the Crown Whilst the League was active Mayenne always opposed the design of Philip to procure a Prince of his House to be chosen Farther he kept the Duke of Guise his Nephew steddy who was dazled with the deceitful promises of the Spaniards When they proposed to the Duke of Mayenne to follow the Example of Hugh Capet who reserved the Sovereignty for himself permitting the Governors of Provinces and considerable Towns to make themselves Dukes and Counts Vassals of the Crown I would sooner die replied he generously than make an Advantage of the Misfortunes of my Country Henrietta of Savoy his Wife died of Regret a few days after him and both had the same Funeral Solemnity at Soissons The Dutchess of Lorrain and the Cardinal de Gonzaga came to the Court of France The Court was at Fontainblean when they heard of the Death of the Duke and Dutchess of Mayenne The Cardinal of Gonzaga and the Dutchess of Lorrain his Sister were come thither to pay a Visit to Mary de Medicis their Aunt They had great Honours done them and were regaled with all the Diversions which the place afforded It is reported the Dutchess of Lorrain came to mention the Match which the late King had proposed himself of his Eldest Son with the Princess of Lorrain This was the best thing the Regent could do for the young King's advantage Siri Mem. recondite To. II. p.
or against the Court of Rome as the Court of France would have it the Abbot Chanvalon I say propos'd in an Assembly of the Faculty of Paris that another Syndic might be chosen in the room of Richer The Dr. modestly opposeth this last Effort of his Enemies The Faculty was divided Duval was at the Head of 43 cowardly Doctors or Ignoramus's who upheld the Abbot's Proposal 25 Doctors of clearer Judgment and no less fearful declared for Richer The Division in the Sorbonne was so great as the Queen and Parlement made a Prohibition that the Faculty might not proceed to the Election of a New Syndic But Perron the Nuncio and other Creatures of the Pope's stickled so mightily as notwithstanding all the just Oppositions of Richer and his Friends the King sent an express Command to the Faculty to choose a new Syndic They must obey Richer protested openly that he would die in the Communion of the Roman Church that he was a good Servant to the King and Queen that he would ever defend without Stubbornness and Ambition the ancient Doctrine of the Schools at Paris that he believ'd he ought to oppose the Pernicious and Detestable Doctrine which was Artificially insinuated viz. That it is lawful to Depose Kings and kill Tyrants Lastly that he submitted his Book to the Censure of the Church and the Faculty of Paris and his strongest Passion was to see it examin'd by equitable and disinteress't Judges What remains to us of Richer proves that he suffer'd with much Moderation and Patience the Injustice done to him Filesac was chosen to Succeed him in the Syndicate Amongst all these Troubles the Queen Regent diverted her self more than Religion or Decency in the second year of her Mourning would allow of she Mourn'd not the Tragical Death of the Deceased King but for meer fashion sake Nothing said Mary de Medicis to the President Jeannin whose Son had been Murder'd Nothing hath so much appeas'd my Sorrows after the Death of the King as the Affairs of the Regency Her Majesty might have said with more Reality if she had said as to see my self Mistress The Dukes de Vendosme and de Cheureuse were with Bassompierre Memoires de Bassompierre to dance a Ball every Sunday sometimes at the Prince of Conti's House sometimes at the Dutchess of Guise's because the Regent dar'd not to hold publick Assemblies in the Louvre The double Marriage being solemnly declar'd the 25th of March by the Chancellor in presence of their Majesties the Prince of Conti the Peers and Officers of the Crown the Spanish Ambassador gave his consent to it from the King his Master From that time he render'd to Madam the Eldest Daughter of France all the same Honours which the Spaniards give their Queens But the French Courtiers whose Demeanours are much different from those of the Spaniards could not forbear Laughter observing the Ceremonies and affected Gravity of the Ambassador Mary de Medicis had order'd a Magnificent Tournament in the Royal Square for joy of the double Marriage The three Champions were the Duke de Guise the Duke de Nevers and Bassompierre The Constable and four Marshals of France were to be Judges This Festival which doth not deserve a place in any serious History cost an infinite Deal of Money Mary spent in shews and indiscreet Liberality the Millions which the Deceased King had spared with too much providence New Broils at the Court of France The Prince of Conde and Count Soissons were not present at the Declaration of Marriage They were retired from Court with a Resolution not to return till after the King's Majority and not to Sign the Contract of Marriage The Queen said they is able to finish all alone what she hath resolv'd upon Siri Memoire recondite Tom. II. p. 640 641 642 c. and Negotiated without our Knowledge God forbid we should do this injury to the late King's Memory as to consenâ—… that the word which he hath given the Duke of Savoy should not be kept whose House hath been so many times ally'd to this of France Such good Sentiments would deserve praises if Princes did not ordinarily use such Pretensions when they are acted only by meer Interest Conde and Soissons did not see that the Regent was forward to grant them the Gratifications which they were made to hope for The Queen being strengthned with the House of Guise and the Duke of Epernon assured of the Constable and the Mareschals of Bouillon and Lesdiguieres who had been brought over Discontented with what the two Princes had said in Council when the double Marriage was propos'd the Queen seem'd not to be any more concern'd for the Princes of the Blood The Constable only endeavour'd to serve them by putting Mary de Medicis in fear He oft-times represented to her that the Civil Wars and Miseries of the precedent Reigns had no other cause than the evil Counsel given to Catharine de Medicis for to despise and lay aside the Princes of the Blood They Madam said he who insinuate into you the same Methods think more of Establishing their Fortunes and Reputation than the good of the State If your Majesty gives ear to them I foresee that Trouble and Confusion will speedily follow The Advice of the Constable allyed to the Princes of the Blood and Enemy to the House of Guise was look'â—… upon as Partial the Regent gavâ—â—â—o Attention to it but at the last push The Guises and the Duke of Epernon Triumph'd while the Prince of Conde and Soissons were absent The House of Guise had taken care to order the Tournament Under pretext of contributing to the Queen's Diversion they became more powerful than ever Some Satyrical Wits said that she lookt upon the Chevalier de Guise with too favourable an Eye He ordinarily waited on her at Table when the Princess de Conti or the Dutchess de Guise regaled her Majesty Mary seem'd very much content to look near the fine Hand of the Chevalier which he himself affected to shew The Marquess d'Ancre who all of this House and the Duke of Epernon hated could not endure the great favour shew'd the Guises and their Ally The Ministers of State were much alarm'd at it They thought to pluck down the pride of these two Ambitious Houses Conchini was so much the more disquieted for that the Queen was angry with him Mary raised him up to this Greatness but in consideration of his Wife and the Marquess did not live kindly with her His anger at home proceeded sometimes so far as he talk't of leaving the Court They quarrelled lately at Table with so much heat as they threw Plates at one another's Head The Regent upheld the Marchioness The Guises and the Ministers of State who lov'd not Conchini took Goligai's part and bemoaned her to Exasperate farther the Queen against her Husband All this set Conchini forward to side with the Princes of the Blood who had a mind to humble the
Yoland his Daughter and of Edmund of Savoy whom she had married should inherit Montferrat preferrably to the Daughters of the Family of the Paleologues who might only pretend to a Portion suitable to their Quality Charles Emanuel had other Pretensions to a part of Montferrat by Virtue of the Will of Blanche Paleologus married into the House of Savoy She made Duke Charles II. Heir of a part of Montferrat which she laid claim to and of what was besides due to her for her Jointure The Sum was but Fourscore Thousand Crowns but the Interest for a long time added to the Principal made it amount almost to a Million of Livres This occasioned a very long Sute between the Houses of Savoy and Gonzaga Instead of ending the Process by a Definitive Sentence the Emperor Charles V. made the Affair more perplex'd He to content both Parties awarded the Possession of Montferrat to the House of Mantua and left as they were the Pretensions of Savoy by Virtue of a Testamentary Donation of Blanche Paleologus The Marriage of the last deceased Duke Francis with Margaret of Savoy was at last concluded with design to put an end to all the Differences of both Houses In favour of this Alliance Charles Emanuel gave up all his Pretensions to his Daughter and the Children begotten of her if she should have any 'T was agreed likewise on both sides that a Line should be drawn to divide as equally as possible could be the two Princes Estates which ran into one another But this Division being made the Duke of Savoy was minded to renew his ancient Rights insomuch as he was not so ready to maintain the Pretensions of Mary his Grandchild for Montferrat as his own Cartifices of the Duke of Savoy As soon as he had heard of the Duke of Mantua's Death he sent two Persons whom he chiefly rely'd upon not so much to comfort his Daughter as to instruct her in what she was to do in this present Conjuncture The first counselled her to say she was with Child to hinder Cardinal Gonzaga who came in haste from Rome to put himself into Possession of the deceas'd Duke's Estate his Brother Margaret was extreamly fix'd on the Interest of her House and Charles Emanuel had taken care to breed up his Children upon an entire dependance on their Father so that the young Widow was easily brought over to counterfeit her self big with Child Victor Amedaeus Prince of Piedmont went in Person to Mantua under pretence of visiting his afflicted Sister but he had secret Orders from his Father to take her out of Mantua with her Daughter to Turin or Milan or lastly to Montferrat of which Place the Princess Mary was Heiress It is not convenient said Victor Amedaeus to the Court of Mantua for a disconsolate Widow to live in a Place where she constantly finds Objects to renew her Sorrow and Decency will no more permit her to be with the Cardinal her Brother-in-Law who is not much older than she and hath so great Interest for the Succession of Mantua He besides ought to wish it so for his own Reputation Would he make himself responsible for all the Accidents â—…hich might happen to the Mother or the Daughter My Sister continued he ought â—…lso to take along with her the young Prinâ—…ess she can't be in better Hands Natuâ—…al Right gives to Mothers the Education of â—…heir Children They can take more care of them and be more tender of them than any other Person The Cardinal Ferdinand understood very well that the Savoyards thought of nothing more than making sure to themselves Montferrat under the Name of the Pupil who was in their Hands or at least at the disposal of John Mendoza Marquess of Inojosa Governor of the Milanese their good Friend Therefore the Cardinal alledg'd several Reasons to hinder his Sister-in-Law and his Niece from going out of the States of Mantua Is it Reasonable answer'd Ferdinand that we should suffer the Princess to go away who perhaps may quickly bring an Heir capable to make this Country happy The Princes of the House of Gonzaga are ordinarily born where they are to Govern and is it not more convenient for my Niece to be brought up in a Country where we shall endeavour to make her some time a Sovereign Mistress by Marrying her to the Heir of the House of Mantua If the sight of my Deceased Brother's Palace troubles too much his Widow we have other places whither she may retire for her Pleasure with all imaginable Liberty Charles Emanuel Negotiated at Milan with as much Zeal and Artifice He persuaded that they would not consent to entrust with him the Heiress of Montferrat caused it to be reported at Inojosa that she was the King of Spain's Grandchild that his Catholick Majesty was interess't to get her out of her Uncles Hands by the Father side that they should before-hand beware of the Cardinal from whom she carried away with her the Succession of a rich Marquisate that Philip III. was to take so much the more care of the Princess Mary that it was of great concern to his Majesty that Montferrat should be in the possession of a House which might be the best agreeable to him Lastly that it was to be feared lest the Gonzagues should marry their Niece into France with the Son of the Duke of Nevers their near Relation The Governor of Milan demands the Widow Dutchess of Mantua and her Daughter These Reasons t' was said backt with some Presents which Charles Emanuel had sent to the Marquess Inojosa engaged this Governor to send the Prince d'Ascoli to Mantua with a great Retinue to demand of the Cardinal the Widow Dutchess and her Daughter Such a Proposal at first surprised him but recovering himself a little he found an Expedient which broke the Measures of the Prince of Piedmont and the Envoy of the Governor of Milan T' is true answer'd Ferdinand that the Princess Mary hath the Honour to be related to the King of Spain but she hath this likewise of being the Emperor's and Queen of France's Niece I can't disdispose of her without the consent of their Majesties Besides the Dutchess my Sister-in-Law and I are at difference about the Tutelage of her Children It belongs to the Emperor on whom our Estates depend to judge which of our two Rights are best grounded The Prince of Piedmont and d'Ascoli departed after this Answer whether it was that the respect they had for so greaâ—… a Name stopt their Mouths or that they had not taken necessary Measures for speaking more resolutely The Regent of France opposeth the designs of the Duke of Savoy The Marquess Trenel was at Turin iâ—… the behalf of Mary de Medicis when the News was receiv'd there of the Death oâ—… the Duke of Mantua Amongst the Complements of Condolence to Charles Emanuel upon this troublesom Accident which happen'd in his Family Trenel as from himself insinuated into the dissembling Savoyard
to represent to you further Madam that they put you to needless Expences to gain certain Persons of our Religion We know who those mercenary Souls are They deceive your Majesty who tell you that they can he Serviceable to you I can tell you a far less Chargeable way to have all the Reformed at your Devotion That is to give Orders that all Promises made to us be performed our Griâ—…vances be redressed some ambiguous Expressions in the Edicts be more favourably Interpreted and some things be granted us which may secure the Peace of our Churches and do no great Injury to the Roman Catholicks The ardent and sincere Zeal which I have for your Majesty makes me speak against my self Pursue the Method which I take the liberty to propose you may take away when you please our Offices and Pensions Our Churches living peaceably under his Majesty's Protection will never concern themselves in my favour or for any of the Lords of the Kingdom This Advice was generous and worthy of a truly Christian Gentleman It might have had some good Effect upon such as had no other design but to preserve Peace in the Kingdom by doing Justice and perhaps some small gratification to the Reformed But they were resolved to Ruine them and to effect a design long since contrived and pursued For almost an Age together the Court could not take more convenient Measures than the corrupting of those who had any Credit or Authority in the Reformed Church The ambition and avarice of the Lords and a great number of Hugonot Gentlemen has done more mischief to the Religion than the haâ—…red of the Pope and his Clergy or the Zeal of the blind and superstitious Kings and Queens of France If the Dukes and Peers the Mareschals of France the Lords and Gentlemen of Note had had as much Religion and Probity as du Plessis Mornai I question whether the Son of him whose History I write would ever have ventured to attempt the overthrow of the Reformed Churches of his Kingdom The Posterity of a corrupted Gentry who had no great Concern for their Religion does at this day bewail the fatal Consequences of the Baseness of their Ancestors The Regent received at Tours The K. and Q. his Mother go to Poitiers Letters from the Duke of Maienne He informed her that the Prince de Conde was retired to Chateauroux and that he defired at the present no Reparation of the Injury Mercure Francois 1614. which he had complained had been done him at Poitiers It was wisely done to seem to neglect an Offence for which the Court would never have granted him the Satisfaction which he expected The Bishop was too much favoured by the Queen He went boldly to Tours with Two hundred of the Inhabitants to pray their Majesty 's to come to Poitiers That day when Chataigner made appear that he understood the Office of a Captain better than that of a Bishop was in his Opinion the day of the preservation of Poitiers Their Majesties went thither They were Received with all imaginable Expressions of Joy They Elected a Mayor Mazurier had Orders to remain there as Intendant Rochfort Lieutenant General for the King in that Province a-little after resigned his Office The Count de la Rochefoucaut of the Party of the Guises succeeded him They had a mind to have Poitou in their Power that they might go and Receive the Infanta of Spain when the time should come Memoires de Duc de Rohan The Duke de Rohan being admonished by Velleroi that the Queen was surprized that he did not appear at Court since she was so near to St. Jean d' Angeli came to pay his Respect to their Majesty's They received him kindly and the Regent taking all oportunities to get him near her self made him promise to be present at the meeting of the States of Bretagne which was to be held at Nantes their Majestys being present and to go afterwards to the States General which were already appointed to Meet Mary de Medicis The Q. goes to hold a meeting of the States of Bretagne at Nantes Vie de M. du Plessis Mornai Liv. III. pleas'd that every thing went according to her mind took the Road of Anger 's to go to Nantes Her Majesty had a mind to give a Proof of her Confidence in du Plessis Mornai as she passed through Saumur He went to meet the King being followed by an Hundred Gentlemen As soon as the Young Lewis had enter'd the Castle du Plessis Offer'd to make the Garrison march out But his Majesty would not permit him It is not against our Kings said the Governor that we have strong Places in our Possession they have been willing to grant them us that we may be secured against the hatred of our sworn Enemies If at any time his Majesty does the Honour to be present there Mercure Francoise 1614. we desire no other Security but his Presence The Duke de Vendome seeing their Majesties came in good Earnest towards him submitted himself They gave him New Letters of Re-establishment Memoires de Bassompierre which were Registred in the Parliament of Rennes But he had the Mortification of see that in the meeting of the States of the Province of which he was Governor they made Invectives against him and took Resolutions injurious to his Person and utterly contrary to his Interest So bad a Beginning was no good Omen for the rest of the Life of Coesar de Vendome He could never after recover his Reputation or Respect Henry IV. his Father had Married him to the Heiress of the House of Mercoeur and one of the greatest Fortunes of a Subject in Europe He wasted the great Estate which she brought him The death of the Prince de Conti. Maâ—…y de Mâ—…dicis Returned triumphantly to Paris She found there a Court deprived of a Prince of the Blood The loss was not very great Francis de Bourbon Prince de Conti who died the 13th of August made no great Figure in the World His Widow was soon Comforted after the loss of a weak Husband She was desperately in Love with Bassompierre There had passed between them that which they call Marriage before God Entragues the famous Marchioness de Vernueil's Sister and Daughter to Mary Touchet Charles IX his Mistress had commenced a Suit against Bassompierre upon the account of a Promise of Marriage which he had made her This happy Spark had Two Wives at the same time The First out of a Family more Renowned for the fine Ladies which were Married into the Family or were of it than for any of its Military Exploits the Second being the Daughter of the Duke of Guise and the Widow of a Prince of the Blood might have done Bassompierre great Honour But by an odd Accident Bassompierre would never own the one for his Lawful Wife the other never dared to make her Marraige Publick New Contests between the Princes of