Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	england_n	king_n	stir_v	1,803	5	9.7955	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42275	The history of France written in Italian by the Count Gualdo Priorato, containing all the memorable actions in France and other neighbouring kingdoms ; the translation whereof being begun by the Right Honourable Henry, late Earl of Monmouth, was finished by William Brent, Esq.; Historia delle revolutioni di Francia sotto il regno di Luigi XIV. English	Gualdo Priorato, Galeazzo, conte, 1606-1678.; Monmouth, Henry Carey, Earl of, 1596-1661.; Brent, William, d. 1691.	1676 (1676)	Wing G2166; ESTC R21817	657,819	516

on the Ninteenth of August passing first by Turennes Army which advanced from Lagny towards Brie and pursuing his journey he came to Bedam and from thence to Bovillon where he stayed Conde hearing that he was gone whereby all pretence of War ceased sent Marquess Ierze to the Lorraine Army whither was come the Succor which Wirtemberg brought the Princes with orders to fall upon the Cardinal in his journey and take him prisoner But the Spaniards who liked it not acquainted him with it so he escaped the danger The very same day the King went from Pontois and that he might win the more upon the Parisians when he came to Campaigne he published an Act of Amnesty wherein after a short account of all that had past from One thousand six hundred forty and eight till then he granted a General Pardon and Abolition of all that had been done against his Majesties service nulling whatsoever had been done by his decrees upon occasion of the present troubles from the first of February One thousand six hundred fifty and one till then as also his Majesties Declarations of September and the eight of October that year upon condition that Orleans Conde County and their whole party should lay down Arms within three days after the publication of the said Amnesty and to that purpose Orleans should within three days send a writing to his Majesty subscribed by himself wherein he should renounce all Treaties Confederacies and Leagues with any whatsoever without the Kings leave and that Conde and County should do the like and that they within the same time should put necessary orders into the Kings hands to make the Spaniards who were in Stenay Burg or in any other places to go from thence as also to make the Enemies Ships depart from the Coasts of France that Orleans and Conde should cause the Foreign Forces which were about Paris to march directly towards the Coast of Flanders and join their Forces to them of Turenne and Ferte Senetre and also all Forces that were farther off within fifteen days declaring that who should not do what was contained in this Amnesty within three days should not partake thereof wherein the King did only except such faults as had been committed between particular people of the same party which he left to the due course of Law This Amnesty with this bundle at its breech seemed a piece of cunning to those who liked it not saying that those not being therein comprehended who had fought Duels or assaulted the publick Pallace on the fourth of Iuly the King might punish whom he would under colour of this Riot It did not withstanding make impression upon those who liked not the cavil of the Princes and Frondeurs but had thought that when the Cardinal should be gone the Princes and Parliament would throw themselves at the Kings feet But though neither the Princes nor Frondeurs had any thought of accepting the Amnesty yet they appeared zealous of the general good seeming very well pleased that the Cardinal was gone Orleans and Conde went to the Parliament where it was decreed that thanks should be sent to his Majesty for dismissing Mazarine all the chief Companies and the whole body of the City did the like And soon after the Parliament resolved to intreat the King to return to Paris and the Princes declared they were ready to lay down arms when a good Amnesty should be granted Orleans sent an express to the Duke Anville who was a friend of his and one whom the King loved and who was very faithfull to the Queen to get Pasports from his Majesty for such Commissioners as were to negotiate a final Peace But Anville having detained the Messenger three days sent him back without an answer for it seemed not decent that the King should enter into other Treaties having supplyed all things with an Amnesty and intended that the Princes should presently lay down arms as they had offered to do when the Cardinal was gone from Court Anville writ therefore back to the Duke of Orleans telling him that he thought his request would be granted if his desire were made directly to the King which being done Marishal de Estampes had a Pass sent him to come to Court not as a Commissioner but as a Courtier and at the same time certain private Treaties were renued between Secretary Goulas Marquis Chasteaneuse and the Dutchess of Aguillon the contents whereof was to slave Orleans off from joyning with Conde whose declarations made in Parliament and to the Court were clearly found not to be real since at the same time that he said he was ready for Peace he protested at Madrid and Brussels that he would alwaies join with the Crown of Spain and continue war and did negotiate in England for assistance in his designs that therefore all assistance in France should be taken from him without which he would be but a bare Captain of the King of Spain and would be able to do but little against so powerfull a Kingdom when it should be wholly obedient to the King The Prince his Forces lay this mean while behind the River between Surene and St. Clou expecting Recruits from Flanders and those fruitfull hills being full of Vineyards and grapes beginning then to grow ripe the Soldiers did very much prejudice the people in these parts at whose requests they were sent to St. Victoire where some Soldiers quarreling with the Citizens upon the Guard five or six of the inhabitants were slain and twenty of the Soldiers which seemed to set them at variance But because the Cardinal knew that the welfare of the Royal party consisted in reducing the Parisians to a necessity of Peace which they began to wish the people Merchants and all others being weary of the ruines which they underwent he advised the King to go Campaigne as being more commodious for the Court than Pontoise and that he should never be allured to go to Paris without undoubted security of not being once more detained there and this was one of the chiefest Maxims which he recommended to the Queen in his absence which he gave in precise charge to Abbat Vndedei he added that the Kings Forces should go to oppose those of Flanders which were marching to assist the Princes and that if they should be too weak they should go to Villeneufe upon the Seene and fortifie themselves and have Provisions from Corbeile Melune and other neighbouring parts by means of the River where whilst they should tarry the Enemies Forces would be necessitated to keep there abouts also so as the Country being sack't and plundered by the Soldiery and Travellers slain the Parisians would without an open breach be in a manner besieged whereby the Princes would become odious as thought the chief occasion thereof that thus keeping corrispondency with their friends that were faithfull to them in Paris the Parisians might easily be brought to resolve upon fitting means to free themselves of their miseries which could not

the one of these two Provinces lay towards Spain and England the other seated amidst the Richest and most noble Provinces of France confining upon Flanders and not far from Germany that it was not to be imagined the first should be able to subsist by the backing of Spain and England because it was not to be believed that the Prince of Conde who by blood was so interessed in the Crown would be so foolish as to dismember the Kingdom of so noble a Province to throw it into the hands of the Spaniards who were natural Enemies to France or of the English who were proud foes nor were things so easily done as designed that it was not time for Spain to ingage in new enterprizes and that all the aid was in considerable which could come from England which was not sure to establish her new state by her own Forces much less to send them abroad to purchase new Enemies that reason of State might require that the power of France might be divided and weakned but that the English could not desire that by the lessning of this the power of Spain should be increased which as being apter to raise Naval Fleets ought consequently to be by them more feared that on the contrary Burgundy the Prince of Conde's Government confining upon Germany and joyning upon Flanders which is the Magazine of the Arms of the Spanish Monarchy would be more apt to foment the Male-contents in Paris when that City as there was now great likelihood should declare for their party And that the Princes passing over the Loire to Carita and joyning with Berry the Government of the same Prince and from thence with Poictou Limosin and Anjou all which Provinces were held by his friends and afterwards with Guienne it was to be feared that the Kingdom being cut through the very midst by such a knot the said Princes might not only be able to maintain themselves in Guienne but make good their party in Paris by the assistance of Neighboring Burgundy and by the Forces of Flanders and Spain reduce the King's Dignity to an inevitable precipice it being insidiated by so many seditious male-contents who by such an opportunity might compass their pernitious Machinations That therefore his opinion was that this change might be permitted and that to moderate the great opinion which the Gascoigns have of Conde they should be suffered to see him for that men are apt to worship a great Warrier more when they hear of his prowess in War than when betaking himself to his quiet he falls into those licentious courses as are usual to the military profession and oftentimes those Flowers which are most pleasing to the eye do most nauseate the Nose And the mean while the King's power breaking out in his Majority would like the Sun dissipate those clouds which do darken the luster of this Kingdom and obfuscate the splendor which other Planets exhal'd from thence and the Crown will re-assume that happy motion which hath hitherto accompanied it Wrought upon by these reasons all of them did unanimously concur to the permutation of these two Governments the which being obtained by the Prince made him also pretend to change Champagnia but the Government of Guienne not appearing so prejudicial for the aforesaid reasons as that of Provence it would not be listned to The Cardinal without whose allowance this change was made blamed the resolution weighing that if it made not much for the Prince his interest he would not have pursued it so hotly writ that he thought it would prove too prejudicial unless it were granted him for some more secret and more important respects and for what concern'd Provence he exaggerated much against them who would so much as hearken to it and wish'd the Queen and Council to have a care of it and not to place so much power in the Prince of Conde for that the more power was given to him the more was the King's Authority lesned It had been much better for the Prince to have taken upon him the supream command of the Army as well for the Grandezza of the Kingdom as for his own glory and Reputation but he did not value it as well in respect of what hath already been touched upon as that he did not too much trust the Queen who was jealous of all his ways and therefore considering that putting himself into an Army composed of Veteran Soldiers who were all faithful to the King who reverenced nothing but his Majesties orders he imagined that he could have no other obedience from them but what did merely concern the service of France wherefore he refused that command which the Queen confer'd upon Marishal de Auniont This Army being provided of Officers who did all of them depend upon the Court was considerable both for number and valour but did not much that Summer for want of monies which was occasioned by the Kingdoms disorders lying only upon the Frontiers of Flanders as shall be said hereafter Whereat the Parliament being moved whose designs were to win upon the peoples affection seeming to be their defenders decreed on the 19 th of Iune that the order made before for remedying the unruliness of the Militia should be put in execution and nominated some Commissioners to that purpose who were to go whither they listed but all in vain for they wanted power to make themselves be obeyd the Soldiers making themselves merry with all their resolves which was not unpleasing to the Court whose concernments were Govern'd according to advice given ever and anon by the Cardinal who though he were at Brules in Germany was informed of all that was done at Court according to which the Councils were there regulated and the King did continually assure him by his Letters that he would by all means have him near his person though it should be with hazard of his Crown yet great secrecy was used in this correspondency the Court being at Paris for fear of being again beset with the City Guards if it should be known Amongst these irresolutions of the King's Council the Cardinal's friends sought to win over the Prince of Conde industriously imploying those therein who were known able to promote so slippery a business The Princess Palatine was desired to interpose her self in this accommodation but she being unwilling to break her word given to the Dutchess Chevereux touching the Marriage and to the Coadjutor touching his being Cardinal declared that she would be ready to do any thing that would not clash upon these two points by retracting from whence she might be taxed with breach of promise but the affairs in the treaty of Guienne altering upon the breach of Madamoselle Chevereux marriage opinions also altered and hence began all things to change The Princess Palatine did notwithstanding say by consent of the Dutchess of Longueville that if the Queen would be gracious to the Prince she would quit the Union whereunto she was now annext and would cordially joyn

and went to the Duke his Father having past his word that he would forget what was past The King tarried at Pontoise from the 17 th of Iuly till the 19 th of August in which time great sickness grew there by reason of the straitness of the Town and the scarcity of all things Many dyed amongst which the Duke of Bullions death was lamented and this malignant influence dilated it self even unto Paris where a great many men of all sorts dyed in a few days the Duke of Vallois the only Son to the Duke of Orleans being about two years old dyed also this September to the great grief of his Father and Mother by his death Conde returned to be the first Prince of the blood as he was before the other was born for the Sons nor Brothers of the King are not called Princes of the blood but Sons of France Whilst affairs went thus in these parts Count Harcourt keeping still with his Army in Guienne to observe what the Princes Forces did went to besiege Villaneus upon the River Lot which was fortified only with old Wals and Towers but well garrison'd under Marquess Theubon wherefore he was forced to raise his siege after two months attempt The Kings men had ill fortune also in Flanders for want growing hourly greater in Dunkirk the Plague and dysentery grew so violent amonst the Soldiers as above a thousand of them dyed in eleven days and the rest were so weakned by continual watching as the Archduke resolved to approach it with 8000 Foot and 3000 Horse and Ten pieces of Canon there were not above 700 Foot in the City who were fit for service of which 200 of the Inhabitants who wished well to Spain did still keep Guard and the rest defended the Fortifications who were continually in Arms without being misled whereat there was such murmuring as they were thrice ready to revolt had not the Governor by hopes of speedy succor and by his much reverenced Authority detained them The Spaniards fell upon the Counterscarp on the sixth of September upon three sides with a Thousand men on each part the Spaniards and Italians won it and lost it again with some prejudice but being assaulted a second time with fresh men they won it wherefore Monsieur de Estrades finding that his men had given back and that the Enemy began to lodge upon the same Counterscarp fell upon them with 500 Foot and 40 Officers and charged them so furiously as after a bitter and bloody bickering he recovered the Counterscarp losing Seven Officers and Twenty five Soldiers and he himself was shot with an Harquebuse on the Thigh After this unfortunate but glorious accident followed treachery framed by three Soldiers who were bribed by the Enemy which being discovered cost them their lives and the Governor was commended for discovering and punishing it for six weeks past the Soldiers had but six ounces of Bread the day wherefore Estrades and all the chief of the Garrison thought it fit to yield to necessity and to parly wherein it was concluded on the 12 th of September that if they were not relieved within six days the place should be surrendered that in the interim there should be a cessation of Arms and that the besieged should be permitted to send two Captains one to Callis to the Marishal de Aumount and another to the Duke of Vandosme at Diepe to acquaint them with the condition of the place and in what need they stood of speedy succor Rivilliers went to Callis Rouvie to Diepe and they arrived so luckily as Marishal de Aumount began the same day to lade six months Victuals in several Barks and 1500 Foot at Callis to attend the Fleet which was gone from Diepe wherein they were to go to Dunkirk which being block'd up by some few Spanish Vessels it had not been hard to have fought them and to have made way through them But before we speak of the going of the Fleet we must acquaint you with what past in the Seas of Britanny before it went from thence the Duke of Vandosme vvho vvas Lord High Admiral of France vvas gone into that Province and had armed some Frigats about Rochel against Count de Ognons Fleet which was re-inforced with some Ships from Spain which threatned Rochel not a little When he had gathered together Twelve Ships Three Frigats one Gally and some other Vessels in Brest he went from thence on the 19 th of Iuly and coasting along Eiavet and other places some other Ships and Gallies joyned with him so as being about Twenty Ships and Frigates Four Gallies and Twelve fire Boats he went towards Olone and from thence to the Strand of Pallisse over-against the Fort Preda where Monsieur Souches Commander of the Isle of Rhe furnished him with some French Foot The Spanish Fleet consisted of Seventeen Frigates commanded by Admiral Antonio Misnell and by Antonio Dies who being drown'd between Blavet and Grois Cornelius Meigne succeeded him to this Fleet was joyn'd Twenty five Vessels and five fire Ships when news came of the Arrival of the French on the Ninth of August two hours after Sunrising they were at a competent distance to begin battle with their Canon which roared on all sides they advanced warily not to ingage themselves in danger a brisk wind blowing a little before night the Fleets were severed The Nativity a Spanish Ship was burnt and taken Commanded by Antonio Gonsales a Dunkirker a Ship of the Neapolitan Squadron vvas sunk aftervvards Vandosme vvould have done more but vvanting necessary provisions and monies he vvas contented to have driven them avvay sent his Ships into Haven and he landed at Rochel vvent tovvards the Court vvhich vvas then at Campagne vvhither he came on the Fourth of September from vvhence he vvas suddenly sent vvith orders to relieve Dunkirk to vvhich purpose expresses vvere sent into Britanny and the neighbouring Provinces at the nevvs brought by Monsieur Rorur of Dunkirks capitulating the Commanders of the Fleet made that vvays presently hoping to relieve the Tovvn But the Parliament of England at the desire of the Spanish Ambassador in London and the rather for that they liked not that that important Haven so near the Thames mouth should remain in the French mens hands they apply'd themselves to divert their succor vvherefore that Kingdom being strong at Sea by reason of the War declared against the Hollanders vvhen the French Ships appeared before Callis to receive in provisions and necessaries for the relief of Dunkirk assoon as they had cast Anchor Blake the English General fell upon them vvith many of his Fleet vvith such fury as they prepared rather to fly than fight though in vain for unless it vvere Three Ships vvhich held out at Sea and got into Flushing all the rest were taken but that the Parliament of England might not appear an open Enemy to France now that they were at War with the Hollanders they sent all the people that were in

duty by submitting to his Majestie 's Authority These good Successes in Guienne were seconded by other Accidents which were of great advantage to the King's Party for the Newes came That on the 28th of February there had been a great Fight at Sea between the English and the Hollanders wherein each Party taking themselves to have the better and the loss of Ships being almost equal the Victory remained undecided And this Engagement of the English in a Warr against the Hollanders hid●red them from being able to embrace those resolutions against France which otherwise they might have done by assisting those of Bourdeaux to the great prejudice of the Crown of France which would have run great hazard being attacked on the one side by the powerful Forces of the King of Spain and on the other by Intestine Broyls if at the same time it had been also assaulted by the English But the good Fortune of France subordinate unto the Will of God which disposeth all things according to the order of his Providence preserved in that conjuncture this most Christian Kingdom from receiving prejudice by that Nation different in Religion and Customes which at that time met with the fairest opportunity that might be to have wrought her ends it being governed then by a violent party had she not undertaken Enterprises different from what was expected and being confounded within her self had not given leisure to the King's Authority to gather strength and to destroy the force of those who being disobedient themselves endeavoured by their Cabal to bring all the rest into confusion This was by the Warr with Holland of which I shall onely touch the principal Motives because I would not with long digressions break off the thred of that Narration I have prescribed unto my self After the Parliament of England had made it self Master of that whole Kingdom and overcome with its Victorious Arms the Realms of Scotland and of Ireland they cast about how to maintain themselves in Arms with Forrainers having no Enemy at home because in times of quiet Factions use to arise and Armies weaken which brings ruine to Commonwealths especially in the beginning of a new Government when their minds are wavering between the hopes of settlement and fears of falling It happened then that no just cause appearing for a breach with France they took a fair pretence for a Warr with the Hollander as being those who having gained a considerable reputation at Sea seemed to eclipse the lustre of the long feared and unresistible force of the English on that Element These Jealousies between them besides the natural Emulation usual amongst bordering States were heightned by the art and industry of the neighbouring Crowns who observing with a jealous Eye two Common-wealths by their sides grown powerful by Warr and Violence could not but suspect from them some of those inconveniencies which are usually offered by those who are strongly provided with Sea Forces The cause of difference was the Herring Fishing about the Orcades Islands on the North of Scotland and Members of Great Britain to which the Hollanders send yearly a vast number of Ships and draw from it an excessive Profit The English pretended That the Hollanders possession of this Fishing was an effect onely of the negligence of their Kings accompanied with so great a loss unto the Commonwealth by the Hollanders usurpation and therefore not to be longer suffered by a Nation that before Holland was so much as known enjoyed without contest the principal Dominion of the Ocean To this the States-General pleaded That their Right was sufficiently established by their long continued possession and Prescription This was the Motive upon which either party beginning first to raise Forces at Sea the one for recovery of this loss and the other for the preserving of it fell afterwards to an open breach with so great a prejudice to both parties whose principal subsistence and strength depended upon Trade that the same being hereby interrupted produced all the effects of a miserable and destructive Warr but principally to Holland which being straitned by the smallness of their Territory upon Land had no means of subsisting but by the Sea To these Reasons which were derived from profit and interest of State were added others touching the punctilio of Reputation The English pretending themselves to have been slighted by the Hollanders upon several occasions and principally in the killing of their Ambassadour at the Hague who was against the Law of Nations assassinated there by some English of the King's Party And the Hollanders who by their fresh and frequent Victories obtained against the Power of the King of Spain had already gained so great a Reputation that they were generally much esteemed and feared and had besides concluded so advantageous a Peace with his Catholick Majesty not daigning to give way unto the threats of England wherein the wounds of their Intestine Broyls were yet fresh bleeding took little care to satisfie the Parliament therein but sent to Sea a numerous Fleet and either Party falling to Acts of Hostility many Merchants Ships were lost on either side And their Fleets who were above 100 Sayl strong on either side meeting at last there passed the said Battle and many other Fights at Sea with loss on both sides but in such manner as each Party pretending to have the Victory it could not be well told which side had got it the loss consisting only in that of one or two Ships more or less than the Relations which were published and therefore each Party failed not to put to Sea afresh with an intention of fighting for it the Hollanders notwithstanding were very sensible of the loss of Van Trump their General a Person of great Valour and extraordinary Experience at Sea And we may well believe that as there is no comparison between the Greatness and Power of England and Holland which is far inferior to it in richess in extent of Land and Bodies of men so without doubt the English would have prevailed had they not been distracted by new intestine Broyls and Troubles The Court of France therefore considering how fit it was to make use of this favourable conjuncture of time to assure themselves of Guienne and Bourdeaux a City so disposed to risings resolved to make all fitting preparations for the reducing of them and therefore besides the Fleet sent into the Garonne as hath been said and the advance of Souldiers from all parts into the Province the Cardinal Mazarine continued the Treaties of Agreement with several Parties to see if he could give an end rather by Composition than Arms unto that War which being against Subjects renders the Victory weak and languishing whereof reserving the Account to the next Book I will resume the Relation of what was done during this time in Champagne where all persons being encouraged by the arrival of the Cardinal's Army and the Recruits sent from him after the taking of Barleduc and passing of the River Aisne

an open Country and full of Corn as without doubt they would otherwise have done to their very great advantage Turenne advanced to Chauteau Porcien and placed himself beyond Rhetel and Chaumont that is a Castle where the Spaniards had a Regiment of Foot that were recruiting and 60 Horse in Quarters who at first sight yielded themselves prisoners of Warr without Colours or Baggage The Mareschal de la Ferte came by the Valley of Bourg on t'other side of the River Aisne and there in the Campagne of Chaumont having drawn up all their Troops they made their approaches to Rhetel on both sides where the same Night the Regiments of Picardy of Turenne and Palnau possessed themselves of all the Out-Works raising two Batteries one near the Port of Rocroy and the other at the River Gate where La Ferte was quartered There were in the Town 5 or 600 men under the Command of the Marquiss de Persan who in the Night was in great danger of being made a prisoner at the taking of the Out-works they opened in two dayes two breaches and whilest the French prepared to assault them the besieged Capitulated and agreed to march out with Arms Baggage and two Pieces of Artillery and to be convoy'd unto Stenay The Mareschals left there for Governour Monsieur de Boda with his Regiment of French Foot and themselves went to observe the motions of Conde and the Spaniards who during the time of that Siege marched together towards Hayes d' Avennes their taking the Field having been delayed as well for the said want of Horse as for a Treaty they had with a certain Citizen of Arras about surprizing of that City he had intelligence with Cardinal Mazarine and played the double spy to deceive the Spaniard and get money from them The intelligence was begun the Year before and continued untill Conde found himself abused having parted with above 2000 Doubloons at several times upon that score The French having notice that the Spaniards were not strong enough to fight their flourishing and numerous Army marched up towards the Prince being resolved to assault him before he was reinforced with more men which he carefully laboured to be but he drew up his men in Battalia between two Woods behind a straight Pass which prevented them from taking him in that place of advantage where he first was and had been found if he had been but one half hour later advertised of the French Armies motion Whereupon the Mareschals returned unto their Quarters and from thence marched towards Vervins into certain Villages near the Abbey of Fougny from whence drawing to Vervins they lodged near Poussy and from thence Coasting by Guise they encamped at Riplemont to observe the Enemy who were reinforced by the Army of Lorrain and some Troops from Flanders with which their design was to enter France upon hope that when they should appear there would many declare for them The French Generals therefore being much inferiour in number were to carry themselves very circumspectly and not to hazard a Battel which was much the more dangerous by reason of the consequences would depend upon it then for the present loss they could receive The French Courts aim was to gain time to resettle the Affairs of the Kingdome by gaining Bourdeaux to hinder Conde from raising new Stirres and Garboiles by means of his party and dependance and to frustrate the Spaniards expectations of ruining France grounded upon the Credit and Reputation of Conde which was the onely Butt unto which the Consultations of Spain tended as believing that Crown with their Dominions and Countreys so divided and void of Inhabitants could not in any other manner get an advantage over France an entire united Countrey and therefore without sparing of Money nay even with the prodigal lavishing away thereof unto the Malecontents of France they endeavoured to draw others and by such arts obtain that which by their own Forces they could not gain The Effects notwithstanding corresponded ill with the appearance because the hopes being reduced unto a few particular persons who were more greedy of their own profit than that of others they sought onely the means how to render themselves necessary unto the King of Spain's Service and to draw thence advantages grounded upon this Maxime That to draw Rewards from Princes they ought to make them rather hope for than obtain the fruit of their Endeavours Things being therefore thus managed and the Spaniards having made their Provisions for that Years Campagne there were divers Consultations held between the Princes and Generals of the Armies touching the several courses they ought to steer The Generals of Spain proposed to undertake some notable Design and by taking some Town of Importance by means thereof to make afterwards a farther progress and upon that foundation to maintain a Warr in the Enemies Countrey it was proposed That Five or Six thousand of the best Souldiers with Expert Captains should be imbarked and sent forthwith for Guienne to re-inforce the Prince's Forces in that Province give Courage unto those of Bourdeaux and nourish that Warr which was the powerfullest Diversion could be given to the Christian King's Forces But the fears that the Succours of Spain would not be sufficient for that purpose and the disorder would arise by dismembring the Forces of Flanders made that Proposition to be laid aside The Prince of Conde magnifying the Correspondence he had in Paris declared and was very pressing with pregnant Reasons That they should forthwith draw the Army together pass the Somme and marching as near as they could to Paris invite their Partisans to raise some new Sedition in the City wherewith the Court being startled would easily quit it and in that confusion marching to Mantes they might seize upon Pontoise Senlis and some Neighbouring places where their Party being strengthened by those Malecontents would fall in with them they might reap singular advantages and keep the Warr alive in France This Proposition was specious in appearance and so well represented th●t the Councel approved of it thinking that Conde would be seconded by the effects as he seemed to be by the desires of many who applauded his Actions and could not stop the turbulency of his spirit Two notable Difficulties occurred in the execution the one that the hearts of many were very much cast down by the Successes of Bellegard and Rhetel who could never have imagined that the King in that Campagne could have Forces and Conde want them to suffer two Towns to be miserably lost under his nose whereby the confidence they had in him was much diminished The other That the French Army being drawn out into Campagne much stronger then was expected 't was very dangerous to pass Rivers and engage ones self in an Enemie's Countrey without a place of Retreat upon occasion being Coasted by an Army though inferiour in number yet equal at least to them in valour of Souldiers being all French Bold and Expert and a Body