HISTORY OF LEWIS XIII THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS XIII King of France and Navarre CONTAINING The most Remarkable Occurrences in FRANCE and EUROPE during the Minority of that Prince By Mr. MICHEL Le ASSOR LONDON Printed for Thomas Cockerill at the Three Legs and Bible against Grocers-Hall in the Poultrey 1700. Advertisement THE Remaining Parts of this History will be Printed in the same Size with this Volume TO MY Lord Viscount WOODSTOCK My LORD AS soon as I began to write the Book I now present you with My Lord the Earl of Portland your Illustrious Father did me the Honour to employ me in your Service to read History to you I was surprized with Pleasure to observe that the Providence of God having designed me for this Employment had turned my thoughts upon a Subject the knowledge of which is so absolutely necessary for you that so you may reap the full advantage of those wise Instructions which your Father who loves you tenderly will one day give you concerning those extraordinary Revolutions which Europe has with Amazement beheld for thirty years together He knows the secret Motives and hidden Springs which produced them all and he has always been the Depositary of the Secrets of that Great Prince who had the greatest hand in them he has served him in his brave and hazardous Enterprizes with equal Zeal and Courage 'T is from a Father so exquisitely skill'd in all the Arts of Politicks and War that you will learn my Lord the Intrigues of all the Negotiations which have been transacted in his time the present Interests of Princes the Account of Battels Sieges Marches of Armies in which he has always held a considerable Post In giving you the Narrative of his own Actions he will instruct you how a Person of your Rank and Quality may equally love your Country and a Prince who do's you the Honour to trust you with his Secrets what Rules you are to observe that so you may do good service for the one without intrenching upon that inviolable fidelity which you owe to the other In short he will teach you what a Peer of England is obliged to do that he may be serviceable to the King in Parliament and at the same time deserve the Esteem and Approbation of a People extremely jealous of its Rights and Priviledges Others besides my Lord the Earl of Portland may possibly be able to give you good Counsel in these Affairs But there is one thing yet behind which your incomparable Father alone can teach you And that is My Lord Moderation in an elevated Fortune He has himself lately given you a rare example of it The Greatness of his Soul in this respect is a thing so extraordinary that you will scarcely find an equal Instance in all those Ancient and Modern Histories which you design to read Keep your Eyes always fixt on this Domestick Example It can't but powerfully impress this weighty Maxim in your mind That to set bounds to your Ambition though just and reasonable is truer and more substantial Glory than 't is to rise to the highest Dignities I have told you my Lord that the History of the Reign of Lewis the XIII will be of great use to you to let you into the understanding of those Revolutions which have happened for some time past in Europe You will there see how the Affairs of the Empire put on a new face after the Peace of Munster And there find the causes and first beginnings of the Decay of the Spanish Monarchy which before that time was dreadful to its Neighbours You will there read the first steps of France to that height which it arrived at under the Conduct of the violent and refined Politicks of a Cardinal who renders his Master powerful at home by humbling the Princes and great Men there and formidable abroad by entring him into a seasonable League with the Crown of Swedeland and the United Provinces The good Correspondence which the great Frederick Henry Prince of Orange and this able Minister held together did not a little assist the Cardinal in compassing his vast Designs The Swedes were hitherto hardly known but for their Wars against Denmark Poland Muscovy and some extraordinary Revolutions which Religion or the differing interests of King and Subjects had produced in Swedeland We shall see in the course of this History a new Warrier arising out of the North with a small number of Troops for the Rescue of Germany almost entirely enslav'd by the Ambition and Arms of Ferdinand the Second Gustavus Adolphus King of Swedeland makes the Emperor Tremble for fear of losing his Hereditary Countries The Rapid course of his Victorius Arms carryed to the Rhine makes jealous even those Princes which call'd him to their Assistance and those Sovereigns which had desired his Alliance That which you ought particularly to be affected with My Lord is the reading of the resolute Efforts of your Dear and Illustrious Country to defend it's Liberty after the twelve years Truce was expir'd The Spaniard's pleas'd themselves with the hopes of making great Advantages of the Divisions which arose in Holland and some other Provinces after the Conclusion of that Truce But the Valour and Wise Conduct of Maurice and Frederick Henry Princes of Orange defeated those hopes which seem'd to be but too well grounded You will be very much pleased to find here Sieges Form'd by those Two Great Masters in the Art of Taking Towns and Victories Won by those Two Famous Generals to whom they came from all Parts of the World to learn the Art of War and in short That Courage not Inferiour to that of the Ancient Romans with which the United Provinces did weary out the King of Spain until he renounc'd all his Pretensions to 'em and was forc'd to acknowledge them in a Solemn Treaty for a Free Republick I believe you have not forgot that which my Lord your Father told you in one of his Pleasant and Profitable Discourses which he had with you the last Summer in the Walks of his beloved Solitude near the Hague He recited to you one Day the Prediction of Prince Frederick Henry a little before his Death That his Posterity would be under a Necessity one Day to declare against France as he had been to oppose the Ambitious Designs of the House of Austria It has fell out as this Judicious and Knowing Politician had foretold The House of Orange hath had the Honour to have given the first Blow which shook the Power of Spain and by a surprizing Turn of Affairs the only Remaining Branch of that Noble Stock which hath been so fruitful in Heroes can glory this Day that by his Prudence and Valour he hath defended that same Monarchy threatned with approaching Ruin Could that fierce and bloody Philip II. have ever thought that the Posterity of that Man whom he had basely murder'd after an unworthy and ridiculous Proscription should be one Day the best Support of
his tottering Crown The History of the Reign of Lewis XIII will discover to you my Lord the Reasons which Philip Frederick Henry had to foresee the Glory which was reserv'd for a Great King the Heir of his Blood and of his Virtues who gives you already signal Marks of his Distinguishing Favour 'T would be but a small Matter to learn from History The Interests of Sovereigns the Accounts of Battles and Sieges the Intrigues of Treaties and Negotiations the Good or Bad Quality of the different Actors It s greatest and principal End is to confirm in you the Good Sentiments of Religion Virtue and Probity which my Lord your Father hath took care to inspire you with They charm'd me the first Day I had the Honour to be in your Company and I bless God with all my Heart that they appear so pure and so deeply engraven in your Soul that we have all the Reason in the World to hope that the Contagious and insinuating Air of the Court and of the World will never be able to corrupt or wear them out and that you will never wander from the Paths of Piety Prudence and Valour which my Lord the Earl of Portland hath trac'd out to you Heavens grant which have design'd you to enjoy the great Advantages which a Father can leave to his Son that you may make an Use of them worthy of the Purity of the Holy Religion which we profess These are the ardent Desires of him who shall be all his Life with a prosound Respect and inviolable Fidelity My Lord Your most Humble and most Obedient Sevant MICHAEL Le VASSOR THE PREFACE Polybius in the beginning SInce all who have written History before me says an Able and Judicious Writer have taken pains to shew the usefulness of things past It would be to no purpose to excite the Curiosity of the Reader by a like Preface All Men are sensible that the reading of History is the most proper means to form the Mind and Inclinations of those who apply themselves to it with Reflection and Judgment They who are born to the first employs of the State learn here how to govern those whom Providence has placed under them and private Persons often find Instructions for the Conduct of their Lives To read the Ancients and Moderns and only fill the Head with a confus'd heap of different Facts is the vainest thing in the World and conduces most to Debauch the Mind But to run thrô History with a design to learn Human Nature to reflect on the Disorderly and Unjust Passions of Men to distinguish Solid and Real Virtue from that which consists in the mistaken Opinion of the Multitude This certainly is the most proper Study to form a Man for the World and Business Notwithstanding the reading History has these mighty Advantages there are few that profit by it The fate of those who spend their time in it is often the same with that of Persons who Travel live in a Court or Converse in the World A Man who has the Skill to make a good use of his Parts and Reason Accomplishes himself very much in Foreign Countries by Conversation with Courtiers and Men of Business But it ordinarily happens that Travellers only seek to Divert themselves in the places where they come A young Fellow returns out of Italy France Germany or England as ignorant as he went there And very often in stead of correcting his Domestick Vices he encreases them by the Addition of Foreign ones Most Men who come to Court or into the World only think how to wast away their Lives and spend their Time agreeably Very far from considering how private Interest and Passion play their parts on the publick Stage and reasoning with themselves oâ—… the different steps Men take and profitably observing their good and ill Qualities they only strive to please them and wiâ—… their savour by some Motives of Interest or Pleasure The greatest part of those whâ—… read History fall into the same Mistake They only aim to consume their Time and pass away the Tedious Hours It is enough for them if a Book be Pleasant and Diverting They are never in Pain to profit by the Examples of Virtue they meet with or reflect on the Faults of those who are exposed in it This Negligence proceeds from the little care taken to acquaint Youth with the Nature of Mankind and infusing good Principles of Morality into them before they are put on reading History sent into Foreign Countries or left to live at large in the World If their Tutors and Governors which had the Charge of their Education had accustomed them to Meditate on those Remarks which the Incomparable Author of the Search after Truth P. Malebranche de Recherche de la Verite has made on the Mistakes and Delusions of our Senses Imagination and Passions on the Maxims of Mr. de la Rochefancault and some other good Books published in our Times I do not in the least question but Minds thus prepared would draw a wonderful Fruit from Travelling Conversation in the World and Ancient and Modern History Perhaps too the small number of good Authors in this and former Ages is another cause of the little Progress made by those who promiscuously run over all without Choice or Distinction Herodotus whom the Ancients call the Father of History Cicero Liv. 1. De Legibuâ—… is a polite Writer and pleasant to read One may learn good Jonick in him Let him if you will have it so be a good Model of an Elegant and Clean Style but what Solid Knowledge can be gained out of an Author fill'd with Fables and Falsities who only aims to Divert and not to Instruct The History of Cyrus is thought to be a Romance devised by Xenophon I do not know whether the Plan of the Work do not come nearer Truth than what Herodotus delivers of the Birth Conquest and Death of Cyrus The one at least is more probable than the other However this be a Man of good Sense will ever prefer the Reading of Xenophon to Herodotus If the former did not design an exact History of the Life of Cyrus he draws at least the Idea of a good and just Government This should make us value the Eight Books of the Cyropedia of Xenophon more than the nine of Herodotus his History though they have the Name of the nine Muses given them This may amuse me indeed but the other will instruct me I find a thousand Maxims a thousand Reflections proper to improve my Mind and Reform my Passions Discourse of the manner of writing History Thucidides was very sensible of Herodotus his Fault Notwithstanding the great Reputation of a Man who first writ History among the Greeks I had rather said he as Lucian Reports displease by speaking the Truth than please by relating of Fables If I do not please my Reader so well I shall profit him more I would not prejudice him by Accommodating
finds it in the worst When an Author is oblig'd to censure a Man Polybius L. XII Polybius judiciously remarks he must not have regard to what may please the Enemies of him whom he speaks of The Rules of Truth and Decency must be inviolably kept Those who are led by their Passions or Malice are imprudent and rash in their Relations and Judgments Polybius had good Reason to blame a Greek Historian who had not Equity enough to own what was good in Agathocles the Tyrant of Syracuse If this Man says he whose first Employment was to serve a Poâ—…ter knew how to make himself King of Sicily and could embarâ—…ss the Potent Republick of Carthage and die in the peaceful Possession of what he had acquired it cannot be denied but Agathocles had rare Qualities without these could he have done any of these extraordinary Things Historians ought then to do him Justice in delivering with the same Sincerity what was Good or Ill in him This is the Rule which I propose to my self in respect of Cardinal Richlieu and some others Though I think of that first Minister quite otherwise than his Flatterers for indeed I cannot regard without Horror a Prelate who sacrifices the Liberty of France and the Repose of all Europe to his Ambitions yet without falling into the violent Invectives of St. Germain and the Faction of Mary de Medicis I will describe with pleasure what is Good and Valuable in that Great Politician There is a Thing in which I would imitate Titus Livy and Tacitus and that is Brevity The first employs but Ten Books in relating what pass'd remarkable in the Roman Commonwealth for several Ages and the other has brought into one small Volume the Reigns of Tiberius Caligula Claudius and Nero. But I believe it is impossible to be so short The Reason presents it self to every Man's view The Roman Religion did not occasion any Disputes it did not cause Schisms and different Sects Their Divinity had no Connexion with Political Matters It is not so with Christianity There are great Disputes in this It has always been divided into different Communions Princes interest themselves and take a part in the Quarrels of Divines Since the Popes have setled their Monarchy in the Western World the Court of Rome concerns her self in every thing So that Matters of Religion Controversies of Divinity the Interests and Pretensions of Popes Bishops and the Clergy the Cabals of Monks and divers other Matters which only regard the Church considerably swell an History The good Fathers the Jesuits have been at the bottom of every thing since the Rise of the Society The Relation of their endless Intrigues Enterprizes and Quarrels is Work enough to employ an Historian Add to this that in the Days of the Romans Things were in another Posture than they are at present There were not so many Treaties with neighbouring Nations so many Intrigues in the Senate among the People and in the Court of the Emperors The Romans made War to extend their Territories they had a small number of Allies whom they protected against the Powers that threatned them All Intrigues terminate in gaining the People by Donatives or promising to procure them a Dividend of Lands or to obtain for them a greater Share in the Government The time of the greatest Intrigues in the Roman Commonwealth doubtless was that of the two Triumvirates We have not a very exact History of this but it is plain all was transacted between som few Persons who had the Address to procure the Command of Armies in the remote Provinces Others fell in with the prevailing Party led by Ambition or Avarice That which Tacitus calls the Great Secret of Government in the time of the Emperors was to be Masters of the Legions He who had Interest or Money enough to procure them to revolt was soon proclaimed Emperor After this he had nothing more to do but to beat out the old Possessor or a Competitor The Victor became lawful Sovereign and the Vanquish'd was declared an Usurper In an Absolute and Tyrannical Government all things are ruled at the Pleasure of the Prince The Favourite and the Mistress have their Share in the Authority When these are once established the Dagger Poison False Informations and Violence are the Means they make use of to rid themselves of their Enemies and preserve their Power Thus every thing was managed under the Successors of Augustus The History of such a State as I represent the Commonwealth and Empire of Rome cannot be very large But the Affairs of all Christian Princes have so great a Relation to each other they make so many Leagues and Alliances together some for their own Greatness others to defend themselves from their ambitious Neighbours that it is impossible to write the History of Germany France Spain or England without speaking at the same time of what passes in the rest of Europe If two Petty Princes have any Différence one implores the Protection of the House of Austria and the other throws himself into the Arms of France If the two Crowns commence a War some of these declare for Spain others for France in hopes of profiting by the Conjuncture The Powers who have the smallest Interest are at last obliged to side with one Party or at least to arm to keep the Balance even and prevent the Conqueror from advancing his Power too much by the Ruins of the Vanquish'd The Intrigues of each Court the Interests and Motions of Great Men in a State where Arbitrary and absolute Power is not well setled cannot be so succinctly related Those Illustrious Historians who shall write the present Reign in France will be obliged if I guess aright to enlarge more in proportion on the Affairs of the Minority of Lewis XIV than on what has happen'd since the Peace of the Pyrenees The Designs and Advances of the Prince of Condé the Cardinal Mazarin and some Court Ladies in the Parlements and Provinces will fill a greater Space than the Events since the Death of Philip IV. King of Spain Since Lewis XIV has obtained what Richlieu and Mazarin had proposed and opened the way to every thing is disposed of by one or two Ministers a Mistress or a certain Lady What Character this Great Woman ought to have Time perhaps will inform us The Princes of the Blood Great Lords and Parlements all keep the Respect and Silence All Wars Alliances and great Affairs are resolv'd on with the Ministers Mistress or the Lady None can be preferred or obtain any Employ or Honour but through one of these Channels There are no knotty difficult Treaties abroad Every thing is done by the Power of Money or Threats It is the King's Pleasure it should be so This is the Answer with which his Majesty's Ministers often pay those of Foreign Sovereigns as well as their Master's Subjects Things were not so under the Reign of his Father Mary de Medicis impatiently endured the excessive
now to flatter themselves for the future with obtaining the Superiority they formerly had over the House of Bourbon yet they did not despair at least to rival the Princes of the Blood But they found at home a great Obstacle to their coming into the Council Two Lords of the same House could not be called to it The Duke of Guise was the eldest but the Age and Experience of the Duke of Mayenne his Uncle requir'd him to be preferr'd Henry being dangerously ill some Years before had a mind to form a Council He named this Lord then who was heartily reconciled to him and since that time had given the King Marks of his inviolable Fidelity This was a great Prejudice in his Favour The Duke of Nevers too demanded to be admitted and disputed the Precedence with the Guises New Perplexities on all sides The Emulation between the Marechal of Bouillon and the Duke of Epernon was grown to so great a height that it was not possible the one should be in the Council to the Prejudice of the other This latter was considerable for his Charge of Colonel General of the Foot and other great Places The Queen did not dare to give distaste to a haughty and powerful Man who had just served her in a very Handsome manner Bouillon had a great Heart a capacious and discerning Mind kept a strict Alliance and constant Intelligence with Foreign Princes The Sovereignty of Sedan made him considerable at home and abroad No one had more Interest than he with the Protestants of France The late King stood in fear of him He gave a Check to his turbulent and ambitious Humour but would not push the Matter to an Extremity So that the Marechal was capable of doing a great deal of good if he followed his Reason or a great deal of Mischief if he abandoned himself to his Passion There were other Lords of great Bitth who might pretend to have a place in the Council but they were yet of an Age in which Men of Quality have stronger Inclinations to Pleasure than to concern themselves in Matters of State Of this number were the Duke of Vendome the Grand Prior of France both Natural Sons of Henry Duke of Longueville and the Count of St. Paul a younger Brother of the same House The Chancellor de Sillery the Duke of Sully Villeroy and the President Jeannin saw all this Emulation with Pleasure This left the entire Direction of Affairs to themselves under the Name of the Queen Therefore in the first place they advised her not to give Distaste to any Person till the first Prince of the Blood should return and to admit into her Council all the great Lords who demanded a Place there The greater the number of these was the less Interest and Power any particular Persons could have In the mean time each took his Opportunity to entertain the Regent They took care to prepare Matters to be proposed to give seemingly some Employment to the Assembly But these Gentlemen foresaw it would soon degenerate into Confusion That some would take a distaste themselves and others might be removed under colour of sending them to execute their Places and Governments While these Intrigues employ'd the Courtiers The Tryal and Execution of Ravillac the Parliament was busie in the Process of Ravillac The first President assisted by another and Two Counsellors examin'd him several times All that can be drawn from the Interrogatories now extant are That Ravillac was an Enthusiast who imagining on some Reports that he had heard that the King was about to make War on the Pope and did not concern himself for the Conversion of the Hugonots took a Resolution to kill a Prince whom he looked on as an unjust Tyrant What Ravillac had learnt from the Sermons ef the execrable Preachers of the League who justified James Clâ—…ment confirm'd him in his Belief that any private Man might take away the Life of a Prince who was an Enemy of the Holy Father Mercure François 1610. To make War on the Pope says Ravillac to his Judges is to make War on God in as much as the Pope is God and God is the Pope This moves our Pity indeed But do not those Princes who by a strange sort of Politicks submit their Dominions to the Pope deserve our Pity more than Assassins seduced by the Emissaries of the Court of Rome After the Attempt of John Chastel Henry was always afraid of the Knife of the League The Desire he had to keep himself from it did not a little conduce to make him recal a sort of People who have the Secret to make themselves formidable to Sovereigns He loaded the Jesuites with his Favours But had he not better provided for the Security of his Life and the Publick Good by giving Ear to the wise Remonstrances of the first President De Harlay Ravillac otherwise ignorant knew so well how to maintain the Dogm of the Society of Jesuites and the Leaguing Sorbon one might easily guess a certain set of Men had taken care to instruct him But whether to pleasure a Religious who call'd him his Friend and recommended to him in express Words at the Hôtel of Retz not to accuse honest Men or that he conceiv'd himself â—…he horrible Design the Criminal constantly affirmed to the end of his Life that no Person whatever Frenchman or Forigner had put him upon killing a Prince who had never done him any wrong and whose Death though unpunish'd could do him no good He was condemned to suffer the Punishment which the Laws of France appoint for such Parricides and the Sentence was executed on the 27th of May. The Proceedings of Parlement the same Day Ravillac was executed are an evident Proof that that Body saw that the Writings and Sermons of some Doctors of the Sorbon The Condemnation of the Book and Doctrine of Mariana the Jesuite engaged in the League and poison'd by the Books which the Jesuites publish'd to revive that pernicious Doctrine which the Faculty of Paris had censur'd in the Year 1413. and was confirm'd by the Council of Constance The Decree I say made the same Day Ravillac suffered convinc'd the World that they thought those Books and Preachments had plunged the Knife in the Heart of Henry and his Predecessor The Parlement therefore ordered the Faculty of Paris to meet and confirm anew their ancient Censure authorized by the Council of Constance against those who teach That a Vassal or a Subject may and ought in Conscience to kill any Tyrant whatever and Assault him all sort of ways and that this Action is not contrary to that Oath of Fidelity which Vassals and Subjects take to their Soveraigns The Doctors obey'd the order signified to them The Parlement on the 10th of June gave another Sentence condemning the Book de Rege Regis institutione of Mariana the Jesuit to be burnt by the hands of the Hangman as containing says the Decree diverse execrable
Prince The Mareschal de Bouillon undertakes to Reunite both Pazties he made his Account of had neither Genius nor Courage to follow the steps of his Predecessors he resolved to reconcile himself with the Court. Bouillon would have put himself at the Head of the Protestants of France He had thought of this in the preceding Reign But the Dukes of Sulli and Rohan the Mareschal Les Diguieres and divers other considerable Persons of the Party were no Friends to him So he made new Protestations of his Devotion to serve their Majesties He proposes to the Marquess de Coeuvres the Reconciling of the two Princes I 'll undertake to dispose Conde says the Mareschal to the Marquess if you will treat with Soissons who has a Regard for you Sillery Villeroy and Jeannin govern whilst the Princes and great Lords are divided among themselves Let us Reunite the contrary Parties without prejudice to the Queens Authority This is the only way to remove these great Ministers and reduce the rest to the simple discharging the Duties of their Places The Queen Traverses the Vnion of the Princes and great Lords The Count of Soissons was afraid this was a Trick of the Mareschal He imagined if those of his Party gave ear to Bouillon's Proposition he would inform the Queen and create a Distrust in her of the Count and his Friends The Cardinal of Joyeuse was of another Opinion perhaps he sincerely meant the Good and Repose of the State The Cardinal then obtained the consent of Soissons to treat with the Mareschal upon the Subject The Queen to whom the Count communicated the Accommodation proposed seem'd to be well satisfied with it however underhand she Traversed it The Ministers made her sensible that if the two Princes of the Blood the Constable of Monimorency the Dukes of Guise and Epernon the Mareschal of Bouillon and the Cardinal of Joyeuse were once agreed her Authority would be much diminished by it The Regent thought it better to keep up Jealousies and Misunderstanding between contrary Factions and gain the Heads of both by her Favours The Rise of Conchini the new Marquess of Ancre The Failing of so many Projects made the Mareschal of Bouillon resolve to retire to Sedan at the same time preparations were making for the Inauguration of the King The Mareschals Religion would not give him leave to assist at the Ceremony But before he left the Court for some time he was resolved to make a powerful Friend near the Regent This was Conchini Husband of Leonora Galigai a Confident of Mary de Medicis He had lately bought the Marquisate of Ancre in Picardy As his Favour encreased every day he had obtained the Governments of Peronne Montdidier and Roie in the same Province So sudden a Rise made all the Ministers uneasie I cannot tell whether the Count of Soissons and those of his Party neglected a New Favourite whom they did not think able to serve or hurt them However this was Conchini strove to gain the good will of the Prince of Conde This Man was the Instrument which the Queen employed to divert the Prince and Duke of Guise from hearkning to the Accommodation proposed by the Mareschal of Bouillon the Mareschal was too discerning a Man not to see the Friendship of the Marquess of Ancre might be of great Service to him He offer'd to lay down his Place of first Gentleman of the Chamber if Conchini would buy it the Bargain was soon concluded The King of Spains Prospect in the double Match All Foreign Princes the Republick of Venice and that of the Vnited Provinces had sent Ambassadours to the New King The ancient Alliances were renewed and Lewis with all Solemnity received in the Church of the Feuillans the Garter which the Ambassadour of England brought him from James I. The Duke of Feria appeared with great Pomp and Splendour in the Name of the King of Spain Not being able to embroil France by means of the Prince of Conde Philip offered his Forces to Mary against all those who should disturb her in her Regency The Ambassadour again proposed the double Marriage which his Master had made an offer of to the late King Philip knew very well he could not propose any thing more agreeable to the Regent The present posture of Affairs of the House of Austria required her speedily to conclude a Treaty which might give her time to settle her Affairs in Germany and raise Jealousie and Distrust among those Princes who were Allies of France And because the Marriage could not so soon be finished the King obtain'd Mary's Word that France should not meddle in the Affairs of the House of Austria in Germany and he engaged himself reciprocally not to hear any Propositions which the Disaffected Party in France should make him Behold now how the Court of Madrid was Embarassed Differences between the Emperour Rodolphus and the Archduke Matthias his Brother The Emperour Rodolphus extremely broken seem'd not likely to live a long time Endeavours were used to secure the Empire in the House of Austria by the Election of a King of the Romans Rodolphus lived in a misunderstanding with his Brethren and the Protestants were very powerful The King of Spain was afraid some Men should make use of so favourable an Opportunity to remove the Empire from a House which possest it for too long a time and seeks to make it Hereditary The Archduke Matthias taking advantage of the weakness of the Emperour his Brother had carried on in the Year 1608. a Confederacy between the States of Hungary and Austria He marched sometime after towards Moravia at the Head of an Army of twenty Thousand Men with a design to compel Rodolphus to yield up the Kingdom of Hungary the Arch-dutchy of Austria and Stiria and Moravia Matthias took the Pretext of ill Administration and Infractions of the Privileges of those Countries who after the Example of the ancient Germans never gave their Princes an Arbitrary Unlimited Power A Fundamental Maxim of Government in all States formed out of the Ruines of the Roman Empire Philip II King of Spain had attempted to Abolish the Privileges of the Hereditary Provinces of the Low Countries and he took them away entirely from the Kingdom of Arragon the first Magistrate of which would have opposed the unjust Oppressions of Antonio Perez The Archduke Matthias next Kinsman to Philip better instructed than that cruel Tyrant in the Maxims of lawful Government made no scruple to place himself at the Head of the Vnited Provinces for the Defence of their Liberty against the Spaniards At present too the same Archduke makes without scruple War on his Brother who violates the Privileges of the States of Hungary and Austria If Rodolphus gave just cause for this Opposition or not it is not a place here to examine the Fact I only Remark that in the first years of an Unfortunate Age in which Tyranny has Established it self almost every
Excommunicates and Absolves by himself or his Magistrates all Laymen and Ecclesiasticks Bishops and Cardinals themselves residing in his Kingdom This Right say they farther though derived from the Holy See is now Irrevocable it is the Sovereigns Property Thus the King of Spain is alike in Spirituals and Temporals and has the same Right there as the Pope has in Countries under his Obedience Joan the foolish Mother of Charles V. and divers other Princesses who Reigned alone Sicily every one of these Ladies were Sanctissimo Padre This Title was given them and their Magistrates They might in this Quality preside in Provincial and National Councils or substitute others in their Room The Kings of Spain are so jealous of this rare Prerogative that in the Reign of Charles V. a Vice-Roy of Sicily Collected all the Titles and Acts which serve for the Justification of it Three Authentick Copies of this Collection were drawn at the same time by order of the Viceroy In the year 1698. one was exposed to Sale in London it had been brought away the last time Barcelona was taken by the French I had it a pretty while in my Hands The Right Reverend the Bishop of Norwich curious in all good Books did not purchase it too dear considering the rarity of the Manuscript This is a Collection like that of the Proofs of the Liberties of the Gallican Church It contains chiefly divers Judgments given in the Tribunal commonly called of the Monarchy of Sicily The Cardinal Baronius in the eleventh Tome of his Annals vigorously Attacked this Spiritual Power which the Catholick Kings ascribe to themselves without Scruple A Right never heard of says the Cardinal A Right that Frederick the Second and his Children those unjust Tyrants and Rebellious Persecutors of the Roman Church never were so Audacious as to usurp This caused a great Contest between Baronius and the Cardinal Colonna who pretended his Brother had no Reason to set himself so violently against the King of Spain The Court of Madrid was so displeased at the Author of the Annals that she procured him to be excluded in a Conclave where he had 37 Voices At last upon the 3d of October 1610. Philip III. published an Edict where after great Complaints made against the Invectives of Baronius and a long Enumeration of the Services which the Kings of Spain and Sicily his Predecessors had done for the Church of Rome he forbids his Subjects on severe Penalties to Read or Sell the Eleventh Volume of Baronius Annals till the place Repugnant with the Monarchy of Sicily was Expunged Servin knew very well the example of the King of Spain was of great weight with Mary de Medicis who every day contracted new Tyes to Philip he hoped this would hinder the Regent from taking exception at the Proceedings of the Parlement against Bellarmine's Book The Advocate General was deceived in his Conjecture The Queen was not less devoted to the Court of Rome than that of Madrid The Nuncio in Spain did not dare to open his Mouth against the Edict of Philip. The Popes Agent was bolder and more Successful in France At his Sollicitation the Regent ordered the Execution of the Decree of Parlement against Bellarmine's Book to be Superseded The Enemies of the Sovereign Power of Kings ever had Liberty of Speaking and Writing Differences of the Marquiss of Aucre with the Count of Soissons and Dpke of Epernon The Marquess of Ancre a Favourite of Mary's began to be insupportable to the Princes and first Lords of the Court. In the Kings Journey to Rheims the Servants of the Machioness had some Contest with those of the Cardinal Joyeuse about Lodgings Conchini made first Gentleman of the Chamber had likewise a Dispute about the Precedence with Bellegarde Great Esquire at the Publick Entry of the King into Paris on his return from his Inauguration The Duke of Epernon a Kinsman of Bellegarde declared against Conchini Mem. de la Regence de Marie de Medicis and the Count of Soissons enraged at him for assisting the Duke of Guise to marry the Dowager of Montpensier would not any more speak to the Marquess of Ancre The Enmity of two such powerful Men made him very uneasie He labour'd to be reconciled to them Soissons was not very averse to this but he required the Marquess and his Wife should serve him in two Things which he passionately desired to marry the Count of Enghien his Son to the Princess Heiress of Montpensier and to ruine the Duke of Sully Their Reconciliation For the first Proposition the Marquess delivered himself in General Terms to those who were concerned in this Accommodation He spoke more positively on the Article of the Duke of Sully in case the Ministers would side with him Conchini did not love the Duke He was afraid the Interest of an Old Minister might be an Obstacle to his growing Favour Nevertheless the Count of Soissons did not dare to conclude this Reconciliation till the Duke of Epernon was satisfied It was not so easie to bring down his Haughty and Stubborn Spirit who pretended to be his own Support independently on all Favourites Epernon required Conchini should come to him and make him Satisfaction in the presence of the Count of Soissons He blown up with his Favour and New Honour refused that Submission to the Duke which he could without meanness make to a Prince of the Blood Soissons found an Expedient which might be a Salvo for the Nicety of the one and satisfie the Haughty Humour of the other The President Jeannin had presented Conchini to the Count after those Compliments had passed which were agreed oâ—… before the two New Friends sate down to play together The Game being over It is not enough says Soissons to the Marquess that we are Reconciled You must have a right understanding with all my good Friends I am going to make a visit to onâ—… of them I beg your Company I am disposed to do what you please replyed Conchini They were soon at the Hôtel of Epernon all things were carried there to thâ—… content of both Parties That which 〈◊〉 lookt on as a Trifle amonst Private Meâ—…passes for a weighty Matter with greaâ—… ones A Party formed at Court against the Duke 〈◊〉 Sully There was no need to take much painâ—… to gain the Ministers over to act in Concert with the others to ruine the Duke of Sully He had a Misunderstanding witâ—… Villeroy the only Man of their Number who had taken pains to keep him in Employ Sharp and Affronting words paâ—…sed between them in the Council in thâ—… Queens Presence Villeroy who though himself to be the more necessary and to have the better Interest leaves the Court. This was a sort of Menace that he would not return as long as Sully had a share in the Government The Regent her self was inclin'd to dismiss him A Protestant could not be very grateful to a Princess who blindly
something to the Disadvantage of the Reformed The continual Industry of their Enemies to do them Mischief made these Meetings almost Indispensably necessary The King having come to an Agreement with the Protestants that they should Nominate six capable Persons for their Agents and that out of this Number he should chuse two which he liked best it was necessary they should meet for the Nomination of these Men. Henry indeed declared his Intention was these Assemblies should only concern themselves in the Choice of fit Persons to be their Deputies General But those who resigned this Employ being to give an Account of what they had Transacted it was not possible for this Assembly to avoid entring upon the Discussion of some Political Matters Henry saw this very clearly The good King contented with taking Precaution against the Mareschal of Bouillon and some other Protestant Lords whom he was jealous of granted a Permission to the Reformed to meet and Adress their Complaints and Desires to him The Duke of Sully his Faithful Minister was a great Assistance to him on these Occasions He strove to manage all things so as to give the King Satisfaction and the most moderate Protestants might have no reason to complain Sully's Station was enough to Embarass any Man To serve his Master and content the Reformed was no easie Matter Turbulent Restless Spirits were continually Exclaiming and the Mareschal of Bouillon all whose Motions he observed conceived an Implacable Hatred against him The time of Villarnoul and Mirandu exercising their Office The Protestants prepare to hold another general Meeting expiring in the year 1611 these two Deputies General followed the Court in the Journey to Rheims Here they presented a Petition to beseech his Majesty to permit his Subjects of the Reformed Religion to hold a General Meeting This Request was too reasonable to be Rejected especially in a time when there was a necessity to manage every thing The Kings Letters were dispatcht away the 10th of October Mercure Francois 1611. 1610. He allowed the Reformed to meet at Chatelleraut the 25th of May in the following year From that time they prepared in earnest Mem. du Duc de Rohan L. 1. Relation de ce qui s'est passe a l'assemblee de Saumur 1611. aptâ—â— les Mem. precedente to present their Grievances to the Regent in expectation of Redress The Court flattered them with â—…air hopes the Mareschals of Bouillon and Lesdiguieres shew a zeal for the Interest of their Religion They engage Du Plessis Mornay to draw up Memorials to be sent into the Provinces that all might agree what to ask of the Regent in the present Juncture The Resolves of the Provincial Assemblies were brisk enough Bouillon do's not conceal these publishes them at Court shews Copies of them to Villeroy values himself on this to the Ambassadours of England and the Vnited Provinces promises to do Wonders in the Assembly then retires to Sedan This was to let the Regent know he would take effectual ways to do his Brethren Justice The Mareschal of Bouillon suffers himself to be won by the Court. Whether the Mareschal of Bouillon had at that time any ill Intentions or whether he suffer'd himself after to be won by the Promises and Caresses of the Queen and her Confidents God knows As for Lesdiguieres he had little sense of Christianity his Life was almost a continual Series of so black Crimes that the sacred Name may be spared In short he was an absolute Libertine But what ever the secret Designs of Bouillon were after his return from Sedan he changed his Language In the time of a Minority said he to Aersens Ambassador from the States General is it not the Duty of good Christians to suffer rather than form Cabals and Intrigues to amend their Condition In the first place let us give the young King some Marks of our Loyalty and Devotion to his Service God will give us the rest when he pleases I go in this mind to our Meeting and I will endeavour to inspire the same Thoughts into others I would here praise his Noble and Generous Sentiments if other Memoires than those of the Duke of Rohan did not farther inform me that a certain Person carried a promise from the Queen to the Mareschal of Bouillon of the Government of Poitou which she design'd to take from the Duke of Sully Villeroy and the Marquess of Ancre drew up Instructions for Bouillon they put Money in his Hands to be distributed as he should think fit they gave him Commission to gain several Mercenary Souls by New Gratifications from Mary de Medicis The Meeting of the Reformed is removed from Chatelleraut to Saumur Mercure Francois 1611. Chatelleraut being one of the Towns under the Government of the Duke of Sully whom they intended to ruin the Mareschal of Bouillon was of Opinion the Meeting should not be held there Saumur seemed to be a place more convenient for his designs The Letters for this Translation were Dated at Fontainbleau the 2d of May 1611. Before the opening of the Meeting Bouillon had declared to Du Plessis Mornay and some other Persons of Quality that he would not be President of it I think too added he this Place ought not to be given to any great Lord This must needs create Jealousies But the Mareschals New Engagements to the Court made him change his Mind Mem. du Due de Rohan Liv. 1. Relation de l'assemblee de Saumur No sooner were they at Saumur but he declared without farther Ceremony that he desired to preside This Distinction said he is due to the long and considerable Services I have done for the Reformed Churches of France The Dukes of Sully Rohan de la Trimouille Soubize Chatillon la Force and divers other Protestants of Quality came to Saumur Some of these and the greatest part of the Deputies had a Distrust of the Mareschal For this reason they agreed to stand by the first Motion which Bouillon himself had made not to Elect any Great Lord for their President Du Plessis Mornay Governor of the Town and Castle of Saumur justly valued for his great Knowledge Religion and Probity carried it by a Plurality of Voices At first he refused a Place which exposed him to the Envy and ill Humour of the Mareschal his old Friend His Opposition was in vain The Company earnestly intreated him to give on this Occasion New Proofs of his Zeal for maintaining the Reformation and his usual Integrity in the most difficult Matters Bouillon shewed visibly his Resentment and threatned to revenge the Affront done to him This particularly regarded the Dukes of Rohan and Sully The Reconciliation of the Mareschal of Bouillon and the Duke of Sully Reflecting after some time that this Transport was capable of overthrowing all his Projects he appeared more calm Some common Friends proposing a Reconcilement between him and the Duke of Sully he thought Prudence required this to be done at least
in Appearance When the Mareschal had Reproached the Duke that in the late Kings time he had drawn the Canon out of the Arsenal to destroy the Town and Church of Sedan Let us forget what is past says he I will become your Friend and Servant If you aâ—â— attacked in Sully upon account of Religion I will as readily bring down the Canon of Sedan to defend you as you drew out that of the Arsenal to destroy me at Sedan Let us agree for the benefit of our Religion Conscience and our Common Interest require it We cannot subsist without an Union The Party we follow cannot procure us great Advantages but it is capable of supporting a moderate Fortune That which is commonly called Greatness of Soul is most commonly Vanity and Ostentation The Mareschal would appear generous by feigning to Sacrifice a private Injury to the publick Good And perhaps he was sincere in what he did The Sense of Religion and Probity sometimes awakes in Noble Minds but Passion in its turn rising again stifles every thing that opposes it Bouillon sought an Advantage from the Reformed he gave Proofs of it in this Meeting He discovered Vigour in some weighty Affairs in others blinded by his Hatred and Ambition he could not see that by serving the Court he scattered the Seeds of fatal Division amongst his Brethren The Protestants renew their Oath of Vnion To prevent the ill effects of Differences amongst them the Protestants thought fit to renew the Oath of Union they had formerly taken on divers Occasions This Oath was first used amongst them when they had a Prince of the Blood and the late King at their Head Mercure Francois 1611. After he had changed his Religion he did not shew his Dislike of his Protestant Subjects renewing their Union at Mante under his Eyes and swearing publickly before the Catholicks of his Party that they would die in defence of their Confession of Faith A Just Prince should never complain of an Oath made under his Obedience In it they protested they would ever continue Loyal to the King But Henry being now in peaceable Possession of France he was much offended at an Act which the King of Navarr had approved off The Renewing this at Chatelleraut put him into an ill Humour He resented it highly that Lesdiguieres had Signed what himself had done under preceding Kings Sully gave him good Reasons for this proceeding The Reformed would not be afraid of any thing that could happen Sir said he to him if the Crown could make you Immortal But the Memory of St. Bartholomew will strike a Terror into them We are not ignorant the Catholicks press you only to give a Toleration for a Time See then what Reasons the Protestants have to take care for Futurity When the Reformed had so many just Grounds to distrust the Regent and her Council could it seem strange they should renew their Union at Saumur but the cry was against them They were ever Reproached with this Oath in the Reign whose History I am now writing To make a thing which was Innocent and Necessary in the Opinion of Henry Criminal was not this plainly to declare to the poor People their Ruine was absolutely resolved on The Affairs of the Duke of Sully proposeâ—… in the Meeling at Saumur Boissise and Bullion Counsellors of State and Commissioners sent by the King to the Assembly at Saumur having brought with them hopes of the Favour of the Court there was a serious design to draw up the Complaints and Requests of the Reformed Party Whilst this was managing by Persons appointed for that purpose there arose a Debate about the Duke of Sully's Concerns He feared the Consequences of the Threats made him to appoint Commissioners to enquire into his past Actions and proceed against him if he persisted to refuse to lay down his place of Great Master of the Artillery and his Government of Poitou To bring him to do this with the better Grace the Court offered him the choice of two sorts of Recompences a Dignity as that of Mareschal of France or a considerable Sum of Money The Duke desired to keep his Places and Government and convey both to the Marquess of Rony his Son He could find no way besides to baffle the Potent Enemies he had at Court but by engaging all the Hugonot Party to support him and declare loudly their cause was concerned in his Preservation He took Measures to succeed in this Project and the Mareschal was no less busie in Traversing it reckoning the Government of Poitou his own by Virtue of the Regents Promise when Sully should be deprived of it The Duke of Sully's Remonstrance to the Meeting Sully made a Remonstrance to the Meeting Under Colour of desiring their Advice he dextrously insinuated that his Religion was the only cause of Disgrace and the Association Oath which he had just now taken would expose him still farther to the Displeasure of the Court This was at least true in part Mercure Francois 1611. the Deputies were convinced it was so and the most Disinterested amongst them declared for Sully The Consideration all Men had for the Duke of Rohan a Lord already very Eminent for his great Courage his rare Probity A Discourse between the Mareschal of Bouillon and the Duke of Rohan concerning the Duke of Sully's Affair his Discernment and capacity still encreased the Friends of Sully whose Daughter he had Married This was an Invincible Obstacle to Bouillon's designs and embarassed him exceedingly He thought to surmount this by perswading Rohan to abandon his Father-in-Law pretending his Cause was desperate However Vpright and Careful a Man be who has the Administration of the Finances and Artillery says the Mareschal to the Duke of Rohan in a Visit he made him when he was ill It is hard for him to avoid committing some fault which deserves to be punished if it be enquired rigorously into A Superintendent of the Finances and a Great Master of the Artillery are not only answerable for what they do themselves but for the Management of their Commissioners and Inferior Officers If the Court should appoint Commissioners to enquire into the Duke of Sully's Administration do you think they would not find some plausible Pretence to take away his Places The Assembly and the Reformed will have no colour of Complaint nay though wrong be done to the Duke of Sully The Matter will be Determined in the usual Forms of Law For you My Lord you make such a Profession of exact Probity You are so great a Lover of good Order in a Word you have so Loyal a French Heart you will not be able to stir when the Matter shall be determined Judicially The Duke of Rohan took this Complement very ill What replyed he with some Disturbance after the Great Services the Duke of Sully has done to the late King shall he become a Prey to those who were always doing Mischief to the State His
de Coeuvres was informed before his departure from Italy that the Prince of Conde and the Regent were upon the point of Agreement This News unravelled the Designs of the Duke of Savoy He flatterr'd himself he should have time to make good his pretensions to Monferrat in spight of the King of Spain whilst his Catholick Majesty should be busied in Supporting the Authority of Mary de Medicis shaken by a Civil War rais'd by the Prince of Conde in France The Treaty which the Regent was about to Conclude at St. Meneboud in Champagne Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Medicis with the Malecontents was not so Binding but that the Prince de Conde held still a great Correspondence with Savoy Mercure Francois 1614. and there was still great Confusions in France These Considerations gave Charles Emanuel some hopes of being in a Condition to make the Governor of Milan know that his Catholick Majesty was not powerful enough to be absolute Master of all the Affairs in Italy Before we relate this new Quarrel which the Duke of Savoy had with the Marquiss of Inojosa or rather with the Court of Madrid it is necessary to look back on the Course of the Affairs in France and to give an account of the Negociation of the Duke of Ventadour and the other Commissioners of the King of France with the Prince of Conde and the Lords of his Party at the Conference of Soissons The latter came thither attended by Six or Seven hundred Horse and Four thousand Foot The Duke de Mayenne Governor of the Isle of France had put a strong Garrison into Soissons for the Security of the Prince and the Lords that came with him The 14th April they assembled in the Castle of Soissons After the Prince of Conde and the Malecontented Lords had protested that they had no other Design but to Serve his Majesty and to secure the Peace of France they desired Three things of the Regent that the States of the Kingdom should be Conven'd as soon as possible that the double Marriage with Spain should be Superseded and that both Sides should lay down their Arms. Hitherto things went very smoothly they pretended to design nothing but the publick Good But they reserv'd a Power to Treat not only concerning the Liberty and Security of the Assembly of the States of the Kingdom but also concerning the particular Interests of each of the Lords The Convocation of the States were granted without any difficulty The Regent had offered that in her Answer to the Prince de Conde's Manifesto There was a dispute about the Second Article They demanded a Suspention of the double Marriage till the End of the Assembly of the States The Commissioners of the Court had only Orders to grant it till the Majority of the King And to save the Authority of the Regent in an Affair which she had Negociated and solemnly Concluded with Spain the Court would not allow that this Article should be inserted in the publick Treaty They offered a particular Letter of the Regent to the Prince in which her Majesty would engage her self to defer the double Marriage till the Majority of the King The thing was accepted of with this modification There was only a formality wanting The day appointed for the opening of the Assembly of the States falling out before the Majority the double Marriage could not be Celebrated before the end thereof The Prince de Conde retires from Soissons and goes into Champagne The proposals which the Prince de Conde and the Lords of his Party made with Relation to their particular Interests raised great disputes in the Council of Mary de Medicis under a pretence of providing for their own Security The Prince and the other Malecontents demanded that they would put some important Place into their Hands and grant them several things for their own convenience 'T was necessary to send Couriers to Court Memoirs de Bassompierre Mercure Francois 1614. and to receive Instructions concerning these Affairs Thus the King's Army gained time to reinforce it self considerably Galati brought Six thousand Swisses which he had Commission to Levy Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Medicis Bassompierre their New Collonel General went to receive them at Troies in Champagne from thence he Conducted them to Vitri where Praslain was gathering together the King's Army These motions made the Prince de Conde Jealous who immediately left Soissons He had written to the Queen before to thank her for the Three Articles which she had consented too and to Advertise her Majesty that the Duke de Maierne and the Mareschal de Bovillon remained at Soissons with full power to Treat of those other Conditions which his Highness and the Lords of the Party had demanded Conde had a mind to seize Vitri with his little Army which he led towards Sedan But the Kings Troops prevented him He made amends for this by assisting the Duke of Nevers to make himself Master of St. Menehoud When the particular Demands of the Prince and the Malecontented Lords were proposed in the Queen's Council their Opinions were divided The Dukes de Guise d' Epernon de Bellegarde The Regents Council divided about the demands which the P. of Conde the Malecontents make with relation to their particular Interests the Cardinal de Joieuse and Villeroi Secretary of State cried out upon them as unworthy Conditions which the Queen could not grant with Honour and without parting with too much of her Authority Guise and Epernon said boldly that if the Regent granted Places of Security to their Enemies they likewise would demand the same and that they would look for Assistance out of the Kingdom This was plainly to threaten Siri Meme recondite Tom. III. p. 238 239 c. that they would join themselves with the Crown of Spain This appeared so much the more a contriv'd Design because the Ministers of Philip declar'd that the King their Master would not send the Infanta his Daughter into France as long as the Enemies of the House of Austria were there the Strongest Mary de Medicis began to be shaken by their Reasons who were of Opinion that she should suppress the Prince of Conde by Force The Parliaments the greater part of the military Officers in a word almost the whole Kingdom were at her Majesties disposal The Hugonots did not Rise only the Duke of Rohan was perhaps tempted to join with the Prince of Conde But Rohan did not eare to embark himself without having a prospect what was like to be the Success However 't was easie to stop him by giving some Satisfaction to the Reformed Churches concerning the Edicts of Pacification and above all in not accepting the assistance which the King of Spain offer'd and of which the Regent had no need Her Majesty did not want Money she had a good Army Conde and the Lords of his Party lying in the extreame parts of
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