to be nail'd to the Turks Ambassadours heads which drive their Embassie out of their braines He shall tell the gran Cham that the most eminent among mortals is desirous to keep good quarter and correspondence with him and so shall present unto him his Credentiall Letters and that 't is fitting his great Tartarian greatnes should do some gallant thing the Field being now open for him in regard of the Cowardise of the Transylvanian and the affairs of Poland with the Swed and of the troubles 'twixt the Emperour and some of his Vassals in so much that 't is easie to invade the estates of these three Princes as also to restrain the Turk whom we have a long time engag'd in armes against the Christians If the gran Cham who is a Christian though of the Greek Church doth imagin that by this last article we are enemies to Iesus Christ the Duke of Sabin must endevour to perswade him that Religion is but the Republiques servant and 't will be expedient to translate for him a book entituled the Catholic of State compos'd by Monsieur Ferrier if he beleeve it not then the Ambassadour shall labour to gain by promise of vast sums the Governors of the twelve Provinces who are the principall Counsellors and represent unto them that they are within a Countrey too subject to thunder snows and sudden changes in so much that oft times one shall feel the foure seasons of the yeer in one only day whereas in Hungary and Austria there is for the most part a pleasant temperature and that excellent Wines grow there In regard that the most eminent among mortals hath a curious spirit and that he desires all the rarities of the world to embellish his House Gardens and courts the Ambassador shall procure from some Garden in Tartary the Plant Boraneth which is like a sheep and eates round about him all the hearbs and grasse so that there may be no need of a Gardner to make clean the circle of his Courts And that would serve for an excellent Emblem to shew what his Eminence hath done to all his neighbours in Richelieu Paris and other places He is also desirous to find out all the strange Birds and animals that can be had being resolv'd to make a faire lower court in the Horse Market which he hath clos'd within Paris together with the Suburbs of Saint Honoré which hath cost the public at least a million of gold The Ambassador shall also cause a good number of those Tartarian Hens to be bought which in lieu of feathers are cover'd with black skins and lay certain egges which are purgatif whereof his Eminence hath much need to mitigate his heat and clense the ordures of his blood When the Lord Ambassadour shall have taken order for all these rarities he shall embarque himself for Cambalu to go for China he shall stay a while to observe the stupendous wall that is twixt Her and Tartary he shall take all the dimensions of the wall very exactly and send a survey thereof to his Eminence that if need be he may raise such another in his Kingdom of Austrasia and that having already in his hands all the Ports and Havens of France he may also erect such a wall from Calais to Bayon and because he may want no workmen he hath a purpose to employ all those that shall be found to speak ill of him to finish the work Then the Lord Ambassadour shall embark himself upon the great Chanel that goes to Peguin the chief City of China and so shall send notice of his arrivall to the Emperour In his audience he shall entitle him Son to Apollo a Lion crown'd in the throne of the world and King of thirty two Realmes He shall say that of that people whom they call Caffres or Spaniards attempting to ravish him of these faire Titles and having the Lion in his Scutcheon the most eminent among mortals not enduring that this wrong should be done his Majesty sends to offer him his power and to propose him a way how to be reveng'd upon the Caffres in the East and West Indies specially to take from them their Mines of gold and sylver Having visited all the Kings of the East my Lord Ambassadour shall return by the road which Alexander the Great took to enter into the Indies And in regard the most eminent among mortals is very curious in moveables and other exquisit things for the adornment of his Houses my Lord Ambassadour shall procure what may be possibly had for that service He must try whether in the ancient Town of Tazila there be left any old peeces of Porus made by Zeuxis Apelles Polignot or Euphranor He shall endevour also to bring some of those savage Asses that are neer the River Hyphasis which have a horn in the forehead that his Eminence may make his entry upon one of them into his Kingdom of Austrasia and then put her to breed in his stables at Mirebalais He shall also endevour to enchant by Scarlet colour and letters of gold certain Dragons which are in that Countrey and to that effect he shall cary that robe of red Sattin embroder'd with gold which the Cardinal of Lion wore then when he beleeved himself to be God the Father If we had a dozen of those Dragons we might draw a great advantage for the security of his Eminencies Person because they say that in their heads there be certain stones found like that which made Gyges invisible The Lord Ambassadour shall inform himself also at Paruca if the Inhabitants do yet understand the Language of Beasts which would be advantagious to his Eminence because he daily hears multitudes whom he hath transform'd to simple animals My Lord Ambassadour shall be carefull to informe himself of the Indian Brachmans and know whether they are such great Magicians as they are reported to be If they are so he shall confer with them and learn of them which way to turn those strong places his Eminence holds into inchanted Castles if he be constrain'd to retire to any of them To this purpose he shall learn what were the enchantments of those Philosophers who overcame the Egipeans when they assaulted them and made them leave behind them up and down the Rocks the pourtrait of their ill-favour'd faces ugly beards and double nayles If the Lord Ambassadour finds that he cannot do our busines with these kind of Philosophers because they are too austere peaceful he shall find out another Sect call'd the Oxidraques who are Philosophers which use to discompose the humours of men and make them rush out every where into war such are most fit for our purpose If my Lord Ambassadour cannot dive into their mysteries he must deboush one of them and promise to make him compagnon of the Reverend Father Ioseph who is already vers'd in some of the Maximes of this goodly Society and useth to sow war every moneth that he may gather something all the yeer
defray his ordinary expences the town of Bourdeaux to her eternal glory shew'd herself carefull of his honor and supplied him Add hereunto that two whole armies fell from him that of the Suisse consisting of 6000. and that under the Duke of Vendosm being the greater of the two the one only left him the other turn'd against him and the whole body of them of the Religion declar'd it self against him and actually help'd the other side Moreover his Parliament at Paris would not verifie his Edicts Yet in the midst of all these straits He marcheth resolutly from Bourdeaux with his new Queen to joyn his army with Bois Dauphin with a purpose either to present battaile to the adverse party or to draw them to a treaty Espernon met him in the way with 4000. foot and 500. horse The Duke of Nevers did very much labour and made journeys to and fro for an accommodation and his endevors took so good effect that a Conference was agreed on at Lodun where Commissioners were appointed and did meet on both sides in the interim the Duke of Guyse perform'd a notable exploit with 2000. of the Kings prime horses wherwith he set upon three Regiments of Condés at Nantueil which he slew took and put to flight carrying all their colours to the King for a present Hereupon a suspension of arms was accorded through all the Kingdom except in Anjou Perch and the frontiers of Britany where Vendosm continued all acts of hostility notwithstanding that he had his Deputy at the Conference The King was then advanc'd to Chastel le Heraud where Villeroy deliver'd him the Articles of the Truce sign'd by the Princes and where a Legat came from the Pope to deliver him the Imperial Sword and to the Queen the Rosetree of flowers and leaves of gold Thence the King went to Blois where after a long debate an Edict of Pacification was publish'd upon the Treaty of Lodun which consisted of 54. Articles wherein all the Princes with their adhaerents as also They of the Religion found satisfaction and divers persons of base condition were nominated therein which the world cryed shame upon By this Edict the King approv'd of all actions pass'd as having bin done for his Service and by consequence tacitly disadvow'd what He and his Counsell had ordain'd to the contrary The former Arrests of the Court of Parliament of Paris which the King had suspended were reestablish'd and they of the Counsell of State annull'd and many high demands were accorded to them of the Religion The Chancelor Sillery and divers others who were the Kings Favorits before were outed of their offices Besides the said Edict there were also secret Articles condescended unto containing rewards and honors to some particular men in lieu of punishment and they were presented in a privat close way to the Parliament to be verified with the gran Edict The Court wav'd them a while but afterwards by expresse commandment of the Kings and by a Declaration he made that those secret Articles contain'd no more then what was granted in the secret Articles of the Edict of Nants already verified by the same Court the businesse pass'd though with much reluctancy for if those of Nants were verified what need these being the same have a second verification This as it were enforc'd Verification was accompagnied with Letters Patents from the King in special favor to the Prince of Condé and others Letters in favor of them of the Religion by which his Majesty declar'd not to have understood his subjects of the Reform'd pretended Religion in the Oath and Protestation he had made at his Coronation to employ his sword and power for the extirpation of heresies which put the world in an astonishment because it made the meaning of the Taker of that Oath and of the Prelat who administred it to differ This turn'd afterwards rather to the disadvantage then the benefit of the Demanders for those hard and high termes which reflected so much upon the conscience of a yong King stuck deep in his breast nor could he ever digest them as will appear in the ensuing Story Nor was his honor thought much to suffer hereby being newly come out of his nonage little vers'd in the art of Government and having not attain'd that courage and yeers which use to strike awe into Subjects This shrew'd tempest being pass'd the weather broak up and clear'd And the King brought his new Queen to Paris having surmounted such a world of difficulties and waded through a sea of troubles he had bin absent thence neer upon a twelvemoneth therefore you may well imagin with what joy and triumph the Parisians receiv'd him Observable it is that in this voyage the King notwithstanding that he had condescended to hard capitulations yet he attain'd his main ends which was to perfect the Alliance with Spain and to fetch home his wife in safety which he did maugre the great Martiall oppositions that were made by most of the Princes of France who malign'd the match In this yeer there happen'd some ill-favor'd jarrs in Italy twixt the Dukes of Savoy and Mantova about Monferrat The King employed thither the Marquis of Coeuures to compose the difference but he return'd without doing any good notwithstanding that the Ambassador of his Majesty of Great Britain joyn'd with him He sent afterwards the Marquis of Rambovillet who caried himself with more addresse for he tamper'd with the affections of the French and Suisses which made the better part of the Duke of Savoys army with such dexterity that the Duke entring into a diffidence of them hearkned to a Treaty Don Pedro de Toledo then Governor of Milan was arm'd for the Mantovan and by this Treaty both Parties were to disband in the interim if the Spaniard attempted any thing upon Monferrat France should assist his Highnes of Savoy But the Spaniard though he attempted nothing yet he reinforc'd his Troupes which struck an apprehension of fear into the Venetians who of all Nations are most eagle-ey'd to foresee dangers because there was a small difference twixt them and the Archduke of Grats about the Uscochi which made them confederat and co-arme with the Savoyard there were great Forces on both sides and Don Pedro took Verselli Damian but his Majesty of France employ'd thither Mons. de Bethune who procur'd a Treaty in Pavia to that end which took effect but the Spaniard afterwards delaying to give up Vercelli Modene Luynes kinsman was sent thither who did the work The difference also twixt the Republic and the Archduke of Grats was accommoded by French intercession so that in lesse then a twelve moneths four Ambassadors went from France to Italy About this time the Lord Hayes afterwards Earl of Carlile came in a very splendid equippage to Paris to congratulate in his Majestie of Great Britain's name 1. The alliance with Spain 2. The arrivall of the new Queen 3. The Kings return to Paris 4. The end
the world beleeve but out of vertue and conscience for he was said to hate the very names of such vices more then others do the vices themselfs Whereupon it was said while his Southern brother in law sported in the pavilions of Venus he was busie in the tents of Mars and took Cities faster then the other did Maydenheads He was also temperat in a high degree nor would he ever wrong nature with the least exces or debauchments Moreover he was wonderfully constant in his affection where it was once settled which is rare in Soverain Princes especially in them of that Clime who have such a variety of choice and who have no other ground of fastnesse for their affection but their own fancy Not all the world could alienat his favor from Luynes though the greatest Princes of France did actually attempt to pluck him away from him by Armes nor after him from the Cardinal towards whom his love was in grain and would never lose colour Nor was he constant onely in his affection but to his own ends when once settled and resolv'd upon to attain which he was so actif and hot that when he went about it he not onely apply'd but gave up himself entirely to the thing Furthermore he was marvellously modest in an opinion of himself and so conscious of his own judgement that he resign'd his very faculty of reason and transmitted all his intellectualls to others a high point of prudence for that Prince who steers his course by the Compas of Counsell though he be himself but of indifferent abilities is a far wiser man then he who albeit never so politic and able of himself doth guid his affaires by his own fancy sole opinion being the worst kind of rule in Government And he was as fortunat as judicious in the choice of his Counsellors and chiefest ministers both of State and War He would not send an Ajax where he should employ an Vlysses nor a Saintre where Bouciqualt was fitter for the turn The two last were the most famous men that France ever bred one for the Gown the other for the Sword according to the verse I have read in an old Manuscript Beaucoup plus vaut pour un assault Saintrê que ne fait Bouciquault Beaucoup mieux vaut en un Traicté Bouciquault que ne fait Saintrê Thus unfrench'd and made English Were I to choose for an assault I 'de have Saintrê not Bouciquault Were I to treat then should for me Stand Bouciquault and not Saintrê So many high signall vertues which were naturally inhaerent in him were unquestionably the cause that he prosper'd so much So that 't is a question whom Fortune lov'd better the Father or the Son 'T is true his Father fought four great Battails wherein he prov'd victorious and so may be said to have come to the Crown of France by Conquest as much as by Succession yet all these and other exploits of Henry the Great 's were within the bounds of France and nought els but domestic achievments But France was too narrow a compas to comprehend and confine the exploits of the Thirteenth Lewis for besides thirteen severall Civil Wars in France her self and Navar which he suppress'd and most of them in Person so many Battailes were fought in Spain Italy Savoy amongst the Grisons in Lorain and in high and low Germany He had at one time in the yeers sixteen hundred thirty five and thirty six no lesse then 130000. foot by Land and Sea and 8000. effectif horse in six severall Armies whereas Henry the Great never had above 40000. horse and foot at once in all never any made France know her own strength so much and to find the length of her weapon as this King did He went a horseback betimes for at thirteen yeers of age he suppress'd in Person two Rebellions one in Poitou and another in Britany so that he began to triumph in those yeers that others begin to handle their armes and learn how to sit a horse in an Academy Afterwards he was forc'd to get his Queen by the sword and to bring her into his armes by Armes there being three severall Armies to stop her passage He then repells the English who had so boldly invaded France whereby he gain'd a greater addition of credit and fame then he did by worsting Spaniard Italian or German in regard of the admirable Victories that the English carried home from France in times pass'd by taking one of their warlik'st Kings prisoner and oftentimes by discomfiting whole Troupes with a handfull of men After this he beleaguers takes and batters the chiefest rampart of the Religion the impregnable Town of Rochell after a stupendous siege by Land and Sea where a prodigious Dike was cast up which serv'd as a bit in Neptunes jawes and whereby he may be said to have curb'd all the Elements No sooner had he shaken off the dust of Rochell but behold him cover'd with snow on the horrid Alpian Hills almost in the dead of Winter where he broke open his way with the point of the sword to relieve the Duke of Mantova he got Forts accessibly onely by birds amongst those clowd-topping Hills and so returns triumphant having done the work and overcome the rocks in this expedition as he did the Sea at Rochell He then goes on to perfect that mighty work of reducing his subjects of the Religion to an exact condition of obedience by dismantling their Towns whereof they had neer upon three hundred in France and Navar by casheering their Garrisons and bringing them to relye for the future upon royall favor a work which his five immediat Predecessors attempted to do but could not effect in seventy yeers whereas he did it in far lesse then so many moneths Then behold him Lord of all Lorain and of the greatest part of Alsatia by being Master of Brisach Rhinfeld and other places Then trace him to the Netherlands and you shall find him in the ancient Town of Arras and divers other places his predecessor Francis the First had given for his ransom Lastly look after him tovvards the Pyrenean Mountaines you shall see him boldly invade Spain entring the County of Roussillon like lightning and battering the vvalls of Perpignan which after a tough siege notwithstanding she had above 120. great Cannons and ten strong Bulvvarks he reduc'd to his will whereby he hath redeem'd vvith lead I mean good bullets that Countrey which one of his predecessors morgag'd for gold in times pass'd Thus hath he got three such keys that none of his progenitors not Emperors ever had Perpignan Pignerol and Brisach one to enter Spain the other Italy and the third to rush into Germany at pleasure Look upon him in his City Tovvn Vniversitie and Court at Paris and you shall find him enlarging her skirts and lacing them about vvith nevv vvalls according to the custome of Rome once the great Mistresse of the vvorld vvho upon the encrease of her Empire
those who daily meditat the abasing if not the ruine thereof or there must be means found to secure it The Kings intentions are to rule it so that his government may equall if not surpasse any time pass'd and serve for an example for the future The marvailous assistance which it hath pleased God to afford him hitherto when his affairs were in the most deplor'd case gives us hope that he will still persevere Being seconded with the sage counsels of the Queen his Mother with the concurrence of Monsieur his Brother who I may truly say is so fastned to his Majesties will and the interest of the State that nothing can separat him I see no reason at all to doubt of it since none but God Almighty can produce things of nothing therefore to come to so good ends of pure necessity either the ordinary expences of the Court must be diminish'd or the public receits augmented or perchance both must be done It is not fitting you 'l say to meddle with the necessary expences for the conservation of the State the very thought thereof were a crime yet his Majesty preferring the public before the privat is willing out of his own motion to retrench his House in things that touch his own Person leaving you to judge how the rest will be employ'd One might think that such retrenchments were not seasonable at this time because they use to alienat sometimes the affections of hearts But as the businesse will be carried great and small shall find their account and therein their satisfaction the most austere rules seem sweet unto the most tumultuous spirits when they have not in appearance only but in reall effect the public good and incolumity of the State for their sole aime Sir the Queen your Mother prayes that you would think it good to let her do that which your piety towards her would not permit you as much as to think of your self which is that she be reduc'd to a lower revenue then she had in the late Kings time it being true that she had not better'd her condition then when during your Majesties minority she rais'd the fortunes of others for the advantage of your Majesties service Different times require different and sometimes contrary courses that which is proper at one time may be impertinent at another In great tempests one must share his goods with the Sea to lighten the Vessell and avoid shipwrack prudence requires it that the whole perish not for casting away part the interest of particulars obligeth no lesse then that of the public there being nothing more true then what an ancient Prelat of this Kingdome said That 't is impossible the riches of private persons can subsist when the State it self is poore and necessitous By such husbandry the ordinary expences may be lessen'd by three millions It rests then to augment the receits not by such impositions that the people are not able to beare but by innocent means which gives place to the King to continue what he hath practis'd this yeer in easing his subjects by diminution of tallies To this effect we must come to the redemption of lands to Notaries and Registers and other morgag'd rights which amount to twenty millions a thing not onely profitable but just and necessary If this dessein take effect the people who contribut more of their bloud then of their sweat to the expences of the State shall be eas'd If there be need to resist a forren Invasion or some intestine Insurrection if God for our sins permit any more or to execute a dessein that 's profitable and glorious for the State want of money will be no losse of time there will be no need to have recours to extraordinary wayes to Court partisans and put hands in their purses who have them oft times full of the Kings moneys One shall not see the Soverain Courts busied to verifie new Edicts Kings shall appear no more upon their beds of justice unlesse it be to undo what they had done some other time In fine all things shall be at such a passe that hath bin long since desir'd by all good men and may continue so whole Ages One will say and perchance I may think so my self that 't is easie to propose good desseins and as pleasing a thing to speak of them but the execution is difficult Yet neverthelesse I dare speak it in the presence of the King having well thought of it there may be expedients found whereby within the compas of six yeers one may see the end and perfection of this work The King my Lords and Gentlemen hath Assembled you expresly to search and find them out to examine things and concur with him in resolution his Majesty assuring you that he will readily and religiously execute what shall be determin'd for the restauration of this State The sick sometimes die by too many remedies as well as none at all I am bound to tell you this by the by that to restablish this State in its first splendor ther 's no need of many Ordinances but real executions by this means this Assembly may close more speedily though she may be perpetuall for the fruit she shall produce few words and many deeds will testifie both the good intentions and judgements of them whereof she is compos'd The King doubts not but you will do what concerns your duty in this occurrence You shall know by the event that his Majesty will surpasse himself to procure the good of his Kingdome the glory of reviving it is reserv'd to the vertu of so great a Prince you are much bound to his goodnes that he hath vonchsaf'd to make you partakers thereof and for my particular I should be much bound to God if he presently took me out of the world upon the accomplishment of so high so glorious and holy a work As thus in things premeditated so in ordinary extemporall discours he had a pressing way of eloquence and exaggeration of speech which came from him in such a grave serious accent that it mov'd all along In so much that by his garb he seem'd to be rather an Italian then French seldom or never would reason thrust be out of her throne by any impetuous irregular motions seldome would his passions make any furious sallies the greatest fit of distemper that ever was discover'd in him was at the news of Wallesteyns death with whom he had held intelligence for betraying the Imperial Army so to pave a way for France to ascend the Empire He would easily break out into tears and tendernesse of spirit The prime perfection in him was his forecast he was quick-sighted and Eagle-ey'd in every corner of christendom He had Ecchoes in every Court which sounded unto him all the affairs of State in so much that he knew as well what was done in the Junta's of Spain in the Consistory at Rome in the Cabinet Counsels of England and Germany as if he had bin President of all
long He must also make an exact research for the curious books of Metagenes wherein he teacheth how to compound a beuverage whereby to make a judiciary Astrologer and take the Circle of the seven Planets which knowledge would be very usefull for the most eminent among mortals to foresee what will become of him and to be able the better to prevent his enemies for the Europaean Astrologers have cousen'd him in divers praedictions specially in that of the ruine of the House of Austria and in the translation of the Empire They had also assur'd him that in such a yeer he should be Pope and in such a yeer King of Austrasia The Lord Ambassadour shall try to get the Beast Marticora which is of a red colour and hath the head of a man lancing out sharpe prickles from behind The spirit which moves the stars shall take this for his Crest The Lord Ambassadour shall not faile to enquire if it be possible to recover the pourtrait of the Great Talamoque or that huge Galeasse which the Egiptiens sent two thousand yeers since to the Indian Seas because the most eminent among mortals would build the like having already cut down a good part of the Forests of Britany to make such an Engine that may be able to crush the English Ships by being higher deck'd then the tops of their Masts It shall be call'd the Great Armand which shall be able to swallow all the Bottomes on the Ocean whereon the Picture of the most eminent among mortals shall be put who cannot live but amongst waves amongst troubles and tossings and tumblings besides he fears nothing more then the earth Then shall the Lord Ambassadour passe by the Persian Gulph and then to the red Sea and so through the Deserts of Lybia he shall enter into Egypt and so advance to Ethiopia to see Prester Iohn He shall endevour to perswade him that he being of the Race of the Q. of Sheba he ought to have a curiosity to come to hear the wisdom of the most eminent among mortals who knows more then Solomon If my Lord Ambassadour passe by Fez and Morocco he shall endevour to incite them also against the Spaniard When his Excellence the Duke of Sabin Ambassadour extraordinary for the most eminent among mortals to all the Great Monarques of the World shall be return'd to Christendom he shall advertise all Princes as he passeth along that his Eminence is resolv'd there shall be no Peace in Europe specially 'twixt France and the House of Austria howsoever that there may be a way given for Treaties to amuse the world untill both parties become equall in power therefore as he shall passe through Italy the foresaid Lord Ambassadour shall procure one of those Scales wherein Cosmo de Medici balanc'd all the Princes of the Western World for the most eminent among mortals intends to do the like most exactly and weigh every State to the least grain c. This was the substance of the rambling Instructions that were given the Chymericall Ambassadour which kept more noise in Christendom then any thing that ever was written of him Another compares him to Hercules and the Q. Mother to Iuno whose animosity put Hercules to quell Monsters and perform his twelve labours which were held impossibilities in others At Sea Hercules himself did not so many feats as he for being High Admiral his Galeon the great Armand broak often through his pillers He rays'd every day new tempests wherein Dolphin-like he lov'd to tumble and sport and by this restles humour of motion he drive his Master into a vast Ocean of trouble and danger his sayles having no other wind to fill them but ambition and ayrie hopes of honor And while he labour'd thus to have his great Masters name and his own to fill future story some doubt whether they were not expung'd out of the Book of life in regard they pass'd to their last Port through a Red Sea the one a young man upon the matter being but 42. the other not old being but 57. and the reason may be drawn out of the Sacred Text That the bloud-thirsty man shall not see half his dayes This Sanguinary humor in him was sutable to the colour of his habit which more incited and praecipitated the French and others his Confederats to Armes as we read it to be the custom of the Indians to present Scarlet colours and other bloody red objects before their Elephants to make them more furious when they are employ'd in the wars This made him turn the very dust to soldiers as he pass'd and make swarms follow him as well for the colour of his coat as also for that holines which some held to be inhaerent in it I will conclude all kind of Satyrs of him with these Latin ones which may be instar omnium for they give a shrewd Character both of his nature his actions and of his whole life and t is in forme of an Epitaph and penn'd by one of the prime wits under that Clime Primùm quod a te postulo Viator est ut Deum opt max laudes quod haec in Gallia securus leges Deinde miraberis tantillo spacio claudi mortuum quem Terra non capiebat vivum Illam ubi commovit coelum movere voluit is qui hoc symbolum sibi arrogavit Mens sydera volvit Ut intelligas qualis haec Intelligentia fuerit industria fuit sagaci sed inquieta pacis publicae propriae tranquillitatis hostis In magno quod plurimi suspexerint Ingenio magnam pauci familiares deprehenderunt mixturam dementiae Animum ejus laedebant omnia sanabat nihil Potentissimi Regis non tam benevolentia quam authoritate diu stetit Rerum exitu non consiliorum prudentia foelix Dei solius infelix indignatione cum turpibus morbis perpetuo conflictatus locum ignoravit felicitatis quam sua aliorum infelicitate quaerebat nunquam sibi visus beatus ut nec iis probus qui beatum nuncupabant Utrique bili vitae carnificibus obnoxius flavos ignes at atras fuligines continuò passus est sic venenum quod in aliorum perniciem effudit non sine sua continuit Supra omnes Mortales ambitione laboravit supra plurimos avaritia Regiae pecuniae prodigus alienae parcus Crudelis offensus ubi offenderat crudelior extitit Regiae Matris beneficiis ditatus curis promotus potestate potentior factus illam gratiâ regis libertate bonis Galliâ ac demum extorrem Coloniae vitâ privavit ne mortuae parceret supremas ejus voluntates rescindi et insepultum cadaver per quinque menses post quos et Ipse extinctus est in cubiculo relinqui voluit Fratris Regis dignitatem violavit personam opprimere studuit Non solùm a Matre filium a fratre fratrem sed ab uxore virum aliquando avertit Marillacum cum summa injuria Montmorentium summo jure Saint Marcum jure cum injuria Thuanum
Soubize he march'd away at last There was a great debate in the Cittadell whether the English should be poursued in the Retreat or whether a bridge of silver should be made them to passe quietly away The first opinion prevayl'd so they had not march'd a Musket shot from the Town but two hundred horse two thousand foot were at their heeles The English made a stand to see whether the French would fight but they would not so they continued their march till they came to la Nova a little village where they made another stand thinking the French would charge which they forboare still Thence they march'd to Lewisbridg where they were to imbark but before two Regiments were pass'd over the Bridg which was very narrow the French fell upon the English horse in the reare and routed them so that the foot could not charge then they began to fly and the enemy had the execution of five Regiments which he put most to the sword except twenty Officers and one hundred common soldiers divers also were drown'd in the salt-pits and dikes so there perish'd in all neer upon two thousand besides the sick which were left before the Cittadell all whose throats were cut and sent in a Bark thrust from the shore to the English Ships My Lord Monjoy now Earl of Newport was there taken prisoner old Colonel Gray was fallen into a salt-pit and being upon point of being drown'd he cryed out cent mill escus pour marancon a hundred thousand crowns for my ransom so the noise of the mony sav'd his life There were divers prisoners besides taken but they were sent as a present to the Queen of England to whom the King writ this following Letter by le Chevalier de la Ramé call'd du Meau Madame my sister It having pleas'd God to blesse my arms in such sort that my Lord Monjoy Colonel Gray divers Captains Officers and Gentlemen remaind my prisoners in the journey which pass'd at Ré the eighth of this moneth I was willing to testifie unto all Christendom the speciall esteem which I make of your Person by sending unto you the said prisoners which I have let go upon their words for your sake Nothing having invited me thereunto but the friendship which I bear you and the knowledge I also have that I cannot do an act more acceptable to the Queen my Mother then to do for your sake what I would not do for any other Du Meau will assure you of my health I pray you have a care of your own which is most deer unto me and I assure you that the world hath not a brother which makes more account of a sister then I do of you so I rest my Lady and Sister your most affectionat Brother Lewis From the Campe before Rochell the last of November 1627. There were also forty foure Colours taken which the King sent to the two Queens at Paris and they hang to this day in the great Church there This was the dismall'st day that the English ever had in France who in times pass'd perform'd such stupendous exploits in that Countrey yet the Invasion was made with much gallantry for they might be said to have swom through water and blood to take footing on the Island which discover'd much of the ancient courage of the Nation Besides they did before the Cittadel as much as men could do upon their marching away they made two stands to draw Schomberg to fight notwithstanding that they had not in number a quarter of the horse that he had newly transported from the Continent They took likewise divers prisoners of note who were released also without ransome by his Majesty of Great Britain Divers omissions there were that prov'd fatall to this expedition 1. The not speedy marching of the English Army in poursuance of their first victory to the Cittadell where Toiras had time in the interim to fortifie 2. The not taking of the little Fort la Prée in the way which might have serv'd for a retreat 3. That the Duke did not follow the advice of Burrowes to go to Oleron a greater Island and afterwards of the knowingst Colonels so often press'd upon him to march away before Schomberg came over for so he might have made an honorable retreat then which there is nothing more difficult in the fait of armes not is it any disgrace to go away in the night for preventing of being beaten in the day Monsieur Soubizes counsell was the cause of these omissions who was the main contriver of this infortunate voyage with Blancart who fell at first landing And it seems a hard destiny hanted the said Soubize though a worthy man of himself in all attempts from the beginning He was taken prisoner at Saint Iohn d'Angely he was forc'd to flye at Royan and twice with this time at Ré He had but ill succes at Medoc and divers ill-favor'd encounters at Sea though he lost lesse honor there then a shore Some outlandish Chroniclers would have it that there were three Furies which impell'd the English to this Expedition 1. The ambition of Buckingham 2. The felony of Soubize 3. The rebellion of the Rochellers but these men write more out of passion then knowledge for as I instanc'd in the beginning of this relation there were divers causes to move England to armes as matters stood then The King having had such rare successe against the English he resolves upon the planting of a serious siege before Rochell thereupon order was given for an exact circumvallation by Land and Pompco Targon an Italian Engineer was employed for Sea works the said Targon being assisted with the Cardinals headpeece fell on a plot to raise a huge dike in the channell which the Rochellers geer'd at first but they found it the bane of their Town at last The Rochellers had recourse to the King of Great Britain for protection who resenting their sad condition employed two Royall Fleets for their succour which made but sory returns The Duke of Buckingham was to be General of the last but he was tragically slain the day before he was to embark Thereupon the Earl of Linzey went in his place but before he appear'd before the Town Targon had finish'd the gran Dike whereof the Cardinal was dayly overseer the King being then in Paris there were certain kind of palissadoes and other strange fabriques rais'd in the channel to the wonderment of the world for Marquis Spinola at his revokment from Flanders to Spain and passing by the Kings Army said he had never seen the like being as trenches and barricadoes erected in the Sea and they were done with that advantage that no navall power could do any good upon them In so much that the English Fleet being arriv'd the Cardinal sent to the General that he should have safe pasport to come a shore with six of his knowingst Commanders with permission to view the works and if they thought in their judgements
that the Town was succourable he would raise the siege without fighting a stroak The General of this Fleet was the Lord Rob Willoughby Earl of Linzey whom the French Chroniclers call Willaby Inghay and the General of the former Fleet they call Count d'Emby in lieu of Denbigh so they call Burrowes Burrache Ashpernham Hasburnim And as in this relation so every where els they seldom or never truly render the sirname of any English or German which under favor is a great error and a kind of stupidity and carelesnes in an Historian The King being return'd with the flower of all the Nobility of France to the siege before Rochell which had now lasted a long time the Town was reduc'd to an extreme exigent and want of provision having for greedinesse of mony sold upon high prises to the English being at Ré much corn and other things therefore they came at last to a submission their Deputies making this speech to the King Sir they who have bin a long time shut up in obscure prisons when they come abroad cannot behold the Sun without dazzling their eyes so we whom a long captivity hath kept reclus'd within our walls coming now to appeer before your Majesties face we are not able to endure the brightnesse of it without dazzlement and some horror of our faults pass'd which adds to our confusion yet the goodnes of your Majesty whereof we have tasted the effects so often and do now find gives us the boldnesse to prostrat our selfs at your feet to implore pardon which our frequent relapses into our crimes do not permit us to hope for c. So they go on with a protest and deep asseveration of their loyaltie for the future wherein they will endeavor to surpasse all the rest of his subjects The King answer'd God grant that you have spoken to me from the bottom of your hearts and that necessity rather then an acknowledgement of your faults hath put these words in your mouthes you have made use of all means and inventions to withdraw your selfs from the duty of good and faithfull subjects yet I cannot forbeare to let you feel the effects of my goodnes and mercy Be wiser hereafter and assure your selfs I will not breake my promise At the beginning of the siege there were in the Town about eighteen thousand souls but at the reddition there were not five thousand and scarce one hundred who had strength to bear a Musket an ounce of bread was worth half a crown a pound of bisket seven crowns an egg six shillings a pound of horse-flesh ten shillings a cabbage leaf three pence many dragg'd themselfs to the Church-yards and made their own graves A little before their reddition they married all the young maids in the Town that were espousable who had any portions The King caus'd all kind of fortifications new and old except those towards the haven to be raz'd all bastions and the walls to be demolish'd and the moats fill'd up so of a City she became to be an open village without Maire Sheriffs or any other Magistrat the Inhabitants to be contributory to all kind of taxes those ramparts that were built out of the ruines of Churches and Monasteries were employed for reedification of the former Churches a great Crosse was erected in the Market-place and a Decree pass'd that there should be a solemn Procession every yeer upon All Saints day about that Crosse in remembrance that the Town was taken that day all their Parishes were reduc'd to three In so much that as the quality of the place so the whole government thereof was entirely alter'd as if they had bin put to begin the world again In the mean time while the King had triumphed thus over Rochell the Duke of Rohan was very active in Languedoc having considerable forces which made the Parlement of Tholouze thunder out a furious Arrest against him That for his so many Conspiracies Rebellions Disloyalties and for bringing the English into France and other most odious Treasons he was depriv'd of the title of Duke made incapable of the benefit of the generall Act of oblivion that he should be drawn by wild horses his body dismembred and burnt his ashes thrown into the wind his posterity declar'd Peasants his Duchy reunited to the Crown and whosoever could apprehend his person and bring him living or dead he should have one hundred and fifty thousand Franks for a guerdon The Duke so little valued this sentence that he cau'd Masvyer the chief President of Tholouze to be hanged the next day in Effigie in the Town where he was There was at this time in Italy a former difference reviv'd 'twixt the Duke of Savoy and the Duke of Mantova about Monferrat which had bin some yeers before accommoded by the intervention of France The Emperour and Spaniard were for the Savoyard hereupon Don Gonzalez de Cordova besieg'd Casal The King of France thought it concernd his honor and safety to assist the Mantovan who had been once his vassal when only Duke of Nevers therefore having settled all things at Rochell he marcheth with his Army toward the Alpes but demanding passage of the Duke of Savoy the Duke a great while did complement with him Hereupon he forceth his passage through snow and yce in the moneth of February and got over to Susa in person which was rendred unto him so the Duke and He were upon good termes and free passage accorded for his Army to passe to Piemont to raise the siege of Casal but Gonzales by the advice of the Duke of Savoy quitted the siege himself in the interim and so retir'd to Milan and the King returned to France While he was t'other side the Alps at Susa by the interposition of the republic of Venice there was an overture made of a reconciliation 'twixt England and France which quickly took effect The King in his return ore the Alps with his Cardinal caus'd a Pillar to be erected in the common road upon one of the highest Mountains with this ostentous Inscription To the eternall memory of Lewis the thirteenth King of France and Navarr most gracious most victorious most happy most just A Conqueror who having overcome all Nations of Europe he hath triumphed also over the elements of heaven and earth having twice pass'd ore these Hills in the moneth of March with his victorious Army to restore the Princes of Italy to their estates and to protect and defend his Allies Being return'd to France he heard the Duke of Rohan rov'd still up and down with forces in Languedoc and that he was upon point of entering into a confederation with the Spaniard to which purpose He employ'd one Clausel to Madrid who propos'd That if his Catholic Majesty would be pleas'd to furnish him with 600000. crowns annually the Duke of Rohan would undertake to raise and maintain an Army of twelve thousand foot and twelve hundred horse to make what diversion his Majesty would appoint