so great a complacency as is expected by great men but notwithstanding he had alter'd his opinion of me upon further knowledge so that what the King had then told him having given him yet a better character of my conduct he answer'd his Majesty that it was not just to leave so generous an act without recompence to which he added Your Majesty expresses an intention to grant Monsieur Zamet the favour he desires of you in giving him Monsieur de Pontis for his Lieutenant but this Command being less advantageous both in respect of pay and of the honour of Captain which you have already conferr'd upon him your Majesty may find a way if you please to recompence both the one and the other in ordering him Captains pay and in adding to the Command of Lieutenant to the Camp-master of the Regiment of Picardy which is the first Regiment of France the new Title of Honour of eldest Lieutenant in your Majesty's Army Nothing could have been more obliging than what the Constable spoke to the King in my favour and he needed to say no more to prevail with him to consent to all things for immediately Monsieur de Puisyeux had order to deliver me the dispatches which accordingly were brought me the same day After having return'd my most humble thanks to the King and the Constable I went back to Monsieur Zamet to whom I deliver'd a Letter from the King wherein he left it to the bearer to give him an account how he had order'd his affairs adding only that he gave him to understand before hand that the Officer of Champagne was now that of Picardy as he had so much wish'd to be and that he had been easily perswaded to make him so having found in him a perfect submission and all possible esteem and friendship for him Monsieur Zamet having read this Letter embrac'd me with all his soul telling me that it was only to manifest to me the strict union he was resolv'd henceforward to have with me after which with a particular tenderness he repeated to me what he had already protested namely that he desired I should now begin to share with him both estate and fortune as his Brother I reply'd with the best expressions I could give him of my perfect acknowledgment and of the passion I had to let him see by my future actions that I was not altogether unworthy of the choice he had made of me XI The next day having sent for all the Captains of the Regiment he told them that he would acquaint them with a piece of news that he knew would please them very well which was that the King had given him for his Lieutenant a man to whom he had before granted a Company in the Regiment of Champagne and who had been so generous and had so great an esteem for the Regiment of Picardy as to surrender it into his Majesty's hands that he might be his Lieutenant that they all knew him particularly well having often been with him in action and that they could not choose but remember him when they saw their Collonel wounded and abed seeing that without the assistance of the person of whom he was speaking he had not now been with them but in the hands of the Enemy that therefore he assur'd himself they would receive me into their body with great joy which had the rather mov'd him to ask me of the King that he conjurâ—d them to unite in the acknowledgment of the honour I did the Regiment in preferring a Lieutenancy there before a Company in that of Champagne my ordinary Regiment To which all the Officers gave a very obliging answer in my favour I presently after came into the Chamber not having been by when he had thus spoken to them where after having receiv'd extraordinary civility on their parts I told them that I thought my self very happy that the King had receiv'd my resignation of the Company he had given me to honour me with that of the Lieutenancy of their Regiment That though men did not usually love to change a Company for the place of a Lieutenant yet a man might do it with reason when it was to enter into a body wherein were so many brave Officer that I entreated them all to consider me as a person absolutely devoted to them seeing that for the honour of serving in their Regiment I quitted another with all its advantages Monsieur Zamet had the satisfaction of seeing that the jealousy which ordinarily mixes in such occasions had nothing to do here for the Captains made me a thousand kind expressions in his presence with several protestations of the joy they were in to see me united to their body And the next day the Regiment being drawn up I took possession of my Command of Captain Lieutenant to the Collonelâ—s Company Nevertheless two days after there hapned an occasion of honour which had like to have set me at odds with the whole Regiment XII One of the Lieutenants disposing himself to command in turn I told him that as Lieutenant to the Collonel I ought to pass for youngest Captain that in this quality I had right to choose occasions of honour at my own pleasure and that I made choice of this This Lieutenant took what I had said to him very ill and told all the other Lieutenants of the Regiment who all together came to me telling me that I had but my turn no more than they and that I should not be Master of theirs To this replying a little roughly that I very well understood my Command that it gave me the same right it did the Collonel Lieutenants of all the old Bodies and that I could not endure it should be diminisht in my hands they answer'd me very briskly that they were not afraid of my words by reason there were a great many brave men in the Body had I not believ'd so Gentlemen said I I had not enter'd into it and t is that it may not be said there are any Cowards that I will maintain my right seeing I should be look'd upon as such a one should I fail therein This smart reply no less civil than resolute made these Gentlemen at last to seek out some way of accommodation which made them propose to me this condition that since I would have the choice of all occasions of honour they askt that they might rely upon me when they could not go to some Guards where the fatigue was too great The easiness with which I consented to their demand saying aloud that I promis'd it them with all my heart by reason of the experience I had that there is often more honour to be acquir'd in these perillous occasions put them into a new confusion but they could not go back having engag'd themselves into it of their own accord XIII To return to what concerns the Siege of Montaubon the Artillery being admirably well serv'd by the care of the Grand Maistre who also was
the Company drawn up in Battalia by which I was obliged this day to mount the Guard but that I would not take upon me the last mark of that Authority his Majesty had given me till I had first received it from his hand and presenting him the Corslet at the same time I added that I tendered that to him to whom it belonged to give it me and that having brought the Company near his house I would not march it by the Gate till his Lordship had first given me right to walk at the head of it in the quality of the Kings Lieutenant Monsieur Espernon a little surpriz'd but much pleas'd made so obliging an answer as plainly shewed he had lik'd the surprize He assur'd me of his service upon all occasions and putting on my Corslet very gracefully would in some sort hint to me that he still remembred what past between Monsieur Bastillat and me about the attack of Moutesche telling me there were but few persons that so well deserv'd or that could acquit themselves better in this Command I then askt him if he would please to see my Company and he accordingly going presently down stairs I went to put my self at the head of them and marcht by saluting him with my Pike after the most graceful manner that I could I marcht them on to the Louvre where Monsieur Saligny took the head of them The King as a particular mark of favour and in pursuance of his design to use me in restoring discipline among his Guards would needs see me this first time in my new Post and to that purpose made us pass and repass before him Our Arms being set down in the Guard-room Monsieur Saligny told me he would carry me to wait on the King in the quality of his Lieutenant I followed him But though I had the satisfaction to see that this Command gave me easie access to his Majesty's person yet I had as much trouble to find my self made a better sort of Slave by the burdensom engagement I was entring into and which the King spoke to me of now again repeating what he had said before That I was not to stir from my Quarters nor give any new Orders in the Company without first consulting him His Majesty being pleas'd to give the Orders Monsieur Saligny advanc'd to receive them but I being then near the King and standing still as he advanc'd his Majesty stept in between us leaning upon me as if he would give the Orders to us both This immediately gave great jealousy to Monsieur Saligny and had doubtless created an unlucky misunderstanding betwixt us had not I at the same time prevented the ill consequence My experience in the profession had taught me that a Lieutenant never takes Orders from a General when his Captain is present and that he ought to receive them from his own Captain So that turning aside my head and seeming not to hear what the King said as soon as ever his Majesty had done speaking and was retirâ—d a little from us I stept to Monsieur Saligny and entreated his Orders as if I knew nothing He was so surpriz'd at this by reason of the ill impression he had taken before that he presently thought with himself after this trial he should never have the least occasion to be offended with my conduct since contrary to all appearance I had kept my self so strictly to the severest Rules even then when it seem'd that the King himself had given me an occasion to lay it aside His Majesty taking notice of this passage as I had a mind he should had the goodness in some measure to condemn himself by approving and commending what I had done XIII Some time after the King requiring of me an account of the state of the Company which was then wholly under my care the Captain and Ensign being both absent I thought good to take this opportunity of informing my self more particularly what his Majesty expected from me and would at the same time for my own security beg a Copy of the Orders I was to observe in writing Having entreated his leave to speak freely I told him I was very much afraid I should not be able to give his Majesty all the satisfaction he expected and lest the too favourable opinion he might have of my conduct might turn to my prejudice at last when I was found less capable than he took me to be therefore I thought my self oblig'd honestly to acquaint his Majesty that I was by no means a man of that active and sprightly parts that was requisite in one who was to give an account of so many things and to execute so many orders but a heavy and slow Fellow and of a very treacherous memory And therefore not being able sometimes to do things by my self as others do I stood in need of assistance But as I had reason to fear I might not always have those helps ready at hand I very much apprehended I should not please and therefore had I dared to take the liberty of begging a favour I should most humbly have besought him that for the relief of my memory and understanding his Majesty would please to give me the Order I was to exâ—cute in writing that by this means I might the better discharge my duty I perceive plainly reply'd the King you would have me think you a Blockhead but it concerns my honour not to have been mistaken in the choice I have made of you I have not given you this command without a perfect knowledge of you nevertheless I will grant you your request as well because you desire it as because it will be an ease to me too And accordingly his Majesty caus'd instructions to be drawn up for me in writing upon which I afterwards gave him an account upon all occasions XIV The Souldiers were at this time very great Libertines and little or no discipline was observ'd among them They did not so much as repair to their Colours to march in order when they went to mount the Guard at St. Germains where the King was some came before and others straggling behind or on one side so that oftentimes there were not so much as a dozen together with the Officers that led them My humour would not endure such disorder which vexed me since it was sure to draw the hatred of all the Souldiers upon me besides the slavery I found my self reduc'd too and I was perfectly weary of my life and lamented the loss of my Lieutenancy in the Regiment of Picardy which I had quitted for this Another greater vexation still was that I had not one acquaintance in the Regiment into which I was now taken and so had no body to open my griefs to When I began to consider how to disengage my self from all this perplexity and get out of this condition which I saw was sure to be attended with so many uneasinesses I saw very well there was no possible way of doing it
been his Son For all my Duties upon the Guard and the occasions upon which I was commanded excepted I was continually by his Bed side lying with my hand in the stateliest Union that can possibly be imagin'd which also was much augmented upon a new accident which I think my self oblig'd to relate X. The Enemy having made another furious Sally came and set fire to our Powder lam'd the Carriages of two pieces of Cannon to which they set fire also and were endeavouring to nail the rest when I was commanded out with a body of threescore men to repel them where I once more thought I should have been scorch'd to death by a Barrel of Powder they gave fire to in their retreat After having beaten them from this Battery I retir'd with the rest of our Regiment which with great vigour beat the Enemy back even into their own Fort though it could not be done without great loss on our part Amongst the Officers that were kill'd in this action there was one very brave man call'd Captain Robert of whose death the King being inform'd he presently thought of the Officer of Champagne to confer the command upon for besides other occasions wherein I had been particularly taken notice of by his Majesty he had heard of the service I had done Monsieur Zamet and the other Prisoners in rescuing them out of the Enemies hands Calling therefore for Monsieur de Puisyeux he told him that he gave me the Company of Captain Robert commanding him to dispatch my Commission and to send it to me before I knew any thing of it Monsieur de Puisyeux who thought himself highly obligâ—d to me for having without speaking to him or his having entreated me preserv'd a Country House of his that was near the Army from being plundred by the Souldiers by putting into it a Gurrd of six Musqueteers was exceeding glad of this opportunity of serving me to the King and therefore taking the liberty to tell him his opinion concerning the choice his Majesty had made he spoke of me to him the most advantageously that he possibly could so much as unknown to me to acknowledge the little service I had endeavoured to do him The Commission therefore was dispatch'd that night and being deliver'd to me in the morning without my having had the least intimation of it I confess I more valued the King's remembring me of his own accord than I did my preferment to the Command tho I did pretty much covet that too not believing that the Lieutenancy of Monsieur Zamet could be conferr'd upon me so soon I went forth with to carry my Commission to Monsieur Zamet who look'd a little coldly upon it and ask'd me if I had rather have the Company than to be his Lieutenant adding withal that he very well knew that in order and pay a Company was worth more but that he believâ—d it was much more advantageous to me to be Lieutenant to a person who was so absolutely my own as he was who assur'd me no less than his goods and fortâ—ne and therefore entreated me to think onâ—t before I accepted the Command To this I made answer that he very well knew that I had already assur'd him that I was entirely his and that accordingly he should be the absolute Master in this affair that as I had hitherto no hand at all in it being meerly oblig'd to the King's bounty who had thought of me of himself and to the kind remembrance of Monsieur de Puisyeux who had dispatch'd the Commission before I had heard a syllable of it I could not better let him see how much I was at his disposal than by bringing him the Commission to do with it as he himself thought fit He then told me that he had a great mind to inform the King of the particulars that past in that Sally of the Enemy I have mention'd before where I restor'd him his liberty and that being there was no one who had had so great a share in it as my self I was able to give a better account than any one of that action and therefore he should be glad I would go wait upon his Majesty in the afternoon and present him a Letter that he would write I did so where after I had presented Monsieur Zamet's Letter and given an account of his health which his Majesty enquir'd after he immediately fell to speaking of the occasion wherein I had rescu'd him out of the Enemies hands commanding me to tell him the whole story which I accordingly did as well as I could I then took my opportunity to return my most humble thanks for the honour his Majesty had done me in remembring me after a manner so much to my advantage and of which I should retain a profound acknowledgment all the days of my life But the King seeing I took no notice of Monsieur Zamet's design said to me But you have not told me all this while that Zamet would have you for his Lieutenant to which I made answer That I was in the first place bound to let his Majesty know my sence of this very particular favour he had been pleas'd to shew me when I least thought of any such thing and as to the other which Monsieur Zamet sollicited in my behalf it was not for me to mention it to his Majesty and that I should seem not to value the favour he had conferr'd upon me as I ought should I at the same time I came to return my thanks for the one make suit for another But since your Majesty said I obliges me to answer to that affair I can assure you that I am ready with great chearfulness to do whatever your Majesty shall please to command whether in accepting or surrendring the Company in the Regiment of Champagne for the Lieutenancy of Monsieur Zamet which I confess to be to me much more considerable and desireable than many Companies by reason of the tender Friendship I am happy in from a person of his merit which is to your Majesty sufficiently known Being then Sir to receive the one or the other from your Majesties hand I with all my heart resign the Commission your Majesty did me the honour to send me with an humble request that your Majesty would be graciously pleas'd to make for me a choice that I protest I know not how to make for my self At the same time I presented my Commission to the King who very much surpriz'd at my complement and the free manner wherewith I had referr'd my self into his hands for the choice of one of these two Commands left me on a sudden to go to the other end of the room where the Constable de Luines was to whom he told all that I had said to him and shewâ—d him the Commission I had return'd into his hands The Constable had not been very well satisfied with me in the beginning of the War by reason of a little occasion wherein I had not manifested
Then I sent him back to Prison again and let him lye there a little longer still till his business had been examin'd and his Pardon obtain'd The acknowledgment of this favour I had Procur'd for him when he look'd upon himself to be no better than a dead man made him love me ever after as his Father He grew from this time forward a very civil honest man and was advanc'd to a Command in which he lost his life honourably I was willing to shew by this instance that there is scarcely any disposition so preverse but it may be reclaim'd and that there are some seasons when we must not be afraid to oppose the roughest Chastisements to the torrent of corrupted habits and brutish passions when they are not to be dealt with by less violent methods VIII The Captains of the Regiment of Guards and one especially above all the rest that shall be nameless had a long time been incens'd against me and born me a private grudge because the King out of particular favour appointed my Quarters before all the other Lieutenants when he went into the Field but yet the greater part durst not make any open discoveries of there hatred me only one there was who out of spight seiz'd upon the lodging his Majesty had assign'd me and lay in my very bed where I found him at my return from the King But being not yet assur'd with what intention he had done it I would make no bustle but went and lay all night upon the Straw The next day instead of excusing himself he told me plainly that I must go seek out some other Lodging This was more than enough to set us together by the ears but age and experience having taught me a little to moderate my passion I only told him that it was my humour to content my self with what belonged to me and for that matter since it was the King's favour to me is was not for him to oppose it and the King himself was the person to whom he was to make his complaint The King being inform'd of the business declar'd himself very much dissatisfy'd with it and said He was free to do what he pleas'd in his own Kingdom and that it was not for Captains to King it with him and controul what he did in favour to any particular Officer who always attended his person Declaring at the same time that the Captains should not have their lodgings markt out any more but they should lye where they pleas'd in the Quarters that should be assigned them This nettled them to the quick and they waited only for some fair occasion to be reveng'd on me My Company was at that time the first of the Regiment by reason of the great number of Cadets of Quality whom their Parents did me the honour to commit to my care that I might bring them up in the first exercises of War and I had there among the rest the Mareschal de St. Geran's Son of whom I shall have occasion to say more by and by IX One day being upon the Guard at Fontainbleau as another Company was coming on to relieve us and I had thoughts according to my custom to go back with mine to Montereau which was our Quarters the King call'd me out of his Window where he stood to see the Tilting and running at the Ring which were then doing in the Court below I presently went up and being come into his Chamber orders were given me to send away my Company and to stay my self about his person I went then presently to look out the Serjeants and gave them order as his Majesty had expressly commanded that they should be very careful to prevent all quarrels especially among the Cadets who stood mightily upon their honour not to put up any thing from one another and also not to let any one stay and drink by the way by reason of the disputes which are often occasioned by Wine I had once a mind by a sort of prophetic fear of the misfortune that happened to detain the Mareschal of St. Geran's Son with me whose forward humour and too generous Soul made me eternally uneasy for him But at last I know not how I let him go back with the rest That very day in the month of May 1624. the King had resolv'd upon causing Collonel Ornano to be apprehended who in the Evening came into his Chamber and was entertained by his Majesty as formerly with all the kindness imaginable The King talked with him a great while about a Chase the Duke of Orleans was to make next morning in the Forrest of Fontainbleau asking him very familiarly what ways they had best to hunt because he was well experienc'd in the Forrest and knew all the least and blindest paths of it At last the hour design'd for his Arrest being come Monsieur Hallier Captain of the Guard at that time and several other Officers came into the Chamber Now it is the custom when the Captain of the Guard is upon entring for the Usher to give three blows upon the threshold of the door which was also the signal the King had given for his own retiring So then his Majesty hearing the three stroaks bid Collonel Ornano good night and withdrew into another room whither I also followed him according to the order he had given me Immediately Monsieur Hallier came in and making up to Monsieur Ornano gave him a very surprizing Complement which was that he was sorry to tell him he had orders to secure his person How said the Collonel in great amazement I am but just now come from the King and he receiv'd me with all the kindness in the world let me speak to him however Monsieur Hallier told him he had no order to suffer that and he entreated him to give leave that he might execute what orders he had that as for any other matters his own innocency ought to support him with a good assurance and put him out of fear Monsieur Ornano then seeing himself under a necessity of obeying follow'd the Captain of the Guards who led him into the chamber of Saint Louis which was appointed to ferve him for a Prison At the very moment he was arrested the King supposing that some of his Family would not fail to make all possible speed to Paris that they might secure his Papers gave me and three Officers more orders to go into the Forrest that we might lye upon the great Road and stop all that should attempt to pass that way So we divided our selves into two and two and about eleven at night took our separate posts upon each of the Roads where we waited a great while before any body appear'd At last we saw at some distance a man mounted upon a Spanish Gennet that came galloping full speed toward us Our orders were not to shoot and so the other Officer and I resolv'd to turn our Horses head to head across the way when he came up near us that so
baffled For he fell on a sudden into a violent passion reproaching me in very harsh language with ingratitude and the unbecoming returns I made for his Majesty's bounty Then I saw my fault too late and thinking of nothing more but how to repair it instead of solliciting a new grant I begg'd him to excuse me if the necessity I was in of being at great expence to subsist honourably upon my Command had put me upon taking this liberty with him assuring him it was only the confidence I had in his goodness and favour that had encourag'd me to speak after that manner and that as to any thing else I had all my life and ever should retain a due and grateful sense of his Majesty's liberality to me The Commissioner I mention'd who was a very good friend of mine began then to take my part and endeavour'd to appease Monsieur Deffiat telling him in confirmation of what I had said before that the station I was in about the King expos'd me to great charges above my fortune that I was forc'd to run in debt continually and so it was rather for my Creditors than my self that I was urgent for Money that I was indebted to himself four thousand Franks and he had an Interest in the Kings gift to me This last however was said only in kindness to me that by making his Master his own debtor he might preserve what the King had already given at least which was in some danger of being lost too But with all that both of us could say we had much ado to appease the Superintendant who appear'd perhaps a little more severe towards others than he was to himself for 't is sure he was not of a disposition apt to think the Kings bounty guilty of any excesses when his own services were rewarded At last however being intreated and sollicited by several considerable persons he promis'd to do me no ill office to the King but to serve me as far as it lay in his power Some days after being upon Guard with my Company at Sea on board one of his Majesty's Ships the Rochellers sent out four Fire-ships to burn our Vessels When I saw them bearing down upon us I order'd all my men to put out Hand-spikes and set them like a Hedge to keep them off This was immediately done and so the Fire-ships were stopt and not able to get within us or do us any harm and all their artificial fires play'd inwards without flying out upon us The King at a distance saw all that past as he was going to walk upon the Beach and sending Count Nogent for me would know from my own mouth what method I had taken for our defence against those Fire-ships And being a Prince of a noble nature he was glad of this occasion to tell me that he absolutely forgave my last fault And when I had given him an account of our behaviour in this action he said with a smiling countenance that he was satisfy'd with me and my services pleas'd him well The Duke of St. Simon who was by immediately after gave me to understand what the King meant by saying so telling me that I must live in good understanding with Monsieur St. Preuil and that he would serve me to the King upon any occasion VIII Having given an account before of Monsieur Canaples his displeasure against me and the cause of it with some other particulars that happen'd since I am now oblig'd to speak of the great falling out we had some months after and during the same Siege of Rochelle Going one day to view a place proper to set a Guard in about four hundred paces distant from the Sea-shore I saw from that eminence Masts of Ships a great way off that lookt like Spires of Steeples I was a little surpriz'd at first to think what it might be but after considering a little and counting to fourteen I concluded it must be the English Fleet commanded by the Lord ... whom all the world hath heard of Therefore riding full speed to the Kings Quarter to make a report of what I had seen I said it could be nothing else but the English Navy The King having discover'd the whole Fleet from the Garret of his Lodgings the bravest and stoutest Fleet for both the number and prodigious bulk of Ships that had ever been known commanded me to go and give notice to the Officers to come and receive his Orders that all the Army might be in a readiness to engage this Fleet in case it should make any attempt and at the same time he bid me afterwards go and chuse out a fit place wherein to draw up the Regiments in Battaille Being come to Monsieur Canaples Quarter who was my Maistre de Camp I told him the King had commanded me to give him notice to draw up his Regiment by reason of the arrival of the English Fleet. But the Major of the Regiment being very sick and his Deputy that day a little out of order too besides that he understood but little of the business Monsieur Canaples desir'd me to go and put the Regiment in Battaille my self I told him that as soon as ever I had executed the Kings Orders who had commanded me to go view the field I would not fail to obey his but entreated him withal to remember that it was my turn to command the Forlorn-hope that day for since my entring into the Regiment of Guards there had no occasion offer'd it self for me to command them and 't is well enough known that those employments tho full of danger are lookt upon as posts of honour and such as a man never gives up to any body whatsoever Monsieur Canaples promis'd me to remember and not dispose of that Command to any other Upon this promise I left my Maistre de Camp not apprehending that a man of honour would fail me in a thing that was my due and especially upon so important an occasion I went afterwards to chuse the ground whither all the Companies both of the Regiment of Guards and Swisses repair'd in a trice There I form'd all the Battalions plac'd every Company in its post every Souldier in his rank and the Officers at the head of them to encourage the Souldiers by their example and have the first and greatest share both of the hazzard and of the Conquest IX After having thus with my utmost diligence obey'd the Kings Orders I return'd to Monsieur Canaples to give an account of what I had done and hard by his Lodging met my intimate friend Monsieur Savignac Lieutenant to Monsieur Rhoderick's Company who told me for good news that he was going to his Post and had receiv'd Monsieur Canaples his Order to command the Forlorn-hope You may guess what a surprize I was in to see such a slight put upon me in failing of the promise that had been made me in this business and I fancy my passion will appear excusable since such an
would have for perceiving me a little warm'd with the recital he would have the diversion of seeing me represent my action with something of that heat which was but too natural to me So that the Duke of St. Simon who had withdrawn toward the Window to leave me at greater liberty with the King comprehending what he meant gave me to understand it At which animating my self as much as the presence of the King would allow throwing my Cloak upon my left shoulder and standing upon my Guard I did that with my Hand and Arm which respect would not suffer me to do with my Sword The King who saw the sprightliness of my gesture and observ'd the fire that sparkled in my Eyes cover'd his face a little with the Sheet that he might laugh without being discover'd which made me presently conclude the Cause was won and all my own As soon as this little Farce was over the King bad me be sure to remember all the particulars I had told him and let no body living know of my having been with him And withal he commanded me to be ready at his Chamber-door when he went to Council there to throw my self at his Feet and give him an account of my whole business as if I had never spoke to him of it before Upon which I immediately withdrew and went down the Stairs by the Wardrobe as privately as ever I could XVII Then I plainly saw that Providence instead of forsaking me as I imagin'd at first had assisted me after a visible and extraordinary manner and that two ways First by inclining the King to be favourable to my Cause and then in not permitting me to find either my Horse or my Man in order to the making my escape for had I fled I had been utterly lost At eleven of the Clock I presented my self at the King's Chamber door and at his coming out with a great deal of Company that attended him and among others the Cardinals Richelieu and la Vallette I threw my self at his Majesty's Feet and began to speak and beg his audience after this manner Sir I am come to lay my self at your Majesty's Feet to implore your mercy I put my life into your Majesty's hands for I had better lose it by the Sword of your Justice if I have deserv'd to lose it than live miserable a Fugitive and under your Majesty's displeasure But I most humbly beseech you Sir that you will first do me the favour to hear me that if I shall have the good fortune to make my Innocence appear I may have the consolation of being absolv'd by your Majesty 's own Judgment and on the contrary if I cannot justify my own conduct I may be condemn'd out of my own mouth The King who seem'd very cold to me on purpose to conceal his secret intelligence betwixt us heard me with a fierce countenance his hand on his side and standing between the two Cardinals Then with a fierce look he said Rise that I may the better hear you and if you have any thing to say in your own justification speak it but be sure you speak truth All the Court was present at this extraordinary Audience and I pleaded my cause for half a quarter of an hour after same manner I had done it in private in the Kings Chamber but much more seriously as speaking now in publick before the Cardinals Princes and Lords of the Court. While I was harranguing thus the King said softly to Cardinal Richelieu as I have been since told by a Lord that overheard him You see Canaples provoked him to the last degree for my part I do not think him so much in fault and when I had done speaking he said aloud 'T is true he ought not to deprive him of the Post due to him by his Command when he did nothing but only execute my Orders Upon this they went presently into Council and Cardinal Richelieu having understood from the King that he would have the judgment upon this business put off by reason of the English Fleets lying there in expectation of a fair Wind to assault the Mole his Eminence declared it to the Council Thus the matter was deferr'd that is the King reserv'd the judgment of it to himself and at his coming from Council he very graciously told me so I humbly begg'd of his Majesty to do me the favour not to let me lye idle but to employ me some way in his service which he promis'd me to do but withal ordered me in the mean time to stay in his Quarters without going to the Regiment of Guards or executing any part of my Command XVIII The King accordingly did remember me as he had promised and a few days after made me Captain of a Galliot to go out to Sea and discover the Enemy I then began to think of reconciling my self to the King by some signal action in this new Command his Majesty had conferr'd upon me I bought a great many Ells of Taffata and made Streamers of them with the Arms of France These I plac'd round about my Vessel and made it look so fine that several Lords were eager to come aboard and would needs go with me to Sea Finding my self thus crowded in the time of my disgrace and fearing it might do me some new mischief with the King or at least that I might not be able to execute his orders faithfully if I were not absolutely Master of the Vessel and had her to my self I thought fit to acquaint him with it and did so His Majesty was well pleased to see that I rejected the favour of others and sought after his only and that I would apply my self to no body else but him as in truth I had more occasion to do now than ever Therefore forbidding the Lords and all others to go aboard me and having told them for a blind that he would have them all keep about his person except such as had Commands I was left to my self and my Ship at my own disposal Then I fell to cruising to try if I could discover the Enemies designs passionately desiring to do the King some considerable service that I might have a little merit to intercede for my peace and gain an absolute Pardon I was once at open Sea in the night when my Pilot who was a Master in Navigation came about an hour before day and told me a fresh gale was rising and both Wind and Tide stood fair for the Enemy and therefore he was afraid if they had any mind to attempt the Mole they would not lose this opportunity The Pilot was in the right and spoke like a man of wisdom and experience for a little after we heard a Cannon shot from that part where the English Fleet rid which the Pilot told me was the first signal for the â—ight and if we should hear a second we might depend upon it that it was so Having a great confidence in this man I immediately raised
indignation a man of honour may conceive to see himself thought capable of being false to his Prince yet I own it troubled me very much and I could look upon it as no better than a piece of treachery Nor could my inviolable devotion to the King's service and interest prevail with me to approve that in my friend which I must have condemned in my self The treachery they would have drawn him into ought not to have engagâ—d him in another treachery nor was it in my opinion an argument he understood the rules of honour and fidelity to pretend to merit frmo his King by betraying those that tempted him to betray him Treachery does not change its nature when it changes its object and it is always infidelity to break a promise and to forfeit faith once given though it were for the interest of the greatest Prince upon Earth This Officer was doubtless highly to be commended for rejecting the advantageous offers made him by the Duke of Rohan that he might stand firm in his duty but that it was not consistent with that duty to surprize the Duke with fair promises and that word ought not to have been given which ought not nor ever was intended to be made good There was a way open and the Duke of Rohan must have esteemed him the more if he had flatly refus'd to serve him against the King but he drew upon himself the censure of his best friends in quitting the way of honour and taking double and indirect methods and I confess I could never look upon a man guilty of so foul and unfaithful an action as my friend III. A little while after upon our return from Rochelle to Paris the King commanded me to go into Dauphine Savoy and Piedmont to discover all the passes of Italy designing to march his Army into those parts against the Duke of Savoy I went accordingly and having examined with all the care I could all the ways by which an Army could possibly pass the Mountains I took an exact account of them and after two or three months return'd to Paris The King sent for Monsieur de Escures who made the Charts and was Quarter-master General of the Army and shewed him the account I had presented ordering him to examine it carefully and compare it with his Charts and found after by his report that my account was exactly true as to the leagues which was all he would undertake to answer not being acquainted with the passes so well as I who was of the Country Whereupon his Majesty was graciously pleas'd to say he was satisfied very well with my service and that he would remember it And he gave present order for all things for the expedition of Piedmont whither he intended to go in person with his whole Army IV. About this there happened to me a very unlucky accident at Paris from which it was a great providence that I escaped Coming one night late from the Louvre on Horseback and going to carry my Captain Monsieur St. Preuil some orders that I had just receiv'd from his Majesty found him at play in a house beyond the Hostel de Bellegarde As soon as I was past this Hostel and got over against the Chappel of the Hostel de Soissons my Footman going before me some twenty paces with a Flambeau a man at the corner of a street made a thrust at me with all his might enough to have run me through and through and kill'd me upon the spot but God guided both the Hand and the Sword so happily for me that instead of running me into the belly it hit under the pummel of my Saddle and there broke The thrust was so violent that a piece of the Sword half a foot long stuck in the Saddle Surpriz'd at this pass which I heard before I saw it I leap'd off my Horse and drawing I threw the Fellow down beat him and in the heat of my passion was very near killing him He profest to me that he was mistaken that he was Valet de Chambre to Monsieur Bellegarde and took me for another Gentleman by whom he had been cudgell'd Such a mistake displeas'd me very much but however taking some compassion on him I turn'd back and went into the Hostel de Bellegarde and his Master being in bed I contented my self with committing his Valet de Chambre into the custody of the Gentleman of his Horse The next morning I thought my self oblig'd to go and make my complaint to him and tho he lov'd the fellow very well yet to make me satisfaction he told me He was a Rogue and should be hang'd But that was not the thing I came for but chiefly to give him notice of this disorder that he might prevent any thing of that kind for the future and therefore I told him That since it had been my chance and the man had no malice against me nor had I received any harm I entreated he would pardon him and only give him warning to be wiser another time Notwithstanding he still insisted upon what he had said that he would have him hang'd But assoon as I was return'd home he sent him to me by the Gentleman of his Horse to tell me he put him absolutely into my hands to do what I would with him I made answer that since Monsieur Bellegarde was so generous to leave him to my disposal I freely forgave him But the King heard of it and said he should be hang'd tho he contented himself with saying it only and did not cause it to be done V. Another occasion was given me of acknowledging the Divine protection which did not only very visibly spare my life but gave me an opportunity of saving another person's which was in danger Having supp'd one night with a Courtier a good friend of mine and going home on Horseback about eleven a clock attended by two Foot-men one of which carry'd a Flambeau I saw at a distance upon Nostre-Dame Bridge three or four Villains assaulting a man whom they had forc'd up to a Wall where he was defending himself the best he could I did not much deliberate upon giving him the relief I my self should have expected from another man upon the like occasion but spurring as hard as I could in among these Rascals I so amazed them that immediately they ran but the man was almost as much troubled and astonish'd as if he had been still among the Rogues He did not think himself safe with me and I could scarcely bring him to his senses I askt him who he was to whom he belong'd and where he liv'd but could not get one word out of his mouth In the mean while I could not find in my heart to leave him in this condition neither doubting he might be attempted again and more easily robb'd I gave him time to recover and naming the most considerable parts and Inns of Paris I got it out of him at last that he lodged in the Place Maubert
and was Steward to the Duke of Lorrain who was then at Paris I try'd to get him up behind me but not being able because he was a very big fat man and not yet cur'd of his fright I thought it best to alight my self and giving one of the Foot-men my Horse to lead I walk'd with him to his Lodging where he return'd me thanks as well as he could being not yet perfectly come to himself He ask'd one of the Footmen who I was and where I liv'd and came next morning to acknowledge the service I had done him and a few days after invited me to Supper to which I took some Persons of Quality my Friends along with me who were no less surpriz'd than I at the Magnificence of this Entertainment VI. The King designing as I said to march his Army against the Duke of Savoy made them set out in the depth of Winter and he himself follow'd in February 1629. I staid a little after him at Paris to pick up some Souldiers that were left behind and went with about two hundred to overtake the King beyond Fontain-bleau according to the order his Majesty has given me As soon as I was come up I distributed every Souldier into his owu Compauy and then took my own place in the head of mine to march along with the Army to Lyons My Company that is Monsieur St. Preuil's which I almost always commanded consisted at that time of two hundred and fifty men all lusty fellows and well â—lad There were among them about fourscore young Gentlemen most of them of very good families and had very handsom equipage I having the honour to be known by all the persons of the Court and all the principal Officers in the Army for one that had always with great industry apply'd my self to my profession was very exact in my discipline and had a great care of my Souldiers this made a great many people of Quality do me the honour to entrust their Sons with me to learn what the experience and diligence of so many years had taught me And I think I may say without vanity that I was beloved feared and obeyed by my men after a very extraordinary manner But I try'd by a particular address to win upon the affection of the Cadets for I gave them the Command of the Company by turns that while they were learning to be Souldiers they might learn to be Captains and Officers too at the same time The King was much pleas'd to see this Company in so good order and exprest his satisfaction by granting it a priviledge which others had not For seeing my Company so large and full of Gentlemen of Quality I thought it my duty to acquaint his Majesty that being alone as I then was without my Captain and having so many young Gentlemen whom their Parents had committed to my care I should find my self over-burden'd with the charge unless his Majesty made me some grant in favour of all those young Cadets that they might be treated with more respect than the common sort of Souldiers for they not having been inured to hardship would soon grow discontented and complain to their Relations whom I should by that means make my Enemies and so might make most of them at last disband and quit the Army The King very graciously reply'd That I did him a kindness in giving him this notice and I am glad said he that you have askt me what I grant you most willingly Thus I had ever after double Quarters for my Company and by this means had it in my power to make some distinction betwixt the Cadets and the ordinary sort of Souldiers I was also very careful to prevent any disorders in the Quarters not being able to endure that the Souldiers should wrong poor people in the Villages To this purpose when I went out I always drew up my Company and made proclamation that if any Countryman had cause to complain he might come and do it without any fear Before I dislodg'd I saw all things restor'd and never went out of the Town till I had first got a Certificate from the Lord and the Parish Priest being resolv'd always to carry my justification in my Pocket and fearing lest I should be accus'd to the King who was more severe to me than all the rest because he made me the instrument of reforming the discipline among his Guards But I had another reason still which oblig'd me to some exactness in this point and that was that having so many Gentlemen in my Company who were like to be Commanders themselves shortly after I would not use them to pilfering lest when they came to be Officers they should suffer their Souldiers to do the same that they had been formerly allowd in themselves And those mean things were not to be indured in men of birth and quality whose minds ought to be noble and generous above the meaner sort of men VII As soon as our Army was arriv'd within some few leagues of Lyons we being to pass the River in Boats fearing some disorder might happen in the passage I told Monsieur Vientaâ—â— a Captain of the Guards that we must endeavour to pass 〈◊〉 if we would do it safely and without confusion and accordingly we embarkt our Companies and past early without any loss or tumult It afterwards appear'd that our fear had not been groundless for there was such a disorder in getting over the Army that a great deal of Baggage was lost The King staid a while at Lyons and we refresht our selves in the Country round about and I and my Company went to a Village about a league beyond Lyons but it happen'd that this Village which was assign'd for our Quarters belong'd to a Kinsman of mine a Captain of a new-rais'd Regiment who was then in Daâ—phine His Wife frigâ—ted to see so many Souldiers came and conjur'd me to use my best endeavour for exempting her Estate from Quartering This was no easy matter to obtain the Army lying so disperst all over the Country as it did and I had much ado to prevail with my self to go about it but told the orders were given and it would breed a great confusion But at last yield I did to a Woman's and a Relation's request and went back to Lyons to see if I could obtain what this Lady deâ—â—r'd As soon as I came into the King's presence I humbly besought him to remember he was now entring into my Country and that I came to beg one favour which was that he would direct our Quarters to be chang'd because the Village assign'd us belong'd to a Kinswoman of mine They press me hard Sir said I to make use of my credit with your Majesty upon this occasion or at least the credit they imagine I have The King turning to the Lords about him 'T is true said he laughing we do now approach his Country and ought to consider him a little So he gave order presently to