prov'd successful in so many great Actions that 't is no wonder if now and then you meet with some Mortification This is farther to be said That since it has pleased the Divine Goodness to establish you King over a Nation that runs to the End of the World in search of Dangers and has much a-do to stay for the Opportunity of meeting with 'em you ought not to think it strange that Your Majesty far surpassing in the good Qualities which Nature has bestow'd upon your Subjects should be altogether exempt from their Defaults I am over-joy'd to hear that Your Majesty resigns your self up to the Will of God and for the Honour you are pleas'd to do me by declaring how much you confide in my faithful Counsels I know not which way to answer this Obligation but by assuring Your Majesty that I willingly sacrifice my Life to God that so he may be pleased to render my Counsels as profitable to your Service as it is possible for him to desire 'em who resolves to be ever c. LETTER LXX To the KING THE Birth of Monsieur the Dauphin ravishes me with Joy I hope that as he is a Theodosius that is to say a Gift which God has bestow'd upon Your Majesty he will answer the great Qualities of the Emperors that bore that Name 'T is my hearty Prayer to God that it may be so and that he will vouchsafe to heap upon Your Majesty as many Blessings as it is possible for him to desire who is Eternally c. LETTER LXXI To the KING I Am over-joy'd for Your Majesty's good Health but extreamly troubl'd there has been so much Want of good Management in the Execution of Your Majesty 's so often re-iterated Orders Your Majesty is too gracious and too just to make me responsible for the Faults of others and too greatly experienc'd not to consider that in great Affairs the Effects never answer exactly to all the Orders that are issued forth This is only in the Power of God to bring to pass whose Goodness is such that leaving Men to act according to their Infirmities he suffers the Difference between their Performances and his Will Your Majesty knows that I have always complain'd of the Delays of the Treasurers and Providers of the Ammunition and that I have openly spoke it in your Councils that it was in vain to raise Armies if Care were not taken to pay 'em in time and that they were not as carefully furnish'd with Provision And though in these sort of Affairs I suppose my self to have done my Duty when I have admonish'd sollicited and importun'd those who are intrusted with making those Provisions I dare presume to say that I have done more it being certain that if I had not taken upon me to send M de Hussay into Champaigne to buy Corn and borrow'd Six Score Thousand Crowns for Raising of Men Your Majesty had been disappointed of your Preparations for your just and great Designs I will not fail to sollicite M. de Bullion again to send Money to Your Majesty But because that which passes by the Order of the Officers of the Finance cannot be done without great Delays I have just now sent away Six Thousand Pistoles by the Post being the Remainder of what I borrow'd To which I must add that the Honours the Favours the Benefits which Your Majesty has conferr'd upon me and the Opinion you have of my Fidelity give me Credit sufficient for another Twenty Thousand Pistoles if Your Majesty commands me in four Lines under your Hand I conclude with my Prayers to God that all the rest of Your Majesty's Servants may equal me in Diligence and that he will be pleas'd to asswage your Disquiets which I believe no less necessary as well for the Preservation of your Health as for the Good of your Affairs c. LETTER LXXII To the KING I did not speak yesterday to M. de Bullion of the Dispatch which I sent yesterday to Your Majesty because I would not hinder the Digestion of a young Partridge he had eaten This Morning I easily persuaded him to send Money to Your Majesty because he had voluntarily resolv'd to send away a Hundred and Fifty Thousand Livres to the end Your Majesty might be supply'd for your pressing Exigencies Besides this he affirms and has sent you a convincing Proof of it that he has provided for the Funds that are requisite for all your Troops 'T is so necessary to execute Justice upon some of these Commissaries that are in fault that it would not be the worst Mark of Monsieur the Chancellor's Diligence if he caus'd some of 'em to be proceeded against in common Form I beseech and in all my Dispatches shall beseech Your Majesty that you would be pleas'd to consider that though there is some certain Care necessary for the right Management of Business to the end it may be attended with Success yet there are some Cares that can produce no other Effect then an Alteration of your Health and so much Grief to all your Servants that the Trouble of their Minds may render 'em less able to act with that Vigour which your Service requires LETTER LXXIII To the KING IN regard no Joy can happen to Your Majesty wherein I do not presume to claim that Share which it behoves me I am apt to believe it is the Will of God to make me sensible that no Accident can befall Your Majesty but that some one of the same nature follows my self I thought to have been this day at Ruel that I might be nearer Your Majesty but by reason of a slight Fit of an Ague that took me Yesterday in the Evening the Physicians order'd me to be Let Blood Let it not trouble Your Majesty I beseech yee since my Fit was so short that it held me no longer then from Five in the Evening till Ten at Night Perhaps this Fit happening after a Diarrhea will not be attended by any ill Effects or at worst as the Physicians judge 't will be only a Single Tertian Ague which will not hinder me from paying Your Majesty those Services which I desire c. LETTER LXXIV To the KING UNderstanding that Father Causin for almost these two Years together has declar'd to several Persons that Your Majesty look'd upon my Services as troublesome rather then useful to Your Majesty I expected with great Impatience the Settlement of a good Peace as well for that it is the only End which you always propos'd by a War as for that it was the true Time wherein by offering to Your Majesty the making my self miserable to procure your Contentment I might be able to give you the last and most assured Proof that a Subject can give his Prince of the Excess of his Passion Since Your Majusty did me the Honour of your own good Will to allow me ââ¦hare in thâ Administration of your Affairs I have always made a full Account to dye at your Feet and
Cardinal de Richelieu Compeigne June 19 1624. LETTER II. To Monsieur de Herbaux at Rome SIR I Have receiv'd the two Letters which you sent me inclos'd in that of the Sieur Rabbi on the 9th of August with a Cypher to them in the same Pacquet I thank you for the good Advice you sent me and have not fail'd to acquaint the King with it as I was oblig'd to do for his Service and your Satisfaction We shall make use of it as Physicians do of innocent Remedies that never hurt His Majesty is resolv'd at any rate to ridd himself of this Affair of the Valtoline provided his Honour will not suffer by it As for my self I cannot sufficiently admire how the Pope comes to stir himself no more in a Business of such vast importance not only to the Church but to Christendom in general I am very well satisfy'd that the Interest of Urbin where he apprehends the Spaniards concern themselves in favour of the Great Duke makes him act with so much reservation upon this occasion But then 't is as plain that there are other general Interests that more nearly regard the common Good of the Church and consequently that of the Holy Chair which ought to incline his Holiness to put an End to this Affair it being certain that things are sometimes carried farther than one cou'd have imagin'd at their first starting up and that if France engages her Word to other Princes and States that are willing to assist her in this Conjuncture it will be no easie matter to bring her off again I can assure you his Majesty is so strict an Observer of his Word that when he has once given his Promise nothing in the World can induce him to violate it From this Affair I pass to the Dispensation for the Match with England and must tell you the King is extremely surpriz'd at some Reports that come from Rome that the Pope will not allow it upon lower Terms than he granted that with Spain 'T is enough as I conceive for the obtaining it that the King shall procure such Articles ãâã are necessary for the Salvation of the Princess and all her Family and that there be room to hope that the Catholicks of England will be gainers by the Marriage Now the Affair is not only in this Condition but we have procur'd more advantageous Terms as Monsieur de Berule will inform you farther Thus his Majesty having done every thing for his Holiness that cou'd be expected from a Christian Prince and one of his known Piety there is not the least Appearance to believe he will receive any other Treatment but what he may justly expect There is no necessity to stick to the Articles of Spain but only to see whether those of France are lawful and sufficient Now since they are really such what a Displeasure will it be to his Majesty to receive a Refusal which may perhaps carry him to some Extremities that I wou'd not by my good Will so much as think of Not to insist upon the Zeal I have for his Majesty's Interests I shou'd rather chuse to suffer the severest Loss than that ever things shou'd run to such a Crisis which without doubt will prove prejudicial to the Church I conjure you to represent at large to his Holiness all that has been hinted to you in this Letter and to assure him that as upon a Refusal of the Dispensation a World of Inconveniences will inevitably follow so that abundance of Good may be expected from his Holiness's speedy dispatch of it Pray continue to write to me and I will take care to answer your Letters and to make it appear upon all Occasions that I am SIR Your most Affectionate c. RICHELIEU St. Germains Aug. 22 1624. LETTER III. To *** SIR I Shew'd the King your last Letter which I can assure you has been throughly consider'd and you will find by the Effect that your Advice will be always regarded as it deserves Monsieur de Bethune will communicate to you part of the Dispatch that was sent to him by the Courier and that will sufficiently instruct you what is to be done in these present Occurrences I cannot imagine but that the Pope must think of accommodating the matter of the Valtoline because many Inconveniences may happen upon his not doing it which you so well know that I will not pretend to lay down the particulars here I judge it very proper for our Affairs that you should recover the Diurnal of the Sauvages To effect which you may promise as far as a Pension of fifty Crowns reaches In doing this you may use such measures as you think the Affair will require but you must not exceed the aforesaid Summ. Assure your self that Nâsââ¦r will mind his Business better for the time to come that he has hitherto done As for what relates to the Breviary there will no more mention be made of it here The Person about whom you writ to me being sent with all the requisite Submissions to preserve every one in his Rights and this has taken away all Jealousies The Letters of 49. shall most assuredly be kept Secret The same shall be done if you think fit with those of 41. With thisâ conclude my Letter and earnestly desire you to believe that I am SIR Your most Affectionate Brother to serve you RICHELIEU Sr. Germains in Lâye Sept. 12 1624. LETTER IV. To *** SIR I Am extremely glad that the Proposals which Monsieur de Bethune has been order'd to make to the Pope have been judg'd reasonable I shall exceedingly wonder if his Holiness does not hasten on his Part to determine this Affair as he is oblig'd in Interest considering what ill Effects may happen upon his neglect of it If his Majesty's Councel had been six Months ago such as it is at present we had taken wholsome Resolutions here much earlier and so Matters might have ended according to all our Desires But then it was impossible What gives me the greatest disturbance is that we loose a sine Opportunity of advancing the Interests of Religion all long of this unfortunate Affair to which I hope Heaven will put a speedy Conclusion I can positively assure you that nothing shall be omitted for the future to rid us fairly of it no more than I shall be wanting in my own particular to testifie to you upon all Occasions that I shall be ready to serve you who am SIR Your most Affectionate Brother RICHELIEU St. German in Laye Octob. 23 1624 LETTER V. To *** SIR SInce I receiv'd your Letter of the seventh of October you know what has been the Success of the Valtoline For this reason I shall forbear to say any thing to you about it in this Letter Nor shall I here trouble you with the Particulars of the Match with England but inform you of them by the Courier whom the King will dispatch to Rome upon this Occasion In the mean time I conjure you to rest
not venture his life and blood to defend so good a Cause and will do it generously provided he be assured that you take those Resolutions which are necessary for your safety which I in particular do passionately desire as being c. LETTER CCXXXIII To the Dutchess of Savoy MADAM I Have received those Letters which it pleased your Highness to honour me with which imparted both the joy you testifie for the happy Success of Cazal and the Accomodations of matters with your Brothers-in-law Whereupon I say that tho' I have explain'd my self sufficiently to your Ambassadour who I am certain has not omitted to send to you what I told him yet I cannot forbear to add That Prince Thomas's Conduct towards your Highness both by the rigour which he used toward those which he suspected to be well affected to your Service and by what he contributed toward the loss of Cazal and by the Artifices which he always used in the Negotiation which he manages with your Highness ought to make you break off entirely and prevent the Advantages which he hopes will accrue thereby and to make use of those which the Victory of Cazal gives you I cannot conceive how they who have the honour to be nigh your Highness if they are well affected to your Service can suggest any other counsel seeing if you listen to such a Negotiation you afford a notable opportunity to your Enemies to prejudice your Affairs If they will perswade you that by this Accommodation you secure the Tuition of your Son and that you will receive some advantage by the change which the Princes agree to make of the Governors of the Places which they hold I am amaz'd that common sence doth not dictate that in dividing your Authority with your Brothers-in-law it will by so much the more be diminish'd as the fear which the Subjects and Magistrates shall have of them will induce them rather to be on their side than yours As to what they declare to you that this Agreement may put an end to the Civil War in Piedmont one must be void of judgment not to foresee that your Highness being allied to France and the Princess to Spain the cause of the Division and consequently the War still remains Further it would be very prejudicial to the King 's and your Highness's Service if His Majesty should attack Turin while you are agreed with your Brothers-in-law Because in this case every one would say That it was not your Son's interest which put you upon this design but his Majesty's to possess himself of this place And since he writes particularly to his Ambassadour upon this subject to let you know his mind I shall not say any thing about it in this Letter But yet I will add before I conclude That those who advise you to continue the Negotiation with those Princes and to conclude it without an Union at the same time with France for your Interest testify too publickly that the fear of them prevails more than the affection which they owe to your Highness upon which account give me leave to add That it would Madam have been very serviceable to you that after so much contempt which Prince Thomas has shewn of your Highness if you had neither admitted him into your Presence nor given Audience to his Envoy and the rather because he has raised some difficulties about some matters relating to your Son 's and your Interest for if you had done thus you had oblig'd him to have recourse to more humble measures to regain your Highness's Friendship seeing that the happy success of his Majesty's Arms at Cazel may in time reduce him to great extremities To conclude I beseech your Highness to consider that all your Welfare next to God depends upon the King's Protection and to follow the advice he gives you who have no other end but to defend you from your Enemies and to re-establish your Son and yourself in such a Condition as he desires which as to my particular I wish with all the Zeal imaginable both for the Glory of his Majesty and your Son's and Highness's Welfare c. P. S. The Affair of Querasque let 's you see that beside the Premises Prince Thomas has no other Design but to reduce your States by amusing you with fine Words LETTER CCXXXV To the Dutchess of Savoy MADAM I Cannot tell who it is that advises you at present to go into Piedmont while your Affairs are in those circumstances since such a Journey may be so far from making them better that it may be dangerous to your Person When Turin is taken you may go into Piedmont with reputation and deporting yourself with discretion which you generally do your Presence will be useful to your Son's and your own interest If something must be denied Prince Thomas it is better that your Ministers should do it than your Highness And it is more convenient that you be at some distance from Turin than nigh it till it is taken As to the Composition of Turin which you are pleased to mention the King will give the Count de Harcourt Orders what he shall do both for your Advantage and his Service As his Majesty is always disposed to receive Prince Thomas when he has a mind to unite himself to France it is convenient to use to your advantage the present opportunity which God is pleased to give you and so to behave yourself as not not to lose the Fruit by too much precipitation The Letters which were taken in the Baggage of the Marquess de Leganez give you such a manifest proof of the Infidelity with which Prince Thomas seemed to treat with your Highness that you must either be blind or your own Enemy if you do not believe that all his Treaties with you will be of the same nature unless he come over for the King and wholly deceive the Spaniards The best and the only thing that you can do for the advancement of your Affairs is to send all the Troops you can to the Count Harcourt without losing a moment and use all diligence to promote that business He on his part labours with so much Care and Expence that he deserves to be seconded by your Highness in such an important Juncture As for me Madam nothing shall be wanting on my part to testifie that I am c. I am glad that your Highness has given Orders for the Security of Montmeillian in expelling Monod he was a very dangerous Man in a place of that consequence LETTER CCXXXVI To Monsieur de la Cour. SIR I Am very glad to learn by your Express the Passages of the Place where you are and Madam's present Inclination to unite herself intirely to the King's Interest and to follow the Advice which his Majesty and his Servants shall give her for her Welfare But she has hitherto been so insensible that I fear it is only a seeming Change in her Mind and that she has no mind to be
delivered out of the Precipice which through her own Neglect she is fallen into instead of doing her utmost to assist Count Harcourt in the Execution of a Design in which she is principally concern'd and to reinforce him with fresh Troops she not only took away those which were maintained at the King's Expence and which she was promised should be drawn off assoon as they had received the King's Money This Negligence affects me so sensibly that I confess I am out of Patience and I cannot tell what Opinion to have of Madam's Intentions after such an extravagant Trick I conjure you to represent to her the Prejudice she does to the general Affairs and to her own in particular by that ill Conduct which is enough either to ruine the Enterprize of Turin or at least to give this Advantage to the Enemy to take another Place without much Resistance while the King's Army shall regain with much Difficulty that which others have lost because they would not keep it Monsieur de Chavigny writes so fully in Cyphers upon the Subject of your Express that nothing remains but to conjure you to solicit Madam to do that which Reason and the Necessity of her Affairs together ought to have made her have already done that if she persevere to neglect her own Advantage the King will take his as Reason and the Publick Good shall require In the mean time be assured that I am c. LETTER CCXXXCVII To the Prince of Orange SIR MOnsieur d'Estrade will acquaint you what past with us in the business of Monsieur Bouillon in which your Highness's Intervention could not make for his Assistance He will tell you also how I acknowledge those advantageous Sentiments you had relating to my Sickness and of the Troubles some turbulent Spirits would have given to his Majesty's Affairs I want Words to express my Gratitude for the Favour you have done me on those Occasions but I desire you to believe that I will omit none to shew you by the Effects that I really am c. LETTER CCXXXVIII To James King of England Concerning the Marriage of the P. of Wales SIR THis is not the first time that I am sensible that great Kings often conceive things according to their great Qualities and not as they are in themselves that they magnifie mean things by the Esteem they have of them and those whom they honour by their Benevolence cannot be inconsiderable The Letter with which your Majesty was pleased to honour me confirms me in this Truth because it lets me see that I have so much Merit in your Esteem as in effect I have Admiration of those great and rare Qualities which are in you They are Sir so shining that if by the knowledge of them I have no Advantage above the rest of the World who may be ignorant of them yet at least I am assured that few admire them so much and none can do it more than I. Respect has always induced me in the Service of the King my Master to answer your Majesty's Expectation in accomplishing the happy Alliance projected betwixt the two Crowns It was no difficult thing for I satisfy'd my Desire and did my Duty at the same time Because that as on one side the King never thought but of proper Conditions to give you an opportunity to oblige the Hearts of your Catholick Subjects with new Chains which you have already gain'd your Majesty on your part hath of your own accord granted that which being desired for their Good was also principally for your Advantage If they receive much Favour from your Majesty you will thereby gain a Glory the more inestimable because it will be eternal It is a thing Sir not to be at all doubted of because that as the first Water of a running Stream is sufficient to let us know that its Channel is not stopt so it is enough to know that your Majesty whose Bounty is inexhaustible hath once engaged to be gracious to your Subjects to be assured that they will receive continual Effects of your Benevolence and consequently your Majesty will more closely unite those Hearts which are already yours Heaven without whose Concurrence nothing can attain to Perfection hearing the Prayers of so many Creatures who depend upon your Majesty will unite those two Monarchies with an indissolvable Knot that as their joint Forces have formerly made the Levant tremble so they will now strike Terrour in all their Enemies and dissipate all the Efforts of those who desire to hinder that Happiness that they may effect in Christendom I beg it of God with all my Heart and that he would bestow upon your Majesty all those Blessings which such singular Qualities which concur in your Person deserve I am eternally c. LETTER CCXXXIX To the Prince of Wales SIR THE Letter which your Highness was pleased to honour me with is a Favour which transcends all the Bounds of my Gratitude and for want of Words be pleased to let me preserve in my Soul a lively Sentiment of this Obligation In the mean time that I may not be ingrateful I every where proclaim those Great and Royal Qualities which shew that the Excellency of your Wit is equal to your illustrious Birth With this Sence my Lord I shall in some sort do my Duty but not according to my Desire which in matters relating to you can have no Bounds If God had given me all those Qualifications which your Highness believes are in me I should esteem myself very happy to employ them in your Service to acquire your good Grace which I will merit by the Obedience I will pay to your Commands I am c. LETTER CCXL To the Queen of England MADAM BEing inform'd by Mr. Montague of the great Desire your Majesty has of a strict Union of those two Crowns I have so much the more endeavoured to add weight to those Proposals which he has made that he may let you particularly know what was done about them and with what Sincerity the King was pleased to receive them and gave them a favourable Answer according to your Desire As for me beside the Zeal which I have for your Majesty's Service the particular Esteem which I have for your Person and the noble Qualities of the King your Husband and the Respect I have for them make me that I never omit any thing which depends on me for your Satisfaction which I am assur'd Mr. Montague will not fail to let you know And as it is a matter of importance that the King your Husband be pleased to send hither an agreeable Embassadour being certain that many things are frequently spoiled or advanced according as the Ministers who manage them are ill or well received by the Princes with whom they are concern'd I presume to beseech your Majesty to weigh those Considerations because they have no other Design but to promote your Service which shall always be so particularly considered by me that you shall be
sensible with what Sincerity I am c. LETTER CCXLI. To the Queen of England MADAM IT is the greatest Happiness that I could enjoy to see by the Letter which your Majesty was pleased to honour me with that you are satisfy'd with my Actions I beseech you to believe that they will never have any other Aim but your Service and that which I know is agreeable to you being sensible how I am obliged to you by several Respects and Considerations In the mean time give me leave if you please to tell you that the Negotiation of Mr. Montague is not published But yet it was told to the Embassadour as is usual in all States As to what remains your Majesty may believe that that which is done was not to let any other but your Majesty accomplish what you had so well begun the Sieur Fontenay having no other Order but to satisfie your Desires both in this and all things else This Affair would never Prosper if as it was begun by you it should not be determined by your Authority As for my particular Madam I beseech your Majesty to do me the Honour to believe that I will always have a great Passion for your Honour and Service which you shall perceive upon all occasions and all other Proofs you desire of him who is entirely c. LETTER CCXLII. To the Same SIR I Deferred for some time to answer that Letter which your Majesty was pleased to write to me esteeming it more proper to let you know by my silence the respect I have and will have for your Majesty all the days of my life than to make Excuses tho' they be very just to your Resentments I call them just Madam because I never gave room for a thought or did any thing upon any occasion no not in that in which your Majesty shews you are offended I believe time will plainly demonstrate this truth to you which I will always confirm by the most sincere effects in all occasions which shall offer to give you Proofs of my most humble Service I desired Monsieur Perron to assure your Majesty of it from me beseeching you to honour me with this belief that I will yield to no body in the resolution to be eternally c. LETTER CCXLIII To Monsieur Poigny Embassadour in England SIR IF I had known the refusal that the Queen of Great Britain made to receive my Letter which I had the honour to write to her by Perron I had not presumed to have taken the same boldness as to send by you without knowing that she was better affected to me than she is You will oblige me by letting her Majesty know That I shall always so respect her Person and Quality that she shall be so far from complaining of my Conduct that she shall have cause to commend it Upon this Consideration I conjure you never to mention my Name as long as it is disagreeable to her but assure her Majesty that her Displeasure shall never hinder me from having that Zeal which I always had for her Service and I shall esteem it a great happiness and honour to have opportunity to give her fresh Proofs of it And as for your particular be assured that I will omit none to shew you that I am c. LETTER CCXLIV To the Queen of England MADAM I Think the honour of your Favour which you are pleased to assure me of so great an happiness that I want sufficient words to express my joy and sence of it If your Majesty please to remember what was done in your most tender Youth to qualifie you for a Crown worthy of you you will confess I am assured that I have forgot nothing that I ought on that Subject to contribute to your satisfaction I know very well Madam that as the generosity of Persons of your Quality doth not forget the Services that are done them it is a kind of ineivility in those who did them to refresh their Memory but that which I now mention is so agreeable to your Majesty that you will not take it ill if I have some satisfaction in that which you every day receive in the place where you are I beseech you to believe that I have always the same Passion for your Service that I had then and that I can never lose it nor will ever cease to beg of God as many Blessings for your Majesty as you yourself can wish All my Actions shall tend to shew you that I am and ever will be c. LETTER CCXLV To the Queen of England MADAM MR. Montague having inform'd me That your Majesty would not take it ill to receive some new Assurances of my most humble Service I thought I should commit a great crime if I failed to desire you to believe that I never had any other design but to honour and serve you and that it is impossble for me to do otherwise in times to come Pray do me the favour to believe this Truth because all my Actions shall confirm it far better than my Words and that I am and always will be c. LETTER CCXLVI To Mareschal Crequi upon the Comprotection SIR AS the King cannot be sufficiently amazed at the weakness with which the Pope prohibits Cardinal Anthony from the exercise of the Comprotection and at the want of consideration with which Cardinal Barberini gives him this Advice So he cannot sufficiently esteem the Sincerity and the Courage of Cardinal Anthony His Majesty is as well satisfied with the last as he is displeased with the two former Let the Pope do what he will he can never compromise that Cardinal Anthony should not be Comprotector of France since he has deprived Cardinal Bentivoglio of this Charge for that purpose Cardinal Anthony accepted of it by the consent of his Holiness without which neither the King nor he had ever thought of that Affair Cardinal Barberini also shew'd no dislike of it to his Brother The Pope may by his Authority and Violence hinder Cardinal Anthony his Nephew from the Exercise of this Charge but as he cannot do it with Reason he will never do it with the King's Consent who being sensible that the Enemies of St. Peter's Chair the Pope and his Family are the Authors of so bad Counsel will be pleased very much to oppose it because of the Respect which he owes to the Church and the Affection to his Holiness's Family which is such that his Majesty gives Orders to the said Embassadours to hinder any Preconisations to be made in the Consistory of the French Benefices till it please his Holiness to permit Cardinal Anthony to make them in executing his Office The Embassadours shall give this Answer to the Pope and to Cardinal Barberini with all Compliments imaginable but with as much Resolution not to depart with the Comprotection of Cardinal Anthony They shall also tell Cardinal Barberini That his Majesty would find it very strange if he should have any Umbrage of the
to serve him and that you will declare the same thing to the Officers of the Army LETTER III. To the same Person I Have desir'd my Lords the Secretaries of State to acquaint you from time to time with what passes on this side well knowing by Experience that it is no small trouble to those who are far remote from the Court as you are when they want Intelligence and are not duly inform'd of the State of Affairs and how the World goes They have promis'd me not to omit any opportunity LETTER IV. To the Prince of Orange after the Raising of the Siege of Louvaine THere are not any Great Affairs that are not attended with great Difficulties nor had this at the beginning those progresses which we could have desir'd since it is the end that crowns the work Monsieur Charnacè has represented to the King the Obstacles which you met with in your Enterprize and your Endeavours to surmount ' em His Majesty is very well convinc'd of the care you took for the subsistance of his Army in the midst of those necessities which surrounded it He returns you Thanks and promises himself that you will make so good a use of the remainder of the Summer that the time which has been lost shall be repair'd with Advantage in the Judgment of all Men. I passionately desire it for the Interest of his Majesty and of my Lords the States and for your own which shall be always dear to me Conjuring you to believe that whatever the issue may be it shall never cancel the Esteem which I have for your Person nor the Affection which I bear you Assure your self Sir that his Majesty will leave nothing omitted that lies in his power to favour the Enterprize which was only undertaken between him and my Lords the States for the Good and Repose of Christendom and that no ill success shall discourage him For my part knowing that perseverance is that which crowns affaires with a prosperous Issue I shall omit nothing that is requir'd for me to do for the advancement of those Affairs the Success of which depends upon your Conduct in which the King reposes a great Confidence Of this you may be assur'd Sir as also that I am c. LETTER V. From the King to the States of Holland upon Occasion of the Title of Highness given to the Prince of Orange MOst Dear Great Friends Allies and Confederates the particular Esteem which We have and always had for our most dear and well beloved Cousin the Prince of Orange not only by reason of his Birth and Family the Grandeur of which is sufficiently known but also for his Great and conspicuous Qualities and his Noble performances in the Conduct and Command of Armies whereby he has acquir'd so high a Reputation that there are no Marks of Honour which may not be justly attributed to him have engag'd us to give him new proofs of it by Honouring him with one more Title then hitherto has been Address'd to him concerning which we have sent express Orders to the Sieur Charnacè Our Ambassador LETTER VI. From Cardinal Richlieu to the Prince of Orange THe King's Letter which will be deliver'd to your hands by M. de Charnacè and what he has in charge to say to yee in his Majesty's Name will give you so particularly to understand the Affection which he has for your Person and the singular Esteem which he pays to your Vertue and your Merit that it would be superfluous to repeat it in these Lines And therefore I shall only testifie to yee my own particular and extraordinary Joy for the new Title wherewith his Majesty has been pleas'd to honour your whole Family now then that I may conform my self to his Will and follow my own Inclination be pleas'd that I may begin the change and that I may assure your Highness that honouring yee as I do it will be a greater favour then I can possibly express to serve your Highness and all yours upon all occasions and to let you know by the Effects that there is no person in the World that can be with a greater Passion or more Sincerity then my self c. LETTER VII To the Princess of Orange I Have not Written these Lines to let you understand the particular Affection which the King has for the Person of Monsieur the Prince of Orange and for yours and the singular esteem which he has for both by reason the Testimonies which his Majesty has given you in the Letter which his Majesty has Written to yee and what M. Charnacè has to say to yee in his Majesty's Name are such in my Opinion as will not permit you to doubt of it but only to acquaint you with my extraordinary Joy for the honour which it has pleas'd his Majesty to confer upon your whole Family by the new Title wherewith it is his pleasure that you shall be treated from this time forward I beseech yee to believe that no Content or Felicity that befalls his Highness can be so great but that I still wish him more and that there is no person who Honours his Vertue and his Merit so highly as I do or who is more sincerely then I am c. LETTER VIII To the Princess of Orange with a present of Diamond Pendants in the King's Name THe King's Command engages me to take Pen in Hand to entreat you in his Name to accept a Present no otherwise worthy of you then as it receives its value from the person that sends it The common Enemies of this Kingdom and the United Provinces not being able to do us any mischief but through the Ears his Majesty made choice of this Present such as it is on purpose not only to signifie to yee that he will never hearken to any thing that shall be to the Prejudice of the Common Good but also to let you know that he assures himself that your Highness and Monsieur the Prince of Orange will do the same on your parts For my part Madam I shall account my self extreamly happy if I can but meet with ways and means equal to the Passion I have to let you know by the effects that I am sincerely c. LETTER IX Cardinal Richlieu to the Queen upon the Birth of Monseigneur the Dauphin EXcessive Joys are generally mute This is the reason that I cannot express to your Majesty my Joy for your happy Delivery and the Birth of the Dauphin I desire and am willing to belive that God has bestow'd him upon Christendom to appease the Troubles that disorder it and to restore to it the Blessing of Peace This has been my Prayer to Heaven since his Birth which I make with the same passionate Zeal as I have always had for the King and your Majesty to whom I am and Eternally shall be c. LETTER X. To the Queen who had sent the Dauphin 's Portraiture to his Eminency I Cannot render those Returns of thanks which are due
Whatever happens I shall do my duty in Serving as I have done in Obeying And I hope God will bless my Zeal in seeking all occasions to render to the King and the advantage of his Realm whatever he can expect from a true Subject and to the augmentation of the Glory of his Person what a most obliged Creature owes him If with this design I have any opportunity to serve you as I desire I shall think my self a great gainer in letting you see by that means that among several mean Qualities which are in me I have one at least more eminent then all the rest which is to esteem Persons of your Merit which you will underdand by my Actions and which will testify more then my Words that I am c. LETTER XLVII To Monsieur de Balzac I Have receiv'd the Letter which you Wrote me and the beginning of the Treatise that you sent me I thought to have detain'd your Lacqueys till I had read it But the variety of Business which takes me up and my desire to view it at leisure and several times made me alter my design I send it you therefore back to testify how sensible I am of your Affection and to let you know what I judge of the Lyon by his Paw I have always lookt upon whatever came from you with great Contentment and all those who are capable of relishing good things could never receive 'em otherwise But I must confess to yee that this last piece has so far satisfy'd my Intellect that I must needs tell yee you have out-done your self In loring your Stile you have rais'd it and in writing more after the vulgar strain you are so separated from your self that though many fain would imitate yee few in my Opinion can do it When I have read the remainder of your Piece I will write more particularly to yee now I shall only testify thus much that if my Affection for yee be capable of encreasing it encreases with your Merits which causes me to desire all Opportunities to let you see that I am really c. LETTER XLVIII To Monsieur de Nogent-Bautru THIS day I leave this City where with a more then ordinary joy the people as loudly resounded the King's Name as he is exaalted above all the King 's of the Earth and where they shew'd as much Obedience and Submission to His Majesty's Arms as they had signaliz'd themselves till then in Disobedience and Obstinacy I shall not tell yee what Testimonies of Honour I then receiv'd because it was to the Authority which it has pleas'd His Majesty to entrust me with to whom they are due and not to me who am c. LETTER XLIX To Monsieur d' Argencourt I will not conceal it from yee that I was not a little surpriz'd at first when I understood you were Marry'd not believing yee to have been of a Humor to submit your self to such a troublesome Yoak as many times that of Marriage is But I was so far from finding any thing to object against the Resolution you had taken that on the other side I believe you have done very well and I commend yee for having made so good a Choice as that of Mademoiselle de Berricheres for whose Conversion I am infinitely glad I beseech yee to assure her of my Affection and for your own part to be confident that I am c. LETTER L. To Monsieur Bowart I Write yee these Lines to conjure yee to tell the King frankly when you think it proper for him to take Physick and not to conceal from him what you think requisite for his Health He is a Prince so Gracious and so Judicious that though your proceeding displease him at first he will be glad of the effects of it 'T is better in this particular to displease him a little for his good then to comply with him to his prejudice If thou think the alledging my thoughts will encline His Majesty to believe you and to make use of those Remedies you shall prescribe him you may produce my Letters and shew 'em to him it being certain that he will readily pardon the Counsel which I give you to press him for his own Health of which I shall always have a more singular care then of my own life In the mean time you will do me an unspeakable Kindness to send me continually the state of his Body and to believe that I am really c. LETTER LI. To the same Person THE Letter I received from you would have been a great Affliction to me to find therein the King's indisposition if at the same time you had not assured me that it is only an Ebullition of the Blood I must confess that in regard His Majesty's Health is so necessary for France and so dear to his Servants the least attack of Sickness upon it disturbs me beyond Expression I send this Gentleman to bring me back an account of the King's Condition which I passionately wish may be such as he himself could desire I make no doubt but you will contribute what lies in your Power toward his perfect Recovery that so his Health may restore to his Servants that Joy which his Indisposition has depriv'd 'em of To this end I send up all my Prayers to Heaven and in hopes that the News I shall receive from you will bring a Confirmation of the contentment I receiv'd by your first Letters I beseech yee to believe that I am assuredly c. LETTER LII To Monsieur dâ Auriac THE King being inform'd at my Return after what manner you have continu'd to serve him in his Army in Italy has been pleas'd of his own motion to make you sensible of his acknowledgment of your Services as you will find by the Letter which his Majesty has Written to you as also by the Patent which he has commanded me to send you You need not put your self to any trouble in soliciting the payment of it for that I shall take care my self that every thing shall be done to your full Satisfaction desiring to let you see not only upon this Occasion but upon all others wherein your interest is concern'd the value which I have for yee and how affectionately I am c. LETTER LIII To the King THE Sentiments which Your Majesty had of my Distemper and your gracious manner of writing to me are of greater value then all the Services I ever did or ever shall do Your Majesty I feel my self so extraordinary touched and oblig'd that it is impossible for me to represent it to your Majesty The Series of my Actions shall return Your Majesty perpetual Thanks seeing Your Goodness is so extraordinary in my behalf my Passion for your Service never was nor ever shall be equall'd by any man what ever that serv'd so great a Prince 'T is about ten days ago that my Ague left me but still it makes me many times sensible of the visit it gave me However these Inconveniences
have not hindr'd me from coming to this place near to Montauban for the determining several Difficulties started every day by Persons breathing only Sedition There have been some Commotions in the City but thanks be to God things are reduc'd to that point that if I am not deceiv'd in my measures I hope within three days to make my entrance into it with that Dignity which becomes Your Majesty From thence I shall set forward to attend Your Majesty intending to stay two days only in Montauban in order to dispatch those dismissions which Your Majesty has commanded me I must not forget to send Your Majesty word that though the Gentlemen of the Parliament of Tâoulouse have always made some Scruples upon the Edicts of the Peace and the favours you have shewn to those of the pretended Reformed Religion yet they have purely and simply verify'd this with great Applause of Your Majesty's Goodness Piety Strength and Prudence Though never any Prince acquir'd so much Glory as Your Majesty has now done yet I hope if God permits me to live some Years to see you wearing many other Crowns which only your Vertue and the blessing of God will acquire Your Majesty This is that which I desire with the greatest Passion in the World promising Your Majesty that my life shall never be of any value to me in respect of your Grandeur your prosperity and particular contentment which I shall Eternally wish for in the Quality of c. LETTER LIV. To the King THE Letter Your Majesty was pleas'd to honour me withall obliges me in such a manner that I have not Expressions sufficiently worthy to testify my Gratitude to your Majesty I wish that for the Supply of this defect I might be so happy as to be able to pay Your Majesty as many faithful services as I have had and as long as I live shall have a chearful will to perform I am extreamly troubled that Your Majesty is not pleas'd with your stay at Paris and therefore have taken a Resolution for your ease to go into Champaign so soon as your Brother shall depart from Nancy The share which Your Majesty was pleas'd to allow me in your Prayers during the Jubilee was so great a favour that wanting words to return my due thanks to Your Majesty I have no more to say upon that Subject but that your Majesty shews your Goodness equal to your Piety I could passionately wish that I might be near Your Majesty as Your Majesty desires but my sorrow to see my self remov'd so far from your presence is in some measure allay'd when I consider it is for the Interest of your service which is the only thing that I regard I am now setting forward from hence in Order to cross the Mountains and hasten into Italy where I shall serve Your Majesty with that Zeal and Vigilancy which becomes c. LETTER LV. To the King I Have receiv'd a new dispatch from Monsieur the Marshal de Crequi who assures me a second time that he will not Sign the Suspension He sends me word more over that the News of the Motion of your Army has caus'd the Imperialists to raise the siege of Mantua from whence the Germans are retreated in so much disorder that 't was the Duke of Mantua's fault they were not utterly defeated However he cut some of 'em to peices in retaking Montenara and Courtentone which were two Posts distant from Mantua about five miles which the Enemy had a mind to have kept He believes that as soon as your Army arrives at Suza the Republick of Venice will resolve to do something to good purpose Provided the Duke of Savoy's delays do not retard the Passage of your Army I hope your Majesty will have no reason to complain Courrier is dispatched after Courrier to press the Duke of Savoy to whom I have also this day written Your Majesty's Express command to me not to lose any time which obliges me to conjure him that he would give Speedy Passage to your Army I expect to hear from him within these few days Your Majesty may be confident of being as punctually inform'd as it is possible of all that happens and that I desire not so much to preserve my Life as to please Your Majesty and to testify by real Effects That I am and ever will be c. LETTER LVI To the King HAving Yesterday given Your Majesty an Account of the Reducing the Citadel of Pignerol under your Obedience I now resume my Pen to let your Majesty know that 't is impossible for me to express the Vigilance and Passion for your Service of the Marshalls ârequi la Force and Schomberg and of all the Officers of your Army upon this Occasion And here I hope your Majesty will not take it amiss if I take the Liberty to tell you my Opinion that you cannot gratify any Person with the Government of the City and Citadel of Pignerol who better deserves it then Monsieur Crequi as well for the rare Qualities with which he is endow'd and with which your Majesty is so well acquainted as for that those Places are contiguous to the Dauphinate where his Employment obliges him chiefly to reside and be near at hand to provide for the Preservation of ' em Besides these Considerations I must not conceal from your Majesty that he has given me to understand that he should be infinitely engag'd to your Majesty if you would but be pleas'd to honour him with the Grant of his Request He also desires that you would be pleas'd to honour M. de Canaples with the Collar of your Order the next time you make any Knights This would be a means by new Obligations to engage both Father and Son to your Service to which I am so inseparably devoted that I shall always be to the last gasp of my Breath c. LETTER LVII To the King MOnsieur Marshal de Crequi having desired me to write to your Majesty that you would be pleas'd to confer upon the Sieur Aubery the Employment of the Queen's Chancellor I take that Liberty so much the more willingly to the same end because your Majesty knowing the Affection which the said Marshal has for that Family will readily consider that while he serves your Majesty as he does I could not deny him the kind Office of such a Letter your Majesty knows better then any person in the World how to supply that place with such a Person as you shall deem most Capable In the mean time I beseech your Majesty to believe that I am and shall be as long as I live c. LETTER LVIII To the King I Send this Courrier in hast to your Majesty at the heels of the Sieur de Folaine to deliver you the particular Relation of what the Gentlemen who command your Armies in Italy sent me concerning what happen'd at the Attacque of Pont Carignan I praise God with all my heart for the good success wherewith he is
pleas'd to bless your Victorious Armes from day to day And I most fervently beseech him to continue the same and render you the most glorious of all the Princes of the Earth as he has exalted you to be the most Illustrious in Birth and for those Virtues which all the World admires in your Person In the mean time I cannot sufficiently set forth in Termes becoming my Gratitude how sensible I am of the good Offices which as M. Bouthillier sends me Word your Majesty vouchsafes to do me with the Queen your Mother Which is a Proof of the Goodness of the Best Master in the World in favour of his Creature which I shall endeavour to acknowledge by all the Services that shall ever be within the Power of a Servant to do your Majesty which as I hope will cause your Majesty to acknowledge that never any Person was is or will be equally as I am c. LETTER LIX To the King 'T IS impossible for me to tarry any longer without manifesting to Your Majesty my joy for the news which the Sieur de Raire has brought concerning what has happen'd at Cazal For tho' it be not confirm'd by any Courrier with particular Dispatches if it be true as he assures me that he was present at the Action there is no reason to question it Which being granted I cannot but give God thanks for it with all my heart as being one of the most glorious that your Majesty could desire for your own and the Reputation of your Armes and which heaps both Gladness and Contentment upon all your most zealous Servants Among whom I can assure your Majesty that there is not any one who more fervently desires the Continuance of your successful Progresses then he who is and ever will be c. LETTER LX. To the King YEsterday in the Evening I sent a Gentleman to Mr. le Premier to desire him to put your Majesty in mind that your fasting to day according to your intention may be prejudicial to your health I wrote to the same Effect to Father Maillan but understanding that he was at St. Germans I take the boldness to address my self to your Majesty and lay before you that you will do better to follow that Counsel which is given you to dispence with the performance of your intended Penance then to observe it actually to the prejudice of your health so necessary for the Good of your Realm and the welfare of the Church They who have not Bodies of Iron have need of preventing the Inconveniency that may befall 'em And you may be pleas'd to remember that your Majesty and your Creatures are in the same Condition Which makes me believe that you will so much the more willingly follow the advice which is given you by him who has the greatest Interest and Zeal for what concerns your Majesty To whom I am and ever shall be c. LETTER LXI To the King THo' I should live a hunderd years I should never be able sufficiently to acknowledge according to the Merit of it the Honour which you are pleas'd to do me I confess it is the onely thing which next to the Grace of God is able to support me in the perpetual Inconveniences of my unhappy Indisposition My Rhumatism runs every day from one side to the other but lightly now I have it under my jaws I keep it off as well as I can by little remedies In the prescribing of which I have a good share with my little Physitian whom you know to be de Poictiers But the best of all those remedies that do me any good is the continuance of the Honour of your Gracious Favours which is the onely thing in the World on which I most relye and your good Health which I wish for a hundred times more then my own life being able to averr with as much Truth as is due to the Solemnity of the day that I never had nor ever shall have a Passion equal to that which I have and ever shall have as long as I live for the Contentment and satisfaction of the greatest King in the world to whom I am Eternally c. LETTER LXII To the King MY Cousin de la Meilleray will testify to Your Majesty one true thing which is that Your Majesty confers both upon him and me many more favours then we can ever merit Had he not had a particular care all his life long not only to obey your will but to prevent your Intentions when he could dive into 'em I should disown him and heartily renounce him without ever thinking my self in a fault since it would be the least Punishment he could deserve and for that having shewn him this Letter he consents to it and acknowledges that he should deserve more I praise God for Your Majesty's Good Health and I beseech him with all my heart to preserve it as entire and as long as he desires it who wishes it more then the preservation of his own which he desires for no other end then to employ it in Your Majesty's Service to whom I shall ever be while I have Breath c. LETTER LXIII To the King THE Honour which it pleases Your Majesty to do me is more then sufficient to remove from me all my Greivances though they were greater then they are I do not believe the Inconvenience of which I spoke to Your Majesty Yesterday will come to any thing nor do I think the Advice which they have given Your Majesty is a real truth but only that they had a design to pass away the time as you are pleas'd to write me word of which I shall not open my Lips to any person living I saw Monsieur Puy-Laurence this morning who told me that Monsieur is not as not as yet so well converted upon the point of his Marriage as he desired but that by pursuing what he should say to Father Joseph and M. Bouthillier in that particular they would find a way to bring it to pass I am c. LETTER LXIV To the King 'T IS impossble to forbear manifesting to Your Majesty the extream satisfaction I receiv'd from the sight of you Your Sentiments are full of Generosity and so much the more to be highly valu'd because you submit 'em to reason and the just considerations of the Good and Wellfare of your Realm I beseech you never to be affraid of Communicating 'em to your Creatures and to be perswaded that they will make it their sole study to bring 'em to pass to your Content and Advantage I wish your Glory more then ever any Servant wish'd the Prosperity of his Master nor shall I leave any thing omitted that lies in my power to contribute towards it The singular Testimonies of your Grace and Favour which you shew'd me Yesterday have peirc'd my heart I find my self oblig'd in such an extraordinary Measure that I cannot express it I beseech your Majesty for God's sake not to do your self any prejudice
by giving way to Melancholly and by that means I hope that through the Goodness of God you will enjoy your full content For my part I shall never have any but in giving Your Majesty to understand from time to time that I am the most faithfull Servant the most passionate Subject and the most zealous Servant that ever King and Master had in this World I will live and conclude in this condition as being a hundred times more devoted to Your Majesty then mindful of my own concerns c. LETTER LXV To the King I should not have given credit to what M. Bouthillier related to me had I not understood it from Your Majesty's Lips I thought that the long time I have serv'd Your Majesty under the Blessing which God has been pleas'd to bestow upon your Vertue had made you too well accquainted with the passionate Zeal which I have always had and ever shall have for your Service to question my Sincerity That which comforts me in this Misfortunes is that I am certain of never having fail'd so much as in thought of my duty to Your Majesty and that I hope Your Majesty will soon be of the same mind I am so far from being unwilling to abandon all things for the love of you that I should be ready to abandon my self when ever you should think it for your Benefit or that I thought you would receive any Contentment by it I never was otherwise enclin'd and I will rather dye a thousand Deaths then alter my mind I am beholding for an infinite number of favours to Your Majesty which I shall always acknowledge as long as I live Among 'em all the greatest and of which I am most sensible is the Confidence which you have always been pleas'd to repose in my Fidelity and the sincere opening of your heart to my Advice My Health which was better then now it is afforded me the means of frequently receiving that Honour Now that my unfortunate Indispositions render me more unweildy then I could wish to be I am affraid least my absence depriving me of that singular Favour should create me other mischiefs which it is impossble for me to foresee But in what place soever I am I shall think more upon Your Majesty then upon my self and upon your Interest more then upon the preservation of my own life I confess my heart is so sensibly touch'd that I can say no more to Your Majesty The Bearer in whom I have a full Confidence will give you a more particular accompt of it but he can tell Your Majesty nothing more certain then the Truth with which I shall conclude this Letter protesting to Your Majesty that I shall never cease to be c. LETTER LXVI To the King IN sending this Bearer to know the state of Your Health the freedom wherewith Your Majesty is pleas'd that your Creatures should converse with you is the reason that I am unwilling to lose the opportunity of letting Your Majesty know who is the most Zealous of all Your Majesty's Creatures I have and shall have as long as I live more confidence in Your Majesty then in my self a greater Passion for you then Your Majesty has for your Self and assuredly my tenderness also equalls my Fidelity I will not deny but that Jealousie comes in for a share but I am sure Your Majesty will not take it a miss since Your Majesty does not a little caress that Lady that she should be kindly entertain'd by a Creature who shall always Glory in imitating Your Majesty and in being till my Descent into the Grace c. LETTER LXVII To the King NOT deserving the least of these Testimonies which you are pleas'd to give me of the satisfaction you have receiv'd in my Services I have receiv'd 'em as pure Effects of your Goodness I shall never aspire to any other Honour then to live under the Shadow of your Glory serving you all the while as faithfully as ever Servant serv'd a Master God who knows the hearts of Men is my Witness of this Truth and that there is nothing in this World that can more content me then to fulfill your Will and Pleasure and see the Prosperity of your Affairs I cannot sufficiently declare to Your Majesty my joy to find that they begin to change their Countenance The taking of Corbie and the raising the Siege of St. John de Laune besieg'd by all the Forces of the Empire are two pieces of great Importance Your Majesty will see the Memoire which M. d' Angoulesme and my self drew up before we knew of Galasse's Retreat and another which contains what your Servants think fit to be done now he is retir'd The whole is submitted to your Judgment to do what Your Majesty pleases I am overjoy'd that Your Majesty is in so good a Humour and I pray to God that he will grant me the Favour to serve you as successfully as I shall do it faithfully as being Eternally c. LETTER LXVIII To the King IN the midst of my Sorrows for the loss of those who Commanded those Troops of Horse which Your Majesty was pleas'd to give me 't is no small Consolation to me that they have ended their days in your Service and that the Cardinal de la Valetta has won a considerable Advantage over the Enemy I question not but Your Majesty's presence will regulate all things that were out of Order in your Absence The Resistance of the Enemy in St. Mitchel serves only to augment Your Majesty's Honour who may make your Advantage of it by making use of that Right which their Obstinacy will deserve and without which they will be both able and willing to renew their Disobedience I am extreamly glad that my Cousin de Meilleray is so Fortunate as to serve Your Majesty to your good liking For there is nothing which I desire more Ardently then that my self and all that belong to me may spend their lives in the Service of the best Master in the World to whom I am and ever shall be till Death c. LETTER LXIX To the King BUT for the Miscarriage which is not to be excus'd of M. d' Angoâlesme there is no qustion but that Your Majesty had accomplish'd what you had so prudently design'd However Your Majesty is happy in this satisfaction that the Faults of another not your own were the Obstacles that prevented your making the best of so glorious a Contrivance But as there is now no reason for Your Majesty to advance so it will not be convenient for Your Majesty to remove any farther till you have repair'd the disorder of your Affairs occasion'd by M. d' Aâgoulesms Retreat and I am perswaded a few days will produce that good Effect In the mean time I beseech Your Majesty not to afflict your self but to consider that if Kings could always do whatever they pleas'd they would be equal to God who reserves that Prerogative to himself alone Your Majesty has
never had any Design to absent my self from your Person And if that good Father be no better acquainted with Your Majesty's Mind then he has been observant of the good Example of his Order during his Abode at Court I still preserve the same Resolutions But if he has better div'd into Your Majesty's Intentions then my self I should think my self too blame if I did not seek to render my Absence agreeable when my Presence could no longer be to your Benefit I beseech Your Majesty in that particular to do your self Justice and to make use of your Goodness in my behalf it being no less just that you should satisfie your self then it would be an Effect of your Goodness to let him take his Rest who could never think himself at ease but when he was certainly convinc'd that his Pains procur'd Your Majesty's Repose LETTER LXXV To the KING YOur Majesty will pardon me if I take the Boldness to return Your Majesty Thanks for the Honour you have been pleas'd to do me in conferring upon my Nephew an Abby the Air and Situation of which being near to Paris may be of great Advantage to promote his Studies I can assure Your Majesty he has a very authentick Dispensation from Rome and that in Acknowledgment of the Favour you have been pleas'd to do him I shall heartily pray to God that he will be pleased to heap upon Your Majesty his Blessings in abundance and make me able to manifest to Your Majesty how much I am c. LETTER LXXVI From Cardinal Richlieu to the QUEEN IT was impossible for me to represent to Your Majesty my Affliction when I understood by the Letter with which you were pleas'd to honour me that God has not as yet bestow'd that Blessing on your Nuptialls which we promis'd our selves from his Goodness I can assure Your Majesty that the King is no less griev'd for your sake then for his own and the Misfortune of his Kingdom However I beseech yee not to afflict your self it being certain that what God is not pleas'd to send at one time may come to pass at another And that he has hitherto manifested so particular a Care of France that he will doubtless crown the Blessings he has in Store for us with that which he knows to be the only one that can compleat our Happiness I fervently pray for it and beseech Your Majesty to believe that there is no Man who desires it with more Passion then I do who am and ever will be to my Life's End c. LETTER LXXVII To the QUEEN IF through the Fault of another I have fail'd Your Majesty by assuring you of a thing that has not come to pass so soon as I expected I hope Your Majesty will not think me too blame but rather condemn the Inconstancy of those who have not fulfill'd what they were oblig'd to by a Treaty Though there was no Fault committed by me in giving Your Majesty Advice of the Entry which the King was to have made into Nancy yet I must confess I was so sorry I had relied so much upon the Faith of another that I never durst have re-issum'd the Boldness to have writ to Your Majesty had not Time repair'd the Mistake I fell into I assure Your Majesty that it shall never be my Misfortune again to build upon that which not depending upon my self shall not be as absolutely certain as my Fidelity to Your Majesty which is and shall be ever c. LETTER LXXVIII From Card. Richlieu to the Count of Soissons I Told the Sieur Campion the Bearer hereof what I thought would be for your Good which terminates in this That you will always receive the Effects of the King's Goodness provided you will be pleas'd to put your self into a Condition to merit ' em It will not be Prudence Sir in you to juggle with His Majesty in certain things to which the Pretension aloneis odious so long as it tends to the Diminution of his Honour and Authority I beseech yee so to demean your self as may be for your own Good and to be confident that I shall desire all Opportunities to serve you And you shall find by the Effects that I am sincerely c. LETTER LXXIX From the KING to the same Person I have receiv'd your Letter wherein you assure me of your Innocence which being willing to believe I have nothing farther to say to yee but that I will always refer the Causes of such of my Subjects that fail in what they owe to my Person and my Realm to the Judges whose Susiness it is to take Cognizance of their Actions I promiâ my ãâã that your Conduct will ever be such as I desire it should be And upon that Consideration I will assure yee of my Affection and pray to God to have yee in his hoây Keeping c. LETTER LXXX From Card. Richlieu to the Duke of Vendosme I Have receiv'd the Letter you were pleas'd to write me concerning your Sons whom I will serve to the uttermost of my Power in reference to the Journey 't is your Pleasure they should take I dare be confident they are so well born and govern themselves with so much Conduct at Court that we cannot speak so well of 'em as they deserve I shall esteem my self happy If I may be able to testifie my Affection to Them and to your self that I am c. LETTER LXXXI To the Count of Soissons I Leave M. de Mazieres to let you know by Word of Mouth the King 's extraordinary Joy upon the News you sent him of the Queen's being with Child to the end I may tell you my self that for my own Particular I make no doubt of the Truth of what you are pleas'd to acquaint me with in the Letter which you were pleas'd to write me upon that Subject knowing as I do how passionately you desire the Settlement of the Realm and Their Majesties Contentment I beseech you to believe that a greater Felicity could not befall me then to meet some Opportunity wherein I might give you real Proofs of my sincere Affection as being and desiring to be ever c. LETTER LXXXII To the Count d' Harcourt THE Sieur Faret comes to wait upon you with the reasons which ought to perswade you to live in Amity with Monsieur the Archbishop of Bourdeaux whose Interests I cannot by any means relinquish 'T is for the King's Service your Honour and my particular satisfaction These considerations perswade me that you will demean your self upon this Occasion as his Majesty expects you should as you ought your self to do and as I most certainly promise my self I have written to the Sieur de Bordeaux that he shall correspond on his part as far as you can desire And I am confident he will not fail to contribute what lies in his Power toward so good a purpose which without question will be very advantageous to the King's Affairs and honourable to both sides
be pleas'd to favour His Majesty's good Intentions there is great Reason to hope that he may obtain those Ends which he has always propos'd to himself for the common Good My Assurance that you will leave nothing omitted that depends upon your Prudence and Care to persuade him to obliges me to say no more but that I am c. A Memoir sent to M. de Berhune after the taking of the Cittadel of Pignerol MOnsieur Bethune will see by the Answers of Monsieurs Spinola and Colalto to the Proposals contain'd in the Rough Draught of the Peace which Monsieur the Cardinal has sent to M. Pancirollo how unreasonable the said Answer is and the little Likelihood that we can be satisfied with it in order to the procuring a solid Peace to the end that after he has consider'd it he may take his time to inform the Pope of it Which done he shall beseech His Holiness to let the Spanish Ambassador know his Sentiments upon it which according to Equity cannot be otherwise then conformable to His Majesty's to the end that the Spaniards being out of hopes of concealing any longer their Artifices from His Holiness may be constrain'd to agree in things that are just and which may as well for the present as for the future remove all Occasions of any farther Troubles The said Sieur de Bethune shall represent to His Holiness That one of the principal Reasons why the King sent his Forces into Italy having been the often re-iterated Instances of His Holiness it would be an extream Grief to him should His Holiness testifie any Coldness to favour a Design to which he was induc'd with so much the more Zeal because His Holiness approv'd the Justice of it and rightly apprehended how much the Success of it would conduce to the Liberty of Italy to establish the Dignity of the Holy See and to the Security of the Pope's Person which were the most forcible Arguments that could move His Majesty That although His Holiness is desirous to preserve the Name and Effect of Common Father that ought not to hinder him but oblige him rather to make use of his Authority to chastise those who trouble the Family and reduce 'em to their Duty instead of assisting 'em in the Execution of their wicked Intentions And this was apparently done by His Holiness's Ministers in the State of Ferrara where they reliev'd the Germans with Corn when all Italy knows that without that Relief they could not have subsisted though they made use of it only to commit with more Leisure and Convevenience the greatest Prophanations of holy Things and the most horrid Cruelties upon all sorts of Persons that are not to be imagin'd Moreover the said Corn was set at so high a Rate that we have Reason to think it was done on purpose to scare the Venetians from buying it which the Germans were willing to do considering the Extremity they were in and not wanting Money after they had plunder'd the State of Mantua and all the neighbouring Princes for which they may thank the Pope's Officers M. de Bethune is also to complain of His Holiness's granting Passage several times to the Troops in their March from Naples into Milanols and so desire him to let the French have the same Privilege when they shall have an Occasion to march through his Fortresses to aid the Venetians and the Duke of Mantua The said Sieur de Bethune shall tell him The King cannot believe though he be well assur'd of it that His Holiness or his Nephew the Legate have within this little while been very importunate with the Duke of Mantua to agree these Differences without giving any notice of it to the King As also to beg the Emperor's Pardon which would suppose that he and his Confederates had been too blame in upholding a Cause so just and of which His Holiness all along declar'd his Approbation M. de Bethune must have receiv'd a Letter which the Cardinal wrote him about Fifteen Days ago wherein he sends him word that the King would be extreamly pleas'd if His Holiness would but lay his Commands upon Bagni to reside in his Army in Italy that so he might be a Testimony of His Majesty's good Intentions and his just proceeding upon this Occasion And that he would do well to be very importunate with His Holiness in the very Terms of the Letter But if the Letter be not come to his hands and he finds the Pope is not inclin'd to what is desir'd M. de Bethune shall renew his Instances in that Particular and use such Arguments as he shall think most proper to persuade His Holiness to condescend to His Majesty's Desire considering that he knows the Prudence the Probity and Affection of the said Cardinal to His Holiness and the common Good Nevertheless avoiding to give the Pope any Occasion to believe that this proceeds from any Distrust of those whom he employs or that the King seeks after a Peace but only because the said Cardinal Bagni having been a long time vers'd in this Affair can be no Prejudice to His Holiness's Design for the publick Repose more especially seeing the Decease of Don Carlo his Brother may render the Presence of the said Cardinal most useful in those Quarters LETTER LXXXVI From Card. Richlieu to the said Sieur de Bethune I Send you the Memoir annex'd which I desire you carefully to peruse and then to acquaint His Holiness with it I promise my self that you will omit nothing that depends upon your Care and Prudence to make the Pope clearly sensible that all the Proposals of these Gentlemen tend to no other End then to compleat the Ruin of the Duke of Mantua and to deprive Italy of that little Liberty she has left her by the Words of a Peace under which they hatch the Seeds of a perpetual War if the Authority of His Holiness and the Princes of Italy who are principally concern'd therein being assisted by His Majesty's good Intentions and Puissance do not apply a speedy Remedy This is all I have to say to yee in this Letter expecting to hear from yee LETTER LXXXVII To Cardinal Lodovisio after the Taking of Pignerol I am here at the Gate of Italy with a Design to do what lies in my power under the King's Commands and Authority to settle a safe and solid Peace I have so good an Opinion of your Judgment that I make no question but that you clearly see into His Majesty's good Intentions who following the Example of his Predecessors has propos'd to himself as the principal End of his Actions to support the Honour and settle the Security of the Holy See and establish the Repose of Christendom I presume to hope from the Goodness of God who is a Witness of this Truth that he will vouchsafe his Blessing upon the Care His Majesty takes in the Defence of so just a Cause LETTER LXXXVIII To M. de Bethune I was very glad to find by the
few days nominated the Abbot of Chastelliers to the Bishoprick of Agen and written to his Holiness to pleasure him with the free Gift of his Bulls I write yee these Lines most earnestly to intreat you that you will vouchsafe him the Effects of your Protection upon this occasion Besides his Majesty's Recommendation the Honour which he has to be nearly related to Marshal Schomberg and his particular merit so well known to every Body even in the place where you are will I am confident prevail with you to procure him the favour which he desires Besides this favour will be a greater Obligation to me then I can Express and I shall endeavour to revenge my self upon all Opportunities of serving you that shall present themselves and that with the same Affection as I am and ever will be c. LETTER CLXXVII To the same MY Joy for the Promotion of my Brother to the degree of Cardinal obliges me to write you these Lines to the end I may make it manifest by all the returns of Thanks which I am able to repay you I beseech you to believe that I shall carefully seek all ways to make you sensible of my acknowledgment I promise my self that his Holiness will not repent of having assumed him into the number of his Creatures and that you will acknowledge one day that his service has not been unprofitable and I hope within a little time he will confirm yee in the belief of his particular Devotion to your Eminency so that he will be at Rome what I shall be always dispos'd to be near the person of the King who has so great an Affection for your Family that I should fail in pursuing his Intentions which to me are Laws inviolable should I omit to manifest upon all opportunities that I am c. LETTER CLXXVIII To the same THE Chevalier de Roche Coulombe having receiv'd a Box of the Ear from the Chevalier de Janlis which oblig'd him by the Laws of Honour to draw upon him where e're he met him and having kill'd him at the first pass I have been besought by Persons of Quality to beg of you that you would intercede to his Holiness for his Pardon and by that means to restore him to the Rank he held in his Service and the Priviledges he may have forfeited by the Fact he has committed In doing for him you will oblige several who will be sharers in his acknowlegment of your Favour and particularly my self who am c. LETTER CLXXIX To the Cardinal of Lorrain MY Distemper is quite gone off thanks be to God the Surgeon whom the King sent me with all speed having cur'd me with one slit of his Lancet I am extreamly oblig'd to your Eminency for your good Opinion of me judging well that your Civility is so great as to do more then your Friends can expect from me I beseech yee not to think any more of putting your self to the trouble of coming hither if I should stay here frankly acknowledging that my sorrow for the inconvenience you would suffer for my sake in a place where I could not be able to receive you as I desire would be enough to augment my Malady which I desire to be rid of as soon as I can that I may be in a condition the more able to manifest how sincerely I am c. LETTER CLXXX To Cardinal Barberini UNderstanding by my Brother the Cardinal of Lyon's Letters the Favours your Eminency was pleas'd to do him upon his arrival at Rome 't is impossible for me any longer to delay the return of all acknowledgments which it is possible for me to make beseeching your Eminency to believe that my Brother is altogether as sensible of your kindnesses as you can desire wherein I presume so great a share that both the one and the other will be ready to serve your Eminency upon all occasions with the same Affection as I have been and always shall be c. LETTER CLXXXI To Cardinal Antonio THE Testimonies which your Eminency has hitherto given me of your Affection to France and particularly to the person of the King causes me to take my Pen in Hand to beseech your Eminency that you would be pleas'd to add one more in reference to the Marshal d' Estrees by contributing your Endeavours that his Holiness may give his Majesty satisfaction in his behalf I shall not repeat the reasons contain'd in the Letter which I wrote to his Holiness by which he seems to be oblig'd not to deny his Majesty that contentment which he has just cause to promise himself It shall be sufficient for me to let yee know that the Business in question upon this occasion being to the advantage of his Holiness and all his Family which the King will procure upon all opportunities that shall present themselves your Excellency being so nearly related to his Beautitude as you are I make no question but you will contribute to this end whatever lies in your Power assuring your Eminency that as his Majesty lays this affair to heart more then I am able to express so he will acknowledge the Obligation laid upon him to the utmost of your Expectation For my own part Sir considering the Honour which I bear your Eminency there can be nothing added to that affection wherewith I am and will be ever c. LETTER CLXXXII To Cardinal Bichi MY Affection to Monsieur the Marquiss of Scurdis and all his Family causes me to set Pen to Paper to request your Eminency that you would be pleas'd to favour him as much as possibly you can in obtaining his Holinesses Bulls for the Coadjutorship of the Abby of Mont-Mortre to which it has pleas'd the King to nominate his Daughter a Nun belonging to that Convent together with a Dispensation for her Age so that she may receive as soon as may be the satisfaction which she expects from thence Assuring you Sir that I shall be no less engag'd to your Excellency for your Assistance in this Affair then if it were for my self as you shall find upon any other opportunity wherein I shall have an occasion to manifest my acknowledgment and let you see that I am sincerely c. LETTER CLXXXIII To the same MOnsieur Draconis being nominated by the King to the Bishoprick of Lavaur as being deem'd worthy of that Honour I set Pen to Paper earnestly to request your Eminency that you would be pleas'd for mine and the sake of his own Merit to sacilitate as much as possibly you can the dispatch of his Bulls and so to order it if it may be done that his Holiness will be pleas'd to moderate the Fees in regard of the small Revenue belonging to that Bishoprick You will lay a very great Obligation upon the said Sieur de Draconis wherein the Affection which I bear him will make me a considerable sharer so that there shall no opportunity present it self wherein I may manifest my acknowledgment but the
Holiness will receive thereby it will be difficult to avoid its proving fatal to the Church and Carholick Religion by the multitude of Strangers of divers Nations and Religions who are preparing to run to the Duke of Savoy's assistance as to a common Cause both out of Dread and Jealousie of the encreasing Power of Spain and for the Justice of the Cause itself as well as by the example of others The assistance of the States of the Vnited Provinces has already been implor'd who will be the readier to grant it because it is against the King of Spain their ancient Adversary whom they will be pleas'd to see imploy'd and weaken'd in his Territories in Italy The Protestant Princes of Germany seem inclined to favour the same Cause out of the same Considerations and will do it yet more powerfully when they find the War begun in earnest A vast number of Captains and Soldiers this Kingdom swarms with at present upon the disbanding of the Army will freely repair thither for Imployment besides the Forces both of Foot and Horse the King is sending towards the Frontiers to assist the said Duke from thence if it be necessary under Marshal de Lesdiguieres Command a Person whose Name and Reputation is sufficiently known a resolution His Majesty can never desist from without a blemish to his Faith and Honor which are both engag'd to protect and defend the Duke when attack'd he not refusing to submit to reasonable Conditions besides that it is the Interest of his whole Kingdom not to suffer the King of Spain to extend his Dominions so near his Frontiers all which he may prevent with ease at present without fear or danger at home where all his Subjects express their Fidelity and the Nobility invites him to it by their Obedience Nevertheless the World may easily imagin with what Trouble and Grief His Majesty finds himself reduc'd to take this resolution living as he hath hitherto done and is still desirous to live with theâ his Father-in-law having on both sides such dear Pledges of their mutual and fraternal Affection But the consideration of the Interest of his state joyn'd with the publick and private reasons heretofore alledged oblige his Majesty to prefer them to those Tyes of Friendship not violated by his Majesty but by those who force him to take measures so contrary to his Inclination tho lawful in themselves and worthy of a most Christian King zealous of the publick Peace as well as of the Safety of his real Friends Moreover his Majesty looks upon this means as the most effectual to promote a good understanding between the Parties and to prevent their proceeding any further For his Arms shall never be imployed to disturb the Peace of Christendom but on the contrary to settle it to oppose those that would interrupt it and to maintain every one in his Right protesting before GOD and Man that this is his real Intention and that he only takes Arms by force and constraint and for his Honor to preserve the said peace and to protect his Friends as it appears by the good Offices and Endeavours heretofore used by him and still continued with Vigor in Spain and elsewhere and will be farther evinced by real Effects in this and all other occasions This the Archbishop is to represent to his Holiness and to Cardinal Borghese to make them sensible of the Consequences of such a Resolution and Breach his Majesties sincere Intention in this affair the Endeavours he has used and still continues to prevent it together with the powerful motives and reasons inducing him thereunto to the end that being mov'd by their Affection and usual Prudence in affairs of such weight and consequence either by persons sent on purpose or by other means suitable to the urgency of the danger they may endeavour to prevail with the said King to encline to a Peace which will be more honourable more useful to his affairs and without any comparison far more advantageous for the Public Good than a War the events of which are uncertain long and liable to produce Effects contrary to our expectation and projects That in case the said Duke of Savoy should refuse to submit to Reason and to what shall be thought just by their common Friends his Majesty as he has already declared will not only be against him but will joyn his Arms with the said Rings to compel the said Duke to it by force espousing no Party on this occasion but that of Justice His Majesty being of opinion that the most effectual way to compass the end he proposes was to obtain a suspension of Arms on both sides during which means might be thought on for a reconciliation he propos'd the same to the Spanish Ambassador who answer'd That he had no Power to do it but that he would write to the King his Master about it to whom his Majesty has likewise made the same Proposition by his Ambassador in ordinary residing at his Court and his Holiness would do well to second the said Suspension by his entreaty and recommendation in order to its being the sooner granted by the said King lest matters being once exasperated and one side getting some considerable advantage over the other this Remedy as all others tending to a Negotiation should prove the more difficult and the evil encrease to the prejudice of all and particularly of those who despise the means of an accommodation But it will be needless to compose the Quarrel between the King of Spain and the Duke of Savoy unless that between the Republic of Venice and the Archduke Ferdinand be made up at the same time for whereas they are link'd by the Interest and Affection of the Parties the Public would profit but little by the one without the other And therefore his Majesty designs to put an end to both at once to remove all the Evils Italy is threatned with and it behoves his Holiness to be the more active and vigilant therein because some men presume to taâk at random about his Holiness's Inclination in this particular as if he were pleased with this occasion to resent some things that have pass'd of late years between his Beatitude and the said Venetians a thing we know to be very opposite to his Holiness's Wisdom and Piety and which nevertheless it imports him to provide against out of his Paternal Care to repel and dissipate such Impostures and Calumnies The said Archbishop is to manage those reasons dexterously to induce him the more to the desir'd effect and not to animate him by too rough a relation of the said reports The said Archbishop is to represent the same thing to the great Duke in his passage through Florence after having saluted and assur'd him of his Majesty's Good will knowing his affection for the Welfare and Friendship of those two Crowns as a person who had a great share in their conjunction in order to his using such means as he shall think most
of his Majesty's Affectionate and Filial Observance for the Service and Honour of the Holy See by the Example of the Kings his Predecessors to the satisfaction of his Beatitude and the advantage of his house and designs He is also to make him sensible of the Confolation his Majesty receiv'd at his assumption to the Pontificate his Prayers having been granted on this subject Since it has pleas'd God to give a Person of his Piety and Virtue to Christendom who has the intentions and is indued with all the Qualifications requir'd in a common Father that it is his earnest desire he may injoy it long for the Publick Good which he will again confirm to him at the sending him the usual Devoirs and Obedience That his Majesty is persuaded that his Holiness puts a greater confidence in this Royal Freedom and in the real and solid Effects his Majesty daily discovers to the advantage of the Church and of Christendom in General than to impute his not having been able hitherto to perform that duty to the least want of Inclination or Devotion towards his Beatitude but to the Troubles and Divisions of his Kingdom which he has begun to disintangle so happily and so much to the advantage of the Catholick Religion and of his Authority that his Majesty is persuaded that he will prefer such salutory Effects to a Ceremonious Duty since his Majesty yields to none besides his Title of first Son of the Church in Duty or Devotion towards the Holy See and his Holiness as he will ever make it appear both at Home and Abroad and that he hopes that God will bless him so much again this Year either by Agreement or Force of Arms as to extend the Catholick Religion and the Honour of the Name of God in his Kingdom so far as to deserve the Continuation of the good Will and Paternal Counsels His Holiness has sent him upon that Subject which his Nuncio can assure him have been receiv'd by him with Sentiments suitable to his Zeal and to the Respect he bears to whatever proceeds from the wise Counsels of His Beatitude The said Commandore is to remain within these Bounds at his first private Audience only giving His Holiness Assurances of His Majesty's Devotion according to the usual Custom For as to other Affairs they are referr'd to that which is to be solemn and publick as well as others which will be given him from time to time according as Occurrences shall offer themselves He is to wait on Cardinal Ludovisio His Holiness's Nephew the same Night whom he is to acquaint with His Majesty's Good Will towards him the Confidence he reposes in and Knowledge he has of his Affection for the Welfare of his Affairs in which he shall be desir'd to persevere and to make his Uncle favourable in such Occasions as shall occurr during his Residence in Rome Which His Majesty will be ready to acknowledge to his Advantage and Satisfaction on all Occasions by profitable and honourable Effects The greatest and most important Affair in debate at this time is that above-mention'd about Valtelina which his Holiness is very well acquainted with together with the Endeavours hitherto us'd by his Majesty to stifle the Misfortunes he is sensible must arise from that Contention in their very birth He is again to lay the dangerous Consequences thereof before his Holiness in relation to the publick Good of Italy and even of the Roman Religion it self and that unless the Spaniards will speedily submit to his Counsels and paternal Exhortations to hasten the Restitution thereof the King will be oblig'd to espouse the Cause and Interest of his Allies that his Holiness is not only oblig'd as a common Father to prevent Troubles but as a Temporal Prince of Italy to obviate and oppose all manner of Usurpations His Majesty in this point only requires the Observation and Execution of the Articles of Madrid made with the approbation of his Holiness's Ministers the accomplishing of which the Spaniards under a specious pretence of Religion towards him and of deference towards several Princes and States concern'd have delay'd and put off insomuch that the Distemper is now grown to such a head by the artifice and desire of the Governor of Millan to preserve what he has Usurp'd against all Right and Reason to the prejudice of his Majesty's Alliance and of the safety of the Princes of Italy that his Majesty has freely declar'd and lately again acquainted his Holiness his Nuncio and the Spanish Ambassâdor that unless the aforesaid Agreement were effectually perform'd he could no longer resist the desires and general Interest of his Confederates who made earnest Sollicitations to him to assist and strengthen them with his generous Resolutions in their pressing need and that on their sides they would co-operate to the utmost of their Power and Interest That in compliance thereunto his Majesty has sent Orders in all parts to keep all things in readiness and that being resolv'd to repair to Lyons his Orders were also dispatch'd to the Marshal d' Esdigureres to be ready at the first Command That it is most certain that the Princes concern'd and several others who will not stir until they see the Game begun will freely enter the Lists for their preservation others for Interest and that then his Holiness though perhaps too late will find whether the Reasons alledg'd by Spain for Religion are as important and considerable as the Evils and Accidents which will arise to his grief even to the very detriment of the Catholick Religion For undoubtedly several Protestant Princes will make this Cause theirs being jealous with reason of the growing greatness of Spain and divers Nations and Religions will enter and fill Italy And all this is occasion'd by the immoderate Covetousness and Ambition of the Ministers of Spain the prejudice and blame whereof will fall upon the Authors and his Majesty will be sufficiently discharg'd towards God and Men by the Endeavours he has us'd to prevent these Misfortunes for considering the time when the Enterprize was first began and the Treaty concluded upon that Subject but not executed by Spain a longer patience would be imputed to want of Courage and Resentment Therefore his Majesty again intreats his Holiness seriously to renew the Efforts of his paternal Admonition to prevent such Calamities His Majesty is very sensible that the said Spaniards the better to colour and justify their Attempts and to make him the more favourable to their Design have all along laid the Case of Religion before his Eyes to blind him and consequently prevent his joining with the rest of the Allies or at least to make him connive at their Enterprize But whereas the Mask is now thrown off and that it is evident by other Occurrences in Christendom that they are induc'd thereunto more out of Ambition than Religion his Holiness must be intreated no longer to suffer himself to be impos'd on both for his own Honour and
for the good and peace of Italy as well as for the sake of the Catholick Religion the advantage of which he may assure himself his Majesty will ever be one of the first to promote with all his power But there is some danger as it has often been represented in being too obstinate for one of losing both together For it is most certain that the said Leagues of the Grisons are not oblig'd by the Articles of the Treaty to maintain the Catholick Religion alone in Valtelina and consequently the Spaniards cannot insist on this without a Breach of the Treaty and without wounding his Majesty's Royal Intermission But moreover to remove this borrow'd Veil and to go beyond them by a Zeal not apparent but truly sincere of Religion though this be not included in the said Agreement he will imploy his Credit and lively Remonstrances towards the said Grisons by his Ambassadors and use all other reasonable means to prevail with them for the preservation of the said Religion in Valtelina though not in the nature of a Condition as abovesaid it not being mention'd in the Treaty and they being oblig'd notwithstanding a refusal to accomplish the said Agreement and to perform the said full and intire Restitution That in case his Majesty can succeed in this design it will be a great comfort to his Holiness whose Nuncio in Switzerland must be order'd to facilitate with his Majesty's Ministers all honest and sure means to hasten the said Râstitution His Majesty presses this Affair being justly press'd by the thing it self and by the Persons concern'd therein which should invite his Holiness to double his vigilance and serious Instances in Spain otherwise he will find by real Effects that his Majesty's foresight has been good and his care in so many places very praise worthy But in order the better to convince his Holiness of the truth of the premisses here is a very certain and most visible Argument thereof The Spaniards who boast and seem very desirous of promoting the good and advancement of the Catholick Religion in Germany where they had promis'd to Invest the Duke of Bavaria with both the Palatinates are now out of Reasons of State more reserv'd in the matter out of fear of displeasing the King of Great Britain and lest the Duke of Bavaria should grow too powerful in Germany Causes altogether Temporal which hinder them from advancing the Glory and Holy Name of God in so fair an occasion while his Majesty shows himself more inclinable and favourable to it for though the Elector Palatin is Ally'd to him he knows in his Soul what he has done on that subject where it was necessary to show his good intention His Holiness's Officers and his Nuncio here have discover'd it themselves and that it was only a Blind u'sd by them to abuse the most simple but not capable of obscuring the prudence and clear sight of his Holiness who will be prais'd and bless'd by God and Men for endeavouring to prevent Usurpations and to maintain the publick Peace which are the only Ends his Majesty proposes But the said Commandore is chiefly to insist on the Mischiefs that may insue for the Publick these Crowns proceeding to a Breach which his Majesty will prevent to the utmost of his power by the advantages the Turk will easily gain by the division of the Christian Princes Whereas being united as it is his Holiness's Office to keep them and to which his Piety and other good Considerations should incline him above all things considering the present state of the Turks great progresses might be made against them But our Sins and Discords making us unworthy of that happiness we must implore the goodness of God and his Holiness by Prayers and Exhortations must use his utmost Endeavours to reconcile the hearts of Christian Princes to an Enterprize so holy so important and so seasible at this time according to the knowledge the King has of the now State of the Grand Seignor's Affairs and Provinces This business of Valtelina being adjusted before which nothing can be resolved on if his Holiness finds a good Disposition in other Princes His Majesty will ever be ready to second his good Intentions and to promote them to the utmost of his power It is His Majesty's Desire that the Honour of a Design so pious and so full of Glory should be reserv'd to the Happiness of this Pontificate and that in order thereunto His Holiness would be pleas'd to continue his best Endeavours for the Pacification of the Troubles of Italy as well as those that are kindling in Germany that the chief Princes of Christendom having no other Quarrels to decide may be the better able to unite their Wills and âorces for this holy Enterprize His Majesty is very sensible that none are so busie on the Stage of the World as the Spaniards in order to extend their Empire more and more which will not only be the Occasion of neglecting the Opportunities of this Christian Project but also of uniting the Protestant Princes more strictly to oppose the Projects of the House of Austria And while this Game lasts the Turk will have many fair Occasions to improve it to their Cost and Shame and the Christâanâ themselves will pay the Faults of their Ambition and Imprudence The Emperor having re-gain'd Bohemia which had been taken from him seems to have more Cause to let his Arms rest in order to provide against this common Enemy than to satisfie the Passion of another who leads him under his Authority to a Design which keeps him in Servitude himself and makes him share the publick Loss For here is Work cut out for a long time unless the Parties will put an end to it themselves since there is Reason to believe that the King of Great Britain with his Confederates will not let his Son-in-Law perish and that the States-General of the United Provinces will neither be so weak nor so destitute of Friends and of Assistance as to fall so soon by the Efforts of the Arms of Spain And in the mean time the great Occasions of doing good as to the general slip away Princes weaken each other by vexatious bloody Exercises thereby giving great Advantages to a potent Enemy who is only with-held by his Ignorance of our Condition or by the Hand of God who in his Mercy has not yet given us over to his Wrath. But we have reason to fear that the Continuance of this Misfortune will draw it upon us as being too unworthy of his Favours in not having made use of the fair Opportunities he had given us of making great Progresses against this Enemy in these last Ages The said Commandore is also to enquire of the Cardinals de Sourdis and Bentivoglio on what Terms the Marriage propos'd between Spain and England stands at present not to raise the least Obstacle against it His Majesty having had several Occasions so to do since he first was inform'd of it had he
he must endeavour to overcome those Obstacles by his good Conduct and by getting as much Credit in the Palace as he can to render his Talent the more profitable to the King and to destroy the malicious Reports that have been spread to his Prejudice Cardinal de Sourdis and he will acquaint him on what Terms the Affair between those of the Congregation of St. Lewis and the Fathers of the Oratory stands in order to apply such Remedies and Moderation as will be requisite in the Case jointly with them for His Majesty's Service and Satisfaction who is very well satisfied that those of Savoy and Lorrain have obstructed the Execution thereof The said Commandore is to take care to have the same remedy'd speedily by His Majesty's Authority And not to enter any further into several trivial Affairs which do not deserve being inserted in an Instruction He shall be inform'd there on what Terms they stand and shall behave himself therein according to the Time and Occasions to the best of his power And for as much as the good Fathers Minimes of the Trinity of the Mount have always been recommended to His Majesty's Ambassadors in order to their being preserv'd in the Purity of Life they have chosen and continued with great Praise and that none but those of the French Nation may be receiv'd in the said Monastery into which some Foreigners have slip'd heretofore who were not rightly qualified for the same the said Commandore is to take a particular Care of them He is often to visit the Cardinals of the sacred Colledge in the usual manner and is to be very careful to give each of them assurances of his Majesty's Favour according to the degree of their affection for the King's affairs which he shall be acquainted with by those of Sourdis and of Bentivoglio in order to confirm the Votaries of France in their Devotion and to endeavour by good Offices and Courtesies according to their Dignity to encrease their Number There has been some disorder of late in the Taxes of Benefices which has somewhat burthen'd his Majesty's Subjects the said Commandore is to conferr with those that are intelligent in those affairs about means to redress the same making use of his Majesty's Name and Credit according as he shall think it convenient As this Embassy has ever been look'd upon as the most honourable and most considerable in respect to his Majesty's Reputation and the wellfare of his Affairs as it is the first in Rank so his Majesty is fully persuaded that the said Commandore's Conduct will produce Effects resulting to the Grandeur of his Royal Name the Publick Good and his Holinesses Satisfaction by his deportment which he is to make as acceptable as can be preserving what is due to his Majesty's Dignity that he may have as much cause to commend the said Commandore's Services as the choice he has made of his Person for the knowledge he has of his past Actions and to reward him for the same to his Satisfaction Done at Paris the 18th of March 1622. Sign'd Lewis and Lower Brulart Cant given to the said Ambassador ROME GARDEN The Pope The Rose Cardinal Ludovisio The Carnation Cardinal Borghese The Pensy Cardinal Aldobrandin The Jasmin Cardinal of Savoy The Lawrel Cardinal Montalto The Cypress Cardinal de Sourdis The Peach Tree Cardinal Vincenzo The Quince Tree Cardinal de la Rochefoucaud The Pear Tree Cardinal de Rets The Plum Tree Cardinal de la Valette The Apple Tree Cardinal Bentivoglio The Abricot Tree Cardinal Bevilaqua The Cherry Tree Cardinal Barberini The Griotier or Sowre Cherry Tree Cardinal Ubaldini The Lote or Nettle Tree Cardinal Bandinis The Dazy Cardinal Medicis The May Blossom Cardinal Mellini The Orange Tree Cardinal St. Susanna The Lemon Tree Cardinal Verrallo The Fig Tree Cardinal Ara-caeli The Thym Plant. Cardinal Ursini The Marjorum Plant. Cardinal Campora The Lettuce Plant. Cardinal Esti The Bugloss Plant. Cardinal Savelli The Borage Plant. The Great Duke The Amaranth The Great Dutchess The Vine The Arch Dutchy The Grape The Bishop of Mantua The Wallnut Tree The Seignory of Venice The Almond Tree The Governor of Milan The White Thorn The Republick of Genoa The Linden Tree The Duke of Savoy The Tulip The Prince of Piedmont The Wind Flower The Duke of Mantua The Sauge Plant. The Emperor The Courser The King of Spain The âarbe The Arch Duke Leopold The Sorrel Horse The Infanta of Flanders The Pad Count Olwarez The Dapple Gray Horse D. Balthazar de Cuniga The Dun Horse Germany The Stable Spain The Manger Flanders The Rack England The Fork The King of Great Britain The Groom The Prince of Wales The Little Nag The Elector Palatin The Curtall or middle siz'd Horse The Duke of Bavaria The War Horse The Duke of Lorrain The Sumpter Horse The Switzers The Stirrops The Grisons The Spurs Valtelina The Saddle Catholicks The Boots Protestants The Reins The Nuncio of France The Bit. The Nuncio of Switzerland The Bridle The Vice Legat of Avignon The Horse Cloth The Bishop of Lusson The Switch The Arch-Bishop of Lyons The Master of the Horse Monsieur de Villiers The Page Monsieur Marini The Manege The King's Ambassadors in Switzerland The Pillars Le Sieur Eschinard The List Le Sieur Rabi The Ring Secretary le Fevre The Launce Seignior Pol Fiesco The Career Seignior Frangipani The Pike Monsieur Ruccellai The Musket France Building The King Pedestal The Queen The Cornish The Queen Mother The Door The Duke of Orleans The Window Madam the King's Sister The Room The Prince of Conde The Hall Count de Soissons The Garret Monsieur de Guise The Yard The Prince of Joynville The Chimney The Duke of Longueville The Table The Duke of Vendosme The Chair The Duke of Nemours The Bench. The Duke d' Elbeuf The Bed Count St. Paul The Side-board Monsieur d' Angoulesme The Cabinet Monsieur d' Espernon The Carpet Monsieur de Montmorency The Chevron or Rafter Monsieur d'Esdiguieres The Beam Monsieur de Crequy The Boarding Monsieur de Schomberg The Window Frame or Cross Work Monsieur de Bassompierre The Small Pinacle The Marquiss de Couvres The Stair case The Commander de Sillery The Tabernacle Pavillon The Chancelor de Sillery The Chaplain Monsieur de Puysieux The Oratory or Private Chappe Madam de Puysieux The Chappe Monsieur de Marais The Priest Monsieur de Bellievre The Clerk Monsieur de Valencay The Choirist or Querister The Bishop of Chartres The Chanter The Chevalier de Valencay The Novice Monsieur de Berny The Deacon Monsieur de Leon. The Accolite or Boy that Ministers at Mass The Lord Keeper The Fire Lock Monsieur de Gesvre The Murrian or head piece Monsi de la Ville-aux-cleres The Sword Monsieur d'Herbault The Pertizan Monsieur de Beaumarchais The Holbard Monsieur Morant The Pistol Pensions of Rome The Balls The Duke Sforza The Powder The Duke de S. Gemini The Carabine Memoire for the
LETTERS OF THE Cardinal Duke De RICHELIEU Great Minister of State TO LEWIS XIII of France Faithfully Translated from the Original By T. B. In Two Volumes VOL. I. LONDON Printed for A. Roper A. Bosvile and T. Leigh in Fleetstreet 1698. EMINENTISSââ¦ââ¦DVS IOANNES DV PLESSIS CARDINALIS RICHELEVS etc To his Excellency Sir Joseph Williamson Knight one of His Majesty's most Honorable Privy-Council Keeper of the Records of State a Member of the Honorable House of Commons and one of His Majesty's Embassadors-Extraordinary and Plenepotentiaries for the Treaty of a General Peace SIR THis having been esteem'd one of the best Pieces of the Ablest Minister of State in the Age wherein he liv'd I thought I cou'd not do a greater Justice to his Memory than to address these Remains of his to a Person whom the Greatest Wisest and Best of Monarchs has made Choice of to be imploy'd in the most Important Treaty that ever concern'd Europe as one who by a Consummated Experience in Negotiations of this Nature has approv'd himself an Able and Faithful Minister Nor can such a Work as this be Dedicated to any Person more properly than to your Excellency since it consists of Letters of State and some of the Choicest and most Useful Instructions relating both to War and Peace during that Great Man's Administration and which may be of Publick Benefit at this Time May the Success of Your present Negotiation answer the Expectation which Your Country has of Your Great Abilities such as may establish Christendom in a firm Peace and lasting Tranquillity This I conceive is the best Apology can be made for the Presumption of Your Excellency's most Humble and most Obedient Servant T. B. THE PREFACE OF THE PUBLISHER THE very Name of Cardinal Richelieu is enough to set a Value upon the Collection of Letters that are here published The least Productions of so great a Man cannot but find an Universal Esteem This Illustrious Minister not only signaliz'd himself by his extraordinary Address in the Management of Affairs but reduc'd that difficult and mysterious Art into certain Maxims He was not only acquainted with the most refin'd Politicks but he likewise writ concerning them with a Penetration and Exactness that are admirable His Politic Testament sufficiently confirms the Truth of this Assertion That incomparable Piece has been deservedly looked upon as the best in its kind and * In his Speech to the Gentlemen of the Academy Monsieur de la Bruyere who as he is one of the most profound Authors of this Age is Master of the greatest Politeness thought himself oblig'd to take Notice of that everlasting Monument of his great Abilities and considers it as a Work that deserves to live for ever If these Praises are due to the Politic Testament of Cardinal Richelieu as must be acknowledged on all hands it may safely be affirm'd that they belong as justly to the following Collection of Letters We may in them discover the same Genius and the same Solidity with this difference however that whereas in the above-mention'd Book Matters of State are barely deliver'd in Rules and Precepts we behold the Cardinal in these Letters acting by those Rules and Precepts upon all emergent Occasions Here we behold his incomparable Address in the happy managing of the nicest and the most perplext Negotiations his indefatigable Activity his great Foresight which extended it self as well to small as to great Affairs his prodigious Intrepidity that engag'd him in the boldest Undertakings which generally succeeded with mighty Glory to him In short That Superiority of Genius which elevated him even above the Prince he served and made him formidable to the Grandees of his own Country nay to all the Princes of Europe These Letters are written upon different Subjects and are addressed to several Persons however they all along preserve the Character which is suitable to them That Simplicity of Style which is perpetually visible in them is so far from being Disadvantageous to them that it only makes them more grave and more proper for the Person that composed them Every one knows that it would look with a very ill Grace for a Minister of State to affect that scrupulous Nicety and Politeness of Language in his Dispatches which sits well upon none but one that is a Bel-Esprit by Profession Here the whole is accommodated to the Subject The Reader will all along discover abundance of pretty Maxims and judicious Reflexions but they are every where imploy'd to the Purpose and without the least Spice of Affectation Besides these things which are without doubt sufficient of themselves to raise the Curiosity of the Reader he will meet with a world of Remarkable Passages that fell out under the Reign of Lewis XIII and are to be found no where else I mean some particular Circumstances that have escaped the Diligence of the Historians of those Times and cou'd never have been known but for Cardinal Richelieu or other Persons that were actually in the Bottom of those Affairs Since the World receiv'd the Letters of Cardinal Mazarin so favourably I may without Presumption dare to say That they will read these with greater Pleasure and Profit for there is much more of Action more particular Things and a greater Variety of Matter than the former do contain The Reader need only compare these two Collections to be convinced of the truth of what I have advanc'd ERRATA VOL. I. Page 169. Line 31. for Monsieur de Nesmes read the Bishop of Nesmes p. 174. l. 23. for Plat r. Plan. p 248. l. 1. for the Count r. the Count de Soissons p. 253. l. 30. where the Reader meets the Word Madam put by it self there and in several other places he must read the Dutchess of Savoy p. 307. l. 4. for her Son's States r. her Son's Country Vol. II. p. 1. l. 11. for Monsieur of Savoy r. the Duke of Savoy So Monsieur of Lorrain in any other place for the Duke of Lorrain p. 89. l. 1. for Monsieur de Bourdeaux r. the Archbishop LETTERS OF THE Cardinal de Richelieu VOL. I. LETTER I. To *** SIR 'T IS an unspeakable Joy to me to find by your Letter that his Holiness has condescended to grant me that Dignity which the King was willing to have me honoured with since so authentick an Approbation will without question cover those Defects that I may be guilty of I shall think my self extremely happy if while I serve the King and State he gives me as frequent opportunities of serving the Church as I do and ever shall desire to have so long as I live In the mean time I give you a thousand Thanks for the great Satisfaction you have express'd upon this Occasion humbly begging you to believe that it will be a most particular one to my self when I shall have an Opportunity to convince you by the Effects rather than by Words that I am SIR Your most affectionate Brother to serve you The
fully satisfy'd of my Affection to you and assure your self that I am SIR Your most Affectionate Brother RICHELIEU Paris Nov. 8 1624. LETTER VI. To *** SIR I Have receiv'd your Letters in answer to which have abundance of things to say to you and particularly about the Affair of the Valtoline but that I am satisfy'd that you have been already inform'd of them by the Marquis de Coeuvres who I suppose does not fail to write often to Monsieur de Bethune You 'll find the Articles of the Marriage with England are all agreed upon so that nothing is wanting now to put an End to this Affair but a Dispensation from his Holiness who without doubt will most readily grant it since the Condition are so advantageous to Religion So soon as 't is dispatched which I hope will be done with all convenient speed Madam will set forward for Great Britain where she is impatiently expected as we are inform'd by the Ambassadors of England Their Majesties are extremely well pleas'd with this Alliance and you 'll readily own that 't is not without good reason And now I passionately wish for an Opportunity to let you know with what Sincerity I am SIR Your most Affectionate c. RICHELIEU Paris Nov. 26 1624. LETTER VII To *** SIR IN answer to yours of the 19th of the last Month I can positively assure you that for the time to come the King will omit nothing that may be necessary to re-establish things in the Valtoline as they ought to be The Pope cannot take it amiss since 't is really for the benefit of Christendom and of the Holy Chair and indeed 't is not reasonable that the Spaniards shou'd press the See of St. Peter so nearly that his Successors may come to be incommoded by it The King's Council will vigorously second his Majesty's Inclinations upon all these Occasions In the effecting of this his Majesty has no intentions to disturb the Repose of Christendom but only to maintain his own Reputation I am satisfy'd you are of the same Opinion in this Matter with my self who am SIR Your most Affectionate Brother RICHELIEU Paris Dec. 19 1624. LETTER VIII To *** SIR THE King is extremely concern'd that he is not able to comply with all that the Sieur de Nardy demands in his Holiness's Name If the Spaniards were not a sort of People that wou'd certainly take Advantage of every thing the Requests of his Holiness have always such an Influence upon his Majesty that he wou'd freely grant them If the Pope were inclin'd to dispose of one part of France he might do it without controul but notwithstanding this Deference to his Holiness and the Affection which the King has for his Person his Majesty is oblig'd to manage himself with this caution in the Business of the Valtoline I will not take upon me here to acquaint you with what may and what may not be done referring my self as for that to Monsieur d' Herbault but this I will tell you that the King who for his part has no intentions to make War does not think himself oblig'd to a Cessation and that he pays so profound a regard to the Person of his Holiness that let this Matter be accommodated how it will it will be much more agreeable to him if 't is done before him and by him than if concluded in any other place or by any other means whatsoever The Advices you receiv'd about the Hugonots are but too true Those People instigated by the Devil or something as bad have already begun to shew their ill Inclinations having enter'd the Port of Blavet by Surprize and landed with some Peices of Canon with which they batter'd the Fort two Days and thought to carry it by Treachery or by putting the Garison in a Fright The King has already receiv'd the News that the whole Province march'd to their Relief upon which the Enemy got aboard their Vessels again to save themselves but took away two or three Ships of Monsieur de Nevers that were then in the Harbour These Attempts have been so far from hindering his Majesty's Designs that he has already got together six Thousand Men in Bretagne and six Thousand in Poictou and reinforc'd the Armies of Champagne and Picardy with twelve Thousand Men and two thousand Horse so that without any magnifying of Matters the King pays at this present time sixty Thousand Effective Men in his own Kingdom and six Thousand Horse I hope God will give a good issue to his Majesty's Affairs In the mean time I assure you that I am SIR Your most Affectionate c. RICHELIEU Paris Jan. 27 1625. LETTER IX To *** SIR LEt your Speculative People at Rome make what Reflexions they please upon the Enterprize of Monsieur de Soubize yet here we are in hopes that he will do us no great Mischief The King to render his Design ineffectual has equipp'd thirty Vessels of five hundred Tun each which will infallibly reduce him to his Duty Nor is this all for his Majesty to secure himself of those of the pretended Reform'd Religion who wou'd have been glad to see new troubles in his Kingdom and remove to those places where they look upon themselves to be the strongest has brought into the Field in Languedoc and Poictou six Thousand Foot and five Hundred Horse in each of those Provinces His Majesty has taken this Course to keep all quiet at home and at the same time continues to act abroad pursuant to his first Resolutions And altho' so many Affairs which he has upon his Hands at once engage him in an extraordinary Expence Nevertheless Heaven be prais'd he has found out a way to support them without incommoding himself having this Year provided above six Millions to answer all Emergencies This is what I had to communicate to you upon this Subject entreating you earnestly to believe that I am SIR Your most Affectionate Brother RICHELIEU Paris March 13 1625. LETTER X. To *** SIR THough I writ to you yesterday by F. Joseph and sent you Word that we were upon the Point of entering into a Conference with the Legate yet I thought fit to take Pen in Hand again to acquaint you that the King and his Ministers are intirely well satisfy'd with his Person As for what relates to his Proposals he demands that there be a Cessation of Arms that the Forts of the Valtoline be put into his Holiness's Hands and that the Valtolines be exempted from the Government and Jurisdiction of the Grisons all which his Majesty and Council have absolutely refused for several Reasons some of which you your self have often laid down in your Letters and the rest you may find in the Letter which his Majesty has writ to Monsieur de Bethune All that I have to tell you upon this Subject is that the Negotiation is spun out so long that I am afraid it will not have that Effect which it were to be wish'd it might
have for the Good of Christendom If the Legate makes any other Overtures that may be embrac'd without hurting the Reputation and Interests of his Majesty both he and those that have the Honour to be of his Council will be extremely glad to give all imaginable content to his Holiness and him I am SIR Your most Affectionate Brother RICHELIEU Fountainbleau June 21 1625. LETTER XI To the King upon his Promotion to the Dignity of Cardinal 1622. Out of Monsieur du Puy's Cabinet MS. 569. SIR AS God showers down his Blessings upon his Creatures not to receive any thing from them since of himself he possesses all but only to render them more happy and more capable to accomplish his Will so your Majesty who is a lively Image of the Divinity will not think it strange if in thanking you for the Honour to which your Goodness has rais'd me I can do nothing else but profess an entire and religious Obedience to your Commands and assure you that I wou'd rather choose not to live at all than fail to employ my Life and Dignity which I owe to your Majesty's Bounty as I do every thing I possess perpetually in your Service I beg of Heaven that it will permit me to be so happy in this Design that my Actions may signalize me much more than the Purple with which you have been pleas'd to Honour me Then SIR and not till then the Satisfaction I begin now to receive will become perfect for the only Passion I have in the World is by all imaginable Demonstrations to convince you that I am SIR Your Majesty's most humble most obliged and most obedient Subject and Servant RICHELIEU Lyons Sept. 23 1622. LETTER XII To the King SIR I Am sensible that as a Subject cannot without a Crime become troublesome to his Prince by making importunate Demands so he ought not to refuse the Effects of his Liberality Tho' I have hitherto preserved my self from the first of these Inconveniences yet to my great regret I find my self constrain'd to fall into the latter humbly imploring your Majesty not to be offended that I cannot accept of the two Abbies which you have been pleas'd to bestow upon me If I presum'd to make this Supplication without Cause I confess it wou'd be very criminal but since 't is grounded upon Reason I 'm persuaded you 'll approve of it Your Majesty knows that both these places are become vacant by the Death of the Grand Prior. Now as I was a Member of your Council when the Interests of your State oblig'd you to cause his Person to be apprehended I shou'd act directly contrary to my Conscience if I shou'd raise to my self any Advantage by his Misfortune or share in his Spoils I have already receiv'd several Marks of your Majesty's Bounty and since you have upon this occasion declar'd your Inclinations of conferring others upon me I can assure you that I will never be so ill advis'd as to refuse them if your Service does not oblige me to the contrary as my own Sentiments do in this matter I conjure you SIR to accept of these Considerations and to rest satisfy'd that the only Interests I will cultivate during the whole Course of my Life shall be yours and the Honour that may be acquir'd by serving so great a Prince I am SIR Your Majesty's most humble most oblig'd and most obedient Subject and Servant RICHELIEU Siran Feb. 15 1629. LETTER XIII To the Queen upon the taking of Privas MADAM THat your Majesty might be fully inform'd of all the remarkable Occurrences that happen here I have dispatch'd this Bearer to you with all speed to acquaint you that five or six hundred Men who had retir'd into the Fort of Thoulon having surrender'd themselves at Discretion to his Majesty the King was resolv'd to have part of them hang'd another sent to the Gallies and the least guilty among them to be pardon'd But so it fell out that as the Guards were entring the above-mention'd Fort to prevent any Disorder some Hugonots more desperate than their Fellows and among the rest one Chambelan of Privas who had as long as he was able oppos'd their Surrendring at Discretion by representing to them That such People were generally hang'd for their pains and that it was better to die by Fire than by a Halter I 'll immediately said he having a Match in his Hand set Fire to the Powder And had no sooner said so but was as good as his Word The Fire destroy'd some of them and others in the Fright threw themselves from the Bastion on which they stood clearly out of the Fort which was encompassed with the whole Army for we were forc'd to block up the place before they wou'd surrender But the Soldiers imagining that they had blown up the Guards who it seems were upon a high Platform above this Bastion fell so outrageously upon these poor Men that leapt down that they kill'd above two hundred of them and that with such Fury and Disorder that several of the Army were slain there and some principal Officers had much ado to save themselves Dr. Mullot fancied he shou'd have been dispatch'd thither as a Minister but at present is more vexed at the Quality that has been given him than at the Danger he underwent It looks as if it were a particular Judgment of God upon this City which has been always the Seat of Heresie in these Quarters At first it was not resolv'd to abandon it to Pillage but at Night its Fate was decreed so the Gates were left open for the Soldiers to march in and plunder it All Endeavours were us'd to save it from being burnt but in vain for not one House is left standing in the Town but all bury'd in Ashes Nothing was omitted that might serve to preserve those that were retir'd into the Fort of Toulon from the Fury of the Soldiers but they were constrain'd to expose themselves to it leaping down from their Fortifications and giving the Soldiers an occasion to exercise their Rage upon them with Fire with which some desperate Fellows among them thought to have burnt themselves with the King's People Heaven was so kind to me that I did not behold this cruel Scene for the small Fatigue I had undergone for about seven or eight Days during the Siege constrain'd me to keep my Bed that very Day on which these Wretches were us'd in this manner This involuntary Rigour which befel this City and the Clemency that his Majesty has shew'd towards those places that surrendred freely will convince the rest how much they are oblig'd in Interest to make their Peace in time and not stay till they are constrain'd to return to their Duty And indeed in these Parts four or five small Cities but well fortify'd have already surrendred viz. Bastide Vagnac la Tour de Salvas and Baulines Chabrille is to wait upon the King to Morrow and yield up to him all the small Castles of
Boussiers and the Baulines which were look'd upon to be the strongest of the said Places On the Tenth Day after the Trenches were open Privas was taken altho' the Fortifications of that Town were exceeding strong 'T is impossible to relate the several Cruelties which these Rebels have us'd towards the Catholicks Among others after the Siege was begun they took the Guardian of the Capuchins of Valence a Man of an excellent Life and singular Learning and they treated him in so barbarous a manner that they wou'd not kill him outright till they had first cut off his Nose and pluck'd out his Eyes St. André and Ten or Twelve of the principal Leaders are taken Prisoners Several are in the Hands of some Gentlemen of the Army who will endeavour to save them for the great Summs of Money they offer for their Lives Others have made their Escapes And this Madam is an account of what has happen'd to Privas The King will not part these two or three Days from hence because he is oblig'd to stay till the Artilery comes up which cannot be done so speedily in such an unpassable Country as this is So soon as he has resolv'd upon the Place where he is to go next your Majesty shall with all Expedition be inform'd of it In the mean time I beg you 'll do me the Honour to believe that no Man in the World is or can be with more Sincerity than I am MADAM Your most humble most obedient most faithful and most obliged Servant RICHELIEU Privas May 13 1629. LETTER XIV To Monsieur Ville aux-Clers SIR I Send you these few Lines to tell you 't is the King's pleasure that you shou'd dispatch a Courier to the Mareschal d' Estreé with a Letter from his Majesty bearing Order for him to make no difficulty to march the Troops that are in Compeigne pursuant to what Instructions he will receive from Monsieur de Saint-Chaumont to whom the King has communicated his Intentions upon this Subject In the mean time I remain SIR Your most Affectionate c. RICHELIEU Leuville June 2 1631. LETTER XV. To the Duke of Hallwin SIR ALtho' I writ to you two or three Days ago yet I take occasion to send you these few Lines to inform you that Orders are dispatch'd to Monsieur le Camus to cause such Fortifications to be made at Narbonne and Leucate as you and he shall judge necessary to put both those places in a good Posture of Defence There are likewise Commissions sent down to you to raise four Regiments and three Troops of Light-Horse in case you think there will be occasion for so many The manner of doing it is wholly left to your own Discretion being impower'd to act according as you see the Necessity and Service of the King shall require it Besides that his Majesty's Interest demands it of me be assur'd that I shall take as much care of your Concerns as you your-self can desire from any one who is truly as I am SIR Your most Affectionate Servant RICHELIEU Royaumont March 16 1635. LETTER XVI To the Mareschal de Chastillon SIR I Cannot sufficiently express to you how entirely his Majesty is satisfy'd with your manner of Commanding his Army The greatest Pleasure you can do him is to keep it as compleat and in as good Order as possibly you can I am extremely well pleas'd that Monsieur de Brezê is pitch'd upon to serve the King in conjunction with you knowing that he will honour you and live after such a manner with you that it will be to your mutual Satisfaction As for my self I shall be very proud to have an opportunity to convince you that I am SIR Your most Affectionate Servant RICHELIEU Ruel April 11 1635. LETTER XVII To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord ALtho' 't is a needless Precaution to put you in Mind of being upon your Guard at Metz knowing you will take all the care that can be desired yet I thought my self obliged to inform you that we have received Advice that the King's Enemies have a Design upon that place I 'm persuaded you 'll give such effectual Orders where you are that you 'll let them find no opportunity to put what they threaten in execution His Majesty is very well God be praised and Monsieur came this Day to see him We have no News here that is worth the while to send to you So that nothing remains for me but to assure you of the Continuance of my Affection and Love to you and that I am My Lord Your most Humble and most Affectionate Servant RICHELIEU Ruel April 12 1635. LETTER XVIII To the same My Lord COlonel Hebron will particularly inform you of the Affection I have now and will still preserve for your Lordship which is so great that neither Absence nor Time shall ever cause the least Alteration in it At present I shall only conjure you to repair your Fortifications with all possible Expedition and so soon as they are in such a Condition that your Presence will be less necessary where you are than it is at present I am of opinion it will be highly expedient for you to visit the Mareschal de la Force's Army where without question it will be very advantageous After which I hope we shall be so happy as to see you shortly in your Frontier In the mean time assure your self I beseech you that no Man can be more than I am My Lord Your c. RICHELIEU Compeigne April 29 1635. I earnestly beg of you before your Departure to the Army to leave such good Orders behind you that there may be no danger of a Surprize LETTER XIX To the Duke of Hallwin SIR I Have receiv'd your Letter together with a Memorial of what things you judge to be necessary at Narbonne In answer to which finding by your Account that there are no more than fourscore thousand weight of Powder in that Place of which there are eight thousand weight spoil'd and that there are sixty thousand in Tolouse fit for use I judge it expedient for you to take one half of that and get it carried thither as soon as possible Monsieur d' Arpajon has likewise sent me Word that there are not above six or seven hundred Bullets so you 'll find it expedient to cause to be cast in the neighbouring Places so many as may make 'em up six thousand of all the Sizes of the Pieces there As for your Provisions if there is the least Appearance that the City will be besieg'd in such a case you must seize all the Cattle that are in the Country that you may have Victuals sufficient Above all 't is necessary that you shou'd have fifty thousand weight of Powder thirty or forty thousand weight of Lead fifty thousand of Match six thousand Bullets Corn sufficient for a Year and if besides all this any thing more be wanting 't is generally to be found in such Cities as that which are
yet I thought my self oblig'd to communicate this good News to you knowing what an extraordinary Joy it will give you as well for the Reputation that his Majesty as for the Glory that your Friends have acquir'd by it Above five thousand of the Enemy fell upon the place fifteen hundred were wounded and thirteen hundred taken Prisoners among whom is the Count de la Feire Governour of the Citadel of Antwerpe and Lieutenant-General of the Army Don Alonce Ladron Mestre de Camp of a Spanish Regiment Sfondrate Mestre de Camp of an Italian Regiment the Count de Willerval and several others of Quality with a great number of Officers They have lost sixteen Pieces of Cannon which is all they had and all their Baggage which is so much the more considerable because as 't is said there were two Waggons full of Money fifty or sixty Colours or Flags There goes a flying Report that Prince Thomas is slain and the Count d Bucquoy wounded in this Action but this wants a farther Confirmation The King has not lost above fifty Men in this Action among whom there is but one Captain and some other Officers and an hundred and fifty wounded which renders this Victory the more compleat The Army of the Enemies was compos'd of sixscore and ten Regiments of Foot and fifty Troops of Horse that were the best they had This is all I had to communicate to you in this Letter referring my self for the rest to the Abbot of Coursan who will assure you that his Majesty is in good Health and that I am with all imaginable sincerity My Lord Your most Humble c. RICHELIEU Condé June 2 1635. I have perused what you sent me concerning la Coudargis and Valin whom I shall remember Pray remember me to Monsieur de Turenne and assure him of my hearty Affection to him When you come into these Parts we will consider of the best Methods how to serve him You may if you please acquaint the Gentleman who married the Lady of Montpellier that I am extremely well satisfy'd with his Deportment upon the Occasion you writ to me about No Body has spoken a Word to the King to his Disadvantage as I find by your Letter he seem'd to apprehend Addition My Lord I Add these few Lines to the Letter I writ to you this Morning to tell you that being inform'd from good Hands that you frequently do things which your Quality and Condition ought by no means to permit You must excuse me if I conjure you to remember that a Person in your Station may very well discharge the part of a General without running the hazard of a private Musqueteer Once more therefore I beg of you to be determin'd in this Affair by the best of your Friends and most faithful of your Servants The Cardinal of Richelieu LETTER XXV To the Duke of Hallwin SIR FInding by several of your Dispatches how desirous you are to fight the King's Enemies in your Frontier I take this Occasion to acquaint you that his Majesty is not displeased at your Proposal provided you don 't engage his Arms and Reputation unadvisedly and that you attempt nothing the Success whereof is not only certain but wholly advantageous to the Prosperity of his Affairs For I don't think it by any means adviseable for you to take the Towns Villages and other unfortify'd places that lie near you since besides that 't is impossible to keep them such a Procedure wou'd oblige the Enemies to retaliate the same upon us and so fatigue our Troops that in case any important Action shou'd happen we shou'd certainly come by the worst of it If I were not well acquainted with your Prudence and Judgment I shou'd write a great deal more to you upon this Subject but that were to call both of 'em into question since I am satisfy'd no Man knows better than your self what may be useful or disadvantageous to his Majesty's Service in the Quarters where now you are In a Word Sir if you find your self in a Condition to take any place of importance I wou'd advise you to attempt it but unless you have some notable Advantage in prospect I think it will be your best way not to begin a War in your parts from which you may receive as much good as harm Monsieur de la Urilliere has sent you so particular an Account of every thing that has happen'd here that nothing remains for me to say but to assure you of the continuance of my Affection to you and that I am and ever will be SIR Your most Affectionate Servant RICHELIEU Ruel June 4. 1635. LETTER XXVI To the Mareschal de Châtillon SIR LOng before I receiv'd your Letter wherein you give me an account of the Battel between our and the Spanish Army I had rejoyc'd with you and Monsieur de Brezé for the Victory which God was pleas'd to give his Majesty upon this Occasion not only for the Glory and Reputation which France will derive from this good Success but likewise for the Honour you have hereby acquir'd the increase of which I no less passionately desire than your self can do It lies in your Power still to draw the best Advantages from so glorious a Victory but you need not be reminded of doing that for I doubt not but that every thing will be perform'd which your Prince may expect from your Prudence from your Affection and good Conduct One of the most effectual means in my Opinion to bring this about to the advantage of his Majesty's Affairs will be for Monsieur de Brezé and you to live in so perfect an Union and Intelligence that nothing may be ever able to alter it Besides the Service of the King who requires you to keep a good understanding among your selves you will also answer my Prayers who desire the same of you and indeed 't is so visibly the Interest of you both to live after this manner that I am satisfy'd neither of you will omit any thing that may contribute to so good an End I have writ to the Sieur de Brezé upon this Subject and am mightily mistaken if he will not do every thing on his side that can be expected from him Once more I conjure you and Monsieur de Brezé to live together in the best Understanding that may be because otherwise his Majesty's Affairs will receive a considerable Prejudice by it By some of the Enemy's Letters which we intercepted we find they don't a little depend upon the Division that as they pretend has hitherto appear'd between you and that they flatter themselves with hopes of reaping great Advantages by your not agreeing They likewise make mention that you and Monsieur de Brezé have refus'd to take Orders from the Prince of Orange which I cannot believe since 't is one of the Articles agreed upon in our Treaty Pray send me an Account of this and of all memorable Passages that happen in your Parts and be
with Fellows that have neither Wit nor Courage as it has been the way hitherto I look upon this last Expedient to be better than the first I desire you to make an Experiment of it speedily before the return of this Bearer whom we have on purpose dispatch'd to you and to send us word by him what you have done As for the Cavalry 't is his Majesty's Intention that the Troops of Bouquinville Sancourt Choisy and Bussy-de-Veyre shou'd continue broken except those that are desirous to mount again and enter into Pay You may acquaint them with it that if they keep to this Resolution they may have time enough to prepare themselves I have already conjur'd you to send me a Copy of the Judgments you have passed against the Deserters of your Army I beg the favour once more of you to do it since 't is of the last importance to the King's Service to make Examples of such People His Majesty has granted to the Officers of the Companies of Light-Horse the Confiscation of those that have abandon'd them without leave This will certainly oblige them to take more care for the future to see them punish'd and cause those Sentences to be executed that are passed against them I don't find there 's any great probability of keeping on foot under the Title of a Regiment that of Orelio about which you writ to me it being reduc'd to an hundred or sixscore Men at the most All that can be done in my Opinion is to reduce it to a free Independant-Company where all the Soldiers that are left may be conveniently dispos'd of Nor is there any more likelyhood that the Troops of Saint-Remy will be kept up under the Name of a Regiment since I can't see how 't is possible for them to get again into Liege The best thing that can be done for them will be to reduce them to a Company of Light-Horse under the same Pay with the rest of the Army I conjure you to dispatch without delay the Officers that are nam'd by each Body of your Army to gather Recruits to come and receive their Money at Paris and that afterwards they go about that Affair with all possible Expedition because they have no time now to lose In the mean while be assured that I am and will be for ever My Lord Your c. Ruel Jan. 1 1636. LETTER XLII To the same My Lord I Writ to you some seven or eight Days ago to acquaint you how mightily the King was pleas'd at the Offer you made his Majeffy to attempt by your self the Relief of some places in Alsatia but now I take Pen in Hand to express my satisfaction to you that you are like to meet with fewer Difficulties there than I durst have hoped for as you will be more particularly inform'd by the Dispatch that Monsieur Servien has sent to you upon this Subject I shall not trouble my self to give you an account of the late Advantage which Monsieur de Manicamp has had over the Enemy's Troops that were posted about Colmar not doubting but that you heard of it before we did here I will only tell you that he writ to the King to acquaint him that we may without running the least hazard relieve Colmar and the other Garrisons in those Parts with a much lesser number of Forces than you make account to take along with you I rely so much upon your Prudence and good Conduct that I don't question in the least but that you 'll happily accomplish this Design which is of so much importance to his Majesty's Affairs and will give that Reputation and Honour to your self as the most zealous of your Friends can wish for you and particularly My Lord Your c. Ruel Jan. 1 1636. LETTER XLIII To the same My Lord I Here send you the Letter which the Mareschal de la Force receiv'd from Monsieur de Manicamp wherein you 'll see how easie a Matter he represents it to effect the Relief of Colmar As this will give you greater Encouragement to undertake it so it will hinder me from saying any more to you upon this Subject but not from assuring you of the continuance of my Service and Affection to you being with all sincerity My Lord Your c. Reul Jan. 9 1663. LETTER XLIV To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord I Have not till now delay'd the doing of what I judged necessary to be done for the King's Service and your own Satisfaction in relation to the Brief which the Pope has written to you We have made great Complaints of it to the Nuncio's the Cardinal of Lyons and the Ambassadors have spoke of it with great Resentments to the Pope and his Nephews not omitting any of those Reasons and Examples that use to be cited on such Occasions Just now I come from talking about it with Monsieur Mazarini who tells me that the Answer they receiv'd from Rome to the Letter they sent thither from the part of the King was that the Pope cou'd do no less But however that the Business shou'd go no farther Whatever touches you will affect me more sensibly than even your self This I beseech you to believe and that I am in all reality My Lord Your c. Paris Jan. 10 1636. LETTER XLV To the Duke of Hallwin SIR I Have read over the Letters and Memoirs which you sent me from time to time In answer to which I will tell you that you have not sent me word what it is you principally desire to do For which reason I beg of you to undertake nothing till you have first of all conferr'd with the Sieur d' Argencourt about it so that he may judge in his turn whether what you propose be practicable or no. But above all take special care that as you have possessed and fortify'd the principal Passes by which the Enemy can march to you you don't let them come and attack you in others which you have not provided for by which means they may force you to act on the defensive As I promise my self no less from your Prudence than from your Courage I am confident you will hazard nothing but where you have a very fair prospect of succeeding For as in this case a Diversion wou'd be very useful to us if the Enemy attacked us powerfully in Languedoc so otherwise it wou'd exceedingly prejudice his Majesty's Affairs I will expect some News from you on this Head with great Impatience In the Interim possess your self with an Assurance that I am and always will be Sir Your c. Ruel Jan. 22 1636. LETTER XLVI To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord J Need not tell how extremely satisfy'd the King was at your putting Provisions into the Towns of Alsatia and what happen'd thereupon nor how agreeable the News was to my self in particular because you may easily imagine both one and the other as well by the Advantage his Majesty's Affairs have receiv'd by it as by the
of defence We know the reasons that the Governour will alledge in his own Justification but he has utterly forfeited the Expectation which the World had conceiv'd of him As this is but a very small place and of little importance the loss of it is not considerable Therefore let not this Matter give you any Pain at all for I can assure you that the Forces we have in these parts are more than sufficient not only to hinder our Enemies from doing us any mischief but likewise to take our Revenge upon them if a fit Opportunity presents it self The King will not change his Designs of making the Army of the Franche-Comté act in these Quarters but not yours or that of the Duke of Weymar pursuant to the first Resolutions that were taken in these Matters Only perhaps a thousand Horse may be order'd to come from the Army in Burgundy into Picardy as soon as Dole is taken that we may be in a better condition to oppose the Enemy whose greatest Efforts seems to be upon the Frontiers of Picardy I cannot conclude this Letter without testifying to you once more my great regret for Monsieur Hebron I am likewise sorry to hear that Monsieur de Turenne is wounded Pray assure him of the continuance of my Affection and as for your own particular rest satisfy'd that no Man esteems you more or is more really than my self My Lord Your c. Charonne July 20 1636. LETTER LIV. To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord I Have receiv'd your Letter which you were pleased to write to me upon the occasion of the taking of Saverne and have consider'd the Contents of it We shou'd be willing to put that place into the Hands of the Duke of Weymar to testifie the great Confidence we repose in him But certain it is that the Catholicks wou'd lay hold of such an Opportunity to raise great Clamours against us this place being the Seat of the Bishop of Strasburg whither the Catholicks have retir'd The Nuncio has already inquired very particularly how we design to dispose of it and his Holiness whom the Spaniards perpetually instigate against France as you know well enough wou'd carry himself wholly against us upon this occasion Pray give the Duke of Weymar to understand so much and to convince him how much we relie upon his Integrity and that no other reason in the World shou'd hinder the King from delivering the place up to him his Majesty is content if he desires it that you shou'd restore the Castle of Aubar to him and if he takes any other place in Alsatia or upon the Sarre which he thinks worthy of Consideration the King is well satisfy'd that it shou'd be consign'd over to him This My Lord is all that we have to say upon this Subject his Majesty referring the rest to your Prudence As for the rest when ever the Duke of Weymar thinks fit to make any stay in Alsatia the King is well enough content it shou'd be at Saverne provided he likes the place and will give Orders to those that he puts into the place to receive him with as much Honour and Deference as if the aforesaid place were absolutely in his Hands You must remember to chuse a Governour for it of a different Temper from the Wretch that had it last that if it happens to be attack'd he may follow the Example of those that defended and acquired it with so great Trouble and Expence since poor Colonel Hebron died there It belongs to your Discretion to consider whether you cannot re-inforce the Grand Provost with some Troops in Lorrain to make opposition against the Enemy that is there which is conformable to a Design I have seen in a Letter of the Duke of Weymar by approaching near the Sarre To conclude the King gives you full power to attempt whatever you shall judge worth the while As it is of the last importance that Saverne be fortify'd strongly I am persuaded you will take particular care about it When you were here I often heard you discoursing of how great Consequence it wou'd be if you cou'd get good advanced Quarters this next Winter inconvenient to the Enemy and advantageous for your selves It will concern you in point of Prudence to consider of this in good time As far as we are able to judge of the Designs of Spain particularly by a Dispatch of a fresh Date that was surprized by Monsieur de Grammont their intention is to induce Galasse and the King of Hungary to make an Effort to enter France in August It concerns you and the Duke of Weymar to oppose this Attempt and frustrate the Execution of it If you cou'd possibly disengage your self from putting the Castle of Aubar into the hands of the Hugonots it wou'd be much better for us Besides I don't look upon it to be in the least necessary to the Duke of Weymar since Saverne is already comprehended in Alsatia which the King has quitted to him pursuant to the Articles of the Treaty between them and that in consideration of this his Majesty will command the Person whom you shall establish in it to acknowledge him as much as he can desire You are Master of so much Address that I am confident you can bring over the Duke to any Terms that you judge most advantageous for the King's Service for which reason I shall speak to you no more upon this Head assuring you that I am and always will be My Lord Your c. Chaliot July 23 1636. LETTER LV. To the Pope Out of Monsieur du Puy's Cabinet MS. 363. Most Holy Father I Don't address these Lines to you as being Privy-Counseller to the greatest of all those Princes that have the happiness to be under the Conduct of your Holiness but as a Cardinal of the Holy See zealous for the Interests of the Church and for every thing that concerns the Person and House of Beatitude Now what happen'd lately in relation to the Mareschal d'Estreés being of such a nature that it may draw very ill Consequences along with it I shou'd plainly be wanting to my Duty if I did not make my humble Supplications to you to employ your Prudence upon this Occasion As the Mareschal has done nothing but what the King commanded him to do if any of his Actions have been disagreeable to your Holiness you ought to complain of his Majesty and not of him However I persuade my self that your Goodness and Justice will induce you to acknowledge that it never was the intention of that great Prince to displease you in whatever has happen'd but rather to serve you and hinder those who formerly have executed their Designs against the Holy See from putting themselves in such a condition during his Reign as to give the World any just Apprehensions of their playing the same Game over again Your Holiness about two Years ago sent a Nuncio Extraordinary to France upon an occasion as contrary to the Interests
of his Majesty as it was favourable to the Spaniards and recall'd him when that Court gave publick Signs that his Person was disagreeable to them and apprehended that he dealt for a Peace against their Intention Now if it should so fall out that your Holiness shou'd persist to oppose the Employ of the Mareschal d'Estreés in whose Person are to be found abundance of Qualities contrary to what the Enemies of this Crown may desire there is no Person but wou'd believe altho' erroneously that Spain by her Artifices had insensibly carry'd your Holiness to what she most of all desir'd As for my self this Thought never found any room in my Breast but it concerns your Holiness in the highest degree to prevent it from taking any footing in the Minds of other People who perhaps will conclude there is something in it if you shou'd continue to treat the King upon this occasion otherwise than you do other Princes that have Ambassadors at your Court I hope your Holiness will be pleased to make a difference between those that honour you with a cordial and everlasting Reverence and those that only give you a few exteriour Marks of it when their Affairs require such a Conduct The known Piety of the King naturally leads your Holiness to this Procedure his Person demands it of you the present Juncture seems to oblige your Beatitude to it since nothing can prove so directly contrary to a Peace as to show a disrespect to him who of all other Kings most earnestly desires a strict Union with you As it is an easie matter so it will likewise be a glorious one to your Holiness to preserve that absolute Power which you have in the Affection of this great Prince and I dare engage to you that the Mareschal d'Estrées for his part will endeavour nothing more zealously than to serve you and advance the Interests of your whole Family that by doing so he may render himself serviceable to his Master If it happens otherwise I freely consent that your Holiness shou'd lay all the blame upon my self who shou'd take it for a new Obligation if you wou'd condescend to think upon this most humble Supplication of mine and not barely consider it as such but as it concurs with his Majesty's Prayers which have no other End but what may be of most advantage to your Holiness and all your Family This I most humbly conjure your Holiness to believe as likewise that I shall always be Your Holiness's most c. July 25 1636. LETTER LVI To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord YOU will particularly know by the Dispatch of Monsieur de Noyers what condition we are in at present and what the Enemy has been doing ever since they have approach'd towards the Frontier of Picardy The King daily strengthens himself with new Forces as much as he can that he may be in a capacity to beat them back into their own Territory His Majesty makes account so soon as Dole is taken which News we expect every hour with the greatest impatience to order two thousand Horse of Monsieur the Prince's Army to march and joyn that of Picardy where there are not above five thousand leaving the rest of the above-mention'd Army either to tarry still in the Franche-Comté and make Head against the Enemy if they offer to come there or else to march into Lorrain according as he shall find it most expedient for his Affairs As for what relates to your self My Lord the King leaves you wholly at your own liberty to act as you shall judge most advantageous to his Designs and does not prescribe you any Method to follow but trusts intirely to your Prudence and your Conduct to manage your self as the Motion of the Enemy and any emergent Occasions make it proper for you In the mean time I beseech you to believe that I can have no opportunity of serving you presented to me which I shall not embrace with the greatest eagerness that I may convince you every day more and more of the esteem I have for your Person and of the Affection wherewith I am and ever shall be My Lord Your c. Challiot Aug. 4 1636. LETTER LVII To the same My Lord YOU will soon imagine that the War goes but ill on our side in these parts since I have resolv'd at at last to go thither in Person with all the Pains and Illnesses to which you know me so subject The Cowardice of three Raskals that made no defence for the Garrisons they were intrusted with has so perplex'd our Affairs for the present that I am necessitated to make this Journey You never heard of such perfidious Villains soon after away they sled like Traytors as they were We have drawn them asunder between four Horses in Effigie with all the reproachful Marks of Ignominy that con'd possibly be thought of and their Persons will be treated after the same manner where-ever we happen to find them We shall have by the Sixth of the next Month above ten thousand Horse and twenty five thousand Foot With these Forces we shall march streight towards the Enemy On one side we have Monsieur of Lorrain to sear who designs to make a Descent upon us by the way of Burgundy with his own Troops and those that were quarter'd in the Franche-Comté and as I imagine Galasse who might very well have pass'd the Rhine to re-pass it at Brisac and so marched to joyn him This My Lord is the Province which we leave to be manag'd by your self and the Duke of Weymar in conjunction We have left a thousand Horse and three thousand Foot with Monsieur the Prince Besides these he may still raise three thousand Men and five hundred Horse with which he will be able to oppose the Enemy on one side while you will powerfully make Head against him on the other For this effect it will be wholly necessary for you to direct your Course towards Espagnol or Mircourt that you may afterwards take such a way as the marching of the Enemy will oblige you to observe As soon as you draw near to the Prince's Army care shall be taken to prevent all manner of Competition by sending down an Order to him to go to some other place and to leave his Troops with you I know very well that 't is impossible to propose a more mortifying Condition to you than to send you to the place where the obove-mention'd Person has any power But it cannot be avoided the necessity of our Affairs obliging us to follow this Conduct You are the only Man that together with the Duke of Weymar are able to regulate Matters in those Parts Although our Affairs on this side are in a very scurvy condition yet I hope we shall be able to retrieve them so soon as our Troops are got together Although the Spaniards quitted all other Designs to make their utmost Efforts in Picardy yet if they had not met with such treacherous Villains I
believe they wou'd have had no mighty Matters to boast of 'T is my Request to you to march towards Burgundy with all the speed you can that this Consternation may produce no ill Effects on that side which will not happen when they see you have Forces there able to oppose the Designs of the Enemy The Prince has already had the Orders sent to him which his Majesty wou'd have observ'd among the different Armies when they joyn which is that every General shall command his own Troops I am apt to think that the sooner you can advance on this side it will be so much the better for I make no question but Galasse will endeavour to pass the River at Brisac to joyn the Duke of Lorrain and 't is of great importance that you shou'd arrive there before him The Enemies have possess'd themselves of the Village of Verdun upon the Doux which is not fortify'd but 't is a Pass of some consequence Assure your self My Lord that I am and will be so long as I live without the least alteration My Lord Your c. Paris Aug. 23 1636. LETTER LVIII To the same My Lord I Want Words to express my Dissatisfaction at the ill Conduct of the Marquiss de Sourdis He cannot excuse himself upon the want of Directions for he has been written to often enough If we knew any Man at present fit to be put into his place we shou'd take care to have him sent for home immediately As for the Gentlemen of the Parliament of Metz you will assuredly receive all the Satisfaction you can desire But I desire you to have a little patience till the present Tempest be over After the rate things go now one wou'd imagine that a Blessing attended those that rail'd at the Government I hope that within two Months it will not be so and then the Parliament of Metz shall be chang'd as you desire it We do all that we can to re-inforce you with some Foot This very Day we order'd the Regiment of Ronciere to march which in my opinion will make a very fine one Verderonne is by this time got pretty forward and so is Decauts The Regiment that Monsieur Vignier is a raising will be complete in seven or eight Days Vaubecourt has sent us word that he will furnish us with four thousand Men but knowing the Man as you and I do I shou'd be very glad if he brought us but one half of them Let the worst come I take it for granted that he and Monsieur Vignier will bring three thousand effective Men and Verderonne Ronciere and Decauts two thousand five hundred besides the Forces that the Baron de Chapelaine and one Anfonville intend to raise to put into Chaumont As for the Horse we expect them from those places where the Count de Guiche told you 'T is with a great deal of reason you say that we want a German in the place of the late Monsieur Hebron If you cou'd so contrive matters as to manage any one of those whom you propos'd you wou'd very much oblige us In the mean time we will write about it Since I writ this it came into my Head that the Great Provost will be a very proper Man at Nancy Send me word what you think of it and whether you approve of him If 't is so after I have receiv'd your Letter I will act accordingly and let you see upon all occasions that whatever concerns you touches me more sensibly than even my own proper Interests Let me conjure you to believe that I am most sincerely My Lord Your c. Abbey de la Victoire Sept. 13 1636. LETTER LIX To the same My Lord THE Sieur Talon your Secretary has receiv'd Satisfaction as he will inform you himself as to the business of the Fund for Corn. In every thing else that lies in my power you shall find the like care taken to give you all imaginable content The King has given the Scotch Regiment to the Baron Hebron which your Letter did not a little promote The Prince has sent us some Letters which were written very much in your favour I suppose that by this time his Troops and those of Vaubécourt have joyn'd you and that by this means you will be in a condition to oppose the designs of Galasse Upon my word I depend more upon your and the Duke of Weymar's Conduct although you have but indifferent Forces than upon all the great Armies which we have on this side which in truth exceed thirty five thousand Foot and twelve thousand Horse in number The Enemy retires too fast for us We cou'd wish they wou'd be so civil as to stay till we cou'd come up to them Their Army does not in reality consist of above eighteen thousand as well Foot as Horse Monsieur has passed the River at Peronne with twenty five thousand Men and ten thousand Horse The King marches this way towards Corbie with ten thousand Men and two thousand Horse Corbie at this very Moment is reduc'd to great necessity Those that are in the place are forc'd to eat boil'd Corn as they did at the Siege of Paris They have Corn in abundance but their Mills that were lately burnt by the Sieur de Beau-fort failing them they give seven Bushels of Corn for a Bushel and a half of Meal They have in a manner no Wine among them and to compleat their Misery the Plague and Bloody-Flux rage violently in the place I am very glad that you have taken Chevillon You did very well in giving him leave to write You must look after him carefully and treat him gently in order to make good use of him in time and place as occasion shall require There is no good to be hoped from the Master of the aforesaid Chevillon unless meer Necessity constrains him to it and it pleases God to give us some Advantage over our Enemies If the People of the Franche-Comté wou'd come again into the Neutrality the King wou'd do the same very willingly You and the Prince may negotiate this Affair according as you find it convenient if you see any tendency towards it We can return no answer to Monsieur de Frangipane because we cannot listen to any Treaty of a Peace but in conjunction with the rest of our Allies at Colen which is the place appointed for all We have paid two hundred thousand Crowns to the Duke of Weymar They send me word that within three Days there will be nothing due to him You remember what I writ to you concerning the Marquis de Sourdis and the Affair of the Parliament of Metz. Both one and t'other shall most assuredly be done Send me word with all expedition whether you judge the Great Provost to be a proper Man for Nancy In case you do his Commission shall be speedily dispatch'd to him But you must be sure to keep the Affair secret that he may be actually in the place before they mistrust any thing
the Messenger that was gone to arrest him arriv'd at Ham. This Article being confirm'd by the information of the Post-Masters and Postilions that directed the aforesaid Courrier of Monsieur de Saint-Simon and of the Innkeepers where he lodg'd his Majesty resolv'd to judge this Matter at the Tryal of the Sieur de Saint-Leger who was condemn'd to be drawn in Pieces by four Horses the Cardinal de Richelieu represented to his Majesty that it wou'd be much better to let it alone because it wou'd be too great an Affliction to Monsieur le Premier After which the aforesaid Sieur le Premier testifying a great Sorrow and Repentance for this Action the King out of his own Goodness advis'd him to go into the Army After he had been there fifteen Days he waited on his Majesty at Roye and upon some Reports running abroad that the Spaniards design'd to make a Descent upon Guienne begg'd leave of him to go to Blaye When he was gone thither his Majesty considering his disaffection to his Affairs to which he had preferr'd the Interest of a Man who had committed an inexcusable Action sent him Word to continue there and gave his Relations to understand that it was his pleasure they shou'd tarry at their respective Houses and not come to Court LETTER LXIII To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord IF the News you sent me of the Retreat of Galasse and the Victory which the King's Arms have obtain'd over him gave me so great a Satisfaction I am apt to flatter my self that the surrendry of Corbie which this Gentleman brings with him will prove no less agreeable to you since I know how overjoy'd you are at every advantage which God is pleas'd to bestow upon his Majesty's Affairs The Enemy is to march out of the Place to Morrow according to the Capitulation agreed upon for the performance of which they have given us by way of Hostages three of the principal Officers of the Garrison without demanding any from us The extraordinary incommodities they suffer'd by the Plague and other Distempers and by the want of all sorts of Victuals besides Corn joyn'd to the great Fatigues they were constrain'd to undergo to resist four vigorous Attacks oblig'd them to surrender before they were brought to the last Extremities This happy Action and the retreat of Galasse will I suppose hinder the Enemies of France from boasting they have done us any great Mischief since they have suffer'd twice as much themselves their Country being without comparison more ruin'd than ours along of the Germans who committed all imaginable Cruelties there I cannot sufficiently wonder what makes Monsieur de Longueville him behind still several Courriers have been dispatch'd to keep to press him to joyn you nay I sent one of my own Gentlemen to represent to him how necessary it was to do it for the wellfare of his Majesty's Affairs who is not yet return'd If Galasse in his Retreat shou'd receive an Overthrow from us we might say truly enough that his Majesty's Affairs were never better than they wou'd then be And I hope it will so fall out I cannot express to you how well pleas'd the King is with your Conduct and Services nor how joyful I am in my own particular that his Majesty sets so great an esteem upon your Person Monsieur de Rantzau cannot be sufficiently commended The Action at Saint-Jean de Laune was so gallant that he deserves to have a particular Notice taken of him to which I shall willingly contribute all that lies in my own Power and pray let me desire you to signifie as much to him If you are so happy as to beat Galasse back into Germany with some remarkable Advantage besides what you have already obtain'd over him it wou'd be highly necessary for you if it is practicable to take your Winter-Quarters in the Franche-Comté and at Miremont Espinol Rambervilliers and Mirecourt At least 't is absolutely necessary to leave them to the Duke of Weymar in case you cannot enjoy them both together for it will be an Advantage to him and to say the truth our Frontier wou'd soon be ruin'd by the extraordinary Disorders that Strangers use to commit Rest assur'd that as long as I live I shall be My Lord Your c. Amiens Nov. 13 1636. LETTER LXIV To the same My Lord THE reason of my writing to you now is not to tell you how overjoy'd I am at the late Victory which your Army has got over that of Galasse in the Franche-Comté for you may easily imagine how great my Satisfaction is as well for the Advantage the King's Affairs receive by it as for the Honour you have acquir'd upon this occasion the increase whereof I no less passionately desire than your self can do there being no Man living that honours and loves you better than my self I shall content my self with telling you that this happy Event joyn'd with the good Success that has happen'd on this side a full account of which I have sent you by a Gentleman belonging to the Prince has re-establish'd his Majesty's Affairs in so great Reputation that our very Enemies are forc'd to own that they were never in a better Condition than they are at present By the Dispatch that the Prince's Gentleman brings you I have sent you my Opinion about the Winter-Quarters for the Duke of Weymar's Troops and your own I long to hear what your Sentiments are upon that Subject I will speak to the King about the two Commissions of Ayde de Camp that you writ to me about as soon as I see his Majesty In the mean time you may look upon it as actually done for I don't expect to meet the least difficulty in it Monsieur de Noyers is the Man that returns a particular Answer to all your Dispatches which is the reason why I forbear to add any thing concerning them here I writ to the Count de Guiche to come to me here in order to send him afterwards to Bayonne to meet his Father and in truth 't is absolutely necessary that he shou'd undertake this Journey Pray make no difficulty to let him go I am upon the Road now going towards his Majesty and have given Orders about every thing that I judg'd useful or necessary for the security of Picardy where we have made some change in the Governour which I believe you 'll approve of Where-ever I am you may assure your self that I shall always be and that with the utmost sincerity My Lord Your c. Bouillan-Court Nov. 20 1636. LETTER LXV To the same My Lord YOu 'll be astonish'd I know when you hear that so soon as Corbie was surrender'd the Count carry'd Monsieur along with him from Court and you 'll be more astonish'd when you are told that according to the common Report they have taken their Course directly towards Guienne I don't question but that Monsieur d' Espernon and Monsieur de la Valette will discharge their Duty but
are now upon promises so fairly and indeed 't is impossible to manage any thing with more Prudence and Judgment than you have shown upon that occasion I don't question but that in a short time you 'll be Master of Chasteau-Cambresis and hope that after that Landrechy will make no long opposition tho' the Town is strongly fortify'd and well provided so great an opinion have I of the good Success of his Majesty's Arms and of your Diligence Nothing shall be wanting here that may in the least contribute to make you Master of that place I have already sent you word that besides the fourscore thousand weight of Powder which you have with you there are thirty thousand weight more at St. Quintin which you may send for when you see fit As also four thousand Cannon-Ball and two thousand for Culverins that are at Guise And now I can assure you that Monsieur de la Meilleraye has given Orders to send you all sorts of Ammunition on which we work here without intermission He has likewise sent you 300 Artillery Horses extraordinary to carry the Powder and other Stores that are at Chaulny and Compeigne according to your request to Guise and to hasten the aforesaid Carriages and Waggons we send thither a Relation of Monsieur de Noyers and a Gentleman that lives with me who I am sure will not lose one Moment Thus my Lord I hope that you 'll be well supply'd with Ammunition and that in a short time we shall have a good Magazine at Guise We have likewise dispatch'd Courriers to the Regiments of Belnave Xaintonge and Perigord that are quarter'd not far from this place to advance in order to send them to you to re-inforce your Army We have no News in these parts The King God be thanked is in good health As for my self I am troubled with my old Distemper which however does not hinder me from testifying to you upon all occasions that I am with all sincerity My Lord Your c. Ruel June 23 1637. LETTER LXXVII To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord SInce the Dispatch I sent to you by Monsieur de Pulluau the Sieur Renard arriv'd here upon which I cou'd not forbear to congratulate with you for the continual progress of his Majesty's Arms under your conduct not at all doubting but that they will prosper more and more in your Hands to the great satisfaction of the King and your own Honour in particular As you have already found by good Experience that nothing is wanting to you which is in the power of the Court so I am persuaded that on your part you 'll do all you can to make your self Master speedily of the Town you have besieg'd not questioning but that you have taken sufficient care to prevent any relief from coming to the place I can assure you that you 'll either find the Enemy in a weak condition or that they 'll leave you to meet the Prince of Orange who at this very Moment I am writing to you is in the Field He parted from the Hague on the Seventeenth of this Month for that intent and I flatter my self that he will perform some remarkable Action for in all probability he has such a Design in his Head and knows well enough that the Enemy is not over powerful I so passionately desire that the Army may be victorious under your command that if I thought there were the least necessity for it I wou'd offer my self to serve you even in the quality of a Commissary of the Provisions I am and always will be My Lord Your c. Ruel June 26 1637. LETTER LXXVIII To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord THE desire I have to omit nothing that may enable you to perform some notable and successful Action has made me resolve since the departure of Monsieur de Palluau to dispatch an Express to Monsieur de la Meilleraye to tell him that instead of carrying on the Design upon which we put him he must march strait away for St. Quintin with fifteen hundred Horse and four thousand Foot to joyn you if you have occasion for him Upon due consideration I find that we may reap so many Advantages by taking Landrechy that nothing in the World should be neglected that can in the least contribute to so good a Design If I cou'd do more towards the effecting of it I wou'd do it very freely both as it respects the King's Service and your Glory You may rest assur'd of this as also that I am with all sincerity My Lord Your c. Ruel June 27 1637. LETTER LXXIX To the Duke of Halwin SIR I Have dispatch'd this Courrier on purpose to you to inform you with all speed that besides the Attack which the King of Spain makes on the Coasts of Bayonne he prepares another for Languedoc which he designs to make on the Fifteenth of July To facilitate this Enterprize he has summoned all the Power of Spain and seized on all the Coach-Horses in Madrid to mount the Cavalry You may easily believe that I am well satisfied how difficult it is for Spain to make two powerful Attacks at the same time but however 't is very certain that this is their Design and that the Enemy pretend to make a Descent upon Languedoc both by Sea and by Land Being no longer employ'd in the Islands their Naval Forces may help to execute this Attempt Now to prevent this Storm I desire you to advance to Narbonne with all Expedition take the Sieur d' Argencourt along with you to see what is necessary to be done there and accordingly put every thing in order without delay Post the Regiment of Languedoc in some neighbouring place to help you in case of need Order all the Commons of the Province to be ready as likewise the Gentlemen and Nobility and lay up all the Corn you can get in the Country at Narbonne We have already written to Monsieur de Vitry to send you his Regiment and to the Messieurs d' Harcourt and Bourdeaux to get the Naval Forces ready to come to your assistance I make no doubt but that by the help of God and your diligence the Enemy will be as warmly received in Languedoc as they were in the Islands I beg of you not to neglect this Advice and though you see but little appearance of their coming to visit you yet take it for a certain Truth I writ to Monsieur de Narbonne to acquaint him that this is no Chimerical News as likewise to desire him to second your good Intentions upon this occasion Monsieur de Barraut has receiv'd Orders some time ago to raise the Militia which is now in a State of readiness to defend the Country of Foix. Monsieur de la Vrillerie has sent him word to march with them to your assistance in case of necessity and has sent you his Majesty's Dispatch to that purpose as also another to Monsieur de ââ¦ry to
send you his Regiment You may command both of them to joyn you whenever you judge it expedient In the mean time be assur'd of the continuance of my Affection and that I am and ever will be Sir Your c. Ruel June 28 1637. LETTER LXXX To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord J Was extremely pleas'd to learn by the Sieur Arnauld the good condition of your Army and the forwardness of the Siege you are now engag'd in where I hope as heartily as your self can do that you 'll find a speedy and fortunate Success You have been already inform'd that Orders were sent to Monsieur de la Meilleraye to post himself near you and joyn you with his Troops if you shou'd have any occasion for them having sent you this advice by the same Courrier that brought him the King 's Dispatch upon this Subject The taking of Garde by the Count about which you writ to me fell out very luckily As soon as ever we knew of it here a Warrant was immediately dispatch'd to Monsieur de Belle-Jambe who is at St. Quintin to examine him and afterwards to do with him as he saw convenient If you have not as yet sent the above-mention'd Garde to St. Quintin aforesaid pray take care to get him conducted thither in safety it being of great importance to make an Example of him The Advantage which the Sieur Gassion has obtain'd over the Enemy has without doubt put them in some Consternation I am exceeding glad that he has begun so fortunately and doubt not but he will continue to do the same upon all occasions that shall present themselves to the Advantage of the King's Service being so well acquainted as I am with his Courage Fidelity and Affection Be assur'd that I shall always be My Lord Your c. Ruel towards Evening July 1. I have hitherto delay'd to dispatch this Courrier again to you because we have no News here to send you and I had kept him here still but that I was afraid you wou'd be in some pain about us Monsiuer de Noyers has sent you an account of all that has happen'd in this part of the World to which I have nothing to add but to conjure you my Lord to take particular care of your Person for I desire your preservation as heartily as I do my own I am overjoy'd to learn by Monsieur Arnauld the state of your Circumvallation I earnestly request you to make the Trenches of your Attacks so good that Soldiers and Gentlemen of Quality may be preserv'd safe in them because your Military Men are such Enemies to all Sieges that if they see they cannot be tolerably secur'd they grow sick of them immediately But when they once see that due care is taken of them I hope they 'll relish the Employment so well that after Landrechy is reduc'd we may pretend to go upon some greater Exploit In God's Name have a care of your Person and do not expose your self to no purpose Those that come from your Army give me such good assurances of the great Care and Diligence and Affection which the Sieur N. has express'd for his Majesty's Service there that I find my self obliged to tell you that if 't is really so and you have not any reason to question his Fidelity I am of opinion that he ought not to be removed till such time as we have farther Light into the matter notwithstanding what I writ to you in my former Letter However I leave all to your discretion LETTER LXXXI To the same My Lord ALtho' I have already return'd an Answer to the Letter you sent me by Monsieur Arnauld yet I cannot let him depart towards you without giving him this the chief business of which is to assure you always of my Affection and Service and that I will lose no opportunity to give you all the convictions of it I can Just now I have receiv'd a Letter from the Messenger whom I sent to Compeigne and Chauny to see the Ammunition which is in both those places carry'd to Guise wherein he sends me word that within three Days there will be at the place above-mention'd above an hundred thousand weight of Powder and Bullets and Match and Lead in proportion Thus my Lord I hope you 'll want nothing to carry on your Siege or any other Enterprize you shall take in hand afterwards I am My Lord Your c. Ruel July 3 1637. We have just now receiv'd News from Germany which is to this effect That Picolomini has been these six Days at Worms that he stays there for the Supplies which Galasse is to send him with which he is afterwards to re-inforce the Cardinal Infant You have heard to be sure of the Defeat of part of Duke Charles's Troops by the Duke of Weymar LETTER LXXXII To the same My Lord Monsieur de Coüeslin being desirous to see the Siege of Landrechy I wou'd not suffer him to depart before I had given you by him fresh assurances of my Affection towards you which is as great as you can desire He will acquaint you with all the News of the Court as also how impatient we are to know from you all remarkable Passages that happen in your Quarters Leaving him to discourse this matter with you more at large I conclude this Letter with assuring you that I am My Lord Your c. Ruel July 9 1637. LETTER LXXXIII To the same My Lord THE King is so impatient to hear how the Siege of Landrechy goes forward and how Affairs stand in your part of the World that finding Monsieur de Pulluau is not come back as I expected I resolved to send the Sieur Saladin immediately to you to know how the Siege is advanced and what the Enemy is doing that I might give his Majesty an account of all I repose so great a confidence in the success of his Arms in your Prudence and in your Care that I doubt not in a short time to receive that satisfaction which I proposed to my self at first from your Enterprize For my own particular I desire it so much the more because besides the Reputation which this Action will give the King's Affairs you will acquire no little Glory by it towards which I shall freely contribute all that lies in my power as being with all sincerity My Lord Your c. Ruel July 9. 1637. LETTER LXXXIV To the Cardinal de la Vallette My Lord NOT being able to stay till your Courrier had refresh'd himself I send you now another with thirty thousand Franks that you might not want Money so much as in your Imagination Besides this you may take up thirty thousand Livres that are in the hands of the Sieur Cohon to whom Monsieur de Noyers order'd the Messenger that brings you the thirty thousand Livres to deliver them and 't is left wholly to you to lay out this Money as you shall see occasion Every one here knows well enough what a Train of
them that his Majesty's Forces at Landrechy make up in all eighteen thousand Foot and eight thousand Horse And I believe we don 't over-reckon our selves since we paid for almost thirteen thousand Foot and seven thousand Horse when you had no more than the Forces that you carried with you at first and Monsieur de la Meilleraye afterwards joyned you as I compute with five thousand Men and fifteen hundred Horse We have sent to Monsieur de Chastillon to remedy the same ill way of reckoning which might happen in his Army if we did not take care to prevent it that by this means we may hinder all manner of Spies from representing us to be weaker than we are which is one of those things that did us the most mischief last Year and served to make our Enemies pass for much stronger than they really were to their great advantage At last the Count has made his Peace with the King but he is to reside at Sedan for some Years He signed the Oath of Fidelity at the same time that Picolomini had sent Orders to him and after the Queen-Mother had signed a Treaty at Brussels with the Cardinal Infant to engage him beforehand Bautru parts to morrow with the King's Almoner to receive his Oath upon the Holy Evangelists This is all I can tell you about this Affair which I hope will have a happy Conclusion In the mean time I conjure you to believe that I am My Lord Your c. Challiot July 22 1637. LETTER LXXXVIII To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord 'T IS impossible for me to represent to you his Majesty's Joy for the taking of Landrechy which is so great that it can receive no addition As for my self besides the Joy I receive for the prosperity of France I have a particular one for the Glory you have acquir'd by this great Action No Man could have carried on the Siege of that place with more Prudence than you have done I am ravish'd that you have escaped wounding all this while fince I am inform'd by all those Gentlemen that are come from thence that as you very worthily discharg'd your Employment so you did amiss in one point which obliges you to take as great care of your Person as I find you neglected it I conjure you to change this way of procedure for the future as also to remember that if the King should lose a Person of your consequence all the Advantages we might otherwise obtain over the Enemy would be inconsiderable and your Friends incapable of receiving Consolation Monsieur Arnauld has acquainted us with what you think your self able to do at present which really in my opinion is the best Design that can be taken in hand By this means you will not ruine your Army you will secure your Winter-Quarters and the Hollanders who continually ask us to enter into the Heart of the Country will be satisfy'd if you can but be able to fortifie the Post there which is proposed to you His Majesty gives you full power to act as you shall see convenient and thinks fit as you will find by the Dispatch of Monsieur de Noyers that you pursue those Designs which were communicated to us by the above-mention'd Sieur Arnauld I hope you will prove as successful in them as you were in the beginning of this Campagne The Troops of Picolomini are not as yet come up and the Prince of Orange who has waited twenty days at Ramekins for fair Weather has been constrain'd by the badness of the Season to disembark his Army and go upon another Design He resolved last Thursday as Saladin whom I sent away to Monsieur de Charnacé brings me word upon the Siege of Breda We have sent Vercourt back again to you who talks nothing but Miracles of his Design If the place is such as he represents it capable of being fortified and supported by other Posts which you may take upon the Sambre it will be very advantageous for us and serve to incommode the Enemy I return you no Answer to the Compliments you were pleased to send me about Monsieur de la Meilleraye whom I esteem sufficiently happy if he has been able to please you The first Design of the Prince of Orange wou'd have obliged us to put our selves in a readiness to march another way according as he should have had occasion for us But now since we are more at liberty you may act as you please He is exceedingly well pleased with your Civilities and I am assur'd that he will always render to you that which is your due I hope that before Breda is taken we shall do something worth the while and perhaps some Opportunity may present it self to you which neither you nor I think of at present I heartily wish for one that may put it into my power to convince you by my Actions how affectionately I am and ever shall be My Lord Your c. Challiot July 26 1637. We have receiv'd several Advices from Brussels giving us to understand that the Spaniards despise us in such a manner that besides the advantage which the taking of Landrechy has given us I have a particular Joy upon that Account because it will make them see that we are more capable of doing them a Mischief than they believe and insosently give out LETTER LXXXIX To the same My Lord THE King advancing now towards Soissons and Laon as I have already sent you word I take Pen in hand to acquaint you that his Majesty wou'd be very glad to take such measures that if it were possible his Journey might not be wholly fruitless For this reason he has had some Thoughts that while you advance into the Enemy's Country pursuant to your Designs he might under the covert of your Army make a sort of a Blockade about Capelle by which means that place in all probability wou'd in a short time fall into his Hands Before he embarks in this Design his Majesty desires that you wou'd send a Party of Horse to view the Country round about the place commanded by some understanding Person who might observe what may be done to incommode it Bezancon who has been there tells us that to hinder any Provisions from coming into the Town there needs no more but to place a good Garrison at a Village which lies between Avenes and Capelle call'd Estren where some Forces might conveniently intrench themselves I am apt to believe that this alone will not be sufficient Now if it were possible without taking off any of your Troops from what you have design'd to get three thousand Foot and a thousand Horse to be employ'd in the reducing of the above-mention'd place this small Progress joyn'd to those you will make would put a happy End enough to this Campagne I conclude this Letter with assuring you that I am and ever will be My Lord Your c. Ruel July 31 1637. LETTER XC To the same My Lord I Send
Days ago for this purpose I have sent you thirty thousand Livres more that if you make an Attempt upon N you may want nothing All that I have written to you above being presuppos'd although the King gives you full liberty to act as you shall see most convenient for his Service and 't is a difficult matter for a Man to give his Advice at a great distance yet for all that I am of opinion that if you cou'd succeed at N and the place is really as advantageous as it is represented to be it wou'd be no very hard matter by keeping a considerable Body in all the good Country that lies between this Post and Maubeuge to take Avenes with a few Horse and no great number of Foot In a word My Lord I leave all to your Prudence beseeching you to believe that as I by no means desire you to attempt any thing above your power so we at least expect that you should perform all you are capable of doing Heaven be praised every thing goes well on all sides We do better and better every Day in the Franche-Comté Monsieur de Châtillon is in hopes to make some good progress in Luxemburgh And just now we have receiv'd Advice that on the First of this Month the Duke of Savoy met the whole Spanish Cavalry near Verseil beyond Sezia and resolv'd to attack them with Vigour Which he perform'd so well that there are at least two hundred of them dead upon the Spot two hundred taken Prisoners and above four hundred Horses made a Booty Spadin and several other Persons of great consideration were killed in this Aââ¦on This My Lord is all I have to communicate to you in this Letter I have no more to add but my desires that you wou'd believe me to be with all sincerity My Lord Your c. Challiot Aug. 8 1637. Le Plessis Bezancon will part within a Day or two You must excuse me if I tell you that in truth you write with so much deference of 44 that I am afraid you are not satisfy'd with him All the Letters he writes to me are full of Expressions of Gratitude for the great Civilities he has receiv'd from you He looks upon it as an honour to be under your command but shou'd he ever do any thing to disoblige you I wou'd most assuredly disown him My Opinion is that we ought to end this Campagne as we begun for since the Prince of Orange cannot march into Flanders as he proposed in his first Design nothing obliges us now to separate his Majesty's Forces any longer However if you find the Party aforesaid a Burthen to you the Friendship between you and me is great enough to make me find an Invention to rid you of him Addition SInce the writing of this Letter the Sieur Talon your Secretary brings us advice from the Sieur de Roquepine who commands for you at Metz that after an exact view of Picolomini's Troops that are quarter'd between Treves and Vaudreurange he judges them to be reduc'd to six thousand Foot and eight hundred Horse Since which advice the aforesaid Sieur de Roquepine assures us that they lose so many Men as well by want of Provisions as by sickness that he believes they cannot be above five thousand five hundred at most By this we may conclude that it will be impossible for him to march into Flanders at the head of 13 or 1400 Horse and 4000 Foot so that by God's help he will not be in a capacity to do us a Mischief I conclude from this Account and the Siege of Breda that till the 20th of August or thereabout you will have no great Business upon your hands because the Spaniards will endeavour all they can to hinder the Lines of Circumvallation from being finish'd at Breda and when they find there is no possibility of saving that Town 't is probable they will come to attack us in their own Country and that we may be so happy as to conclude this Campagne with a successful Battle I conjure you to take care that Landrechy be well fortify'd and that nothing be wanting there LETTER XCII To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord I Was extremely glad to be inform'd by yours of the 9th of this Month after what manner Affairs went on your side You found by my former Letter which I gave Monsieur de Combour to deliver to you that the King gives you full liberty to act at your Discretion and that your Advices and ours did not differ I never knew particularly what sort of a place St. Guillain was for which reason I writ to you concerning it as a thing fit to be undertaken if you judged it worth the while The Difficulties we must expect to find there now upon account of the two Men that were hanged have wholly alter'd the Face of this Affair so that we must comfort our selves if Maubeuge as you represent it can do us the same kindness In such a case it will be necessary for you to fortifie your self there as well as you can I did not so much apprehend the difficulty of taking St. Guillain as that of keeping it which cou'd not be done without great Convoys that require abundance of Troops and in the Winter are almost impossible If we cou'd take Avenes as I most assuredly believe we may we shou'd have reason to say that this Campagne was employ'd happily enough This is therefore the Point to which we must stick and by keeping the Sambre whereof now you are Master still in your power you may hinder the Enemy from coming to the relief of it Bezancon when he was here promised to do Wonders in the good ordering of the Army for which reason we have sent him word to go to wait upon you that by your Orders he might as far as is possible hinder the Soldiers from making havock of the Corn for I well foresee that it will be an impossible Matter to furnish so great a Body with Corn enough if you don't make them sublist upon what you find in the Country where as I am informed 't is exceedingly plentiful In the mean time one Touches of Metz is gone to convoy four or five hundred Muids of Corn that are now at Guise to Landrechy in which he will be forced to employ more than two hundred Horses which you demanded and which have been employ'd in carrying one thing or another ever since you have taken the Field A Message has been sent to Monsieur Lambert to joyn de Bussy's Army at Estren between Capelle and Avenes and to stay there till you send him farther Orders As for the Owners of the Horses that bring Provisions to your Army they shall have all due encouragement to make them continue in the Service In the mean time you must take care to prevent them from leaving you I have seen a Letter of the Sieur Arnauld dated the 10th of this Month and written to the Reverend F. Joseph
have now sent you fifty thousand which with the thirty you have already receiv'd will make up the above-mention'd Summ. I beg of you to carry on the Works with all diligence and manage them so that several Persons may be employ'd upon several Works in order to make the greater haste I can assure you that although I have other Affairs of no less consequence upon my hands which make me never pass a Night without thinking on them and putting my Invention upon the rack to advance them yet I am sure I take as much care of your Business as I do of any thing else There is a necessity not only to work hard upon the Fortifications of Maubeuge but likewise upon those of Landrechy of Chasteau-Cambresis and those places you design to keep for your Winter-Quarters 'T is also necessary to lay up a sufficient Magazine of Corn at Maubeuge that may last till Harvest-time otherwise 't is of no purpose to bestow Money upon fortifying it For this effect we have given twenty thousand Crowns to Gargan to buy up all the Corn he can find in the Neighbourhood If he shou'd not lay them out as we directed him he wou'd do us a great Injury Pray send me word whether he deals faithfully with us and oblige him to it by the Authority you have over him Thus I hope we shall be the sooner able to fill this Magazine because no Money shall be wanting for that purpose Rest assur'd that I am and ever will be My Lord Your c. Paris Sept. 8 1637. Addition IF I thought you wou'd not be inform'd by some other hand that the King is extremely displeased at the Siege of Capelle I wou'd not acquaint you with it for fear of making you uneasie for which reason I cou'd conceal it no longer from you Now my Hand is in I must tell you farther that he throws all the Blame upon Monsieur de la Meilleraye and by a glancing Stroke upon me saying It was he that caused this Resolution to be taken directly against his Orders I must desire you not to be disturb'd at this unlucky Accident which affects me more than it does any one else Care has been taken to represent the unforeseen Difficulties that made the Design upon Avenes impracticable and that you undertook the Siege that now employs you by the advice of all the principal Officers but all this is suspected coming from my Mouth For which reason I intreat you to send a Letter to Monsieur de Noyers in which let there be a distinct and clear Relation how this Affair came to be resolv'd upon For God's sake never be afflicted for the matter but take care to preserve your Person and see that the Grand Master does the same LETTER C. To the Duke of Halwin SIR BEing inform'd of a flying Report in your Government that there is a design to transport Corn from thence by vertue of a Pass-port which one of my Relations has obtain'd I purposely writ this Letter to beg the favour of you that in case any Person comes upon such an Errand under pretence of a Pass-port to hinder it from having any effect You may very well imagine that I am so far from consenting to have the Province robb'd of what is necessary for its Subsistence that on the other hand I wou'd contribute all that lies in my power to procure an abundance of all things there I will not enlarge my self longer to convince you of this truth being content to assure you at present that I am and ever will be Sir Your c. Paris Sept. 8 1637. LETTER CI. To the Cardinal de la Vallette My Lord I Writ so large a Letter to you yesterday and Monsieur Arnaud d' Andilly who is parted from hence has receiv'd such particular Instructions in all points that I shou'd make but a sorry Compliment to his Understanding to entertain you with a tedious Discourse about them I shall only make bold once more to conjure you not to be afflicted at the Dissatisfaction his Majesty has express'd upon your resolution to besiege Capelle instead of Avenes for I can assure you that you are not concern'd in it at all it wholly falling upon Monsieur de la Meilleraye and upon my self by a side Blow You know well enough whether we are guilty or no. This gives me an assurance that his Majesty will find out the Truth at last and show the same Favours to his Servants as he has been accustom'd to do It wou'd be convenient for you to dispatch an Officer to the King with the Minutes of the Debate when this Resolution was taken I am and ever shall be without the least Alteration My Lord Your c. Paris Sept. 8 1637. LETTER CII To the same My Lord I Cannot sufficiently lament the Death of Monsieur de Bussy or be too apprehensive for the Wounds of Monsieur de Rambure It was a terrible Misfortune that only thirty of the Enemy and the panic Fear of our own Men shou'd produce so unlucky an Effect The King has bestow'd all Monsieur de Bussy's Places upon his Son He has likewise granted to Monsieur de Castelnau the same Privilege that he uses to grant to the Captains of the Guards when they lose their Ensigns His Majesty designs to put one of his own uominating into the place but then he will order him to give four thousand Crowns to the aforesaid Sieur de Castelnau which is the Sum that the other Captains of the Guards usually receive for it Let me conjure you to make your Trenches as secure as you can contrive them I dispatch'd this Express on purpose to let you know that the King's Displeasure is over that he is very sensible it was impracticable to besiege Avenes and that he is no longer angry with Monsieur de la Meilleraye Besides what I have written to him about this Matter I desire you to satisfie him of the truth of it and to preserve your self carefully Rest assur'd that I am My Lord Your c. Conflans Sept. 12 1637. LETTER CIII To the Duke of Halwin SIR 'T IS so long ago since you were inform'd of the Enemy's Design that I am persuaded you are not surprized at their Descent upon Languedoc and that you have long since put your self in a posture to oppose their Progress The King does not question but that you will upon this occasion discover your Merits and Bravery and in short do all that he has reason to expect from your Affection to his Service His Majesty has sent the Sieur de Bellefonds to serve in Quality of Mareschal de Camp about you as also a Commission to Monsieur d' Argencourt for the same Employ He is content you shou'd make use of all the Forces that are in the Province and Monsieur de Noyers has writ more particularly to you about it The Bishop of Nismes has sent me word that the Diocess and City of Nismes have rais'd a
Regiment consisting of twelve hundred Men that will be ready to march by the 15th of this Month and sends me word that every one behaves himself so well in this common Danger that the Spaniards will find it a much more difficult matter to get home again than they found it easie to come there I am consident you will omit nothing of your Care and Diligence to bring this about and we shall in a short time hear the World speak of your great Exploits In the mean time I beg of you to believe that I will always set a just value upon your Services as being My Lord Your c. Conflans Sept. 13 1637. LETTER CIV To the Duke of Hallwin SIR HIS Majesty judging it expedient in this present Juncture to send a Gentleman to you to give Orders and act in his Name such things as you shall look upon to be of great importance to his Service and having chosen Majola Lieutenant of my Guards to take this Journey I wou'd not suffer him to depart before I had put this Letter into his Hands to tell you that as nothing well can be added to the Orders which you have laid down in your Government to put it in a Condition to oppose the Designs of the Enemy or to the extraordinary trouble which for this purpose you have undergone so nothing can give his Majesty so much content as the Care and Vigilance you have shewn upon this Occasion I don't tell you what a satisfaction it is to my self in particular because you may easily imagine it by the sincerity of my Affection to you I will only once more conjure you to use your utmost Efforts to confirm the good Opinion which the King and his Servants have entertain'd of your Courage and Prudence and let his Majesty's Enemies know to their cost how formidable you are in the Field This I dare affirm to you that as no Man living is more affected at what concerns you than my self so no Man can more earnestly wish that you shou'd acquire Glory and Reputation to which I shall freely contribute all that lies in my power as the aforesaid Sieur de Majola will more particularly inform you Rest assur'd that I am and ever shall be Sir Your c. Conflans Setp. 17 1637. LETTER CV To the same SIR I Add these few Lines to the Letter I writ to you yesterday to conjure you as far as I have any Interest in you to attack the Spaniards with all possible Vigour and not to give them time to fortifie themselves in Languedoc as they have done towards St. John de Luz They have not three thousand well-disciplin'd Men all the rest are raw Fellows as we are certainly inform'd If you press them warmly they 'll infallibly run for it and if you once put them to flight you 'll come off as victoriously as the late Mareschal de Schomberg did at Rhee at Casal and Castelnaudarry and it will be no small Honour let me tell you to beat the Enemy out of your Government I don't question but that you 'll do your utmost upon this occasion as I heartily encourage you They that vigorously set upon the Spaniards can never fail of bringing them to reason but 't is downright Madness to pretend to humble them by Patience and Delays I heartily wish you may prove successful in this Affair as well because it will be for his Majesty's Service as for your own Reputation Rest assur'd that no Man can love you better than my self who am Sir Your c. Conflans Sept. 18 1636. LETTER CVI. To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord IM mediately upon the receipt of yours dated Sept. 17. I sent this Courrier to you in the first place to beg one Favour of you tho' I know you need no sollicitation in it which is to hasten your Siege as much as you can Secondly to tell you that Monsieur de Chavigny sets out to morrow to meet you and will be next Tuesday Morning at Gapelle where I pray don't let him go to the Trenches a Man of his Profession having nothing to do there He will communicate all our Thoughts to you In the mean time sending a Dispatch to Monsieur de Châtillon to give him orders to lay up Provisions at Rocroy and the Towns upon the Meuse I will tell you beforehand that if the Cardinal Infant takes the way of Cambray you must with all expedition send twelve hundred Men at least one half to St. Quintin and the other half to Peronne and three hundred Horse to each of these two places by which means the Enemy will be able to do nothing on that side I am of opinion likewise that it will be necessary to send back the Cavalry of poor Rambure to Dourlans I can assure you and Monsieur de Chavigny will do the same that the Cardinal Infant cannot bring above four thousand Foot and two thousand Horse into the Field being constrain'd to leave the remainder of his Troops to prevent the Incursions which the Hollanders may make into the Country after Breda is taken This is the true State of the Enemy on that side And then Picolomini and Balancon having both in Horse and Foot not above nine or ten thousand Men at most the greatest part of which are unarm'd 't is impossible for them to make a Body of above fifteen or sixteen thousand Men in all In all probability they will not abandon their Post at Mons because then they will have the Heart of the Country open and give an opportunity to Monsieur de Candalle to cut off their Rear Now if they leave any Forces at Mons they cannot leave less than four or five thousand Men by which means they will not be able to bring above ten thousand Men into the Field in which case it will be sufficient to have a thousand Horse in Maubeuge and four thousand Foot with Monsieur de Tureune You may likewise spare from your Siege since the Lines of Circumvallation are now finish'd a thousand Horse and seven thousand Foot and so have always more than six thousand Horse and from nine to ten thousand Foot to bring into the Field which Monsieur de Candalle may command till the Siege you are now employ'd in gives you leave to be there in Person And when once the aforesaid Siege is over I hope I shall soon be so happy as to assist at a Te Deum for a Victory you have obtain'd I desire it my Lord no less for your Reputation than for the Welfare of his Majesty's Affairs as being with the utmost sincerity My Lord Your c. Ruel Setp. 19 1637. LETTER CVII To the same My Lord I Have dispatch'd the Bearer hereof whose Name is Garde on purpose to tell you that the King has sent with all expedition for twelve hundred Horse out of Monsieur de Chastillon's Army and that he sends four Companies of his Guards and the Regiment of Roche-giffard which
Troops to Prince Thomas to oppose the Progress of the Prince of Orange 'T is certain that it had done no small Service to his Majesty's Affairs if we could have perform'd something on your side to content the Hollanders who are impatient to advance into the Enemies Country and complain tho without any Reason that we have done them a great deal of Harm His Majesty thinks it expedient that you should send back for the Two Thousand Foot and the Fifteen Hundred Horse which you sent to the Mareschal de Chatillon in case you are able to affect any thing Whatever you âo you must be sure to take up some Winter-Quarters near Chimay which would have been very proper to have sustained the Army of Beaumont Monsieur de Noyers has Writ so fully to you that I have no more to add at present but that I am and ever shall be with the utmost Sincerity your most c. P. S. I desire you my Lord so long as you continue where you are to take care that Landrechy be well fortified and give such Directions for Sonooyes that the Place may be victualled for a Year For you know well enough that the Sieur Gargan exhausted all its Provisions for the Service of the Army LETTER CX To the Cardinal de la Valette My LORD I Find by the Letter which Billon Quartermaster of my Guards brought me from you that you have been so reserved and sparing that you wou'd not take up Nine Thousand Livres out of that Money which Monsieur de Noyers and I sent to you some time ago to employ them upon the Fortifications of Chateau Cambreses For which Reason I have sent you these few Lines to acquaint you That you may employ the aforesaid Sum to the above-mentioned purpose as soon as you please since I am clearly of the Opinion with you that 't is necessary and so much the more that you may freely make use of any thing where I have any particular Power Depend upon this I beseech you and believe that I am your most c. LETTER CXI To the Cardinal de la Valette My LORD YOu will so particularly know the King's Intentions upon the Subject of your Dispatches by the Letter which the Chevalier de Monclair brings you that it will be unnecessary for me to add any thing to it So the only occasion of my writing to you this is to renew to you the Assurances of my hearty Affection upon which you may certainly depend and rest satisfied that I shall be proud of any Opportunity to let you see how zealous I am to serve you I have sent word to the Count de Guiche that the King gives him leave to come to Paris to be there at his Lady's Lying-in I am perswaded that you will freely consent to it at this Juncture when the Army does not require his Presence The Sicur de Montclair will inform you of all that has happened in these parts to which reserring myself I shall only add that I am your most c. LETTER CXII To the Cardinal de la Valette My LORD I Was extreamly surprized to find by the Count de Guiche that you believed that some Body had done you ill Offices with the King I can positively assure you of the contrary and that you have been never mentioned here but to your Advantage To satisfie you further If some envious Persons had misrepresented you in your Absence yet his Majesty and his Servants know you too well to entertain any other Opinion of you than what you justly deserve or to give Credit to any Reports that may be spread to your Prejudice Let me therefore conjure you to remove these ill-grounded Suspicions and rest assured That as no body as far as I can perceive has endeavour'd to do you the least Injury so that nothing is able to wound your Reputation either with the King or any Person at Court that esteems and honours you as I do who shall be glad of any Opportunity to convince you that I am with all Sincerity yours c. LETTER CXIII To Mareschal Schomberg SIR FOr the entire security of Leucatte and the better defence of the Frontiers from any Insults on that side some Persons of your parts have thought it advisable to build a Fort in immitation of that of the Spaniards called St. Ange in the narrow Road that leads from Spain to Leucatte with a large Half-moon before the Gate enclosing a small Hill that commands the Place as also a Block-house on an Eminence hard by which has the like command I have already writ of this to Monsieur D' Argencour and have desired him to communicate my Letter to you and to joyn with you in the Survey of those Places and to observe whether these Works are necessary or not But having received no Answer from him I thought it but requisite to acquaint you with the same thing desiring that together with him and some others that should be well acquainted with the Scituation of the Place you would make a strict Examination into the Matter and enquire whether such a Design might be profitable or not it being impossible for me to determine any thing so far off so well as those that are upon the Spot and know the Country As for Leucatte I am of opinion that if it were possible to throw down the Faussebraie from within it were the best Means to secure the Place against the utmost Efforts of its Enemies the Spaniards having always fetch'd Earth to fortifie their Trenches from the very brink of the said Faussebraie Methinks Measures should not be wanting to effect this Work and which in my Judgment is as much or more necessary than any other I desire you to do what is in your Power and to give me a speedy Account In expectation of which I am c. LETTER CXIV To the Duke of Halwin SIR I Cannot express my Joy for your Success in your late Expedition at Leucatte to force an Intrenchment relieve a Town and gain a Battle are visible effects of God's Assistance and I 'm the more thankful because you are chosen for the Minister of so glorious an Action advantageous both to your own Country and the Kingdom in general By this it appears that your Courage and Fidelity are not accompanied with less Success than your Father Monsieur Schomberg's have always been The Satisfaction I hereby receive is inexpressible You have nothing left to do but to make the best use of so signal a Victory Monsieur Noyers has acquainted you with the King's Pleasure and I am well assured you will not defer your Obedience with less Zeal than you did in your late Action which got you so great Honour This I conjure you too for a thousand Reasons which I have not time here to mention Believe that I am and will be always c. P. S. I cannot help acquainting you again that I am overjoy'd at the Action in Languedoc and the rather
because it was performed by you I can assure you I will be unmindful of nothing that may in the least contribute towards the gratifying your Expectations and Deserts LETTER CXV To Mareschal Schomberg From the Appartment of the Sieurs Torquefort and Bodin SIR BY some Persons lately come from Leucatte I understand that you have not repair'd the Ruins caus'd by the Siege nor yet begun the New Works which you yourself and Monsieur d' Argencour judg'd necessary to be made and in a word that the Place is in a much worse Condition at present than it was when the Spaniards first set down before it Truly this News has the more surpriz'd me in that I did not believe there remained any thing to be done to secure it from any second Attempt of its Enemies in regard of the long time you have had to work I earnestly entreat you therefore to remedy this Default in such manner that no Inconveniency may result from your Omission and to consider that it is not enough to secure a Place if one does not afterwards endeavour to preserve it by Prudence and Foresight You have so great a Concern in this that I do not doubt but you will do whatever is in your Power and so conclude c. LETTER CXVI To the Same SIR THe desire I have to see the Harbour of Agde finish'd occasions my resuming my Pen to conjure you so to manage Affairs either by your Interest or Authority that at the next Assembly of the States the Provinces may be tax'd with such a Sum as may perfect the Works so well begun I do not recommend to you the Advantage they 'll receive by it in general nor the Benefit and Conveniency that some private Persons have already had because you know both much better than I. But I shall only assure you that such care shall be taken of the Money so designed that the Country shall have no reason to grudge the Charge The Bishop of Agde will communicate an Order to you that I have sent him upon this Occasion I desire you to see all well executed and that you will believe me c. LETTER CXVII To the Same SIR I Cannot help acquainting you that the King has been very much surpriz'd to hear that the Cannons the Spaniards lost at Leucatte are still in the Ditches or without the Walls and that you have not taken care to send 'em to Narbonne according to his pleasure made known to you long time since His Majesty therefore hereby expresly commands you to lose no more time but to see it speedily done and to assign for Convoy the Regiments of Languedoc St. Andre St. Aunays your own Guards and other Troops that shall be in the Province at that time that they may meet with no Inconveniences by the Way For my part I earnestly conjure you to omit nothing that may satisfie His Majesty in this Particular for he is inexpressibly impatient till he hears of their safe arrival at Narbonne Believe that I am heartily c. LETTER CXVIII To the Same SIR ALthough Monsieur Noyers may have already made known to you how important it would be to the King's Service that the Army in Italy under your Command should speedily repass the Mountains to the end that they might oppose the progress of their Enemies who have been a long time in the Field and are at present engaged in the Siege of Bresme yet I have thought it not amiss to represent to you the same thing earnestly conjuring you moreover with all the Affection imaginable that you would not be unmindful of any thing that depends either upon your Authority your Care or your Diligence not only that the said Troops may speedily repass but also that they may want for nothing that may render 'em able and compleat You may be assured nothing can be more profitable and pleasing to His Majesty and which I will endeavour to improve so as it may be serviceable to a Person that I have always honour'd and esteem'd c. LETTER CXIX To Mareschal Chatillon SIR I Am overjoy'd at the good condition Monsieur Noyers has acquainted the King he left you and the Officers of your Army in His Majesty has so great confidence in your Sincerity that he is assured you will speedily make known to his Enemies how much is in the Power of a Mareschal Chatillon He expects you would march Sunday next without excuse that you might be at the River of Somme the twelfth and at Dolaus the fifteenth I desire you would not fail by any means because we have sent the Prince of Orange word that you would be in the Enemies Coutry precisely the fifteenth His Majesty approv'd the March Monsieur Noyers reported you design'd to make I wish your Journey prosperous with all my Heart and I desire you to believe that I am c. LETTER CXX To the Same SIR THe King has been much troubled on account of the Delays to transport his Army into the Enemies Country when he had given his word to the Prince of Orange that they should be on their March the tenth of this Month. He has sent the Bishop of Auxerre to make you sensible how much it is for his Interest that you should repair this Omission with extraordinary Diligence and not quit it till you are arriv'd where you are commanded In God's Name lose no more time for several Reasons of great Consequence But be assur'd that I am and will be always your Security c. LETTER CXXI To the Same SIR HAving understood that Messieurs de Saint Preuil and de la Ferte have had a Quarrel I conjure you by this Letter to endeavour to appease 'em all you can or otherways to interpose your Authority that they may become good Friends I have writ to both of 'em to invite 'em to it for I should be very sorry being my intimate Acquaintance to have 'em push it on to any Extremity I am well assur'd your Prudence will prevent any farther Miscarriage and I desire you once more to believe that I am sincerely c. LETTER CXXII To the Same SIR I Have been extreamly glad to learn from the Letter you sent me by the Gentleman of the Bed-chamber that you were happily arriv'd before St. Omers and the rather because you had so fair hopes of accomplishing your Design which I wish as good Success to as you possibly can yourself and for its furtherance will contribute from hence whatever is in my Power I cannot sufficiently commend and thank you for the good Orders you have establish'd in your March for preserving the Country and preventing the plundering of Churches and Monasteries I desire you to continue the same Care for the future that your Troops may avoid the ill Reputation of Burning and Theft We shall not be wanting to Reinforce you according to your desire You have never yet ask'd more than Fourteen Thousand Foot but I am well assur'd before the receipt
he hopes God of his Goodness will afford him means to surmount Do not concern yourself any farther for what has already hapned but be resolv'd for the future to endeavour to foresee and prevent the like Miscarriages I hope Monsieur de la Force being strengthened by a Party of your Horse will be able to fight the Enemy successfully if he meets an opportunity and which may give you occasion in the mean time to prosecute your Siege with Vigour and without Interruption In a word this Affair being once undertaken you cannot decline it without apparent Prejudice to His Majesty's and your own Reputation the increase of both which I shall always desire as I am c. LETTER CXXVII To the Same SIR YOur last brought me no less Joy thro' hopes you gave of a happy and speedy Success in your Expedition than your former caus'd me Disquiet in hearing of the Recruits got into St. Omers I have nevertheless always thought being so perfectly well acquainted with you that this petty Accident could never be capable to discourage you nor in the least to abate that warmth with which I know you undertook this Action it being no extraordinary thing to take Places that have been reliev'd where they have been attempted by a Person of your rare Endowments and Courage I don't doubt but you have now began your Attacks and open'd your Trenches since you delay'd only till the approaches of Monsieur de la Force had cover'd you which he now has we are advis'd for these two Days Wherefore there 's nothing remains but to conjure you to be very Vigilant and Diligent and to desire you to believe that as I am a Person have always valu'd and admir'd you so there 's none can more desire the encrease of your Reputation than myself who am c. P. S. You would do well to Ransom those Prisoners the Eââ¦mies have of ours if you have not already done it and to know from them if they will give Quarter or not for the future that we may treat their Men as they shall do Ours The Folly of the French is so great in this particular that perhaps after they have kept 'em a considerable time they may be enclin'd to admit 'em into their Troops but pray let 'em know that where any such practice shall be made use of the first that are discover'd shall be handled after the severest manner and this to extinguish the very first thought of any such Intentions LETTER CXXVIII To Mareschal de Chatillon SIR MOnsieur Noyers has writ you so large an Account of the Approach of Marschal de la Force's Army that I have nothing left to do but to conjure you to consider well of his Reasons For my part I take 'em to be of great consequence not only on account of the King's Interest but also your own Reputation I earnestly request you not to be unmindful in the least of your Duty and to be assured that I am sincerely c. LETTER CXXIX To the Same SIR I Was extreamly surpriz'd to see a Courrier sent hither from you to desire that Mareschal de la Force's Army might be joyn'd speedily with yours to accomplish your Siege of St. Omers as also when I understood by the same Person that you had not yet open'd your Trenches I believe you have forgot that when you desir'd only the Regiments of Gassion and de la Ferte it was on condition that you should ask no other Army to prevent the Enemies falling upon you You have since desir'd that Monsieur de la Force should approach you within four Leagues which has been granted tho' the King had other intentions because by covering your Siege he would be always ready to make head against the Enemies where-ever they might mârch to enter France and make diversion But by your last Proposals you require his being join'd with you which would not only deprive him absolutely of any such Power but also put his Majesty's Affairs into but a very ill posture In truth the King has been more concern'd than you can imagin at these tedious Procrastinations and the sad variety he observes in the effects of ' em You have already sent word two or three times that you would open your Trenches but still there is nothing done Such proceeding is so very prejudicial to the King's interest in that it gives his Enemies time to grow capable of interrupting not only this Undertaking but also all other his Majesty's Designs insomuch that it is impossible for me to conceal my Sentiments of it And having always honour'd you as I do still I must needs desire you to consider that it would not be at all for your Reputation if with an Army to back you and another of fifteen or sixteen thousand Men under your Command you could not take so inconsiderable a Place as St. Omers In God's Name Sir be more diligent the King's Affairs require it and the just and reasonable impatience his Majesty may very well have upon such occasion obliges you to it We have order'd the Mareschal de la Force to send Succours commanded in divers Bodies to assist you in your Circumvallation This is all that you can desire and pardon me if I tell you you are unreasonable if you ask more This is what I thought necessary by this Letter which I conclude with full assurance of the continuance of my friendship and that I am sincerely c. LETTER CXXX To the Same SIR I Conjure you a God's Name to redouble your diligence The King's Affairs his Majesty's Satisfaction and your own Private Interest require it And if after so powerful Motives my Sentiments may seem of any moment I beg of you once more to hasten your Works and the Execution of your Enterprize Remember that nothing is more precious than Time in great Actions and be assur'd that I will endeavour always to recommend your Services that your Reward may correspond with your Expectations Who am sincerely c. LETTER CXXXI To Mareschal Schomberg SIR FOr answer to Your's of the 28th of June I must tell you that tho' there be no likelihood of the Spaniards attacking you in Languedoc having so powerful an Army in the very Bowels of their own Country whether of necessity they must have speedy recourse yet we do not see reason to withdraw all the Regiments from your Province till we are certain what they intend to do As for the Powder you writ for the King having so many Armies on Foot and so many Garrisons to furnish it is impossible to send you near so much as you expect But as it is no easie thing so neither is it necessary there being a great deal to be found in many places of your Government which tho' it be almost spoil'd yet it may be easily made good again by the many Mills you have amongst you So that over and above this of the 50000 weight which you say you reserve for the Campaign
fruitless for the present and which will but put you in mind that the Dutchess might have taken such Measures as her Brothers should not have reason to promise themselves the doing all the mischief they can desire You are so judicious that you 'll lose no Opportunity to open her Eyes to her own good when occasion requires Wherefore without saying more I shall only assure you of the sincere and inviolable Friendship I shall always have for you and that I will endeavour to make it appear by several circumstances that M. de la Valette means more and more to crown his ill Conduct I have communicated to Sieur Talon a new Accident upon this Subject which happen'd through the Imprudence and Malice of a Lady M. de Chavigny will write you more at large Such Designs I hope in God will be of no effect I am and will be always c. LETTER CXLVI To the Dutchess of Savoy MADAM I Do not at all doubt but your Highness is extreamly troubled at what pass'd lately in Piemont But with submission I do not think you have so great reason to be concern'd because your Highness has so good a Brother our King who is resolv'd to employ all his Force to protect and assist you and to prevent your Brethren from accomplishing their ill designs M. de Chavigny whom the King sends you on this account can acquaint your Highness with the extraordinary Efforts are preparing in France for that purpose as also with the Troops that are sending to Piemont for its defence and how largely I have contributed towards these Resolutions I humbly desire your Highness to put an entire confidence in him as in a Person of the choicest merit and to believe I would omit nothing to my power to assure your Highness how much I am Madam your Highness's most humble and most obedient Servant Richelien LETTER CXLVII To the Cardinal de la Valette My LORD THese few Words are not to acquaint you with my Concern for the Misfortunes in Piemont because I am assur'd you are throughly sensible of that already But to inform you that providing the Dutchess is willing to be assisted there is nothing that is in the King's power but he will do to oppose the unjust Oppression of the Spaniards and her own Subjects All depends only upon a reasonable time to relieve her I send you M. Chavigny in Quality of Embassadour Extraordinary to the Dutchess to assure her of his Majesty's utmost Protection As also that M. Longueville is coming to her relief with a new Army I suppose you have not omitted to provide carefully for Carmagnolle and to advise her Highness to secure the principal Places of her Dominions Coni and Revel together with Pignerol are sufficient to preserve the Head of the Valleys You know moreover of how great importance are Nice and Mommelian We will dispatch to Morrow a Courrier to Monsieur the Count d'Alez that according to your desires he have 1000 Foot ready to put into Nice and Villa Franca when ever the Dutchess shall command 'em providing he have Authority left to supply the French Garrison in their room If the Inhabitants of Turin shew but the least dubious Affection you must not think of disarming ' em We are making all imaginable expedition to send an Army into Piemont In God's Name Sir take care of yourself for I can assure you if there were no other consideration than your safety I would do whatever was in my power to rid you honourably out of this Affair always desiring your Friendship and that you would admit me c. LETTER CXLVIII To Monsieur Emery Monsieur Emery I Have seen all your Dispatches on account of the Affairs of Italy since your arrival in Dauphine I acknowledge your Care Diligence and Affection cannot be greater for the King's Service and I 'll assure you it is not in his Majesty's Power to do more for Relief of the Dutchess being resolv'd over and above the Army of the Cardinal de la Valette to send M. Longueville for the greater Security of her Dominions and to âprotect her against the utmost Efforts of her Enemies I am surpriz'd at the Spaniards Resolutions to besiege Turin and of their having so great an Army as you advise me but if they that have the Place entrusted to 'em do but their Duty I hope they 'll receive a Baffle M. Longueville's Army goes hence Wednesday and will be at Lions before the General Rendezvouz You must acquaint the Dutchess with the great Succours are sending to her M. Longueville commands both Armies whilst the Cardinal de la Valette is to be in the Conclave but afterwards each has his several Post M. de la Mothe has Orders sent him without expecting M. Longueville's Army to march immediately with 4000 Foot and 1000 Horse to secure the Pass of Escluse and when Longueville is arriv'd you are to attempt the Relief of the Dutchess with French-Bravery You must give out speedy Orders for Magazines in Savoy for the subsistance of M. Longueville's Troops 'T is absolutely necessary to possess yourselves of Carmagnolle Villeneus and Cahours and if you can of Revel and Coni all which it is not believ'd the Dutchess will be apt to refuse seeing that without 'em you can't secure the Country but with great difficulty 'T is thought very requisite to store Cazal well with Money But as to the 2000 Men propos'd to be sent thither 't is thought more necessary to encrease the Army that is to relieve the Dutchess and to seize upon Carmagnolle Villeneuf and Ast and other places that may make the Communication entire For this purpose Carmagnolle must be well furnish'd with all sorts of Ammunitions at the same time that you put Men into it As for Father Monot the Dutchess must be very ill advis'd if she does not send him to France If the Dutchess have not order'd by the Marquess de Ville that the French be forthwith admitted into the above-nam'd places you must speedily advise the Cardinal de la Valette that her Dutchy will be lost without it that she may timely repair her error and put 'em into your hands and which I have hopes she will be the more willing to consent to in that the places are not much to be suspected and that she will sooner chuse to entrust us with 'em for their security than to hazard their being taken by the Spaniards Monsieur de Chavigny being upon the place I am assur'd you will together omit nothing that may advance this important Affair The Sieur Noyers will answer Demands about Money and the Sieur de la Barde your Desires concerning Letters LETTER CXLIX An Answer to the Embassadour of Savoy 's Memoir I Have seen the Embassadour's Memoir which contains all that can or ought to be done as well for relief of Turin as for the safety of Piemont in general There remains only that the Contents be put into speedy execution I have sent
may be forthwith out of Danger which prevents my saying more at present but that I am c. LETTER CLXVII To the Mareschals Chaunes and Chatillon GENTLEMEN MOnsieur Noyers having acquainted you by the Return of Sieur Cornillon with the King's Pleasure as to the Propositions you made him my Business is only to inform you of his Majesty's great Satisfaction for your being left in so good Condition and to assure you afresh of the continuance of my Friendship and Service and that I would be glad at any time to give you all imaginable Demonstrations by making his Majesty sensible of your great Worth and Courage In the mean time be assured that I am c. A BILLET To both the Same THis Billet is to desire Messieurs the Mareschals Chaunes and Chatillon not to fail to march to Morrow which is the Third and that because I have just receiv'd News of M. Mellerave that he will be to Morrow at Hanap where he will expect the said Mareschals the same day The Enemies believe that Monsieur Melleraye is to besiege Avesnes where they have lately augmented their Garison with 3000 Men. And he will do what he can to confirm 'em in that belief But as that cannot continue long it will be your Business Gentlemen to make haste that they may surprize 'em in the places you know of Monsieur Melleraye sends me word that it will be necessary to take three Castles in the way viz. Olhein Contay and Brouay He believes they can't resist the whole Army long He thinks it necessary to demolish Brouay and keep the other two to favour the Campagn I earnestly request Messieurs the Mareschals to redouble their endeavours that the King's designs may succeed and to believe that I will be always as serviceable to them as they could wish LETTER CLXIX To both the Same GENTLEMEN THe knowledge you have more than me That if possible it were good to have two Strings to one's Bow encourages me to think you will not take it amiss if I propose that in your Journey to Lillers if you could surprize St. Venant which is but two Leagues off it would much facilitate your besieging Ayre providing your first design should happen to fail As I desire you to consider of this so I would not have you undertake it by any means if you think it improper Monsieur Paluau will acquaint you with Monsieur Melleraye's Sentiments hereupon In the mean time be assured that I am unfeignedly c. A MEMOIR To the Mareschals Chaunes and Chatillon GENTLEMEN THe Generals are desir'd to have their Convoys very strong as well of Horse as Foot 'T is thought that eight days hence there may be ready at Dourlans 700000 Rations of Bread or Bisket which are after the rate of 30000 Rations per day for 23 days To convey these to the Camp 't is suppos'd there will come 14000 Horse which may serve for 350 Carts which will bring 280000 Rations after the rate of 800 Rations every Cart. Also there must be two Turns made successively and this over and above the Carts that are to be found in the Country which must be also taken great care of Moreover the Generals must cause so many Equipages in every Regiment to be laid down that their Horses may be spar'd to carry Bread to the Camp and this paying 'em for it Monsieur Cornillon informs us one thing of great importance which is That the Peasants will scarce arrive time enough to make the Circumvallation We shall not be wanting in the mean time to hasten 'em if the Generals do but acquaint us they insist upon their coming Nevertheless they are desir'd to cause the Soldiers to work with great diligence paying 'em well for it This will be a good subsistance till their Pay comes which we design to dispatch from Paris in two days The Generals are also desir'd to set a Price on Corn that is brought to their Camp and to make a Magazine of it and get it ground by the Mills in their Quarters and afterwards to have Bread made Monsieur de Saint Preuil advises us that there are certain small Castles between Dourlans and Arras which may be apt to disturb the Convoys But Monsieur Melleraye has promis'd to take care to get 'em into our Hands Monsieur Noyers will be the 18th of June at Amiens to expedite Matters further and the King the 20th at the same place LETTER CLXXI. To both the Same GENTLEMEN I Can never enough express my joy for the happy beginning of your Siege and which I hope will have the like prosperous end For this purpose I think it absolutely necessary that you push on the Circumvallation with all imaginable diligence and prevent by your vigilance and carefulness the Enemies putting any new Succours into the place By these means I don't question but you 'll accomplish your undertaking I wish it with a great deal of earnestness as well for the King's Honour as your Reputation To both which I am a hearty Well-wisher being cordially c. LETTER CLXXII To both the Same GENTLEMEN THE King arriving here Yesterday was extreamly pleased when I acquainted him that you work on the Circumvallation with a great deal of Diligence His Majesty says likewise that on the first 15 days chiefly depends the Success of such an Enterprize whereupon he has commanded me to conjure you from him to redouble your Care and to push on the Circumvallation with so great Vigour that the Enemies may have no Hopes of relieving the Place but by Force We shall take care you want no Provisions and over and above what we now send you at the end of this Month you shall have Biscuit Bread and Meal sent you for the next And for this purpose you must provide a place to secure it whether it be by raising a Magazin or placing it in Monsieur Melleraye's Quarters as we have writ more particularly to the Bishop of Auxerre The Pay is certainly by this time gone from Paris wherewith you may acquaint your Army and that by God's Assistance you shall want for nothing that is in the Power of c. LETTER CLXXIII To the Mareschals Chaunes and Chatillon GENTLEMEN THese few Words are only to advise you to order your Convoys for the future so strong that they may have no occasion to be afraid of the Enemy 'T is thereupon absolutely the good Fortune of your Siege depends wherefore I am assur'd of your utmost Diligence I desire you to be mindful of this Advice since the Enemies have no other way to frustrate your Designs I beg of you to make me easie in this Particular assoon as possible and to be assur'd that I am and will be always c. A MEMOIR To both the Same GENTLEMEN IF the Generals instead of the before-mentioned Cavalry will send 500 good Horse to Monsieur de Saint-Preuil we will put the Regiment of Plessis-Praslin into Luchen together with Molondin's Swiss Company of
120 Men. With these Monsieur de Saint-Preuil may depart from Dourlans to Guard the Convoy to Luchen providing that at a certain time the Generals will send a greater Convoy to see 'em further to the Camp Monsieur Nantueil is at Ancre with 250 Horse to obviate the Motions of the Garison of Bapaume The same Day the Convoy goes from Dourlans he shall march from Ancre to lie upon the Road with 200 Horse and to come to Leuchen in case they should meet with the Enemy These Proposals are sent to Monsieur Saint-Preuil for his Opinion until the General shall send theirs LETTER CLXXV To both the Same GENTLEMEN I Take my Pen to rejoyce for the good Condition the Sieur de Choupes has inform'd us he left your Works in likewise for the Zeal and Affection which I find you continue for the King's Service and the good Effects we have reason to promise ourselves from your Siege I have just now learnt that the 200 Spaniards which Monsieur Ranzau surrounded had submitted themselves which I take to be a matter of no small Consequence I think you would do well to send 'em the first Convoy to Dourlans whence they may be brought to this City where they shall be well guarded In the mean time we may be inform'd of their Quality and what Exchange is proper to be made The Army's Pay is come hither which waits only the Grand Convoy to depart I don't question but you 'll give all requisite Orders for its Security The King promises himself that you will open your Trenches as soon as possible and that you will carry on your Attacks briskly I shall not fail to recommend your good Services to his Majesty as often as you shall give me occasion assuring you that I am c. P. S. I pray you to have particular care of the 200 Spanish Prisoners and to send 'em safe hither There is great likelyhood there may be some considerable Officers amongst them under Disguise A BILLET To both the Same and Monsieur Melleraye SIR THis Billet comes to acquaint the Generals that the King extreamly wonders when he had made known to 'em several times that the Grand Convoy was to be the last of June at Dourlans which consists of 40 Days Provision Battering Cannon and other sorts of Ammunition together with the entire Pay of both Armies that they should send to Dourlans but 1000 Horse and 600 Foot to guard ' em I should think if they had not some Divine Assurance of their being secure they must needs have been extreamly unadvised to hazard to considerable a Booty For this Reason the King has stopt their going away till Tuesday that there may be sent 1000 Horse with 1500 Foot more to Dourlans as also another Body to march before the said Convoy till they are past the most dangerous Places This Affair is of so great Consequence both to the Siege of Aâras and the rest of his Majesty's Designs that there could not be too great Care taken about it One Day 's Delay of the Convoy at Dourlans were sufficient to acquaint the Enemy or at least to spoil some of the Provisions LETTER CLXXVII To Mareschal Chatillon SIR HAving understood that the Circumvallation of Arras was entirely perfected I could not help expressing my Satisfaction about it and the rather to see French-men accomplish that which the Hollanders could not do in so short a time I hope the Conclusion of your Siege will be as fortunate as the beginning was prosperous and which that it may be I 'll assure you neither my Prayers nor Endeavours shall be wanting as also to seek all occasions to testifie how much I am c. LETTER CLXXVIII To the Mareschals Chaunes and Chatillon GENTLEMEN A Man must be blind that is not sensible that if the Enemies had had a mind to attack the Circumvallation they would not have done it before now and that at present if they have any such Design they must needs be guilty of an unconceivable Extravagance which is neither consistent with the Spaniards Humour nor the present Condition of the Low Countries which would be entirely ruin'd if they should once lose a Field-battle This once granted which is not only certain but evident there 's no body but must conclude their Designs could not be any other than to ântercept the Convoys Also over and above this general Reason if they lay in wait at Beaufort as was reported it is plainly demonstrated Then the chief Business the Generals ought to have on their side as we on ours is to send a great Convoy by which means the Siege of Arras may be continued without Interruption When it is ready to set out the Generals ought to send a strong Body of Horse to meet 'em within a League and half of the Place whence they come that they may have no Reason to apprehend any Danger in their Journey If the Enemies continue at Beaufort the Generals will do well if they can to cut off some of their Convoys I also conjure once more the Generals to remember that if they don't secure our Convoy to which we can fit out but 1600 Horse and 9000 Foot in vain do they labour at the Siege of Arras which must be taken whatever rate it be at LETTER CLXXIX To all three the Same GENTLEMEN WEdnesday or Thursday Night Mareschal Melleraye will come out of his Camp with 3500 Horse and seem to go to Miraumont but at the same time will march directly towards Vaux in the Road to Peronne At this Juncture we 'll dispatch away our Troops of Corbie for Miraumont and yet the whole Body shall go but to Ancre while Parties only advance to make 'em believe all will follow At the same time we 'll dispatch a false Convoy from Dourlans which shall go as far as the Mountains By these means the Enemy will have no regard but to Dourlans and Corbie and give us leasure to dispatch in the Night from Peronne a small Convoy of 200 Carriages which Monsieur de Melleraye is to meet near Vaux LETTER CLXXX To all three the Same GENTLEMEN WE have return'd Choupes to have by him your last Resolution about the joining and which shall be punctually perform'd according to the Report he makes For fear he should be taken you would do well to send a Duplicate of what he brings by two other different Dispatches The Enemies are at Pas. You must also take care to provide for the Security of the Pass from Corbie to Miraumont as also from the Camp to the same place If the Troops of Leschelle are returned being strengthned by Horse we believe ours may go securely to Miraumont As to the Convoy which is to march the Day after the joining it is the General 's business to secure it by an opposite Campment to the Enemies that they may not be able to cut off the Pass between Miraumont and Ancre We 'll reserve 2000 Foot to guard the said Convoy
Xaintonge by Sea which is the Reason that without great Incommodities and wasting the Scason they cannot be otherwise had But as the Armies lie this way will be the most convenient Also providing the Armies were at Marquion the Convoys could not come by Dourlans because of the Promise to the Merchants therefore there would be much greater Difficulty for the Carriages to come so near Bapaume than there is at present And tho' they could be secur'd from time to time by sufficient Convoys yet the Sutlers coming to and fro being very necessary for the Armies better Subsistence would be absolutely interrupted These Reasons conclude That tho' there be some small Inconveniences to be sufferâd even where the Army of Monsieur Chatillon is at present yet it is much better than to tempt unavoidable Hazards in going by Marquion Whereupon Mareâchal Chatillon is desir'd to make use of such Prudence Industry and Authority as Matters may proceed more conformable to good Conduct and the earnest Wishes of his most Affectionate Servant c. LETTER CXCVI. To the Same SIR I Have received with a great deal of Satisfaction the News that Monsieur Mont-bas brought me on your Account I hope it will always be to good Effect and that God will be pleased to continue the King's Success under your Command I wish it with a great deal of Sincerity and intreat you to believe that I will always endeavour to make your Merits sufficiently known I say nothing of your continuing in the Quarters where you are or thereabouts because I writ largely of it yesterday and that Monsieur Noyers has writ you of it at present I shall conjure you only to consider well of it and to be secure of the Continuance of my Friendship and Service and that I am assuredly c. LETTER CXCVII To Mareschal Schomberg SIR I Have seen your Letter importing That the Spaniards had a Design to besiege Narbonne now they had agreed with the Catalonians Whereupon I shall only say that such Advice ought not to be altogether rejected tho for my part I cannot believe they will undertake such an Enterprize so late in the Year and in a Country where there is neither Forage nor Wood to be had Nevertheless 't is good to be on our Guard that we may not be surprized There can be nothing more done for the Town 's Security than what you acquaint me has been already if it were to be attacked and I assure myself you will not be less careful and well-affected to prepare and assemble your Forces to drive out the Enemies if they should enter your Province Nothing shall be wanting from hence to assist you as Monsieur Noyers has writ you more at large to whom I refer you for further Instructions assuring you that I am affectionately yours c. LETTER CXCVIII. To Mareschal de Chatillon SIR YOU will know by Monsieur Heudicourt what I think farther requisite to be done for the rest of your Campagne I earnestly desire you to recruit your Horse well that being put into Garison they may be ready upon all occasions to resist the Enemy if they should be Fools enough to molest us at Arras I wish with all my Heart you may conclude your Campagne by beating up some of their Quarters if they shall give you an Opportunity to do it with good Success As I honour you extreamly I should be overjoy'd of having a fresh occasion of recommending your Deserts who am cordially c. LETTER CXCIX To Mareschal Schomberg SIR I Have often discoursed Monsieur Alby about matters relating to you His Letters I hope will sufficiently acquaint you with the Continuance of my Affection and Friendship All that I could desire for your greater Advantage is more Briskness The Prince is return'd towards your Government but which I hope will cause you no Uneasiness assuring you there is nothing in the Power of any Man that can prejudice you or hinder your Friends serving you to their Power He has assur'd me he has no ill Designs towards you there ãâ¦ã have ãâã fresh occasions to believe the contrary I desire you to think him your Friend Monsieur Noyers has writ you amply his Majesty's Mind as to the present Affairs I conjure you to be hearty and careful and to be assur'd that I am and will be always c. LETTER CC. To Monsieur Chatillon SIR THE great Desire I have to see the Canal of Loire in the Seine finish'd as soon as possible obliges me to conjure you anew as I have done often before to further the Work to your Power according to the Letters Pattents sent you The Offer the Undertakers make you to indemnifie you seems to me so reasonable that I don't doubt but you will be satisfy'd with it and therefore will not fail to encourage the said Undertakers speedily about it that it may be finished in October as they have promised me if they be not interrupted Doing this you will oblige me in particular to testifie upon all occasions how much I am c. LETTER CCI. To Mareschal Schomberg SIR IT having come to the King's Ears that you have not behav'd yourself to Monsieur Epinan as you ought I thought fitting as your Friend to acquaint you with it and to give you my Opinion that he being employ'd on so important an Account you ought not to have entertain'd him with such Coldness and Indifference but on the contrary to have assisted him to your Power that his Majesty's Business might be the likelier to succeed His Majesty promises himself this from your Affection and your Zeal ãâ¦ã on account of your own Interest assuring you I shall always endeavour to be serviceable and acquainting you I have no greater Pleasure in the World than to hear my Friends live in Amity together I believe you will do what is to be desired on your part as I earnestly conjure you as also to believe that I am truly c. LETTER CCII. To the Same SIR THE King having granted the Clergy a general Convocation the better to facilitate their assisting his Majesty with the Supplies desired I write you this Letter to desire you to employ your Interest jointly with the Prince that the Bishop of Nismes may be chosen for the Province of Narbonne and de Pamiers the Nephew or de Lombez for Toulouze Perhaps they may object that some of these were of the last Assembly But notwithstanding those who mean best think 'em the fittest to serve both Church and State Upon this occasion I am to inform you that the Regulations for deputing Bishops do not require observing either Place or Order I also desire you to take care that the Persons chosen for these Provinces of the second Order may be affable and easie to manage But you must be sure to conceal from all of 'em what I have writ to you hereupon Only you may let 'em know that I would be glad to have his Majesty satisfy'd herein In all which I
desire you to be assisting to your Power and to be secure I will secretly acquaint his Majesty with your great Zeal for his Service LETTER CCIII To the Same From the Sieur Bodin 's Apartment SIR YOu 'll find by Monsieur Noyers's Dispatch what the King's Service requires to be done for the Assistance of the Catalonians I conjure you therefore by the Affection I know you have for the Success of his Majesty's Affairs to omit nothing possible to effect it and to manage matters so as Monsieur Motte may speedily enter their Country with the Troops design'd for their Relief whilst you prepare the rest of the Forces to go and attack Collioure by Land as you are more amply advised by Monsieur Noyers I need not inform you how advantageous this will be because you may know it as well as I but I shall only tell you how much it imports his Majesty's Reputation to have it carryed on with all the Vigilance and Care imaginable I am the better assur'd of your Diligence in that you know how obliging it will be to me and extreamly serviceable to his Majesty whom I shall always influence with your Deserts as I am sincerely c. P. S. I have just now order'd away Monsieur Bazanzon to Monsieur Bourdeaux to press him to put to Sea as soon as possible with the Vessels and Gallies under his Command to go and relieve the Catalonians and to make themselves Masters of Cap de Quieres and from thence to sail instantly to Collioure to assist you by Sea in taking that Place LETTER CCIV. To the Same SIR THE Confidence I put in Monsieur Bezanzon prevents my saying any thing more than that I desire you to give entire Credit to him that you may make haste to enter Rousillon to attack Collioure by Land as has been order'd you The Affair is of so great Importance both to the King's Service and your Reputation and so very easie if well undertaken as you have confessed that I not doubt but you will accomplish what his Majesty has commanded I conjure you to lose no time about it but to believe that I am c. LETTER CCV To the Chancellour SIR THE Interest of the State having been always what I have only had before my Eyes I think at present that the Publick ought to be altogether satisfy'd by the knowledge of Monsieur Vendosme's Design against me if I request his Majesty to pardon the said Monsieur Vendosme and to approve of the Resolution I have taken to think no more of the Ill projected against me The King's Clemency upon this account not being granted but upon my most humble Supplication will I hope prevent their believing any likelyhood of such Undertaking for the future his Majesty's Mercy being the chief Means to stop it I beg of you that you would get his Pardon pass'd and believe that I am Sir your most affectionate Friend and humble Servant c. LETTER CCVI. To Mareschal Chatillon SIR HAving acquainted the King with your further Desires to have the Regiment of Piemont sent you his Majesty has been pleased to do me the Honour to let me know he is willing it shall be so And now you having all that you can ask to put your Designs in Execution I hope you will not be backward in your Proceedings but that you may speedily accomplish your Intentions is the hearty Desire of c. LETTER CCVII. To the Same SIR THE King sends you Monsieur Fabert to acquaint you anew that he approves your Design propos'd to him upon Sedan but that he would have you first take Bouillon as a place that may be capable of giving you a great deal of Diversion We are inform'd the Enemies intend to fortifie Torcy the bare Prospect of which is so great a Dishonour to the King's Arms that I do not doubt but you 'll speedily prevent 'em putting their Design in Execution Remember Sir it very much concerns your Reputation to let your Soldiers lie idle when they have so fair an Opportunity to interrupt so disadvantageous a Design which I am confident they can never be able to maintain The particular Kindness I have for you over and above my Zeal for the King's Interest causes me to conjure you to lose not one Minute whereby you may advance your Name to that degree the Honour of your Ancestors requires I am c. LETTER CCVIII To the Same SIR I Am extreamly concern'd for the Misfortune besel you God has been pleas'd to chastise the Count and to give us a slight Scourge We have all deserv'd it for our peculiar Faults and you particularly for want of Resolution to do that before which you know you were oblig'd to both by your Duty and Conscience I desire you to consider seriously of it and to believe that I am c. LETTER CCIX. To the Countess of Soissons MADAM I Can never enough express my Grief for your not having Command enough of your Son If he had hearkned to your Advice I am satisfy'd you would never have had the Affliction which his Fault and his Death together must needs occasion you I beseech God from the bottom of my Heart that he would be pleased to comfort you assuring you that I am c. A MEMOIR To the Mareschals Chatillon and de Brezé THE Generals will have to Day or to Morrow the 800 Swiss Guards in three Days more 700 Horse and in five or six Days after the Regiment of Monsieur Aumont The Cannon arriv'd yesterday at Retel After to Morrow they will have Muskets and Pikes for the unarmed Men and three Days after Cloaths and Shooes I entreat 'em to take particular Care to recruit both Horse and Foot that were defeated and to speak to all their Commanders and to animate every Soldier in particular to seek Revenge Monsieur Gremonville brings Money for the Soldiers that were broke till they can be re-admitted into the Body of the Army And till their Pay can be remitted he has a Fund of 12000 or 15000 Crowns to lend the Officers that have occasion I conjure the Generals to send out frequently such Parties that may be capable of informing 'em of their Enemies Motions I desire 'em also to lose no time in raising those Works that they shall judge necessary at Retel and Chateau-Portien to the end that if the Enemies March should oblige 'em to quit this Post to follow 'em they may leave the said Places secur'd by such Garisons as they shall think requisite LETTER CCX To the Mareschal Shomberg SIR I Can never enough thank you for your Remembrance of me as also for the Affection you express for me in your Letter of which I have never in the least doubted When the Siege of Perpignan is concluded you would oblige me to come hither assoon as possible Cardinal Mazarine shall meet you before you arrive at Monpellier to advise you what is thought fit to be done in pursuance of the Overture
different Sentiments thereupon What made me oppose your Journey at first was the knowledge I have of your Constitution which might be capable of Disorder But on the contrary the great Zeal I find you have to acquire Honour by your Arms made me easily consent to it as I do hereby a second time But nevertheless having seen a late Dispatch from Monsieur Vaubecourt I think it necessary you defer your going till Saint Michael be invested and your Troops gathered together It is impossible there should not a great many Changes happen in the Designs one undertakes in War because Resolutions must be taken upon the spot according to the Mation of the Enemies Otherwise one gains oftentimes more by Patience which is required in some occasions than by fighting which is the reason that the French Nation being very forward and hot in its Nature is esteem'd by all the World the least fit for War when those that are not so lively but more heavy and less fiery are thought the properest for it I humbly beg of your Majesty not to weary your self out nor to be vex'd at any Backwardness you may imagine in your Servants I can assure your Majesty that I think myself not a little oblig'd by the Letter you were pleas'd to honour me with and am of Opinion that if you had thought fit to chide me which you never yet did thro' the excess of your natural Goodness your manner of writing alone is so obliging that the satisfaction receiv'd by your charming words from the Pen of so great a King would abundantly surpass the Injury The Letter which you are concern'd about is far from offending the meanest of your Servants as your last has extraordinarily oblig'd him I return your Majesty a thousand humble thanks for your concern for the death of my Sister who I dare say is happy as well in respect of her being deliver'd from a great many pains she endured as for ending her days with so sincere a love towards her Maker I am and will be always c. LETTER CCXVIII To Monsieur Chavigny SIR I Send the King the Letter which he has desir'd by which he may find his Servants have not had any reason to Complain as in truth they never did only they must needs be a little affected with his Majesty's concern for them I have communicated to Monsieur Bullion the Article which the King was pleas'd to send me on the Reverse of one of his Letters which related to what Monsieur Hallier acquainted him That he had no Fund to subsist the Troops that should arrive Whereupon he has assur'd me and I know it to be true that there has been 20000 Livres put into Chauley's hands above these eight days for that purpose Also Monsieur Servien told me he had acquainted Monsieur Hallier that a Commissary of the Treasury and an Ammunition Officer were sent toward him And to be sure this Affair concerning him so much Monsieur Hallier by this time has not been wanting to take due care Nevertheless Monsieur Bullion has sent a second Order to dispatch another Commissary that there may be no further occasion of Complaint It were to to be wish'd that those who Command the Armies were as ready to obey Orders for their Subsistance as they are often forward to complain when for the most part their Negligence is the truest cause of their want LETTER CCXIX. To the KING SIR I Am overjoy'd to hear of your Health and to find there is nothing to be added to the Answer which your Majesty writ Monsieur Angoulesme and to the Resolution which had been taken I don't believe those of St. Michael expect your Majesty so soon which I would not have 'em that your Soldiers may surprize and plunder 'em out of hand Monsieur Angoulesme will no doubt be convinc'd by your Dispatch that you know more of the Matter than he And I cannot help once more acquainting your Majesty That nothing could be better thought on than what you commanded him and no more proper way to convince him of the weakness of his Designs The Swiss cannot be better bestow'd than where your Majesty designs 'em in Champagne and Picardy where I shall not fail to solicite earnestly Monsieur Chatillon to employ 'em in something that may be for your Majesty's Advantage After all I cannot but expect good Success from the Prudent Measures your Majesty takes If my Life could deliver you from Melancholly which I know afflicts you sometimes I would freely lay it down for that purpose But as it cannot I shall only study to preserve it to be employ'd as often as there shall be occasion for the greatest and best Master in the World to whom I will be eternally c. LETTER CCXX To the KING SIR I Am rejoyc'd to hear by the Count That your Majesty was never better in health than on your Journey as likewise by the last Letters from Monsieur Bouthillier that you had taken Physick whence thro' God's Assistance we may hope a good Effect The Count also acquainted me calmly with the Affronts he thought he had receiv'd complaining openly only of his Misfortune and Monsieur Chavigny who he was of opinion had power to prevent it I told him what I thought requisite upon the matter and must needs say I left him pretty well satisfied I can never enough wonder at the Baseness Ignorance or Malice of those who as your Majesty acquaints me endeavour to disparage your Designs But I think it necessary to stop those Gentlemens Mouths as soon as possible in the same manner as your Majesty has done formerly some others The Pope treats the Duke of Parma after that rate that it is necessary we take speedy care about him The Affair of Clauzel is of great Importance but having writ largely of all to Monsieur Chavigny I shall trouble your Majesty with no more but that I am and will be always c. LETTER CCXXI To Monsieur Bouthillier SIR I Suppose the Rebels of St. Michel won't go far beyond that place without being taken by Force or surrendering at Discretion I know the King is resolv'd to use 'em with a great deal of Rigour and I 'll assure you it is a matter of so great importance that it is scarce to be exprest My Thoughts are That the Officers deserve an immediate Punishment even next to death As to the common Soldiers the Gallies would be very proper for them as the only means that should be allow'd to save their lives For what belongs to the Inhabitants the Officers of Parliament and others the Councel of Ruel thinks they are to be divided into two Classes First Those that have fomented and favoured Duke Charles's Party contrary to their Oath of Allegiance to the King And Secondly Those that were drawn in Meré passive 'T is thought the King might pardon the first Class but as to the second they ought to be all hang'd unless the number be too great in
which case the King might pack off the most factious and decimate the others or send 'em to the Gallies As for the Jurisdiction of the Parliament of St. Michel 't is thought best to add it to the Soveraign Council of Nancy I say nothing of the Walls of the City because every body knows the King has already condemned them In a word the present Affairs require some Examples made more than ordinary otherwise we shall have Rebels so frequently in Lorrain that there will never be an end and the King shall have no sooner turn'd his back but they 'll rise again The Lord-Keeper and you are earnestly desir'd to see that a false Generosity of some great Lords may not prevail with the King in behalf of any one where his future Welfare requires so great rigour I am very well satisfy'd with Monsieur Bonthillier's Conduct and that the Posts between the Cardinal de la Valette and you are open As also that you intend to lose no time after the taking St. Michel to send towards Metz what Troops the King orders to keep those parts free from factious Spirits that may infect ' em I very much wonder at the Malice of Cramaik a Person you have writ me by the King's Order twice about I am overjoy'd his Majesty has intercepted his Designs and esteem myself not a little indebted that he would be pleas'd to acquaint me so soon of it Principiis Obsta The Remedy of Provence is very proper upon this Occasion One ill Man may corrupt a great many at Court LETTER CCXXII To the KING SIR I Praise God with all my heart for your Majesty's health and with which I begin my Letter because 't is what I desire most I can never be enough thankful for the Account you were pleas'd to send me of the Person that had a mind to lengthen out your Majesty's Affairs which I have Answered by Monsieur Chavigny who pursuant to your Orders sent me the particulars Having no more to add to the Memoire I have sent him to Communicate to your Majesty I shall not lengthen this Letter but to give you a Million of thanks for bestowing an Abby at my Request upon Cavois I have so many occasions every day to testifie my Acknowledgments to your Majesty that not thinking words good enough I do solemnly protest I will make it the business of my Life to confirm by my Actions how much I am c. LETTER CCXXIII. To the Same SIR BEing in so good humour as I am inform'd by Monsieur Bouthillier your Majesty is at present I cannot think any ill can happen to you And I hope that St. Michael being once taken which I know can never-resist your Presence long you will pursue your design to assist Messieurs Angoulesine and de la Force who thereby may be able to gain such advantage over Duke Charles as you can wish and which I am sure I desire with a great deal of earnestness that I may see you once again return glorious from the Field Monsieur Vitry by two successive Courriers assures us the Spaniards will be able to effect nothing in Provence All the Countrey is sheltred towards St. Margarite and St. Honorate by great Heats There is no Harbour in these Islands They cannot well land any where Also the said Sieur Vitry assures us That he has so plentifully provided the Isles of Hieres with Men and all sorts of Ammunition that there is nothing to be feared There is nothing new from Italy I have sent one of my Gentlemen to the Duke of Savoy to press him to do what he ought pursuant to the Treaty made with your Majesty The Duke of Parma's Valour and Conduct is spoken of here with great Admiration LETTER CCXXIV. To the Same SIR 'T IS impossible for me to express the satisfaction I have to hear by Monsieur Bouthillier of your Majesty's good Humour and Health who has also acquainted me how differently your Troops live now they are with you than when they were from you Every body knows and one may speak it without flattery that no Person can equal your Majesty in communicating Orders I cannot comprehend my Transport for Cardinal de la Valette's Advantage over his Enemies I am assur'd your Majesty's Forces have perform'd wonders there so that you would do well to harress 'em no more but let 'em have a little rest after their so great Fatigue I pray God with all my heart to give your Majesty as good success over the Lorrainers that your Expedition may be as prosperous as you could wish or I earnestly desire c. LETTER CCXXV. To the Same SIR I Am very glad that St. Michael is surrender'd which is the beginning of the Glory and the Advantage which I hope you will reap by this Expedition provided that your Majesty put in Execution that which Monsieur Bouthillier tells me you propose you will gain much towards the Peace of Lorrain That which you were pleased to grant in the Capitulation is very judicious because it doth not hinder you from keeping all the Ring-leaders of the War in Prison nor from sending the Soldiers to the Gallies and chastizing some of the most factious Inhabitants and keeping two hundred Wagons six Months as your Majesty's Gentleman reports I beseech you in the Name of God not to decline from your first Design which is so necessary to your Reputation and Welfare which without this wholsom Rigour will always be beginning and never accomplished I have sent a short Memorial to Renaudat I believe he has not prevented me being well acquainted with your Majesty's Humour I have a lively Representation of your Impatience to perform some eminent Attempt to the Prejudice of Duke Charles I heartily desire of God that it may succeed that your Majesty may return with as much Glory and Contentment as is desired by c. LETTER CCXXVI To the Same SIR I Can never sufficiently condole your Majesty's Concern for the Inconstancy of the French If the Lease of my Life would afford you any Comfort I would gladly lay it down Your Predecessors have laboured under the same Difficulties and your Successors will do the same Things will take their Course I send back to your Majesty that which we thought most seasible upon the Advice which your Majesty was pleased to send us wherein as you did me the Honour to send to me we have always follow'd that which my Cousin Melleraye gave you I believe it is necessary that you send it as it is signed by your Majesty if you think it convenient to change nothing I conjure your Majesty by the Name of God not to be dejected and be assured that when you return hither you will be looked upon by Paris and the whole World as you were in times past as the best Master that ever was We have already consider'd what we must say and write both in the Kingdom and to Embassadors upon your Majesty's Return that your Majesty
being gone to appease the Commotions of Lorrain and to raise a powerful Army and after that to reinforce the Cardinal de la Valette and d' Angoulesme and de la Force thought it convenient in this Juncture to return to the Center of his Affairs to send necessary Orders to all other Places and to raise new Forces against Spring Therefore pray let not your Majesty be in pain and be assured that I will omit nothing for the future as in times past which may depend upon me for your Service and Satisfaction of which I will always have more Care than of my own Life as being c. LETTER CCXXVII To Monsieur d'Hemery SIR THE Loss of Revel ought to make Madam sensible that she herself is lost if she do not immediately make use of some extraordinary means to save herself It is indeed necessary to have Cahours but that doth not heal the Distemper with which we are troubled since it is but a Magpy's Nest on the top of a Tree and requires Time and Pains and vast Charges to fortifie the bottom Madam is in jest to think of surrendring this Place upon the Terms of Revel his Majesty will in no wise hear it spoke of therefore it must be surrendred at Discretion I told the Embassadour who will write conformably that it is altogether necessary that Cahours be kept by the King's Troops Here is a Discourse that to find a speedy Remedy for these Evils we must some way or other take Coni it is easie to mention what we ought to desire for the re-establishment of Affairs For this purpose we ought to retake Coni and Revel Ast Villeneuve d'Ast or Verrue but I fear much it will be difficult In the mean time we must strive to attain this End and to disarm Turin If you are at a distance from Madam send de la Cour thither with Instructions necessary to the Safety of Italy That Coni may be reduc'd with ease This is all Care must be taken that Longueville sit down before it before the Enemy suspects any thing of it To this end Cardinal de la Valette must oppose them in some advantageous place while Longueville shall make a Retreat to go to Coni. We rely on their Prudence Count Philippes hath sent great Complaint of you to the Embassadour of Savoy but as you may easily imagine we laughed at it and I told the Embassadour what was convenient upon that Account I am c. LETTER CCXXVIII To Monsieur d'Hemery SIR I Am much amazed to understand by Degraves that the Inhabitants of the three Towns which Madam has put in the King's Hands are not disarm'd If you have a mind to lose them you must delay as you do now every thing that is necessary for their Security If the Inhabitants are not already disarmed fail not to do it immediately upon the Receipt of this âithout losing one Moment it being the only Means to preserve the said Places for Madam I think you ought to have done it before and to have omitted it is pure Madness I expect upon this occasion which is of very great Consequence the Effects of your Care and Diligence and in the mean time assure you that I am c. LETTER CCXXIX To Monsieur de la Cour. SIR I Cannot be sufficiently amazed at the Continuation of Madam's Blindness because it is to that degree that it exposes her to a certain Ruin I know not what can hinder her from accomplishing the Establishment which she promised to make in Montmillian and Savoy because she cannot be secure without it Tell her from me that which I now write and let her know that if we can find no Security in what she promises for herself we will have no further Negotiation with her I am glad that Don Felix and the Marquess of St. Morice promote the Execution of the things promised upon that account they testifie thereby the Zeal they have for Madam's Security and Reputation Having seen the Complaints which you say the Marquess of St. Germain makes because he received no Reward from the King while he was at Grenoble nor the others who were with Madam I cannot sufficiently wonder why he himself doth not acknowledge that it was done on purpose for fear of making him suspected and to give no opportunity to those who would hinder this Establishment to be able to do it If he thinks that the King's Liberality is abridged he is mistaken Let him take care to deserve and we will procure him a Reward You will oblige me if by a cleanly Conveyance you will let those who are concern'd know the Contents of this Letter I recommend to your Care the Fort of Perouza and the Soldiers Quarters and to impart to us what things are necessary so opportunely that we may provide them in due time In the mean time be assured that I continue my Friendship and am c. LETTER CCXXX To Monsieur de la Cour. SIR THE Advice that we have had that the Cardinal of Savoy and Prince Thomas have Practices and Intelligence in Madam's Court by which they are contriving great Designs obliging me to inform her Highness that she may apply some necessary Remedies I also think it convenient to impart it to you that being inform'd thereof you may act more conveniently for her Good and the King's Service To that end I send you a Memorial which will let you know his Majesty's Intentions and that which he judges convenient for Madam to do at this Juncture to prevent the Mischiefs that her Enemies are preparing for her The Confidence she has in you the Zeal you have for the King's Service your Prudence and Address perswade me that her Highness will have great Regard for what you will say upon this occasion and that his Majesty will be very well satisfy'd with your Negotiation I desire it both for his particular Interest and your own which shall be ever recommended by c. LETTER CCXXXI To Monsieur de la Cour. SIR AFter I had received your last Letters concerning the impertinent Proposals which were made to Madam by Monety and Father Michel-Ange d'Aglie I desired that Mondin should go to her immediately to let her know what I think convenient to preserve her from absolute Ruine You will see the particulars I have wrote to her Highness by the Copy of the Letter I send to you according to which you may act vigorously The King has this confidence in you that when there happens some unforeseen occasions which may destroy Madam you have Foresight Power and Courage enough to oppose them and to prevent her from comming irreparable Faults I do not know how Men are so impudent as to dare to advise Madam to sign something with her Enemies before she first consults the King on whom alone depends all her Protection and how Madam is not sensible that such Men being desirous of her ruine that she ought by timely Remedies to prevent their
Comprotection of France in the Person of Cardinal Anthony because he only desired he should Exercise that Office to let the World know the particular Affection he has to the Pope's Family and to have more Ways to keep the two Brothers united when their Interests shall more require it They shall also particularly make known to Cardinal Anthony the Satisfaction the King has in him and shall give him Assurance of his Protection and Assistance in all things They shall communicate to Cardinal Bentivoglio the Resolution the King takes to put an end to the Preconisation of the Consistorial Benefices till the Pope putting an end to the Prohibition which he has given Cardinal Anthony repair the Injury which by that means they would do France And shall let him know That it is not that his Majesty dislikes that he should continue to Execute the Office of Comprotector but only that he might not give this Advantage to the Spaniards to think that France yields to their Desires In the mean time if his Holiness coming to himself will give his Majesty that Satisfaction which Justice and Reason require permitting Cardinal Anthony to Exercise the Functions of the Office of Comprotector for whom it doth not seem that the Pope has lost his Cause and the King has gained his yet his Majesty thinks it good that the Embassadours consent to this following Expedient which is That it be a Month before Cardinal Anthony execute the Functions of his Office in the Consistory upon condition that from that moment his Holiness pass his Word to the said Embassadours That from that time he shall agree That he Execute his Office without having a new Licence from his Holiness This Overture has not been made to Cardinal Bichi that the Embassadours may be able to manage it so much the better because they only are acquainted with it If the Pope is not satisfied things shall be left in the forementioned condition without any Preconisation of the French Affairs in the Consistory yet Mareschal Crequi shall return by the way of Venice giving his Holiness a Testimony That the Respect his Majesty has for the Church is such That notwithstanding former Passages the King has not failed to give him order to Negotiate the Pope's Affairs at Venice as tho' his Majesty had not been disobliged In taking leave of his Holiness the said Mareschal as well on the King 's as his own part shall make him all the Compliments imaginable assuring him withal That his Majesty will never change his Resolution concerning the Comprotection being by no means able to endure that any other beside Cardinal Anthony exercise that Office LETTER CCXLVII. To the POPE Most Holy FATHER AMong other Displeasures with which the Piety of the King is afflicted as he beholds the Miseries the Church suffers by the Division and Discord of Christian Princes his Majesty has been sensibly dissatisfied with the evil Proceedings of some of the Spanish Ministers toward your Holiness and with the little Respect which was paid you by one of those who are the most obliged to honour you I cannot enough admire that he has so far forgot himself as to have used nothing but Complaints and some less decent Terms instead of Praises and most humble Thanks which are due to the singular Goodness and Wisdom of your Government Your Holiness has always appeared so manifestly to desire the Peace of Christendom and to appease the Differences which might trouble it that there is no body if he be not prejudiced with Passion but must acknowledge that you have omitted nothing that you thought convenient to promote so good a Design If amongst all those who are compell'd to behold this Truth some do profess the contrary any Man may plainly see that it is Interest alone which makes them shut their Eyes at Justice and open their Mouths to speak against the Sentiments of their own Conscience It seems that God has permitted things of this nature which are lately pass'd that your Holiness may receive new Testimonies of the Zeal of the most pious and the greatest-Prince of Christendom who will always think it a singular Glory to promote your Interest and to partake of the Cares and the good Resolutions your Holiliness has always had for the Advancement of Religion and the Establishment of the Publick Tranquility to which he thinks it will not a little contribute to let the World know the Deference which is due to the Holy Chair and to the Person of a Pope of such rare and singular Vertues as your Holiness As for me most holy Father I should think my self altogether unworthy of the Honour I have in the Church and the Favours I receive from so vertuous a Prince as he is to whose Service I am devoted with all manner of respects if I did not earnestly desire that Peace which your Holiness and his Majesty so passionately wish for Christendom which has hitherto been disturbed by those who desire to appear contrary to one another I hope that God will make this Truth more manifest to the World and that your Holiness will have reason to confess that as the King gladly makes use of all his Power to the Glory of God the Good of the Church and the Publick Tranquility he will lose no opportunity to give you Proofs of his sincere Affection for the interest of your Family which according to his Intentions and your Holiness's Merits I will always endeavour to promote as it is my Duty who am c. LETTER CCXLVIII To the Same Most Holy Father THo' the Choice which it has pleased your Holiness to make of the Person of Monsieur Mazarin to employ him in the Negotiation of the Affairs of Italy makes every one conceive how capable you judged him for it I think myself obliged to give this Testimony of him That he has behaved himself so well that beside the Love of all the Princes with whom he has treated which he has gained the King also was very much satisfy'd with him He will assure your Beatitude of the sincere Affections his Majesty has for you and to what degree he honours you not only by reason of your Dignity but also because of the great Merits of your Person As to my particular I most humbly beseech you to believe that I perceive myself so inseparably united to this Duty that all my Actions shall be so many Proofs of this Truth and of the Zeal and inviolable Constancy with which I am and ever will be c. LETTER CCXLIX To the Same Most Holy Father I Have this great while struggled in my self if I ought to represent to your Holiness the great Mischiefs which France suffers by reason of the Delays which for some time have been made use of in the Court of Rome in the Expedition of the Bulls of the Bishops nominated to your Holiness by his Majesty but at last the Salvation of Souls the Reputation of your Holiness and the Fear of my being
desired your Highness and do yet repeat my Desires by these Lines conjuring you to believe that as to my particular I will have such Sentiments of it as you may expect from c. LETTER CCLIV To the Same SIR I Am particularly obliged to your Highness for the favour you were pleased to do me in sending Count Scarnasis to give me a Visit and to assure me of your Good-will I always promised myself that I should find in you that dispotion which you testifie you have in the King's satisfaction and that you will shew him the Effects of it upon the present Occasion So I desired you to believe that you may be assured of his Majesty's Affections and of all those of his House And as to my particular I will serve you to my utmost I have particularly made known to the said Count Scarnasis my earnest Desires of the Peace not only of Italy but of all Christendom To which I will gladly contribute all that may reasonably be expected from a Person who really is c. LETTER CCLV. To Victor Amedeus Duke of Savoy SIR I Was very glad to hear News of your Highness by the Sieur d'Inchamp who assuring me of your good Health confirm'd in me the belief of your Affection to the King's Service And as an Answer to what you were pleased to write I tell you that the sincerity of the King's Intentions is such that as yet it hath had no other design in the Affairs of Italy than to deliver the Duke of Mantua from his Persecutions in a mild and loving way He has long hoped for this happiness but the Delays of Spain and the several Puttings-off which happened in all the Passages of this Affair having given him great reason to believe that the Enemies of the Duke of Mantua were pleased to speak of an Agreement and Peace with a design to do neither he is resolved to send me into Italy as the fore-runner of himself with a considerable Army and he has given me such precise Orders that I have not the liberty of changing them The first is To lose no time Which makes me desire you quickly to open the Magazines of Savoy according to the Promise you made to Mareschal Crequi that the King's Army may begin to pass the 25th of this Month. His Majesty will be obliged by it and I in particular who am and ever will be c. LETTER CCLVI. To the Princess of Piedmont MADAM YOur Highness honours me a thousand times more than I deserve in vouchsafing to send me a Visit by the Sieur Morguenay to testifie your Joy at my arrival in those Parts I want fit words to be able to express my sense of this Favour which I acknowledge I only owe to your Goodness I do not doubt but you 'll honour me with the continuation of your Good-will your Candour being so great that I look upon all your Words as infallible You will also believe I am certain that I will forget nothing which may merit so great an Honour which I esteem according to its quality having understood by the Letters which it pleas'd your Highness to write to me by the Sieur de l'Isle and afterward by Mareschal Crequi that you are pleased that I should have the honour of seeing you and that you would communicate to me some Particulars which you do not think convenient to trust in Writing Now that I may satisfie your Will and my Desire and Duty altogether I will not fail to send to you by the Mareschal de Crequi or the Sieur de l'Isle the means which I think proper to attain to this end In the mean time I desire you to be assured that no Man is more faithful to you than myself who will always give you such clear Proofs of this truth that you will have reason to confess me to be sincerely that which I am c. LETTER CCLVII To the Same from Pignerol MADAM ALl manner of Respect and Duty obliges me to seek an occasion by these Lines to give your Highness new Testimonies of the Passion which I always will have for your Service and of my Obedience and also to inform you that I am departing hence to meet the King at Lions where he commands me to wait upon him I think it also my Duty to tell you Maâam That I understand that his Majesty's intentions are not foreign to a Peace which may be concluded if it be desired upon reasonable Terms And if it be his Majesty desires that your Highness would send him the Approbation of the House of Savoy The Zeal that I know you have to promote this Affair will make me gladly contribute toward it according to my small ability by the performance of those things which his Majesty desires for your satisfaction and advantage I will assure the King and the Queen-mother of the tender Affection your Highness has for their Persons and of your Displeasure of all those Passages in which I beseech God to be your Comfort who often suffers Afflictions for a good end I will never have any other but to shew you by all manner of Proofs that I am and ever will be c. LETTER CCLVIII. To the Princess of Piedmont MADAM I Have receiv'd the Letter which your Highness was pleased to honour me with about the Death of the Duke of Savoy and the desire that you have of a lasting Peace in Italy I desire you to believe that the King has no less mind to it but he desires it may be firm reasonable and honourable in which the Queen-Mother and all their Majesties Servants have the like Sentiments As to my particular I would contribute my utmost to this end but those with whom we have to do are so far from it at present that they have depriv'd us of all hopes of it but let what will happen I will always honour your Highness as it is my duty and will testifie to you that I am more concern'd for your Interest than mine own having no greater passion than that to serve you and to let you know by real effects that I am as much as can be c. LETTER CCLIX To the Same MADAM I Will not omit this opportunity of assuring your Highness of the continuation of my most humble Service of which I shall always think myself happy to be able to give you proofs upon all occasions I do not write to you my unhappiness by incurring the Queen-Mother's displeasure because you may have learn'd it some other way I only beseech you to believe that that shall not hinder me from preserving the memory of your Obligations as long as I live and that I will serve you upon all occasions with all the fidelity that you may expect from a Creature wholly devoted to your Interest As to what concerns your Highness Madam you may be certain that I will honour you and will always have as great a care of your advantage as can be desired from c. LETTER
acquir'd upon this occasion in which truly he has omitted nothing which might be expected from his Prudence his Valour and Courage A Fortnight ago I took the Boldness to write to your Highness that considering the Duke of Savoy might have need of some Supply for the Expence he is obliged to I would endeavour to obtain him one of the King the first time I should have the Honour to see him now that I might keep my Promise and satisfie my Desire together I laid hold upon the Opportunity of the good News of the Success in Italy to make the Proposal to his Majesty who notwithstanding the great Affairs he has now in hand has chearfully granted him three hundred thousand Livres of which I shall give to our Embassadour good Bills of Assignment all payable within the Year I will be very diligent in this matter desiring to give your Highness a Testimony that not only upon this occasion but upon any other wherein your Interest and Satisfaction are concern'd you are more dear to me than my Life and that I am and ever will be c. LETTER CCLXX. To the Dutchess of Savoy MADAM I Cannot express to you my Resentment of the Injury the Cardinal of Savoy has done himself by running counter to his Duty and your Intentions without any Reason It is true that his Levity and Inconstancy will be blamed by the whole World But that which vexes me most is the mischievous Design that he and Prince Thomas may have for your Prejudice the King has so much tenderness to your Highness that he can never promise you any Assistance but he is better than his Word I can assure you that upon all Occasions and at all times I will forget nothing that may depend upon me not truly for your own Service but for all theirs who belong to you beseeching you to believe that tho' I have always hitherto been your Servant as much as may be I am now doubly so The King is very much assured of the Fidelity of the Duke of Savoy I will gladly be his Caution upon this or any other Article The Count of St. Morice has spoke to me about an Honour which your Highness designs to bestow upon me of which I think myself so unworthy that I dare not so much as think of it Those are Proofs of your excessive Bounty which oblige me more and more to be what I am c. LETTER CCLXXI. To the Same MADAM I Cannot sufficiently praise God for the happy Deliverance of your Highness from the Pains and Perils of Childbirth and for the new Blessing which he is pleased to add to your Family nor testifie to you my particular Joy for it I make no Answer to that which concerns the Design that your Highness is pleased to have upon this occasion relating to me because it is so much above me that I can but commend your Bounty from whence it proceeds and desire to be so happy as to be able to declare my Sence of it words being not capable to express it I will endeavour to supply that Defect by the best Services I am able to do you to let you see that no body is equally yours as is c. LETTER CCLXXII To the Same MADAM I Think it needless to declare to your Highness my Grief for the Duke of Savoy's Sickness and that your Knowledge of the Zeal and Passion I have always had for both your Persons is sufficient to make you conceive to what degree it is I will only tell you Madam that the King was sensibly affected with the News and the same Hour he heard it he dispatched this Gentleman to let you know his Concerns for it and to bring back the Conditions of his Health for which he is in much Pain I do not tell you Madam the Tenderness and Affection which it pleases his Majesty to declare to me he has for you upon account of this Sickness because besides that the Embassadour will not fail to make it known to you as also what we esteem proper for your Highness's Service in this Juncture I am sure you do not doubt but they are such as you desire I will only assure you by these Lines That if the Duke of Savoy should unfortunately dye which I hope God of his Mercy will prevent the King will omit nothing that may depend upon his Power and Authority to protect your Highness and to hinder that those who are Enemies of your Peace and have always envied your Virtue be not able to do you any Harm As to my particular Madam I beseech your Highness to believe That I will always esteem myself extreamly happy to employ the Remainder of my Life to second his Majesty's Intentions for your Advantage and to let you know by my Actions and Services that no body doth and will honour you with more Sincerity than myself nor is more truly what I always will be c. LETTER CCLXXIII To the Dutchess of Savoy MADAM AS our Affliction is unparalell'd so my Sorrow is ineffable I confess I was so surprized with this Misfortune which has happened not only to your Highness but to all Christendom that nothing but God can give me any Comfort It is from his Hand Madam that I expect your Highness will receive Consolation and from him alone so great a Distemper must have no less a Physician The King who will always look upon your Interests as his own is extreamly afflicted with this Accident You will receive whatever you may expect from his Benificence assuring you Madam that he will upon this occasion do more for your Highness than for himself As for me Madam be pleased to put me at the Head of all your most zealous Servants who always take most Care of your Concerns and who will omit nothing which they think may contribute to your Prosperity c. LETTER CCLXXIV To the Same MADAM THe more your Enemies strive to publish their mischievous Designs against your Person the more doth the Zeal which I have always had for your Highness's Service augment and I hope I shall be happy enough to find out some opportunity to give you new Proofs of it and by the same means discover to you the Designs of those who do not love your Highness and who desire to disturb your Peace are disappointed yet this matter depends upon your Highness's Conduct and the stout and good Resolutions which you shall take at your Entrance upon the Government to maintain your Authority and to prevent the Mischiefs which your Enemies would do you I pray your Highness to believe that the King will prevent it with all his Power and that as to my particular I honour you and will not omit my utmost to second his Majesty's Sentiments to your Advantage and to let you know at the same time that as your Highness has no Subject over whom you have a more absolute Power than myself so you have none who more really is and will
much as you can desire from a Person who is really as I am c. LETTER XV. To the Bishop of Marscilles HAving understood the Trouble to which your Grand Vicar puts the Carmelites of the Convent of the City of Marseilles in reference to their Privileges and his Rigour towards the Prioress governing the said Nuns I have sent you this Letter to intreat you to put a Stop to the Vicar's Proceedings and hinder him from dealing with 'em so severely which I do with so much the more Affection because that Order having been under my Protection over since the Death of Cardinal Berule it would be a hard Case that I should suffer those good Souls to be vex'd and turmoil'd with undeserv'd everities I make no question but you will apply all requisite Moderation as well for the Glory of God as for the Repose of the said Nuns who desire to live under the same Laws and Rules with those of the Convent of Paris and other places and also to enjoy the same Priviledges I promise my self that you will carefully lend your helping hand in this Affair Confident of this I shall conclude this Letter assuring you that I am c. LETTER XVI To the Bishop of St. Papoul THE King having cast his Eyes upon your Person in Consideration of the many good Qualities which he observes there met together with a Design to gratifie you with the Bishoprick of St. Papoul which has been vacant for some time I could no longer delay to give you notice of it and at the same time to let you know as I do by these Lines my own particular Satisfaction to see your Merits acknowledg'd by so great an Honour I assure my self that your Demeanour in this Charge wherewith it has pleased His Majesty to honour you will give him an Occasion to make a diligent Search through all the Corners of his Provinces for other Persons whose Reputation may equal yours In the mean time I beseech yee to be cocvinc'd that I shall always most sincerely wish your Content as being really as much as you can desire c. LETTER XVII To the Bishop of Sens. THE Esteem which the King has of your Person is such that His Majesty knowing the Bishoprick which you have hitherto held is much below your Merit has been pleas'd to give you Proofs of his good Will by Translating you to that of Cahors which you know to be much better then yours that you must surrender into his hands I was extreamly glad to have the Opportunity in giving you notice of this Favour in His Majesty's Name to let you know at the same time my own particular Joy for the Favour which it has pleas'd His Majesty to confer upon yee and to assure yee that you can never have more Content or greater Preferment then I wish you As being really c. LETTER XVIII To the Bishop of Nismes I Was very glad to hear News of yee by the Letter which you wrote me and by the Abbot of St. Mars to understand the Beginning of the happy Progress you are making in the place where you are for the Good of Religion I always believ'd that you would effectually answer the Choice which His Majesty made of your Person and fulfil your Promises not to let the Talents that God has given you lie idle but to employ 'em upon all Occasions for the Advantage of his Worship I cannot express my Joy for so good a Beginning nevertheless you may conceive it by the singular Affection which I bear you Only I must conjure yee to reside continually in your Diocess as hitherto you have done and to believe that you can do nothing either more agreeable to His Majesty or more to my Content as it will be always my greatest Satisfaction to serve you upon all Occasions and to let you know how much I am c. LETTER XIX To the Archbishop of Rouan HAving seen the Letter and the Papers which you sent me I must tell yee that in regard the Affair in Controversie is the general Question between the Bishops and the exempt Monks which cannot be decided so speedily 't is my Opinion that until they fall upon the Debate of it you may continue your Visits in all the exempt Monasteries of your Diocess whenever you think convenient at what time it behoves the Monks to receive you with all the Honour and Respect that may be contenting your self only to visit the Churches the holy Sacraments and the Buildings without making the Scrutiny Which being only an Enquiry into the Miscarriages of the Monks and the Defects of their Regular Discipline methinks they should not be taken Cognizance of nor punish'd but only by the Superior Regulars You may also when you would go to the Monasteries celebrate Mass therein Pontifically and fulfil the Orders and if any publick Scandal have happen'd in the City through the Fault of the Monks you may likewise take Cognizance of it I am much troubl'd that the ill Behaviour of the Monks of St. Vaudrille has constrain'd yee to proceed against 'em as you have done I have written to 'em to make 'em acknowledge their Fault and have exhorted 'em to Amendment which I hope they will readily submit to by rendring to your Lordship what is your Due In the mean time I beseech yee to pardon 'em for my sake revoke the Sentence you have given against 'em and settle Things in the same Condition as they were when you go to visit their Church In so doing you will oblige me in particular to testifie upon all Occasions that shall present themselves that I am c. LETTER XX. To a Friend of the Archbishop of Rouan ' s. THE Business of my writing is to intreat you by a soft and gentle Converse with Monsieur the Archbishop of Rouan to try what may be done to the end his Demeanour may be as edifying in his advanc'd Age as it was in his younger Years and he himself avoid the ill Opinion that may be conceiv'd of it I do not believe him to be one of those Persons who fly the Surgeon's Hand tho' it be for their own Good Kings having the Power to put the Canons in Execution and it being their Duty to take a particular Care of the Discipline of the Church I assure my self that he will be right in his Opinion that it does not only concern His Majesty's Piety but his Office to admonish him of the bad Reports that are spread abroad concerning him And having always had my self a particular Honour for him I cannot but desire his Content and his Welfare as my own and consequently I cannot but endeavour to serve him Nor will it be a small Satisfaction to me when in serving you also it shall be in my power to let you see that no body is more then I am c. LETTER XXI To the Bishop of Montauban IT having been reported to the King that there is hardly any Episcopal Function
officiated in your Diocess His Majesty has câmmanded me to give you notice of it to the end that upon a due Consideration of your Duty in the Charge which God has committed to your Care you may acquit your self with so much Diligence and Fervency for the future that your Actions may make amends for past Defaults I promise my self that you will make a profitable Use of the Admonition which I give you because that if you neglect it His Majesty out of his singular Piety will think himself oblig'd to provide for the Good of your Diocess by Ways which his Prudence shall judge most suitable for that purpose In the mean time I remain c. LETTER XXII To the Bishop of N THE King being inform'd that great Disorders are committed in your Diocess even to the publick Selling of Benefices I cannot permit the Departure of the Dispatch which His Majesty sends expresly to Monsieur the Bishop of Xaintes to repair to yee in his Name upon this Occasion without intreating you by these Lines that you will contribute all that lies in your Power toward the suppressing such Abuses as speedily as may be and so to demean your self that your Actions may appear for the future contrary to what we have just Reason hitherto to suspect Besides that your Conscience and your Honour oblige yee to it His Majesty's Resolution by Canonical Ways to hinder such Disorders in his Kingdom ought to incline yee to it I promise my self that you will govern your self in such sort upon this Occasion that besides the Satisfaction which His Majesty shall receive in your Actions the People committed to your Charge may have so good an Example set before 'em that the universal Pursuit of it may be your Justification for the future The ancient Friendship which I have had for yee makes me earnestly desire it As being c. LETTER XXIII The King's Letter to the Bishops about Residence I Behold with infinite Sorrow that tho' all People are eagerly desirous of Peace that the Prayers and Sighs of all Christendom have no other End and that I leave no Means omitted which I think proper to attain it whether by Force of Arms as every body knows or by condescending together with my Allies to the Overtures that have been made us for a reasonable Accommodation particularly by our Holy Father the Pope yet still it looks as if Divine Justice were not satisfied and that he who can only give Peace to Man and who pours down upon the Waters when he pleases his Benedictions in abundance requires at our hands that with a common and profound Acknowledgment of our Duty we should have recourse to his Omnipotence to the end we may obtain so great and so much desired a Blessing For this Reason it is that well knowing that the Conversion and Amendment of Souls the Prayers and Tears of good People are the true Means that can procure us what the Impiety and Hardness of our Hearts have hitherto denied us 't is my Desire that all the Bishops of my Kingdom cause such publick and private Prayers as they deem convenient to be duly said together with the joint Performance of all those good Works that are most probable to obtain from Heavenly Compassion the Repose of Christendom Now in regard there is nothing that can more effectually invite the People whom God has submitted to your Care to such pious Purposes then your Examples My Intention is that they who shall be absent themselves from their Flocks fail not to repair to their several Diocesses to the end they may apply themselves in particular to the Performance of those things which I demand at their hands and in general to all the Duties of their Functions that require their Presence Knowing therefore that there are some so sedulous in their Charges that if they absent themselves from 'em 't is only for a little time and for the Dispatch of Affairs that concern their Functions 't is sufficient for me to exhort 'em to make the soonest End they can of their Business and to repair home again expresly enjoining and commanding all those who have not hitherto minded so much the Importance of Residing within their Diocesses to hasten thither within Eight Days after the Receipt of these Presents to the end they may thereby make Amends for their past Defaults I assure my self that they will be so much the more religiously observant of their Submission to my Will and Pleasure in this Particular because there is not one among 'em who can be ignorant that the Canons of the Church and the Ordinances of the Kingdom oblige 'em to an Actual Residence upon which the good Order and Discipline of their Diocesses chiefly depend Not doubting therefore but that all and every of 'em will punctually correspond with my Desires I shall say no more but only pray to God c. LETTER XXIV From Cardinal Richlieu to Father Berthin General of the Priests of the Oratory 'T IS impossible for me to express my Sorrow for the Death of Cardinal Berule who could never question the sincere Friendship which I always bore him I am extreamly troubl'd at the Calumnies spread abroad both at Rome and in France I do all I can to dissipate 'em by declaring to all the World that the great Vertues of the Deceased and the manner of Living which we always observ'd together take away all Occasion of believing those false Reports that are dispers'd abroad with so little probability of Truth I honour the Memory of the Deceased and shall always take a particular Care of his Concerns but more especially of the Society that took its Birth under his Conduct and Protection I return you a Thousand Thanks for what you write me word concerning what His Holiness has already granted you in my behalf Vivae vocis Oraculo I desire yee to prosecute the Concession of it by a Writing of His Holiness whether under his own or the Hand of his Chaplain and that in the proper Terms of the Supplication which the deceased Cardinal de Berule sent you I passionately desire this Dispatch which His Holiness will make no scruple to expedite since he has already granted it by Word of Mouth 'T is also necessary for me that His Holiness will be pleas'd that his Forbearance to publish the Favour which he grants me may not oblige me to keep it conceal'd from all the World to the end that they who are best acquainted with the Burthen of Affairs which I undergo may not think that I neglect to discharge an Obligation such as that of the Office without having a License LETTER XXV To the Superiour of the Jesuites I Have been no less concern'd for the ill Conduct of Father Caussin then you your self appear to be All those of the Society who have given themselves the trouble to visit me since the King remov'd him from his Person are as faithful Witnesses of this Truth as of the little
whereas the continuance of that coldness which has been between you will produce the contrary Effects LETTER LXXXIII To the Duke of Bouillon I Make no question but that in the Places where you are you contribute toward the King's Service whatever His Majesty can expect from your Zeal and Affection for his Affairs M. de Noyers will give you such a particular accompt of what M. de Thou remonstrated to him on your behalf that having nothing farther to add I shall say no more then only this that His Majesty's desire to see the Count in that Condition that becomes him near his Person has enclin'd him to send M. de Bautru to him in order to give him all the satisfaction he can desire I promise my self that this News will please you so much the more because I am confidently assur'd that there is nothing that lies in your power which you would not contribute toward so good an End For my own part such is the esteem I have for yee that it will be no small Satisfaction to me to have an Opportunity to let you see by real Effects that no body has more Sincerity then my self c. LETTER LXXXIV To M. de Bethune during the Siege of Pignerol by Father Joseph I Have delay'd to let you hear from us as being desirous to give you certain Information of what Resolutions are to be taken upon the Uncertainties wherewith the Duke of Savoy still amnses us For though his Carriage in these present Affairs gave us Cause enough to believe what now we see I thought it convenient however that we should shut our Eyes and practise Patience in several things that we might not omit any Means to close with the King 's just Intentions for the Defence of the Duke of Mantua's Territories as he is oblig'd by the Treaty of Suza wherein every body knows that His Majesty had no other Aim than the Repose of Italy and the Preservation of the publick Liberty But at last the said Duke made it so manifestly appear that there was no Reason to relie upon what might be reasonably expected from him that all those Persons who together with my self were intrusted with the Conduct of that Army were of Opinion that the King's Service the Reputation of his Arms and the Welfare of his Confederates requir'd that we should seek for more certain Assurances then Words from the said Duke Instead of furnishing us with Provisions as he had solemnly promis'd the King and causing Twenty Thousand Sacks of Corn to be deliver'd on this side for the like Quantity which the King had put into Nice after he had deliver'd us a small Quantity and reduc'd us to Necessity he by a general Prohibition forbade all his Subjects to assist us any manner of way shew'd all the Marks of Jealousie and exercis'd all the Acts of Hostility that a declar'd Enemy could have done For when we came to Veillana though there were a River between him and us he put all his Men into that place and caus'd 'em to advance as we march'd He seiz'd upon all the Passes through which Provisions could come to us and at length declar'd that he would not stand to what he had promis'd by the Treaty of Suza which was to join with France to procure the Duke of Mantua the peaceable Enjoyment of his Territories and pacifie the Troubles of Italy if the King would not assure him to lay down Arms till after the Conquest of Milanois and Genoua By this 't is easie to judge whether the said Duke's Designs could be conformable to His Majesty's who had not been persuaded to this War but only to succour his Confederates and settle the Repose of Christendom These new Propositions of the Duke of Savoy and the Extremities which the King's Army suffer'd in Cazeletta where he seem'd to have lodg'd us on purpose caus'd us to quit that place and march to Rivola where we arriv'd the 18th of this Month. But before we set forward I sent a Gentleman to the Duke who was then at Rivola to desire him that we might have a little more Room for the Convenience of the Army which could not pass forward without being more certain of his Intentions But the Duke being gone before Day he could not meet with him The next Day I sent to him the Sieur Servien to let him understand the same Reasons and to give the Nuncio Pancirollo an Account of 'em But the Duke would neither see the said Sieur Servien nor permit him to speak with the Nuncio nor with Signior Sorenze the Venetian Ambassador who were both at that time in Turin The same day I dispatch'd away the Sieur de L'Isles that at least he might pay his Respect to Monsieur and Madam the Princess of Piemont and declare to them how great a Grief it would be to me that the Duke of Savoy should give the King any Cause by his ill Conduct to complain of him and to seek Assurances otherwhere then in his Promises Put the Gates of Turin being shut against that Gentleman he return'd without being able to deliver his Message Upon which the Mareschals of France and other Principal Officers of the Army prudently judg'd that he was resolv'd no longer to hearken to any thing on the King's Behalf that he was extreamly averse from the King's Intentions and that he rather chose to have a War in his own Country then to quit his Design of engaging the King in a continual War against the King of Spain and the Genoneses and caus'd em together with my self to conclude upon this Extremity That we were to make use of that Force which His Majesty had put into our Hands to do what was most advantageous for the Good of his Service We all agreed to march to Pignerol because it afforded us a more easie Passage of Provisions from France which the Duke of Savoy deny'd us We arriv'd there the 21th of this Month and this Day the Town surrender'd with great probability that the Cittadel will do the like in few Days Perousa and the Fort adjoining to it which His Highness built about a Year ago to give a Jealousie to the Inhabitants of Pragelas who adhere to the King made no Resistance against our Men So that from this place where we now are there is a free Passage into France I cannot express the People's Joy in the midst of the Calamities of the War to find that the King is now their Sovereign such is their Veneration for his Justice and Clemency You may be pleas'd to acquaint His Holiness of this Success and to let him know the Reasons of our Proceedings which I make no question but he will approve and judge 'em to be of great Importance and Benefit to put a stop in some measure to the Oppressions and Violences that afflict or threaten to afflict all Italy to which all the Remedies apply'd by the Care and Admonitions of His Holiness have been hitherto fruitless If he will
Letter which your Son M. Bouthillier deliver'd me from your self that the Pope speaks so well of the King that His Holiness approves His Majesty's Actions and all that has been done for some Months since at his Court The Queen at Compeigne So that you may assure your self that as there is no Prince in Christendom who more sincerely honours and respects His Holiness then His Majesty so there is not any one who more passionately desires the continuance of his Favours then he does For my part 't is impossible for me to express to yee in Words my real Acknowledgment of the Testimonies which His Beatitude vouchsafes to give of my Conduct I beseech yee when Occasion offers to let him know and assure him that as I am infinitely beholding to him so there is no Person living more affectionate to him then I am who will omit nothing that lies in my power to give him certain Proofs of this Truth upon all Opportunities that present themselves And be assur'd also that I will never lose any one to let you see that I am c. LETTER LXXXIX The Draught of the King's Letter to the Provinces upon M. Schomberg 's Entring Savoy with his Army MY Cousin the Cardinal of Richlieu coming to attend me at Grenoble according to my Order has given a particular Account of what fell out in his Journey for Piedmont where he has omitted nothing that I could expect from his Fidelity Courage and Prudence as well in the Conduct of my Arms as in the Negotiations of a Peace upon several Proposals made by His Holiness by my Cousin the Cardinal Antonio his Legate and the Nuncio's employ'd to that End as also by other Persons who have propounded several Conditions so remote from Reason and with so little Security for my Cousin the Duke of Mantua's Territories or those of the rest of the Italian Princes that I could not give my Consent to 'em without greatly prejudicing my Dignity and Reputation They would prescribe the Duke of Mantua Laws altogether new and deprive him of the Liberty of making use of such Persons or Nations as he shall judge convenient for the ordinary Guard of his Strong Holds and yet they will not so much as assure him neither of the Investiture of his Dutchies but only as a thing which he may hope for after he has sent to demand it of the Emperor which he has done formerly several times by his Son which would be to expose the Success of an unjust thing to the Inconveniencies of delay'd Resolutions which are frequently subject to remarkable Changes They would also oblige me to deliver up Suza and Pignerol and other Places which I hold in Piedmont only restoring the Passes of the Grisons and yet not oblige 'em to surrender the Valtolinâ according to the Treaties and Agreements formerly made between us the Performance of which we reserv'd to our selves with Power to cause the Breaches thereof to be made good by the Parties Besides which Conditions the Duke of Savoy demands that the Annual Rent of Fifteen Thousand Crowns in Gold which I caus'd the Duke of Mantua to grant him the Payment of for his Pretensions in Montferrat should be paid him in old Rents and Duties which he made to amount to three time more then I promis'd him to the end he might swallow up the best part of Montferrat by his excessive Dâmands Therefore seeing things so far remote from Reason and Peace on the part of the Authors of this War who affect Scruples and Niceties to justifie themselves in their unjust Usurpations and Enterprizes ãâã the Answers which my Cousin of Richlieu return'd 'em ãâ¦ã Command having sufficiently made known to 'em ãâ¦ã of my Intentions and my Desire of the publick Peace and Tranquility and that the Duke of ãâã who by a âreaty made between him and me the last Year was oblig'd to join his Arms with mine and allow 'em a safe and free Passage through his Dominions and furnish 'em with necessary Ammunition and Provisions in their March into ãâã for the Defence of the said Duke of Mânâun never minded the Performance of the said Obligation as he was several times requested by my said Cousin I have therefore been constrain'd to make use of the Means that God has put into my hands and to enter by Force of Arms into the Countries and Territories of Savoy in order to open a Passage into Italy for the Succour of the Duke of Mantua and to maintain the rest of the Princes my Confederates in their ancient Liberty And in regard my principal Aim is to procure 'em an assured Peace and Repose and not to usurp upon my Neighbours I shall not neglect any Means to obtain it whether by Force of Arms or by a Treaty of Peace provided it may de made as I desire upon sure and reasonable Conditions for the Repose and Liberty of Italy correspondent to the Dignity of my Crown and the Authority of my Mediation c. LETTER XC From Cardinal Richlieu to M. d'Avaux JUdging it to be altogether requisite that the Republick of Venice should satisfie the Pope in reference to his Nomination of Cardinal Cornaro to be Bishop of Padua as well for the Respect they owe His Holiness as in Consideration of the present Conjuncture of Affairs I write you these Lines to desire yee that you would contribute all your good Offices with the Lords of the Senate and to let 'em understand that the King 's pressing Importunity proceeds from his Affection for 'em and his Consideration of their Advantage I promise my self that you will leave nothing omitted that may be expected from you to surmount the Difficulties you may meet with in this Affair and accomplish it to the Satisfaction of His Holiness and His Majesty considering how great a Shater he is in what concerns His Holiness For which Reason I shall forbear to urge you any farther but conclude with affuring yee that I am c. LETTER XCI To M. de Brassac I Write you these Lines to acquaint you that it has pleas'd the King to nominate Monsieur the President Coigneux to the Dignity of a Cardinal as a Person whom he deems worthy of that Honour and to conjure yee that you will contribute what lies in you towards the Accomplishment of this Affair as well in Consideration that it is His Majesty's Desire as for the Satisfaction it will be to Monsieur provided it may be effected as soon as possble And although I know that these are Motives so prevalent in your Mind that all other Persuasives would be needless I cannot but recommend this Affair to your Sedulity with much more Affection then if it were for my self who shall be ready to testifie my Acknowledgment upon all Opportunities that shall present themselves to let you see that I am c. LETTER XCII To the same Person THough I have already written to yee in behalf of Monsieur the President Coigneilx concerning the
Nomination which the King has been pleas'd to make of his Person to the Dignity of Cardinal yet I cannot but renew my former Instances that you will contribute what lies in your Power that the said Sieur le Coigneux may as soon as possible have that Satisfaction which he promises himself according to His Majesty's Pleasure and Monsieur's Desire My Considence that you will leave nothing omitted to this End prevents my saying any more but obliges me to assure yee that I shall account my self as much indebted in Acknowledgment of your Care as if I were to receive the Effects of it my self who am and shall be ever c. LETTER XCIII To the Ambassdors upon Occasion of His Eminency's being out of Favour with the Queen-Mother THey who are remote frequently apprehending things to be otherwise then they are I thought it requisite to let yee know that the Queen-Mother has declar'd she will no longer make use of my Service nor of those that have any Kindness for me who had the Honour to be near her Person And though after a diligent Search within my self for the Cause of this Misfortune I find no other then my own hard Fate well knowing that the Pleasure of Princes ought to be as absolute as their Power I neither can nor ought to do any thing more then only religiously obey Her Majesty's Will It is impossible for me to express my extream Grief for this unhappy Accident which however shall not hinder me from seeking all Opportunities to serve the Queen to whom I am most strictly bound for the past Testimonies of her good Will which she was pleas'd to bestow upon me which were such that this last Act of hers is not capable to make me lose the Remembrance of ' em After so great a Misfortune I thought there was nothing more for me to do but to retire home but it was not the King's Pleasure to permit me 'T was his Desire that I should be near his Person and still continue the Management of his Affairs wherein he vouchsafes to honour me not only with his Protection but with a good Will so singular that he can make no Addition to it I am in hopes to render my self so worthy of it by my Actions that if hither to His Majesty has shewn himself so well satisfy'd with 'em they will yet more confirm him in his good Opinion As for your parts I beseech yee to believe that it will be a great Contentment to me to let you see upon all Occasions that I am c. LETTER XCIV To Monsieur Brassac Ambassador at Rome M. Mazarin has shew'd so much Address and Affection in the Negotiation of Peace that I write you these three Words by the King's Command to let you know that you can do nothing more acceptable to His Majesty then to acquaint the Pope how greatly he is contented with it and neatly by the by to favour him in what you can and assist him in obtaining the Nunciature of France so soon as the present Nuncio shall be recall'd to Rome for better Preferment And I make it my own particular Request that you will negotiate this Affair with Cardinal Barberini Which I do not only for the sake of that Affection which I bear the said Sieur Mazarin but because I know not any Person who can be more serviceable to the Holy See then he You may be pleas'd to send me word how your good Offices in his behalf shall be receiv'd And in the mean time believe that I am c. LETTER XCV To the same I Write you these Lines to return you Thanks for your Care and Vigilance in the Promotion of my Brother and to let you know how deeply sensible I am of it The Manner which His Holiness observ'd in doing the King this ãâã and what he said of me in the Consistory ãâã obliges me I beg of yee to make him sensible ãâ¦ã and to assure him that there is not any ãâ¦ã who serves him more willingly then I do ãâ¦ã that present themselves This Courier ãâ¦ã News that will by very acceptable to him ãâ¦ã him an Account that Richer is return'd to his ãâ¦ã submitted his Book to the Church and the ãâ¦ã condemning it himself as you will see ãâ¦ã been several Attempts to reduce him to this Point and God has been pleas'd that our Endeavours have not prov'd in vain These are the Fruits of the King's Vertue in Consideration of which God multiplies his Blessings upon his Reign I beseech yee to assure Mousitour the Cardinal Barberini that I shall passionately study all Ways to serve him and that my Brother going to Rome will not be by the Help of God the most unprofitable Subject that ever His Holiness advanc'd The King's Desire to manifest his Affection to all the Pope's Family will afford him an Opportunity to give continual Proofs of his Zeal for His Holiness's Service For your particular I beg yee to believe that you will always find me c. LETTER XCVI To Monsieur Barrault Ambassador in Spain I Receiv'd two Letters which your Secretary brought me and have consider'd the Purport of what he was intrusted withal As for the great Offers which the Count d'Olivarez has made you in case the King will relinquish the Hollanders 't is done to no other end then only to incline 'em to the Truce by giving 'em some Occasion to believe that the King will no longer assist ' em Never mind this Discourse nor talk no more of it to him unless he speaks of it himself and if he does you shall tell him that Ambassadors being sent to hear what would be propounded to them and not to talk of Things for which they have no Commission you can make no other Use of hearing what he has to say then to inform the King Which done you shall return him an Answer according to the Commands which you shall receive from the King but you shall not be oblig'd to send back any thing but what has something of Probability and Foundation in it And in a Word If he makes you any extravagant Proposals you shall tell him that you will not trouble your self to acquaint the King with ' em However you must not fail to do it As to the Proposals of the Duke of Guastalla I see little likelihood of good Effect in 'em However nothing is to be neglected and if he talks any more of 'em you ought to know what his Intentions are and what is the utmost he would desire By which Means we may negotiate the Business with his Father if there be any Assurance of him And lastly You must dive into all the Circumstances by which we may be able to clear up and distinctly terminate an Affair of this nature Either the Spaniards are they who cause him to act this Part or else he would have two Strings to his Bow to get rid of the Business in case the French have the Advantage of the War in
but that he still wishes him far more who is sincerely c. LETTER CXLIII To the same THO' the Person of M. Biscaras be extreamly necessary about me and that the particular confidence I have in him be a sufficient inducement to me not to part from him nevertheless understanding that you desire to have him to serve under you and the Duke of Veletta in the present occasion I send him to yee to do whatever either the one or the other shall deem convenient Did I but enjoy my Health as well as he does and could be as useful to yee in any thing I would willingly undertake his Journey so much I desire to see the Royal Arms prosper under your Conduct His Majesty relies so much upon your Prudence and in your Affection that he doubts not in the least but you will do wonders to that effect For my own part I most fervently wish it as well for the Interest of his Majesty's Service as your Honour which I equally desire with your self as being c. LETTER CXLIV The the Duke de la Valette THough M. de Gramond's Commission to Command the Army of Guyenne under your self and M. d' Espernon was dispatch'd when the Letter you were pleas'd to send me concerning that Affair was deliver'd me yet is your Contentment so dear to me that I prevail'd so far with the King that his Majesty alter'd his Resolution of sending it to the said Sieur de Gramond into that of continuing you alone in the said Employment promising himself that you will serve him with so much Prudence care and Affection that he shall have no reason to repent of his favour I assure my self that this new Testimony of his Confidence and Esteem will redouble your Zeal to answer so worthy a choice by real Effects and that you will make your value appear to the Confusion of the Enemies of the State M. de Biscaras whom I send to serve you upon this occasion according to M. d' Espercon's desire will assure yee of the Continuance of my Affection and my desire to serve yee and will inform yee of some particulars which I thought convenient to acquaint you with You may give him the same Credence as to my self who am c. LETTER CXLV To the same THE Condition to which you have reduc'd the Croquers is so much to the King's Advantage and so much to your Honour that although I have already testify'd my joy for so happy a Success I cannot forbear sending the Marquiss of Durass to yee to the end he may give you new Demonstrations of it in these Lines He will give yee so particular an account of his Majesty's satisfaction in your Conduct upon this occasion of the thanks which he returns you for the manner of your mannagement and the Honour he has done him for your sake as having made him a Camp Marshall that it would be needless to add any thing more I shall only say thus much that M. de Beaupuy's Journey has been no less acceptable to his Majesty then that of the Sieur de Duras for that it has not only confirm'd him in his belief of your Affection for his Person but also in that assurance he always had of your Passion and Zeal for the prosperity of his Dominions For my part my contentment is more then I can express to see you so highly in the King's Favour as you are there being no person who claims a greater share in your Concerns or who is more sincerely then my self c. LETTER CXLVI To the same I send you this Gentleman for a particular accompt of the Port of Biaris taken by our Pinaces upon the Coast of Bayonne They who know it report That it will so very much annoy the Forts which the Spaniands have built at Socoa St. John de Luz and other places that they will have much a do to subsist there If it be so 't is my Opinion that you may with more ease make some attempt upon those places then hitherto you have been able to do and that by molesting 'em by Land you will have this advantage that after you have defeated the Croquers you will expell the Spaniards quite out of your Government I passionately deserve it for the good of the King's Service and which is more for your own particular sake as being certain that if this good Fortune befalls yee your Enemies will be in such a Confusion that they will no longer dare to be so fluent of their Tongues as they have been I beseech yee not to omit any thing that lies in your power for the attaining of so glorious an End I say nothing to yee of the preparations on this side for the subsistance of your Army For I doubt not but the Sieur Cartier gives yee an accompt from time to time of the Provisions made for every thing and that I contribute toward it as much as in me lies by my daily solliciting the Lords of the Treasury I shall still continue the same earnestness to let you see my Zeal for your Interests and how sincerely I am c. LETTER CXLVII To the Marquiss of Coisquen Lieutenant of his Eminencies Gens D' Armes HAd you sooner acquainted me that you did not think me a Lord great enough to command the Troop of Gens d' Armes which it has pleas'd the King to bestow upon me I had given yee the contentment which you could desire and you had oblig'd me not to let me stay till you gave me to understand it by real effects in contemning your Duty and the Military Orders which oblige the Gendarmery to be compleatly arm'd so that my Troop was the only Troop that appear'd before the King without Arms though I had several times order'd 'em to be duly provided I will not insist upon my several Entreaties that you would observe a discipline so exact in my Troop that it might serve as an Example to others But your actions informing me of what perhaps out of civility you were unwilling to tell me your self that I may answer your Curtesie this Letter is to let you know that I no longer claim any Interest in the Troop which you command and that I willingly surrender it into your hands to make such provisions for it as the King thinks convenient Nevertheless I assure my self that you do not believe me so unfortunate that I shall not able to meet with some person of Quality who while he commands that Troop which shall march under my Name for the future will be willing to perform what his Reputation and the Military Orders require from him and to observe and submit to requests and such Orders which he shall receive from me I Advise yee to take a course quite contrary to what you have hitherto done and to believe that upon any other opportunity that shall present it self you shall find the Effects of my Friendship and that I am still desirous to be c. LETTER CXLVIII To Mareschal
is so well pleas'd with Monsieur's Choice of M. de Verderonne for Chancellor of his Houshold well knowing his good Qualities that he has willingly granted him the Employment of Ordinary in his Council which His Highness requested him to add to it My Joy is greater then I can express as well for that the said Sieur de Verderonne has the Honour to be related to you as for his own particular Merit most earnestly requesting you to believe that I shall always be dispos'd to favour your Concerns with all the Affection that you can expect from him who is sincerely c. LETTER CLXX To the Duke of Chaunes WE have just now receiv'd the News that the Queen has left Compeigne and is retir'd to la Capelle I send you this word to the end you may not fail upon Receipt hereof to take Horse with all the Friends you can get together to the end you may be as near that place as is possible in order to hinder her from enterprizing upon any other to the prejudice of the King's Service His Majesty will speedily send a considerable Force to your Frontiers In the mean time give notice to all the Cities and bid 'em take care of their Preservation and be assur'd that you shall see us very suddenly I am c. LETTER CLXXI. To the Marquiss de Fossez THO' I know you have not as yet had time enough to take an exact view of the place where you are nor to observe what is wanting and necessary for its preservation nevertheless I cannot but I must earnestly entreat you to send me in General by the Return of this Bearer whom I have sent on purpose the Condition of the Garrison and Magazins as you found 'em to the end we may be satisfy'd I have such a confidence in your Affection your care and diligence that I no longer believe Nancy to be in any danger while you are there not doubting but that you will so well regulate all things that we shall no longer labour under those perplexities we have suffer'd for these three Months considering the danger of that place The little care that has been taken hitherto to preserve the Corn that was laid up there is the reason that the Magazins are almost empty but I hope that yours and the care of the Bishop of Nantes whom the King has sent into Lorrain and Barrois to buy Corn and send it thither will remedy this defect and that in a little time there will he as great Plenty in the City as there has been scarcity hitherto This is that which I request of yee as much as in me lies assuring you that there is nothing that I wish more passionately then to see Nancy and Metz so well stor'd that whatever Army the King may have in those Quarters this Summer there may be enough to spare Be pleas'd then to do your utmost and believe me to be for ever c. LETTER CLXXII To the same YOU may have heard by this time how Treves has been surpriz'd which makes me put Pen to Paper most earnestly to intreat you to beware by this Example of falling into the like misfortune and to that end that you keep so careful a watch over the Inhabitants of Nancy that they may not be able to accomplish any ill design To this purpose besides those you have already put out of the Town if you think there are any others whom you have good reason to suspect the King's service and the security of the place requires that you deal by them after the same manner it being certain that 't is more easie to obviate the designs of open Enemies without then to prevent the Machinations of Clandestin Conspirators within I believe it also no less necessary for you to make a new and exact search in all suspected Houses for conceal'd Arms and to take away such as you find thereby not only to prevent the Effect but the fear of any danger My assurance that you will do whatever may be expected from your Vigilance and Affection will not permit me to say any more but that I am c. LETTER CLXXIII To Cardinal Barberini I Write to your Eminency to let you know the satisfaction which Mazarine has given by his Journey to this Court where he behav'd himself in such a manner that the King was very much pleas'd with him I will say nothing to yee of his Address and dexterity in Negotiation but that he has testify'd so great a desire for Peace that he could not have shewn a greater and if the Imperialists and Spaniards tread the same steps that we on this side do I make no question but that in a little time we shall see all Italy in safe Tranquility which will be a great step toward the Repose of all Christendom I hope his Holiness will be as well satisfy'd to see so great a Work accomplish'd if it can be brought to perfection as I hope it will For my own part I should extreamly rejoyce at it and from this very hour it is no small consolation to me that the said Sieur Mazarin and all that have Negotiated on this side are clearly sensibly that the King has omitted nothing that could be desir'd for the promoting so great a good and that they who had the Honour to serve him have sincerely contributed all that could be expected from their Industry And I shall continue to do the same with the same passion that I am c. LETTER CLXXIV To the same THe King having done the president M. le Coignrux the Honour to recommend him to the Cardinalship as deeming him worthy of it I write you these Lines to assure yee that you cannot do an act of Kindness more gratefull to the King and to Monsieur then to make use of your Credit with his Holiness that so this affair may be terminated with the soonest For my own part I most earnestly entreat your Eminency to believe that your good will to the Person in whose behalf I write will lay an Eternal Obligation upon him who Honours your Eminency and desires all Opportunities to serve yee as being as much as man can be c. LETTER CLXXV To Cardinal Bentivoglio MOnsieur Le Coigneux being recommended by the King to the Dignity of Cardinal as well in respect to Monsieur as in Consideration of his own Merit I write you these lines beseeching yee to make use of your Power with his Holiness so that his Majesty and Monsieur may with the soonest receive that satisfaction which they promise to themselves Besides the thanks they will repay you and the strict Obligation you will lay upon him in whose behalf I write I dare assure yee that I shall take so great a share in it that there shall no Opportunity present it self of manifesting my acknowledgment wherein you shall not find by the Effects that I am most sincerely c. LETTER CLXXVI To Cardinal Barberini THE King having within these
yee was all embark'd and ready to put to Sea in order to join your Forces when the News of your Accommodation with the Syaniards arriv'd in Provence His Majesty who has always wish'd Your Highness's Contentment equally with his own and has had an Affection for your Interests as much as for the Interests of his own Kingdom was very glad you had met with your Satisfaction in the Treaty which you have been constrain'd to conclude with the Spamards promising himself that it will not hinder Your Highness from preserving the ââ¦me Sentiments you have all along had in his behalf and that this Treaty will be no way capable of making you alter your Resolutions or your Inclinations to France I beseech yee also to believe that you will always find His Majesty entirely dispos'd to give you constant Marks of his good Will and his singular Esteem of your Person And for my own part seeing Your Highness cannot but be sensible how much I honour you I shall be always unspeakably overjoy'd to meet with any Opportunity of manifesting by real Effects in serving Your Highness how much I am and shall be ever c. LETTER CXCIX To the same HAving made known to His Majesty the Proposal which the Person who manages Your Highness's Affairs in this Court imparted to me in your Name in order to a good Accommodation with the Spaniauds His Majesty has commanded me to tell yee that he will never refuse any Means by the Intercession of whomsoever but more especially yours above any other Person 's as having an entire Confidence in your Person and Affection but that he can hardly believe that the Spaniards will sincerely hearken to it or bring themselves to just and reasonable Terms since that hitherto they have refus'd the Hollanders those Pasports which are necessary notwithstanding all the Importunities that have been made use of to attain them I can assure Your Highness that as the King desires nothing more fervently then to see the Troubles of Christendom appeas'd by a sound and lasting Peace to the Repose of all his Confederates so His Majesty will omit nothing that depends upon him to obtain it and that he will always make his Friends the common Judges of his Interests For my own part Sir I shall esteem my self extreamly happy if in following His Majesty's good Intentions I can contribute any thing towards it and make Your Highness sensible by my Actions and my Services that there is no Person who honours yee more or who is more passionately or more sincerely then my self c. LETTER CC. To Prince Thomas MY Joy for the Conclusion of the Accommodation between Your Highness and the King and Madam was not a little augmented by the Assurances which Monsieur the Count de la Trinite gave me of your Affection which was confirm'd by the Letter which he deliver'd me in your Name I will assure yee that I shall always make you answerable Returns by all the good Offices you can desire from mine which will rejoice me so much the more from this time forward that the Interests of your Family are no longer separated from those of France I promise my self also according to what you send me word that you will give me more and more Cause to be a strenuous Advocate for 'em to the King while you do His Majesty as good Service for the general Good of his Affairs as you have done the Spaniards when you were engag'd on their side 'T is so much your Interest that I assure my self you will lose no Opportunities to do it no more then you will of manifesting to the World that a generous Prince as you are is no way capable of salsifying his Word I assure my self that Your Highness will not be offended at the King's Choice of M. de Longueville to command his Army in Piedmont seeing that besides the Alliance between yee I know that you are both engag'd together in a strict Tie of Friendship I dare undertake that he will have a particulare Care of all your Concerns and that His Majesty will not suffer him to depart without recommending it particularly to him to give yee all the Satisfaction you can reasonably desire For my part I beseech yee to believe that I shall contribute by my Services to that End whatever you can expect from a Person who esteems yee and who is most sincerely c. LETTER CCI. To Duke Bernard of Weimar THough the Confidence which the King has always had in your Fidelity your Affection and Zeal for the Honour of his Kingdom and Advantage of his Affairs was such that one would ' have thought there could nothing have been added to it nevertheless if your Conduct and your Demeanour towards His Majesty in reference to that Business which occasion'd the Dispatch of the Sieur de Varenne to yee some few Days ago have augmented it in such a manner and satisfy'd His Majesty to that degree that it would be impossible for me to express it by these Lines I suppose you will be glad to understand it by the Employment which he confers upon yee both in Alsatia and Lorrain where he designs yee the Command of his Army and to carry on the War all the Winter-Season of which M. de Noyers will give you a more particular Account in the King's Name I say nothing Sir of my own Contentment because you may easily conceive it by the Share I have always taken in your Concerns and the Passion which as you know I have always had to serve yee of which you will receive new Proofs upon all Occasions that shall present themselves to let you know that I am sincerely as much as Man can be c. LETTER CCII. To the same THE King has too great an Affection for your Concerns not to give yee all the Satisfaction you can desire from His Majesty not only for the Subsistance of your Men but also for all other things you stand in need of The Orders that have been sent the Cardinal de la Valette for your Winter-Quarters will sufficiently demonstrate His Majesty's Care of your Affairs and if we could without the absolute Ruin of the Frontiers assign you others you may believe Sir it should be done without any Hesitation since it is the King's Pleasure to give you all possible Contentment For my part nothing caââ¦be more to my Content then to meet with Opportunities of letting yee know by real Effects that I am sincerely as much as Man can be c. LETTER CCIII To the same I Believe it would be needless for me to display before yee in these Lines my extraordinary Joy for your good Success in the Execution of your Design upon the City Bridge and Pass of Lauffenbourg in regard that knowing as you do my extream Passion for the Prosperity of the King's Affairs and your Honour in particular it will be easie for yee to conceive it I must only tell Your Highness that His Majesty is so
any Likelihood of Truth in those Reports But knowing his Innocence so well as I do and that he is a Man that only minds his Prayers and his Books I was willing to give you this Assurance of his Course of Living as also of his Loyalty to his King his Affection to his Country and his Service to your Lordship I promise my self that you will give no Credit to those false Imputations and that they will not be capable of blemishing the Honour and Reputation of this good Prelate whose Merit I have known a long time but that you will rather believe the Sincerity of my Words both in this particular and in the Protestation which I make of being ever c. LETTER CCX To the Count of Cramail after the Battel of Veillana FEwer Lines then you have receiv'd Cuts and Slashes will serve to testifie how glad I am that the Enemy has cut out more Work for your Taylor then Employment for the Surgeon I pray to God that in such like Encounters you may have more need to expend your Money in Stuffs and Silks then in Salves and Ointments and that for the Advantage of the King's Service and the Honour of those who have acquir'd so much in this Battel he may meet with many such Occasions among which I wish for some one wherein it might be proper for me to manifest how much I am c. LETTER CCXI. To the Count of Charost BRave Charost the Honour of thy Race These three Words will let thee know how much thou art esteem'd on this side the Mountains for the Courage which in these last Encounters thou hast shewn upon the Theatre of Mars and which will give thee an Occasion to let the Valour of Rambures know from me that no Person living sets a higher Price upon it then I do or who desires more to manifest how really I am the Slave of your Martial Vertue LETTER CCXII. To the Marquiss of Sourclis HIstory makes mention of several Captains in the past and present Ages who have taken Towns but never till now did we hear of any Captain that took a Town without Cannon and with only two Regiments a Town wherein there was a numerous Garison which was constrain'd to surrender at Discretion that extended it self so far as to hang two Thirds of 'em for Examples sake Certainly History will speak of this hereafter and not forget the Name of the generous Marquis who commanded in this Action The Gazette shall do its Duty or Renaudot shall lose his Pensions that he has hitherto enjoy'd Nay more There shall be set up a small Inscription upon the Fountains of Jouy importing that they stand there only for a Sign that he who set 'em up has found a Way to make the Blood of his Master the King's Enemies run Purple Streams as they piss Water But this Inscription will not reach Chastillon in regard that they who were sentenc'd to Death having ended their Days by the Rope their manner of dying has not that Resemblance to the Effusion of Liquid Blood of which we will have the said Fountains to be the Hieroglyphicks Continue Marquis to tread the same Steps in the Path of Honour which will acquire yee lasting Renown in this World and everlasting Glory in the other LETTER CCXIII. To Madam de Bullion I Wish it were in my power to manifest more advantageously then I have done my affectionate Desire to serve you Besides that the Consideration of your Merit inclines me to it the frequent Sollicitations of M. de Bullion in order to what may concern your Contentment are not a little pleasing to me I knew the Time when I thought him one of those Husbands that only lov'd their Wives as a part of their Inventory But now I perceive that he loves his Skin better then his Shirt that is to say his Wife's Interests better then those of other People and that in reference to Marriage he is one of those who never think they do a good Work unless they do it in secret This requires in my Opinion that the Tenderness which you have always had for him should still increase and that in Acknowledgment of his stirring in your Concerns as he does you should not wonder at his open Repulses since they turn to Effects such as you can desire For my part Madam I shall omit nothing that lies in my power to let you know that I am c. The Instructions of M. Schomberg Count of Nantueil Counsellor to the King in his Council of State His Majesty's Lieutenant-General in Limousin the Upper and Lower Marche for his Journey into Germany 1617. Sign'd de Richlieu out of M. de Puys 's Study MS. 121. THE first thing that M. the Count of Schomberg is to have before his Eyes is that the End of his Journey into Germany is to dissipate the Factions that may be set up there to the prejudice of France to carry the King's Name as high as possibly may be and powerfully to settle his Authority there This being the End propos'd he is next to see what are the most speedy and proper Means to attain this End Upon this Examen the Means will be found proportionable to the Ends in divers Kinds some General others Particular General those that may be serviceable over all Germany Particular are such as must be vary'd according to the Dispositions of several Princes The General ones also are to be of a various Nature either such as are proper to deface the ill Impressions that have been made in those Parts by misrepresenting the Affairs of France or proper to settle an honourable and advantageous Belief or such as are capable to produce both these Effects together The first consist in refuting and eradicating the Opinion inculcaâd by those of Monsieur the Prince's Party that he was seiz'd without any lawful Cause They consist also in making it out to be a perfect Calumny which has no other Foundation then the Passion and Imposture of our Enemies to say that we are sometimes Romans sometimes Spaniards that we embrace the Interests either of Rome or Spain to the prejudice of our ancient Alliances to the prejudice of our selves that is to say of those who profess the pretended Reformed Religion in France or of those that hate Spain and pride themselves in calling themselves true French-Men The Second General Means consists in making a good Impression of our Government in justifying our Actions though we are not oblig'd to give 'em an Account of ' em And this may be easily done by taking Cognizance of all that has been done in France since the Death of Henry the Great of glorious Memory according to the Discourse hereafter set down The Third General Means consists in Visits Compliments Civilities Assurances and Testimonies of Affection which are generally very proper to extinguish Discontents to remove Ill Will and create Kindness at the same time And as to this Point there needs no other Instruction then
them from discerning Things such as they are nor a Will that carries 'em contrary to their Knowledge find very little to urge against all this but only to what the Misfortune of Times customary to the Weakness of Minorities introduces for which there is no Remedy to be apply'd But some disaffected Persons like those envenom'd Stomachs that convert into Poison the best of Nourishments observe in the Government many Things which being rightly consider'd deserve rather to be applauded then sound fault with The first Action which they censure is the Marriage with Spain which they put in the first place as a Hidra with several Heads since as they reckon from thence proceeds the Division of France the Rupture of ancient Amities and the Scorn of Foreign Alliances with England Italy and Germany The Second is the Waste of the Treasury The Third is the Fortune of some Foreigners The Fourth and Last is the Seizing of the Prince of Conde so clearly justify'd by what we have said that it would be superfluouâ to say any more of it here By these Heads artificially disguiz'd and publish'd they decry the Government which however being duly consider'd will appear as worthy as they would render it infamous after we have cut off all the Heads of this monstrous Hydra To make 'em approve the Alliance between France and Spain I shall not insist much upon it that 't is an ordinary thing for those two Kingdoms to unite themselves by Marriages History containing a great Number of Examples Of the most remarkable were the Marriage of Charlemaine with Galiena the Daughter of the King of Toledo Of Lâwis VII with Constance the Daughter of Alphonso King of Spain and Galicia Of Lewis VIII with Blanch the Daughter of the King of Castille to which Marriage we are beholding to the Birth of St. Lewis and all the Happiness we enjoy by the Regency of his Mother Of Philip the Bald with Isabel the Daughter of the King of Arragon Of Francis I. with Elenor Sister to the Emperor Charles V. Of Charles IX with Elizabeth of Austria Daughter of the Emperor Maximilian and Grand-daughter to Ferdinand King of Spain I will not urge that because the Enmities between great Personages are frequently pacify'd by Marriages that therefore this Match was useful to establish a Peace between the two Crowns I will not insist that there was nothing remaining for this Monarchy to do being assur'd of all her Neighbours but to secure her self by an Alliance with this Crown to the end that being in no danger from without she might be the more at liberty to reduce those that endeavour'd to trouble the Kingdom within I will not set forth that we have already gain'd this Advantage by Marriages that they have at least depriv'd those who have gone about to trouble the Repose of France the way to make a Benefit of Spain which was formerly wont to foment our Divisions and sow 'em also among us 'T is sufficient to stop the Mouths of those that condemn 'em to justifie 'em and cause 'em to be approv'd by all the World to declare that they were design'd and desir'd by the deceased King that they were agreed to by the Princes Lords and Officers of the Crown transacted by the Duke of Maine commended and desir'd by the Three Orders of the Kingdom imparted to the King of England by the Duke of Bouillon and to other Princes Republicks and Confederates of this Crown by the Ambassadors residing near their Persons and lastly happily accomplish'd And that instead of a bloody War of which as it was given out they were to be the Fore-runners they have been attended with a general Peace over all France which Their Majesties being desirous always to preserve among their People as they have sufficiently made it appear there is no Occasion to fear that contrary to their Words and the Edicts of the deceased Henry the Great they will attempt any thing that may infringe it 'T is to no purpose to urge the daring Humour of the Spaniard seeing that without diving into their Intentions and Designs we should do our selves an Injury to believe that we cannot keep our own and preserve our selves from those who justly ought to fear us Then again 't is an idle Terrour to fear that the Alliance of the two Crowns should occasion the Division of France For no Man will readily believe that a Man will burn his own House to do his Neighbour a Kindness Or that a Man will hate and ruin himself for the Love of another Different Beliefs do not render us different Kingdoms We are all united under one in whose Service no Catholick is so blind as to think a Spaniard better then a French Huguenot There will be found a real Division not in this World but in the other not occasion'd by the Matches between France and Spain but by the Diversity of our Religions If this Match contain'd any Article contrary to the Edicts of Pacification there might be some Reason to fear But there being no such thing quite the contrary seeing the Articles are sign'd and decreed since it is done and consummated seeing the Edicts have been renew'd no less then four times upon the Death of the late King upon the King's Majority at Bourdeaux and at Laudun though those of the Religion had greatly offendeâ the King in joining with the Rebels what Reason is there to fear that he will give any Interruption to what the deceased King Henry the Great has establish'd for the Union and Tranquility of his Subjects What Reason have they of the pretended Reformed Religion to complain seeing their Edicts have been renew'd under this Reign and confirm'd several times their Pensions augmented and paid notwithstanding all the Exigencies of State Themselves also assisted against the most zealous and furious Catholicks as the Difference between the Rochellers and M. d' Espernon can justifie and lastly favour'd to that degree that we may say that many Enterprizes have been unpunish'd for their sakes You must not forget to insinuate how that we sent back the Spaniards that waited upon the Queen which clearly justifies our Design to make our selves Spaniards in France Moreover You must take an Occasion to signifie to 'em to our Advantage that we desire not the Advancement of Spain We offer 'em tho' discreetly to assist 'em against the Attempts of the King of Spain to set the Crowns of Hungary Bohemia the King of the Romans and the Empire upon the Head of a Child of Spain And to give 'em Proofs of our Affection and to let 'em see that we have no Designs but the Good of the Empire 't were well that you should let 'em know that we pretend to no other thing but only to concurr with 'em to set the said Crowns upon the Head of that Person whom they shall deem most acceptable to His Imperial Majesty and most useful to Christendom Seeing then this Match can create no Jealousie by
to Honours and Employments History produces so many Examples of it that instead of being troubled to find 'em out a man may make his choice of such as he pleases to make use of That which is so much discoursed of is far from the Degree of Preferment to which others have attain'd he is only a Foreigner born but so much a French Foreigner that he shows his Fortune to none but French How many of the best Families of this Kingdom have been advanced by his procurement Where is that man whom we loaded with his Master's Favours who is not obliged to their Majesties for ' em In England all the Scotch are advanced and no Englishman in France but one Stranger only all the rest French What cause for Complaint in this If there be any 't is they that make it are to be blamed and not they who are complained against Since it may be truly said to conclude all in three words the Government was such that if we consider it without Passion there can be nothing found in answer to this Article nor to any thing else here set down but that there may be seen to have been in it too much Clemency without Rigor too many Favours without Punishment Signed RICHELIEV The Instruction sent to M. Miron going into Switzerland in 1617 signed also DE RICHLIEU was all the same only that it began with these words After the most execrable Parricide committed upon the Person c. And that some lines were left out about the middle after these words You must not forget to insinuate how we send c. to these words exclusively This Marriage not being able to give any Jealousie c. Instructions for Monsieur de Marquemont Archbishop of Lyons for Rome 1617. From Mr. du Puy 's Study M.S. 504. THE King sent his Commands to the Marquess de Tersnel by his Secretary to go back to Rome in case he met him in any part of Italy to continue to serve his Majesty there in the Quality of his Ambassadour in ordinary judging it necessary in the present Conjunture of Affairs to give his Holiness a constant and perfect Knowledge thereof But the said Secretary found him so forward on his way that the Marquess could not easily comply with the said Order and therefore proceeded towards the Court where at his Arrival he has confirmed his Majesty's Resolution about the sending of some Mân of Quality and Merit whose Person might be acceptable to the Pope and Sacred College until another be sent thither to reside there with the Title of his Ambassador in Ordinary in the usual manner There is indeed at Rome Cardinal Vicenzo late Vice Protector whose Fidelity and Affection the King is fully satisfied with and Cardinal Vrsini lately honoured with the Comprotectorship who both take Care of his said Majesty's Affairs in his Ambassador's Absence But whereas there seems to be a certain Emulation between them concerning the Mannagement and Direction of the said Affairs and that it is highly important to represent the true State and Constitution thereof to his Holiness together with the Causes and Motives of the Counsels and Resolutions that have been taken by his Majesty which can never be performed so well as by Persons sent on purpose with fresh Informations of whatsoever has been transacted there his Majesty has been induced by the aforesaid Considerations to send the Archbishop of Lyons expresly to Rome being perswaded that he could chuse no person more fit for the executing of that Office by reason of the Experience the late King of glorious Memory had of him there when he served the Holy See and his late Majesty in the Quality of Auditor in the Rota and the Reputation he has left there of his Virtue and Probity which will give him the more Credit with his Holiness and the sacred College whenever any Occasion shall happen to treat with them for his Majesty's Service There are Two Affairs depending at this Time which require this Ministry the one general relating to the Publick Tranquility of Italy and indeed of Christendom the other particular respecting the Welfare of this Kingdom and both of them the Honour and Satisfaction of his Majesty The said Archbishop is to begin the performing of his Office by kissing the Feet of his Beatitude in the King's Name by presenting the Letters his Majesty has written to him with his own Hand by assuring him of the Perseverance of his Devotion and Filial Observance of his Zeal and Desire for the Increase and Propagation of the Holy Name of God and of the Catholick Apostolick Roman Religion according to the Example of the Kings his Predecessors and of his Affection and Care to promote and settle the general Repose of Christendom as also to maintain Union and Concord among all the Princes his good Friends Allies and Neighbours to make them Sharers of that Peace with which it has pleased God to bless his Kingdom by the Death of the Marshal d'Ancre who was the sole Incendiary and real Cause of the Troubles that have been raised of late Years and the Spring of those Divisions that have perplexed all the parts of the State and the Minds of the Grandees thereof making use of both to advance himself to increase his Credit and Authority under the King's Minority the Weakness of a Regency and a confused Government That having attained such a degree of Power and Insolence by means as unjust as base and after having received more Favours and Honours than ever he could deserve or at first durst hope for he had reduced the Power of his Sovereign to the necessity of serving his unruly Passions and made it the Instrument of his insatiable Avarice and unbounded Ambition insomuch that after he had caused most of the Princes and ancient Officers of the Crown to be removed from his Majesty's Person in order to mannage and dispose all things with greater Liberty and to imbezle and order the King's Revenue at his Pleasure under Pretence of doing him Service in respect to the principal Affairs of State he brought the Kingdom into Confusion that he might govern alone according to his own Fancy to the Disgrace and Prejudice of the Dignity and Authority Royal and took the Advantage at the Expence of his Majesty's innocent afflicted Subjects of the Calamities and Miseries of the War of which he was the principal Author and Contriver to secure the Fortune he had built upon such illegal Foundations which his Majesty after having born too long has been forced to destroy in order to restore Peace to his People and deliver the Kingdom from the Persecution of a Man that was so Ingrateful and Wicked the Consequence whereof has immediately convinced every one how pernicious and destructive his Life was to the State which has recovered its Vigor and former Peace by his Death The Princes and Lords who had taken up Arms presently returned to their Duty and assured the King of their entire
Obedience without any Conditions but their Fidelity and his Majesty's Goodness And he is so well satisfied with their Service and Assistance at present that he promises to himself by their good Advice and Counsel together with that of those whom the late King had always imployed with Success in his most important Affairs and were removed by the Malice of that pernicious Man to reign by the Grace of the Almighty the inspirer of the Hearts of Kings and their Director to Justice and to his Glory in all Equity and Goodness over his Subjects in Peace and Amity with his Neighbours and in all Reverence towards the Holy See and his Beatitude on all occasions If our Holy Father enquires ' Why then his Majesty did not rather chuse the common Methods of Justice in punishing him for his notorious Crimes that he might serve as an Example to Posterity the said Archbishop is to answer That it was his Majesty's Intention so to do and that it was so ordered But that the Persons commanded to apprehend him perceiving that he was guarded and preparing to defend himself were obliged to have recourse to this Extremity for fear of missing an Opportunity of such consequence for his Majesty's Service who is an Enemy to Blood and to such extraordinary Proceedings tho' just on such occasions This Accident falling out the King took particular care to send an ample account thereof to the Queen his Mother whose Goodness and Favours he had too much abus'd She was soon sensible that His Majesty had been forc'd to it for no other consideration but the welfare of his Affairs for which she has always shew'd her self very affectionate since the Death of the late King her Lord cherish'd and cheerfully embrac'd every Occasion to promote the Good Honour and Advantage of the State to His Majesty's Satisfaction and Glory who was very desirous that according to her affection and experience in the affairs of his State she would have been pleas'd still to continue that Care and to ease and assist him with her assiduity and prudent Councils But she desired to be excused of so great a Burthen have Leave to remove from Court and the hurry of affairs to apply her self with more Freedom to the Service of God and a quiet Life So that the King preferring her Desire and Satisfaction to that of her Presence and the advantage of her assistance yielded tho with great regret to her Entreaties and reiterated Instances to retire causing his Guards to accompany her honourably with her own to the place which she her self had made choice of and desired for her abode and the King endeavours to alleviate the Trouble of her absence by frequent Messages and Visits to enquire after her Health This she answers with the like care and affection which is a Subject of great Joy and Comfort to all those who observe this Royal Correspondence and his Majesty's Filial Respect with that natural and reciprocal affection which the said Queen contributes towards it And this His Majesty is resolved to continue on all occasions more by real effects than by any outward formal appearances to acquit himself of his Duty and Obligations to her for the constant care she has had of his Royal Person and for the Welfare of his Kingdom As to the present Difference between the King of Spain and the Duke of Savoy every body knows and particularly his Holiness to whom a particular account has been given from time to time of those Transactions the earnest Endeavours used by His Majesty at the very beginning to prevent the misfortunes and accidents which arise at present to His Majesty's great Sorrow who has not only represented the same to the Emperor King of Spain and the said Duke of Savoy and where-ever else it was necessary but has also sent three Embassies extraordinary at the Desire and Entreaty of the said King of Spain the second of which produced the Treaty of Ast not observed since by the said King and his Ministers employ'd in the Government of the Dutchy of Milan This obliged the Duke of Savoy again to provide for his Defence and Safety and his Majesty to âenew his good Offices on both sides by the Sieur de Bethane to mediate and resume the said accommodation But the Treaty has been since removed into Spain without consulting the Marquis de Senescey his Majesty's Ambassador in ordinary there any wise about it or ever acquainting his Majesty with the Cause of this sudden removal and alteration notwithstanding he had been so zealous in promoting it at the earnest Entreaty of the said Catholick King without any prospect but that of the Publick Good However the King is not so much concerned at their Endeavours to deprive him of the Honour of the Agreement after his having taken the mediation thereof upon him at their Entreaty as he is to find that the said Negotiation has not succeeded to the satisfaction of the Parties neither does he any wise envy any body the honour and satisfaction thereof provided so good a Work be done no matter by whose means But he has a just cause of Displeasure and to complain that notwithstanding such good Offices and Demonstrations of Friendship made in all Candor and Sincerity for their common satisfaction the said King has all of a sudden unexpectedly and without acquainting his Majesty therewith attack'd the said Duke with open Force even besieging his chief Cities and Fortresses contrary to his often reiterated Promises and Assurances that it was his Desire to compose this Difference amicably and that he would attempt nothing to the disadvantage of the said Duke or of his Dominions This Proceeding has no less surprized his Majesty than enflamed his Courage and obliged him to take Resolutions which he all-along endeavoured to avoid by mildness and treaties his Honour and the Interest of France not permitting him to suffer the Duke of Savor's being opprest especially he not refusing to submit to reasonable Conditions when offered to him which on his part has not been done hitherto in which case he would be the first to blame his Highness and to compel him to condescend by force as he will always be against those that shall molest him or invade his Territories against Justice and Reason This His Majesty has declared to the said King's Ambassador residing at his Court and has caused the same to be represented to the King himself by his Minister in Spain That comparing the just Causes and reasons thereof with the perils and misfortunes that may arise and are to be expected from the sequel of such a resolution he might rather chuse a Treaty to compose all things amicably than to prosecute a Design attended with many Inconveniences very prejudicial to the general Peace and to the particular Repose of Italy that will be made the Theatre on which this bloody Tragedy will be acted to the disadvantage of the Princes and States thereof And besides the sensible Displeasure his
convenient for the importance of that affair He is likewise to give him the same relation about the death of the Marshal d'Ancre and what concerns the honourable Treatment the Queen-mother receives from his Majesty which he will ever continue in the same manner as much out of Affection as Duty as if she were still with his Majesty and had continued to take care of his affairs His Majesty being inform'd that the said Great Duke has sent the Archbishop of Pisa to him only to recommend the Queen his Mother's Person to his Majesty has taken it in very good part as a thing proceeding from his Highness's good Nature and his respect for the King's Honor and the said Queens Satisfaction yet looks upon this good Office as a thing superfluous towards him there being no Person in the World his said Majesty honours and cherishes more nor to whom he thinks himself oblig'd to make a more express demonstration thereof as he will ever make it evident by all manner of effects of Gratitude and Affection towards the said Queen his mother on all occasions The said Archbishop is likewise to communicate the affairs he shall be intrusted with to the Cardinals Delfini Vrsini and Bonzi as much as he shall think necessary and proper not to give them cause to suspect that the King doubts their devotion to his Service Nevertheless he is to make direct applications himself to his Holiness about such Commands as he shall receive from his Majesty during his abode there He is to take a particular care not to impart them to the Abbot d'Aumale whose Behaviour the King has no reason to be satisfied with he is to observe it strictly and without taking the least notice thereof to acquaint his Majesty therewith He is also to assure the Kings Servants and Pensioners that they will be paid better for the future than they have been hitherto upon the account of the disorder of his Majesty's Finances caused by the Revolutions and Troubles of the Kingdom which his Majesty takes pains to settle again insomuch that they may expect Satisfaction hereafter and to share the Fruits of the Peace and good Order his Majesty designs to restore in all things He is to take care to acquaint his Majesty with all Occurrences by the usual way and his Majesty will send his Commands to the said Archbishop in the same manner not doubting but he will acquit himself thereof to his satisfaction until he relieve him by an Ambassador in ordinary and this he expects according to the Tryal he has had of his Piety Capacity and Fidelity Done at Fontainbleau the 14th of June 1617. Sign'd LEWIS c. A Relation of the Queen Mother 's Removal from Blois Out of the Study of the R. F. Talon of the Orat. M.DC.XIX by M.L. C.D. L.V. AT the King's Return from the Progress he made in Guyenne about his Marriage his Majesty being at Tours Monsieur d'Espernon left the Court being dissatisfied with the Treatment he had received there for seeing that Monsieur de Bullion and the Commandore de Sillery were banish'd from thence and that the Chancellor de Sillery and M. de Puisieux daily did expect the same fate he thought it no longer safe to tarry with his Majesty Soon after this the Conference at London was concluded to the Prince of Conde's Satisfaction and the old Ministers being banished from Court and others put in their Room the Prince returned to Paris I do not positively know what pass'd between him and the Grandees that were with the King at that time about the Marshal d'Ancre's Ruine but it is certain that Monsieur de Guise sent a Gentleman to Monsieur d' Espernon at Bourdeaux to acquaint him That the Prince of Conde and he were rennited that they were in Hopes of ruining the Marshal d' Ancre and that he desired him to enter into the Union which was made between most of the Grandees of the Kingdom Tho' Monsieur d'Espernon was not resolv'd to joyn with them yet he did not absolntely reject their Proposition Within some Days after this being at Bourdeaux he was inform'd that the Marshal d' Ancre had left this Court abruptly and almost at the same time that the Prince of Conde was secur'd This put him upon the resolution of going to his Government of Xaintonge and of sending the Archbishop of Tholouse his Son to their Majesties to assure them of his Service ââ¦fore the said Archbishop's departure Monsieur de Guise sent a Gentleman to him to give him an account of the Reasons he had to leave the Court upon the Prince of Conde's imprisonment and to desire his advice and assistance in case he could not agree with the King Monsieur d'Espernon's Answer was That the shortest Follies were the best and That as he was not concern'd in what he had done so he had no Counsel to give him That for his part he was sending one of his Children to the King and the Queen-mother to assure them of his Fidelity and Service Soon after this the Archbishop of Tholouse arriving at Court found Monsieur de Guise's Peace concluded and saw him return but in such dread of being secur'd that he was ready to fly again the night the Prince of Conde was remov'd from the Louvre to the Bastille upon some Informations he receiv'd that the Guards were doubled During these Transactions at Court Monsieur d'Espernon was in his Government when having receiv'd a Letter from the Mayor of Rochel which he thought was not very respectful he made a very rough Answer to it and resolved to go into the Country of Aunix to take possession of his Government I cannot tell whether he was induc'd to this by his hatred to the Huguenots and particularly to the Rochelois who refus'd to own him as Governor of the Province or whether he sought a Pretence to take Arms during the Troubles which he fancied yet greater than they were at Court and to seize the King's Receipts However upon this Pretence he gave out Commissions to raise men assembled the Gentry of the Country to accompany him in his Journey to Surgeres and took the Mony he found in the King's Costers I do not positively remember whether it was before or after this Journey the said Mony was seized The Transactions of this Journey into Anjou gave great disturbances to the Rochelois who did not remember the having seen any Souldiers in their neighbourhood and the fear the Court was in lost this might create a War with the Huguenots oblig'd their Majesties to send Monsieur de Boisisse to Monsieur d'Espernon to put a stop to those Broils Boisisse being come to Surgeres found no Difficulties in this affair but such as proceeded from the said Duke's Humor so that after some Pains and Contestations he did perswade him to obey and to return to Xaintonge It was at that time Carbonnier brought him a Brief of Duke and Peer for Mons de la Valette and
communicated That he would acquaint the Queen with what the said Duke said to him and that he believed there would be no difficulty in this point because the Queen had Two hundred thousand Crowns at Florence and that it would be easie to send for Fifty thousand from thence Hereupon Vincens was dismissed by Mons d' Espernon and went back to the Queen-mother at Blois where he acquainted her Majesty with the said Duke's Resolution to serve her Her Majesty did not detain him long without sending him back with great Thanks a Promise to perform what he desired and a Letter to the said Mons d'Espernon by which she declared that she no wise Intended to engage him to do any thing against the Kings Service She also sent him one the said Duke d' Espernon had desired of her for his discharge which the King had written to her by which his Majesty gave her leave to go into any part of the Kingdom commanding all Governors to receive her The said Vincens was also order'd to go to Florence for the Fifty thousand Crowns which were to remain in Mets and Mons d'Espernon was to begin his Journey on the 15th or 16th of August 1618 but divers things stopt him until the month of January of the following year During Mons d'Espernon's stay at Mets and Vincens Journeys to and fro two things came to pass which encreased his suspicion against Mons de Luynes and confirmed his Resolution of serving the Queen-mother The first was an Advice he received from one la Grange an Inhabitant of Mets that Mons de Luynes had tampered with him and some other Inhabitants of the said City to serve him against Mons d' Espernon The second was that the Sieur de Peraes acquainted the Archbishop of Thoulouse that applications were made to him from Mons de Luynes pressing him to approve a Visit he designed to make to Mons de Luynes in order to discover his Designs against Mons d'Espernon The said Archbishop did not oppose the desire of the said de Pernes but he acquainted Mons du Plessis with it who was his Uncle and the said de Pernes gave Monsieur d'Espernon an account of what had passed and excused his having seen Mons de Luynes upon the Archbishop of Thoulouse's Advice But to perswade him that he was no ways wanting in his Fidelity towards him he told him since a thousand ill things of Mons de Luynes These two Advices encreas'd Mons d'Espernon's Suspicions to that degree that he thought himself oblig'd for his own preservation absolutely to embrace the Queen-mothers Party and speedily to execute what she had proposed to him for her liberty During these Transactions and Vincens's going to and fro from Blois to Mons d'Espernon he received Letters from Court that Mons de Luynes had some desire to be his Friend that he was sorry for what past about the Difference of the Dukes with the Lord Keeper and for the ill Treatment he had received in particular about it and that if he would send the Archbishop of Thoulouse to Paris he should receive all manner of satisfaction there Monsieur d'Espernon received this Proposition not as a thing that did alter his design but to make use of it to remove the Suspicion the Court might have of him and to treat with more Safety about the Queen-mothers affair Being then resolved to send the Archbishop of Thoulouse to the Court he gave the Queen-mother notice thereof The said Archbishops Journey was in the month of July 1618. He was informed at his arrival there that Madamoiselle du Tillet was taken up that Barbin was prosecuted and that the Court did proceed with great severity against all the Queen-mothers Servants The Order he had being at Paris was to speak to the Marquis de Mosni alone and to tell him that Mons d'Espernon was to depart from Mets on the 15th or 16th of August to repair to Xaintonge from whence he would execute the Design they had for the Queen mothers Liberty But as the Archbishop of Thoulouse was about to speak to the Marquis of Mosni in the Queen's Closet he found himself so furpriz'd that he could neither hear nor answer him The next day the said Marquis sent the Sieur de Ruccellai to him to be inform'd of what he said the day before And as the Archbishop began to deny his being any wise privy to the things hâ talked of Ruccellai told him all the Particulars of Vincens divers Journeys and that he was the Author of the whole Treaty besides that all the Queen-mother's affairs passed thro' his Hands The Archbishop of Thoulouse was very much surprized at the knowledge Ruccellai had of all the Transactions between the Queen-mother and Monsieur d'Espernon but seeing he could not disown it he only advis'd him not to let the said Duke know that he knew the Queen-mother's design because it would hinder the execution thereof During these Transactions Sardini and Ruccellai were commanded to leave Paris which the first did with all the speed imaginable and the other refused to obey the King's Commands until he had seen Monsieur de Luynes But after having obtained leave from him by Colonel Ornano's means to remain some days longer there he was forced to go and retir'd to Joinville to the Cardinal de Guise In the Archbishop of Thoulouse's Journey to Paris there only passed Compliments between Monsieur de Luynes and him about Monsieur d' Espernon's affairs without coming to a more particular declaration of Friendship As soon as Bardin and Mademoiselle du Tillet were try'd the said Archbishop returned to Mets. He found that Vincens had been there during his absence and that the Queen mother had sent him to Florence if I am not mistaken about the Fifty thousand Crowns Soon after the said Archbishop's arrival at Mets be receiv'd Letters from Ruccellai by which he defir'd to see him and after several Journeys to and fro Monsieur d'Espernon who had hitherto suspected him offered to receive him secretly at Mets. The said Sieur de Ruccellai immediately accepted this Proposition and after having been at Sedan he came to Monsieur d'Espernon at Mets who was so delighted with him that he placed an entire confidence in him from that moment and made use of him for his reconciliation with the Duke of Bouillon The said Ruccellai made several Journeys to Sedan and to Joinville where the Cardinal de Guise was and after having reconciled the Dukes d'Espernon and of Bouillon he proposed to them to send for the remainder of the Two hundred thousand Crowns the Queen-mother had at Florence Their design was to divide them between the Cardinal de Guise Messieurs de Bouillon and de la Valette and to raise 12000 Foot and 3000 Horse to divert the King's Forces in case the Queen-mother were attacked after her being retir'd at Angoulesme Monsieur de Bouillon desir'd if I am not mistaken Twelve thousand Crowns
Blois in the Night through one of the Windows of the Castle by a Ladder which Count de Breyne or la Mazure had prepared for her She took but one of her Women along with her whose Name was Catherine Count de Breyne and four of her Guards stood waiting at the foot of the Ladder with du Plesses who was to order all things She was constrained to crawl along the Ditch and to walk on foot to the other end of the Bridge of Blois where her Coach waited for her She stept into it with one of her Women her Jewels and a Lantern because she could not tarry in her Coach without a light and came in this Equipage to Montrichard where she shifted her Coach and Horses and was met by Ruccellai and the Archbishop of Thoulouse From thence she went with speed to Loches where Monsieur d'Espernon arrived the night before and went out a league to meet her She tarried there but one day for her Attendance and her Women and the next Chanteloube came to her Instructions for the Commandore de Sillery going Ambassador to Rome to his Holiness in the Year 1622. From M. du Puy 's Study MS. 687. THe King who together with the general Good of Christendom respects the Advantage and Reputation of his Affairs abroad as he is industrious to settle them at home with his Authority by all possible means of Vigilance and Care where-ever it is required has thought fit to fill up the Vacancy of the Roman Embassy by a Person fitly qualified to serve him and to please our holy Father the Pope to watch and observe all publick Occurrences and to promote the Honour and Service of his Majesty in all things To this end he has chosen the Bailiff de Sillery Councellor in his Council of State a Person very well known to his Majesty by several Imployments and Commissions he has discharged to his satisfaction and commands him forthwith to repair with all speed towards Rome about several affairs relating as much to the Peace of Christendom equally respected by his Holiness and by his Majesty the Tranquility and Liberty of Italy as to the Welfare and Safety of the Friends and Allies of France and has ordered this memorial to be drawn to be the Rule and Guide of his Conduct saving such Orders and Commands as shall be sent to him by his Majesty in a more precise manner by the usual way according as the new Accidents that may arise shall require it It is his Majesty's Pleasure he should go through Turin tho it were only besides that it is in his way to visit his Majesty's Sister in his Name his Highness of Savoy and the Princes and Princesses his Children as also to acquaint the said Duke in particular with his Majesty's Sentiments upon the present Occurrences and to assure him of his said Majesty's sincere Friendship which he is very desirous to make him sensible of by Effects to his advantage and satisfaction His Majesty knows the Esteem the late King his most honour'd Lord and Father ever had for his Person and has made his late Majesty's maxim his rule in the conduct of the General as he was a wise Prince endued with a long experience in Publick Affairs He designs to live with the said Duke in that strict bond of Affection for their Common Interest lately strengthen'd by the dear Pledge his Majesty has given the Prince of Piedmont of his dear-beloved Sister declaring again that as it has pleased God to let him take the management of his Affairs into his own hands and to direct them with a Will full of Equity and Honour so the said Duke and his being so nearly related to him shall freely share that Happiness from which his Majesty expects to see effects arise one day useful to the Publick favourable to his Friends and acceptable to his Holiness His Majesty is sensible that the said Duke is desirous as well as himself that every one should be maintained in his Right to oppose all Usurpations and that Neighbors and Confederates living in a friendly manner may keep so good a Correspondence that such as would attempt any thing to the prejudice of so just a Resolution may feel the effects of their ambition and rashness if so daring as to attempt it or be kept within bounds out of fear of the Force and Councils of the said Associates for the common Cause The present state of affairs in Valtelina requires this to be urged to the said Duke who is likewise concerned for the Safety of Italy The King has already acquainted him with the perpetual Endeavours used about it from the very beginning that his Majesty prevents the Inconveniences of such a precipitated Usurpation to remonstrate the Consequences thereof and to promote its restitution at Rome in Spain and elsewhere being desirous at first by mild means to endeavour the obtaining of an amicable Treaty before he would proceed to those of Rigor meerly out of respect to the Publick Peace so justly valued and desired as also because the Infringers thereof are so nearly united to his Majesty by Alliances that he had reason to expect from their very Promises that they would at last yield to his just Remonstrances to execute the Agreement made at Madrid for the restitution of the said Countries as soon as might be according to the Articles thereof This has been prest without intermission thereby discovers his entire Affection for the Welfare of his Affairs so he may assure himself that he shall have a good Share in the Success thereof which he hopes to promote and to settle by Power only He also thinks it very necessary once more to advise the said Duke to facilitate as much as in him lies the reconciliation between himself and the Duke of Mantua diverted hitherto by those who envied his Majesty the satisfaction of being the Promoter thereof and would improve their dissention to their own advantage But both of them would do wisely considering the ends of their Neighbours to yield something in respect to the Publick Good and their Interest rather than to hearken to the artificial Suggestions of those who have and do still endeavour to keep up their Division The said Commandore is to enquire of the Sieur Marini who is in those parts and will assist him in all things on what Terms the said Duke stands in that respect and if his Majesty's Name and Authority can be any wise serviceable therein he is freely to employ himself in it in his passage as he likewise is to do at Rome where this Affair was formerly refer'd when any occasion shall offer it self He is to do the same Office towards the Duke of Mantua without going thither himself by sending one of his Gentlemen to assure him of his Majesty's Good-will of his being order'd to favour his Interest at Rome and to use his utmost endeavours to facilitate their reconciliation to which he shall be desired to show himself the
more disposed seeing that the publick occasions seem to invite them all to a speedy and strict reconciliation He is also to complement him upon the late Marriage of the Princess his Sister with the Emperor wishing him and all his Family all manner of Prosperity and Content therein The King doubts not but the Duke of Savoy and the Cardinal his Son will put him upon the Subject of the Comprotection which he has been too much mov'd and offended at since his Majesty considering his quality the nearness of his relation to him and the place he has in his Affection never had or could have the least intention of doing any thing to his disadvantage When he honoured Cardinal Bentivoglio with the Title of Comprotector it was not to equal him with the said Cardinal of Savoy being very sensible of the difference of their Birth for he was expresly enjoyn'd to yield to him in all things and to meddle with nothing in his presence but what remain as they are at present than to make any Innovations since none can be made without prejudice to his Majesty's Affairs at Rome Therefore if it were possible to divert the said Cardinal of Savoy from this thought the said Commander would do his Majesty a signal piece of Service the management of which is left to his Judgment and Discretion according as he will discover the Temper and Disposition of the said Cardinal upon the Place as well as by Marini's Informations He is still to confirm his Majesty's Journey to Lyons as well to please and comfort the Allies in the affair of the Grisons as because their Highnesses have a great desire to see and wait on his Majesty which when they mention he is to assure them will be very acceptable to him The said Commander is also to assure the Princess his Sister of his Majesty's cordial Love and fraternal Affection and that whenever any occasion shall offer it self to give proofs thereof he will embrace it with great satisfaction that he rejoyces at the good and honourable Treatment she receives and will allways be ready to do her all manner of good offices towards the said Duke and the Prince his Son he is likewise to acquaint her with the charge and command he has re-iterated to the aforesaid Marini to let him hear often from her and what confidence his Majesty reposes in his devotion to his service He is also to visit the other Princes and Infanta's whom he is to complement and to assure them of his Majesty's Friendship and Good-will And without making any longer stay there he is to continue his Journey to Rome through Florence as it is usual where his Majesty is persuaded that he will be kindly receiv'd by the Great Duke the Great Dutchess Dowager and the Widow Arch-Dutchess At the delivery of his Majesty's Letters he is to renew the Declarations of his Good-Will which they have lately receiv'd from Father Arbinot Confessor to the Great Dutchess and after having perform'd the usual Duties Assurances of Friendship and of savouring their Affairs where he is going to reside He is not to forget before his departure from thence to reiterate the Instances that have often been made concerning his Majesty's Money carry'd thither by the late Concini which is justly due to him by reason that the sums drawn from Rome are but slight and inconsiderable in proportion thereunto and to acquaint them that a longer detention of the said Money might create misunderstandings as it has already been declar'd and fully prov'd to Father Arbinot in order to make their Highnesses sinsible thereof that according to their Equity and the good Correspondence they desire to hold with his Majesty they may have a due regard to his right and to the desire they ought to have to cultivate and maintain the same carefully The particulars hereof shall be explain'd by word of Mouth to the said Commander that he may be the better able to argue about it and he is to inquire and receive a more particular information in his Journey from the Archbishop of Lyons of what he has done and Negociated heretofore in the like case at Rome He is also to take care to let them know the perfect Union and good Intelligence that is between his Majesty and the Queen Mother in which that House of Medicis is highly concern'd which has always been one of his Majesty's most earnest desires as a duty to which he is oblig'd both by God and Nature as well as by the reciprocal affection he receives from the said Queen his Mother who is heartily sorry that the artificial Impressions and passionate Councils of Persons who endeavour'd to improve their Division to their own advantage have lasted so long But that having through the Grace of God discover'd the Truth and the Malice of the Authors and Contrivers of a course so prejudicial she has resum'd her former Confidence in his Majesty's mild and truly Royal Temper whose Soul rejoices thereat and will ever study by all the means and duties of filial Respect to confirm her said confidence to her satisfaction And in order to give the World a very evident proof thereof the King has lately admitted the said Queen again into his Council and most secret affairs to be assisted with her good advice upon all occasions He is to observe in what manner this representation will be receiv'd at Florence and the Judgment they will make of his Majesty's behaviour towards the said Queen to give his Majesty notice thereof that he may the better and more securely regulate his Conduct upon that knowledge for the future For really he has not had much reason to be satisfy'd with their Highnesses of late and particularly about the restitution of the Money of the said Concini their manner of proceeding therein which the Arch-bishop of Lyons is very well acquainted with being as unseemly as displeasing to his Majesty which was acknowledg'd by Arbinot himself If any of the Ministers should put him upon this subject he may inform them that the matter is very well known and that it cannot long remain in those terms which may be remedy'd by a speedy payment of the said Money Before his Arrival at Rome he is to inform Cardinal de Sourdis of his coming if he be still there to confer with him before his entry into the said City about the form thereof or else with Cardinal Bentivoglio who is Comprotector there He is to make it as Honourable and Solemn as can be according to the usual Custom to get informations from them about the general state of Affairs and of his Majesty 's in particular what he is do to at this beginning and to learn from them as persons better inform'd with the use of the Country how he is to behave himself to be admitted the very first Night of his Arrival to kiss his Holinesses Feet to whom presenting the King's Letters written with his own hand he is to confirm the assurances
been so pleas'd but only to give him a constant Account thereof His Majesty having no Interest in the matter provided the Catholick Religion be thereby promoted he preferring that Consideration to all the Policies that can occurr upon this Account though perhaps others would not deal with so much Candour towards him But whereas his Majesty is of Opinion that this proposition of Alliance is only to gain time and to improve occasions on both sides as it appears sufficiently by all their proceedings in relation to the general affairs in which they are concern'd so his Majesty thinks fit not to trouble himself any further with it but to refer it all to the Prudences and wise Consideration of his Beatitude Who must needs be sensible by the good Offices lately done at Venice for the restauration of the Jesuits in their Demean what care his Majesty takes to promote whatever tends towards his Holiness's satisfaction who has express'd a great deal of concern in this Affair as a thing tending to the service of God the honour of which might have been rais'd had the Republick been pleas'd to adhere to his Holiness's and his Majesty's good Councils and Salutery Remonstrances And though his Majesty has some reason to be dissatisfy'd with the refusal he has incur'd at his Holinesses Intreaty he having expos'd his Name and Dignity in this Business contrary to his first intentions fore-seeing this resistance from the Seignory Nevertheless in order to do well in all things whenever any reasonable likelihood of success shall appear in the issue of the said Recommendation his Majesty will freely undertake it a new But at present his Majesty is of Opinion that it is proper to refer it to another Season when time shall have made the Venetians sensible of the fault they have committed and of the misfortunes which may arise in their State by the Banishment of the said Fathers If his Holiness should put the said Commandore upon the subject of the Enterprise of Geneva to which he has lately invited his Majesty by a person sent on purpose he is to make him sensible according as it has already been freely declar'd to his Nuncio and to Father Barnabite sent on purpose on that subject that this would be directly contrary to the design his Majesty has propos'd to himself in this Kingdom to remove the Opinion which some malicious persons publish that by the War he makes against his rebellious Subjects he aims at their Religion and not at the Faction which would make them all Unite again not only in France but those of the same Sect out of the Kingdom who hitherto have only been Spectators of this Tragedy which the said Revolters have been the cause of his Majesty having all along told and satisfy'd them that without respect to Religion he only attacks Disobedience and that if any of his Catholick Subjects should lay aside their Allegiance he would use them in the same manner for the good of the publick Peace and for the security of his Authority Had he consented to this Enterprize against Geneva these publick Causes failing he would be at a loss for the prosecution of this project which is in such forwardness And therefore when the said Nuncio and the Ministers of Savoy have press'd him upon that affair they have sound the solidity of his Reasons by his Answers besides the reasons of State which his Majesty does not alledge at this time and which have always been held in great consideration by the late King his Father when the said Duke as he has often done has propos'd the said design But possibly he has thought that his Majesty being imploy'd at home could not so easily divert him from the said design or that his Holiness would have more power to persuade him If the Duke speaks to the said Commandore about it he is to make the same answer to him and that his Majesty for these Reasons which have been known to him heretofore cannot agree to the said Enterprize and that when he has put a good order to his Affairs according to his good beginning it will then be more âasie for him to resolve about it and to consider of means to favour his Highnesses designs who at this time would do better to joyn with his Holiness to seek out and propose good expedients to promote the advancement of his Majesty's good design in his Kingdom the rather because the security of his Neighbours and the Publick Peace partly depends on the good Condition thereof by the counterpoise every body knows his Majesty's power keeps against other Kings and States which might make attempts to the prejudice of the Common Liberty The said Commandore is also to represent that his Holiness has good informations thereof his Majesty's happy Progresses the last Year and the advantage he has gain'd by the reduction of upwards of Sixty Garrisons his being resolv'd to prosecute his Fortune a great deal farther yet unless the said Revolters submit to their Duty of their own accord on such conditions and submissions as are requir'd from Subjects to Soveraigns That he is persuaded that as God has been pleas'd hitherto to favour his Arms he will still assist him for the future since he has no other end but the maintaining of his Authority and the promoting of Religion under the favour of the Edicts as much as justice and their behaviour will permit him being now ready to march under the protection of God whom he intreats his Holiness to implore for him as he has hitherto done in order to prosecute the success of his just and pious design And the said Commandore is to take care to acquaint his said Holiness with his Majesty's Moral and Pious Life a true example for his Age to all other Kings He assures himself that God will grant the Vows and Prayers of his Holiness and of all his Majesty's good Subjects thus following the paths of Honour and Vertue which gives hopes besides that being seconded by his Holiness's good Advice he will daily fructify for the better and employ those advantages bestow'd on him by Providence to the Honour of his Holy Name and unto the benefit of the Christian Common-wealth And it is highly important for the promotion of this good Work that it be favour'd and that all the World may know that it was undertaken by the Authority of his Holiness his Predecessors having lost many favourable occasions to advance the publick good for want of so doing His Majesty expects from the Justice and Wisdom of his Beatitude that making his profit of their Faults and Omissions in what relates to him he will be more careful of it and will look upon him as the most Christian King first Son of the Church who in his private and publick Conduct aims at nothing but the Exaltation of the Holy Name of God Equity and the general Good and Peace of Christendom These things appear particularly in the Actions which are done in
the sight of all the World and especially in the promotions of Cardinals in which some things having been wanting in his Predecessor he hopes they will be repair'd and mended by the Prudence and Goodness of his Holiness as indeed it would be might the two Persons heretofore recommend viz. the Bishop of Lusson and the Archbishop of Lyons be included in the same promotion according to the request already made to his Holiness about it in his Majesty's Name by the Cardinal de Sourdis But the said Commandore is no otherwise to insist upon it for fear of Engaging the King's Dignity too far again in case of a refusal which is apparent enough and that he will grant but one to his Majesty in the next Promotion in which case he desires it may be the said Bishop of Lusson to gratify the Queen his Mothers desire who behaves her self so well towards him that he will be glad of any occasions to pleasure and oblige her His Holiness seems to be in Expectation of other Vacancies to favour Princes with if not he must but slightly intreat him to advance the said Promotion in respect to the affection his Majesty bears to the said Queen his Mother The Marquiss de Caeuvres had orders gently to sound the intention of the late Pope on this subject in favour of Monsieur de Mets his Natural Brother but as he took special care not to press it in his Majesty's Name for fear of exposing him to an absolute refusal the said Commandore is to follow the same Method in not making the like propositions for the Future without first giving notice thereof in order to receive his Majesty's further Commands about it Who wishes his Holiness a long Pontificat for the advantage and honour of the Church of God and the Publick Good But whereas his Beatitude is of a pretty weak Constitution and like others subject to the Common Law if any mischance should happen to his Person during the said Commandore's residence at Rome in case he could not have time to receive his Majesty's more precise Orders on this Subject he thinks fit to acquaint him that he has no other desire than to see that supreme Dignity supply'd by a Person knowing in all things the Office and Duty of a common Father without any Affection Interest or Partiality but for the common good of all and general Concord This is to serve as a rule for the said Commandore without prescribing any thing more particularly to him in this case which depends more from the Holy Ghost than from the will or affections of Men. Nevertheless as far as humanly may be done it is his Majesty's desire that it may be a subject born on the Territorys belonging to the Church so that all suspicions being remov'd all Christians Princes and States may make their applications there with more confidence and freedom upon all those occasions which occur so frequently in the World in which their Dignities and Qualifications rever'd by all men have always been of great Weight and have often supply'd the defects of the Parties to bring them to reason Which when it shall happen the said Commandore is to consult with the said Cardinals and other Persons well affected to the service of France and he is to use such care and diligence therein to the utmost of his Power as may shew that his Majesty considers no interest therein but that in which God and the publick is concern'd Nevertheless foreseeing all Accidents as much as in him lies and in those that serve the King he is to project his design at a distance and with secrecy for it would prove prejudicial being divulg'd And whereas tho' it is usual and expedient to mind the present yet it would be imprudent to neglect the other parts since His Majesty has no other End or Interest but the publick Good Therefore as the said Commandore by his Conduct and Behaviour towards the Pope and Cardinal Ludovisio is to give them all the Reason imaginable to commend His Majesty's Intentions and to make use of all Occasions that may occurr so he is likewise as much as Discretion and Interest will permit him to manage the Good Will of Cardinal Borghese and his Faction but with so much Address and Temper that the present Government may take no Umbrage thereat in such a manner nevertheless that both he and his said Faction may have reason to hope His Majesty's Protection and Favour in case of Need. His Majesty's Ambassadors and his Ministers elsewhere have always taken care of what relates to the Interests and Affairs of the Religion of Maltha who has had Recourse to His Majesty's Authority in time of need he having also receiv'd several good Offices and Services from the present Great Master in Matters concerning his Subjects Therefore His Majesty enjoins him to continue his said Assistance and Care for them if needful His Majesty being persuaded that the said Commandore by his Profession of the said Order as well as by his Command will effectually fulfil the same His Majesty is inform'd that a certain League has been propos'd at Rome between the Princes of Italy under pretence of preserving the Catholick Religion and of hindering the Coming in of Hereticks but in effect under this Colour to invade their Liberties it being very evident that the said Overture was only made to obstruct the Deliverance of Vatlelina and of the Grisons from the Oppressions impos'd upon them And therefore the Republick of Venice has rejected the said Propositions perceiving the Drift of those that have made it neither is it like to succeed The said Commandore is to keep an Eye over it that in case the like Occasion shou'd offer it self during his Embassy he may prevent the Effect of it as prejudicial to the Safety of the Princes of Italy and artificially varnish'd to âull them asleep insensibly and to surprise them The King is very sorry that the Pensions given to some Cardinals and Prelates at Rome have not been paid better of late which has been occasion'd by the Troubles of the Kingdom and the immence Charge His Hajesty has been at But particular Care will be taken for the future for the Payment thereof which the said Commandore may give them full Assurances of that they may have the better Encouragement and Reason to persevere in the Affection they express for His Majesty's Service in order to make use of it according as Occasions shall offer themselves Cardinal Bentivoglio as the Person in whom His Majesty confides most and who is well acquainted with the Affairs of Rome and the Affection of those that espouse the Interests of France will give the said Commandore a particular Account thereof that he may regulate himself accordingly and be able to distinguish the one from the other He is to express His Majesty's Satisfaction to him for his Services and that he knows he has been cross'd in them by powerful Adversaries to prejudice him but that
each other and thus successively Du Tillet shews us by the following Words The Difficulty is when the Prâlaâes are mix'd and not by themselves viz. to the Left or Right The first Rank due to them must be understood next to the Queen and the Children of France both Princes and Princesses It is most certain that all the Members of the King's Council keep their Rank according to the Dignity by which they possess that Place Since then Cardinals in all places precede those who at this time dispute the Precedence with them in the Council undoubtly their Pretension is unjust The Cardinals have always had a free Entrance into the King's Council with the Rank due to their Dignity And those who are acquainted with History cannot be ignorant that it is not so with Chancellors who have only been admitted there since a certain Time None of the Chancellors before Monsieur de Sillery were ever admitted to the Secret Council or to that of the Direction of the Finances And the Ancients of the Council know and can testifie that Messieurs de Chiverny and de Bellievre were not of the Council of the said Affairs nor of the Finances unless when on some extraordinary Occasions the late King sent for them thither To what End should an Innovation be made in a most Christian Kingdom under a most Just and most Pious King contrary to what has already been adjudg'd An Innovation to the prejudice of the Church of which he is the Eldest Son and that only to satisfie the Passion of one particular Person If the thing in question were to dispute a Point in which neither of the Parties contending had any Right the Cardinals then ought to be preferr'd How then can that be disputed which they are in possession of and they be depriv'd of that which belongs to them to give it to those who have no Title to it but their Pretension If that Overture were receiv'd one might henceforward pretend all to obtain part which would be a thing of very ill Consequence since no Man hereafter could be certain of any thing though lawfully his An ACT concerning the Precedence of one of the Cardinals in the Council above the Constable MDCXXIV THis Day being the 9th of May 1624. the King being at Compiegne after having heard the Duke de l' Esdiguieres Peer and Constable of France in his Remonstrances about the Seats in Council against the Cardinals his Majesty was pleas'd to admit into the same and taken his Reasons into serious Consideration His Majesty was pleas'd to command him to yield that which he did pretend to at the most earnest Entreaty of the Queen his Mother on Condition that it should not serve as a President against him or any of his Successors in the Constableship and that only to one of the said Cardinals Whereof His Majesty the Marquis de la Vieuville Knight of his Order and Superintendent of his Fiances and du Hallier also Knight of his said Order and Captain of his Guards being present and Witnesses to these Presents has order'd this Act to be drawn by us his Counsellors Secretaries of State and of his Commands who were present at the whole Action Sign'd de Lomenie and Potier Instructions for the Sieurs de Chastillon and de Breze Mareschals of France and the King's Lieutenants General THE said Mareschals must know that His Majesty has written to the Prince of Orange that his Army consisting of Five and Twenty Thousand Foot and Five Thousand Horse and a suitable Train of Artillery will repair to Rochefort on the 12th of May. The said Mareschals are to take a particular Care to cause all necessary Preparations to be made for the Passage of the King's Army in order to join that of the States The said Mareschals are to be at Meziers on the 28th of this Instant to put all things in readiness for their March in order to be at the aforesaid place on the 12th of May. His Majesty allows the said Mareschals in case they judge it more convenient and proper for his Service to join the said Prince of Orange by any other Way provided it be by the Consent of the said Prince If the Spanish Forces should oppose the Passage of the said Mareschals so as to hinder their Conjunction with the said Prince of Orange without coming to Action His Majesty permits them to combat the Enemy if they think they can do it with Advantage and great likelihood of Success unless they judge it more proper to encamp before the Enemies and to send the said Prince of Orange notice to advance on his side in order to inclose the Enemies between the two Armies His Majesty's Army being join'd with that of the said States the said Prince of Orange is to give the Word in both by virtue of the Power given unto him by His Majesty All the Resolutions of the two Armies are to be conserted between the said Prince and the said Mareschals only And the said Mareschals are to summons to the particular Councils they shall hold for the Execution of the things resolv'd on with the said Prince all such Persons as use to assist in the same in the King's Armies The two Armies being join'd His Majesty is of Opinion that the first thing to be done is to fight the Enemies which is to be endeavour'd as much as possible In case the Enemies should put themselves in such a posture by Encampment as to secure themselves from being forc'd to sight Endeavours must be us'd to starve and make them perish that way or else to force them in their Trenches if the Maxims of War permit it If any particular Considerations as the Abundance of the Enemies Provisions and the Dissiculties of getting them for the two Armies in Conjunction should prevent such a Design His Majesty's Opinion is That the only Remedy would be to march directly into the Heart of the Country towards Brussels Louvain Malines and such other places as shall be thought fit by common Advice And that for this Reason That besides the attacking the Enemies chief Cities by this Means their Forces being oblig'd to march to their Assistance will hardly be able to avoid a Combat If the Enemies instead of keeping the Field should divide their Forces into their best Garisons it is thought that the best way would be to attack the Place into which the Cardinal-Infant shall retire by reason that if he could be taken the War would be at an end in Flanders And in case he should retire into some Place belonging to his Neighbours and Allies it will be necessary to follow him there and if possible to force the Place into which he shall retire if the thing be feasible and advisable The said Mareschals are also to take notice That if it be needful to divide the 50000 Foot and 10000 Horse which are to be in His Majesty's and the States Armies into several Bodies the said Division must be made in
a manner that the Duke of Weymar may ingage to succor the Landgrave with the Forces the King is to maintain for him in case of need on condition that the said Landgrave shall also assist the King 's said Forces and the Duke of Weymar in the late case One might also give the said Landgrave some part of the Army which the King impowers you to give to the Duke Bernard of Weymar making the said Duke sensible that though he would get somewhat the less by it yet he would derive a far greater advantage by the correspondence he would have with the said Landgrave We are much at a loss how to divide the Honour of the Command between them Yet I fancy that if you could make them agree about the sharing of the Army which the King is to imploy in Germany you might do the same about the Command as followeth That the Duke of Weymar should Command the Forces he is to have as General of the Troops granted to the Confederacy And the Landgrave those that the King should furnish him by virtue of the Command he has from the King I am persuaded that your Address your good Fortune and your Wit will furnish you with expedients against all our Evils in your parts You may treat of the things above mention'd immediately If the War should chance to last and conquests be made the King promises such a share thereof to the said Landgrave as he shall desire At the very instant this Courier is dispatching to you another is going for Flanders to endeavour to dispose the Prince of Orange to permit Two Thousand Horse of the King's Army and Two Thousand Musqueteers mounted on Nags to march from thence to joyn the Forces under your Command I am of Opinion that it will be fit for you at the receipt of this to send some body to the Marshal de Breze to acquaint him with the Places through which it will be most convenient for them to march Sign'd the Cardinal of Richelieu Instructions for the said Cardinal de la Valette THE King reposes so much Confidence in the prudence and affection of the Cardinal de la Valette and His Majesty has receiv'd such real proofs thereof since his having giving him the Command of his Army in Germany that he does not only approve the reasons which have made him take the Resolution of passing the Rhine but moreover gives him full power hereafter to form such other designs and resolutions as he shall find upon the place to be most advantageous for his Majesty's Service and for the Reputation of his Arms being persuaded that he will not Engage them without reason and that he will undertake nothing without hopes of a good Success His Majesty sends this Courier to the said Cardinal to acquaint him that finding by his last dispatch as well as by that of the Sieur de Feuquiere the demand of Four Millions of Livers made by the Duke of Weymar to fix himself to the King's Service unless he had a great deal of confidence in the said Duke's Sincerity he should have reason to believe that he makes this excessive demand either for a pretence to break with him at this very instant if refus'd or at least to have one to quit his Majesty's Interest at some time or other in case the payment of the said Summ should not be perform'd Though by this Means His Majesty instead of receiving any Assistance from the Forces of his Confederates finds himself reduc'd to bear the whole Burthen of them and to maintain them at his own Charges which is very difficult for him to do at this time considering the great number of other Expences he is at in Iâaly the Grisons Lorrain Flanders and Picardy yet he thinks it so necessary for the Good of his Service to keep the said Duke stedfast to his Interest and so dangerous to lose him that he is of Opinion that nothing should be omitted in order to fix him in such a manner that there may be no Reason to fear his falling off for the future To this End His Majesty impowers the said Cardinal de la Valette to offer as far as Three Millions Two Hundred Thousand Livres which is about the Payment of Eight Musters for Six Thousand Horse and Twelve Thousand Foot in case he finds that he cannot come off at an easier Rate and that keeping him within the Bounds of a smaller Summ might induce the said Duke to engage in the contrary Party It will suit with the said Cardinal's Prudence to husband His Majesty's Interest in this Occasion which is of great Moment as advantageously as possibly can be and to yield only by degrees representing to the said Duke that it is much at this time to give him double the Summ that was formerly given to the Crown of Sweden which is that as has already been offer'd to him by Monsieur de Feuquieres After that he is to offer him something more if Two Millions of Livres are not capable to content him In fine he may go as far as Three Millions Two Hundred Thousand Livres if as abovesaid he finds the Refusal of the said Duke's entire Pretentions capable to drive him to an extream Resolution contrary to his Honour and Promises The said Summ being sufficient for the Payment of eight entire Musters for Six Thousand Horse and Twelve Thousand Foot which is what is expended in the best paid Armies of Christendom if the said Duke should make a Difficulty of being satisfy'd therewith there would be great Reason to believe that he seeks Pretences to quit His Majesty's Interest and that in that Case whatever Promises were made to him would be vain seeing that in order to effect his Desires he would raise his Pretensions ad infinitum and would never be satisfy'd In such an Extremity evidently known by the said Cardinal which the King nevertheless is unwilling to fear of a Prince who hitherto has acquir'd a great deal of Honour and makes a strict Profession of it the said Cardinal de la Valette is to use his best Endeavours to secure the King's Army and to free it from those Dangers to which it would be expos'd should the said Duke change Sides This is only hinted not to omit any thing that might happen or the proper Remedies to be apply'd in such a Case In case he will be satisfy'd with the said Summ of Three Millions Two Hundred Thousand Livres or can be dispos'd to take less which must be endeavour'd as much as can be the following Conditions must be agreed on at the same time if possible First That he will keep Six Thousand Horse and Twelve Thousand Foot in the Field for His Majesty's Service besides the Garisons that may be left in divers places Secondly That Six or Seven Hundred Thousand Livres shall be given out of the said Summ to the Landtgrave of Hesse for the Maintenance of his Forces Thirdly That the Form of the Command between the
Duke of Weymar and the Landtgrave of Hesse shall be contriv'd both being join'd or asunder Fourthly That both of them in consideration of the Summs paid unto them shall command their Armies under the King's Authority viz. the Duke of Weymar as General of the Forces of the Confederacy and the Landtgrave of Hesse as General of the German Forces maintain'd at the King's Charge Fifthly That neither of them shall be allow'd to quit the King's Interest or to hearken to any Propositions of Peace or Accommodation whether general or particular without His Majesty's Approbation Sixthly That in case the Duke of Weymar should not have the said Number of Six Thousand Horse and Twelve Thousand Foot actually into the Field the Review whereof is to be made at His Majesty's Pleasure and as often as he shall think fit it shall be lawful to stop as much out of the said promis'd Summ as shall answer the Failure of the said Number It must also be requir'd since the Duke of Weymar receives His Majesty's Pay that he should oblige himself to follow and execute such Orders as shall be sent him by His Majesty to the Prejudice and Exclusion of all others that might be given him to the contrary Nevertheless if he should seem too averse to it the King will be satisfy'd with being secur'd that whatever ill Event his Affairs might have in Germany he will remain steady to His Majesty's Interest and Service upon the King's Promise that he will never make a Peace without his being included in it and to fulfil all the Articles of the Treaty that will be made with him according to his preceding Memoirs which are to be follow'd in every Point not compris'd in this After the sending of this Memoir His Majesty has thought fit still to leave the said Cardinal the Liberty to promise as far as the Four Millions of Livres in case he thinks it impossible to keep the said Duke of Weymar steady to His Majesty's Interest without it This Condition is so unreasonable and the Summ so excessive that the said Cardinal is not to oblige himself to it till the last Extremity and to avoid those Evils he may foresee will ensue in case he should not comply Done Sept. 16. 1635. Signed c. Instructions for the Cardinal de la Valette THE King being sensible that there is nothing so pressing and important at this time for his Service as the Furnishing of the Garisons of Alsatia speedily with Provisions His Majesty has already sent two Couriers to the Cardinal de la Valette and to the Marquis de la Force to that effect his Desire that no Time may be lost for the Performance of that Enterprise obliges him to dispatch this third Messenger His said Majesty therefore judges it necessary forthwith to prepare the said Provisions the Carriages for their Transportation Men to convoy the same and the Money for the Musters that are due to the Garisons of Colmar Schlestadt and Haguenau Two Thousand Rations of Wheat must be sent if possible Monsieur Gangnot who went from hence yesterday has assur'd His Majesty that he had the said Quantity in readiness and that he would order the Delivery of it to the Person appointed for the carrying thereof he will be upon the Spot to execute the Orders he has receiv'd And lest he should meet with any Obstacles in an Undertaking of that Consequence Six Thousand Livres have been put into his hands to be employ'd for the Sacking and Lading of the said Corn and other necessary Charges The greatest Impediment in this Business will be about the Carriage-Horses since we are inform'd that in this Season Waggons cannot go through those places that are still open to go to Colmar so that the said Wheat must of necessity be carry'd on the Backs of the said Horses Orders are already sent to employ all the Horses belonging to the Artillery and Provisions of the two Armies of Lorrain to borrow as many from the Duke of Weymar as he can furnish to hire Two Hundred from Colonel Gassion who has promis'd to provide them in order to carry at least Two Thousand Rations at any rate whatsoever In case of a Disappointment of those Horses which Colonel Gassion has promis'd and those that Duke Bernard is able to furnish His Majesty is willing that the Sieur de Villarseaux should employ all those that are under his Command for that Service though they were prepar'd for Carriages into the Country His Majesty reckons according to the Information he has receiv'd that 3000 Horses and 3000 Musquetiers chosen out of all the Forces will suffise for the said Convoy and that in order thereunto 1200 effective Musquetiers must be taken out of the Cardinal de la Valette's Army 500 Foreign Horses and 150 French drawn either out of divers Companies or otherwise as shall be thought most convenient Out of the Marquis de la Force's Army 800 Musquetiers 800 Foreign Horses and 100 French in the same Form as out of the Cardinal 's That 1200 Horses shall be taken from Duke Bernard and that 1000 Musquetiers and 250 French Horse shall be drawn out of the Army in Champaign which shall be taken out of the Forces given to the Sieur de Vaubecourt out of the Regiments of the Marine and Vernancourt which shall be order'd to march towards Nancy there to receive the said Cardinal de la Valette's Orders All necessary Orders are sending to the Count of to Duke Bernard and to the Marquis de la Force for the Preparation and March of the Forces that are to be drawn out of the Armies under their Command The said Cardinal must not forget to distribute to the said Troops as much Provision at their Departure as they can carry for their Journey Their March not exceeding four Days from their Rendesvouz-General to Colmar they may carry a sufficient quantity for their Journey going and take as much out of Colmar as will be necessary for their Return sending notice beforehand to the Inhabitants to provide a sufficient quantity for them which will be return'd them out of the Wheat carry'd into the said Garison A particular Care must be taken of the Beasts of Carriage and Orders given for their carrying of Oats along with them and if possible some Hay to seed them until they are past the Mountains of Alsatia which being past Manicamp assures us that they will find Provisions and Forage in abundance but it is to be fear'd that they will find nothing on this side the Mountains A Clerk of the Treasury has been sent Post with the 6 and 7 Musters due to the Garisons of Alsatia The said Cardinal is to take care to see the same deliver'd to them even to the Troops of Horse that are there in case he thinks they are in want of it for their Subsistence He is also during his Journey to endeavour to get some certain notice of the true State Haguenan is in at this time
that in case there be any possibility to relieve the same it may be done After having put Provisions into Colmar and Schlestadt the said Cardinal is to leave such a number of Foreign Horse in each of them as he shall think fit to keep the Enemies at a distance from them and to send to Montbeliard to the Count de la Suze such Forces as he shall stand in need of The Regiments of Layn Harf and Forbus seem to be the fittest for that Service All the Means that can be must be us'd for their Subsistence there and they must be re-inforc'd if possible during their Stay there As this Dispatch was going to be clos'd His Majesty has receiv'd some Intelligence from Manicamp an Abstract of which he sends to the said Cardinal that he may regulate himself accordingly Nevertheless though he represents the thing to be very easie it is His Majesty's Pleasure that a strong Body be sent in order to effect the Matter without danger If after the Execution thereof the said Cardinal finds Conveniencies beyond the Mountains to maintain Forces there either by Convoys or by the Means of Basle His Majesty thinks fit to leave some there and particularly a greater Number of Foreign Horse And if the Fear of not finding a sufficient quantity of Provisions on his March for so great a Number should hinder him from taking all the Foreign Regiments along with him it wil be necessary at least to send them out in Parties while he advances that way to make a Diversion and to create Jealousies in the Enemies another Way Done at St. Germain en Laye January 2. 1636. Signed LEWIS c. Memoire to the Cardinal de la Valette Lieutenant General of his Majesty's Army in Italy and to the Sieur d'Hemery His Majesty's Ambassador in Ordinary in Italy From M. du Puy 's Study M.S. 538. HIS Majesty receiv'd divers Informations heretofore that the Spaniards had some design upon Cazal but he could hardly have been persuaded that it was with the Participation of the Princess of Mantua whose interest was so considerable in France that there was reason to believe that though her heart was not well inclin'd for the King's Service at least she ought to have dissembled it to oblige His Majesty to be favourable to her and to the Duke her Son in their Affairs Though this Princess's ill designs are sufficiently justify'd by the Depositions of Gajis and Monteils which the said Ambassador has taken very opportunely his Majesty is nevertheless of Opinion that it is not fit as yet to publish them such as they are nor to shew his Resentment against her because His Majesty is able to do his Business without it and that it is necessary before if possible to induce the Republick of Venice to secure Mantua as he has done Gazal His Majesty commends the care and diligence us'd by the said Cardinal and his Ambassador in that affair and desires them to continue their said care in keeping a strickt Eye over the said City the consequence whereof is sufficiently known to them They are to take care above all things no longer to suffer any suspected Persons to tarry there And besides their particular knowledge thereof they are to confer about it with Chancellor Guiscardi who will be mention'd in the Sequel of this Memoir Although His Majesty does not think it convenient at this time to accuse the Princess of Mantua of being concern'd in the Treason hatch'd in Cazal against his Majesty's Service to introduce the Spaniards there yet His Msjesty is of Opinion that it ought to be publish'd without naming the said Princess pretending that the Forces introduc'd by her into the said City in order to seize upon it where only sent to protect the young Duke against the pernicious designs of his Subjects who have been gain'd by the Artifices of the Spaniards His Majesty highly approves the seizing of Monteils by an Ordinance of the Senate of Cazal this proceeding absolutely justifying His Majesty's Actions His Majesty's intention is to have the said Monteils brought to his Tryal and to that end he has sent two Commissions the one directed to the Sieur d' Argenson and to the said Senate of Cazal and the other to the Counsel of War in order that the said Cardinal and the said Ambassador may use that which they think most proper In which it is necessary to use a great deal of Prudence not to trust the Senate of Cazal with the Tryal of Monteils unless they find their intentions to be such as are agreeable with the Wellfare of their Country and the King's Service And whereas it will be a thing very well receiv'd throughout Italy if Mânteils be condemn'd by the Duke of Mantua's own Judges so it would redound very much to the King's Reputation if the wickedness of that man were justify'd by reason that what has been done lately at Cazal is grounded upon that only After these Considerations his Majesty referrs this Affair to the Prudence of the said Cardinal de la Valette and Monsieur d' Hemery being satisfy'd that they are capable to manage it in such a manner that his Majesty will receive no prejudice by it It is necessary not only to get a particular account of Monteils designs but also to discover all his accomplices and to secure them The said Cardinal and the said Ambassador are likewise to use their best endeavours to get the most Authentick proofs that can be had of the share the Princess of Mantua has had in this detestable Enterprise but without saying any thing about it only to enable his Majesty to make use of it at a proper time for the wellfare of his Affairs The King writes to Guiscardi Count Mercurin and Prat to express his gratitude to them for their proceeding in the said Affair he is resolv'd to reward them and to acknowledge the services they have done on that occasion Therefore His Majesty desires the said Cardinal and the said Ambassador to let him know speedily what they think he ought to do for them which shall be perform'd inââ¦diately In the mean time they are to assure them of his Majesty's absolute protection and of the reaâesteem he has for their Person and to let the said Chancellor Gâisoârdi know in particular how much his Majesty pâaises the Courage and Affection he has shewn in this Affair They are to tell him that he will repose an absolute Confidence in him for the future and will communicate all things relating to Cazal and the Country of Monâferrat to him and that he has so much value for his Person that he has commanded them to assist him with such a number of Soldiers as he shall think fit or sâand in need of either to guard him at home or to accompany him up and down the Town to secure him against the Evil designs that might be plotted against him In fine they are to give those three Persons all the Demonstrations of
affection imaginable from his Majesty They are to do the same to Porre and to the Mayor of the City and to acquaint his Majesty what rewards they think fit for them The King consents to receive Gajis into some City in the middle of his Kingdom to make him Sergeant Major there and to allow him a perpetual Pension of Two Thousand Livers upon a particular receipt of the Tailles in order thereunto Letters Patent shall be expedited for him the Preamble whereof shall be for having secur'd Cazal from Treason The said Cardinal and the said Sieur d' Hemery are to send him away as soon as he shall desire it and are to give him a thousand Crowns for his Journey out of the money which is due from Bresme which shall be reimplac'd if necessary As to what relates to the Garrison and Fortifications of Cazal Monsieur de Noyers has taken upon him not only to get the Bill of Exchange of 30000 Livers accepted but also to provide for all other things that are necessary The said Ambassador in order to justify his Majesty's Actions is to give a particular account from himself of all the Transactions at Cazal to the Marshal d' Estrâ⦠du Houssay de la Thuillerie and la Tour because his Majesty referrs all to him The King having Examin'd the propositions made by the Dutchess of Savoy about the renewing the Treaty of the Offensive and Defensive League sends a project of Treaty with the Preamble to the Cardinal de la Valette and the said Sieur d' Emery such as they themselves have esteem'd reasonable and Authorises them to pass it immediately This they are to apply themselves to to settle the Dutchess's mind which otherwise might be agitated by the divers propositions that are daily made to her The said Cardinal de la Valette and Emery are to observe not to give the said Dutchess the Title of Royal Highness in the Treaty because His Majesty is resolv'd not to alter his wonted manner of treating with the Duke of Savoy This they are to acquaint the said Dutchess with in a very civil manner assuring her that if the King does not do every thing according to her desire it is only because time and occasions are not fit for it since he has all the affection for her she can desire The Article which relates to the Princess of Mantua is worded in such a manner That the King does not oblige himself to include her into the Treaty which point it is not likely the Dutchess of Savoy will insist upon by reason of the sentiments which we may suppose she is in at this time But in case she should do it it might be requir'd of her to include the Duke of Modena into the League since the Duke of Savoy has promis'd to do it by the Treaty of Rivole and thus her desire in this point may be evaded The King Orders the said Cardinal and Emery to take care not to ingage His Majesty into new Expences for the 3000. Foot and 1200 Horse he is to maintain for the Dutchess of Savoy and in order thereunto they are to use their endeavours to get the 5th Article past according to the Note in the Nargin But in case the said Dutchess should insist upon the Effective payment of the intire Summ of 840000 Livers they are to consent to it telling her that the King makes that Effort out of respect to her only As to what relates to the 6th Article the King could wish it might pass as it is worded in the project sent by him however if it cannot be done His Majesty is willing that additions be made to it according to the said Cardinal and said Ambassadors Notes The said Cardinal and said Ambassador are to consider the 11th Article of the Project annex'd hereunto which obviates the inconveniences they think may arise in case it were drawn in the form desir'd by the said Durches's Ministers It is thought she will make no maââ¦er of ââ¦ficulty of passing it as it is drawn in the Project since it is much to her advantage The Summs that were due for the Years 1636. and 1637 have been retrench'd out of the 13th Article The said Cardinal and Ambassador are to pass the 14th Article as it is worded by the said Dutchesses's Ministers making her sensible how great a demonstration this is of the sincerity of his Majesty's Intentions and of his desire to give her all manner of Satisfaction The King is willing the said Cardinal and Ambassador should sign the secret Article as it was agreed on at the Treaty of Rivole If it were possible to avoid mentioning the War of Genoa it would be very proper But the said Cardinal and Ambassador are not to insist upon it neither are they to make any overture about it if they think it may provoke the said Dutchess of Savoy Done at Compiegne May. 22. 1638. Sign'd LEWIS c. An important and secret Memoire sent from the King to Marshal Chastillon WHEN Monsieur de Chastillon was forc'd to raise the Siege of St. Omers Monsieur de la Force and he sent the Sieur Pagan to the King to acquaint him that it was absolutely necessary to raise the said Siege and that they were both of Opinion at their removal from thence to besiege Hesdin The King according to this Advice sent them word that since they could do no better he did adhere to their Proposition and in order to enable them the better to put it in Execution he resolv'd to advance as far as Amiens Saligny came to the King at Amiens sent by those Gentlemen to acquaint his Majesty that they were still of Opinion that it was fit to besiege some place but only they were in doubt whither it should be Hesdin or Arras His Majesty's Opinion was that Arras requir'd too large a Circumvallation for the return of an Army and that there was too much difficulty to carry Provisions thither and thus the Attack of Hesdin was resolv'd upon The Question is now What is most proper to be done equally weighing the Considerations which may induce to do something and those that may hinder it as well as the present State of His Majesty's Forces His Majesty's Reputation requires that the Misfortuâe happen'd before St. Omers should be repair'd The Consideration of his Person which hitherto has never been expos'd without Effect seems also to desire it The Desire of a Peace which cannot be expected unless our Affairs are successful is an absolute Obligation to do it as well as His Majesty's Engagement with his Allies who expect some considerable Performance from him in order to enable them to do the same This is so absolutely necessary that in case neither of them should do any thing one of these things will infallibly happen either we shall never have a general Peace or some of our Allies making theirs separately France will be involv'd in an eternal War with all the Disadvantages that can be
esteem he has for their whole body His Majesty delivers into the said Baron d' Oysonville's Hands several Signet Letters for the chief Commanders of the said Forces and Commissions for the Governors of the places which the said Count Guebriant and he are to make use of according as they shall resolve on together in performances of this present Instruction whch is to be common between the said Count and Baron and will be a sufficient Warrant for them for all that is abovesaid The said Baron d' Oysââ¦viâle is to behave himself in all things according to the advice and motions of the said Guebriant without deviating from the same in any manner whatever Done at Mezieres July 27. 1639. Instructions to the Sieurs de Guebriant de Choisy and d' Oysonville about what they are to do after Colonel Flerschin 's having been with the King being sent by the Sieurs d' Erlach Ohem and Count Nassaw to whom the late Duke of Weymar has left the Direction of the Army under his Cammand untill their having another General THE said Colonel has been very favourably receiv'd and has express'd a great deal of satisfaction at his departure for the favours and caresses he has receiv'd from his Majesty as well as for the good Treatment he has met with from the Cardinal which they will see the particulars of by Monsieur de Noyers dispatches The subject of his Journey is reduc'd into four principal points of which the above nam'd Gentlemen will be particularly inform'd by the Copy of the Memoir he has presented which will be annex'd hereunto The first consists in the assurances of the Service and Fidelity of the said Colonels and Officers of the Army which his Majesty has receiv'd with particular demonstrations of satisfaction express'd Viva Voce to the said Colonel the which are contain'd in the Letter written by him to the said Directors of which a Copy will also be added to these present Instructions Whereupon it is his Majesty's desire that the said Gentlemen do omit nothing to confirm to this Army the good disposition his Majesty is in of taking a particular care of their interest and advantage The second Article of the said Memoir contains the demand made by the said Colonels of the continuation of the Treaty and the payment of the said Army in the same manner as it was done in the late Duke's time And upon this point and all others that are Essential his Majesty referrs himself absolutely to the said Sieurs de Guebriant de Choisy and d' Oysonville according as he has declar'd to the said Colonel Flerskin and to the Directors by his Letter supposing that those affairs may be adjusted with less difficulty upon the place than here therefore they are to acquaint the said directors that his majesty seeing no likelihood that any of them would oblige himself towards him for the maintenance of an army of 8000 foot and 4000 horse together with the train of artillery and other things relating to the subsistence and employment of such an army as the aforesaid duke had done since it would not be in his power to effect it it will be necessary to think on such means as are most proper to regulate all things in a due method for the common satisfaction of all and such an one as may produce the same effect of a treaty whereupon it will be fit to add in order to remove that thought that the inexecution of treaties of that consequence occasions more than any other thing the discontents which may arise among those whose intentions are the most united in the same party that there would undoubtedly arise a very essential difficulty which is that his majesty finding himself laden with the same expence the duke was at for the maintenance of the garisons he was in possession of would be oblig'd to make deductions of the payments design'd for the generality of the forces in order to find the funds of those garisons and to separate them from those of the field which would occasion abundance of discontents and confusion before a reasonable distinction could be made to satisfie every body so that all that can be done is that his majesty's said deputies must determine with the aforesaid directors what is most proper to be done to give every one a reasonable satisfaction The Re-inforcement of Men which the said Colonel Flerschin has desir'd and is the Third Article of his Memorial bearing his Credentials is that which disturbs His Majesty most For notwithstanding he finds in himself a great Disposition to do it being sensible of the Advantage his Affairs and those of his Allies in Germany would receive by it the Number of Armies he is oblig'd to keep on foot as all the World knows and particularly the War of Italy which has drawn a World of Men out of his Kingdom and obliges him at this very time to send a considerable Number of Forces thither hinder His Majesty from being able to give them a definitive Answer to this Point for the present But he is not out of hopes of giving them a considerable Succour particularly on the side of Lorrain where his Affairs continuing to prosper as he hopes in God they will His Majesty will be able to send all the Forces under Monsieur du Hallier's Command in their Parts And in his Progress towards Lyons whither he is now a going he will acquaint the Duke of Longueville who is shortly to repair into Germany with his sinal Resolution uopn this Subject which is what the said Deputies are to say upon this Article As to what relates to the rest of the extraordinary Funds demanded by the said Colonel Flerschin mention'd in the fourth and last Article of his Memorial His Majesty refers providing for the same until his being better satisfy'd of the necessity of raising the said Funds in order to do it with more Knowledge Which is what may be said at present to the said Directors And therefore he will expect an Account thereof from the said Deputies After having inform'd them in general Terms what Answer they may make to the said Directors upon the Demands made by Colonel Flerschin in their behalf and that of all the Officers in the Army it is necessary for them to know that the main thing they are to aim at is to secure all the Forces and the Garisons which were under the aforesaid Duke's Command for His Majesty's Service and to establish so good an Order for the Subsistence of both that His Majesty may be able to bear the Expence thereof That it will be necessary if possible to order Matters so that all the Forces in the Field and in the Garisons may not cost His Majesty more than the 800000 Crowns which he allow'd the said Duke Which seems the more feasible by reason that it is most certain that the said Duke has lest great Summs of Money though he drew them out of no other Mine than His
de la Valette And crave that all things may be resolv'd on by a common Advice and Consent As to what relates to their particular Body they desire to be commanded by a Chief of their Nation X. They also crave that the Quarter of May be paid to them in ready Money and that of August which is already due in good Assignments in order to their being speedily paid to put themselves in a Condition to serve The Answer of the Deputies to the Directors I. AS His Majesty's only Intention is to re-establish the Princes and States that are oppress'd in Germany and to promote the Advantage of the common Cause the Army which was commanded by His late Highness being maintain'd and paid by His Majesty he never question'd but that the Officers thereof would freely promise to serve him faithfully and constantly towards and against all and to lead the said Army in all the Plates and Enterprizes he shall desire according as His Highness was oblig'd to do by the Treaty of the 27th of October 1635. For the Performance of which they are to administer an Oath to all the Forces II. And though some hints have been given that it would be more proper to pay the Army with a certain number of Musters the King taking all the other expences upon himself than to agree about a summ for the whole as his Majesty did with his Highness We hope the Officers will do us more justice than to believe that it did proceed from the least apprehension that the distribution of the said summs would not be well and duly perform'd by their order but on the contrary that they will rather consider the reasons which have been alledg'd to them and are most true They will also be pleas'd to consider that the four Musters they desire far exceeding together with the Ammunitions and Provisions and other extraordinary Expences the summ his Majesty did allow to his late Highness as also that which they themselves have desir'd of his Majesty by their Deputies they do reduce us to the impossibility of granting them since our Instructions limit our Power within the bounds of the demands which the said Officers have made to his Majesty Nevertheless in order to shew them what confidence we repose in the particular esteem the King has for them and for the whole Army we are willing to allow them three Musters and a half yearly the said half Muster to be imploy'd for the recruits and re-establishment of the Forces this is all we can do and upwards of a Hundred Thousand Dollers more than what they have desir'd of his Majesty The whole will be paid them in weighty Pistols at the rate of four Rix Dollers a piece or in Equivalent Money III. The Artillery will be paid at the rate of Eight Musters yearly and the Officers shall be oblig'd to follow the Orders of the * Master of the Ordnance Mareschal de la Meilleraye Grand Master of the Artillery of France who will take care to provide all the necesfary Warlike Ammunitions of that Army as well as the Generality of all the extraordinary Expences IV. His Majesty will furnish the German Foot with Bread like the French as well as the Officers of the Artillery as it is practis'd in his other Armies V. His Majesty is more desirous than the Officers themselves to see the Army in good Winter-Quarters and will use his best Endeavours to get them the most advantageous that can be VI. His Majesty being also more concern'd than any body in the Preservation and Augmentation of the Army the Officers may assure themselves that he will give them Means to râastablish their Forces in case they should meet with any Disaster of War or other inevitable Accident which God forbid VII This Article seems to be superfluous the King being only engag'd in this War to procure the Restoration of the said Princes and States who can do no less than to hold that directly from His Majesty which his Armies shall have taken of theirs from the common Enemies VIII The King will never make the least distinction between the Forces that are in his Service but according to their Affection and Valour And therefore you need not doubt but that he will take the same Care to procure the Liberty of such among you as shall be taken Prisoners as he does in his other Armies And as to the Exchange you propose to us though we are not inform'd of His Majesty's Will in that particular yet we dare assure you that he has so great a Value for General Dobald and Schafalischy that he will refuse no fair and honourable Means to set them at liberty and among you again IX The King having pitch'd upon His Highness of Longueville to Command his Forces in these Parts and to shew you more and more the Value he has for your Troops haying recall'd him to that End from a Place where his Presence was absolutely necessary His Majesty in so doing was and is still persuaded that you will make no difficulty to acknowledge and receive Orders from a Prince of his Birth and Merit and from whom His Majesty is very well satisfy'd that you will receive a very favourable Treatment as also that he will make use of your good Counsels and Advice for the Resolution of all things without your insisting over and above to have some other Chief over you besides those His Highness has left you by his Will X. As for the Quarter of May and that of August we must first agree when His late Highness's Treaty will cease and when that of the Musters will begin in order to make a just Account with the Officers of His late Highness of what has been furnish'd to them this Year as well for the King's Interest as for that of the whole Army Articles and Demands of the King's Deputies To the Directors of the late Duke of Weymar 's Army THE King will yearly cause to be paid into the hands of the Sieur Haeuff in Paris the Summ of ...... in four Terms and equal Payments of which the first will be due on the First of January next coming to be employ'd for the Maintenance of the Army commanded by His late Highness of Saxony of Weymar for the Payment of the Loans for the German Garisons that are to remain in the Places that are already and are to be conquer'd for the Equipages of the Artillery Provisions Furnishing of Ammunition-Bread and all other Warlike Ammunitions that will be necessary as well as for the Payments of the Works that are to be done in Sieges and other Enterprizes that shall be thought necessary His Majesty will also immediately pay for the Quarter of May due to His late Highness in performance of the Treaties made with him the Summ of 550000 Livres only the 50000 Livres remaining of the 600000 Livres granted for every Quarter not being allow'd according to the said Treaties for the Army but for the particular
be concern'd to be for the future and during the Course of the War and in time of Peace inviolably link'd to the Interest of this Crown and to hold no Intelligence with those of the House of Austria and other Enemies of this State nor with any whatever that would disturb the Happiness and Prosperity of His Majesty's Affairs Also after the said Duke's having renounc'd all the Treaties he may have made any wise contrary to the Tenour of this His Majesty consents to restore him the Possession of the Dutchy of Lorrain and of the Dutchy of Bar held from the Crown for which he is immediately to pay Faith and Homage to the King As also into the Possession of all the Territories he enjoy'd for the time past excepting such as follow First The County and Town of Clermont and all their Appurtenances and Dependencies which are to remain for ever united to the Crown Secondly The Garisons Provostships and Lands of Stânay and of Janets which are likewise to remain to His Majesty and his Successors Kings for ever in Propriety with all the Revenues thereof and all the Villages and Territories thereunto belonging Thirdly The City of Dun and the Suburbs thereof which is also to remain in Propriety to His Majesty and to his Successors Fourthly The City of Nancy which is to remain also in His Majesty's Hands as a Pledge only during the War and to be restor'd to the said Duke the same Year a Peace shall be concluded with the Villages within the Liberties of the said City of Nancy which are to remain in the Hands and Dispositions of His Majesty for the Convenience and Subsistence of the City of Nancy as long as it shall remain as a Pledge It is agreed that the Town of Marsal is to be demolish'd before it be deliver'd to the said Duke and that no Fortifications are ever to be made there again It is also agreed upon That Trade shall be as free between the Territories the King restores to the said Duke and those that remain to His Majesty either in Propriety or as Pledges only as if they did actually belong to him And that whatever shall be necessary for their Subsistence shall not be deny'd them by the said Duke and his Subjects at the rate the said Commodities shall go at in the said Duke's Territories Moreover That the said Duke shall give a free Passage in his Country to all the Forces His Majesty shall think fit to send that way either into Alsatia or other Parts of Germany into the Country of Luxemburg or into the Franche-Comte and shall furnish them with Provisions the King paying for the same at the common Market-price of the Country It has been farther agreed That the said Duke shall presently join the Forces he has with him at this time as well as all those he may have for the future with the King 's That they shall take an Oath well and faithfully to serve His Majesty under the said Duke's Authority towards and against all those he is at present in War with in such places and in such a manner as he shall think fit And that for the future they shall receive the same Pay in the Field as His Majesty's do on Condition however that they shall not be allow'd to take Winter-Quarters in France but only in the said Duke's Territories or Enemies Country It has also been agreed That the said Duke shall not be allow'd to lodge any of the said Troops nearer than within five Leagues of Nancy whilst the said City shall remain as a Pledge And whereas notwithstanding His Majesty's restoring the said Duke's Tervitories as abovesaid there still remain several Differences that were undecided before the War in relation to the said Territories which are still to be disputed with France it is agreed that they shall be determin'd amicably as soon as can be Moreover Whereas since His Majesty's having conquer'd Lorrain by Force of Arms a great Number of the Subjects of the said Dutchy have serv'd His Majesty after having taken the Oath of Allegiance he has exacted from them it is also agreed that the said Duke shall bear them no Ill Will for the same but on the contrary shall use them like his good and real Subjects and shall pay them the Debts and Rents the State is oblig'd to pay Which His Majesty desires so particularly that unless he had repos'd an absolute Confidence in the Faith which the said Duke has engag'd on that Subject he would never have granted what he does by this Treaty to the said Duke It is also agreed That it shall not be in the power of the said Duke to make the least Alterations in the Benefices given by His Majesty to the very Day of this present Treaty That those who have been invested with them shall remain in the peaceable Possession and Enjoyment thereof without the least Disturbance or Trouble from the said Duke or being dis-possess'd of the same And that His Majesty shall continue to have the Disposition of the Benefices of the City of Nancy as long as the said City remains for a Pledge in his hands without changing the Settlement of the said Benefices And as for the Offices of the Criminal Justice that are in the said City of Nancy they shall also remain in His Majesty's Gift to the end that such as are invested with the same may perform the Function thereof independently within the said City and the Liberties thereof His Majesty giving his Consent to the said Duke to transferr the Bayliwick of Nancy into such a place as he shall think fit there to decide all the Differences which were formerly judg'd in the said Court of Justice of Nancy excepting only such as are above specify'd It is also agreed That the said Duke shall not be allow'd to send any Person into Nancy there to reside in his Name unless it be to receive the Duties of his Demesne for which he shall be oblig'd to employ a French-man approv'd by the King It is moreover agreed That the Consiscations that have been given by His Majesty of the Estates of such as did bear Arms against him shall remain valid as to the Employment of the Revenues of the said Estates until the Day of the present Treaty provided those whose Estates have been confiscated quit the Service of His Majesty's Enemies In which Case they shall be restor'd to the Possession and Enjoyment of their Estates but without being allow'd to profecute or trouble those who have enjoy'd them by virtue of the said Gifts in any manner or upon any pretence whatever No mention is made in this Treaty of the Difference between the said Duke and the Dutchess Nicolla of Lorrain Daughter to the late Duke Henry about their Marriage by reason that the Decision thereof belongs only to the Ecclesiastical Tribunal and that His Holiness before whom the Parties have brought their Cause will do them Right according to the Justice of the
Declaration of it after the Treaty desiring nothing more than to find the means to secure all the Garisons to the Duke of Savoy in such a manner as no Inconveniencies may arise thereby But that whereas Prince Thomas says he had rather die than make a Treaty by which his Honour might be wounded so likewise the King can no wise consent to have that Article put into the Treaty of the Surrender of Turin since it would look as if the said City were rather yielded to him on that Consideration than by the Force of his Arms. The Declaration the King will make on that Account is a sufficient Security to satisfie the Princes without being oblig'd to have Recourse to the Interposition of the Pope and of the Venetians Nevertheless the King may do an equivalent thing writing to His Holiness and to the Venetians that he engages for the Restauration of the said places on the Conditions above specify'd The King moreover condescends that the Pope and the Venetians should interpose in the said Treaty after its being made if they will engage to take Arms for the King in case the Princes of Savoy or one of them breaking their Word should return to the Spanish side Besides If they should require Nice to be put into the Cardinal's Hands for the space of six Months during which the said Interposition may be manag'd it shall be granted provided as soon as ever the Treaty is made they put Coni into the hands of the Dutchess of Savoy again and that Prince Thomas engages himself into the Party of France and comes actually to serve there upon the Account of the good Treatment that is offer'd to him and of all the Securities in writing he can desire from the King for the Performance thereof In case the said Prince says That before his coming into France he must contrive to get his Wife and Children out of Spain by Cunning it is another Blind to conceal his desire of remaining in the Interest of Spain In a word If the lawful Causes he has to quit the Spaniards cannot oblige him to do it openly one must be blind not to see that he persists in the Resolution to ruin his Nephew and that his Animosities against France because it is the only Power that can maintain him is unspeakable And if it be in his Nature to suffer his Nephew's Reign he has but too much cause to forsake the party of those that seek his ruin for the ill Treatments he has receiv'd from them and more than enough to side with France that will save him for the advantages they offer him This is all that can be said at this time to Count Harcourt Whereupon he is to take his Measures according to his Instruction of the 28th of May and this present Dispatch Giving a speedy Account of all Transactions he will receive an immediate Answer Instruction or Power to the Sieur de Ville May the 12th 1639. SUpposing the Repentance and the Satisfactions Duke Charles is willing to give the King and that he will sincerely join himself to his Interest and to that of France with all the Forces he can get as he has often given His Majesty Assurances that he would do by the said Sieur de Ville as well as by several others with all the freedom imaginable His Majesty through his innate Goodness may be inclin'd to one of the following Propositions Either to be contented with the Country of Barr and the Towns of La Motte and Marsal the County and Town of Clermont of Stenay and Jamets for ever in propriety with the Liberties of the said places and Nancy as a Pledge for Ten Years after the Peace after which time the said City is to be return'd to the said Duke all the Fortifications being first demolish'd Or if the said Duke had rather leave Nancy in propriety to the King for ever His Majesty will give him back the Country of Bar with the remainder of his Territories the Towns and places above-mention'd excepted And whereas notwithstanding the King 's putting the said Duke in possession of his Country again the same Differences they had together before the War and which Monsieur le Bret was employ'd about at that time are still to be decided with France His Majesty promises to adjust them so reasonably within six Months after the Agreement that the said Duke shall have reason to be satisfy'd In the next place Monsieur de Ville is to represent two things to the Duke of Lorrain as being most certain The First is That by a general Agreement the King will never yield to any Conditions so advantageous for the said Duke as those that are contain'd in the present Memorial the which he may the more easily conceive by reason that His Majesty will follow the same Method with all his Allies who are desirous to keep what they have conquer'd The Second That by ãâã particular Treaty His Majesty will never yield more to the said Duke Charles than what is above specify'd This requires a speedy Answer attended at the same time with Performances Safe-Conduct for the Duke Charles THE King being inform'd by the Sieur de la Grange-aux-Ormes of the great desire the Duke Charles of Lorrain has to put himself into His Majesty's Favour again he is willing to receive him into the same after having adjusted several Points that are to be agreed upon before-hand on that Subject To which end if the said Duke is willing to repair to some place about Langres to confer with such Persons as His Majesty shall think fit to appoint there he promises by the Faith and Word of a King that the said Duke may come thither tarry there and go back again with all manner of Safety whether any thing be concluded there with him or no together with all those he shall bring along with him In order whereunto His Majesty enjoins the Lieutenants-General of his Armies and Provinces Mareschals de Camp Colonels Chiefs and Leaders of his Soldiers whether French or Foreigners to let the said Duke and all those that shall come along with him going towards the said Town of Langres freely pass and repass going back again without the least Trouble Hindrance or Molestation Given at St. Menehoud the 14th of August 1693 Memorial to the Sieur de la Grange-aux-Ormes THE said la Grange having acquainted the King with the fresh Trouble the Duke Charles of Lorrain is in for being out of His Majesty's Favour and his Desire of being restor'd to the same again His Majesty is willing to permit the said Sieur de la Grange to go back to the said Duke Charles of Lorrain to assure him that if he be in the Condition and Disposition he has sent him word he will freely forget his Behaviour for the time past and receive him into his Favour again giving him all manner of Security from this very Moment to confer with the Lord Cardinal of Richelieu near Langres Done at
to encline her to take him again into her Favour A MEMOIR Presented the King by Cardinal Richelieu after the Queen-Mother had Banish'd him from her House concerning Means to avoid Cabals at Court SInce it has pleas'd the King to make use of me in his Affairs I am assur'd he will think it just to give no Credit to what may be said in my Prejudice by those who upon this Occasion have profest themselves my Enemies His Majesty may please to be assured that as I have am and always will be faithful and zealous in his Service so I shall not in the least fear the Jealousies may be raised against me and the false Accounts may be given of me To remedy which there is no better way than to discover their Birth and to be satisfy'd of their Validity before they take Root As to the ill Offices may be done in the World I know but two ways to prevent their doing Harm One is to shut the Ear against 'em but which I cannot desire where the Persons to be heard are not my profess'd Enemies for fear it may seem that under pretence of preventing Calumnies I would obviate Truths The other to hear nothing without honouring me with the knowledge of it that I may defend my self As also on Condition that they who detect important Truths should be rewarded as they that impos'd Trifles on the State should be punish'd I say the King is oblig'd in Conscience to this for otherwise it would be impossible to serve him in his Affairs where those that are employed make so many Enemies that if it be allowed to detract in private the Malice and Cunning of the Court would not permit an Angel to subsist six Months His Majesty is so much the more oblig'd to grant this in that I submit to whatever Punishment he pleases if providing he discover any of my Enemies to me I am not willing to be prescrib'd by him what Thoughts to have of ' em Then I am humbly to conjure him that if he intends to maintain his Authority it would be necessary continually to have his Eyes open and to lose no time to perfect these Propositions unless he has a mind to be ruin'd It is with this Affair as with a stubborn Disease which one Medicine not being able to master it may be conquered by strânger Remedies often repeated The Cardinal lost the Queen's Favour by not routing the Cabals in their Birth It is better in such a case to do too much than too little providing it extend to no more than banishing the Court. They who have it in their Power to do Mischief there will make us believe they have also the Will By too little one runs a Risque to be ruin'd when on the contrary doing but a little too much without offending ones Conscience one secures ones self and there can no great Inconvenience happen there being no greater Enemy of Cabals than Fear and Doubt We must not think to have Mathematical Demonstrations of Conspiracies and Cabals they are rarely known so far till they are incapable of continuing any longer They must thereofre be foreseen by strong Conjectures and prevented by speedy Remedies LETTER CCXVI To the KING SIR I Can't divine what should be the reason of your Equipage of the hundred Artillery-Horse is not yet ready I am sure I gave Orders for it assoon as ever your Majesty commanded me Monsieur Bullion and Monsieur Servien have acquainted me they have done all on their parts and I believe ' em If it were for my life I could not be more diligent and careful in your Majesty's Service which I cannot believe has been any ways retarded since I am advis'd from Monsieur Melleray by Monsieur Bouthillier that on Saturday last the hundred Horse were sent to Chaalons I must own at first I was against your Majesty's Journey fearing your Health might be impaired by your Natural Impatience of which I have often heard you accuse yourself But since having assur'd me both by yourself and other Persons that you were in perfect health and fearing lest a disappointment might be to your prejudice I have freely consented to your going Assuring your Majesty that if you can bear with the ordinary Incommodities of Travel this Journey will be very much for the Advantage of your Affairs Also I am so far from being against it that I think it ought to be speedily perform'd since you have given it out for some time and sent Expresses of it to all your Armies and Provinces After which I hope your Majesty will give me leave as an antient and faithful Confident and Servant to tell you with all the Respect that is due to a Master that if you are apt to believe the Intentions of your most confirm'd Creatures are otherwise than they appear to be it will so deaden and baffle their Spirits that they will not be able to do you such Service as they shall desire And whereas the freedom you are pleas'd to give 'em occasions their telling you frankly what they think for your good so you must not expect they will have the same complaisance in what relates to your Prejudice I conjure you a God's Name to make your Journey pleasant and not to vex yourself at a thousand things that may not happen to be perform'd just as you expect I intreat you also at the same time to believe that whatever be your Pleasure shall never be thought amiss or thwarted by a Person that prefers your Satisfaction infinitely to his own and who will be always more studious to Serve and Please you than to preserve his own Life throughout the whole Course of which he will endeavour to make known by all his Actions how much he is your Majesty's most Dutiful and Obedient Subject and Servant c. The KING's LETTER To Cardinal Richelieu Trusty and Well-beloved Cosin and Councellor I Am very much concern'd for the haste I was in Yesterday in writing you a Letter on account of my Journey I now desire you would burn and forget it at the same time As also believe that as I would not be willing to Displease you in any thing so I shall never have any other thoughts but to follow punctually your good Advice and Instructions I desire you also once more to forget and satisfie me by this Bearer that you think no more of it As likewise to assure yourself that I shall be Uneasy till I have another Opportunity to testify the extream Affection I have for you and which Death can only put an end to Beseeching God with all my heart that he would have you always under his awful Protection c. LETTER CCXVII To the KING SIR I Have not endeavoured to forget the Letter you were pleas'd to write me yesterday because I can assure your Majesty I never took any thing amiss in it I beseech you farther to acquaint me with all Transactions and I will continue to send your Majesty my
accountable to God if I do not inform you what is said upon this Subject have prevailed with me to take Pen in hand to beseech you to prevent this great Evil. I am sure your Holiness will judge that it is reasonable that you concur with the great Care that the King takes to make choice of the best Subjects of his Kingdom to be promoted to Bishopricks and that by this means those who are designed for that Office may make use of the Talents that God has given them to the Salvation of Souls he would not see by the Vineyard's side many unprofitable Labourers because they are not introduced by him who ought to set them at work the great Fruit that they reap who have been lately promoted to such Offices gives occasion to Men to complain of the Miseries of the Church being by so much the greater because little Obstacles stop the Current of those great Favours which it expects from your Hands As the Church cannot be divided from the Authority of your Holiness so France would not be separated from your Goodness which she is sensible is so great towards her that she will always think herself as assured of that for which she is purely dependent as of that which she may expect from Justice It has always been an ancient Custom of France to take Informations of the Life and Manners of Men before the Bishops The King might pretend that they ought to remain in those Terms But if the Desire that he has to shew that he will pay to the Holy Chair as much Deference as he can without diminishing the Rights and Dignities of the Crown induce him not to hinder that those nominated to Bishopricks who shall have more Conveniency to take Informations before the Nuncio's of your Holiness may make use of this Liberty provided that those who according to the ancient Custom of the Realm shall be invested before French Bishops may obtain their Bulls as readily as tho' they they had applied themselves to your Nuncio's Your Holiness shall have that which your Predecessors never obtained of those who have hitherto possessed the Crown although they have wink'd at it upon certain occasions as the singular Virtues which were remarkable in your Person while you were in this Kingdom cannot be blotted out of our Memory I am also certain that your Holiness doth so well remember what you saw practic'd there that you need but have recourse to your Zeal to promote the Welfare of France the Knowledge that you have of what has been always observed there is sufficient to make you acknowledge the Justice of her Desires If you consider also that Informations made before French Bishops cannot be refused without doing a notable Prejudice to the Court of Rome who could not receive them without judging of their Probity which was so well known that there was no room to doubt of the Validity of what pass'd before them I am sure that Mens Souls will speedily receive of you that Assistance which they hope for and that your Holiness by opening the Mouths of those who expect that Liberty to instruct the People which is altogether necessary shall stop theirs who cannot but complain of the Difficulties which have hindred them from receiving the Effects of your Power and Goodness This is that which I beg of you in all Humility desiring of God that he would add many Years to your Life many Blessings to your House and as much Happiness to your Person as is desired by c. P. S. As I take the boldness to write to your Holiness upon a Subject which concerns the Salvatiou of Souls of which you have a particular Care I am assured that you will not take it ill that I have taken the liberty of writing to Cardinal Barberini upon another Subject which is of very great Importance to the Church to the Peace of Christendom and to the Grandeur and Safety of your Family LETTER CCL To Cardinal Anthony upon his sending him a Diamond Cross and a Diamond Box with the King's Picture in it My LORD THE King being informed that those who have always envied his Happiness and who have no true Love for your Family forgetting nothing that may give you Trouble and make you bear the Cross upon his Account commanded me to send you one as a Present from him to let all the World know that he cannot endure that for his sake you bear any other than what comes from him whose Weight will not be troublesom and because it is not only upon this occasion but upon all others which may happen that his Majesty pretends to ease you of all the Pains and Sorrows with which you are afflicted He desired you also to receive this Picture from his own Hand believing that your Eminence being fortified by his Shadow alone will be able to resist all the Enemies of your Family against whom he will very gladly use all his Power upon all occasions which may present for your Advantage I obey this Command with so much the more Satisfaction because I am and always will be c. LETTER CCLI To Cardinal Barbarini My LORD THE Joy that I have for the good Understanding betwixt his Holiness and his Majesty will not suffer me to be silent and I think I should be wanting to myself if I should fail to testifie it to your Eminence That Moment that this Letter shall come to your Hands it will give you a particular Proof of my Affection and Desire of the Welfare of your Family whose Interest you hazard so much by the Delay of the Promotion that I could not but inform you of it I do not consider this Affair by the Misery which may happen by the Death of his Holiness to whom I earnestly desire length of Days because the greatness of the Loss you would have by the Death of so good an Uncle stifles in my Thought the Consideration of all its Consequences You must be blind not to see that this shaking of your House would be a Forerunner of its Ruine but you lose so much from this very Moment by not making the Promotion and fail to take Advantages so important for you and the Church that it is impossible to conceive the Reasons which have retarded it hitherto Those who envy the Grandeur of your Family and desire its Depression have this Satisfaction to live in hope to see that which they desire to your Disadvantage and instead of fearing your Eminence if this Promotion were made you give them opportunity to despise you by the Belief that you will not lay hold upon an occasion which may put you in a Condition not only not to fear them but to have no need of them my Endeavours after the Interests of France which are dearer to me than my own Life would not permit me to give you this Counsel after the execution of which you may have less Consideration for the Crowns because you would not have so much