the Enemy should make any attempt upon our Army that was on the same side with theirs and not caring to clog it with the whole Train of Ordnance which would have made their retreat difficult In the mean time Monsieur Marillac who had resolv'd to surprize the new Governour of the Castle when our Army except the Generals and some few Troops were gone over contrived to invite the Governour to Supper When he was come out of the Castle the Souldiers disguis'd like Montferrins had orders to change the word and to deny him entrance at his return from Supper as not knowing him and he not knowing the word The Governour then after having supp'd with Monsieur Marillac who shewed him great civility took his leave full of satisfaction to go back to his Castle But he was astonisht at the complement the Centinel gave him at the Gate For as soon as he heard him he bid him stand and ask'd who was there The Governour said he The word reply'd the Centinel The Governour having told him the word which himself gave before he went out the Centinel cry'd out Stand where you are you French Traitor would you seize the Castle if you come here I will shoot you The Governour was in a strange confusion he heard himself call'd Traitor and French-man but he presently perceived it was a French-man that betray'd him He bawls and rages against France calls us treacherous Villains Knaves and all that but the more he raged the more the Centinel cryes that he was a Traitor and charged him not to come there He repairs immediately to our Generals who after they had chous'd him with so much civility answer'd him as civilly That they could not be responsible for the treachery of the Montferrins that he must make his complaint to the Duke his Master since it was into his hands that the King had delivered the Town But the Governour who saw through the meaning of this answer was not mistaken in the matter and immediately writ after the Spanish Generals who were not above two or three leagues off to acquaint them how the French had kept him out of the Castle X. Mean while our Generals having past the River to joyn their Army which waited for them at a Village about a league off made great haste and advanc'd with all their Troops as far as Libourne On the other side the Enemy understanding the breach of faith we had been guilty of to the Governour of Cazal and being enrag'd besides at the plunder of their Baggage resolv'd to fall in upon us when we were weakned by the division of our Troops and began their march to this purpose But Monsieur Mazarin who performed the part of a Mediator and had procur'd this peace plaid the Spaniards a true Italian trick and came riding full speed to our Camp at Libourn about midnight I happen'd that night to be upon the Guard on that side of the Camp where he came and the Centinel having stopt him and hearing the name of Mazarin immediately call'd me to him I came presently and saw it was Monsieur Mazarin who with great passion cried out Ah Sir you are all lost the Enemies are within a mile and are coming to fall upon you with their whole Army Give orders to sound to arms throughout the whole Camp immediately I answered him with some kind of indifference Sir we have no Commission to sound to arms without the Generals order his Tent is but just by and I will conduct you thither if you think sit However I took the advantage of this Intelligence and sent to give notice in all the quarters that they should be ready and in the mean time I waited on Monsieur Mazarin to Mareschal Schomberg's Tent. He threw himself about his neck and made him this Complement Ah Sir must I embrace the man now that I shall see dead within this hour How so Sir said Monsieur Schomberg methinks you have a mind to try if you can fright us Monsieur Mazarin reply'd I have no design to fright you Sir but to preserve your life and the whole Army for your Enemies are coming to charge you and are not above a mile off They were really however two leagues distant but he had a mind to alarm us the more that we might make greater haste Monsieur Schomberg reply'd with the indifference of a great General If we can but see them when they come we shall not fear them but yet it is fit we should take care to secure our selves as well as we can Immediately he ordered to sound an alarm through the whole Camp and as many of us Officers as were there ran about to carry his orders so that in a very little time our Army was ready for the march XI They call'd a Council of War however to debate what was fit to be done and it was determin'd that our Army not being in a condition to stand so great a shock we ought to provide for a retreat It went against the grain though to see our selves forc'd to flee from the Spaniard but at last it was judg'd that a Retreat is never dishonourable when opposition is manifestly hazardous Monsieur Schomberg commanded the Van-guard and the two other Mareschals the Rear Our whole Army was drawn up in Battalia and kept this order during the whole Retreat because we had two leagues of wide Champaign to go over Monsieur Marlissy Captain of the Guards commanded the Forlorn-hope and under him a Lieutenant and my self commanded those of the Forlorn that were nearest the Enemy This Lieutenant and I had a great quarrel for I would command alone as being his ancient and he would needs command with me in the quality of Lieutenant telling me besides that if I happened to be kill'd there would no body to command which would occasion much disorder and might expose those first Troops to great slaughter Our stiffness in maintaining each his post flew so high that we had like to have come to blows so blind and so furious is ambition even in the most dangerous circumstances The Generals coming in to compose this difference appointed that I should command the Lieutenant but that the Lieutenant too should command under me which was the regular way and put an end to the whole dispute When we were got a good way in this plain I spy'd a great way off four Horse-men making full speed toward us I sent to acquaint the Generals who came to the head of the Forlorn-hope to wait for them who when they were come up within a Trumpet told the Mareschals of France That the Spanish Generals had sent to tell them that they were much injured and provoked by our breach of Articles and that they were coming with the Spanish Army to demand satisfaction Our Generals replyed That since they thought themselves wrong'd and intended to revenge it they also were ready to do them reason in a fair fight That for their parts they were so far
sometimes from Posthumous Pieces and were not this genuine the most part now by me under his own hand and such as I know to have been certainly intended for the Publick I durst not have made bold with his Memory and his Name I would not have done it with any Man's but especially not with his which hath suffered too much already by the indirect Publication of another Piece The only thing I shall say though not the only one that deserves to be said on this occasion is that if the Person who disposed of those Poems to the Booksellers had consulted Mr. Cotton's Relations as he ought to have done both his Memory and the World had been much more obliged to him For by these ungenerous Proceedings he hath obstructed the publishing of a Collection very different from that and well chosen by the Author with a Preface prepared by himself and all copied out for the Press This digression I thought due to the Character of a Person whose other Performances have been so well received who knew how to distiuguish between writing for his own Diversion and the Entertainment of others and had a better Judgment than to thrust any thing abroad unworthy himself or his Readers I only beg pardon for being in one sense very unseasonable for in truth the World ought to have been undeceived in this point a great deal sooner and by an Advertisement very different from this MEMOIRS OF THE Sieur De PONTIS PART I. BOOK I. Containing what past during the time that the Sieur De Pontis was a Cadet in the Regiment of Guards He is forc'd to retire into Holland from whence he returns after having run a great hazard of his life He comes back into France and sustains a Siege in the Castle of Savigny I. BEing grown up to fourteen years of age and my Father and Mother being both dead I found in my self an extraordinary inclination to a Souldiers life and presently resolved to begin to learn the Trade I accordingly serv'd a year in the Regiment of Bonne where I carried a Carabine the Musket being as yet not there in use After which I returned back to Pontis to try if my elder Brother who according to the custom of the Country had the whole estate of the Family would be disposed to do something for me and stay'd some months with him where finding that he would only employ me in the care of Husbandry a thing that I found my self very averse to and unfit for I took up a resolution to go to Paris there my self to labour my own Advancement in the World as well as I could I therefore entreated of my Brother so much as was necessary for me in order to this design but his coldness compell'd me to seek out to my other Relations and particularly to address my self to an Aunt I had who had a great affection for me From her I received all I could desire for my Journey and from an Unkle who also lov'd me very well a little Horse and with this younger Brothers equipage after having taken leave of my friends I set forward for Paris Going by Grenoble which is two days Journey from Pontis I thought my self oblig'd to go wait upon Monsieur de L'Ediguieres to whom I had the honour to be a-kin I was by him receiv'd with great demonstrations of bounty and favour and he was pleas'd to ask me what was my design in the Journey I had in hand I made answer That I had a desire to learn to become an honest man and to render my self fit to make him a tender of my service He was pleas'd with my answer and being willing to serve me in my design gave me a Letter of Recommendation to Monsieur de Crequy his Son-in-law who was then in treaty about the Regiment of Guards to receive me into them as a Kinsman of his and a young Gentleman for whom he had a particular esteem But Monsieur de Crequy did not so soon conclude his bargain which hindred him from executing the order he had receiv'd In the mean time the violent desire I had to enter into the Regiment of Guards as the best School wherein to learn the Trade I had so great a passion for pusht me on to go and present my self to Monsieur de Grillon who was Camp-master of it of him to entreat the favour that I might be there receiv'd But Monsieur de Grillon who would not allow that any one should enter so young told me that he could not admit me he accompanied his denyal nevertheless with the greatest testimony of friendship that it was possible for him ever to give promising that he would entertain me a year in his own house till I should be strong enough to enter the body And accordingly he fail'd not some time after to receive me into it with a particular affection which he also continued to me ever since as in the progress of these Memoirs I shall make appear II. Seeing that Acts of Generosity ought to be recorded for example to other I think my self oblig'd in this place to give an account of one which Monsieur de Vitry Captain of the Guards du Corps practic'd in my favour at the time when I was a Cadet in the Regiment of Guards under King Henry IV. Being one day at Melun I went a hunting with three of my Comrades in the Forrest of Fontain-bleau At the entring into the Forrest we were aware of a great Stag that came running directly towards us The ardour of the Chase transported me so far on the sudden that without demur or giving my self the leisure to consider whether this Beast was priviledg'd or no I presently discharg'd my Fusee upon him and laid him dead upon the place I presently charg'd again for fear of surprize and immediately we heard the Hounds that were in chase of him and saw a Cavalier who was Monsieur de Vitry galloping towards us who began to cry out to us So-ho Cadets down with your Arms but seeing we were not dispos'd to obey him he drew his Pistol and I presenting my Fusee against him at the same time call'd out to him to approach no nearer and not to compel me to fire upon him It had been a great rashness in him to have advanc'd and he took the wisest course which was to turn about and go make his complaint to the king In the mean time as it was not safe for us to stay any longer there we retired as privately as we could to Meluâ— and very well believing that this affair might have some ill consequences I askt leave of my Captain Monsieur de Briâ—ac to make a little Journey to Paris where I pretended to have some business My three other Comrades also found out one way or other to absent themselves from the Company So that the King having given order to the Officers of the Regiment to make a review in the presence of Monsieur de Vitry
that he might take notice of the Offenders he could never discover any one of us Yet was I for all that under some suspicion by reason that I was known to be a little eager of the Chace but having obtain'd my leave in due form they could not well conclude me absolutely guilty and so at last this affair past over without much more talk of it About three months after it fell out that I being upon Duty before the Gate of the Louvre Monsieur de Vitry passing by knew me again and immediately applying himself to me O ho Cadet said he you are my man Do you remember the Stag at Fontain-bleau In good earnest I was very much surpriz'd at his Complement especially in the post I then was which I was by no means to quit so that having no other way left me but that of entreaty and submission I said to him in the most humble and moving Accent that I could form my voice to Ah Sir would you ruine me Have compassion upon a poor Cadet as I am He answer'd me after the most obliging manner in the world 'T is enough that I know you said he and I am so far from being the cause of your ruine that I resolve to serve you Come see me I give you my word upon the faith of a Gentleman no harm shall befall you In the mean time so soon as he was gone from me I not yet having the honour to know him and the apprehension wherein I was not permitting me to repose too much confidence upon his word I made my Corporal believe that I had some inconvenience upon me that would not suffer me to continue any longer upon my Post and withal intreated he would put some other in my place which he did without suspecting any thing and I kept my self afterwards upon my guard I deferr'd three or four days going to wait upon Monsieur de Vitry fearing always and not being able after the fault I had committed to present my self before him but at last I resolv'd to go one morning and took two or three of my Comrades along with me we found him abed and being enter'd the Room I made him my Compliment with a thousand excuses for the misfortune that had befaln me assuring him that I was extreamly troubled that I had carried my self so like a Beast towards a person of his quality and one to whose generosity I stood obliged for my life He was pleased to receive me with great testimonies of affection and embracing me told me with the greatest civility in the world that he was extreamly glad to be acquainted with me and that he would make use of me upon occasions and supposing rightly that I might stand in need of Money he presented me with some Pistols and compell'd me to receive them telling me that a Souldier ought to refuse nothing III. About the same time I had a Contest of an extraordinary kind with a friend of mine and was very near bringing my self into a scurvy circumstance by insisting upon the punctilio's of gererosity and friendship in his behalf His name was Esperance and he was the natural Son of the famous Monsieur de Grillon This Gentleman having fought a Duel after a very severe Edict of the King that expressly Interdicted all Duels he was seiz'd and condemn'd to be shot to death He according to the custom conjur'd me being his intimate friend to be his Godfather as they call it and to give him his first shot but I who could not suffer my friendship to be govern'd by this cruel and false Custom plainly told him That for the very reason that I was his intimate Friend I would not be his Executioner and that absolutely I could not kill the man I lov'd He still urg'd me to do it with great earnestness and importunity and gave me several instances to induce me to give him that last testimony of friendship telling me that it was a Custom and practic'd by the most faithful friends I resolutely reply'd that I did not follow the fashion in my Friendship and that it was in vain to press me to do an act I could not think on without horrour and that I would never do it Our Lieutenant-Collonel Monsieur de Sainte Colombe and Monsieur de Brisac my Captain did both of them command me to do what my friend requir'd but I roundly answer'd them That the friendship I had for him would not suffer me to do it They then proceeded to threats telling me That if I did not obey Justice I should be executed in the Criminals stead I made answer with the same constancy That I could not obey in this particular and that I was ready to dye in my friends stead rather than set my hand to his death and thereupon was presently committed to Prison and went without regret for so good a cause But they were satisfied in the end that my refusal in this affair did not proceed from humour or obstinacy but a true foundation of friendship which will not permit a generous man to take away the life of his friend in obedience to a false and ridiculous custom so that I was soon set at liberty and tho the rules of military discipline oblig'd the Officers to reprimand me for my disobedience they made it notwithstanding appear that they had me not in less esteem upon this account but commended the resolution I had manifested in this affair IV. I had after this an opportunity to be known of the King and some of the greatest men of the Court by an accident which though very inconsiderable in it self was not however disadvantageous to such a younger Brother as I. King Henry IV. being at Fontain-bleau had some jealousie of one of the principal Lords of his Court about a Lady then in the Castle and suspected that he went privately to her But he making those visits with so much circumspection that he could never be discovered after the King had contriv'd the means by which he might be surprized he concluded at last to choose out a person that was faithful subtle and bold to execute his design and to deliver him from the disquiet he was in upon that subject He gave order therefore to Monsieur Belingan one of the principal Gentlemen of his Bed-chamber and the great Confident of all his Intrigues to find him out two such as he design'd to plant upon two Avenues where they might stand as Spies upon him of whom his Majesty had the suspicion Monsieur de Belingan having accordingly spoke to Monsieur de Sainte Colombe Lieutenant Collonel of the Regiment of Guards he immediately commanded the eldest Corporal of his own Company to choose him out two Souldiers such as were capable of executing the Kings design The lot fell upon me and the Corporal having chosen me for one that was to be presented to his Majesty he carried me to his Lieutenant Collonel who brought me to Monsieur Belingan who told me
d'Alincourt that we might have his Pass we there met with several of the Court one of which remembring my face askt me if he had not seen me in the Guards whom I answered after such a manner that he thought himself mistaken We were however a little watcht but they by whom I had been known being busie about a quarrel thought no more of us and so we got away and went to meet our Souldiers who attended us at the Rendezvous There we found them increased in number having pickt up some others by the way which made our Company fifty men who were receiv'd by the Commissary of Monsieur d'Albigny who was our Camp-master They had some Money distributed amongst them and quarters assign'd to refresh themselves in till they should have Orders sent to march away to the Army But these Orders were so long in coming that the Countrey where we lay had time to be weary of us and sent us word that we should presently retire or that otherwise they would fall upon us so that we saw our selves on a sudden oblig'd either to disband our Company or to stand our ground and stiffly to defend our selves by all the ways we fairly could We resolv'd upon the last as the most honourable and began to make War for our selves till we should be call'd to do it for his Highness of Savoy In this design we judg'd it necessary to have some Cavalry to sustain our Foot and in order to it accommodated our selves with some Horses of a Town the Inhabitants whereof made shew to fall upon us With this small number of Souldiers consisting of forty Musqueteers and twenty Horse or thereabout we kept the field and found we were in a condition to defend our selves against all those that intended to attack us Of which Monsieur De Bois-pardaillan Governour of Bourg in Bresse upon the Confines of France and Savoy was the first who forc'd us to withdraw from his territories to re-enter those of Geneva where we liv'd a good while and got some booties till the news of us being carried to Geneva the Republick sent so many Troops against us that we were compell'd to retire to the Confines of Bresse Monsieur de Saint Chaumont who was Governour of the Country having notice of our march would keep the Pass against us and to that purpose drew together above five hundred Gentlemen with whom he set out to meet us I had intelligence of it and found my self in a great perplexity with so few people as I had having not above fourscore at the most and of them the Cavalry very poorly mounted Seeing my self then in no condition to make head against so great a body I conceiv'd it requisite to think of retreating and that with the soonest There was no Country for us so safe as Savoy by reason that we march'd under his Standard But the difficulty was how to get thither For we were to pass the Rhone which was two long leagues march from us which appear'd to be impossible no Boats being there So that not daring to show our selves in the assurance we had of being charg'd I bethought me of concealing my men in a Wood and in the mean time to send out to seek a Boat upon the River to be brought to the place where I design'd to pass But this requiring a great deal of time I thought it requisite to amuse Monsieur de Saint Chaumont in laying him an Ambuscade with our Horse only to the end that we might in the interim file off our Infantry towards the River and have them all ready to pass and the more to fortifie this Ambuscade I kept the Drums with the Trumpets to make the greater noise The knowledge I had of the Map of the Country made me guess that Monsieur de Saint Chaumont who feard nothing would certainly pass through a little Wood that lay betwixt him and us and accordingly posted my self there with my Horse my two Trumpets and my two Drums I lay still till the Enemies Forlorn should advance About midnight they fail'd not to fall directly into our Ambuscade when we sallying out upon them with a great rattling of Drums and Trumpets when they least expected any such thing put them into so great a fright that they all run away without firing so much as one Pistol and went to carry news to Monsieur de Saint Chaumont that the Enemy was in the Wood and had so many Trumpets and Drums that they must of necessity be much stronger than had been reported to him This news did a little startle him as well as the rest and put them upon a long deliberation of what course they should take where it was at last resolv'd that they should stay till it was day that they might not rashly engage without first discovering the Enemies post and number This was just as much as I expected or desir'd for by this means we had time sufficient to recover the River where we found the Boat coming back from passing over our men in which I shipt our Cavalry that were to pass over first and stay'd my self the return of our Boat into which at last I went with the rest of our people We were scarce got to the middle of the River when we discover'd all Monsieur de Saint Chaumont's Cavalry and himself at the head of them marching a soft trot for fear of engaging himself too far I leave every one to judge of the satisfaction he had to see us in so little number and himself not able to get to us especially after having been stopt by so ordinary a stratagem put upon him by such a company of young fellows as we were and that he was asham'd he had not the judgment to discover So soon as we were landed I saluted him at distance and took my leave being careful to keep the Water-man on our side lest he should carry over his Boat and went to post our selves upon the first little Eminence of the State of the Duke of Savoy From thence I sent to give an account of all these transactions to our Camp-master and to demand his Orders which I expected with great impatience finding my self no longer in a condition of making War at my own expence But was very much astonisht at his answer which was That the Peace being already concluded he stood no longer in need of our Troops For having got all the advantage he pretended to which was by his authority to render himself considerable with the Duke he easily consented to the order the Duke gave him to disband his Regiment and coming after to see me to acknowledge the great obligation he had to me he told me to give me a more particular testimony of his gratitude that if I did not think of returning into France I should oblige him in staying with him and depending upon the same fortune with his own I receiv'd his offer with the respect I ought to do assuring him that I was
secure us In the mean time I imagin'd that he might know nothing of this proceeding and that till he could be inform'd of it I might return the Usher this answer That I knew him not and that he must bring me a Letter under Monsieur de Crequy's own hand who had put me into this Castle The Usher return'd to carry back my answer to Madam de Monravel who had sent him and who sollicited this affair with the Parliament with so much heat that immediately she went to demand of them that since the Garrison had not thought fit to obey their Arrest they would please to send a Councellour for whom doubtless we should have more respect Her request was granted and the Court appointed a Commissary to come presently to us Now I having taken a resolution to stay for Monsieur de Crequy's order before I would deliver up the Castle return'd the same answer to the Councellor that I had done to the Usher telling him withal That I was infinitely sorry I could not obey him in the extreme necessity wherein I found my self of executing my Collonels commands The Councellour was offended to the last degree to see that we should thus refuse to obey him and in that heat presently commanded a Boat to be brought from Juvisy to set over men to scale the Walls This Order was immediately executed by reason that Madam de Monravel who had provided for all things had made ready for it before-hand The first Provost who came to the place commanded one of his Archers to mount the Ladder but this Archer having made a little too much haste had no sooner clapt his hand upon the top of the Wall but that he was made to quit his hold and tumble headlong into the Water This accident put all the party into a very great fury and another who would be braver than the rest having said that give him but a Pistol and he would take order that they should not serve him so mounted resolutely with his Pistol in his hand but when he thought himself already Masteâ— of the Castle one of my Comrades and I who lay conceald behind the Wall so soon as ever he put up his head caught him by the collar of his doublet strongly pull'd him in to us and having held him down below bound him and clapt him in prison After this second adventure none of the Assailants had the courage to mount the Wall so that Madam de Monravel conceiving it was necessary to have more company call'd in yet another Provost with all the Rabble of four or five neighbouring Villages and of all these people gather'd together made several Corps de Guard which blockt up the Castle She caus'd the Draw-bridge to be under-propt that the besieged might not let it down and escape when they found themselves too nearly prest and sent to Paris for Cannon to force us resolv'd to take us alive or dead For she was perswaded that we were above fifty by reason that every night we set out above fifty light Matches upon forkt sticks that held ten or twelve apiece every one plac'd at the due distance of Musketeers We moreover plac'd others at the corners of the house and mov'd them from time to time to make them believe that we reliev'd the Centinels In the mean time seeing our selves thus destitute and hearing no news of Monsieur de Creâ—uy we found means to let him know the condition we were in and the night following he commanded two hundred men of the Regiment of Guards under the command of some Serjeants to go betimes in the morning to Savigny to charge all the besiegers and afterwards to enter into the Castle But this Order could not be so private but that Madam de Monravel who was return'd to Paris had notice of it which made her come away in an instant and she made so great haste that she kill'd two of her Coach-horses She came but just before the relief and having plac'd her Coach just before the Bridge she being on foot told the Serjeants of the Guards who commanded the two hundred men that they should not pass but over her and therefore they were to consider whether they would destroy her or no for she was resolv'd not to stir from the place This discourse did so confound the Commanders that they alter'd their design having respect to a Lady of her quality and the Sister of him for whom they had undertaken the Journey So that they only try'd to put some men into the Castle by a little Bridge on the backside of the House but it was so rotten that it broke under ten or twelve that were upon it and there were but two that could recover the door of which one was the Valet de Chambre of Monsieur de Crequy All this relief ended there and the rest retir'd without having done any other thing than to give us at least some little comfort in the reiterated word of Monsieur de Crequy who assur'd us afresh that he would bring us off with honour whatever came on 't XI But a whole day being past and we seeing all the Machines making ready and every one preparing himself to come on to the Assault we began with good reason to apprehend that in longer expecting the effect of our Collonels promises we should be forc'd and reduc'd to the necessity either of dying with our Swords in our hands or to undergo the severity of an offended Parliament Yet before we would resolve in this strange extremity wherein we saw our selves I plac'd a Centinel to look if he could not discover any Troops coming to our relief but instead of Troops he saw only one man appear on the top of a little eminence close by who making a sign to him with his hand threw him a stone wrapt about with paper wherein I read these words I am at my wits end Save your selves as well as you can for it is not in my power without perishing my self to disengage you but if you can get out come forthwith to Juvisy where you will find in the Inn Horses ready and all things necessary De Crequy This Ticket put us into no less despair than our Collonel to see our selves so far engagâ—d upon his word so oft reiterated and yet that he would not keep it with us Nevertheless we were to think of getting out one way or another and seeing we must of necessity perish if we should suffer our selves to be forc'd we resolv'd to prevent an Assault not despairing but that we should be able to open our selves some way to escape I contriv'd then the night following to cause a great noise to be made behind the Castle to draw the besiegers to that part and I was busie in the mean time as softly as I could in unnailing the plank of the Draw-bridge to make us way Having at last drawn it to me I let down from the top of the Wall a Ladder by a Rope
under the King's Order that it might serve me for a discharge Being much surpriz'd at this he answer'd me with heat that he would not do it neither would he make his Parishes pay contribution and fairly added turning towards his Page give me my Sword and to me Sir we had better go walk in the Garden I understood his meaning well enough but I fear'd nothing in performing my duty and obeying the orders of the King He led me quite round the Garden all the while discoursing of indifferent things and after carried me into a great Park that was much more remote and walk'd me quite round about it all the while looking me in the face and observing my countenance which was still that of a man that fear'd nothing in maintaining the interest of the King and my own duty At last seeing that I was always equally firm and civil he finally told me that he had so much esteem for me that for my sake seeing I desir'd to have it so he would make his Tenants pay but that it was not out of any respect to Monsieur de Boulogne I replied that I stood oblig'd to him for his civility and that provided he caused his Majesties Order to be obey'd it was all one to me in favour of whom it was granted but that nevertheless I was oblig'd to tell him that he ought to remember who Monsieur de Boulogne was and not to forget the Friendship that had ever been betwixt their two Families which also he ought not to break when there was as much reason as ever to preserve it and that the advantageous qualities they were both Masters of seem'd to be a kind of new tye to unite them faster That as to the rest I did once more beseech him to beleive that Monsieur de Boulogne â—s interestâ—s were mine and ought not to be separated I further intreated him to give me the order he was pleasâ—d to send to his Villages in writing that they might not doubt of what I should tell them nor have any excuse if I compell'd them to obey He granted every thing I desir'd setting down in the writing that he commanded all his Villages to pay contribution and entreated Monsieur de Pontis to compel them to it in case they should refuse and so at last we took leave of one another with mutual assurances of a true and sincere Friendship such as in effect it has been ever since And this example that may peradventure be of some use to others to retain them within the bounds of a temperate conduct and a regular courage was also very serviceable even to me my self to put an end to a great number of other disputes For the issue of this affair made so great a noise in the Country that all who were upon ill terms with me began to consider me after another kind of manner than they had done before and even seeking means of accommodation with me became most of them my Friends prudently judging that it was no dishonour to live in amity with a person who had thus engag'd one of the chiefest amongst them from an enemy that he had been before to become his Friend I can also say that this civil way of proceeding which I practised as much as possibly I could upon all occasions did not only acquire me the Friendship of the Nobless who at first were so violent against me but moreover the affection of all the Inhabitants of Nogent who in acknowledgment of the Friendship I manifested to them in all the Wars ever after maintain'd the custom of presenting me with Wine when ever I past through the Town as if I had been still the Kingâ—s Lieutenant there which I say not out of any vanity to myself but only to let such as are in employment see how much moderation in all sorts of Government is preferable to insolence especially when supported by steadiness and constancy To conclude this affair which has put me upon saying all that I have said and the cause of most of the quarrels of which I have spoken Monsieur de Boulogne so vigorously pursuâ—d his prosecution against Aurillot that he soon caus'd the Sentence of Chaumont to be confirm'd by an Arrest that condemn'd him to have his Head cut off in the open Market-place and to carry a Writing upon his back that set out the cause of his condemnation in these terms For burning Houses which gave great satisfaction to all the Country where he was lookt upon as a common enemy X. Two Years after the first War of the Princes they began a second when Monsieur de Boulogne having sent to me to come to him with a recruit of 200 men that I had raised about Nogent I prepar'd my self to march them up to the Army commanded by the Mareschal de Bassompierre where our Regiment of Champagne was already arriv d and set out with my Recruit having only a young Ensign with me called Saint Aubin After two days march we had intelligence that the Cardinal of Guise was at hand with 600 Horse that he had rais'd about Metz which he brought up to join with the Army of the Princes towards Pont de Sè The Match being unequal I thought presently to recover Sezanne a little Town that held out for the King but being I was to pass a great Plain I fear'd a surprizal there and would have been very glad to have found some means to shelter my self It fell out by good luck that I met a great many Waggons of Bar-sur-Aube laden with Wine which I thought very proper to serve me for a retrenchment in case I should be surpriz'd upon the Plain I therefore told these Carters that they must help to cover us if they expected that we should defend them promising them that they should run no other hazard but what we would first be expos'd to our selves The danger wherein they saw themselves engag'd together with the necessity of obeying me prevail'd with them immediately to unlade their Wine because I would have them in a condition to make more haste and so of all these Waggons link'd to one another I made two Files which I caus'd to march on the right and left of my Souldiers of whom I form'd a Battalion and gave order to those at the Head and the Rear of these two Files to draw up near one another so soon as they should see the Enemy that so they might wholly shut up the Battalion XI We had not march'd far in this order but that being yet a League from Sezanne in the open Field we saw the Avant-Couriers of the Enemy appear upon the top of a little Hill that bounded one side of the Plain and presently after discovered the whole body which consisted of six Squadrons making full drive toward us I caus'd my men to halt who were at the same instant enclos'd by the Waggons according to the order I had given I there endeavoured to encourage them to the
return and to recover the Bridge as by those great outcries our own people had given us warning to do The Enemy had no stomach to pursue us but returnâ—d the same way they came very much displeas'd that they had fail'd of their design I lost in this action but two men and had but three wounded For my own part I had no hurt at all and had only my Hat struck off by a Musquet shot Monsieur de Schomberg who was extreamly generous thinking himself very much oblig'd by this service I had done him made me a very particular acknowledgment and promis'd to serve me to the King He effectually did so and spoke so advantageously of me that I was in the extreamest confusion at the praises he gave me for only acquitting my self of my duty III. In the mean time I can say this that by this publick testimony of his esteem he procur'd me the greatest treasure that I could ever have had which was the Friendship of the worthiest most vertuous and most generous man that in my life I ever knew I mean Monsieur de Zamet at that time Camp-master to the Regiment of Picardy who was present when Monsieur de Schomberg spoke publickly in my favour before the whole Army What he heard him then say join'd with what he already knew of me on several occasions made him resolve to chuse me for his Friend and from that instant he wishâ—d as he told me afterwards to have me for his Lieutenant He began to express a very particular affection for me and entreated me to come often to see him It was by this then that the strict Friendship which was contracted between us began of which I can say the foundation was on one part built upon the knowledge I had of the merit and wisdom of this great man and the other on his own bounty to look upon me as a man whom he thought not altogether unworthy of his Friendship The very particular obligation that I had to Monsieur du Maine for having so seasonably reliev'd me in so perilous an occasion prompted me for the future to seek out all ways whereby I might manifest my acknowledgment For though he in this only follow'd the ordinary Rules of War which oblige every one to succour the Kingâ—s Forces when they see them expos'd as we were nevertheless the manner after which he did it gave me sufficiently to understand that it had been a particular effect of his own bounty And I confess I was a little mortified when thinking I had found a favourable occasion wherein to return part of what I ought him I was hindred from doing it by him from whom I was to receive my Orders Monsieur du maine having a design to carry the Fauxbourg de Villebourbon by assault commanded almost all his Foot to fall on who push'd the Guards with so great fury and vigour that three hundred men were already mounted upon the Wall and held themselves assur'd to remain Masters of it The Enemy seeing themselves so forc'd call'd in above two Thousand Men to their releif who being behind good retrenchments beat our men off and made them descend much faster than they had mounted but in less number by reason of those who were left upon the place Being this fight could not be made but that it must be heard to the other Quarters where we had sufficient notice both by the firing and the noise that was made both on the one side and the other I thought that Monsieur du Maine might very well be in a condition to admit of some relief and therefore at the instant went to ask leave of our Lieutenant Collonel call'd Pyolet that he would permit me to go manifest to Monsieur du Maine to whom I was so much oblig'd a part of my acknowledgment in offering my service to him with fifty or threescore men of our body Monsieur de Pyolet commended my design but told me withal that being but Lieutenant Collonel he could not suffer what the King had forbid which was that no one should go from one quarter to another Thus was I afflicted to the laft degree to lose this occasion and might say methinks that had I had but a part of that gratitude for the infinite favours I have receiv'd from Almighty God that I had for Men I had been as good a Christian as I was then remote from God and all true Piety Monsieur de Pyolet having afterwards spoke to the Lieutenant Generals about this affair had permission upon the like occasion to grant what I had desir'd of him provided the detachment should consist but of fifty or threescore men at most Wherefore seeing one day a great fire at Monsieur du Maine's Quarter I ran thither with threescore men in hopes that I might do him some service but I found it was only fire that had caught in the Huts He very much surpriz'd to see me there with my men askt me the reason of it which I told him expressing withal that I thought my self extreamly unhappy in that I could not meet with an occasion wherein to acknowledge the favour for which I should be eternally oblig'd to him He thereupon took me in his arms telling me publickly that he was so much the more oblig'd to me in that having done nothing for me but what was his duty I did that for him which I was no way oblig'd to do that he would never forget it and that he entreated me to come often to see him and to employ him as one of the best friends I had But the protection of this Prince that in all appearance might have been so advantageous continued not long for a few days after Monsieur du Maine was kill'd with a Musquet shot which passing betwixt two Barrels went first through Monsieur de Schomberg's Hat and thence into the Eye of Monsieur du Maine by which he was laid dead upon the place This considerable loss made me remember the other I had suffer'd in the person of the Cardinal of Guise but all this could not work so upon me to think of any thing more serious and solid IV. To continue what befell me during this Siege being upon the Guard at the Trenches I was one day commanded by Monsieur de Pyolet to sustain the Miner who was at work under the Wall and being of a little unquiet nature I fancied I know not for what reason that the Enemy might very well countermine against our Work I said as much to some of our Officers and to the Miner who all laught at me but judging nevertheless that the Enemy might very well do what I should have done had I been in their place I thought to assure my self further of the truth of the thing I therefore call'd for a Drum into the Mine of which I set one end upon the ground and laid a Musquet bullet upon the other that at every blow the Counterminers gave it might sound upon
de Schomberg as much surpriz'd as overjoy'd to see me made me drink a glass of Wine by reason I was almost quite spent having taken extraordinary pains I then made my report to him which put him into a very great astonishment and when he askt me over again if I was very sure of what I had told him I made answer that I would undertake to shew it him and to assure both the King and himself by his own sight having taken notice of an eminence from whence one might discover what I had seen nearer at hand The King being very impatient to know what I had discover'd I got on Horseback and went with Monsieur de Schomberg to wait upon him at Piccis Being there and they having much ado to beleive me the King would be satisfied by his own eyes which made me guide him to the same place I had observ'd and from thence with the help of a Perspective his Majesty plainly discover'd the Retrenchment and behind it the Battalion of which I had given him account He was very much surpriz'd at it and could not forbear declaring aloud the extream peril to which his Souldiers had been expos'd without this foresight of Monsieur de Schomberg which had sav'd the lives of a great many men After which his Majesty had the goodness to tell me that I had that day done him a very great service and that he would remember it upon occasion I did not nevertheless percieve at that time that I was much remembred and was accustomed to serve without any other interest than that of honour which also sometimes cost me very dear I then returnâ—d to find out Monsieur Zamet who having believ'd me to be dead cryâ—d out so soon as he saw me I protest you shall go no more upon such designs and I will take very good order for the future that you shall receive no more Commissions of this kind For in truth the thing which nettled him the most and made him speak after that manner was that whether I was upon the Guard or no they thus us'd to make me as it were the publick Victim in all perilour occasions He ask'd me whether I was not hurt and I assur'd him I was not but only that Monsieur de Schomberg had shew'd me two shots upon my Arms. XV. The Army upon this was drawn off and they thought no more of an assault Some days after Monsieur de Roban who kept the Field with a little body of an Army for the Hugonots was resolv'd to come and relieve Montaubon In order to this design he gave fifteen hundred men to a very brave Gentleman call'd de Beaufort to try if he could put part of them into the place Upon the intelligence his Majesty had of their March he caus'd the Guards to be doubled and reinforc'd in his Camp which notwithstanding could not hinder Beaufort being come up to his Quarter from forcing the Guard and getting into the Town with eight hundred men the rest having been either kill'd or fled Upon the arrival of these succours they two days after made such furious Sallies as very much discourag'd our men and gave his Majesty occasion to consider that Winter drawing on it was better to retire and preserve his Army for the next Campaign by reason he would have lost too many men after this relief Thus at the expiration of fifteen days namely the first of November 1621 we raised the Siege order having been given throughout the Quarters that upon hearing the first Cannon shot that should be fir'd that night every one should be ready with his Arms to march where their Officers should lead them and before they went to make extraordinary Fires throughout the Camp This order thus executed made the Enemy expect some new thing and rather a general assault than the raising of the Siege Wherefore contenting themselves with causing their Posts to be well guarded they never thought of commanding out any Troops to fall upon the Rear of our Army that began to file off about the dawning of the day Monsieur Zamet who had been cur'd a few days before was order'd to make good the retreat wherein he was not a little astonish'd to see the precipitation not to say the flight wherewith our Troops march'd away I being with him he made me observe this hasty retreat that savour'd indeed of a pannick fear for they made off as if they had seen the Enemy at their heels And being so good a Christian and a man of so much judgment as he was he began to speak to me a language I had never heard before I assure you said he that reflecting upon the Order of Providence in the management of affairs here below I manifestly discern that the God of Justice is the God of Battels that he gives the Victory to whom he pleases and oftentimes to those that are against him by reason that they who defend his cause do it so very ill and so justly draw upon themselves his indignation by their own Crimes that he punishes them by casting the disadvantage on their side and filling their Armies with unreasonable terrors Thus much is plain upon the present occasion where our Forces run away without knowing any reason why 'T is visibly a stroke from the hand of our good God that contrary to all humane appearances we have not been able to take this place which according to the ordinary course of Arms must have fallen into the King's Possession His judgments are very different from those of men which stop at the outside of events without penetrating into the secret springs of them Our Enemies no doubt will be as much deceived as we for they will magnify themselves for this advantage without ever considering that the Victory that God gives them will at length but render them the more unhappy by a false assurance that it is a mark of the Justice of their Cause and he will at one time or other find means to make them sensible what loss they sustain while they flatter themselves with a thought of winning all Let us admire then and adore the Chastisements he inflicts after so different a way both upon the one and the other I confess I was marvellously surprized at this discourse having never as I said been used to hear the like and acknowledged the obligations I had to him for the insight he gave me into so great a truth And I must also say that I did not reckon this favour among the least I received from him and have since been sensible that it was one of the first God was pleased to confer upon me in order to the giving me some sense of Christianity The virtue and pious conduct that I observed in this great man did in some sort contribute to laying the first seeds in the bottom of my heart and 't is that which hath infinitely increased my acknowledgments to him and value of his memory especially since after abundance
of mistakes and wandrings I had the Grace to know how little to value the world and absolutely to renounce it The End of the Third Book BOOK IV. The Sieur de Pontis defends the Town of Moutesche which is attack'd by the Enemy His Conduct towards an Officer of the Collonel and of Monsieur le Duc d' Espernon in a great Dispute they had about the concern of his Command The Siege of Tonins The great Wound which the Sieur de Pontis receives which reduces him to extremity The Sack of Negrepelice The Sieur de Pontis makes himself Master of a Fort possest by the Hugonots and razes it which begets him a great deal of trouble I. THe Siege of Montauban being rais'd the King return'd to Paris and dismist all his forces into their winter quarters The Regiment of Picardy had a little Town of Guyenne assign'd for theirs call'd Moutesche some seven or eight leagues from Montauban Monsieur Le Mareschal de Saint Geran who stay'd to give the Orders seeing that all the Captains of Picardy were gone home to their own houses gave me the Regiment in charge and the government of the place as the order was telling me that being so near to the Enemy I ought to keep good guard and that he rely'd upon my care I told him he might do so and that I would be responsible to him Five or six hours after that the Mareschal de Saint Geran had left us he met a man upon the Road who was coming to give him notice that the Enemy were preparing themselves to attack our Town the night following intending to take it by assault and that it was the Garrison of Montauban that was to execute the design Upon this intelligence Monsieur de Saint Geran writ me immediately a Ticket in which he gave me notice of what he had heard and advis'd me to take very great care that I might not be surpriz'd I hereupon presently assembled all the Officers of the Garrison whom I acquainted with the news Monsieur de Saint Geran had sent me and the Orders he had given entreating them that we might all together see which way we should best prepare our selves to receive the Enemy telling them withal that for my part I thought it best that we should presently take a review of all our Men of all the Arms and of all the Ammunition of the Gates of the Town of all without and to consider of the means to fortifie the weakest places They all approv'd my advice and we went presently about it II. Towards the evening one of them call'd Bastillat who was an Aide Major thought fit to come and tell me that I very well knew he was my Servant and my Friend and that therefore he was sorry he was oblig'd to declare that he could not stay with me upon this occasion seeing that being Aide Major he was an Officer of Monsieur d' Espernon who was Collonel of the Infantry and that therefore in this quality he could not obey me being that I was but Lieutenant to the Maistre de Camp of whom Monsieur d' Espernon would not in the person of his Officers receive Orders Adding withal that he was sorry to find himself constrain'd to leave me in so brave an occasion but that rather chusing to retire betimes than to occasion any trouble by reason he could not obey me he came to take his leave of me and to bid me good night I return'd him answer That as his Servant and his Friend I was also oblig'd to tell him that he was not now at liberty to retire neither was it in my power to let him go after he had receiv'd orders from Monsieur de Saint Geran as well as the rest and that he had consented to it as well as they in not going out then That it was not to decide the pre-eminence betwixt the Collonels Officers and those of the Maistre de Camp to obey me upon this occasion seeing that in this there was no other thing in question but to follow the Orders of our General the Mareschal de Saint Geran who had at his going away committed to me the care of the Regiment and the defence of â—he place and yet more particularly by the Letter he had sent me and that I had shew'd him And that therefore I entreated him to consider that this was not a time for punctilio's of Honour between Officers but that here the question was purely the interest and service of the King to whom alone the Town did appertain and who would be the only loser if we did not unite in its defence and make it appear to the whole Kingdom that we were not unworthy of the commands his Majesty had been pleas'd to honour us with This remonstrance tho very civil and very rational too did not however satisfie this Officer who could not prevail with himself to hearken to what he was resolv'd he would not do so that seeing the stiffness wherewith I oppos'd my self to his design he again urg'd the same thing in an accent civil enough but perceiving me still to persist in my opposition with the same obstinacy he resolutely resolv'd to go and told me with some vehemence flatly that he would do it which oblig'd me to answer him with some heat too that he should not do it and that he ought to believe that I knew very well how to make my self obey'd where I was my self to obey the orders of the King and the General To which he reply'd in a great fury that he could have wisht I had spoke to him after that manner in a place where I had not been the Master to which I made answer that the business now in question was to look to the defence of the place and that it was not fit to mix personal interest with those of the King and it was my part in this occasion to command him and his to obey me Upon which he turn'd very angrily from me and went to his Quarters to make ready his equipage to be gone In the meâ—n time I went to find out the Officers who commanded the guards of the Gates and gave them express order not to suffer any one to go out though it were an Officer adding that it was just that every one should partake both the danger and the honour of the service the King expected from us on so important an occasion The two Officers who were two Lieutenants answer'd me after such a manner as assur'd me I might rely upon them and I return'd home A little after Bastillat follow'd by his man rode to the Gate of the Town where being stopt by the Centinel he call'd the Lieutenant Captain of the Guard who told him that he had receiv'd Orders to let no one pass What do you not know me reply'd Bastillat Yes Sir said he but my Orders extend to Officers as well as others and therefore I beseech you urge me no more to a thing I cannot
grant you Bastillat nettled to the quick at this repulse rode back to his Quarters and from thence came to speak to me again but I prevented him by saying aloud at the head of the Regiment Sir 't is a thing concluded for this time another time we will talk of it if you please but for the present 't is the order you must obey Seeing then himself in an inevitable necessity that he must submit he told me that I had a whole Garrison on my side and so was the Master and therefore he would obey me but that he would find another time when I should not be so well accompanied To which I gave him only this answer that in the first place we were to serve the King III. At the same time I commanded him to draw up the Regiment in Battaile to see if the Companies were compleat to visit all the Army to give out Ammunition to those that wanted and to acquit himself of all other duties of his command of Major and he punctually obey'd I then came to view all these things in general and taking all the principal Officers along with me of which he also was one we went all together to visit the advantageous posts we were to defend and to give out the necessary Orders that there might be no confusion nor trouble in the night I divided the Regiment into three Bodies the first and greatest to be upon the Parade and thence to send out relief to those who should stand in need the second which was less was commanded to guard the Gate of the Town which I thought was likely to be attackt and I again divided that into three one of thirty men which I posted upon a little Van-guard some fifty paces without the Town the second consisting of a hundred men were posted in the Town-ditch to sustain the first and the third which consisted of about as many were planted upon the Walls to defend the second Corps de Guard The third body which was the least was appointed for the guard of the other Gate which was not easie to be attackt and therefore did not require so great a defence After I had plac'd all these Guards my self I sent some hours after to have them again visited by Bastillat who obey'd without any manner of reply taking great pains and shewing himself very zealous in the execution of all the Orders he receiv'd Night being come I gave the Word and the Orders to Bastillat to carry to the Serjeant upon the Parade telling him that at ten a clock I would give another and that therefore he must come to receive it Whereupon he told me that it was not an ordinary thing and that this gave him occasion to believe that it was peradventure to justle aud provoke him to the utmost that I proceeded after this manner I made answer that I was not capable of doing so ill a thing that it was only for the greater security and that men could not take too much care when they expected an Assault that I was so far from any thought or intention of disobliging him that on the contrary I entreated he would come and sup with me adding that we must make provision of strength and vigour for the labour of the night He thankt me and said he would return at ten a clock to receive new Orders He accordingly came at the hour and being very weary with the great pains he had taken I desir'd him to lye down and repose himself a little till further news For my own part I went a third time to visit all things not thinking it seasonable to sleep and be at rest when I had so muth reason to expect an Enemy IV. I had caused a Horse to be held ready that I might ride up and down to every place at the first Alarm which was not long before it came for about two of the Clock after midnight the advanc'd Centinel at the Gate which I had foreseen would be attackt heard a noise and gave fire I had notice of it instantly and having rous'd Bastillat we went together to the Gate where the Alarm was I found at my arrival that the first Corps de Guard had made their discharge and that they were vigorously attackt by the Enemy I enter'd into the second to which the thirty men of which the first was compos'd came to retire fighting all the way they retreated with very great bravery I then caus'd a discharge to be made by thirty Musquets of that Corps de Guard where I was which a little astonisht the Enemy who did not expect to meet any other but the first yet did they for all that continue to charge the second Corps de Guard when I commanded thirty more Musqueteers of the same body to give them another Volley I sent Bastillat at the same time to the other Gate of the Town for fear the Enemy should attack them both at once and put a Lieutenant in his place to carry the Orders and to bring relief when there should be need This choice that I made of Bastillat in giving him a place of honour which did not belong to his command and supplying his by another pleas'd him very much and inspir'd him with other sentiments than he had entertain'd before of my disposition towards him In the mean time the Enemy still continu'd their attack which was equally sustained by our men but they were soon out of heart when I commanded all the Musqueteers upon the Walls to fire continually for being very well inform'd by this that we were too well prepar'd to receive them and knowing that it would be something hard to force men well resolv'd to defend themselves they took the wisest course to retire with the loss of some of their men The attack being over I encourag'd and highly prais'd the valour of all our men who had shew'd themselves equally zealous and obedient in this occasion of honour wherein they had fought so generously for the service of their Prince V. The next day Bastillat came to tell me that he hop'd I would not deny him the liberty of going out of the Town now that he had satisfied all I could demand of him I made answer that I consented to it with all my heart and that I would bear him testimony as I had already made it appear in placing him in the honourable post he knew I had done that he had behav'd himself with all the vigour and resolution of a man of honour and that so I left it to his own disposal to go out when he pleas'd after he had done the King the service from which he could not honourably have excused himself After this manner he took his leave without the least sign of discontent but going immediately thence to Cadillac to make his complaint to the Duke of Espernon where he told him that I had usurpt upon his command having compell'd him by force as Governour and Master of a Town to obey
Sieur de Pontis is himself wounded and like to dye what past betwixt him the Surgeons and some Religious Persons that came to assist him The King makes him a Lieutenant in his Guards and makes use of him for the Re-establishment of military Discipline in the Regiment I. TO proceed in the course of our History which I have digrest from in the account I have given of the unjust prosecution that the demolishing the Castle of Cabos brought upon me The Kings Army having taken a great many other little places towards the middle of Summer drew near to Montpellier and sate down before it which Army at that time consisted of twenty thousand men The King was there in person and had for his Lieutenant Generals Monsieur le Prince and Messieurs de Montmorency and de Schomberg Monsieur de Chevreuse was there also but he was not much employ'd and Monsieur de Lesdiguieres came thither towards the end They made three Attacks the first whereof was that of the King commanded by the Prince the second that of Monsieur de Montmorency and the third that of Monsieur de Schomberg The Regiment of Picardy was in this last Monsieur de Schomberg always making suit to have it both because of Monsieur de Liancour his Son-in-law as also out of the esteem he had for that Regiment Monsieur de Rohan was shut up in the place with a little body of an Army that was instead of a Garrison The first Sally they made was on the side of a Half-Moon that was over against Monsieur de Schomberg's Attack and that was very well cover'd with their Out-works because they had cover'd the Bulwarks very close and that the Mounts of Earth which they had rais'd were such as the Fortification was not to be seen The Duke of Fronsac who served there in the quality of a Volunteer was kill'd in this Sally II. Monsieur de Schomberg judging that it was of the last importance to force this Half-Moon propos'd the enterprize to the King who thereupon call'd a Council wherein it was resolv'd to cause it to be discover'd They accordingly sent thither several Officers one after another who brought word that there was only a Ditch full of Water and a Pallisado of plain'd Timber beyond the Ditch Monsieur de Schomberg desiring to be yet better satisfy'd and remembring the service I had done him before Montauban in the like occasion put me upon the employment of going again to discover this Half-Moon adding to this Order of his a thousand civilities and complements to encourage me to go to have my Brains beaten out I told him that not to omit the least thing or at least that what I had seen might not be useless to him in case I shouâ—d be kill'd I would carry my Tablets along with me wherein I would write every thing as I advanc'd and that he should only take care to have them brought off to him I arm'd my self as at Montauban with a Cuirass and a Cask and passing over the Trench about noon I gave notice to the Guard which was of the Regiment of Navarre that I had order to go to discover the place and that therefore they should have a care not to mistake me After this I crawl'd up a great Mount the Enemy had cast up to retrench themselves with and having seen what the other Officers had discover'd before namely the Ditch full of Water and the Pallisado beyond the Ditch I would try if I could not discover something more Wherefore exposing my self to extream peril I advanc'd and mounted higher from whence with great astonishment I saw another Pallisado like the first betwixt the Ditch and me and which appear'd almost incredible to me my self a second Half-moon enclos'd within the great one as strong and of the same form as that which enclos'd it I look't upon it over and over again not being able almost to believe my own Eyes and set every thing exactly down in my Tablets But when I was got down again to return I had not gone a hundred paces before I began to consider that possibly they might laugh at my report and fearing as indeed it fell out that I should be look'd upon as a Visionary whom fear had made to see what was not I resolv'd to go back again yet nearer hand to assure my self of the truth of things and to see if I could not observe some place from whence as at Montauban I might make the King 's own Eyes witnesâ—es of what I should tellâ— him I return'd then with this design and went straight to the very top of the retrenchment where I could not long stay by reason of a Centinel of the Enemy who was not above thirty paces distant from me on the other side and who having let fly at me gave a great Alarm to the Corps de Guards who immediately stood to their arms and all fir'd upon me But the same instant that I was assur'd of what I desir'd I threw my self from the top to the bottom and came to Monsieur de Schomberg's Quarter who had already given all the necessary orders for the Attack Monsieur de Schomberg took me immediately aside into a corner of his Tent where I made him my report and seeing him seem hard to perswade himself to believe me concerning the second Half-moon of which I have spoke before after all the assurances I could give him we went together to the King who presently began to smile and fall to rallying me as I had very well foreseen Did ever any one hear of such a thing and is there any likelihood in it I then entreated his Majesty that he would please to believe his own eyes assuring him that I would make him see the truth of what I had said from a place that was not far off I carried him to the place from which both himself and Monsieur de Schomberg were satisfied of the truth of my report But what shall we do said the King then All the orders are already given do you believe said he that we cannot force the Enemy from their Post I believe not Sir said I both by reason of these Pallisado's these Ditches and the great number of men by which they are guarded and that it would certanily be too much to attempt to take them all at once but that it would be much better to take them one after another Upon this one of the Generals came and whisper'd to the King do you think Sir this Officer has not a mind to save his own Regiment which has the head of the Attack you must keep him back and employ others for when a leading Officer goes on without hoping well it never succeeds I heard every word he said being near enough and heard the King make answer that he knew very well it was not that which made me to speak after that manner adding withal that nevertheless he might do as he said But the deference
we cannot doubt that this is a stroke of his providence why should we oppose what he has ordain'd Is not he master both of Life and Death And it would be mockery towards Almighty God to whom we pray every day that his will may be done not to submit to his good pleasure when he thus shews his own immediate arm 'T is proper in these great occasions that a man can throughly prove himself and sound the bottom of his heart to know whether he be truly his or no. The little ones are more apt to deceive us but in this Hypocrisie has no place How happy are we to leave this world that is only full of sins and miseries to go unto God! I have 't is true great reason to apprehend his Justice but he commands us to hope in his Mercy and it were to offend him to lose this hope He will have compassion of us and tho his Judgments are terrible yet he will shew Mercy Even this is a great favour to dye in his quarrel in defending the true Religion against those that would subvert it And then looking upon me with eyes full of tenderness and there fixing them for some time as if to make me more sensible of the reproach he intended me concerning the action he knew I had so lately committed But you said he who love me as your friend must that love of yours render you so cruel that to revenge the death of a man whom Providence will have dye you should destroy so many others without mercy and without justice Where was your generosity and natural humanity to have deny'd Quarter to these poor men and to damn them most miserably for my sake as if my death could be reveng'd by theirs or that I could approve this transport of so irregular a friendship Have you been able to restore me to life in taking it so cruelly away from these wretches And was it not rather to pull down the anger of God both upon your self â—nd me to pretend to revenge my death which he has appointed by the death you have so unjustly given to so many persons contrary to his order and contrary to his will I beseech you repent of this fault as one of the greatest that peradventure you have ever committed in your whole life The remedy which you have thought to apply to my misfortune has been much more painful to me than the mischance it self and I think my self oblig'd to conjure you from the bottom of my heart that you never for the death of any friend whatever or your own being mortally wounded fall again into the same transport of fury We were alone when he spoke to me after this manner aâ—d I confess that as I then wanted words to make answer to such a moving discourse so I want them now to represent the condition wherein I found my self being compell'd both by Monsieur Zamet's reasons and my own nature to pronounce a terrible sentence upon my self for this excess of which I was so mexcusably guilty Words then being wanting to me I made him understand my repentance by the abundance of my tears which I could not refrain And I must also confess that this so Christian discourse of his together with the condition of him who made it to me imprinted so lively a sense in the bottom of my heart that I have ever since retain'd a continual sorrow for that barbarous action I stay'd with him that night and all the next day being I could not find in my heart to leave him and went not out of the Room but to perform my duty upon the Guard V. But it was not long before I was chastis'd for the criminal fury wherewith I had suffer'd my self to be transported I was commanded to go attack the Enemy with a hundred men in a little Half-moon that they were resolv'd to carry and from whence they fir'd mightily upon us where tho they made a brave defence were yet more vigorously attackt and we were now upon entring having nothing but a little Ditch to leap to make our selves masters of the place but at the same moment I felt my self wounded with two Musquet shots at once one in the body which entred not very far and only past betwixt the flesh and the skin the other in the ankle the bone of which it broke into several splinters making me fall at the same time into the Ditch from whence attempting to rise I fell down again I was therefore fain to satisfie my self with encouraging my Souldiers only bidding them not to concern themselves about me but perfect what they had so successfully begun and that it would by no means be honourable for them by reason of my being wounded to lose a Half-moon which it had cost them so much to gain The men being all very brave the sight of the condition I was in serv'd only the more to excite their Courage so that before I could be carry'd off I had the satisfaction to see them lodg'd in the place I then entreated a Gentleman a kinsman of Monsieur de Valencay my intimate friend that serv'd with us upon this occasion in the quality of a Volunteer that he would help to conduct or rather to carry me back to the Camp which he did with a very particular affection and so soon as I was arriv'd at my Tent I sent to acquaint Monsieur Zamet with the condition I was reduc'd to and to let him know that my greatest grief was that I could not pay him my duty in his sickness and do him those services that I could heartily have wisht and to be thus depriv'd of the only conâ—olation of being near his person He was sensible of my misfortune as of a new wound he had receiv'd believing me to be worse hurt than I was and nearer death than he He sent to me immediately to let me know his sence of my condition which it was no hard matter for me to understand by reason of the union and perfect openness of our hearts We sent afterwards daily every hour reciprocally to know how one another did having this only way left of conversing in some sort with one another and of giving one another a mutual consolation VI. Finding my self in very great danger and that the Kings chief Physician and the Chyrurgions assur'd me that there was no other way left to save my life but by cutting off my Leg which began to gangreen I had a mind to acknowledge the obligation I had to the Gentlemen my friend of whom I spoke before who brought me back to my Tent I therefore told him that God being pleas'd otherwise to dispose of me I entreated him to permit me to surrender my Command into his hands and that he would go in my name to request it of the King and to tell his Majesty that I did humbly beseech him in consideration of my services to give it him This Gentleman with great generosity deny'd me telling me
the place for a person to whose Interests I had ever shewn my self so much devoted But in this he betray'd his ignorance of me if he thought me capable of a thing so contrary to my temper For I ever knew very well how to distinguish between the duty of acknowledgment to private persons and that of fidelity to my Prince I took post with one single Servant and just after I had past Nevers fell into a good pleasant adventure I met very late in the Evening with a Courier who past me and went up to my man he being very weary and not turning his Horse out of the way the Courier justled him so roughly that both of them were dismounted and came down together A quarrel ensu'd and to cuffs they fell and when they had box'd one another pretty tightly and saw no body come to part them they began to cool themselves and fell to parleying The Courier askt my man whom he belong'd to and who that was that rode before and hearing my name How said he that is the very person whom I am sent to How lucky an accident is this that hath brought me to the man I look for Come on let us mount presently and spur on till we overtake him Thus they gallop'd away together shouting after me at a great distance at last I heard them and stopt but not knowing the meaning of this nor who I had to deal with I drew a Pistol The Courier coming up told me of the good fortune he had in meeting my man and how he came to discover that I was the person upon whose account purely it was that he was going to Montpellier at the same time drawing out of his pocket an Order from the King which contain'd these words Vpon receipt of this Order you are without fail to repair to My Person with all speed This put me into a confusion betwixt hope and fear not being able to guess upon what account I should be sent for though I could not find any great reason to fear as not being conscious of any fault I had been guilty of So I told the Courier he might go on his journey about his other dispatches But he reply'd that he had none of importance or that requir'd haste but mine and therefore as to the rest he would put them into the common Post. I urg'd him again and would fain have got rid of him telling him he might pay him for his whole Journey and I would satisfie him for his pains but he answered it would be so much Money thrown away and besides he must go back with me Thus we rode Post day and night and repos'd our selves for two or three hours only at Essone from whence setting out three hours before day we came betimes in the morning to Paris X. Monsieur Valencay's dispatches of which I was the Bearer were for the King and Monsieur Puisyeux but I thought it my best way to light at Monsieur P.'s Gates hoping he might give me some light into the occasion of my being sent for by the King He was not a little surpriz'd to see me believing I had left the Army by the King's Order but when he had open'd his Letters and seen the purport of them he told me I must needs go carry the King that directed to him and present his too seal'd up again because his Majesty would be the better pleas'd I very well perceiv'd by the manner of Monsieur Puisyeux â—s speaking to me that the business upon which the King had sent for me had no harm in it and in that thought went straight to the Louvre in the habit of a man that rides Post in the Winter that is all dirt from head to foot Being come to Court I spoke to the Usher of the Chamber who very roughly told me I must wait for the King was not drest yet and that I was not in so great haste As we were talking Count Nogent came out of the Chamber and I knowing his obliging temper went to salute him telling him upon a supposal that he might not know me That not having the honour to be known to him I begg'd leave to beseech him that he would please to order that the King might be told that the Officer of Picardy for whom his Majesty had sent was there to attend his pleasure And thereupon as I was about to tell him my name he interrupted me saying Are not you Monsieur de Pontis Come come the King will be surpriz'd to see you for he did not expect you so soon Then he took me in and immediately shewing me to the King said Look you Sir is not this the most diligent man and one of the best dispatch in your whole Kingdom And can any but he come from Montpellier in so short a time as that since he was sent for To which the King made answer it was incredible I should come so soon I let the King alone in his wonder for a while which seem'd to divert and at last clearâ—d up the matter and deliver'd the Dispatches from Monsieur Valencay After he had read it he commanded me to carry it to Monsieur Puisyeux telling me I had done well in bringing it to him first Monsieur Valencay said the King sends me word that you are the person he sent to visit the Savennes you shall give me an account of that matter by and by for I will call my Council and then send for you in be ready at the time and in the mean while go and refresh your self I came accordingly when the Council was set and was call'd in before a great many of the Court who were then in the Antichamber and who begun to look upon me after another manner than they had done before For in this world those are respected who are lookâ—d upon by the Prince and People have a regard for them in proportion to the â—â—are they have in their Soveraigns favour The King then commanded me to make a report to the Council of what I knew concerning the state of the Country I had seen and from whence I came and particularly of the Savennes In order whereunto I began first to speak of the City of Montpellier of which I gave an account that the Inhabitants were very well satisfied with Monsieur Valencay and seem'd pleased with his Government from thence I proceeded to the concern of the whole Country and assured his Majesty of the good disposition the People were in which gave very good reason to judge that they had no aversion to living under his Government and the direction of those he appointed to command there At last I came to the Savennes telling him that after having visited all those Mountains in order I could discover nothing but an absolute submission in all the Inhabitants and as great a zeal to his Majesty's service now as there had been want of it before that I had gone thither several times and found it always the
the Company drawn up in Battalia by which I was obliged this day to mount the Guard but that I would not take upon me the last mark of that Authority his Majesty had given me till I had first received it from his hand and presenting him the Corslet at the same time I added that I tendered that to him to whom it belonged to give it me and that having brought the Company near his house I would not march it by the Gate till his Lordship had first given me right to walk at the head of it in the quality of the Kings Lieutenant Monsieur Espernon a little surpriz'd but much pleas'd made so obliging an answer as plainly shewed he had lik'd the surprize He assur'd me of his service upon all occasions and putting on my Corslet very gracefully would in some sort hint to me that he still remembred what past between Monsieur Bastillat and me about the attack of Moutesche telling me there were but few persons that so well deserv'd or that could acquit themselves better in this Command I then askt him if he would please to see my Company and he accordingly going presently down stairs I went to put my self at the head of them and marcht by saluting him with my Pike after the most graceful manner that I could I marcht them on to the Louvre where Monsieur Saligny took the head of them The King as a particular mark of favour and in pursuance of his design to use me in restoring discipline among his Guards would needs see me this first time in my new Post and to that purpose made us pass and repass before him Our Arms being set down in the Guard-room Monsieur Saligny told me he would carry me to wait on the King in the quality of his Lieutenant I followed him But though I had the satisfaction to see that this Command gave me easie access to his Majesty's person yet I had as much trouble to find my self made a better sort of Slave by the burdensom engagement I was entring into and which the King spoke to me of now again repeating what he had said before That I was not to stir from my Quarters nor give any new Orders in the Company without first consulting him His Majesty being pleas'd to give the Orders Monsieur Saligny advanc'd to receive them but I being then near the King and standing still as he advanc'd his Majesty stept in between us leaning upon me as if he would give the Orders to us both This immediately gave great jealousy to Monsieur Saligny and had doubtless created an unlucky misunderstanding betwixt us had not I at the same time prevented the ill consequence My experience in the profession had taught me that a Lieutenant never takes Orders from a General when his Captain is present and that he ought to receive them from his own Captain So that turning aside my head and seeming not to hear what the King said as soon as ever his Majesty had done speaking and was retirâ—d a little from us I stept to Monsieur Saligny and entreated his Orders as if I knew nothing He was so surpriz'd at this by reason of the ill impression he had taken before that he presently thought with himself after this trial he should never have the least occasion to be offended with my conduct since contrary to all appearance I had kept my self so strictly to the severest Rules even then when it seem'd that the King himself had given me an occasion to lay it aside His Majesty taking notice of this passage as I had a mind he should had the goodness in some measure to condemn himself by approving and commending what I had done XIII Some time after the King requiring of me an account of the state of the Company which was then wholly under my care the Captain and Ensign being both absent I thought good to take this opportunity of informing my self more particularly what his Majesty expected from me and would at the same time for my own security beg a Copy of the Orders I was to observe in writing Having entreated his leave to speak freely I told him I was very much afraid I should not be able to give his Majesty all the satisfaction he expected and lest the too favourable opinion he might have of my conduct might turn to my prejudice at last when I was found less capable than he took me to be therefore I thought my self oblig'd honestly to acquaint his Majesty that I was by no means a man of that active and sprightly parts that was requisite in one who was to give an account of so many things and to execute so many orders but a heavy and slow Fellow and of a very treacherous memory And therefore not being able sometimes to do things by my self as others do I stood in need of assistance But as I had reason to fear I might not always have those helps ready at hand I very much apprehended I should not please and therefore had I dared to take the liberty of begging a favour I should most humbly have besought him that for the relief of my memory and understanding his Majesty would please to give me the Order I was to exâ—cute in writing that by this means I might the better discharge my duty I perceive plainly reply'd the King you would have me think you a Blockhead but it concerns my honour not to have been mistaken in the choice I have made of you I have not given you this command without a perfect knowledge of you nevertheless I will grant you your request as well because you desire it as because it will be an ease to me too And accordingly his Majesty caus'd instructions to be drawn up for me in writing upon which I afterwards gave him an account upon all occasions XIV The Souldiers were at this time very great Libertines and little or no discipline was observ'd among them They did not so much as repair to their Colours to march in order when they went to mount the Guard at St. Germains where the King was some came before and others straggling behind or on one side so that oftentimes there were not so much as a dozen together with the Officers that led them My humour would not endure such disorder which vexed me since it was sure to draw the hatred of all the Souldiers upon me besides the slavery I found my self reduc'd too and I was perfectly weary of my life and lamented the loss of my Lieutenancy in the Regiment of Picardy which I had quitted for this Another greater vexation still was that I had not one acquaintance in the Regiment into which I was now taken and so had no body to open my griefs to When I began to consider how to disengage my self from all this perplexity and get out of this condition which I saw was sure to be attended with so many uneasinesses I saw very well there was no possible way of doing it
without absolutely renouncing my fortune and losing my self for ever with the King At last therefore I took up my resolution conceiving it much better to make a virtue of necessity and place all my delight in doing what the King required of me and trying at the same time to gain the good will of the Officers who were then in a manner all Strangers to me and acquiring authority with the Souldiers among whom I was a new man and not yet very much regarded by them And after having thus settled my deâ—ign to execute the King's commands cheerfully I found by experience that the will overcomes the greatest difficulties and felt a great deal more ease in the performance of my duty than I could have imagin'd or had ever propos'd to my self In order to contract an acquaintance with the Officers at first I invited all the principal of them to a Dinner which was reasonably splendid there I began my Friendship with some of them which afterwards I took great care to improve This entertainment pass'd off with so many testimonies of affection and esteem on both sides that it look'd like an acquaintance of twenty years standing I intermixt a small piece of Gallantry with the Feast which contributed much to the diversion of the Company for Monsieur Bouteville with ten or a dozen more Captains of Horse being at the same Eating-house in another Room I sent for all the Drums of the Regiment and with them we went all together to drink those Gentlemens Healths saluting them the mean while with a Point of War upon all our Drums They thought they could not return our Civility better than by sending for their Trumpets unknown to us and taking their turn of drinking our Healths too sounding all the while Thus from a trifle I produced something considerable for my self For this Dinner made a great noise and acquired me the esteem of several that did not know me before The End of the Fifth Book BOOK VI. The Sieur de Pontis his Management of a young Gentleman called du Buisson and how after having been forc'd to fight him he himself obtain'd his Pardon of the King His Severity towards another dissolute and obstinate Cadet whom he reduces to his Duty The Jealousy of the Officers of the Guards who endeavour to no purpose to do him ill Offices with the King He is sent by the King to Fort-Louis to learn the Exercises and Military Discipline practic'd there under the Conduct of the Sieur Arnaud The excellent Qualities of this Governour The great Suit between the Sieur de Pontis and an eminent Commissioner about a Donation from the King I. IT was doubtless of no small consequence for such an Officer as my self at my entring into the Regiment of Guards and designing as I did to cause Martial Discipline to be exactly observed by the Souldiers in obedience to the King's pleasure to gain at first the good will of the Officers that I might be upheld by them in the execution of his Majesty's Orders But that which was to be done afterwards as it was of much greater importance so was it beyond all comparison the more difficult undertaking For the business was to attempt the re-establishing of good Discipline among the Souldiers who had in a great measure shaken off the Yoke and to reduce a great many wild young Gentlemen to the duty they owed their Officers I conceived therefore that in the first place I was obliged to acquaint them what the King expected both from them and me that they might not be surpriz'd when I should compel them to it So I ordered the Company to be drawn up and at the head of it told them That the King having commanded me to make it my business to restore that Discipline which was entirely lost among them I thought it my duty to let them know it before I took the thing in hand to the intent that such as were not disposed to obey what should be commanded in conformity to his Majesty's pleasure might have liberty to withdraw which I entreated them to do betimes since after I had advertiz'd them of their duty as I was about to do they could afterwards have no pretence to exempt them from an absolute obedience That I requir'd nothing of them but the ordinary duties of a Souldier which were to be discreet to have a care of their Arms not to depart from their Quarters to repair punctually to their Colours when they were to mount the Guard to march thither in order with their Arms shoulder'd every one in File following his Leader and not to quit the Company without leave of their Officer not to go off the Guard to perform the Centinels duty exactly not to quarrel to obey even the meanest Officers not to wrong or purloin from any one and lastly not to swear To which I added that if I found any reluctancy in observing all these things though it was with great concern that I found my self obliged to represent to them what it was fit they all should know I should have the first trouble being constrain'd by the King's order both to see them observed by others and to practice them my self in giving the first example That I advis'd every one to consider how far his fortunes were concern'd in this case since the pleasing or displeasing the King was the consequence of it That being bound to give his Majesty an account of such as should not discharge their duty I was my self oblig'd to do it too of those who should faithfully perform it which would be a certain means for them either to obtain some command in the Army or to exclude themselves for ever and that I did now promise all them that behave themselves honourably to set a just value upon their services and to sollicit the King that they might be well rewarded To this remonstrance they reply'd that they were all as willing and ready to obey as I could desire But the licentious part of them did not speak their hearts For as shame would not suffer them to quit the service so the glory they affected to continue independent made them resolve to shake off a yoke which they thought below them to submit to They intended to live on as they had us'd to do that is without being subject to any command These for the most part were such as serv'd in the quality of Cadets who look'd upon themselves as priviledg'd by their birth to be above these Rules which they fancy'd were not made for them as they show'd by all their Extravagances and particularly the expence in their Cloaths which were very near as rich as their Officers II. The first time it came to our turn to mount the Guard being all repair'd to their Colours I acquainted them with the Order they were to observe in their March which was to go four and four abreast through the City and that when we went to St. Germains such as had Horses were
not to mount them till we were out of Paris adding that they ought not to scruple the doing what I would do first my self to give them an example and that they were free to quit their Arms and take their Horses when I should given them away my Pike and mount mine After having given this order I made them take their ranks four abreast and marched my self at the head of them on foot with my Pike in my hand They observ'd this order a pretty while But these young Gentlemen I spoke of before thinking their honour concern'd to distinguish themselves from common Souldiers began to take greater liberty to give their Arms to their men to carry and march out of their Ranks I made them return to their Arms and their Ranks again by touching them in point of honour upon the word they had pass'd punctually to obey me But three or four of them thinking this a fit occasion to make themselves taken notice of by all the Company neglected these orders as before I then proceeded to menaces declaring aloud that I would have them punished upon which they return'd to their duty One of these young Cadets named du Buisson a man of birth and courage but withal a little proud too having again laid aside his Musquet I commanded the Serjeant to correct him but he not daring to do it and the Cadet taking his Arms again and putting himself into his Rank laid them aside a fourth time I went and took the Serjeant's Halbert who had not dared to do as I commanded him and with it gave this Cadet four or five good bangs who told me that he was a Gentleman Whereupon not very well considering what I did I drew my Sword and gave him some blows with the flat of it which the Gentleman took very patiently without daring to give a word more and from this time forward not a man ever offer'd to go out of his Rank and every one obey'd me with a perfect submission Insomuch that the King himself soon took notice of a great alteration in the Company and took himself so particular a care of it that I having told him there was amongst our men one Cadet of ill example and he having thereupon commanded me to cashier him when I made some difficulty of it and told him that he was related to some of our Officers said he would cashier him himself then and would tell his friends of it In the mean while every body was buzzing me in the Ear that Buisson was likely to resent so publick a correction and yet I had no reason to believe it for he made no outward shew of any such thing and from a very disorderly man was grown the soberest and most regular of the whole Company nay he gave me a visit about three weeks after to ask my pardon and acknowledge the favour I had done him in that chastisement telling me withal that if ever he made a good man he should think himself oblig'd to me for his reformation These words surpriz'd me and gave me great hopes of him and indeed his whole behaviour was agreeable to them which made me tell him how glad I was to find him of so generous a temper and I assur'd him that he should find an equal change in my respect for him as he was changed with regard to his duty promising withal to do him the best service I could to the King He repeated the same thing to me two months after and for eight months that he continu'd in the Regiment behav'd himself after the same manner Which gave me all the reason in the world to believe that all resentments of what had past between us were quite laid aside So well had he studied to dissemble his design by an evenness of humour and fair comportment such as might seem incredible in a French Gentleman which Nation rae usually of a temper more open and less capable of disguise But at length he came to me with a Letter from his Father who had sent for him and entreated his dismission which I easily granted and thereupon he again made a publick acknowledgment of the favours he had receiv'd from me as I on my side assur'd him I would neglect no opportunity of doing him service And then he told me he was to take Post next morning for Touraine which was his native Country III. About two days after some that had been present at this parting came to tell me that they feared Buisson had mischief in his heart because he was not yet gone out of Town as he said he would I then began to suspect as well as they but since I could do nothing to prevent him and considering how distant from any kind of resentment his whole behaviour had appear'd made as though I did not believe it and carry'd my self so that no body could suppose I did In the mean while he kâ—owing I was to be upon the Guard at St. Germains took the time when I was to return which that he might be more certainly informed of he went to enquire for me at my Lodging upon pretence of making me a parting visit And there being told that I was to come back at night he went to wait for me upon the Road betwixt Montmartre and le Roullo Seeing me at some distance coming alone he put on to a gentle trot and made directly up to me Assoon as ever I perceiv'd him I said within my self Is it possible that Dissimulation should be so discreetly carry'd and that so violent a passion as Revenge can lye thus long smother'd in a French-mans bosom Coming up near to one another I gave him the time of the day and askt him whither he was going He boggled a little in his answer and told me he was taking the air at the same time turning his Horse as if he would go back with me and rode at least a hundred paces without speaking one word of his design At last out it came and then he told me he was very sorry to find himself oblig'd to demand a thing of me which seem'd so contrary to his duty but that the extremity to which he was reduc'd and the necessity that lay upon him of passing otherwise for a man utterly dishonour'd forc'd him to it That the affair which had been betwixt us about eight months ago was so publick as not to be repair'd except by another as publick which was the satisfaction he requir'd for that affront That it was with great reluctancy he made me this request knowing with how little rancour I had acted but since my intention could no way secure his honour he knew I was too generous to refuse him so just a demand I reply'd That his Complement surpriz'd me much after what he had so often said and the obligations he had formerly profest that he had and should as long as he liv'd have to me for having both done my own duty and reducâ—d him to a regular way of
Then I sent him back to Prison again and let him lye there a little longer still till his business had been examin'd and his Pardon obtain'd The acknowledgment of this favour I had Procur'd for him when he look'd upon himself to be no better than a dead man made him love me ever after as his Father He grew from this time forward a very civil honest man and was advanc'd to a Command in which he lost his life honourably I was willing to shew by this instance that there is scarcely any disposition so preverse but it may be reclaim'd and that there are some seasons when we must not be afraid to oppose the roughest Chastisements to the torrent of corrupted habits and brutish passions when they are not to be dealt with by less violent methods VIII The Captains of the Regiment of Guards and one especially above all the rest that shall be nameless had a long time been incens'd against me and born me a private grudge because the King out of particular favour appointed my Quarters before all the other Lieutenants when he went into the Field but yet the greater part durst not make any open discoveries of there hatred me only one there was who out of spight seiz'd upon the lodging his Majesty had assign'd me and lay in my very bed where I found him at my return from the King But being not yet assur'd with what intention he had done it I would make no bustle but went and lay all night upon the Straw The next day instead of excusing himself he told me plainly that I must go seek out some other Lodging This was more than enough to set us together by the ears but age and experience having taught me a little to moderate my passion I only told him that it was my humour to content my self with what belonged to me and for that matter since it was the King's favour to me is was not for him to oppose it and the King himself was the person to whom he was to make his complaint The King being inform'd of the business declar'd himself very much dissatisfy'd with it and said He was free to do what he pleas'd in his own Kingdom and that it was not for Captains to King it with him and controul what he did in favour to any particular Officer who always attended his person Declaring at the same time that the Captains should not have their lodgings markt out any more but they should lye where they pleas'd in the Quarters that should be assigned them This nettled them to the quick and they waited only for some fair occasion to be reveng'd on me My Company was at that time the first of the Regiment by reason of the great number of Cadets of Quality whom their Parents did me the honour to commit to my care that I might bring them up in the first exercises of War and I had there among the rest the Mareschal de St. Geran's Son of whom I shall have occasion to say more by and by IX One day being upon the Guard at Fontainbleau as another Company was coming on to relieve us and I had thoughts according to my custom to go back with mine to Montereau which was our Quarters the King call'd me out of his Window where he stood to see the Tilting and running at the Ring which were then doing in the Court below I presently went up and being come into his Chamber orders were given me to send away my Company and to stay my self about his person I went then presently to look out the Serjeants and gave them order as his Majesty had expressly commanded that they should be very careful to prevent all quarrels especially among the Cadets who stood mightily upon their honour not to put up any thing from one another and also not to let any one stay and drink by the way by reason of the disputes which are often occasioned by Wine I had once a mind by a sort of prophetic fear of the misfortune that happened to detain the Mareschal of St. Geran's Son with me whose forward humour and too generous Soul made me eternally uneasy for him But at last I know not how I let him go back with the rest That very day in the month of May 1624. the King had resolv'd upon causing Collonel Ornano to be apprehended who in the Evening came into his Chamber and was entertained by his Majesty as formerly with all the kindness imaginable The King talked with him a great while about a Chase the Duke of Orleans was to make next morning in the Forrest of Fontainbleau asking him very familiarly what ways they had best to hunt because he was well experienc'd in the Forrest and knew all the least and blindest paths of it At last the hour design'd for his Arrest being come Monsieur Hallier Captain of the Guard at that time and several other Officers came into the Chamber Now it is the custom when the Captain of the Guard is upon entring for the Usher to give three blows upon the threshold of the door which was also the signal the King had given for his own retiring So then his Majesty hearing the three stroaks bid Collonel Ornano good night and withdrew into another room whither I also followed him according to the order he had given me Immediately Monsieur Hallier came in and making up to Monsieur Ornano gave him a very surprizing Complement which was that he was sorry to tell him he had orders to secure his person How said the Collonel in great amazement I am but just now come from the King and he receiv'd me with all the kindness in the world let me speak to him however Monsieur Hallier told him he had no order to suffer that and he entreated him to give leave that he might execute what orders he had that as for any other matters his own innocency ought to support him with a good assurance and put him out of fear Monsieur Ornano then seeing himself under a necessity of obeying follow'd the Captain of the Guards who led him into the chamber of Saint Louis which was appointed to ferve him for a Prison At the very moment he was arrested the King supposing that some of his Family would not fail to make all possible speed to Paris that they might secure his Papers gave me and three Officers more orders to go into the Forrest that we might lye upon the great Road and stop all that should attempt to pass that way So we divided our selves into two and two and about eleven at night took our separate posts upon each of the Roads where we waited a great while before any body appear'd At last we saw at some distance a man mounted upon a Spanish Gennet that came galloping full speed toward us Our orders were not to shoot and so the other Officer and I resolv'd to turn our Horses head to head across the way when he came up near us that so
Garrisons a Volunteer that I might try to improve by his judgment in observing what he made to be practis'd by his Troops in their exercises and in practising the same my self the best that possibly I could under his command He reply'd that he had indeed made it his particular business and study to understand his profession and thought he might say that he had made some little progress in it by his pains and experience and that he hop'd if he liv'd any time to settle part of the antient discipline once again among his Souldiers The openness he us'd in the end of his discourse gave me some suspicion that I might possibly be known to him though he were not to me And he being one of a piercing wit might perhaps think that I came to pass some time there by private orders from the King for he added at last in a very obliging way that I did him honour in coming to learn under him what he himself had acquir'd with great pains that he promis'd to conceal no part of his knowledge from me and that he would keep me there and shew me every thing I return'd his civility the best I could but entreated him to consent that I might perform all the exercises as a Volunteer so to learn things more exactly and be able to do them with the better grace Thus I staid with him about three months eating almost every day at his own Table and keeping near his person as much as I could and studying what I came to learn with extraordinary application of mind And I can truly say that though I had some knowledge and experience before having been bred up from a Child in War yet I learnt a great deal in a little time under so good a Master and knew several things which were not practis'd by others For being happy in his inclination for me and I having one too for the Art he excell'd in I improv'd both by practice and exercise and by the private conferences he was pleasâ—d to honour me withal and learnt a great deal of that which made him so great a Souldier and gave him such esteem in the world I took great care to set down whatever I learnt that was new and drew out upon Paper several schemes of Exercises Battalions Encampments Marches and Defiles pretty well guessing what would best please the King XII At this very time one of the Captains was upon ill terms with his Maistre de Camp who complained of him that he scarce ever came at his Company and when any command in it fell he still procur'd it for some of his own Relations without regarding merit as he ought to have done It was no wonder that one so exact for discipline should blame an Officer who observ'd it so little and who having more respect to fitness and services than to affinity should condemn conduct so unlike his own For whenever he observ'd any brave Souldier who had serv'd the King well in his Armies he would without any notice taken of his quality procure him the recompence of some command in the Regiment which was a great encouragement to others who saw that under such a Governour honourable employments were made the reward of doing well This different conduct then produc'd a misunderstanding which was increas'd upon a particular occasion The Ensign of this Captain 's Company being dead Monsieur Arnauld desir'd the Colours might be given to a very brave Serjeant who had signaliz'd himself in several actions that merited reward The Captain on the contrary would give it to one of his own Kinsmen who seem'd to have no other Title to this command but that of being related to him and Monsieur Arnauld having sent him a very civil Letter took it ill to be deny'd of which he complain'd highly and spoke of him as a person that sought all opportunities to disoblige him I who had the honour to be this Captain 's near Relation and intimate Friend and who had so many engagements to Monsieur Arnauld too thought my self concern'd to manage this business and to do a piece of service to both of them at once I told Monsieur Arnauld that having the honour to be particularly acquainted with this Officer I knew him in his own temper very far from this disobliging carriage which he seem'd not without some reason to resent upon this occasion that I could not impute this refusal to any thing but pure misfortune and some misunderstanding that he had Enemies and that a man when absent easily passes for more guilty than he really is I engagâ—d my self at the same time to write to him and it was my good fortune to manage the matter with so good success as to bring them to a very fair understanding of one another XIII A few days after this difference was compos'd I receiv'd a private Order from the King to return to Court I knew very well that the Governour who was grown kinder to me by reason of my great assiduity and constant application would be much troubled at my going away so that I was fain to prepare him for it lest a sudden departure should give him any reason to accuse me of being less grateful than his obliging entertainment of me deserv'd So I signify'd to him the indispensable necessity of my returning to Paris upon business of great consequence He was very importunate for my stay and offer'd me any thing in the Regiment that was in his power but he found at last I could not help going and perhaps suspected too as I hinted before the true reason of my coming thither and so left me at full liberty to follow my own inclinations After which I staid with him a few days longer and in that time was witness of a very generous act of his which deserves a room in these Memoirs As we were going the Round with him one night he stept alone a little before to hearken what the Souldiers said who were very loud in their Hutt where he heard one of them begin his health and the rest took him up cursing and railing in very insolent and injurious terms At first indeed he was a little surpriz'd to find the Governor's health so odly receiv'd but knowing how naturally men are inclin'd to licentiousness and how far this inclination works with some sort of people and how great a violence it is upon them to be reduc'd to so exact a discipline as that he made them observe he was not angry but turn'd all into raillery and calling me to him These are rare Fellows said he they drink my health after a strange fashion and make fine Panegyricks in my praise Then he continu'd his Round and visited all the streets and at last coming again to the door of these precious Health-drinkers he knock'd They within whom the Wine had a little elevated answer'd briskly Who comes there The Governor reply'd with Authority Open the door which they being a little astonish'd to hear his
believe he would have done with me had he known me for such as I am and therefore I most humbly beseech your Majesty ever to look upon him as one of your good and faithful Servants The King was pleas'd to take this address well and Monsieur De la ... and I went out very well satisfy'd with one another But I was not rid of my Suit for all this but forc'd to continue my prosecution against him who had held me in hand so long about the Donation from the King I obtain'd at last another Attachment against him which forc'd him to leave Paris a second time and flee to Lions I pursu'd him so close that he was fain to take Sanctuary in the Popes territories at Avignon Then I writ to the Kings Ambassador at Rome which was the Marquis d' Estree and having obtain'd leave of his Holiness I was about to arrest him and he escap'd from me again to Orange I was not discourag'd for all this but writ to the Prince of Orange at the Hague to demand Justice against this litigious Knave He had notice of it and seeing no reâ—uge left but either flying into Germany or Spain and hazarding the being taken in his flight too he writ to the Duke of St. Simon to desire an accommodation and chose at last to pay though against his will what at first he resolv'd never to give us rather than to banish himself the Kingdom So he paid the Duke twenty thousand Crowns and me about forty thousand Livres But this Suit tho upon a summ so trivial to so rich a man was the cause of his utter ruine For he spent above four hundred thousand Livres in it and was made a perfect Bankrupt So truly was the promise I made him kept that the Kingdom should grow too hot for one of us And I thought it not amiss by this remarkable instance to shew the world how very apt the false trust a man puts in his Credit and cunning in Law is to betray and undo him Yet for all this I did his Brother a very good office to the King for he having a mind to buy a Lieutenants place in the Guards and the King asking me what I thought of him I gave the best Character I could both of his valour and deserts Adding withal that since he had Money it was fit he should spend it in his Majesty's service who had an original right to it XVII It was near about this time that Monsieur Bouteville's misfortune happen'd who having fought as 't is well known contrary to the Kings express prohibition was seized just as he was upon the point to escape into Lorrain with the Count de Chapelles The Marquis de Buâ—â—y's Servant knowing his Master was kill'd follow'd them close and made so good haste that he overtook them at Vitry-le-Brushe It had been the easiest thing in the world for them to ride on till they had got into a place of safety for they waâ—ted but two Post-stages and the Count de Chapelles did all he could to perswade Monsieur Bouteville to it But providence so order'd it that himself should be the cause of his own ruine by pretending an unseasonable bravery and reproaching the Count with want of Courage for the necessary caution he advis'd him to In the mean while this Servant had time to go to Vitry-le-Francois of which the late Marquis de Bussy was Governour where he gave notice to the Provost Marshal of the place where the men that kill'd him were and this Provost with his Archers beset the house took them and carry'd them to Vitry-le-Francois The King heard of it and immediately order'd Monsieur de Gordes Captain of the Guards and me to go with two hundred men to Vitry and bring Monsieur Bouteville and des Chapelles to Paris I who had the honour to be particularly acquainted with Monsieur Bouteville was employed in such a Commission sore against my will and it went to my heart to do so sad a piece of service to one who had always exprest a great deal of favour and affection for me Tho on the other side I could not choose but disapprove and condemn so criminal a thing in them whose death I lamented before-hand As soon as we were arrived he exprest great joy for my coming and in complement said I was exceeding welcome for he knew now I was of the party there would be no foul play I answer'd that indeed he had reason to think so for Monsieur Gordes was a man of too much honour to suffer any such thing He was very pleasant all the Journey and shew'd little or no trouble depending no doubt upon his great relations and the Interest of his friends When we came to the Inn he would needs have me to play with him as being undisturb'd in his thoughts and perfectly master of himself There was a rumour abroad that the Duke of Orleans had put seven or eight hundred men into the field to rescue Monsieur Bouteville out of our hands The King was made acquainted with it and sent us a reinforcement of five hundred men a league beyond Loguy with positive order to defend our selves very well if any attempt were made upon us I observed Monsieur Bouteville was a little surpriz'd at the arrival of this great Convoy and said to me by way of confidence What 's the meaning of all this Company What are they afraid of Have I not given you my word and having given it can any body imagine I will break it But I who thought I might easily disengage a man from his promise who was so well guarded and had no great reason to hope well in this business told him again with the same freedom Look you Sir this is not a time to stand upon generosity and punctilio's of honour I release you of your promise and if you can make your escape do not scruple to do it In good earnest I could heartily have wisht it done provided it might have been without any fault of mine When we drew near Paris he began to be apprehensive and told me that if we carry'd him to the Conciergene he was a gone man But when he found he was to be convey'd to the Bastille he exprest great joy and assur'd himself he should not dye In the mean time we knew well enough his hopes would deceive him and that the King would make him an example the rather by reason of the Holy-days which he had proâ—an'd by his bloody Duels And not being to be prevail'd upon by the intercessions of the most eminent persons in this Kingdom he gave all his Nobility to understand by this instance of severity that it was their duty to reserve their valour for his service and the publick Interests of the Crown The End of the Sixth Book BOOK VII Several considerable particulars of the Siege of Rochelle Cardinal Richlieu tries to draw the Sieur de Pontis into his Service Father Joseph's Conference
affront requir'd a very steady vertue to support it with patience in a man of Courage Especially since it was that time my opinion that Heaven always declared for him who when his honour was injur'd repell'd the offence by force of arms Monsieur Savignac had no sooner said so but I answer'd in heat How hath Monsieur Canaples given you that Order He cannot do it he hath promis'd it me and besides it is my right This were to act contrary to his own Word and to Justice I askt it not of him reply'd he speak to Monsieur Canaples perhaps he will give you some other employment I pray be not angry till you have heard his reasons No no said I in great fury a man can have no reason for acting contrary to Justice and his own Word I will have no other employment but that which belongs to me and that cannot be given you justly which cannot without injustice be taken from me Monsieur Savignac who lov'd me very well but did not think he ought to yield to me upon such an occasion said to me Look you Sir I made no suit for it it was given me voluntarily and without a particular Order I cannot leave it Thereupon taking it for granted that Monsieur Canaples had put this affront upon me designedly since it was not possible he should have forgot in so short a time what he promis'd me but just before I went to seek him out smothering my resentment and taking no notice that I knew any thing I told him the Regiment was in Battaille and when he pleas'd to come to it he would find all in order according to the Kings command And now Sir said I I doubt not but you have remembred me About what said he The command of the Forlorn-hope that you promis'd and which of right belongs to me to day said I. At which putting on great surprize Oh! truly I have given it to Monsieur Savignac I am very sorry for 't but in earnest I forgot I who had a mind to shew him that I was more angry than he was sorry made answer a little roughly How Sir forgot Is it possible a man of honour should so soon forget his promise I know not how to help it said he I did not remember it Seeing him dally thus with me I raising my voice reply'd You perhaps forgot it Sir because you would forget it but it shall not pass so for if you have forgot your promise I very well remember that it is my place and am resolv'd not to lose it What would you have me do said he the Orders are already given Change the Orders Sir said I if you please Would you have me replyâ—d he be unjust to another in taking away a post that I have given him How Sir said I louder than before you have been unjust to me before in taking from me what was my right and what you promis'd I should have Why what would you have me do said he very angrily I cannot change the Orders get you gone to the Regiment Yes Sir said I I will go and go to the head of the Forlorn-hope you have given me your word the faith of a Gentleman and a man of honour I have done what you commanded me and you have not been just to your word I declare to you Sir that I am resolv'd to dye rather than part with what is my due you shall see strange work I have not eaten the Kings bread so long not to shew him in such an occasion of danger as this that he has not been mistaken in the choice he has made of me to be near his person All that troubles me is that I have spoke to you of a thing I should not have spoke to you about Monsieur Monsieur de Pontis said he consider who 't is you speak to At which raising my voice yet higher I know very well Sir said I to him that I speak to a person who engag'd his faith and his word to me and hath fail'd in both Whereupon Monsieur Canaples enrag'd to the last degree to see himself so us'd by an Officer of his own Regiment reply'd Get you gone you are an insolent fellow Sir said I the respect I owe you with-holds me from saying a thing that would very much displease you but said I drawing my Sword a little way and clapping it down again Here is that shall one day do me right Monsieur Canaples extremely surpriz'd at this menace said to me I suspend you from your Command But I knowing he pretended to a thing out of his power reply'd calmly Sir you usurp an authority that does not belong to you while the King is present none but he can suspend me X. Thereupon I left him and seeing this affair was like to be of dangerous consequence if I did not prevent it thought it my best course to make haste and acquaint the King with it Accordingly I went and told him that while I was executing his Majesty's command Monsieur Canaples had given away my post to another The King who was then very busie in giving all the necessary Orders for the Army had not leisure to hear me and therefore referr'd me to the Duke of Espernon as Collonel of the French Infantry I lost no time and had none to lose in the great bustle and hurry every one was in and therefore went immediately to the Duke to whom I gave an account of my dispute with Monsieur Canaples for having executed the Kings Orders and his own Telling him that having addrest my self to the King his Majesty had referr'd me to him to do me Justice being himself so busie in giving out Orders that he had no leisure to hear me and therefore I humbly begg'd his Lordship to give me the post that belong'd to me Monsieur Espernon made answer that this was no fit time to decide such controversies the Enemy being in sight and publick business being always to be preferr'd before private that when the fight was over they should be at leisure to consider my case and to do both of us Justice But my Lord said I what will become of me he hath interdicted me my Command Oh said Monsieur Espernon that is what he cannot do while the King is present that belongs only to him and when I am present and the King away it belongs only to me Go tell Monsieur Canaples from me that he must permit you to exercise your Command and this difference shall be decided when that we have now in hand with the Enemy is decided This word of the Duke 's put me in some heart again but considering that it would not be proper to carry it to Monsieur Canaples my self for fear of making things worse and quarrelling afresh I presented my Table-book and entreated his Lordship that he would please to write in them himself the message he would have delivered to Monsieur Canaples telling him I was afraid if I should go back
to acquaint him with his Lordships pleasure that he might fall into a passion with me and then I might perhaps forget the respect that was due to him Monsieur Espernon then writ in my Table-book and sent to Monsieur Canaples to permit me quietly to exercize my Command and thus being very well content to see my self supported by the Collonel I went away to the Regiment Meeting my Captain St. Preuil by the way I gave him a short account of the matter according to the short time I had to do it in deliver'd him Monsieur Espernon's Order and entreated him to carry it to Monsieur Canaples with all the speed he could After which I went to take my post that had been deny'd me and by great good fortune Monsieur Savignac to whom this post had been given in my wrong was not there when I came For tho we were very good friends I was resolv'd not to lose my place and Mousieur Savignac would have been as resolute as I to keep what had been given to him XI But it happen'd unluckily that Monsieur Canaples who was making the round of the Regiment of Guards just as I took my post saw me at a distance before he had receiv'd the Duke of Espernon's Letter He made up to me instantly upon a round gallop with his Cane in his hand and thinking to fright me with threats cry'd out as he came I shall remove you with a vengeance I 'll make you quit that post I being not of a humour to be easily affrighted with big words let him come within thirty or forty paces and then call'd out to him to advance no nearer Do not go about to offer me an affront Sir said I for I am absolutely resolv'd not to endure it What right have you to take that from me which the King has given me Upon this leaping out of his Saddle and drawing his Sword he came up to me as if it had been my duty to suffer my self to be beaten and abus'd but being willing to save him that trouble I drew mine too and advanc'd half way to meet him with a resolution not to attack him but only to defend my self I confess this was an extraordinary proceeding and such as might appear a capital offence for a Lieutenant to draw upon his Maistre de Camp at the head of the whole Army But thinking my self backt by the authority of the King and the Collonel and being like to be assaulted and for ever dishonoured without having committed any other fault than obeying the Kings Orders I thought of nothing but getting quit of this scurvy business tho it should cost me my head The Duke of Angoulesme and some other great Lords being come in to us when we had made two or three passes at one another parted us and there the matter rested till we saw the English Fleet come to an Anchor in the Road without preparing for any manner of Engagement But then Monsieur Canaples enrag'd to the last degree at the affront he thought he had receiv'd in the fight of the whole Army resolv'd to go immediately to the King that he might prepossess him about this business I saw him take Horse and presently guest his design and knowing of what consequence it was to prevent him mounted the best Horse I had instantly resolving if I could to get thither before Monsieur Canaples But he knowing me to he a little hot and suspecting I would follow him took a by-way and left the direct one to me by which means he arriv'd first and related the whole matter to his Majesty wholly to his own advantage telling him that I attempted to assassinate him and drew upon him at the head of the Regiment But he did not tell him that he himself had first attempted to take away my Honour and perhaps my Life too in the presence of so many honourable witnesses He aggravated my fault all that possibly he could and told his Majesty that if Justice were not done upon it all Military discipline would be utterly confounded and lost that there could be no more safety to be expected either for the Officer from private Souldiers or for the Maistre de Camp and Generals from the meanest Officers in the Army The King made answer that he wovld not obstruct Justice but that he would have him go to Monsieur Espernon and let him inform himself of the business I came into the room just as Monsieur Canaples went out but found the king strongly prejudic'd against me for I no sooner open'd my mouth but he told me with great severity Canaples hath told it me already 't is a scurvy business for you if it be as he informs me Sir replies I your Majesty knows that better than any body If you have a mind to inform your self and will be pleas'd to hear me your Majesty will then see that I have done nothing but for your service and by your Order I most humbly beseech you Sir to call to mind the Order you gave me Well well said the King go to Monsieur d' Espernon and tell him I sent you and will talk with him about it I went accordingly as fast as I could hoping to find some access with the Duke because of the Order he had given me for Monsieur Canaples but was strangely surpriz'd to find him yet less dispos'd to hear me than the King Assoon as ever I came in he said O Monsieur Pontis Monsieur Canaples hath spoke to me about your affair there is now a strange confusion among the Officers of the Army There is no such thing as submission or dependance left among them The Ensigns will turn Lieutenants the Lieutenants Captains the Captains are Maistres de Camp and the Maistres de Camp will be Collonels I shall take good care to hinder these disorders I wonder how you dare appear before me I come hither my Lord said I under the King's protection he hath sent me to tell you that he will discourse you upon this business You have done wisely reply'd the Duke to come to me from the King for otherwise I should have laid you by the heels to have given you leisure to think of what you could say in justification of your crime Seeing then no defence left me but that of humility and submission I humbly begg'd of him not to condemn me upon the single report of my Adversary and without first hearing what I had to say for my self I conjur'd him to consider that the innocent are often opprest by the authority of their Enemies who will have every thing pass for a fault that opposes their injustice and all men Criminals who defend themselves from their oppressions I hope my Lord said I if you will please to hear the truth of the whole matter from unprejudic'd persons you will excuse my misfortune and your self undertake my defence and think me more worthy of your compassion than your anger I beseech you my Lord to
he must have been highly provok'd what think you This was plainly to declare himself for me and to engage this Officer to speak favourably of a man whose cause the King himself had taken upon him to defend but he contrary to all people's expectation had the ill nature to answer the King that though it had been his own Son that had committed such an action he would condemn it as criminal even in his Son The King who look'd for another kind of answer and that his own opinion ought to have met with more respect gave some significations of his being much surpriz'd at so rude a return and went off toward the Window without saying any thing at all This was in effect to condemn a man severely whom his Majesty had by his own question absolv'd and there 's no great doubt to be made but his Vote had been sold against me or he would never have exprest himself at that rate upon such an occasion And indeed after the matter was absolutely determin'd and my Pardon obtain'd he several times made me great excuses which servâ—d really only to aggravate his own Condemnation XIV While my affair lay before the Council Monsieur Hallier then a Captain in the Guards of the Body who hath since been made Mareschal of France and Governour of Paris under the name of de l' Hospital and Monsieur d' Estissac Maistre de Camp of a Regiment of Infantry either came or sent to me every day to give me notice of all that was said in Council or in the King 's ordinary Discourse concerning my business shewing by this good office the particular kindness they had for me even in the time of my greatest disgrace And by this means too I knew who were my true and who my false friends and who my declar'd enemies I knew there were in the Council eight and forty Judges against me Princes and Mareschals of France Dukes and Peers Collonels Mareschals de Camp and Maistres de Camp the reason of which was that these great Officers were willing by favouring Monsieur Canaples to raise the authority of their own Commands and to render themselves more formidable to the Captains Lieutenants and Ensigns Thus were they in some sort both Judges and Parties and had a mind to make me an example for fear if this boldness of drawing upon a Maistre de Camp were authoriz'd by escaping unpunished that they should hereafter find more resistance than submission among the inferior Officers and so be often engag'd to fight like private Gentlemen instead of making themselves obey'd by vertue of the King's authority And I must confess their fear had been just if the circumstances of my action had not absolutely secur'd me from this reproach and made it plain to all the world that if an inferiour Officer is never permitted to draw his Sword upon the person that commands him a Maistre de Camp is no more allowed to break his word with one that is commanded by him and without any manner Justice contrary to the King 's and the Collonel General 's Order to take from him that rank which belongs to him by his Command But at the same time that so great a number of persons declared themselves for my death I had the comfort to see a great many others take my part to the last and make my cause their own Besides those I have named Count Soissons Prince of the Blood sent to invite me to retire at his Lodgings assuring me of his protection and that as long as he had life he would preserve mine Monsieur Thooras Governour of Fort St. Martin in the Ifle of Rhe sent me a tender of his service and begg'd of me to come into that Island where he promis'd me all imaginable security But Mareschal Schomberg advis'd me not to stir out of his house by reason of the favour the King shewed in my concern So that returning my thanks to those Gentlemen with all the respect and acknowledgment due for such honourable and advantagious offers I still continued where I was At last the King being eternally importun'd by Monsieur Schomberg and put forward by his own inclination too sent me word by Monsieur Schomberg that I might retire into his Quarter which he gave me for my refuge But fearing every thing in the condition I was then in and apprehending above all lest I should fall into the hands of Justice I contented my self with staying in the King's Quarter in the day time and retir'd my self at night in the Mareschal's XV. One day as I was walking in the Basse-Court of the King's Lodgings with Monsieur Montigny and Marsillac both Captains in the Guards these two Officers told me they would not advise me to stay any longer in the Camp for a long as I past for criminal I was always in danger and if ever I came to be arrested there would be an end of me Nay Monsieur Marsillac offer'd me an hundred Pistoles and Monsieur Montigny fifty entreating me as I lov'd them to accept the offer I told them I had two hundred left and that their kindness was what I valu'd much more than the Gold they made me a tender of just then the King putting his Head out at Window perceiv'd me and becken'd me to come to him but as unhappy people see every thing by the fear that possesses them and my mind was full of the fright these Officers had put me into I took this sign from the King in the worst sense and believing it to be a manace was perfectly confounded Did you see the King threaten me said I. You told me as much I am a dead man I must flee for it You 'll never see me more At that instant without any farther deliberation I embrac'd them and out I went betook my self to my Heels and fled as if all had been lost I look'd all about for my Man and my Horse but could find neither which made me quite mad and I concluded now that I was deliver'd up into the hands of Justice I repented my self of going into the King's Quarters at all and not knowing at last whom to blame I discharg'd all my anger upon my man who was missing resolving with my self to be very liberal of my Cudgel as soon as ever I could set my eyes on him But while all things seemâ—d to conspire to trouble me more as I was thus running up and down among the Sutlers like a Mad-man to seek my Servant and could not find him I was frighted more than ever to see a man come running and calling after me It was a young fellow call'd Cadet that belong'd to the Kings Chamber whom his Majesty had sent to assure me all was well and to fetch me to him I thought he pursuâ—d me with an ill intent and therefore fell to running faster than I had done before At last however coming a little to my self and beginning to fancy I might have taken a false alarm I
would have for perceiving me a little warm'd with the recital he would have the diversion of seeing me represent my action with something of that heat which was but too natural to me So that the Duke of St. Simon who had withdrawn toward the Window to leave me at greater liberty with the King comprehending what he meant gave me to understand it At which animating my self as much as the presence of the King would allow throwing my Cloak upon my left shoulder and standing upon my Guard I did that with my Hand and Arm which respect would not suffer me to do with my Sword The King who saw the sprightliness of my gesture and observ'd the fire that sparkled in my Eyes cover'd his face a little with the Sheet that he might laugh without being discover'd which made me presently conclude the Cause was won and all my own As soon as this little Farce was over the King bad me be sure to remember all the particulars I had told him and let no body living know of my having been with him And withal he commanded me to be ready at his Chamber-door when he went to Council there to throw my self at his Feet and give him an account of my whole business as if I had never spoke to him of it before Upon which I immediately withdrew and went down the Stairs by the Wardrobe as privately as ever I could XVII Then I plainly saw that Providence instead of forsaking me as I imagin'd at first had assisted me after a visible and extraordinary manner and that two ways First by inclining the King to be favourable to my Cause and then in not permitting me to find either my Horse or my Man in order to the making my escape for had I fled I had been utterly lost At eleven of the Clock I presented my self at the King's Chamber door and at his coming out with a great deal of Company that attended him and among others the Cardinals Richelieu and la Vallette I threw my self at his Majesty's Feet and began to speak and beg his audience after this manner Sir I am come to lay my self at your Majesty's Feet to implore your mercy I put my life into your Majesty's hands for I had better lose it by the Sword of your Justice if I have deserv'd to lose it than live miserable a Fugitive and under your Majesty's displeasure But I most humbly beseech you Sir that you will first do me the favour to hear me that if I shall have the good fortune to make my Innocence appear I may have the consolation of being absolv'd by your Majesty 's own Judgment and on the contrary if I cannot justify my own conduct I may be condemn'd out of my own mouth The King who seem'd very cold to me on purpose to conceal his secret intelligence betwixt us heard me with a fierce countenance his hand on his side and standing between the two Cardinals Then with a fierce look he said Rise that I may the better hear you and if you have any thing to say in your own justification speak it but be sure you speak truth All the Court was present at this extraordinary Audience and I pleaded my cause for half a quarter of an hour after same manner I had done it in private in the Kings Chamber but much more seriously as speaking now in publick before the Cardinals Princes and Lords of the Court. While I was harranguing thus the King said softly to Cardinal Richelieu as I have been since told by a Lord that overheard him You see Canaples provoked him to the last degree for my part I do not think him so much in fault and when I had done speaking he said aloud 'T is true he ought not to deprive him of the Post due to him by his Command when he did nothing but only execute my Orders Upon this they went presently into Council and Cardinal Richelieu having understood from the King that he would have the judgment upon this business put off by reason of the English Fleets lying there in expectation of a fair Wind to assault the Mole his Eminence declared it to the Council Thus the matter was deferr'd that is the King reserv'd the judgment of it to himself and at his coming from Council he very graciously told me so I humbly begg'd of his Majesty to do me the favour not to let me lye idle but to employ me some way in his service which he promis'd me to do but withal ordered me in the mean time to stay in his Quarters without going to the Regiment of Guards or executing any part of my Command XVIII The King accordingly did remember me as he had promised and a few days after made me Captain of a Galliot to go out to Sea and discover the Enemy I then began to think of reconciling my self to the King by some signal action in this new Command his Majesty had conferr'd upon me I bought a great many Ells of Taffata and made Streamers of them with the Arms of France These I plac'd round about my Vessel and made it look so fine that several Lords were eager to come aboard and would needs go with me to Sea Finding my self thus crowded in the time of my disgrace and fearing it might do me some new mischief with the King or at least that I might not be able to execute his orders faithfully if I were not absolutely Master of the Vessel and had her to my self I thought fit to acquaint him with it and did so His Majesty was well pleased to see that I rejected the favour of others and sought after his only and that I would apply my self to no body else but him as in truth I had more occasion to do now than ever Therefore forbidding the Lords and all others to go aboard me and having told them for a blind that he would have them all keep about his person except such as had Commands I was left to my self and my Ship at my own disposal Then I fell to cruising to try if I could discover the Enemies designs passionately desiring to do the King some considerable service that I might have a little merit to intercede for my peace and gain an absolute Pardon I was once at open Sea in the night when my Pilot who was a Master in Navigation came about an hour before day and told me a fresh gale was rising and both Wind and Tide stood fair for the Enemy and therefore he was afraid if they had any mind to attempt the Mole they would not lose this opportunity The Pilot was in the right and spoke like a man of wisdom and experience for a little after we heard a Cannon shot from that part where the English Fleet rid which the Pilot told me was the first signal for the â—ight and if we should hear a second we might depend upon it that it was so Having a great confidence in this man I immediately raised
acceptable to him The Bishop of Manda too being willing to make my excuse his Eminence could not conceal his indignation from him but said these words which were told me again He did come indeed to return me thanks but it was after he had been with every body else I had nothing but the leavings of his Complements He allowed me only the last place in his memory and respects though I had the first in the defence of his cause and then too he did not come so much of his own accord as he was brought by Monsieur Cominges So that this fault which he took for a slight joyn'd with my refusal of his service to Father Joseph was the principal ground of that obstinate aversion he hath had to me ever since I was afterwards restor'd to my Command as formerly and all the informations preferr'd against me were torn to pieces XXI The excess of trouble and fear this unhappy business brought upon me threw me into a violent Feavor The distemper was suspended till the affair was over and then as excessive a joy succeeding Nature found herself overpowred by so sudden and so different a change so that after having escaped death by the hand of Justice I found my self in a new danger both from my Disease and my Physicians who were very near dispatching me tho without any ill intention During this illness I was somewhat disturbed with the remembrance of my past life and particularly for having upon some occasions caused a great many of the Enemy to be knockt on the head more out of passion than for the service of the State I fancy'd I saw all those men remonstrating against me and demanding justice of God for their deaths This imagination afflicted me much and I resolved to make some amends for this fault But upon my recovery I soon found that the resolutions of sick and dying men seldom are sincere for when I was well I scarce ever remembred what I promis'd when I lay sick Upon my growing better the Kings Physicians Monsiâ—ur Bouvart and Monsieur Privos having order'd me a purging potion a wretch that I forbear to name took this occasion to get rid of me and procure my Command He corrupted the Apothecary who sold him my Life and instead of the Apozem mixt me the most mortal poyson he could think of But I can never sufficiently acknowledge the good Providence that took care of me for the night before I was to have taken this deadly draught I had a very great Crisis and sweat to that degree from ten a clock to one that I found my self perfectly well The aversion I ever had to Physick made me order the Vial to be set by in my Closet and leave Nature to finish what she had so well begun The Physicians coming to visit me and see the operation of their Medicine I told them Sparkishly Look you Gentlemen here is a Miracle is not this a prodigious effect and a plain proof of the vertue of your Physick They believing it in earnest began presently to magnifie their prescription not seeming so much surpriz'd at it but to expect all this from a remedy so well chosen adding that since the first dose had succeeded so well I must needs take another to carry off what that might have left behind and so went away highly pleas'd with the success of their Physick I thought however it was not fit to conceal it from Monsieur Privos who was my particular friend and when the company was gone told him I had a great Crisis in the night and finding my self better upon sweating had forbore my Physick And to confirm what I had said bid my man bring the Potion Assoon as he saw it he cry'd out Ah Sir what did they intend to do with you They would have destroy'd you this is rank poyson God hath had a particular care of you for if you had taken this you had been a dead man Then he fell to exclaiming and swearing to vindicate his own reputation and sent away immediately for the Grand Provost They went presently to the Apothecary's but he was run away which made me conclude it was a design and no mischance or mistake I had a suspicion of the person that thus attempted upon my Life and my Command but it was enough for me that I got off so I would not bring any information upon it and was glad the Apothecary was not taken lest the Author of this Crime should have been discovered XXII And here I must not omit the generosity of Monsieur Buisson that Gentleman that was a Cadet in my Company and afterwards quarrell'd with me for whom as a testimony of my forgiveness and friendship I procur'd first a Pardon and then a Lieutenants place For he hearing tho very late of this unfortunate business of mine which was the chief cause of my sickness came purposely from Italy to the Camp before Rochelle some months after I was restored to my Command to make me a proffer of his person and all he had in his power assuring me that both himself and his fortune was absolutely at my service and disposal By this extraordinary acknowledgment he had a mind to vye friendships with me and let me see that no misfortune could cool his affection nor any distance of place stop the zeal he had for the safety of a person to whom he thought himself oblig'd for his life and preferment XXIII The King resolving to relieve the Isle of Rhe commanded by Monsieur Thoiras and invested by the English Navy gave Mareschal Schomberg orders to pass over into it with the best of our Forces His Majesty was then at Etray within a mile of the Trenches As I was one night upon the Guard I saw on a sudden a great flame and thick smoak over Rochelle and at the same time heard a great noise I dispatched two or three Souldiers to know the cause of this uproar and none of them returning back I thought the Enemy might have taken this opportunity of our Forces being separated to make some attempt upon the King 's own Quarters So I drew up our men and after acquainting Mareschal Brezay with what past with him and Monsieur de l' Isleroy I went to the King's Bedchamber The Mareschal waked him and I told his Majesty what I had seen and heard which continu'd still The King presently got up and went into a Garret to satisfy himself of the truth of it and having been an Eye-witness of my report lookt upon us and said This is no jesting matter Then he askt me if I had sent to the Trenches and order'd the Guards to stand to their Arms and when he was satisfy'd I had he commanded them to dress him and bring him his Arms. At that time a considerable Officer and otherwise a brave man but perhaps a little too rash in his zeal upon this occasion said to the King Save your Servants Sir save your people if the Eneme attack
he had been at to make himself so very angry I gave him about a dozen loaves over and above what he had received before Afterwards he came and excused himself to me and said his extremity had thrown him into that violent passion I made him a friendly remonstrance which he took kindly and gave him to understand that one of ahe greatest points of conversation was to know whom a man spoke to â—nd not to offend men of honour by rudely giving them the lye as he â—ad done At the same time I proffer'd him my service and as much bread for himself or his friends as he wanted and thus this difference was compos'd When the King had made his Entry into Rochelle the Duke of Angoulesme would needs visit the famous Guiton who had held out so long against the greatest Prince of Europe and some Officers of which I was one attended him thither He was a little man but of a vast understanding and a great Soul and I was really extremely pleas'd to see in him all the marks of a gallant person His House was magnificently furnisht and his Hall adorn'd with a vast number of Ensigns which he shew'd one after another naming the Princes from whom he had taken them and the Seas he had sailed He had a great many Arms in his House and amongst the rest one very fine Partisan taken from a Captain in fight I had no sooner commended it but being exceedingly generous he would needs present me with it and forced me to accept that and a hundred Pikes besides He made Cardinal Richelieu a handsom answer when he went to pay him the civility of a visit speaking to him of the King of France and the King of England He was afterwards very much dissatisfy'd with the Cardinal for not having surrendred the City to the King till after a promise of having all the Ensigns of his Dignity continued to him and one of his Priviledges being to go attended with a dozen Halberdeers in his Livery whenever he appeared in the Streets of Rochelle His Eminence one day sent him word That the King being present in the City it was contrary to rule that he should retain these marks of a Dignity that did not now belong to him and that the King was then the only Master and Mayor of Rochelle This new order strangely offended Guiton who saw himself thus deceived and fallen from his honours contrary to the assurance that had been given him Insomâ—ch that he told me Had he believed they would have broken their word with him the King should not have found one living creature at his entring into Rochelle for he would have held it out to the very last man And probably the King would have been forc'd to raise the Siege by reason of the Winter and Storms that came on immediately upon the surrender of the City for the fair weather ended the very same day the Town was reduc'd and the seventh of November following the Sea was so boisterous in the night that it broke down above forty fathom of the Mound on Marillac side The Chevalier de la Foyett's Vessel was driven by a gust of wind into the Port and broke three or four Machines without any damage to it self and five or six English Ships ran ashore upon the Coast of Augoulia So that a man may say had Guiton taken a resolution to hold out but one month longer as he might have done we had been in great danger of losing in one day all the fruit of so many labours and so long a Siege For the ill weather together with the breaking of the Bank would infallibly have relieved the besieged and there was nothing but a visible and eminent Providence that oblig'd them to yield in a time so favourable to the King 's Arms. After his Majesty had made some stay in Rochelle to give necessary orders and prevent any new revolts he returned triumphant to Paris with the Glory of having in a great measure disarm'd the Protestant Religion in his Kingdom by the taking of this City The End of the Seventh Book BOOK VIII The Duke of Rohan makes a great Attempt upon the City of Montpellier and is betray'd by the person who was to give up the City to him The Sieur de Pontis is sent to visit the Alpes for the Passage of the King's Forces His Moderation towards a Man that would have kill'd him for another His behaviour toward the Cadets and Souldiers of his Company His Quarrel with a Captain who quarter'd by force upon his Estate at Pontis The King goes with all his Army into Savoy and forces the Pass of Suza The Sieur de Pontis obtains an Escheat of the King which only gets him a great Suit at Law The Duke of Orleans attempts to force the Guard at the Louvre when the Sieur de Pontis was upon the Guard I. DUring the Siege of Rochelle they of the same Party with the Rochellers under the Command of the Duke of Rohan made a great attempt upon the City of Montpellier and had a mind to draw in one of my intimate Friends the Baron de M. second Captain in the Regiment of Normandy the event whereof was so considerable as to deserve a mention in this place before I go on to the rest of my Memoirs This Baron de M. had married a Wife of the Hugonot perswasion and being one day at a house of hers the Baron Bretigny propos'd to him to favour the Duke of Rohan in his design upon Montpellier and in reward they promis'd to make him Governour of the place and Lieutenant General of Monsieur Rohan's Army or to give him two hundred thousand Crowns which the Duke himself engaged to pay him The Baron de M. was a person of greater fidelity than to consent to so base an action but by avoiding one mischief he engaged himself in another and resolved for the Kings service to betray the man who pretended to engage him in betraying the King The answer he return'd to the Baron de Bretigny was that an affair of such consequence deserved some consideration that he would go back to Montpellier where his Company was in Garrison and from thence would acquaint them with his resolution by a very brave Souldier one Cadet whom he had bred up from a Foot-boy and in whom he reposed great confidence He lost no time but gave notice immediately to Monsieur des Fosres Governour of Montpellier what proposals had been made him These two conspired in the same design which was to betray them who dar'd to propose the betraying of their Prince Monsieur sends Cadet away presently to strike up the bargain with Monsieur Bretigny and the Duke of Rohan was made acquainted with it who said he would not engage in the attempt except the Walls were laid open on that side by the Cittadel Monsieur Fosres accordingly caused them by little and little to be laid open in several places and upon
different pretences Upon which the Duke to make sure work sends an Engineer in the habit of a Souldier who was received into the Governours own Company that he might see all without any manner of suspicion The Guard in the mean while was kept but negligently both in the Cittadel and the lines of Communication by which the Duke of Rohan with four hundred men was to storm the Wall and the Ditches which were but of a moderate height and so make himself Master of the Esplanade which lay between the Cittadel and the City When all things were ready Baron M. gave notice it was time to execute their design The Duke of Rohan to prevent all jealousies from the drawing his Forces together gave out as if he intended to besiege the Castle of Courconne three leagues from Montpellier to which place he came with seven thousand Foot and three hundred Horse The night appointed came and Baron M. and Guitaut a Captain of the Regiment of Normandy to whom the Governour had entrusted the secret mounted the Guard in the Cittadel The Engineer disguised in the habit of a Souldier saw all that past so that he could not have the least jealousy of foul play Monsieur M. after this opened all the Gates Draw-bridges and Posterns and the Engineer went out with Cadet to go fetch the Duke of Rohan They agreed before that when the Duke should be near with his Army two Officers should be sent to know whether any alteration had happened As soon as ever the Engineer was gone the Governour understanding it from Monsieur M. call'd all the Captains together and made the Regiments of Picardy and Normandy stand to their arms which might all make up two thousand eight hundred men Of these eight hundred were posted in the principal places and avenues of the City with order to kill all the Citizens that should stir out of their houses or that attempted to throw themselves over the Walls by reason four thousand Hâ—gonot Inhabitants were to take arms He posted twelve hundred at the breaches of the Wall of the City that looked into the Esplanade going to the Cittadel and there threw up in haste great retrenchments with very good barricadoes behind and openings to give way for the twelve hundred men who had order to sally out upon the Enemy as they entred the Esplanade by the Lines of Communication He set eight hundred men in the Cittadel of which five hundred were likewise to sally at the same time and the other three who were all chosen men to remain with him in the Cittadel He caused besides all this twenty pieces of Cannon to be planted upon the Esplanade and loaded them with Musquet Bullets and placed a certain number of good Souldiers with Halberts behind the inner door within the Cittadel On the top of the Draw-bridge which was made like a Trap-door he set Beine the Engineer of the place with a Hatchet in his hand and express order not to cut the Rope of the Bridge till Monsieur Goustonville should cry out to him Harle la main All things being thus disposed with incredible diligence Baron M. told the Governour that if the two men they were to send would have him go back with them to Monsieur de Rohan he was absolutely resolv'd to go rather than give them any suspicion tho he were very well assur'd they would give him a thousand stabs after he was dead when they saw themselves so cheated but he valued not death provided he could do the King service in revenging himself upon those who thought him capable of failing in his duty II. All things being husht at last two Officers according to agreement came to the Postern to meet Baron M. He told them things were in a very geod condition and that if they pleased he would bring them into the place But they made answer that knowing him to be a man of bravery they had an absolute confidence in him that Monsieur de Rohan was hard by and would give his orders out and be with them in half a quarter of an hour The Baron reply'd he would go in then and keep himself behind the door within the Cittadel to open it for them when they came Thus they return'd back and immediately all the Enemies Forces drew near Monsieur de Rohan in coming altered his first design of falling on by the lines of Communication hoping that if he could get into the Cittadel at first he should in three hours be master of the Town He had with him seven thousand Foot and three hundred Horse and the next morning came three thousand more of Vevarets The order was that two hundred chosen men among which were a great many Gentlemen and Officers were to fall on first that they should be backt with a thousand more and the rest according as need should require The Baron of Bretigny author of the Enterprize who marcht foremost of all came and knockt very softly at the outward Gate of the Cittadel and addressing himself to Baron M. ask'd Cousin are you there To which a Serjeant who was well instructed what to say made answer Sir He is gone to take a turn at the Guard but he hath left me to assure you that he will come again immediately to receive you in the mean time draw your men up close into order of Battel With that Baron Bretigny gave the word from hand to hand Close close One and fifty of these first two hundred being advanced with him Beine who was afraid to see so many let in cut the Rope with his Hatchet without staying for the word and immediately the Bridge fell down behind and one part being inclosed between the Gate of the Cittadel and the Bridge the rest fell into the Ditch Those of the Cittadel immediately threw a great many Fire-works both into the Ditch and all about it that they might the better see what they did and shot at the main body without of which a great many were kill'd and wounded As for those that were trapt between the Gate and the Bridge there were nine and thirty kill'd and twelve taken prisoners of whom most part were very much wounded Cadet who guided them naming himself and our men having let down a Rope to pull him up to them they who were near him drew him back and detain'd him by force saying They would never suffer him to escape unless the Governor or some body in his name would promise them their lives And accordingly when they saw that they shot at them without proffering them any thing at all they gave him above twenty wounds of which however he did not dye Monsieur Rohan withdrew full of concern and passion and ordering his Ammunition-bread to be thrown away he loaded his Carriages with as many of his dead and wounded as he could recover What judgment others may pass upon this action I cannot tell but for my own part though some perhaps may excuse it by reason of the
indignation a man of honour may conceive to see himself thought capable of being false to his Prince yet I own it troubled me very much and I could look upon it as no better than a piece of treachery Nor could my inviolable devotion to the King's service and interest prevail with me to approve that in my friend which I must have condemned in my self The treachery they would have drawn him into ought not to have engagâ—d him in another treachery nor was it in my opinion an argument he understood the rules of honour and fidelity to pretend to merit frmo his King by betraying those that tempted him to betray him Treachery does not change its nature when it changes its object and it is always infidelity to break a promise and to forfeit faith once given though it were for the interest of the greatest Prince upon Earth This Officer was doubtless highly to be commended for rejecting the advantageous offers made him by the Duke of Rohan that he might stand firm in his duty but that it was not consistent with that duty to surprize the Duke with fair promises and that word ought not to have been given which ought not nor ever was intended to be made good There was a way open and the Duke of Rohan must have esteemed him the more if he had flatly refus'd to serve him against the King but he drew upon himself the censure of his best friends in quitting the way of honour and taking double and indirect methods and I confess I could never look upon a man guilty of so foul and unfaithful an action as my friend III. A little while after upon our return from Rochelle to Paris the King commanded me to go into Dauphine Savoy and Piedmont to discover all the passes of Italy designing to march his Army into those parts against the Duke of Savoy I went accordingly and having examined with all the care I could all the ways by which an Army could possibly pass the Mountains I took an exact account of them and after two or three months return'd to Paris The King sent for Monsieur de Escures who made the Charts and was Quarter-master General of the Army and shewed him the account I had presented ordering him to examine it carefully and compare it with his Charts and found after by his report that my account was exactly true as to the leagues which was all he would undertake to answer not being acquainted with the passes so well as I who was of the Country Whereupon his Majesty was graciously pleas'd to say he was satisfied very well with my service and that he would remember it And he gave present order for all things for the expedition of Piedmont whither he intended to go in person with his whole Army IV. About this there happened to me a very unlucky accident at Paris from which it was a great providence that I escaped Coming one night late from the Louvre on Horseback and going to carry my Captain Monsieur St. Preuil some orders that I had just receiv'd from his Majesty found him at play in a house beyond the Hostel de Bellegarde As soon as I was past this Hostel and got over against the Chappel of the Hostel de Soissons my Footman going before me some twenty paces with a Flambeau a man at the corner of a street made a thrust at me with all his might enough to have run me through and through and kill'd me upon the spot but God guided both the Hand and the Sword so happily for me that instead of running me into the belly it hit under the pummel of my Saddle and there broke The thrust was so violent that a piece of the Sword half a foot long stuck in the Saddle Surpriz'd at this pass which I heard before I saw it I leap'd off my Horse and drawing I threw the Fellow down beat him and in the heat of my passion was very near killing him He profest to me that he was mistaken that he was Valet de Chambre to Monsieur Bellegarde and took me for another Gentleman by whom he had been cudgell'd Such a mistake displeas'd me very much but however taking some compassion on him I turn'd back and went into the Hostel de Bellegarde and his Master being in bed I contented my self with committing his Valet de Chambre into the custody of the Gentleman of his Horse The next morning I thought my self oblig'd to go and make my complaint to him and tho he lov'd the fellow very well yet to make me satisfaction he told me He was a Rogue and should be hang'd But that was not the thing I came for but chiefly to give him notice of this disorder that he might prevent any thing of that kind for the future and therefore I told him That since it had been my chance and the man had no malice against me nor had I received any harm I entreated he would pardon him and only give him warning to be wiser another time Notwithstanding he still insisted upon what he had said that he would have him hang'd But assoon as I was return'd home he sent him to me by the Gentleman of his Horse to tell me he put him absolutely into my hands to do what I would with him I made answer that since Monsieur Bellegarde was so generous to leave him to my disposal I freely forgave him But the King heard of it and said he should be hang'd tho he contented himself with saying it only and did not cause it to be done V. Another occasion was given me of acknowledging the Divine protection which did not only very visibly spare my life but gave me an opportunity of saving another person's which was in danger Having supp'd one night with a Courtier a good friend of mine and going home on Horseback about eleven a clock attended by two Foot-men one of which carry'd a Flambeau I saw at a distance upon Nostre-Dame Bridge three or four Villains assaulting a man whom they had forc'd up to a Wall where he was defending himself the best he could I did not much deliberate upon giving him the relief I my self should have expected from another man upon the like occasion but spurring as hard as I could in among these Rascals I so amazed them that immediately they ran but the man was almost as much troubled and astonish'd as if he had been still among the Rogues He did not think himself safe with me and I could scarcely bring him to his senses I askt him who he was to whom he belong'd and where he liv'd but could not get one word out of his mouth In the mean while I could not find in my heart to leave him in this condition neither doubting he might be attempted again and more easily robb'd I gave him time to recover and naming the most considerable parts and Inns of Paris I got it out of him at last that he lodged in the Place Maubert
and was Steward to the Duke of Lorrain who was then at Paris I try'd to get him up behind me but not being able because he was a very big fat man and not yet cur'd of his fright I thought it best to alight my self and giving one of the Foot-men my Horse to lead I walk'd with him to his Lodging where he return'd me thanks as well as he could being not yet perfectly come to himself He ask'd one of the Footmen who I was and where I liv'd and came next morning to acknowledge the service I had done him and a few days after invited me to Supper to which I took some Persons of Quality my Friends along with me who were no less surpriz'd than I at the Magnificence of this Entertainment VI. The King designing as I said to march his Army against the Duke of Savoy made them set out in the depth of Winter and he himself follow'd in February 1629. I staid a little after him at Paris to pick up some Souldiers that were left behind and went with about two hundred to overtake the King beyond Fontain-bleau according to the order his Majesty has given me As soon as I was come up I distributed every Souldier into his owu Compauy and then took my own place in the head of mine to march along with the Army to Lyons My Company that is Monsieur St. Preuil's which I almost always commanded consisted at that time of two hundred and fifty men all lusty fellows and well â—lad There were among them about fourscore young Gentlemen most of them of very good families and had very handsom equipage I having the honour to be known by all the persons of the Court and all the principal Officers in the Army for one that had always with great industry apply'd my self to my profession was very exact in my discipline and had a great care of my Souldiers this made a great many people of Quality do me the honour to entrust their Sons with me to learn what the experience and diligence of so many years had taught me And I think I may say without vanity that I was beloved feared and obeyed by my men after a very extraordinary manner But I try'd by a particular address to win upon the affection of the Cadets for I gave them the Command of the Company by turns that while they were learning to be Souldiers they might learn to be Captains and Officers too at the same time The King was much pleas'd to see this Company in so good order and exprest his satisfaction by granting it a priviledge which others had not For seeing my Company so large and full of Gentlemen of Quality I thought it my duty to acquaint his Majesty that being alone as I then was without my Captain and having so many young Gentlemen whom their Parents had committed to my care I should find my self over-burden'd with the charge unless his Majesty made me some grant in favour of all those young Cadets that they might be treated with more respect than the common sort of Souldiers for they not having been inured to hardship would soon grow discontented and complain to their Relations whom I should by that means make my Enemies and so might make most of them at last disband and quit the Army The King very graciously reply'd That I did him a kindness in giving him this notice and I am glad said he that you have askt me what I grant you most willingly Thus I had ever after double Quarters for my Company and by this means had it in my power to make some distinction betwixt the Cadets and the ordinary sort of Souldiers I was also very careful to prevent any disorders in the Quarters not being able to endure that the Souldiers should wrong poor people in the Villages To this purpose when I went out I always drew up my Company and made proclamation that if any Countryman had cause to complain he might come and do it without any fear Before I dislodg'd I saw all things restor'd and never went out of the Town till I had first got a Certificate from the Lord and the Parish Priest being resolv'd always to carry my justification in my Pocket and fearing lest I should be accus'd to the King who was more severe to me than all the rest because he made me the instrument of reforming the discipline among his Guards But I had another reason still which oblig'd me to some exactness in this point and that was that having so many Gentlemen in my Company who were like to be Commanders themselves shortly after I would not use them to pilfering lest when they came to be Officers they should suffer their Souldiers to do the same that they had been formerly allowd in themselves And those mean things were not to be indured in men of birth and quality whose minds ought to be noble and generous above the meaner sort of men VII As soon as our Army was arriv'd within some few leagues of Lyons we being to pass the River in Boats fearing some disorder might happen in the passage I told Monsieur Vientaâ—â— a Captain of the Guards that we must endeavour to pass 〈◊〉 if we would do it safely and without confusion and accordingly we embarkt our Companies and past early without any loss or tumult It afterwards appear'd that our fear had not been groundless for there was such a disorder in getting over the Army that a great deal of Baggage was lost The King staid a while at Lyons and we refresht our selves in the Country round about and I and my Company went to a Village about a league beyond Lyons but it happen'd that this Village which was assign'd for our Quarters belong'd to a Kinsman of mine a Captain of a new-rais'd Regiment who was then in Daâ—phine His Wife frigâ—ted to see so many Souldiers came and conjur'd me to use my best endeavour for exempting her Estate from Quartering This was no easy matter to obtain the Army lying so disperst all over the Country as it did and I had much ado to prevail with my self to go about it but told the orders were given and it would breed a great confusion But at last yield I did to a Woman's and a Relation's request and went back to Lyons to see if I could obtain what this Lady deâ—â—r'd As soon as I came into the King's presence I humbly besought him to remember he was now entring into my Country and that I came to beg one favour which was that he would direct our Quarters to be chang'd because the Village assign'd us belong'd to a Kinswoman of mine They press me hard Sir said I to make use of my credit with your Majesty upon this occasion or at least the credit they imagine I have The King turning to the Lords about him 'T is true said he laughing we do now approach his Country and ought to consider him a little So he gave order presently to
Generals that the Army should march with all possible speed to the relief of Cazal When this resolution was taken and made publick Monsieur de Schomberg order'd me to provide Bisket-bread sufficient for the whole Army for eleven days march which accordingly I did And besides this provision I presented Monsieur de Schomberg with two thousand Aniseed Biskets Monsieur de la Force with eight hundred and Monsieur de Marillac as many and to the Mareschals de Camp Controllers and Treasurers of the Army proportionably The whole Army with all their equipage being come to the plain of Raconis was drawn into form of Battel and divided into three bodies the Van-guard Main body and Rear Thus they continued to march till we advanced within fourteen or fifteen leagues of Cazal when notice was given that the Duke of Savoy had joyn'd the Spaniard to fall upon our Flank This obliged us to alter the method of our march The Army was then ranged in three Columns the Van-guard composed the right the Battalion the middle and the Rear the left Column Between the middle and the right Column marcht all the Cannon Carriages and Ammunition between the left and the middle went the Baggage of the Generals and all the Army so that all was hemm'd in The Horse went upon the wings in front and flank by Squadrons and in form of Battel Marching in this manner through all the plains our Army was continually in a posture for fighting either for the Savoyards who were upon our Rear or the Spaniards that were in Front of us But the Spaniards would not stir out of their Trenches making themselves sure of the Fort of Cazal which they kept close blockt up When we came to the Village of Oximeane about four small leagues distant from Cazal we halted there three days in expectation of news from Monsieur de Thoiras to whom six men had been sent to give him intelligence of our approach and to assure him of relief as also to agree upon a time when our Troops should be drawn on to attack the Trenches But only one of those six that were sent came back to us again All measures being duly adjusted orders were given to lead on strait to Cazal About a league from the Town we halted to stay for the signal from the Cittadel which was to be a great smoak to give us notice that all the Garrison were ready and in Arms. As soon as ever the sign was given all the Troops advanc'd being distributed into three bodies Monsieur la Force commanded the right wing Monsieur Marillac the left and Monsieur Schomberg the main battel because this happened to be his day of commanding in chief Before we came up to the Trenches he gave us a short speech to this effect but with abundance of warmth and such a lively and warlike eloquence as becomes the mouth of a General and is most likely to inspire an Army with courage Fellow-Souldiers said he you have now an occasion of the greatest honour and highest consequence that our age hath ever seen I cannot but expect a good event of it when I observe both the courage and zeal of so many brave men whom the King hath entrusted with the honour of his arms and the confusion of our Enemies that tremble already before they engage us If you have been stout formerly to day you must be Heroes Danger and Death overtake those that fear and fly from them but the man that can look these in the face and fear nothing is half a Conqueror already We have one Army before and another behind us They that flee will be killed shamefully for Cowards and they only that take their enemies lives while they lose their own will dye like men of honour I pardon that man from this minute that falls upon me if he sees me behave my self like a Coward but I will not pardon him that runs away himself Come on then stoutly where honour and duty call and I engage my word to all them that shall signalize themselves in the service of their Prince to give his Majesty a true estimate of their bravery and to take care that their services shall be honoured and rewarded as they deserve These few words with the advantage of that vehemence with which they were uttered and the courage of those that heard them made the whole Army go on as though they were already secure of coming off Conquerors The Forlorn-hope and those appointed to support them advanc'd When they were within half Cannon shot they went to prayers as is usual and all in deep silence expected the discharge of a Cannon from the Town which was to be the signal when we should fall upon the Enemy In the moment we heard it our Troops advanc'd with incredible resolution and heat though we put our selves full upon the mouth of the Cannon that was planted along the Enemies Trenches and must needs make a horrible slaughter among us The Mareschal Marillac who by his Post was the forwardest had began the attack and we were all in the best disposition that ever Army was seen to fight for the honour of our Prince and Country when all on the sudden to the great dissatisfaction of the whole Army Monsieur Mazarin was discovered riding from the Enemies Camp holding a Sheet of white paper in his hand and waving it about for a sign of a Treaty of Peace crying aloud Halt halt Stand stand The Souldiers were so enraged to see themselves checkt in the midst of their Career that some of them were so extravagant as to discharge several Musquets at him Our Generals had much ado to stop them But at last Monsieur Mazarin having liberty to draw near and confer with the Mareschals of France declared to them that the Spanish Generals had sent him to present them that paper that they might propose what terms of peace they pleased Monsieur Schomberg reply'd that this matter was of so great consequence that it was fit the Generals on both sides should personally confer together and that as long as they treated by Messengers and Writing only there would always be some scruples remaining which would only be the seeds of fresh disturbances VIII Then Monsieur Mazarin return'd to the Enemies Camp to agree upon a place where they might meet together One between both Armies was chosen as the best and most secure All the Generals on both sides repaired thither and there formed the Articles of Treaty as was agreed between them that is That the Town of Cazal should be put into the Duke of Mantua 's hands that the French Souldiers should be commanded out and Montferrins who were the Duke of Mantua 's Subjects sent thither in their room That the Kings Army should draw off from Montferrat but yet keep the post where they then were till such time as they had embarked all the Enemies Cannon and Baggage upon the Po and that the Cittadel should be delivered to a
Montferrin Officer such as they should name The Articles being mutually signed the Generals parted after great Complements on both sides and our Army retired about a quarter of a league that they might give the Enemies no Jealousie and encamped there that night in their Arms for fear of any surprize The Enemies also encampâ—d that night in their Trenches and decamp'd next day very early that they might pass the River the same day according to our agreement That night there fell such abundance of rain that the Souldiers Arms were all spoyled with it and they wet to the skin Wherefore next morning the greatest part dispersed themselves into the Villages all thereabouts to dry themselves and left their arms at the Camp in much disorder In the mean while Monsieur Thoiras came from the Cittadel to our Camp to wait on the Mareschals Monsieur Schomberg who had no great kindness for him said at first meeting So Sir this is the second time meaning that he had relieved him once before at the Isle of Rhe when he was besieged in St. Martin by Bouquinquan the English General Monsieur Thoiras return'd him a civil but cold answer Yes Sir I am beholden to the King's Arms and to you Sir Afterwards Monsieur Schomberg invited him and the two other Mareschals to dinner While they sat at Table in the great Hall with a great many persons of quality where I also was and saw all that past immediately the Spanish Generals Picolomini and Colalto had passed through our Camp and came into the Hall Monsieur Schomberg being extremely surprized as well as the rest of the company said to them Really Gentlemen I am much concerned that I had no notice of your coming for I would have rode to meet you Whereupon Picolomini who was a man of Wit as well as Courage reply'd Sir we did it on purpose and since we could not surprize you in War had a mind to try if we could do it in Peace But I must confess that I my self was a little surpriz'd as I came through your Camp For whereas I must own that tho I have commanded several Armies and in several Countries I never saw any that lookt better and more orderly nor more eager of sighting than yours was yesterday when drawn up in Battel and ready to attack our Trenches yet to day I see no body in your Camp nor any thing but the Souldiers Arms lying up and down in great confusion and disorder Monsieur Schomberg tipping us the wink to go and get the Souldiers to their Colours presently answer'd Picolomini with great readiness of wit This need be no surprize to you at all Sir for I who am a German born when I came to settle in France and put my self into the King's service was in truth at first at a loss what this humour of the French should mean But when I had been a Commander some time and was used to the Genius of the Country I presently â—ound that the French were the briskest Fellows in the world when there was occasion for fighting and the most inclined to ease and divert themselves when there was none One good quality they have is that as they quickly lay down their arms so they quickly stand to them again And that you your self may bear me witness that I say true I will immediately shew you an instance of the French temper I will order the Drum to beat through the Quarters and dare promise you that before we have gone through the Camp you shall see all the Army in good order At the same time all the Officers that were there wâ—nt out and getting on Horseback rode about to get the Souldiers together In the mean while Monsieur Schomberg employed all his dexterity to hold the Spanish Geneaals in discourse and detain them insensibly Afterwards he prevailed with them to take a little walk and amused them a good while without their suspecting any thing At last the diligence and address of the Officers was such that when Picolomini and Colalto return'd they found the Army in excellent order The Officers with their Pikes in their hands and the Souldiers their Arms made a very graceful appearance which the Spanish Generals were so much surpriz'd at that they could scarce perswade themselves this was the same way they came before fancying it was rather delusion upon their senses so much was it beyond any thing they had ever seen either in Spain or any other part of Europe Picolomini observing this good order and the courage of the men could not fobear expressing his admiration of it in very complaisant terms saying to Schomberg That it could not be any dishonour to be vanquisht by so many brave Souldiers and such great Commanders After this they took leave of one another and returnâ—d each to their own Army IX But what follow'd was not agreeable to all this civility and our Generals ill conduct had like to have lost the whole Army The Treaty of Peace was broken in some of the principal Articles and whereas it was agreed that our men should give safe conduct to all the Enemies Baggage Cannon and Artillery as far as the River the French behaved themselves very unworthily and in such a manner as all the world condemned fell to pillaging the Ropes Bridles Horse-collars and the rest of the Baggage that belonged to the Spanish Army And whereas we had engag'd as I said before to draw all the French out of the Cittadel and put Montferrins in their Rooms they set men on work night and day to make Montferrin Habits and so many Taylors were employed on this occasion that in four and twenty hours time near eight hundred of these Habits were made in which they drest up as many French Souldiers and after having taught them two or three words of the language of the Country put them into Cazal under pretence of so many Montferrins Thus by means of their Coats with Hanging Sleeves and the help of these words Seignor se Seignor la they possest themselves of the Castle and which helpt to conceal the cheat yet more they migled some real Montferrins whom they had bribed among these French Souldiers that so one part might keep all the rest from being discovered Nay they went farther still and fail'd in making good the chief Article of all which was that concerning the Governour who was appointed as I said by the common consent of both parties For resolving to remove him from this Post upon pretence that he was a Spaniard in his heart they chous'd and surpriz'd him as you shall hear Two days after the Enemy had past the Po with their Baggage and Ordnance our Army divided it self into two bodies Eight thousand Foot and some Squadrons of Horse past the River also without any Cannon at Libourne the remainder of the Foot and all the Horse that staid behind with the Cannon for greater security march'd along the River side without passing it fearing lest
indeed So he went to Dinner for Monsieur Schomberg would not have him apprehended then because he had no opportunity of imparting his order to the Officers He came back therefore into his Chamber with us all and after having observ'd whether there might not be some body by who was a particular Confident of Mr. Marillac's he shut the door and spake to us after this manner Gentlemen the King hath done you the honour to intrust you with the Glory and the Security of his Arms and now he intrusts you with the Safety of his person and Kingdom I am sensible the Order I have received from his Majesty will be a great surprize to you all but it is no part of our business to pry too curiously into the secrets of a Prince's pleasure all that we have to do is to respect his Commands and to execute his Orders The King hath commanded me to secure Monsieur Marillac 's person It is enough that I let you know what he would have done and I know you are too loyal not to obey him especially in a matter of this consequence Afterwards that the business might not be suspected and be the more effectually done he bad us make some complaints at the going down from his Chamber as if he always kept back our Musters and refus'd to pay us It 's impossible for me to express the amazement and concern I was in at this bad news For Monsieur Marillac being a person whom I lov'd and honour'd very particularly and one who I may take upon me to say did me the honour to have a kindness for me my very heart was ready to burst when I heard this order for apprehending a person for whom I had infinite respect and saw that my duty made it necessary for me to have any hand in his ruine But there was no remedy I must contain my self and yield to the poweâ—s above me my post obliging me to obey the King's comand We â—ent down then all together out of the Mareschal de Schomberg's Lodgings every one complaining loudly that it was a miserable case to have a man of that temper to deal with that continually promis'd us pay and we never could get any thing but words That kept men in a distant Country and would not suffer them to come near their King that after all there was nothing like being about one's own Master These complaints they made and several such like which he had ordered them to disguise the same business withal IV. When the Mareschal de Marillac had din'd Monsieur Schomberg and la Force went with us all to his Chamber and he coming to meet us with a very pleasant and gay countenance askt what news from Court but alas he heard very bad news for him when Monsieur Schomberg presenting him the Kings Letters that contained the order for apprehending him desired he would give himself the trouble of reading those Letters One may easily imagine what an operation so strange and sudden a turn of Fortune would have upon a mans mind but for all that it is impossible to represent the violence of his passion which indeed put him quite beside himself when he read the crimes falsely laid to his charge and upon which he was commanded to be secured For then forgetting himself utterly and not knowing where he was he lost all fear and respect and fell to railing against the Cardinal in a most furious manner saying aloud tho without naming him That he that told the King those things was Rascal a Traytor and a Perjur'd Villain The Mareschal de la Force seeing him so enraged and thinking this passion might turn to his prejudice if the Cardinal should come to know it endeavoured to soften him telling him very wifely Come Sir matters are not desperate yet You know I my self had once the misfortune to be in Arms against my Prince and yet he was so gracious to pardon me and since that to trust me with the Command of his Armies If you are innocent your Innocence will by this means be render'd more conspicuous and honourable and if you be guilty your Offence cannot be greater than the Clemency of the King and his disposition to forgive if you do but throw your self at his Majesty's feet and implore his Mercy as I did But nothing was able to stop the transports of his just indignation And tho I cannot approve the excess of his passion yet at the same time I must needs own that if it were allowable upon any occasion to repel a false accusation with violence this was such a case when a man of Mareschal Marillac's quality and honour who had always preserv'd an untainted Loyalty to his Prince saw himself maliciously charged with attempts upon his Liberty his Crown and his Life And these accusations of which he knew himself perfectly innocent put him quite past his senses and carry'd him to speak without any consideration or regard to persons whose interest and power at least he ought to have stood in fear of Mareschal Schomberg seeing that there was no bringing him to any temper and not being able to see him any longer in that excess of trouble and despair was about to withdraw and took his leave telling him that he could not put a better guard about his person than that the King honoured with the securing of his own But in regard he had his Sword on still Monsieur de Montigny told Monsieur Schomberg that it was necessary he should be desired to take it off and so put himself into the condition of a Prisoner Then Monsieur Schomberg whisper'd him in his ear that since the Kings order must be submitted to it were well if he would of his own accord step into a Wardrobe just by and lay aside his Sword which he did immediately But if he had had his wits about him he might easily have made his escape out of a Window in that Room under which there was a load of Hay and he need not have leapâ— down above six or seven foot at most But he was so full of trouble and so utterly past all sense that he thought of nothing but the injustice they had done without ever considering how to save himself from it I being as I said upon the Guard at that time guarded him the remaining part of that day and all the night following V. The Marquis of Autichy who was his relation having obtain'd leave to come speak with him after some discourse the Mareschal desired him to go write to several persons but not seal his Letters for fear of giving any suspicion In the mean while he pray'd me to go ask Mareschal Schomberg whether he would please to inclose in his Pacquet a Letter which he was desirous to write to the King Monsieur Schomberg after having consider'd of it a little while answer'd That he would do it with all his heart but in regard the Courier belonged to the Cardinal he durst not engage it would
begg'd to be admitted once more and then before the Court excus'd the Clerk of the States whom he had accus'd and used him roughly the day before After he was withdrawn and while they carried him back to the Town Hall the Parliament proceeded to give their voices A case so plain would not bear any long debate and it was impossible but a person taken actually in arms against his Prince must be condemned One of the Commissioners therefore first pronounc'd him guilty and it was observ'd that in the close of his Sentence the tears stood in his Eyes All the rest of the company exprest their consent in dumb show by taking off their Caps and the Keeper of the Seals confirming the same he drew up the Sentence and signed it before the Court broke up Theâ— all the Judges made haste home that they might at their own houses give free vent to those tears and groans which Ceremony put a restraint upon in the publick Court of Justice The Sentence being brought to the King his Majesty could not bear being a little mollified and changed two Articles in it The one that whereas he was to have been executed in the publick Market place this should be done privately within the Town Hall and the other that Monsieur Montmorency's Estate which was confiscated he should have leave to dispose of as he pleas'd Which accordingly he did by Will and deliver'd it to Monsieur St. Preuil to carry to the King desiring him to beg his Majesty's Pardon in his Name Nay which was an action truly worthy of a good Christian he had a mind to let his bitterest Enemy see that he died without any grudge or revengeful thoughts against him and therefore gave the same Monsieur St. Preuil a Picture of St. Francis with charge to make a Present of it to Cardinal Richelieu as a testimony that he died his humble Servant About noon the same day that Sentence was given two Commissioners and the Recorder came into the Chappel of the Town Hall and sent for Monsieur Montmorency thither who kneeling down at the foot of the Altar and fixing his Eyes upon a Crucifix had his Sentence read to him Then rising up and turning to the company he said Gentlemen I beg your Prayers that God would enable me to suffer like a Christian the Execution of what was just now read to me The Commissioners leaving him with his Confessor one of them as he was going said Sir we are going to obey your commands we will pray to God to strengthen you He continuing in the Chappel and looking again up to the Crucifix and afterwards down upon his Clothes which were very rich threw away his Night-gown and said Shall such a sinful wretch as I presume to go to dye gaily habited when I see my innocent Saviour stript naked upon the Cross No Father said he to his Conâ—essor I must strip to my Shirt that I may do some fit pennance for the Sins I have committed against God Just at this instant the Count de Charlus came from the King to demand the Order of the Holy Ghost and the Mareschalâ—s Staff of France The remainder of his time was employed in committing himself to God and strengthning his mind against death by the Contemplation of his Saviour's Sufferings and in praying him to pardon his Sins When notice was brought him of the hour appointed for his Execution he begg'd they would do him the favour to let him suffer about the same time of the day that Christ dyed which was some two hours sooner than the Order and this was left to his own choice Before he went to dye he wrote a Letter to his Lady Madam Montmorency conjuring her to be comforted and to present the concern for his death as an offering to God to procure rest for his Soul by moderating her grief in consideration of the Mercy God had shewn him XV. He order'd his Hair to be cut short behind and being stript to his Shirt and Drawers he went in the middle of the Guards who saluted him as he past cross a walk that leads into the Court of the Town-Hall at the entrance of which he found the Scaffold which might be some four foot from the ground When he was come up upon it attended with his Confessor and his Chyrurgeon he saluted the company which were only the Clerk of the Parliament the Grand Provost and his Archers and the Officers of the City Train-bands who had orders to wait there He begg'd of them to acquaint the King that he dy'd his most humble Subject and Servant infinitely troubled for having offended him for which he begg'd his and their pardon He enquir'd for the Executioner who had not yet come near him and in great humility would not allow his Chyrurgeon to do any thing about him but giving himself up entirely to be dispos'd of by the Executioner as to the binding part the putting him into a right posture and the cutting off his hair again which was not cut close enough before he said with great significations of remorse that so great a sinner as he could not dye too ignominiously At last he kneel'd down near the Block upon which he laid his Neck and after he had recommended his Soul to God the Executioner immediately cut off his Head all the company turning away their eyes from the sad sight all melting into tears and even the Guards themselves expressing their concern by deep sighs and groans Thus dy'd Henry of Montmorency Duke and Peer Mareschal and sometime Admiral of France Governour of Languedoc Grandson of four Constables and six Mareschals first Christian and first Baron of France Brother-in-law to the first Prince of the Blood and Unkle to the renowned Prince of Conde after having won two Battels one by Sea against the Hugonots by which he made way for the taking of Rochelle and the other by Land against the Empire Italy and Spain by which he forc'd the Alpes and sav'd Cazal Both which actions contributed much to that Glory which the King of France hath Those that were present at his death gave him this testimony That so much Piety and Courage was never seen upon such an occasion and in a man of that Quality and indeed it was but fit that both Nature and Grace should work wonders in the person of the first Christian and the bravest man in all France Since our Monarchy began there never was any Nobleman in the Kingdom with whom both Nature and Fortune had dealt so bountifully He was born in the year 1595. the wealthiest best accomplished most generous Lord in the whole Kingdom graceful in his Speech and charming in all his Conversation A person of that honour and genteel address that all the world lov'd and admiâ—'d him He exerted all his powers of Wit Wisdom Quality and every other advantage of Honour and Reputation both at home and abroad in the service of his Majesty and that to so great a degree that
due performance of what he had promis'd should be done The King who was much of opinion that his going was rather design'd to obstruct than to further the performance answer'd him without taking any notice Methinks Cousin you are quickly weary of my company it is not late yet you have but a league to Nancy and may go it in less thâ—n an hour Thus the King manag'd the matter so dextrously that what between caressing him reading of Letters and turning the discourse from one thing to another night drew on before he was aware of it At length the Duke of Lorrain began to be very uneasie and made a second offer to take his leave and be going The King enquir'd of those about him what a clock it was and being answer'd that it was seven he reply'd to the Duke as in a seeming surprize Oh strange how time runs away Nay it is too late for you to go now Cousin The Duke who had much rather have travell'd all night than have staid where he was in the Kings custody answer'd That he knew the Road very well and as his Majesty had done him the honour to observe should soon be at his journeys end The King who saw him extremely eager to be gone and had no mind ' to discover any thing of his own design brought himself off very handsomely by asking some Officers that were there whether the Guard was set For upon their informing him that it was and the Orders all given he said to the Duke of Lorrain Cousin you cannot well leave me to night it is too late to go and if you should now the Guards are set it would make a great confusion You had much better lye here and to morrow morning you may be going very early So after a great many fresh attempts to go he was under a necessity at last to comply with the Kings invitation not daring as matters then stood to give him any occasion of displeasure XIX The Cardinal of Valette's apartment was appointed for the Duke of Lorrain's Lodging and the King commanded my Lord Duke of St. Simon and the Count of Nogent to keep him company at Supper and some other Officers and my self to wait upon him But all this honour done him by his Majesty was only meant to secure him the more effectually And upon the same account twelve Swisses were ordered to keep Guard at his door which was to pass for respect to him The Duke of Lorrain invited the Duke of St. Simon and the Count of Nogent to sup with him who staid till eleven at night In the mean while ten or twelve Souldiers were privately posted to secure the house within and then as many Officers of us as were there withdrew with the Duke of St. Simon and Count Nogent When his Highness of Lorrain was gone to bed I receiv'd orders to keep a strong guard about his house with my Company for fear he should make any attempt to get off under the covert of the night Therefore considering of what consequence such a Guard might prove I set a Centry at every six paces and posted my self near one of the Centinels under a Tree just over against a Window of the Chamber where the Duke lay The jealousie he had that he was caught and trickt by the wile of the King as in truth he was gave him great disturbance and not being able to sleep in his Bed he had a great mind to try if it were possible for him to make his escape Well about one a clock at midnight he got up and came to look out at the Window that lay directly against the Tree where I sat and was at least as wakeful as he At first he began to sing â—s if he intended to divert himself and presently after calling to the Centry he cry'd Centry Centry I hear a great noise what is the matter I reply'd instead of the Centry and told him it was a body of Horse that were walking the Rounds How many of them may there be said the Duke About two thousand Sir said I. How said he two thousand Horse this is something more than ordinary the Guard does not use to be so great Excuse me Sir said I it is commonly of this strength O there must be less reply'd he you represent it bigger than it is away away And who commands there Every one in his turn Sir said I sometimes the Mareschals de Camp sometimes tht Lieutenant Generals and so the other Officers in course On my word said the Duke that is a stout Guard you need fear nothing I reply'd That where-ever the King was in person the Guard was always thus big Afterwards having a mind to pump me he proceeded thus But is not the person I am talking with an Officer I reply'd That I was a poor Cadet and his humble Servant Say you so answer'd he as if he were surpriz'd at that by your discourse I should have taken you for an Officer Well then Fellow-Souldier since thou art but a Souldier how long hast thou been at this trade Some ten or twelve years Sir said I. And how long hast thou serv'd in the Guards I told him About some five or six years How added he methinks thou hast serv'd a great while to have no reward prithee how comes it to pass thou art advanc'd no higher I made answer That some men had better fortune in the world than others and that I for my part was one of the unlucky ones but still I expected every day the same good fortune that I saw some of my fellows attain to He askt me whether we receiv'd our pay duly however I told him I had no reason to complain for that matter and that if I was unhappy in other respects yet in this I was not After that he askt me how much my pay was and I answer'd the common pay of Souldiers But said he methinks it is cruel hard for all that to stick at the mark tkus one's whole life and never rise to any Command Couldst not thou be well pleas'd to have some employ Te be sure Sir said I if the King saw fit to give me a Command I should not refuse it Very well said he and hark you Souldier if you have a mind to it there are methods for an honest man to make his fortune I answer'd him That I had the honour to serve the greatest Prince in the world who hath it in his power to reward if I am but able to do him service He return'd very pleasantly It seems then thou hast not serv'd him well all this while for thou hast been a long time in service and he hath made thee no amends yet It is a sign Sir that he hath a mind to try me long and throughly said I that he may be able to make a surer Judgment whether I deserve his favour A man loses nothing by waiting Therefore I am in expectation every day and it may be I shall be
that token which was the signal that now he would be obeyed So they opened their Gates to the King presently All his Troops entred the Town with Pikes levell'd Ranks closed Match lighted and in a perfect posture for fighting if they had met with any treachery or opposition We possest our selves of all the Quarters and Fortifications and then gave orders that all the Garrison of Lorrain should lay down their Arms. A friend of mine one de la Serre and one of the principal Officers in the Garrison when he heard us cry Down with your Arms was in a rage and ready to hang himself and told me if he had thought they should have been us'd at this rate the King should never have come in till he had beat the Walls about their Ears I softned his indignation a little and prevailed upon him to bear his misfortune with moderation Thus the King was absolute Master of Nancy the Government of which place he bestow'd on Monsieur de Brassac The End of the Second Book BOOK III. The Sieur de Pontis is made Commissary General of the Swisses in France He is out of favour with the King for quitting this Command He goes into Holland with Mareschal Brezay The Battel of Avain where he takes Count Feria Lieutenant-General of the Spanish Army Prisoner The taking of Tillemont and the Barbarities of the Dutch Souldiers Louvain is besieg'd The Sieur de Pontis attempts the Castle of Arscot with four hundred Musqueteers The Quarrel he had with an Officer of the Army upon this occasion I. IN the Year 1634 some months after Nancy was reduc'd the King was pleas'd to do me the honour to make me Commissary General of all the Swisses in France He understood that many of the Swisses had a good opinion of and confidence in me and that having desired me very earnestly to teach them their exercises I could not decline it upon which account they came oftentimes to my Quarters where I endeavour'd to instruct them according to their desire Knowing therefore that these honest Fellows had a particular esteem for me he suppos'd that this kindness of theirs would make it an easy matter for me to manage them as I pleas'd So that asking me one day at Versailles whether the Swisses continu'd their visits to me still a they us'd to do and if they improv'd at all and I replying that they came to me constantly still and that they were a little slow but very good men to the best of their capacity he presently return'd upon me Well I must make you Commissary General over them all within my Kingdom that you may discipline them as you have already done your own Company I embrac'd this proposal with great satisfaction because it was a very honourable Post and exprest to the King my grateful acknowledgments for the favour he had done me in making choice of me for this Command But not knowing very well how to compass it for want of Money I proceeded no farther at that time being willing to try whether the King would do me any greater kindness than merely to shew his good inclinations toward me The person at present in that Office was one Ferrary whom his Majesty did not like at all And this among others was one reason why the King pitch'd upon me for it that I who was continually about his person might succeed a man for whom he had no kindness Some time after the first mention of it he took occasion to speak to me again and told me he would have me sell my Command of Lieutenant in the Guards to help towards the purchase of my Commissary's place As a particular mark of his favour he told me too that he would undertake to help me to a Chapman for my Lieutenant's place and make the best bargain he could for me I very readily agreed to all these proposals which were for my advantage as well in point of gain as of honour But I saw plainly the consequences of being engag'd in a business that I knew must cost me three times as much as my Command would bring me in But yet I let the King go on not daring to oppose his pleasure and hoping he would at some time or other recollect that he was richer than I and what was impossible for my circumstances to him would be very easy He sent Monsieur de Chenoise to me who had a mind to buy a Lieutenancy in the Guards for his Son the Baron de Boucaut and the management of my business lying in the hands of so powerful an Agent as his Majesty the bargain was soon agreed at twelve thousand Crowns which was more by one third than Lieutenants of the Guards Commands used then to go at The King then urged me to treat with Monsieur Ferrary for his Office and promis'd me a Bill upon the Treasury by which the Exchequer should stand engag'd to my Creditors for what Moneys they should advance towards this purchase if I happened to dye in the service This put me upon treating in good earnest and Monsieur Ferrary and I drove the bargain for thirty thousand Crowns II. My Friends in the mean while coming in very thick to proffer me the Money I sollicited the King that he would please to give me the Bill upon the Treasury which he had done me the favour to promise me and likewise made my interest with some other persons who might be assisting to me in the procuring it Going one day to wait on Monsieur de Bullion for this purpose and meeting Monsieur de Bellievre upon the stairs who was afterwards first President of the Parliament of Paris I was very importunate with him that he would give himself the trouble of recommending my business to the Superintendant He went up with me again at first word and did what I requested of him with that usual civility nd good grace that hath got him the respect of all mankind Though Monsieur Bullion was a perfect Creature of Cardinal Richelieu's who had no kindness for me yet he made me this civil answer That he should be very glad to serve me but if the King granted me this peculiar priviledge above the rest of his Officers he would bring them all upon him that they would expect the same â—avour which the King could neither give them without dipping his Exchequer in vast summs nor deny them without creating me as many Enemies as there were Officers in the Army But however that I might present my Petition to the Council and that they would debate the matter in his Majesty's presence I do not question but he discoursed the thing with the Cardinal and receiv'd positive orders to oppose it For notwithstanding the King was fully determined to grant me this favour notwithstanding he had acquainted the Cardinal with his intention who pretended to like it well enough notwithstanding by a particular act of condescension he had undertaken to put in my Petition himself yet for
temper who kept himself pretty much upon the reserve and was intimately acquainted with very few people He entrusted me with the raising his Regiment and made me eldest Captain and Major of it and as it were his Aid de Camp besides The Army for Picaray which he and the Mareschal de Chatillon commanded between them by turns consisted of at least twenty thousand Foot and six or seven thousand Horse IX The Generals design'd to besiege Namur a Town scituate upon the Meuse In order to it when the Army was come within four or five leagues of it Mareschal Brezay sent Monsieur de Vientais Monsieur Lansac and me with a detachment of three hundred Horse to go before and learn the posture of the Enemy and the out-skirts of the Town At the Village of Avain we took some Prisoners and understood by them that the Enemy came on with their whole Army under the command of Prince Thomas their General Count Feria Son to the Count de Benevent Governour of Anvers the Lieutenant General and the Count de Buquoy who commanded the Horse We march'd all night and when we were got up pretty near to Namur left our Squadron in a Wood that we might come still closer to the Town and inform our selves better how matters stood We heard immediately the Trumpets sound the Drums beat and all the noise and clatter of an Army upon the march with Baggage and Ordnance It was Moon light and strait we began to discover the Army coming over the Bridge cross the Meuse and we staid to count as far as forty Troops of Horse After we had seen and heard too much to doubt any longer whether it was the Enemy's Army we made haste back to joyn our detachment and recover the Village of Avain as fast a we could And indeed it was by no means safe to stop by the way for the Enemy began immediately to send out parties of Horse to scowr the Country and make a discovery of our Army If I would have been perswaded by Monsieur Vientais and Lansac we had staid at Avain to refresh our selves after the great fatigue we had undergone but I made it so plain to them that by this means they were in danger of having their Throats cut by these Scowrers and that a danger too that could bring them no honour that we continu'd our march quite back to the Army We told Mareschal Brezay what we had seen who at first could scarce believe the Enemy was so nigh but not being able to give the lye to our Eyes and Ears he immediately gave orders to prevent our being surpriz'd by the Enemy The Mareschal de Chatillon with the Rear-Guard was a great way from us and tho Mareschal Brezay would not have been much concern'd to begin the action without him yet he sent to desire he would come up with all the speed he could Mareschal Chatillon came himself presently after and looking upon the Enemy and how they lay with his usual coldness he said very roughly to the Officers that were by I am glad to see them so near it is better having them here than at Brussels The Enemies having possest themselves of Avain we were forc'd to draw out our Army into line of Batrel in a very streight Valley where it cost our Generals a great deal of trouble to make amends by their skill and prudence for the disadvantage of the ground Mareschal de Brezay took the Left Wing and Chatillon the Right Monsieur de Brezay who did me the honour to shew me a great deal of kindness as I said before thinking I had some experience in War would needs make me that day execute the Office of Serjeant of the Battel and marshal all the men which engag'd me to be up and down in several places and parts of the action to see the Generals orders duly obey'd In the beginning of the Engagement the Enemies Forlorn Hope made ours give ground who fell in upon the Detachment that supported them in great disorder Their Cannon which was very advantageously planted made at the same time such a furious Discharge that a great part of the Troops of our Left Wing were put into disturbance with it In that very instant a considerble Officer who rid close to me and whom I was to come to speak with immediately fell into such a terrible Fright that he set Spurs and rid away as fast as his Horse could go Some that saw him began to cry out Ah! such a one runs Tho I had no great intimacy with him yet I was concerned to see that this single Miscarriage might ruine him for ever and therefore immediately answer'd as loud as I could speak No No he does not Run he is going to the Post I have assigned him And then I sent a Gentleman after him who was near me and one that I durst trust to tell him how I had vindicated his Honour and desire him by all means that he would come back to his Post immediately and tell me publickly That he had dispatch'd the Business I had committed to his charge Accordingly he did return and spoke to me as if he was giving an account of something he had done and he owned himself obliged to me as long as he lived for this good office in saving his Reputation at that time X. Our Troops taking heart again after this first Terror I mentioned and recollecting with themselves what a Reproach it would be to them to have been afrighted with the noise of the Guns and have given way at the very first câ—me on again bravely and fell upon the Enemy with such indignation and rage that after a stiff resistance on both sides for a very great while they were at last obliged to draw off and leave us in possession of the Field I took particular notice of Prince Thomas who after having fought very bravely was one of the last that went off He was followed very close at the heels and forced to leap over a little Wall to get away in the leap he dropt his Hat and Cane at the end of which his Arms were engraven upon a golden handle I being very near him took up that Cane and gave it to Mareschal Brezay who some time after made a Present of it to the King Besides we followed so hard upon Count Feria his Lieutenant-General that he was forc'd to beg for Quarter of me crying out Spare my Life Ten thousand Crowns Ransom So I made him my Prisoner But how great and remarkable soever this Victory was yet it cost France very dear for we lost a world of gallant Men who were sacrificed there for the publick good A vast many Colours and Cornets were taken and abundance of Prisoners The chief of them were Count Feria whom I told you of before Don Charles Natural Son to the Archduke Leopold Collonel Sfondrate an Italian and Collonel Brown an English Man were likewise taken there As for Prince Thomas and the Count
enclosure I mention'd the Enemy fell in upon us and there was a sharp skirmish on both sides The whole Army in the mean while retreated fighting being too weak to stand a pitcht Battel and they marcht at a great rate which made our Regiments begin to grumble who cry'd out that I brought them thither to be murder'd I answer'd that I look'd for the Generals orders every minute that I could not quit that post of my own head and if the danger was great for them it was no less for me too We had not been long in this perplexity before Mareschal Brezay sent me commands to bring my men off and joyn him as quick as I could The Enemy skirmisht upon us in the Rear and when we and the whole Army were come up to a little Village they made a very â—risk push upon us and oblig'd us to leave the Village and retreat still fighting till at last having recover'd a very narrow pass we fac'd about and fought upon equal terms The Enemies having now lost all the advantage which their numbers gave them before thought it the wisest course to wheel off and go charge the Prince of Orange's Rear But they could not recover him for he had march'd all night and put his Troops under covert XV. Then the two Confederate Armies joyn'd again and went to form the Siege of Louvain with united force It was my fortune to stay at this Siege but ten or twelve days for a reason that I shall give presently and therefore I can give no very particular account of it Only I happen'd by way of Gallantry to quarrel with two of our Generals meerly for bringing them off from a danger they expos'd themselves to out of a pure bravado and where they would have thrown away their lives very foolishly Mareschal Brezay and the Great Master de la Melleray being gone up to the top of a Retrenchment in a meer brag I came behind Monsieur Melleray took him up in my arms about the waste and carried him quite to the bottom of the Retrenchment the same I did to Mareschal Brezay and both so quick that they neither of them had time to think where they were and then told them with the freedom they allowed me to use with them These are pleasant Gallantries indeed that must cost us all our lives if the Generals be taken off who must command the Army and what will become of the inferiour Officers and common Souldiers The two Gentlemen in the greatest surprize imaginable lookt upon one another and laying their hands upon their Swords began to run after me to revenge this affront But I who had no mind to give them any occasion of doing any thing out of season and which they would have been sorry for after I had done them so good service set to running as fast as I could for fear the jest should be carried too far I was satisfy'd that in their hearts they were well enough pleased to see themselves brought off from a danger which nothing but a vain emulation had put them upon tempting And when they saw me run away at that rate they were well contented to be out-run and stood still However I did not care to come into their presence quickly to make the matter look better and in shew at least to return their pretences of offering to do me a mischief A little while after I received a Musquet-shot in the Trenches it was in the Arm and did me no great hurt but when Mareschal Brezay heard I was wounded he pretended to be very angry at me and said it was no great matter if I were kill'd I am sure he did not think so for presently after he sent his own Chyrurgeon to take care of me and when I went with my Arm in a Scarf to return him thanks for it I could not forbear owning to him again that I was so far from being sorry for what I had done to them that I thought it was the best course I could take of expressing my honour and value for them to prevent such desperate venturesome actions as might very well lose the whole Army I am amazed indeed that such great men should be guilty of these follies as if a General had no other way to shew his courage but by these kind of tricks fitter for young fool-hardy Souldiers than for Officers even those of the least quality or consideration whose lives the King hath a greater interest in than the person himself and therefore they ought to be made the best of for his service and the safety of those under their command and not lavishly squandered away upon every ridiculous vanity and for meer ostentation XVI I told you I continued but a little while before Louvain For Mareschal Brezay being in some distress for want of Hay and Forrage for his Horse gave me in command to go force the Castle of Arscet about eight or nine leagues distant from Louvain where there was a great quantity of provisions of all sorts both for man and beast For this undertaking he appointed me twenty Waggons and about four hundred Musqueteers and with these I marched by night up to this Castle which was hemm'd in on all sides with very wide Ditches and desended by a strong Garrison I found means to bring my men up to the Gate some by Boats and some by wading up to the middle upon the rubbish of the Bridge that was broken down Then with great Levers I forc'd the Gate and when we had made our way in after two or three hours dispute the Garrison were constrained to retire into a Tower and from thence they capitulated with us I immediately loaded the Waggons that came with me with Hay and Oats and sent them to Mareschal Brezay with a message that if he would send me the Carriages of the Ordnance there was store enough to load five hundred of them with Wheat and Hay and Oats and Barley and other provisions For there were vast Granaries in this Castle and all full because the whole wealth of all the Country thereabouts had been brought in and laid up there Then I began to contrive how I should fortify and barricado my self up for the defence of my self and our Corn and Monsieur Brezay having sent a fresh supply of Waggons to a very great number I return'd them back to him all laden as before which was a very seasonable refreshment to our Generals and their Attendants XVII At this time there happened a warm dispute between the Marquis of S. who is now Mareschal of France and me He had a mind to share with me when he saw what quantity of forrage and provisions I sent to the Army and coming with his Company to the Castle where I was would fain have been at dividing the spoil There had been no good understanding between us before because once when I was to appoint quarters I had ordered a house for him where he had room enough and a
little or no regard for him He preserv'd my life again the year after this which was 1639 when I was manifestly expos'd to extreme danger and he made the melancholy and discontent which I sell into upon an occasion I am now going to relate to be the instrument of keeping me out of that danger XV. A Friend of mine one day entertaining Monsieur de Feuquieres and another acquaintance at dinner I who had a design to go along with Monsieur Feuquieres into the next Campagne he being a Man of excellent experience and I desiring above all things still to improve my knowledge in militury discipline invited my self to dine there too that I might have an opportunity of breaking my mind to him One of the Company a particular Friend of Monsieur de Feuquieres did nothing all dinner long but whisper first with me and then with another which Monsieur Feuquieres that loved people should always talk aloud was much offended at When dinner was done the same Gentleman took Monsieur and Madam into a corner of the Room to discourse them privately so another Gentleman and I were left all alone much displeased at this way of Conversation For I who talkt freely to people of the best Quality and had the honour to be frequently admitted into the confidence of Princes was not acquainted with such usage This Gentleman and I therefore rose up and would needs be gone And though Madam de endeavour'd to stop us perceiving that I was and might very well be dissatisfy'd yet I took my leave in a peâ—â— without mentioning any thing of my intentions to Monsieur Feuquieres This Resentment of mine put a stop to my Journey and by not waiting on Monsieur Feuquieres as I desir'd to do in that Campagne I escap'd being at the famous Battel of Thionville where I should have found it a hard matter to escape with life because I should certainly have kept constantly near the person of that excellent Man who was lost there XVI Upon this I went another way and for some time this Campagne serv'd in the Army that lay at Vervins under the command of Cardinal de la Vailoite and the Duke of Candale There I was in quality of Major of Brigades that is Major of four or five Regiments whose office it is to receive the General 's Orders and see them duly executed by the Troops under his command We had besides another Army at Maubeuge which the Enemy had blockt up being encamped between us and them It being therefore our great concern to join these two Armies there was a Council of War call'd by Cardinal Vallette to advise how we might get to the Relief of that at Maubeuge Monsieur Gastion the Marquis de Praslin and two other Gentlemen came and offer'd their service to our Generals to get through the Enemy and carry intelligence to the Town that we were come up and ready to relieve them that so they might be ready upon a day appointed and the Enemy be attackt on both sides at once The Generals accepted this offer as very advantageous for both Armies and they being well mounted spurred on strait upon the Enemy The Centinel perceiv'd them and gave notice to the Guard who mov'd to cut off their passage The Marquis of Praslin and two others by the help of a rare good Horse got through them But Collonel Gassion whom the Enemies had inclosed made as bold an attempt as the other For throwing himself with Cloaths Boots and Spurs on into the River with his Bridle round his Arm he swum over to the other side and so came round another way to our Army The other Army at Maubeuge understanding our motions by Monsieur Praslin and the day we designed to attack the Enemy put themselves in readiness and stood to their arms in expectation of our falling on As we drew up near the Enemy there rose such a terrible fog that one could not see ones way ten yards before them The whole Army was much disturbed at this fearing they might fall into an Ambuscade before they were aware The Regiments under my command were very troublesome tearing my head to pieces with shouts and questions not knowing where they were And which made it still worse the Generals were a great way off for we went at the head of the Army and marched first At last wearied with their bawling I had a mind to try if I could make any discovery and went about some forty paces before the Troops and streight I began to descry some of the Enemies Troops very near me Then I call'd out to my men Forward forward To me to me I ordered them to sound a charge and we laid on so briskly upon them that met us that they made small resistance and went off in the mist so opening a passage for us For the Troops at Maubeuge attacking them behind at the same time they durst not venture to engage two Armies at once XVII This Campagne of the year 1639 about the month of July the Mareschal de Chatillon after Monsieur Feuquiere's Army was defeated had orders from the King to besiege Yvois in Luxemburgh I was at that Siege and wounded there by a Musquet bullet in my Leg. But my wound was not so bad as to disable me from executing the King's Commission of razing that place to the ground I interceeded however for the sparing the Portal of a Church where I was not a little surpriz'd to find the Arms of our Family plac'd there by one of my Relations that built it having been a Canon of that Church The King who came to Yvois after it was taken would not grant my request till he had seen the Portal And he being of a good humour as he was pleasing himself with walking over the ruines of the Town I took the liberty to tell him that tho no place could refuse access to his Arms yet such walks as those ought not to be allowed his person and I should deserve to be punisht if having the honour to be his guide I led him over ruines and precipices The King reply'd very pleasantly It is but reasonable Princes should follow those whom they have chose for their guides When the King had viewed what places he had a mind to and this Portal among the rest he granted my desire But the fatigue and heat of working about the demolishing of this Town which I never favour'd my self in threw a sudden swelling and great inflamation into my Leg. So Monsieur de Seve with whom I had contracted an intimate acquaintance at Abbeville lent me his Coach and I went to Sedan whither the Count de Soissons Duke of Guise and some other persons of honour retir'd during their disgrace at Court I was particularly known to all the company about the Count and received so many visits that I had not time to keep my bed The Count was pleas'd to visit me himself and no question had an end to serve in
forgotten me that I should be sensible of it as long as I liv'd and retain all the gratitude that so particular a Favour requir'd But the King having expresly charged me not to go from Paris I could not then comply with the offer he made me but I entreated him to believe that if I could undertake that Journey without a breach of duty I should be entirely at his disposal and therefore I desir'd he would give me time to ask my Friends advice about it I then wrote to Monsieur Vitremont my particular acquaintance to desire he would discourse Monsieur de Vennes another of my Friends upon the business I would not mention Monsieur Cinqmars but only told them in general That I was at a great loss what to do upon this juncture of the King 's going to Perpignan whether I should attend him notwithstanding the Order that was sent me and which I was satisfy'd came only from the Cardinal But the Error I committed was that writing in a passion I inveigh'd bitterly against him and laid him out in his true colours mentioning him in scurrilous terms as Hat and Redcap and the like I took all imaginable care that this Letter should be deliver'd into the person's own hand to whom it was directed but notwithstanding all my caution the Cardinal got it who kept a strict eye upon me and though I had given this fresh provocation yet by a new and surprizing fetch of Politicks he turn'd all his Rage to Favour and an opportunity of persuading me to be a Creature of his as I shall shew presently XVI The King was then at Fountainbleau and intended to set out from thence for Perpignan He did me the Favour to send his trusty Archambaut to me to bid me make ready to attend him I askt Archambaut whether he had brought me this Order in writing who told me No. Then speaking freely to him as a Friend I said That having a written Order not to stir from Paris and no written one to go if the Cardinal should think fit to call me to an account for this â— I should soon see my self deserted by the King himself and left to the mercy of one who was sure never to forgive me and therefore I could not go from Paris without another kind of Order than that he brought me But I have thought upon a method said I to bring my self off in this business I am satisfy'd thou lov'st me and therefore prithee tell the King that you found me very ill And in truth I am so much worse than if I had a Fever and my circumstances were better And this was my real sense at that time my heart was set upon nothing but Favour at Court and while I was out there I could never think my self tollerably well So little impression had the inconstancy of such Favour made upon me though I had great and long experience of it both in the case of several great persons and in my own The Sieur d' Archambaut promis'd to deliver the King this message as I desir'd him So when he came back to Fountainbleau he told the King he found me very much out of order and yet that I exprest so great inclination to wait upon his Majesty as soon as I receiv'd the message that it was very plain I was still the same Man and as zealous to serve him as ever but in all probability if I should venture upon this Journey in the condition I then was it might endanger my life All this was exactly true though not in that sense the King understood it His Majesty exprest himself very well satisfy'd with my fidelity and good inclinations But was loth I should hazard my life to so little purpose and therefore commanded Archambaut to write to me in his Name that he charg'd me not to travel till I was perfectly well again And this was not till after his return from Perpignan and then there was an end of my disgrace just where another Man 's was most likely to begin XVII The King travelling by way of Roussillon and the Town of Coliovre bâ—ing taken from the Spaniards there happen'd a Quarrel between Cardinal Richelieu and the Grand Querry who both desired the Government of this place for one of their Creatures Monsieur le Grand having made his application first carried it from the Cardinal who was answered afterwards by the King that he had put it out of his power by promising it to another before The Cardinal knew well enough that the Grand Querry was that other and lookt upon himself as extremely affronted that one whom he had raised and was since become his Enemy should get this Government out of his hands He thought himself absolute Master of all and that it was a Condescension to ask what was in his own power and was much enraged at the King 's reâ—using him and concluding that the malice of his Enemies was at the bottom of all this he began to apprehend a shock in his Fortunes for he was very sensible that there were strong Cabals against him For this Reason he resolved shortly after to withdraw into a place of safety that if any thing should happen he might secure himself by a retreat These are great Mysteries and such as I do not pretend to give an account of here All that is pertinent for me to add is that before he took that last refuge he contriv'd by a very cunning fetch to play me against the Grand Querry and use my name to carry his point against an Enemy whom he could not with any patience see gratify'd before himself Tho all my disgrace was owing to him yet knowing that the King had no aversion to me and that it was uneasie to him to have me kept thus from about him and all by a constraint in which himself had no hand he thought he might possibly obtain that in my behalf which had been deny'd him before And would not baulk the doing a kindness to an Officer that he hated if he could but retort the affront and repulse he was afraid of upon his chief Enemy He pretended therefore to be concern'd for me and to have me in his thoughts upon this occasion and with his usual simplicity when the King had refus'd him this Government for his own friend said But pray Sir does your Majesty never think upon poor Pontis he hath nothing and wants this and besides that his services may give him a title to this Government for his reward he will take more care in it and manage it better than any body else The King saw thro this disguise presently as himself did me the honour to tell me afterwards for he knew my present misfortunes were all his work and this was nothing but his own Interest under the pretence of compassion which he put on upon this occasion The King had no mind to let him know he smelt the design and therefore seeming to relish the proposal very well he
a full relation of all that had past between the Cardinal Monsieur Noyers and me at which he laught heartily to himself But when among other passages I told him what Monsieur Noyers had said concerning the Governours place of Coliovre which he assur'd me the Cardinal had begg'd of his Majesty for me the King was so full of indignation at this gross dissembling that he could not forbearing crying out Ah the Knave Then I askt him if he would give me leave to go wait upon the Cardinal as he had urg'd me to do telling him that if his Majesty pleased I would never see his Eminence's face more except in a Picture But the King answered that I had better not scruple that but go wait on him as others did to tâ— ke off all jealousie of me and keep my self at least in that degree of his kindness which he now profest for me XXIII From that time which was about the month of September 1642 matters went very well with me at Court For I was constantly about the Kings person who carry'd me with him several times to Cardinal Richelieu's when he went to visit him near his death but he did not use to take me into the Chamber where he lay The day this great Statesman dy'd some hours before his death I was in the Kings Bed-chamber Monsieur Noyers came in great joy and told him the Cardinal was upon recovery for he found himself now much better and had taken a Medicine that did wonders upon him The King who was satisfied the Cardinal's distemper was mortal when he heard this news continued just the same without any alteration in his countenance either of Joy or Grief Some time after came another and he told the King that his Eminence was dead and he saw him expire The King did not depend upon this first account but staid for a second and a third and when he heard it confirm'd on all hands he contented himself with this reflection to some that stood by him Then there is a great Politician dead Presently after Mareschal Melleray and Mareschal Brezay who had been his creatures came and threw themselves at the King's feet and begg'd his protection The King took them up and told them that he had always had an esteem for them and would always continue to love them provided they would serve him faithfully In this he shewed a great deal of goodness for he never exprest the least resentment of their having been so absolutely at the Cardinal's devotion And there is no question but there is a great deal of policy in managing ones Enemies sometimes when any extraordinary accident obliges them to change their measures and come over to our party XXIV I was not long happy in the Kings favour after the Cardinal's death This Prince scarce ever enjoy'd any health afterwards but wasted away in a kind of Consumption which at last brought him into a most lamentable condition He stood one day in the Sun that shone in at his Chamber Window to warm himself and I coming in to wait on him not observing that stood directly between him and the Window whereupon the King said Ah Pontis do not take that from me which thou canst not give me I did not understand his Majesty's meaning and being concern'd I did not continu'd still in the same place Then the Count de Tresmâ—s told me it was the Sun I took from the King and I withdrew immediately This poor Prince grew so lean and worn that he could not forbear bewailing himself and would sometimes uncover his naked bony Arms and shew them to those of his Court that came to visit him When he lay upon his Death-bed Monsieur Souvray first Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber having given the word one day that all the company should go out that the King might take a little rest and drawing to the Curtain on that side of the Bed where I stood to signifie that I was to go with the rest the King immediately drew back the Curtain and commanded me to stay for he had no inclination to sleep but had a mind to be eased of the crowd and clutter of company Then he began to talk familiarly with me and seeing from within his Bed through his Chamber at the Castle of St. Germain St. Dennis's Steeple he askt me what that was I told him St. Dennis's Church he said looking death already in the face Then there is the place where I must lye Then drawing his Arm out of his Bed he shew'd it me and said Here Pontis see this Hand and this Arm what Arms are here for the King of France I observ'd them but with unspeakable anguish of mind for he was just like a Skeleton with skin drawn over the bones and cover'd with great white spots After this he shew'd me his stomach which was so miserably lean that you might easily tell all his bones And then being no louger able to contain I burst out into a violent passion of sighs and tears and made his Majesty sensible at my leaving him that I was extremely afflicted to see him in that condition which gave me more pain if that were possible than he felt himself I say nothing here of the constructions that were put upon his distemper These are secrets not easie to be known nor of any great use if they were known This we are sure of he dy'd when God saw fit and in his disposal is the life and death of the greatest as well as the meanest men 'T is to little purpose that we trouble our selves to know the true causes of the deaths of Kings when we know that all those causes are subordinate to the will of him who is the King of Kings He was very negligently attended in his illness and scarce ever had any thing given him warm and in good order This I confess added much to my trouble to see a King with so many Officers about him worse lookt after than the meanest Shop-keeper in Paris I was not in his Chamber when he dy'd for all company was kept from him But I can say with great truth That death of his afflicted me to such a degree that for three months together I was almost senseless For I lov'd this Prince most tenderly and was always passionately fond of his service and I will presume to say I should be exceeding happy could I bring my self to be so zealously affected for the faithful service of him where no man ever loses his labour and who deserves our love infinitely more than all the Princes of the Earth God no doubt intended by this most sensible instance of the zealous and disinterested affection I bore to his Image upon Earth to teach me how much better I ought to love himself the great Original And really I have often wondred to see what a strange temper I was of toward this Prince For tho I valu'd my services so high as to think all the favour he shew'd me but
a poor reâ—pmpence for them yet still I was so thankful for them that when some have found fault with him upon my account I have several times answer'd Is it not honour and reward enough for such a warm as I that so great a Monarch will admit me near his person Thus whatever consideration I had for my services still I lookt more upon his accepting them and always valu'd that most and thought all I did was but a discharge of that obligation which the being born his Subject laid upon me Thus without ever attending to it I practic'd that to an Earthly King which the Gospel hath taught me since ought to be practic'd to the Heavenly one to look upon our selves as unprofitable servants and infinitely happy to be thought worthy of fighting under his banners and performing his divine commands The End of the Fifth Book BOOK VI. The Mareschal of Vitry engages the Sieur de Pontis to attend his Son the Marquis of Vitry and undertake the Command of the Queen's Regiment The Vigor with which he quell'd a Mutiny among the Souldiers and asserted the Marquis of Vitry's Authority in opposition to all the Officers The Siege of Rotheuil in Germany A part of our Army routed at Tubinghen The other part under the Sieur de Pontis his Command defend themselves bravely against three Armies and at last surrender upon Terms What happened to him while a Prisoner in Germany He is forced to pay his Ransom twice over I. I Was not long after the King's death out of employment And though after so many years spent in the Service to no purpose I had reason enough to grow weary of it yet I was engaged afresh without any other design than leading the remainder of this miserable life as well as I could thus going along with the stream of the World which carried me away with it as it did so many other People Mareschal Vitry surprized me one morning before I was up and as I being ashamed to be found so threw my self out of the farther side of the Bed telliâ—g him he put me out of countenance and what a Jest it would be if the World should know how he had caught me he told me he had a business of moment to impart to me Then drawing back the Curtain and urging me to lie down again he promised he would speak to me unseen that he might not make me uneasie Then he told me he came to ask a kindness and would not stir till I had engaged to gratifie him I who only desired to get quit of him as soon as I could told him without knowing the business that I was his very humble Servant and would do whatever he pleased to command me So in short I forced him to be gone for having got my word he went away well satisfied without explaining himself any farther at that time Shortly after he told me that the thing he desired and that I had blindly engaged for was to be first Captain of the Queen's Regiment of which his Son was to be Maistre de Camp And conjured me by all the friendship I had for him to take upon me the instructing of his Son who being unexperienced would want to be supported and managed by one well skill'd in the profession This Proposal I confess startled me for though I had pass'd my word yet thinking such kind of employments a little below me I did all that ever I could to get off again But I could not go back from my promise and the Mareschal took care by abundance of civility and kind promises to oblige me to acquiesce in it For he assured me the Regiment should be wholly at my disposal that his Son should bear the Name only and I have the Government that I should dispose of the Companies as I pleased and that the accepting this Employment and instructing his Son would be the greatest Service I could possibly do him There was at that time a great difference between the Duke of Angoulesme and him for having been Governour of Provence and not beloved by the People of the Country the Court had taken the Government from him and put in Monsieur d' Angoulesme This occasioned ill blood for the Mareschal of Vitry said the Duke of Angoulesme had done him ill offices at Court He intended to drive this Quarrel higher too but having no great reason to expect Justice would be done him the matter by degrees was dropt and came to nothing II. In the mean time while the Queen's Regiment was raising I went to divert my self at a Friend's Country-house and made a Nephew of my own Lieutenant of my Company who was afterwards kill'd in the King's Service by a Musquet-shot While I was in the Country Orders came from Court for me to go to Sens and carry four Regiments that lay there in Garison to Troyes I sent the Marquis of Vitry word of it that he might bring his Regiment thither too and in obedience to my Order went to Sens. Quartering one day in a Mannor belonging to Monsieur Bellegarde Father to the present Archbishop of Sens this Lord came and told me that Mannor was his and he desired I would not quarter upon it I answered with all imaginable civility that these Quarters were assigned us for four days but upon his account I would endeavour to get the Order changed and remove the Regiments next morning Nay if he pleased I would try to take them off immediately but it grew late and the Men had supped so that staying that Night could be no great prejudice He thought himself much obliged by my Answer not expecting such a Compliment from an Officer that had his Orders and so many Troops under his Command For I confess I have often wondred very much my self at the rough behaviour of some Officers who think the having power in their hands gives them a priviledge to be rude and bearish when they might as well sometimes shew some respect to persons of worth and honour and though they cannot go back from their Orders yet they might at least execute them in a civil and gentle way III. While we staid at Troyes there happened a great Mutiny among our Men. A common Souldier of our Regiment a wicked hardned Rascal had got drunk and stabb'd a Woman big with Child into the Belly which killed both the Woman and the Child she went with This was too horrid an Action to be excused by the Wine and so I took the Rogue and had him tryed at a Council of War The greatest part of the Officers that weâ—e young and raw instead of indignation at so black a Crime openly appeared in favour of the Fellow that committed it thinking it may be their honour concerned to stand by a Souldier in opposition to the Townsmen that demanded Justice upon him All the Souldiers mutiny'd to save their Comrade for my part I had so great a detestation of such Outrages and was by no means of
passion said to me in the most civil and obliging way that possibly could be This is a Letter come to me just now and brings me word that my Son Anjou is well and began to wear Shoes this very day It was too great a favour for me to expect that her Majesty should discourse thus to me after my intemperate heat but she favour'd me yet farther and bade me be in the way when she went to the Play and she would speak to the Cardinal in my behalf I was there exactly at the time and her Majesty having spoken to the Cardinal as she promised his Eminence called me to him and told me the Queen had remembred me and spoke kindly of me to him and that if I would be at his Levee next morning he would give order to have me admitted into his Bed-chamber When I found things go so well on my side I could not forbear rallying my Friends a little who had most of them deserted me telling them briskly That I perceived their kindness was of more use to others than me and instead of employing and depending upon my Friends I had always found it the best course to sollicit my own business my self Next day I waited upon the Cardinal who wrote me a Ticket with his own hand by vertue of which I had my Pension presently paid me IV. But still I was much dissatisfi'd and out of humor to see my self continue no way employed nor at all considered for my Service and especially to find that last action of Meninghen quite stifled and disparaged by an envious General who had no other way to cover his own disgrace but by detracting from our deserts I foresawtoo that they intended to engage me in the next Campagne though my losses by my imprisonment had put me out of a condition to equip my self for the Service Then I was out of all patience I confess and full of resentment at this hard usage I went and made my complaint to a great Minister of State and with all the strength of reason I could represented to him the deplorable Circumstances which my Service to the late King had reduced me to This person instead of giving me any satisfaction fell foul upon me for ingratitude and told me That since the King designed to employ me in this Campagne I had nothing to do but to obey Upon this I reply'd very hotly and indiscreetly That all the World took notice how unjustly I had been dealt with that an old Officer as I was ought not to be used at this rate and as for the next Campagne I was positively resolved not to be concerned in it that I had lost all in losing my Master the late King and was very little sollicitous now for any thing that could happen to me This Answer provoked him to that degree that he procured at Warrant against me to clap me up in the Bastile I had notice of the thing and at first made a Jest of it thinking this was meant only to fright me But being afterwards assured by one of my Friends that it was really true and if I were found at my own lodging I should be confined in two hours time I thought it unreasonable to carry it big any longer and went privately to a Lord's house that belonged to the Court who told me he was very much my Friend but had not interest enough to protect me and was afraid I could not be safe with him Then I went to Monsieur Harcourt and desired I might take Sanctuary with him who received me with great kindness and generosity lodged me in a private Room sent my Dinner and Supper up constantly into my Chamber and did me the honour to come and sit with me every morning and evening Here I continued to play least in sight for seyeral weeks till Mareschal Melleray coming one day to the Count d' Harcourt's and I having the honour to discourse him he told me he would engage to speak for me and make my peace with the Queen Accordingly he carried me to the Louvre in his own Coach and presented me to her Majesty who did me the favour to tell me that she had given out no special Order against me in particular but only a general one to secure all the Officers that refused to go with the Army Thus the passion I fell into though it gave me great apprehensions of being utterly out of favour yet gave me some comfort at least to find my self in good graces at Court and perfectly at liberty again V. After this I was order'd to go into Provence and carry over some Troops consisting of five or six thousand Men into Catalonia I cannot at present recollect any thing very remarkable that happen'd to me upon this occasion This was during the first Paris War when every body knows the whole Kingdom was in great disturbance and confusion I received a Command besides to guard the Mountains of Provence and Dauphine For this Service I raised a Regiment of Foot and a Troop of Horse But found a vast difference between these Troops and those I had commanded under the late King For then the strict Discipline he kept up gave me an absolute Authority over my Souldiers but now I was wearied out with perpetual complaints of these Fellows who gave themselves up to Rapine and Licentiousness and thought they were priviledged by the disorder these Civil Wars occasioned to shake off all manner of obedience I could not endure this insolence nor was in a condition to keep these Brutes under as formerly being slenderly supported and very ill paid and therefore chose rather to quit the Employment which I could not honourably discharge So I delivered up my Regiment to another Officer of a temper something more passive and less nice in point of Discipline than mine While I was thus employed in maintaining the King's Rights about Provence and Dauphine I married one of my Nieces to a Gentleman very well descended of the Family of Poligny This Niece was Daughter to my eldest Brother's Son And as I now married the Daughter so by an accident much of the same nature I had married the Father several years before There was something so very observable in both these Matches that I think they deserve a particular Relation here and therefore I will give you the Circumstances of both and begin with that of the Father VI. I forgot in these Memoirs to tell you that I had a Brother who was one of the Knights of Maltha concerning whom I think my self obliged to relate one very remarkable Story here He was a Person of great Wit and Learning could speak several Languages and among the rest the Turkish ' as perfectly well as his own Mother-Tongue the French This inclined him to make some stay at Constantinople where he applied himself to consider that place and state thoroughly and with great judgment observed the strong and the weak sides of it I remember he hath often
and perfect health to a dead Carcass and a cold Grave To this purpose he discoursed with me above an hour together and finding my mind already softned and prepared by that surprizing accident this conference affected me still a great deal more and I began to resolve every day more and more to disengage my self from the world for all together In order to it I applied my self to a person of great Piety and Learning for advice who told me first of all that a man who had spent all his days in a Camp and a Court as I had done ought to think very well before he attempt any such thing I answered That my Conversation it was true had been very much to blame but they were such old Sinners as I that stood in greatest need of assistance He in his great wisdom replyed That Jesus Christ was come to call Sinners indeed but it was highly necessary that I should examine very thoroughly whether this intention of withdrawing came from God and whether I did not rather forsake the world in revenge or in a peevish humour because the world had before begun to forsake me That besides one who had taken some liberties and conversed with people of quality and great variety of company would find it extremely difficult if not absolutely impossible to undergo so great a change all on the sudden as that solitude I pretended to retire into would prove that the best way would be to try to wean my self by degrees first live as privately as I could at my own house keep home and break off the custom of making visits and going into company and then spend some months in the Country at some friends house This advice I could not but allow was very prudent And though I felt my self very eager and impatient to take my leave of the world once for all yet I took other measures and followed his counsel I began to look back upon my past life and could not without amazement reflect upon the six and fifty years which with so much eagerness I had spent in the Camp and Court and all this to raise a trifling and transitory fortune without taking any manner of care for another life or having any effectual impressions made upon me by death which I was so frequently put in mind of by instances set before my Eyes in the Army every hour I took a view of the many hazards and apparent dangers to which my life had been exposed in all that time some of which you have seen in these Memoirs and then looking up to the infinite mercy of God which had preserved me from death a thousand and a thousand times to give me an opportunity at last of working out my salvation I felt my self perfectly lost in thought and my mind opprest with the mighty the many mercies of God to me many as the moments of my life for each moment I saw plainly might very well have been that of my death and utter ruine Then I proceeded very seriously to compute what benefit I had reaped of all my labours and long hardships of all that service which with so much fidelity and diligence I had paid and especially to my Master the late King And here was a goodly account indeed For I had devoted my self entirely to a Prince who I knew must dye and when he did so all I had left me was the sorrow for his death and the sad consideration of having lost him for ever This sorrow then however gave me a clearer sight how good and merciful a Providence it was that I should out-live this Prince for I am sure the chains that tied me fastest to the Court were broken at his death And I found my self much more at liberty much better disposed now to attend to the call of God in that surprizing death of my friend which he made use of as a means to disengage me perfectly from the world The world which I had loved so passionately before though it had made me so ill returns for my kindness VI. Being some months after upon a Journey from Paris to spend some time in the Countty there happened an accident at Melun just as I had done Supper which gave me very great disorder I had sent my Servant to look after my Horses and take care they wanted nothing and as soon as he was gone out a general weakness seized me all over and such a sinking of my Spirits that I thought I should have dy'd immediately Not being able to cry out or call any body I said to my self What! shall I be so miserable to dye without any help Perfect O my God the mercy thou hast begun in me and take me not away in this condition I was very strong considering my age and so put my self forth to rise from my Chair and staggered along to the Bed-side threw my Arms round one of the Bed-posts and there with bustling about and keeping my body in motion with the blessing of God I scattered the Vapours that rose and had like to have choak'd me I took no notice of this to my Servant when he came in again but only order'd my Bed to be warm'd and went into it and next morning went on my Journey towards the place I intended for After some months spent in the Countrey where by reason of the frequent visits of my friends I found my way of living less private than in the Town I came back to Paris and addrest my self again to the same person I had consulted before and begg'd him to help and take some care of me assuring him that my way of life was as yet nothing different in effect from what it had been formerly and that in short I found it necessary to take up still more strictly and live after another kind of rate than I had hitherto done After some discourse together upon the matter he advised me to take more time and consider of it a little longer still And thus he put me off from time to time till at last the second Paris War came on VII Madam Saint-Angel had desired me being a relation to go do a little business for her at her Estate of Saint-Angel and there I presently found my self perplexed again with troubles that I never thought to be concerned in any more For Mareschal Turenne's Army who were guilty of very great disorders in their way from Bourdeaux surpriz'd me here so suddenly that I had scarce any time to provide for my own defence All the Court of Saint-Angel was immediately full of Cattel and the Granaries fill'd with the wealth of all the Inhabitants thereabouts Apprehending the House was in danger of being plundered I went to meet the Troops upon their march and to try if I could find any of their Generals of my acquaintance at the head of them The first I met was Mareschal Hoquincour whom I went and paid my respects to and told him that being accidentally in the Country at Monsieur