Poland He succeeds to the Kingdom of Sweden Differences between King Sigismund and Charles Duke of Sudermannia The States of Sweden give the Regency of the Kingdom in the absence of King Sigismund to the Duke of Sudermannia The Duke of Sudermannia and the Senate of Sweden are divided King Sigismund Attempts in vain to reduce the Duke of Sudermannia by Force The States of Sweden depose King Sigismund Charles Duke of Sudermannia is chosen King of Sweden The King of Sweden sends the Challenge to the King of Denmark The Death of Charles King of Sweden BOOK III. THE State of France since the Regency of Mary de Medicis The Treaty of the double Marriage between France and Spain The double Marriage is concluded between the two Kings Intrigues in the Court of France when the Treaty of the double Marriage was known there The double Marriage at last passes in the Council of France The Popes Nuncio complains of the Sentence of Parlement on the Process of the Vniversity of Paris against the Jesuits The Nuncio's Invectives against the Advocate-General Servin The Nuncio's Advances to the Parlement to procure a Modification of the Sentence The Nuncio's Intrigues with the Clergy The Difficulties of the Jesuits to keep even in their Conduct to the Court of Rome and Parlement of Paris A Book of Doctor Richer Syndic of the Faculty of Paris makes a great Noise there The Cardinal du Perron and the Bishops of the Province of Sens assembled together to Condemn Richers Book Richer has the Syndicat of the Faculty of Paris taken from him Publick Rejoycings for the double Marriage New Disturbances in the Court of France The Duke of Mayenne is sent into Spain to demand the Infanta for the King Matthias King of Hungary and Bohemia is Elected Emperor after the Death of Rodolphus II. Antonio Memmi is chosen Doge of Venice after the Death of Leonard Donato The Embassy of the Mareschal of Bouillon into England The Discontent of the Mareschal Lesdiguieres Mary de Medicis depresses â—…e Factions of the Duke of Guise and Epernon The Count of Soissons undertakes to ruine the Ministers and engages outragiously to Attack the Chancellor de Sillery The Marquess de Coeuvres diverts the Count of Soissons from this Enterprize The Impostures of the Marquess of Ancres Some Persons suborned to accuse him of Magick The Affair of the Duke of Rohan at St. John of Angeli The Reconciliation of the French Protestant Lords The Protestation of the National Synod of Privas in the Name of all the Reformed Churches of France against the King's New Declaration The Entry of the Duke of Pastrane into Paris The Signing of the Marriage Articles between the Prince of Spain and the Eldest Daughter of France The Duke of Mayenne's Entry into Madrid The Signing the Marriage Articles between Lewis XIII and the Infanta of Spain A Conspiracy against the Duke of Parma A Discourse of Marrying Christina second Daughter of France to Henry Prince of Wales The Death of Henry Prince of Wales The Fortunes of Robert Carr in England The Death of the Count of Soissons A New Face of the Court of France The Condemnation of a Book of the Jesuit Becanus The Sentence of the Parlement of Paris against a Book of Schioppius Peace between the Crowns of Sweden and Denmark Revolutions in Muscovy A False Demetrius in Poland Demetrius enters Muscovy and causes himself to be Crowned there Demetrius and a great number of Poles are Massacred at Moscow Susky is made Czar of Muscovy and after lays down Ladislaus Prince of Poland is proclaimed Czar of Muscovy The Polanders are driven out of Muscovy and Michael Federovitz is elected Czar BOOK IV. THE Baron de Luz is killed by the Chevalier of Guise The Regents Anger against the Guises The Duke of Guise desires to combine with the Prince of Conde The Queen becomes jealous of the Prince of Conde The Violence and Mercenary Temper of the Duke of Guise The generous Sense of the Duke of Epernon The Regent is Reconciled to the Dukes of Guise and Epernon The Ancient Ministers are recalled The Confusion and Perplexity of the Prince of Conde The young Baron de Luz is killed again by the Chevalier of Guise The Death of Francis Duke of Mantua New Projects of the Duke of Savoy upon this occasion Artifices of the Duke of Savoy The Governor of Milan demands the Dutchess Dowager of Mantua and her Daughter The Regent of France opposes the Duke of Savoy's designs The Pope's Conduct in the Affair of Mantua The Republick of Venice supports the Cardinal of Mantua Ferdinand Cardinal de Gonzaga takes the Character of Duke of Mantua New Efforts of the Duke of Savoy to fetch away from Mantua the Princess Mary his Grand-daughter Ambitious Projects of the Duke of Savoy The Duke of Savoy carries Montserrat This Enterprize is the cause of New Metions in Italy Manifesto's of the Duke of Savoy and the Cardinal Duke of Mantua Artifices and Bravades of the Duke of Savoy His Intrigues at the Court of France are discovered The Marquess of Ancre being found Intriguing with the Duke of Savoy is exceedingly Embarassed The Ministers are reconciled to the Marquess of Ancre The Court resolves to send a powerful Aid to the House of Mantua The Queen is diverted from sending Aid so soon to the Cardinal Duke The King of Spain declares against the Duke of Savoy The Emperor requires the Duke of Savoy to desist from his Enterprize on Montferrat The Governor of Milan constrains the Duke of Savoy to submit to the King of Spain's pleasure A difference between the Duke of Nevers and the Governour of Milan The Marriage of the Elector Palatin to a Daughter of the King of England A Discourse concerning the Marriage of Charles Prince of Wales with Christina of France The Emperor Matthias comes to the Diet at Ratisbon The Catholicks and Protestants reciprocally complain of each other The ill success of the Diet at Ratisbon The Fortune of Bethlem Gabor Prince of Transilvania A difference between the Houses of Brandenburgh and Neuburgh about the Government of Cleves and Juliers Prince Wolfgang of Neuburgh Marries the Sister of the Duke of Bavaria and changes his Religion Difficulties to make the Peace concluded between the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua lasting The Governor of Milan presses the Duke of Savoy to Disarm The Dukes Evasion The Governor of Milan demands the Princess of Mantua on the King of Spains part The King of Spains Views in this demand The Republick of Venice traverses the King of Spain's Designs The Perplexity of Mary de Medicis in the Business of Mantua A Proposition made to the Council of France to cause Troops to march into Italy The Regent sends the Marquiss de Coeuvres into Italy to treat an Accommodation between the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua The vast Ambition of Conchini made a Mareschal of France and Galigai his Wife A Continuation of the Disputes about Grace
Fate of one Battle would decide the Quarrel Sigismond was so overseen that his Camp was surprised at Linkoping Part of his Army was kill'd and some drown'd To save the remainder he sued to his Uncle for a Peace Charles agreed to it on condition that the five Swedish Senators that were with the King might be delivered up to him he charged them to be principal Authors of all these Distractions and that they should be brought to their Tryal for it at the next Sitting of the States The two Princes concluded a Treaty Charles renewed his Oath of Allegiance to the King And Sigismond ingaged that for his part he would govern the Realm henceforward according to the Constitution of the Country and his Coronation Oath He further promis'd to call a Parliament in four Months time and that all Matters in Controversy should be there decided in presence of such Commissioners as the Emperor the Confederate Kings and Electors should appoint on Application made to 'em for it There were other Stipulations made for the Mutual security of both Princes and for the Disbanding of their Forces on each side Care was taken to add this farther Article That in case King Sigismond performed not this Treaty his Subjects of Swedeland should be discharged of their Oath of Fidelity to him The States of Swedeland depose King Sigismond The King and Duke had frequent Meetings and all things seem'd dispos'd toward a lasting Peace Charles seemed sincerely inclined to observe the Treaty on his part But Sigismond vext to the Heart to see himself forced to submit to his Uncle's Terms retired secretly into Poland instead of going to Stokholm as he had promised He was no sooner arrived at Dantsick but that he publisht in all Courts of Europe that his Uncle was a Traytor and a Rebel and therefore pretended that he himself was in no ways bound to the Treaty concluded at Linkoping Was it possible for him to do any thing that could more contribute to the promoting of Charles his Designs who knew accordingly to turn all this to the best Advantage He therefore so managed the point that the States met at Linkoping where Sigismond was cited and summoned to make good his Promises at the last Treaty of Accommodation That he would embrace the Protestant Religion that he would come to make his Residence in Swedeland or that at least he would send his Son Prince Ladislaus to be brought up under his Uncle's Tuition in case that he himself did chuse rather to tarry in Poland It was at the same time Enacted by the States that in case the King refused to accept these Terms that he and his Issue should forfeit all their Right to the Crown of Swedeland which would be bestowed on a Person capable to govern this Realm after the Fundamental Laws of the Land Whilst Sigismond dallyed to return an Answer the Duke of Sudermania was desired to take the Government upon him and to maintain the Protestant Religion The States since held at Stokholm declared That they were no longer bound to the Oath of Allegiance they had taken to Sigismond because he had contravened his Grandfather's last Will and Testament had not performed the Office of a good King refused to observe the Treaty concluded with him at Linkoping and slighted all Remonstrances made to him Yet after all this they made an offer of the Crown to Prince Ladislaus in case that in a years time he came to reside in Swedeland and would be instructed in the Protestant Religion But that if Sigismond and his Son refused to agree to such reasonable Demands as these they Solemnly protested that neither himself nor his Issue should be ever capable of pretending to the Crown of Swedeland Charles Duke of Sudermnia chosen King of Swedeland Nothing in the World could be more favourable to Charles his Designs than such a Conjuncture of Affairs as this was King Sigismond took a fancy to maintain the Claim of the pretended Demetrius in Muscovia He had afterwards several wrangling Contests with the higher Nobility of Poland so that whilst he was thus taken up all he could do in some of the Remotest Provinces of Swedeland proved to be very weak and unsuccessful Then the Duke become Master of the Heart of the Country and of the best Garrisons summon'd the States to meet at Norkoping in March following in the stear 1607. To make the World believe that he had no hand in perverting the Loyalty of Sigismond's Subjects nor of Usurping of his place on the Throne he offer'd to lay down the Regency committed to him and even proposed to accomodate Matters with Sigismond or to place John the King's Brother on the Throne The States would have no further mention of either Sigismond or of his Son As for Prince John whether it was that he more loved his Ease than Ambition or whether he rightly guess'd at his Uncle's Real Sentiments in the bottom who made such Proposals but for a shew but truly coveted the Government for himself John I say did very generously refuse it in outward appearance declaring at the same time That he was content with his Dutchy of East Gothia and would always approve himself a faithful Subject if any Person that was better able to govern the Realm than himself in such Troublesom times as these Charles therefore after so many shews of declining the Crown which were never thought to be sincere accepted it at last It was ever setled on his Heirs Male and not to devolve to John but for want of such Issue Male of the Body of Charles The States being moreover sensible that Queen Catherine Jagellon was the chief Promotress of the Troubles and Difficulties that King John her Husband and her Son Sigismond had brought the Protestant Religion under decreed that their King might be only Marry'd to a Protestant The New King without any more adoe writ to Sigismond Mercure Francois 1607 1608. and to the Common-wealth of Poland to give them notice of his Accession to the Crown and to make them an offer of renewing former Alliances betwixt both Kingdoms The States of Swedeland writ to the same purpose to the Senate of Poland in particular Charles was presently after Crown'd at Vpsal together with Christina his Wife overjoyed to see her self now above Sigismond's disdain The King of Poland did not vouchsafe to make any Answer to his Uncle's Letter looking on him to be no better than an Usurper The Senate writ only to the States of Swedeland The Polanders took upon 'em to tax the Swedes after an insultting way with Disloyalty towards Sigismond they protested they would own no other as lawful King of Poland saving him They inveighed bitterly against the cunning Tricks made use of as they pretended by Charles to strip his Nephew of the Crown The States of Swedeland replied to this Letter by a Manifesto directed to the Senate of Poland wherein they did justifie their own Conduct all
assistance to stop the progress of the Arms of the Duke of Savoy Nevers went away presently with some Soldiers which he got together and with the assistance of a good Guide he luckily entred Casal which the Cardinal Duke had made as strong as he could Vincent de Gonzague the Cardinal's Brother hasted towards that place at the same time and in his Passage thrô Milan he endeavoured to convince Inojosa of the secret designs of the Enemy of their Family who flattered himself that the Conquest of Monferrat would facilitate that of Milan one day which was a thing he had long ago contrived This Enterprize occasions great commotions in Italy All Italy was allarmed at the report of the March of Charles Emanuel 'T was not doubted but Inojosa was privy to his Designs tho' he took particular care openly to condemn the Dukes Enterprize And tho' the Governor inveighed against him sent Circular Letters to the Princes of Italy and writ to France declaring that the King his Master disapproved the Action of the Savoyard and that his Catholick Majesty would vigorously oppose all those that troubled the Repose of Italy All the World believed that Charles Emanuel and he understood one another and that he had received considerable Presents from him And 't is a question whether the Marquiss of Bedmar Ambassador of Spain at Venice was more sincere in the Protestations which he made to the Seigniory implying that Philip would willingly concur with them in securing the quiet of Italy that the Cardinal Duke should be re-established in his Possession of Monferrat and that Charles Emanuel should be punisht for his Temerity When the Duke of Savoy's designs were publickly known the Republick of Venice represented to him that they were surprized to see him begin a War which in all probability would draw Foreign Forces into Italy which must first pass through his Territories These prudent Senators said to him There are some Conquests which don 't deserve to be bought with the loss of that Quiet and Tranquility which a Prince enjoys Have a regard to your Glory and to your Interest You thus hazard the loss of the one and expose your Country to be the Theatre of a War the End of which perhaps you may not live to see France and Spain will Interest themselves at least they will make themselves Arbiters in the Case and you must submit to their Decision Instead of listening to these wise Admonitions Charles Emanuel ordered the Ambassador of the Republick to leave him but t was not long before the Ambitious Duke perceived he was engaged in an Enterprize which was not like to prove Honourable to him in the Issue The Venetians sent Three thousand Men for the preservation of Casal The great Duke of Tuscany promised Two thousand Foot and Two hundred Horse to the Cardinal Duke The House of Mantua levied Three thousand Switzers so that they hoped in a short time to be in a Condition to meet the Duke of Savoy with Sixteen or Seventeen thousand Men but things did not perfectly succeed according to his Expectation As for the Pope he only promised his good Offices in order to a Peace The Quality of Universal Father is of mighty use when he thinks fit rather to Enrich his Family than to Succour an injured Prince The Manifesto's of the D. of Savoy and the Cardinal D. of Mantua In the mean time they publisht Manifestoe's on both Sides The Duke of Savoy asserted that the Guardianship of the Princess Mary belonged to the Dutchess her Mother he insisted mightily on the Cardinal Dukes refusing to keep his word Mercure Francoise 1613 and the excuse that that Prince could not part with a Pupil which the Emperor had committed to his Tutelage was pretty well refuted as indeed it was not a very good one The Emperors Interposition in that affair was desired by him that so he might make use of it afterwards as there should be occasion And he had sufficiently explained himself as to that Point when he promised to deliver back his Niece into the hands of the Duke of Modena Charles Emanuel laid forth his Pretensions to Monferrat with as much boldness as if they had been the clearest and justest in the World This is the way of Ambitious Princes They imagine that the World is easily imposed on and that Men will believe them upon their Word As for the Cardinal Duke he replied in his Manifesto that the Dutchess his Sister-in-Law not being of Age the Law did not allow her to be Guardianess of her Daughter and that Mothers forfeit the Guardianship of their Children when they voluntarily withdraw from the Family and Dominions of their Husbands From whence he concluded that Margarita having earnestly desired to go to Turin had thereby renounced her Guardianship of the Princess of Mantua He endeavoured to make good the Emperor's committing her to his Care But the Promise which he made and broke afterwards was such a Slurr upon him that he could not possibly give it a good Colour His best way had been ingeniously to have confest his Imprudence such a false step costs a Prince Dear The superannuated and extravagant Pretensions to Monferrat are very well refuted He did not fail to put the Duke of Savoy in mind of the Grant which he had made upon the Marriage of his Daughter with the late Duke Francis of Mantua In which Point he had been guilty of a far more considerable Breach of his Word than that was which Charles Emanuel made such a noise about How could he have the Face to insist so much upon the retractation of a surprized Man who himself was the most Perfidious and falsest Prince of his time At this time he Acted a Thousand parts to justifie his Conduct to the World or at least to gain time in managing the two Crowns Artifices and bravado's of D. of Savoy Sometimes he proposed to set the Arms of the King of Spain over the Gates of all the Towns which he had taken in Monferrat and to put them into the hands of his Majesty on Condition there should be a Garrison of Savoyards Sometimes he offered to let Philip III. have Casal on Condition that the House of Savoy should remain in Possession of all the rest of Monferrat When he writ to the Queen Regent of France he did it in the most submissive manner imaginable he was ready to deliver up to her Majesty all that he had taken from the House of Mantua And when Charles Emanuel perceived that his pretended Submissions did him no kindness he put on another Shape he Hectored and Threatned all the World Just as if all Europe had been at his Disposal If the Spaniards required him to desist from his Enterprize he answered them haughtily that he would side with France If the Pope urged him to make Peace he talkt of calling to his assistance an Army of Protestants into Italy And if the Republick of Venice pretended
little thing and the one pretended to disannul what the other had done Prince Wolfgang of Newbourg marries the D. of Bavaria's Daughter and changes his Religion The Spaniards wisely made their Advantage of so fair an occasion to weaken the Protestant League and to bring over the House of Newburg to their Faction They proposed to Prince Volfgan a Match with Magdalen Sister of Maximilian Duke of Bavaria and of Ferdinand Elector of Cologne They promised him the Protection of the House of Austria a Pension from the King of Spain and the Support of the Catholick League if he would quit his Religion and enter into the Communion of the Church of Rome a very sensible Temptation to an Ambitious young Prince and who was big with Revenge for the horrible Affront which had been offered him Newburg falls before the force of it But Wolfgang whether 't were to keep fair with his Father who was a zealot for the Confession of Ausbourg or whether he had some other Reasons would not renounce his Religion before his Marriage He only consented to Marry the Princess Magdalen and the Duke of Newbourg gave his Consent not seeing the Snare which was laid for his Son who was blinded with Passion The Marriage was Celebrated at Munich the 10th of November this Year And that he might keep within bounds as to outward appearance the Prince was not Married by the Mass he only received the Nuptial Benediction by the hands of the Bishop of Aichstat at Evening Service in the great Church of Munich But at length Wolfgang declared himself in the Month of May the next Year He made publick profession of the Popish Religion at Dusseldorp The Duke his Father was extremely troubled at it The Proclamation which he publisht immediately after is an infallible proof of it It imported that every Munday throughout the Year publick Prayers should be made for the Conservation of the Protestant Religion in the Dutchy of Newbourg The Artifices and Fetches of the Duke of Savoy The Peace mude between the D of Savoy Mantua has much ado to continuefirm stable oblige us frequently to return to him The Treaty of Peace between Charles Emanuel and the Cardinal Ferdinand Duke of Mantua had been concluded with so much precipitation that they spoke there only of Resigning the Places in Monferrat without making any mention of the Mutual pretentions of each Party of the reparation of the Damages done in Monferrat which Ferdinand demanded nor of an Amnesty for the Subjects of the House of Mantua who had declared for that of Savoy which Charles Emanuel was willing to obtain These Affairs not being settled Disputes must presently revive Neither were the Princes of Italy very well satisfied with a Peace that was so infirm and subject to a Rupture They imagined and that with probability enough that the Marquiss d'Inojosa had made it because he could tell how to refuse Obedience to the positive Orders of the King his Master They were still afraid there was a Collusion between him and the Duke of Savoy and that they both of them had an under-hand Design At the very same time that Charles Emanuel Restored the Towns in Monferrat he re-enforced his Troops and the Governor of Milan remained in Arms diligently observing all these steps of which the most penetrating head could not understand the Secret The Venetians took care to continue to the Cardinal Duke the assistance which they had given him since the beginning of the Quarrel and to be themselves upon their Guard The Quarrel which arose between their Republick and Ferdinand of Austria Arch-Duke of Gratz who had a great Interest at the Court of Madrid obliged them to distrust the King of Spain 'T was upon the account of the Vscoques Pyrats and Robbers upon the Coasts of Dalmatia whom the Arch-Duke openly protected although the Venetians and the Turks did equally complain of their Robberys We shall say something in the Course of this History concerning this Quarrel which occasion'd the Vscoques to be known in the World The Governor of Milan presseth the Duke of Savoy to lay down his Arms. That which most perplext the speculative Italians about the Affair of Monferrat was that the Governor of Milan who was thought to be in the Interest of Charles Emanuel nevertheless powerfully prest him to lay down his Arms as soon as possible And at the same time that he was contending with him he would constrain Ferdinand to do all that the Savoyard could wish These steps Contrary in appearance are not difficult to be reconciled Spain endeavoured to make its advantage of the Quarrel His Catholick Majesty pretended to be the absolute Arbiter and to direct the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua as should be most for his Interest The Governor of Milan who had no mind to be at the charge of having an Army on Foot to oppose the Duke of Savoy in case his Attempts should make it necessary was continually pressing him to Disband his Troops And because it was of Importance to the King his Master to have at his Disposal the Heiress of Monferrat he boldly demanded her of the Cardinal Duke and thus the Intrigue comes out Now let us see how these Two Parties will get clear of the Demands of the Catholick King Inojosa had sent to Turin the Commander of the Castle of Milan possitively to tell the Duke that he must comply immediately with what was required of him Charles Emanuel bore very impatiently this Imperious way which the Spaniards took with him and with the other Princes of Italy althô he had been used to it for many Years But not being able openly to resist the will of King Philip he found out according tâ—… his usual way divers pretences to shrinâ—… back Never was a Mind more fruitfuâ—… of such Inventions than that of thiâ—… Prince He answered to this Message that he was ready to dismiss his Troops when the Marquiss of Inojosa should perform the private Articles to which the Cardidal Duke of Mantua had agreed at the time of the Treaty made with him Mr. the Governor hath himself given me positive assurances said Charles Emanuel that the Cardinal Duke did consent to deliver up into my hands the Princess Mary my Grand-daughter and to grant a general Amnesty to â—…he Subjects of Monferrat which declared for me Is it not fit that I should continue â—…n Arms till this be performed All the World was mightily surpriz'd when this Answer of the Duke of Savoy was known The Cardinal Ferdinand denied that he had â—…ver promis'd any such thing He pretendâ—…d likewise that Inojosa had told him to the â—…ontrary People could not tell what to â—â—ink of this Riddle Some said that â—â—e Governor of Milan having received â—…resents from Charles Emanuel and Ferdiâ—â—nd had impos'd upon them both in telâ—â—ng the Duke of Savoy that which I have â—â—lated before and in promising the clear â—â—ntrary to the Cardinal Duke that
both Conde would have had them removed from Court if he could have had any advantage against them and the Duke de Guise would have done his endeavour to have remov'd them as soon as he should have been at the head of the King's Army The Duke d'Epernon angry that his advice to oppose the Malecontents with an open force was not followed resolved not to assist at any Treaties which they should afterwards hold with the Prince and the united Lords where the King was to buy of his Subjects a short liv'd Peace at a shameful Rate The Circular Letter of the Regent upon Retreat of the Prince de Conde and the Lords of his Party When the Duke de Vantadour and Boissise were gone to the Prince de Conde in Berri the Regent wrote a Circular Letters dated the 13th February to all the Parlements of the Kingdom to the Governors of Provinces and other Places to the Provost of the Merchants to the Mayors and Sheriffs of the Cities to exhort them to remain faithful to the King and not suffer themselves to be surpriz'd by the Prince de Conde and his Party If you will believe Mary de Medicis Mercure Francoise 1614. These Gentlemen had no just ground of Complaint neither with relation to their own private Interest nor to the Administration of the publick Affairs Her Majesty had Treated this Prince and those Lords with all the Respect imaginable she had heap'd as many Favours on them as they could reasonably desire and had taken no Step of any consequence without their Advice The Kingdom was in as flourishing and quiet a Condition the Dignity of the Crown of France as well Supported the People as easie and happy as ever To write the History of a Reign from Manifesto's from prefaces of Edicts and Declarations from Letters and other Papers published under the King's Name is to have but very bad Authority for what one writes In the mean time to amuse the People with the hopes of a better Government the Regent declared in a Letter that her Majesty resolv'd to call as they speak in France an Assembly des Notables of all Orders in the Kingdom in which they should consult together for the publick Welfare The Duke de Nevers seizes on the Cittadel de Mezieres in Champagne Ventadour and Boissise had Intelligence upon the Road that the Prince de Conde was gone from Chateauroux and designed â—…o pass the Loir accompanied by 30 or â—…o Horse They sent one of their Comâ—…any to inform him of their Commissiâ—â— and to know where they might meet â—â—m Mercure Francoise 1614. Conde refused to receive the King's â—…eputies and went immediately into â—…hampagne where the Duke de Nevers â—â—ceived him The Prince was immediâ—…ely Conducted to Chalons from thence â—â—vers and he went to Mezieres Descuâ—…es Commanded there in the absence of â—â—e Marquiss de la Vieuville There â—â—ing a good understanding between him and the Duke de Nevers Descuroles made as if he would shut the Gates of the Cittadel and defend it according to the Order which he had received from Vieuville But the Prince and the Duke de Nevers threatning to attack it if he did not shew express Orders from her Majesty to Resist them Descuroles received the Prince and Duke into the Place Nevers wrote afterwards to the Queen to complain of the Marquiss of Vieuville to desire that Justice might be done him for the resistance that had been made him who was the Governor of the Province Was not this to Affront the Queen under pretence of paying I know not what respect to the Majesty of a Sovereign The Prince de Conde wrote to the Regent a Letter in Form of a Mà nifesto Mercure Francois 1614. The Prince de Conde the Dukes de Nevers de Maìenne de Longueville and some others of the chief of the Party being met at Mezieres Conde wrote a long Letter to the Queen in form of a Manifesto He expresseth there an extraordinary Zeal for the publick Good and offers to Restore the Pensions and Gratifications which he had Received from the King to her Majesty's hand when all the States shall be assembled and Act with entire Liberty In a Word he speaks much like the Ancient Greeks and Romans of whose Impartial Justice we read of in History If he had a mind to impose upon the World he should have taken care that his Actions did not contradict his Words In truth the Complaints which the Prince de Conde and those of his Party made concerning the wasting of the Treasury the giving the highest Employments to People unworthy of them the too great Authority of the Ministers the little Respect that was paid to the Princes and Peers of the Realm the Officers of the Crown the Obstacles which the Parlement found in exercising of their Power the Ruine of the Nobles the excessive Price of the Places of Judicature the Oppression of the People neglecting to Assemble the States of the Kingdom the Haste with which they had concluded the Marriage of the King before his Majority all these Complaints I say were well founded In the mean time what ever Protestations the Prince of Conde made that he had no other design but to procure an effectual Remedy for these heavy Grievances yet the World could never firmly believe the integrity of his Intentions nor the sincerity of his Words He added to these Three or Four Demands which were not less Reasonable the Assembling of the States of the Kingdom within Three months at farthest the Suspending the Marriage of the King and his Sister till after the sitting of the States and the placing near her Majesty Persons of known Honesty and Integrity Conde at the same time wrote to the Prince of Conti his Uncle to the Dukes Peers and Officers of the Crown to the Parlements to Cardinals and he sent them a Copy of the Letter he had sent to the Queen In that to the Parlement of Paris he Stiled them the Chief Guardian of the Kingdom He was willing to give them an account of his Actions he desired their Advice and Concurrence in this Laudable undertaking of his to Reform the Government Thus it is that Kings and Princes and great Lords have used to play with a Senate The weakness of the Parlement of Paris on this occasion the Chief Members whereof being Ambitious and Slaves to the Court take no care to maintain its Reputation and Authority When there are hopes that the Parlement of Paris will be of any use to impose upon the People they bestow upon it magnificent Titles and Treat it with the greatest Honour and Respect imaginable but when these Considerations cease they despise and ridicule it The Parlement upon this occasion gave a Proof of its Weakness They would not open the Letter which the Prince de Conde sent them Two of their Members were deputed to carry it to the Queen who sent them to the Chancellor
Extremities of the North to defend those of his Religion in Germany overthrows the ambitious Projects of the Courts of Vienna and Madrid The Emperor trembles and fears to lose his Hereditary Countries and France by the help of a League opportunely made with Sweden forces from the House of Austria part of her ancient Patrimony The Success of the Spanish Arms in Picardy strikes a Terrour into Paris it self The King of France comes out of his Capital to repulse the Enemy and cannot refrain from Tears to see the Fire advanced so near the Gates of his own Palaces The Revolutions on the other side the Pyrences change the Face of Affairs Catalonia surrenders to Lewis XIII and Portugal drives out the Spaniards and replaces the Duke of Bâ—…aganza on the Throne of his Ancestors Philip the IV. in a Consternation leaves Madrid to secure the Country of Arragon and reduce the Catalonians But no soonâ—…r does he begin this Expedition but he receives the unwelcome News that France had seized the Town of Perpigan and the County of Rousillon In this Variety of Events there may be â—…und many eminent Instances of Virtue â—…nd Vice Treachery richly rewarded â—…e highest Posts of Honour obtained by â—…e most infamous Crimes some few beâ—…owed on Merit great Preferments reâ—…cted with Contempt from Motives of â—…eligion and Probity Some great Lords â—…eanly ransom their Lives and Estates by coming Slaves to an Ambitious and Revengeful Cardinal Others threatned to be made a Sacrifice to his Passions and Interest with a Noble Haughtiness continue faithful to their Friends and suffer Death with an Heroick Courage This Fragment of the Modern History of France which I design to illustrate is so curious and full of Variety it would soon tempt a Man who would employ his Time in writing something Diverting and Instructive However the boldness of the Attempt has often awed me and perhaps it is above my Abilities If I praise the principal Actors who appear upon the Stage I am in danger of being censured for Flattery and if I speak too freely I am sure to be charged with Detraction Constant Panegyrick disgusts and incenses most Readers They love to have the Vices and secret Passions of Men laid open This Air of Freedom pleases and diverts them But if I should indulge this natural Inclination we have to heaâ—… others condemned will not the World too say I am making a Satyr and not wriâ—…ting a History I shall endeavour then to avoid theâ—… two Extremes with all possible Care have no Inducement to praise or blaâ—â— Persons who were almost all dead befoâ—â— I came into the World What particular Reason can I have to love or hate them The difference of Opinion in Matters Religion and Government shall not hind the from doing Justice to Merit or conmending what is worthy of Praise I am thanks to God in a Country where every one enjoys a Happiness which is so rare in this World to speak their reasonable Thoughts with freedom If I am not in a Capacity to do my Country Service I have the Liberty to deplore its Misfortunes The State of Europe and of France at the end of the Reign of Henry IV. Before I enter upon the Matter I shall promise some few Things of Henry the Fourth and the End of his Life It s necessary to know the Posture of Affairs in Europe and France when this latter lost one of the greatest Monarchs she ever had He employ'd the first Years of his Reign in reducing by force of Arms or gaining by Treaties all who had formed a potent League against him under Colour of Religion and in carrying on a War against Philip II. King of Spain This Ambitious Monarch had supported the League with a mighty Assistance of Men and Money out of a Design to place a Prince of his House on the Throne of France or at least to dismember that Monarchy whose Power was an invincible Obstacle to the vast Projects he had conceived But finding himself worn out with Infirmities of Body and seeing his Country quite exhausted by the Immense Sums he expended and the great number of Soldiers and Ships which he lost in his Wars against the Vnited Provinces of the Low Countries England and France Philip I say after so many Men and so much Treasure consumed in vain was glad to make Peace with Henry on such Conditions as the State of France not less exhausted than Spain could not give them leave to hope for Elizabeth Queen of England and the States of the Vnited Provinces made loud Complaints that the King abandoned his good and faithful Allies in preâ—…sing â—…o cagerly the Conclusion of the Treaty with Philip. Tâ—â—â— say they is a sure way to lose the favourable Opportunity of taking those Advantages against Spain which its low and declining Condition must have put in our Hands Henry excused this Proceeding of his as well as he could alledging the Incapacity of his Kingdom to support a Foreign War after it had been so miserably harass'd by a Domestick one which had lasted so many Years and was not yet well extinguished The Reason was specious But the King seemed impatient to give himself up to his Pleasures and with ease to enjoy so fair a Succession which he had purchased with so much Hazard and Trouble It must be own'd Henry had good Reason to distrust his Strength for the future The Duke of Mercoeur penned up in Britany would not have made his Peace if he had not believ'd that of Spain entirely resolv'd on Besides the Protestants of France who had served a King bred up amongst them with so much Courage and Constancy took Umbrage and Jealousie His changing his Religion and the Favours with which he purchased the friendship of the Great Men who had been Leagued against him began to Alarm them and his New Engagements to the Court of Rome their crael and implacable Enemy had like to have cool'd them Henry prudently confirmed his best Subjects by the Edict of Nantes which was concerted with great Industry and Deliberation Happy had they been if the Successors of this good Prince had left them peaceably to enjoy what he so justly granted them No sooner was Peace setled at home and abroad but Henry strove to win the Hearts of his Subjects by publishing he would labour incessantly to make them live in Ease and Plenty Several Manufactures were set up and some certain Duties taken off It is probable the great Debts he contracted and the engagement of a great part of his Revenue would not give him leave to take away divers others very burthensom and made him give ear to all Projects for bringing Money into his own Coffers But in all this he had the Address to prevent and stifle all Murmurs by making the French Nation since for a long time accustomed to patience believe his greatest desire was to make them happy The King flattered himself he should check the turbulent humour of divers great
Words certainly deserve to be committed to Memory and if there was not more of Vanity perhaps than of Reality in the Duke of Epernon's Sentiments it must be confess'd to his Glory that he had a more Noble Heart than any Prince or Grandee of the Court of France The Regent reconciled with the Dukes of Guise and Epernon In the mean time Bassompierre went to wait again on the Queen after she had dined as her Majesty had order'd him I am so sick at Stomach said Mary de Medicis when she was alone with him as all that I have eaten seems to be Poyson If I am not suddenly rid of this Trouble I fear that I shall be out of my Wits She spoke probably more Truth than she thought for They who best understoood this Business testified this of her that she had a great Spirit but not the large Capacity nor the Constancy and Experience which another Queen of the same House shew'd in some Precedent Reigns and those excellent Qualities were needful to Mary de Medicis for to govern a State full of Factions Bassompiere continued she you must bring me back the Duke of Guise whatever it costs Offer him a Hundred Thousand Crowns which I 'll pay him in ready Money with the Lieutenancy-General of Provence for the Chevalier his Brother and the Reversion of the Abbey of St. Germain for the Princess his Sister In a Word I give you full Power to offer what you please provided you make him quit this Cabal and I can be ascertain'd of his good Intentions ' Madam answer'd Bassompierre smiling you have put such a Stock into my Hands as 't will be very hard if I do not make a good Bargain Now see here what the Reversion is of the Abbey of St. Germain de Prez at Paâ—…is The Prince of Conti enjoy'd this rich Benefice though he was married The same was promis'd to the Princess his Wife in case he died before her Strange Abuse of Ecclesiastical Revenues But a Dispensation from the Pope solves all Let it not be said that these Disorders are now reform'd Have we not seen a younger Brother of the House of Lorrain in France The Count of Marsan confirm'd by a solemn Edict in the Enjoyment of a considerable Pension from a Bishoprick because the Pope had granted him a Dispensation to keep it notwithstanding his Marriage And certainly every thing fully consider'd if the Revenues of the Church been't employ'd for the Relief of the Poor or any other good Work they are as well in the Hands of a Prince or Princess as in any idle Monk's hands Cardinal's or Abbot's of Quality who spend them in rich Equipage great Feasts keeping of Horses and Dogs and maintaining Misses But I return to Bassompierre's Negotiation Before he had taken leave of Mary de Medicis for to go and execute his Orders he spoke to the Queen to call back to Court the Duke of Epernon I would withal my Heart she reply'd but he is a Man whom I have offended and he never pardons ' Yes his Enemies answer'd Bassompierre smiling but not his Masters The good Princess did not well know the Duke's Temper He was not so good a Christian as to pardon his Enemies yet he was too ambitious not to pardon the Regent provided she would set him up higher in Authority and Reputation Tell the Queen answer'd he to Bassompierre that I only supplicate to her to be somewhat more constant for the future to distinguish better and continue her good Servant At length Bassompierre propos'd to the Regent she would be pleas'd to give leave that her Ministers of State might come back to Court again He offered to speak for Villeroy and Jeannin but as for what concern'd the Chancellor the Regent was to declare her self to the Chevalier Sileri Brother to this Magistrate It 's needless to relate all the Particulars of Bassompierre's Negotiation He had so good Markets to make as there was not much trouble to bring 'em to an end The Duke of Guise said Bassompierre at first ranted according to his Custom but afterwards he consented to all His Lady Dutchess who was made use of in this Affair did not make many Words to make him accept of a good Sum of Money The Duke of Epernon ask'd nothing better than to have a Share in the Government This haughty ambitious Man saw with Pleasure that they thought him the most proper Person to break up a puissant Faction contriv'd by the first Prince of the Blood and Grandees of the Realm The Two Dukes saw the Queen the next Morning in private to both of their Satisfactions The old Ministers of State recall'd As for these Ministers of State they were not less tractable These Gentlemen were too much discontented to lose their Credit The Chancellor and Villeroy were at odds but quickly reconcil'd Jeannin had a Commission to give the Queen a Visit in the Name of these Three in Luxembourgh House whither she repair'd every Day to see the fine Palace she had begun to build and the pleasant Gardens she was planting The secret Discourse which the Queen had with the President Jeannin caus'd many Thoughts in the Marechal de Ancre who was come to Luxemburgh House His Surprisal was yet greater when the Officer of the Queen's Guards would not let him come near to her because she had given express Order to hinder whomsoever he was that came from interrupting her whilst she was talking to the President Jeannin Conchini from that time began to fear some new Revolution at Court he did not doubt of it farther when he saw the next Evening the Queen give the Duke of Epernon a Thousand Marks of distinction She caus'd a Chair to be brought for him and plac'd next to her under pretence that he was newly recover'd from a great Sickness They discours'd a long time together She invited him to see a Play and order'd a Chair to be brought for him and Zamet the Duke 's great Friend who bore him Company without giving the least Attention to the Duke of Mayenne who was there present Conchini swore bloodily and considering how the Scene was alter'd said I laugh at the Affairs of this World The Queen takes care of a Seat for Zamer and never takes notice of the Duke de Mayenne After such a Stir as this depend if ye will upon the Friendship of Princes Mary of Medicis was then the most satisfied Princess in the World The very Day that she was reconcil'd to the Duke of Guise and Epernon was in her Opinion the most difficult and weightiest Day of her Life This is a Play said she with a many Intrigues in it at the end we have nothing but Peace and Rejoycing Whilst she was in so good a Humour she plentifully bestow'd her Liberalities The Duke of Guise was secured of an Hundred thousand Crowns and that the Count of Rochefoucault should be call'd back to Court The Chevalier de Guise got the
who fain'd to talk of the Count of Spain that his most Christian Majesty had so good Intentions for the House of Mantua as he would never fail to take it into his Protection and Oppose with the force of his Arms those who should undertake to offer violence to his near Relations Charles Emanuel well understood this Discourse concern'd him more than it regarded the Spaniards He then laying aside his ordinary Dissimulation answer'd frankly that he hop't from the Equity of the King and his Mother Queen their Majesties wou'd not take it â—…l if he maintain'd in case he was forc't â—…'t the Right of his Children to the Estates of the House of Mantua My Daughter is big with Child proceeded he â—…nd don't we know but that she may be â—…rought to bed of a Son Be it what it will â—…he Princess Mary is the undoubted Heiress â—…f Montferrat If the House of Gonzaga â—…ill do any Injustice to the Mother or Daughter am not I in a necessity to take their Inâ—…rests I can't be perswaded that his most â—…hristian Majesty whom I have always â—…erv'd the best t' was possible for me would â—…rotect upon this occasion Persons who would â—â—ke away Mine and my Childrens Rights Whatever comes on 't if Men fail to do Juâ—â—ice we shall have Recourse to the Soveâ—â—ign Judge of the World and we trust he â—…ill be favourable to us Such is the Lanâ—…uage of Princes when they are going â—â—on unjustifiable Actions Geffier Resiâ—…ent from France at the Court of Savoy â—â—d Orders to speak more positively to â—â—e Duke and declare to him that the â—â—areschal Lesdiguieres should have an â—…rmy ready to march forward into Italy as soon as there should be any Attempt against the House of Mantua which the Crown of France took under its Protection The French being gone to Mantua to make his Complements of Condolence in behalf of the King of France and the Queen his Mother to the Cardinal upon the Death of the late Duke gave the same Assurance by the Queen's Order This did not a little serve to secure Ferdinand whom these Affairs had put into great perplexity The Popes Conduct in the Affairs of Mantua He was to expect some Succours from the Pope whose chief Interest is to maintain peace in Italy but the fearful and interessed old Man acted but weakly in this matter However urgent Breves the French Ambassador at the Court of Rome was with Paul V. for to stir him up to prevent the Troubles which this Controversie might raise in Italy Siri Memorie recondite To. III. pag. 16 17 c. no other answer could be got from him than that the Queen of France ought to press thâ—… Catholick King to send a precise Order to the Governor of Milan not to bacâ—… the Pretensions of the Duke of Savoy The Pope secretly gain'd over by the Spaniards to whom he was wholly devoted and who at first flatter'd themselves oâ—… making an Advantage of the Ambition 〈◊〉 Charles Emanuel had Counsell'd the Cardinal of Mantua to send the Mother and Daughter to Milan And when it was propos'd to him to take them both to Boulogne under the Care and Protection of the Holy Chair he excus'd himself of this for that Charles Emanuel had no confidence in him At length Breves having told Paul that it was however expected from his love for the common good of Italy that he should oppose his Spiritual and Temporal Arms against the Duke of Savoy in case he attempted to attack with open Force the Cardinal of Mantua the Pope answer'd in General Terms that he would follow the Dictates of his own Conscience and do as God should inspire him an usual Evasion of these Gentlemen who hearken to their Interests and Passions more than to the Voice of the Holy Spirit Pope Paul spoke with more Sincerity when in Reference to this same Affair of Mantua he said that he would not meddle with the concern of Princes who had no regard for his Authority and such indeed are the Sentiments of the great Personages who are of the Popes Communion They all of 'em know that this is but Usurpation Deceit and Pageantry yet in the Interim I cannot understand by what politick Interest all these Princes who are under the Popes Obedience keep still in with him These imagine whether it be good or bad that his Authority is necessary to them upon certain occasions and the Court of Rome crafty to make an Advantage of their so beneficial prejudicate Opinions think that they are quit with 'em if from time to time they wipe off and connive at some disdainful Aspersions whilst they can preserve their Revenues and a Spiritual Power over the Ignorant and Superstitious People without which the Pontifical Chair could have no long continuance or Duration The States of Venice stand by the Cardinal of Mantua The Venetians upon this Occurrency were less Fearful and more Wise than the Pope for these able States-men foresaw too well the Consequences of the Affair of Mantua and easily discover'd where the Artifices of the Duke of Savoy drove at The Senate therefore took particular care to encourage Cardinal Ferdinand and gave him the best Advice for not to suffer himself to be surpris'd unawares Nani Hist Veneta Lib. I. 1613. The Republick did moreover Negotiate very effectually both at Vienna and at the Court of France to persuade those Princes to oppose the secret Designs of the Spaniards and the undertakings of Charles Emanuel Matthias the Emperor did as much instruct his Kinsman the King of Spain as any other Prince in Europe and the Cardinal de Clessel kept him in this Jealousie Being both perswaded that the Spaniards design'd rather to Ruine than to Support the Authority of the Emperor in Italy Upon this account Matthias did not make any difficulty to chuse the Cardinal of Mantua for the Guardian of the Children of the late Duke and to dispense with his Age he not being old enough according to the Common Laws to be their Guardian Ferdinand Cardinal of Gonzague takes upon him the Title of Duke of Mantua At length after Three months pretence the Dutchess Margarita declared she was not with Child and Ferdinand de Gonzague took the Quality of Duke of Mantua The Prince of Piedmont came to fetch his Sister and Conduct her to Turin Isabella of Savoy another Daughter of Charles Emanuel Married to Caesar d'Este Duke of Medena came also to Mantua that so she night have a meeting with the Prince of Piedmont her Brother and the Dutchess Margarita her Sister This was a new â—…ontrivance of Charles Emanuel The Marriage of the Cardinal Nani Historia Veneta Lib. I 1613. Siri Memorierecondite Tom. III. p. 52 53 54. c. Duke of Manâ—…ua was thought a proper expedient to â—…ompose all Differences 'T was proposed â—…nd Ferdinand did not seem very averse to 〈◊〉 Margarita thought by shedding a few Tears 't would be easie
to work upon her â—…over and to obtain leave of him to â—…arry away the Princess Maria but tho â—…he Cardinal might have some inclinatiâ—…ns for Margarita yet his love was not so â—…olent as to overcome all those Reasons which engaged him not to part with his Niece The Prince of Piedmont seeing him resolute in this point thought fit to try another method which was this that the Dutchess Dowager should retire to Modena with her Daughter till the proposed Marriage should be Consummated but in case it should be broke off she should go alone to Turin and that Caesar de Este should be obliged by promise to send back the Princess Mary to Mantua if the Emperor or Cardinal Duke should re-demand her New efforts of the D. of Savoy to fetch the Princess Mary his Grandaughter from Mantua Ferdinand was caught in the Snare Whether it was that his Ministers were bribed or that he had not quickness of apprehension enough to receive it the Cardinal imprudently accepted the proposal which his Enemies made him When the Ministers of France had notice of it they admonisht Ferdinand that if his Niece should once go out of his hands 't would be impossible for him to get her again and that the Duke of Modena would be so confined by the artifices of Charles Emanuel and the Marquis d'Inojosa that he would not be able to restore her thô he should be willing to do it They added farther if you should marry any one but Margarita and it should please God you have any Children what perpetual disputes will there be between them and the Heiress of one part of the Estates of your Family Have you duly weighed all these inconveniencies This Remonstrance opened the Cardinal Dukes Eyes but he had given his Word and he could not tell how to go back The Ministers of France and the Venetians helpt him out by perswading the Duke of Modena not to charge himself with a Trust which was like to enâ—…angle him in a great deal of trouble and vexation So that the Prince of Piedmont set out for Turin with his Sister Margarita â—…he being very much grieved to leave her Daughter behind her They came to Milan in the holy Week The Governor â—…nvited them to spend those days of Devotion there But Victor Amadeus and â—…nojosa had something else to mind than Holy-days The latter sent immediately â—…o Modena to engage Este to charge himself with the Dutchess and Princess of Mantua which according to Agreement were to be committed to his Care And when they were sure of the Duke of Modena the Captain of the Governor's Guards was sent to Mantua in Inojosa's Name to desire the Cardinal Duke to be â—…s good as his Word Ferdinand who â—…id not expect thus to be importuned aâ—…resh had no other way to come off but â—…o retract what he had said He alâ—…edged for his excuse that he could not â—…eliver up his Niece without the consent of the Emperor who had committed her â—…o his Guardianship The Titular Bishop of Diocesarea was sent to Milan to make up the business with the Governor Ferdinand ordered this Prelate to go likewise as far as Verceil whither Charles Emanuel was advanced under a pretence of coming to meet his Daughter Margarita but really with a design to execute a Project which he had in his Head The ambitious Projects of the D. of Savoy The Bishop of Diocesarea had power to Negotiate the Marriage proposed between the Cardinal Duke and his Sister in Law The Dissembling Savoiard sometimes seemed to listen to this Expedient but he had no desire to bring the matter to a conclusion The opportunity which he had of seizing on Monferrat was too good to be neglected Charles Emanuel plainly told the Bishop of Diocesarea that he would not give up the pretensions of the House of Savoy to Monferrat in favour of the Match he demanded back again not only the Jewels which his daughter had carried into the Family of Gonzague but also those which her Husband had presented her with The Cardinal Duke refused to restore the latter and Charles Emanuel full of great expectations designed nothing but to satisfie his Ambition He pleased himself with the thoughtâ—… of having time to effect his Enterprize before the Princes of Italy would be awakened out of that Sleep which â—…long and profound Peace had brought upon them The watchful Eye which the Republick of Venice had upon every thing that was doing in their Neighbourhood gave him some Disturbance But he imagined that if they did not approve of his Invasion yet they would stand by and look on rather than engage in a War As for the Emperor he did not much concern himself about it The Authority of the Empire in Italy is but a vain Title without Power The two Crowns were more to be feared But the Duke thought Maria de Medicis having her hands full by reason of the Factions of the Princes and great Men at home could not send any mighty Assistance to the House of Mantua And then he hoped to curry favour at the Court of Madrid by means of the Governour of Milan his Friend Besides there were at that time no Troops in those parts and it would require time to bring them thither However he thought the fear of bringing the French into Italy would make the Court of Madrid backward to declare it self either one way or the other And this in the very thing which would have checkt Charles Emanuel if he had not been blinded by his Ambition For indeed his Catholick Majesty fearing nothing more than that the French should have any pretence to carry their Arms into Italy his business was to take care that the Duke of Savoy should not tacque the House of Mantua which France would not fail to take under its Protection The Duke of Savoy invades Monferrat Charles Emanuel assembles his Troops as secretly as he can and parts from Verceil the 22th of April 1613. to enter Monferrat with his Army He presently surprizes several places others being not prepared to make any Resistance Surrender so that within a few days he was Master of all the Province except Casal He had also took this important Town and the rest of the Marquisat if Charles of Gonzague Duke of Nevers in France had not happily been in Italy at the time of his Invasion whether it was upon the account of assisting the Cardinal Duke with his Advice and with his Sword if there should be occasion or whether he pretended to Negotiate at Rome and at Venice about an imaginary descent into the Morea which he had designed he undertook to Conduct to Florence his Sister in Law Daughter of the late Duke of Maienne married to the Count of Saintfiore Son of the Duke of Sforce When Nevers was arrived on the Coasts of Genoa he received Letters which invited him in the Name of the Nobility of Monferrat to come immediately to their
to assist the Cardinal Duke he threatned them with nothing less than bringing the Turk against them and covering the Adriatick Sea with Corsairs and Pirates Sometimes nevertheless he talkt of Peace but his Proposals were so extravagant that they could not be accepted or else so ambiguous that no body could tell what he meant His Intrigues at the Court of France are discovered The Intrigues which this turbulent Spirit had formed in the Court of France with some great Men there gave him more Confidence than any thing else He sent Couriers continually to the Mareschal de Lesdiguieres his Friend who Commanded in Dauphine by reason of the Non-age of the Count Soissons Siri Memoirie recondite Tom. III. page 81. He made Lesdiguieres believe that he did nothing without his Privity and Advice that so he might get him into his Interests and hinder him from obeying too punctually the Orders the Queen Regent had sent him to assist her Nephews of Mantua and amuse the Mareschal with divers Proposals of accommodation Charles Emanuel held also a great Correspondence with the Duke of Bellegarde one of the Malecontents of the Regency The Government of Burgundy in which he was settled might render him very useful to the Designs of the Savoiard In short he had Agents and secret Spies in the Court of France who gave him notice of every thing and who were neerly Allied to the Prince of Conde the Male-contented Noblemen and even the Marquiss and Marchioness of Ancre the most intimate Confidents of the Queen Being exactly informed of all that past at Court and in the several Provinces The Duke of Savoy flattered himself that Mary de Medicis being embarrast with Factions which he managed with extraordinary application would not be in a condition to let her thoughts run abroad and that she would shortly be engaged in a Civil War Memoires de Bassompierre And really what care soever the Queen Regent took to secure her self of the Duke of Guise he still wavered and the Prince of Conde was forward enough to take notice of it The Duke of Vendome Gevernour of Britagne had given his word to the Dutchess of Mercoeur his Mother-in-Law that he would be faithful to the Queen And nevertheless he grew into a great intimacy with Conde before he set out for Bretagne whither he went to call together the States of that important Province The Marshal of Bovillon disgusted that he could not rise so high as he aspired was the Man who underhand endeavoured to take off the Duke of Guise from the Queens Interests and to strengthen the Prince of Conde's Party that so Mary de Medicis might see her need of him and buy him at a dearer rate The Marquiss d' Ancre being earnestly bent upon the ruin of those Ministers which the Cabâ—…l had a mind to undermine went so far in that business that the Queen Regent was obliged to threaten him with Banishment if he did not break up the Cabal and presently return to Court from which he affected to be at a distance under a pretence of some Discontent I am a Man of Honour answered he to Bassompierre when this Nobleman spake to him in the behalf of his Benefactress The Queen thinks she may break her Word to People for my own part I 'l be Faithful to Mr. the Prince and those others with which her Majesty has united me The cunning Italian loved Conde no more than those Ministers but being resolved to remove all those Princes and Noblemen that stood in his way after he had driven from the Court all those which he thought had too great a share in the management of Affairs The Ministers did not let slip so good an occasion of irritating the Queen against the Marquiss they studiously aggravated the Ingratitude of a Man whom the Queen had raised Galigai his Wife was the first that exclaimed against him But at the bottom there was a very good understanding between him and his Wife they were both in the same Intrigues Their Enemys thought they had found out enough to be the Ruin of both without remedy Gueffier the Resident of France in Savoy had discovered that the Duke had notice of all the secret Passages at Court Mercure Francoise 1613. and that the Letters were directed to a certain Baron de la Roche of Dauphiny whom Charles Emanuel often kept company with and I can't tell how Gueffier had gotten a piece of a Letter written by the hand of the Duke of Savoy's Spie He sent it back to France Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Medicis to be examined to see if they could know the Hand of this Person that sent secret Advice They suspected divers and the Officers of the Post had Orders to seize him who should bring Letters written by the same hand The Queen Regent was then at Fontainbleau where she was entertaining her self with the Pleasures of the Spring 'T was there they seized a Dauphinois by Name Magnac as he was carrying to the Post a Letter addressed to the Baron de la Roche they examined him before the Queen's Council Magnac accuses the Marquiss and Marchioness d' Ancre but above all Dole their intimate Confident The Ministers began to triumph hereupon They boasted that Conchini and his Wife or at least Dole should never get clear of this unhappy affair And certainly there was matter enough to ruin them entirely The extreme Embarrassment of the Marquiss d' Ancre which he brought himself into by intrigueing with the D. of Savoy Memoires de Bassom if their Friends had not stood by them and if they had had a Mistress more Advised and less Indulgent than Maria de Medicis Bassompierre had dextrously gotten all the Secret out of Lomenie the Secretary of State something of which the Queen had before told him He thought he was obliged immediately to advertize Conchini of it whom he looked on as his Friend The Marquiss d' Ancre denied that he knew Magnac and affected to speak without any concern Bassompierre being satisfied that he had performed a good Office to a Man that might make his advantage of it if he pleased left the Marquiss and took a walk along the Canal of Fountainbleau But Conchini reflecting upon the notice that had been given him he presently sent to enquire for Bassompiere They shut themselves up in a Gallery and Conchini being uneasie having walkt sometime without saying any thing Cried out all of a suddain in his odd Language half French and half Italian I am Ruin'd Mr. Bassompierre The Ministers my Enemies have got the better of me with the Queen Then he wept bitterly and threw out a thousand Execrations Bassompierre suffered him to torment himself for some time After the Marquiss was a little come to himself he said thus to him Sr. your business now is to take a good Resolution The favour of the Queen may be a great stay to you against your Enemies
Secretary Vargas to Milan to declare plainly to Charles Emanuel that if he would not consent to restore the Towns he had taken in Monferrat that Philip. would force him to it Besides that the Duke of Lerma hated the Duke of Savoy this Minister did not care for War whether it were that he thought Peace more proper for the Conservation of his Authority or whether he was willing to conform himself to the calm and pacifique temper of his Prince So that Charles Emanuel is in worse confusion than ever He had pretended to listen to some proposals of accommodation Siri Memoire recondite To. III. p. 81 82. c. Nani Historia Veneta 1613. which Massimi the Popes Nuncio had made him in the Name of the Pope Victor Amedeus Prince of Piedmont was also gone to Milan to Negociate that Affair But his Father always found some occasion when the matter was near being concluded And even at that very time when the Duke appeared inclined to Peace He endeavoured to carry on his Conquests in Monferrat Althô France and Spain then threatned him equally and the Princes of Italy had almost all declared against him yet he was not daunted but steddily resolved to make a new Effort to lay the Storm which roared on both Sides of him He sent out of hand the Prince of Piedmont to Madrid to represent his Rights to the Catholick King and he engaged his Brother the Duke of Nemours to make a Journey into France to bring over the Queen Regent if he could or at least to oppose the Duke of Maienne who made a powerful Interest in favour of the House of Mantua But they had less Respect for him in Spain than they had in France when Victor Amadeus arrived in Catalonia the King let him know that he forbid him to pass any farther till he should receive news of his Father's submission to his Majesty's last Orders The Emperor Commands the D. of Savoy to desist from his Enterprize upon Monserrat Siri Memoire recondite To. III. p. 84.85 c. According to the Project of Accommodation proposed by the Pope's Minister the Duke of Savoy was to deliver up to his Holiness the Places which he had Possession of in Monferrat At this the Court of Vienna took offence And indeed the Marquisat being a Fief of the Empire It belonged to the Emperor to decide the Controversie and to be the Sequester preferably to all others Matthias therefore sent Orders to the Prince of Castiglione his Commissary in Italy to go to Turin and tell Charles Emanuel that he should immediately raise the Siege he had laid before Nice de la Paille a Town of Monferrat and consent to the suspension of Arms which his Imperial Majesty had ordered on both Sides upon pain of forfeiting the Emperor's Protection and that he must with all speed lay down his Arms to dissipate the Jealousies which his Enterprize had given him But as the Emperor pretended to be the sole Judge of a Controversie concerning a Fief of the Empire so the King of Spain he too would be the Arbiter without the concurrence either of the Empire or of France All these incidents pleased Charles Emanuel What with Criticizing on some of the Articles that were proposed to him and expecting till the Competition should be decided he had time to push on his Conquests in Monferrat The Prince of Castiglione tired with the delays of the Duke of Savoy publisht a Proclamation in the Name of the Emperor where he enjoined Charles Emanuel to deliver up to his Imperial Majesty's Commissary all that he had taken in Monferrat to send within Ten days a Deputy who should Treat the Prince of Castiglione being present with him whom the Duke of Mantua should send about means to determine the Controversie to the satisfaction of those who were concerned in it And that the Affair must be finisht within a Month after they should meet on one Side and on the other But was it prudent to use a precise and absolute way of speaking before he had sufficient Forces in Italy to Command Obedience if either of the Two Sides should resist This was to expose the Authority of the Emperor too rashly The Dukes of Savoy and Mantua had no other regard for him but as his great Name might sometimes do them a kindness The Princes of Italy Feudatories of the Empire are willing to withdraw themselves as much as possible from any Authority which incommodes them as weak as it is The King of Spain himself undermines it slily upon this occasion His Catholick Majesty will have no other Arbiter in a Country where he is most powerful The Governour of Milan acts more effectually than the Imperial Commissary The Governour of Milan compels the D. of Savoy to submit to the K. of Spain Nani Historia Veneta Lib. 1.1613 Inojosa being perswaded that his Master was resolved to bring this Affair to a Conclusion without the interposition of France sends the Prince of Ascoli at the Head of Five thousand Men which joined Three thousand more of the Troops of Mantua Commanded by Prince Don Vincent the Cordinal Dukes Brother This Army advances towards Nice near to which that of Charles Emanuel lay the Savoiards did not then doubt Mercure Francois 1613. but that the Governour was firmly resolved punctually to execute the Orders of his Catholick Majesty There being no other way left but that of putting a good face upon it the General of the Dukes Army sent word to the Prince of Ascoli that the Duke his Master entred into Monferrat not imagining that King Philip would have espoused the Cause of the House of Mantua against a Prince which had the Honour to be his Majesties Brother in Law Since it is so added the Envoy the Troops of the Duke my Master are ready to retire I will only say that 't is not the fear of the Arms of Mantua but the Respect which his Highness has for the King of Spain that inclines him to this Resolution He will never Employ his Forces in any thing that shall displease his Catholick Majesty The Prince of Ascoli answered that he had Orders to Relieve the Town of Nice and to take Care that the Army of the Duke of Savoy leave Monferrat He added If the General will lead off his Army no body will pursue it but if he is resolved to stay we 'l presently be with him After so many cunning Tricks and Contrivances the Duke of Savoy was entaged to see himself once more the Jest of all Europe and to have spent a great deal of Money in Projects that were defeated in a Moment Before he would quite give up he had a mind to try Inojosa whose friendship he had always reckoned upon He proposed to him that he would blindly devote himself to the King of Spain in opposition to all the World on Condition he would leave him in Possession of what he had taken Offers so Honourable so
the â—â—voyard would not re-demand his Granâ—â—ughter nor require an Amnesty from â—…ose of Monferrat who had appeared for 〈◊〉 Inojosa was enrag'd that the Duke 〈◊〉 Savoy would have him pass for a Cheat. 〈◊〉 that he could say in his own Defence â—â—s that Charles Emanuel had played many such tricks before In his Negociations with the Ministers of Henry IV. and the most considerable Persons in the Court of France he often affirmed that in their private Conferences they had promis'd him things which they never thought of Whatsoever this Intrigue was if the Governor of Milan had ever said such things to the Duke of Savoy he was not much concerned about them afterwards Inojosa persisted to press Charles Emanuel to lay down his Arms. It was his business now to find out other Evasions France said he hath Troops in Dauphine The Mareschal de Lesdiguieres expects only the Queen Regent's last Orders to advance towards Piedmont Doth his Catholick Majesty expect that I should not be upon my guard This cunning Duke knew very well that Mary de Medicis being fully satisfied that the Houses of Savoy and Mantua had made a Peace without France's sending any Troops over the Mountains had no design that Lesdiguieres should March. The Queen Regent for her part desired likewise that he should lay dowâ—… his Arms. Charles Emanuel had answered the Ministers of her most Christian Majesty that the Spaniards did not wisâ—… him well and that Prudence obliged him to be in a posture of Defence againsâ—… those which had not forgot that he was iâ—… a League against them with the late King Vargas Secretary to his Catholick Majesty was upon the point to return to Madrid after he had executed the Orders which were given him with relation to Italy They sent him New ones to pass first by the way of Turin and to know the last resolution of the Duke This business perplex'd Charles Emanuel less than any of the rest Nani Hist oria Veneta Lib. I. 1313. He pretended to dismiss his Troops in the Envoy's Presence But he Cashierd only the Militia of his Country which he could recall in a Moment It was enough that he retained the Foreign Troops which were in his Pay We see the reason why he us'd all these Tricks unworthy of a Man of his Quality His Spies in France gave him an account that the Prince of Conde and the other Malecontents would shortly Rise and that there would be a Civil War Charles Emanuel was in hopes to make his advantage of this Conjuncture to re-establish his Affairs in Italy or on the Side of France The Governor of Milan demands the Princess of Mantua in the Name of the K. of Spain But the poor Duke was always deceived in his Expectations and unsuccessful in his Intrigues and Artifices The Cardinal Duke would have been pleas'd to see his Enemy perplext with â—…he Spaniards if the Governor of Milan had not been as troublesome to him as â—…e was to Charles Emanuel Nani Historia Veneta Lib. I. The Venetiâ—…ns advis'd Ferdinand to make this Answer â—…o the Demand that Inojosa made him to send his Niece to Milan that as to all his Quarrels with the Duke of Savoy and particularly that which related to the Princess of Mantua Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 123.126.127 c. he was ready to refer himself to the Judgment of the Pope the Emperor and his Catholick Majesty But in his Arbitration the Spaniard could not endure that Philip should have either a Superior or an Equal Without having any respect to that which his Imperial Majesty had told him by the Prince of Castiglione that he ought to treat the Princes of Italy with more Softness and Civility the Governor sent Pimentel General of the Milanois Horse to Demand in the Name of the King of Spain that they would forthwith send the young Princess to Milan to be Educated there Pimentel represented to the Cardinal Duke that Philip would take care of the Education of his Niece and that the repose of Italy depending in a great measure upon the disposal of the young Princess his Majesty who was careful of thâ—… Conservation of the Peace ought to have the Princess in his keeping for fear they should Marry her to one that should noâ—… be agreeable to the Neighbouring Princes and perhaps might raise a War Pimentel concluded his Remonstrance in giving Ferdinand to understand that if he would not deliver up his Niece willingly theâ—… would take her away by Force Thâ—… Cardinal Duke answered according to hiâ—… usual manner that he could not do any thing without the consent of the Emperor and the Queen of France Pimentel not being satisfied with this answer he told him further that the Princess was not well and because he would not believe it he gave him a sight of her to convince him that she was not in a Condition to be removed after this Ferdinand dismist him as Civilly as he could The Designs of the K-of Spain in this demand It was no hard matter to penetrate the Designs of the Court of Madrid The Cardinal Duke and Don Vincent his Brother had so ruined their health by their excessive Debauches that it was thought they would never have any Children and that they were not long lived To preserve Monferrat in the Family of Gonzague it was necessary to Marry the Princess to the Son of the Duke of Nevers the undoubted Heir of the Dutchy of Mantua And it was this which the Court of Modrid had a mind to hinder The King of Spain had a mind to make himself Master of the Dominions of the House of Mantua for fear they should one day fall into the Hands of a Prince of French Extraction who would favour the French Interest by reason of his great Possessions and Alliances in France This â—…s too true that Ferdinand at this time â—…alling dangerously ill the Ministers of Spain had already laid their Design to declare the Duke of Nevers had forfeited all his Right to the Succession of Mantua and that the Investiture of the Dutchy should be given by the Emperor to him whom the House of Austria should best like of as if the Male Line of the Gonzagues had been utterly extinct The Republick of Venice traverses the designs of the King of Spain The Cardinal Duke of Mantua who had neither understanding nor experience enough in Affairs to extricate himself out of all these Intrigues did supply his defects by his teachable Temper and by the Respect which he paid to the good Counsels which the Senate of Venice carefully sent him These refined Politicians saw with extream Jealuosie that the Spaniards had no less a Design than to devour all Italy Nani Historia Veneta Lib. 1. Not being content to assist Ferdinand with their Counsels and with their Forces and to encourage him resolutely to maintain the Interests of his Family this Republick further gave pressing Orders
the Spaniards satisfied to see themselves after this the sole Arbitrators of the difference between the Two Houses of Savoy and Mantua summoned again Charles Emanuel to conclude the Marriage of his Daughter the Widow of Duke Francis with Cardinal Ferdinand Duke of Mantua and to Disband his Army forthwith Immediately after this was done they promised to endeavour an accommodation of his differences with the said Cardinal Charles Emanuel made this indifferent answer That he could not break up his Troops so long as France was in Arms on all Sides As for the Marriage of my Daughter with his Brother-in-Law he continued that my Council is of Opinion that I ought first to have Justice done me and be Endemnified for the Pretensions I have to Montferrat and the House of Mantua The Ambassador desired he might have his Answer in Writing to the end he might send it to Madrid The Duke made no stand at this and to give notice to the Spaniards that he would not obey them as their Subject Orders new Levies Casts new Cannon Stores his Magazines in presence of his Catholick Majesty's Ambassador This Resolution made the Spanish Agent fear lest Charles Emanuel repulst after an Imperious way as Inofosa had used him should run out into more desperate Attempts wherefore in milder Language he proposed to his Highness the sending of Lawyers to Milan with a power to Negotiate with them who should come from the Cardinal Duke upon the mutual pretensions of both Houses The Governor of Milan and the Prince of Castiglione were to be the Mediators of this new Negotiation in behalf of the Emperor and King of Spain Charles Emanuel could not reject the proposal He nominated Three of his most able Lawyers Both Parties met and divers Expedients were proposed to bring the Two Princes to an Accommodation The first Demands of Savoy's Agents appeared Extravagant but in the end were much slacken'd The Prince of Castiglione might by chance have ended this Affair upon Terms reasonable enough by a double Marriage betwixt the Two Houses and yielding up some dependance of Montferrat which was near to Piedmont and lay fit for the Dukes of Savoy if the Governor of Milan less Patient than Castiglione had not spoilt all through his too high Demands For he imperiously caused it to be signified that the Duke should disarm in Six days time being vext that Charles Emanuel made so much difficulty to accept of the Conditions which the Spaniards had offer'd him He before he had commanded thus after so absolute a way should have put himself into a Condition of making himself to have been speedily Obey'd in case of a refusal To send these precise Orders as coming from the King of Spain and not to have his Troops in any readiness for making an Irruption into Piedmont was not this to Expose out of Season a Powerful King in an Engagement with an Inferior Prince who had sufficiently made it known that he would never yield but at the last Extremity As soon as a Monarchy believes it self to be Superior it grows Imperious and instead of Treating upon Affairs imposeth Laws The Spaniards had got this haughtiness of Mind in the Reign of Philip II. and were willing to preserve it after his death Would not one have done better to have called to mind that Spain had already given some certain signs of her declining Condition What Spain would have Effected in those days France is endeavouring to imitate in ours We have seen him talk extream haughtily to Charles Emanuel's Grandchild He hath been proudly threatned to be Invaded by the Arms of France And what was the upshot of this The Duke of Savoy as Courageous and Prudent as his Grandfather was like him weary to see himself dealt with as a Subject He 's in Confederacy with a great Number of the Enemies which France has brought upon it self And he hath quickly seen those who had taken Cities and won Battles come to him and speak as Supplicant Too fortunate for to buy shamefully a Peace from a Prince whom they had slighted In Three Months time said a Proud and Brutish Minister of France There shall be no mention longer made of the Duke of Savoy The History of our times will speak quite another thing than this Man ever thought for Posterity will read there with astonishment and pleasure that so proud a King hath been glad that Savoy should acquiesce to let him quit all his Conquests towards Italy in his present and Predecessors Reign The Duke of Savoy endeavours to gain the Venetians to his Side As discontented as the Venetians were with the restless and troublesome Humour of Charles Emmanuel who strove to disturb the quiet of Italy to satisfie his Ambition yet they were not sorry to see that a Prince so unequal in Power to Spain Nani Historia Veneta Lib. I. 1614. should be alone capable to Hector and Perplex People who had a mind to make the whole World tremble at them The undaunted Courage of the Duke of Savoy which he shewed in maintaining his Dignity of a Sovereign Prince so well pleased the Senate as they were the better disposed to hearken to the proposals which Charles Emmanuel had to offer to this Republick Siri Memo. recondito Tom. III. p. 241. The Duke of Savoy perswaded that the Senators who did not want Courage were angry at the pride and haughtiness of Spain and that they would be glad to see an imperious plotting Nation far removed from their Frontiers sought to fathom the Inclinations of the Senate by making an Overture to them of a League Offensive and Defensive for the Conservation or rather Recovery of the Liberties of the Sovereigns of Italy But yet he did not know how to enter into a Negociation with them who had openly Complained against him for sending back their Ambassador after an unworthy manner Cardinal Aldobrandin his Friend had tryed to make up the business for him with the Senate but they would not give Ear to him James I. King of Great-Britain sought to be a Mediator in the Affairs of Italy and gain some Authority and Reputation in those Parts He laboured after the Amity of the Venetians for a long time and the Duke of Savoy had laid many of his Intrigues in England wherefore Charles Emmanuel resolved to apply himself to Carleton James's Ambassador at Venice and desire him to get leave for Piscina's Audience a Man of great Ingenuity and Eloquence whom he had sent to the Senate Carleton had not much trouble to obtain this The Seignory consented to receive Savoy's Envoy having a better Opinion of Charles Emmanuel since the Spaniards had molested him Piscina set forth all his Eloquence in a Speech to the Senate He Complain'd in it of the King of Spain's Attempts Protested that the Duke his Master had rather die than endure the Indignities the Spaniards shew'd him he lamented the unfortunate Servitude of the Princes of Italy Argued upon the
been Fiefs of the Dutchy of Milan The Emperor was much more respectfully dealt withal Charles Emmanuel writ to him a long Letter by way of Apology and Manifesto The Duke gives therein the reason of his Conduct Complains mightily of the Haughtiness and Enterprises of the Spanish King and his Ministers in Italy and accuseth the Prince of Castiglione of being devoted to the Humour of the Spaniards against the true Interest of his Imperial Majesty 'T was said that the Spaniards were not over-satisfied with Castiglione's proceedings They would have had the Principality of Piedmont put under the Ban of the Empire and the execution of this committed to the Governor of Milan The Imperial Court did not think it convenient to go with so much precipitation They were not so blind but they could perceive that the Spaniards were too powerful in Italy The Pope's Nuncio and the Ambassador of F. endeavour an accommodation betwixt Spain and Savoy Whilst the Spaniards and the Savoyards Fight one the other sometimes with their Swords and at other times with their Pens the Marquiss of Rambovillet and the Nuncio Savolli proposed different Projects for an Accommodation of the Duke of Savoy with the Governor of Milan The Regent of France who otherwise was not well pleased with the Duke of Savoy Nani Hist Veneta Lib. I. 1614. and would deal tenderly with the Court of Spain had given Orders to her Ambassador to endeavour for the Peace of Italy without much troubling her self to satisfie the nice Pride of Charles Emmanuel who aspired to Treat with Crowned Heads as if they were his equals Therefore Rambovillet Siri Memo. Recondite Tom. III. p. 287 288 289. c. press'd the Duke of Savoy to Disband his Army the first upon the Governor of Milan's word which he should give as coming from his Master to the Pope and King of France that neither Piedmont nor any other of the States belonging to the House of Savoy should be attackt Mercure Francois 1614. and that his Catholick Majesty should Disband his Troops Fifteen or Twenty days after The Pope and the King of France offered to be Guarrantees of the Treaty and Rambovillet protested to Charles Emmanuel that the Mareschal Lesdiguieres should come to his Succour with all the Forces of France in case Spain should break the Treaty The Duke was a long time shuffling hereupon He did not believe that he ought to put too great a Confidence in the words of France at a time when France had greater Engagements with the Crown of Spain than ever Besides he considered that the Governor of Milan not disbanding till after him he should lie at the discretion of the Spaniards who might chase him out of Piedmont before the Succours of France could get over the Alps But on the other Side reflecting that if he provok't the Pope and France in refusing with too much stubbornness the Conditions which their Agents offered him he should be forsaken of all the World Charles Emmanuel found himself in so great a perplexity as he did not know what Resolution to take A League with the Republick of Venice was his only Remedy he sollicited the Senate as much as he was able to join with him to drive away the Spaniards from the Milanese Spain said he to Zeno the Venetian Ambassador is nothing like what it was heretofore The Country of Milan lies on all Sides open and may be over-run in the space of one or two Campaigns If France doth not Declare for us she won't be against us Her best Officers and Soldiers who are most Experienc'd will come over to us and take our part even by the King's consent The Princes of Italy who are mostly depending upon Spain will make an Insurrection against her as soon as they see her Power shaken in our Principality Every one will be glad to share a Part in the Spoil The Duke had to no purpose exhausted all his Eloquence and Policy upon the Senate This prudent Assembly was not disposed to follow the impetuous and revengful Humour of Charles Emmanuel A too long Experience had taught them that his Highness sought for nothing but to Embroil Italy and set it all in Fire in hopes of making himself Great or at least be talkt of His Remonstrances and Proposals were not better hearken'd to in England nor by the States General of the Vnited-Provinces nor the Protestant Princes of Germany He proposed Leagues in all the Courts that were Jealous of the Grandeur of Spain and he could not find so much as one of these who would be drawn into his vast and Chimerical Projects Only the King of England did him some kindness with the Venetians But the Issue of this was to let the Senate see that it was not convenient to suffer Spain to oppress the Duke of Savoy and that a way ought to be found out of making an Agreement which might be Honest Firm and as Advantageous as possibly might be to a Prince who held so considerable a Rank in Italy The D. of Savoy accepts of the Conditions proposed Spain refuses them Charles Emmanuel after he had seriously reflected on the Posture of his Affairs took such a Resolution as he had been observ'd to take upon the like Occurrences and this was to accept of the Conditions which the Nuncio and the Ambassador of France had proposed to him The fear of having all the World upon his back and the hopes of getting the Mediators to be on his Side in case the Spaniards should make any difficulty of consenting to the Project of an Accommodation contributed much to the sudden alteration which appeared to be in the Duke of Savoy's mind Savelli upon this and Rambovillet prepared at Verceil a provisional Treaty till such time as a difinitive Judgment was pass'd upon the Difference rais'd betwixt the Houses of Savoy and Mantua Charles Emmanuel fairly offered to Sign it The Marquiss Inojosa would not do the like As he had at that time been for the Interests of the Cardinal Duke of Mantua with as much zeal as he at first had favoured the Duke of Savoy so he rejected the Article which contained in it that a certain dependance of Montferrat called Canavese should remain in Sequestration till the Controversie upon the Duke of Savoy's Pretensions against the House of Mantua was determined by Arbitrators chosen on both Sides The Mediators prepared in the City of Ast another Project of a Treaty in presence of Charles Emmanuel The Article touching Canavese in this was left out and they put into the Room of it That the Cardinal Duke should pay the Dowry give up the Jewels of Maragarite of Savoy his Sister-in-Law at a certain prefixt time and besides this should pay in Two years space the Portion of Blanche of Montferrat for which the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua had Contested so long a time The other Articles Decreed That the Prisoners and Places taken on both Sides should be Restored
and that each of the Two Princes should make an Act of Oblivion for all those of thier Subjects who had served against them Charles Emmanuel sign'd this willingly being exceedingly contented Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 293. 294. c. that he was to give no satisfaction to the King of Spain or to ask his Pardon but the Marquiss of Rombovillet was blamed for having been too hasty in his Negociation The Spaniards accus'd him for suffering himself to be lead by the Duke of Savoy Nani Hist Veneta Lib. 1.1614 Others reported that he was too impatient of his Return to the Court of France Mercure Francoise 1614. The Cardinal Duke of Mantua was in all appearance to better himself in this Treaty for how could he dispense with the payment of a Dowry and give up the Jewels of his Brother's Widow As for Blanche's Portion of Montferrat he pretended that the House of Mantua had been acquitted of it Ferdinand then when they Demanded it might have answer'd That his Predecessors had already satisfied the Debt But he was so devoted to the Spaniards for obtaining their Protection as he did not dare to accept of any thing without their Approbation The Duke therefore seeing that they had rejected haughtily the Treaty of Aste thô the Pope and States of Venice judged it reasonable Protested he had rather die than sign it The Emperor wonder'd he was not so much as mentioned in an Accommodation which toucht a considerable Fief oâ—… the Empire in Italy But there was not much care taken of his Complaints The King of Spain his Relation had less regard than any one else to the Rights of the Empire in Italy As to the Court of France the Opinions there of the Treaty of Ast were divided Mary de Medicis who favoured the King of Spain and had a thousand reasons to be angry with the Duke of Savoy was not very well contented with what Rambovillet had Negociated She would have been in the mind to have given Charles Emmanuel the Mortification of humbling himself before the King of Spain as he had done some years before But the Duke had his reserve of Friends in France A great many People there cryed out against the Pride and Haughtiness of the Spaniards who would not have Charles Emmanuel acquitted for Disbanding his Army Fifteen or Twenty days before the Governor of Milan They pretended that this Sovereign Prince whom the Duke of Lerma hated mortally ought to be obliged to Submit to the King of Spain and his Favourites discretion and beg Pardon of his Majesty for that he had not obeyed the Orders of the Court of Madrid without making any Reply Did ever any one behold the like Arrogance Inojosa carelesly answered them who brought him the Treaty of Ast to Sign That the King his Master had but newly forbid him to make any Peace with the Duke of Savoy The Mediators surprised at this sudden refusal desired of him however a Suspension of Arms for Forty days till they could have an answer from Madrid The Governor of Milan denied this and gave them to understand that Winter season was already begun and the bad Weather did oblige him enough to grant them what they Demanded The Marquiss of Bedmar the Spanish Ambassador at Venice made a great noise there saying to the Senate That 't was loud Injustice that the Duke of Savoy was not punisht for his Attempts against the Repose of Italy Ought not all the Potentates who are Interested to preserve its quiet unite with the King my Master and Chastise this Rashness of the Duke of Savoy Carleton the English Ambassador kept to another sort of Language He sollicited with all his might the Senate to declare that the Treaty of Ast was reasonable and that all the disinterested Princes believ'd his Catholick Majesty ought to be contented with it Beamar maintain'd against Carleton That this was not the King of Griat-Britains Opinion and that he had explained himself in this matter to the Spanish Ambassador at London The Venetians saw that this Treaty gave the Catholick King all that he could reasonably demand In the mean time because they would not further provoke the Spaniards who minded to do them much mischief they observ'd all possible discretion in their Answers to the Marquiss of bedmar We are very sorry said they that the Conduct of the Duke of Savoy has constrained the Catholick King to come to so great Extremities But we hope that God will inspire him with milder Sentiments and that his Majesty will Sacrifice a part of his Resentment and rest contented with the Justification which the Duke of Savoy will never be far from giving him These Civil dealings and Compliments nettled the Spaniards who perceived that they were not disposed to let them take the liberty of Revenge upon the Duke of Savoy according to their own will and fancy nor humble him as much as they pleased Give me leave here to make some Reflections upon these particulars What is the ground of this Controversie between Savoy and Mantua which makes for Two whole years so great a noise 'T was well nigh puting Italy and perhaps Europe in a Flame Almost all Potentates did concern themselves in it The dispute in the bottom is but some small Sum of Money or at most some Castles which the Dukes of Savoy pretended to against the House of Mantua Here 's the Reason why Charles Emmanuel takes up Arms overburdens his Subjucts carries desolation into Montferrat which becomes the Theatre of War The Cardinal Duke of Mantua represented to us as a Person of no very strong Head-piece and guided by Interested Ministers had nevertheless the cunning Ingenuity to bring Spain on his Side though at first they were against him whether this was an Action of his ability and parts or an effect of Fortune his Affair became the Catholick King 's business But upon what grounds did Philip or rather his Agents reject the Treaty of Ast and believe themselves in the right for to kindle a War and destroy Piedmont Upon a Trifle upon I do not know what punctilio of Honour Is' t then for this that Princes imagine they are dispens'd with from observing the chief Rules of Humanity and keeping the most express Commandments of Jesus Christ Sad unhappy Condition of Men if they must suffer that they who are set over them to study the Welfare and Preservation of others should lay wast Provinces ruine their Subjects and Neighbours and cause the Lives of an infinite number to be lost in satisfaction to their Vanity and for the pleasure of their capricious Humours All the King of Spain's Agents in Italy bustled after a strange manner in order to engage the Governor of Milan to make a new Irruption into Piedmont They flatter'd themselves that this Effort would render the Duke of Savoy more Submissive and tractable Inojosa prest forward through the Reproaches of his Countrymen on all Sides prepared for some