this Fort and furnishing it so much appeared sufficiently by the several Enterprises that had been made upon the City This was the occasion which moved the Duke of Rohan with whom the Peace of 1622 had been Treated to take Arms and give cause to the Duke of Soubize to make an Enterprize upon Blavet and to assure himself of the Isle of Re and the City and to joyn with them because that though they had not declar'd but sent Deputies to the King to obtain the justice of having this Fort demolished instead of the King 's effectual agreeing thereunto the Marshal Praslin was come against them in Arms committing Acts of Hostility That the following Peace having been made by the Intercession of the Ambassadors of the King of Great Brittain and of the States of Holland under divers Articles and above all apon the word of a King even given to the said Ambassadours in writing that within six Months the Fort should be demolished yet nothing of it had been observed That instead of suffering them to bring back their Goods the Sieur Thoiras had seized them and carryed away all their Salt and built a Citadel in the Isle of Re. That instead of reducing the Garrisons to the number agreed upon they had been increased in such sort that there was alwayes near eight or ten thousand men round the City That upon the passages to Maran and other places they had built new Forts which blocked the City and hindred the bringing in of Corn and Provisions That the Sieur Thoiras did 1627. Octob. the same by Sea by the help of Vessels which he contrary to the Treaty had lying in the Road at the head of the Bay That the Sieur Briel sent as Intendant of the Court of Justice had committed unheard of Injustice as the putting a Souldier to death upon suspicion of having broken a Crucifix in time of War which afterwards was proved false the Crucifix being found That contrary to the priviledges agreed to with the City by the King which was not of Grace but under Covenant given to France That they charged the City as belonging to the Domane establishing Offices for taxing the Corn and Wine of the Government sent Commands to Sieur Thoiras Governour of the City to build the said Fort and Citadel That besides these Injuries done them in particular those of the Religion in general were ill used thorough the whole Kingdom and their Edicts violated in all the heads That hereupon the King of England who on behalf of the King was to them Garrantee of the Peace which was so little observed having ineffectually imployed his Intercession resolved upon taking Arms and having sent his Army into these Quarters they sent Deputies to the Duke of Angoulesm who was in Arms so near to them as Maran to satisfie him by protestation That they desired to remain inviolable in their Fidelity and Obedience to the King and to beseech him to intercede with the King for their enjoyment of the last Treaty of Peace That instead of hearkening thereunto he declar'd War against them plundering their Houses building of Forts too near to them and committing openly all acts of Hostlity whilst they yet held themselves 1627. October in suspence In the end there fell into their hands the Kings Letters to the said Duke of the 13th of September where they found the Map of their ruine and the Order for besieging them both by Sea and Land That being reduced to this point they saw themselves forced to take Arms and to joyn with the English praying all their good Country-men and all good Kings and Princes to approve of their Design and to assist them therein under protestation nevertheless to remain alwayes in the duty of Subjection and Fidelity due to the King and that they should be ready to submit themselves to him when it should please him to receive them into his favour and cause the breach which had been made upon the Edicts to be repaired and to establish them in their ancient Liberties and Priviledges To this Manifest was published an ample Answer the sum of which was That if the Treaty aâ— Montpelier had not in all points been executed the Rochellers were the cause of it they having first broken it in that the Exercise of the Romish Religion ought to have been re-established fully and peaceably in their City which they would not suffer when the Commissioners of the King were sent nor suffer the publick practise of the Popish Ceremonies besides that the King by the same Treaty having ordered the dissolving of the new Order of forty eight Burgesses they would not do it adding that to their other disobedience which made his Majesty believe that it behoved him to stop that demolishment which they pressed so much for that they might be at the more liberty for a new Insurrection That the Armies levyed afterwards by the Duke of Rohan in Languedoc and the King's Vessels seized by the Duke of Soubize 1627. October at Blavet were Rebellious Attempts without Example and that the whole had been agreed with them who nevertheless was willing to amuse the King with feigned pretences of Loyalty but he did not think it reasonable to suffer himself to be so deceived by them As to the Treaty of Peace which followed it was false that Strangers had acted therein as Mediators that the King had given his word to them or consented to that Injury of their Master's being Garrantees to his Subjects as the Ambassadors of England have since told him That if after this Treaty the King thought good to build a Citadel in the Isle of Re and Forts in the Passages from the Isle of Maran it was no more than what was too apparently necessary for bridling a Rebellious City who then tampered with the English and further that it was contrary to truth that on that side they had committed any act of Hostility as all France knows but that the Passages for going and coming and bringing all sorts of Commodities was free to all As to the Offices established contrary to their pretended Priviledges and the Commands of the Governour given to the Sieur Thoiras that as these Priviledges were from the King's Grace and not as they say by Covenant so when they were fallen from their Duty it was most just to revoke them as in the time of Francis the First who dissolv'd their Common-Hall and gave them a Governour and never received them to Mercy until upon their Knees and with Tears they all made supplication for Mercy That the Judgment given against him who broke a Crucifix was judiciously done upon sufficient Informations That the Complaints of 1627. Octob. the generality of their Religion in the rest of the Kingdom was without Vouchers and refuted by the free and entire Exercise the King granted them and his protection under which they lived peaceably That the Invasions of the English and their descent in Arms in the Isle of Re made in full
entire consent of his Majesty Thirdly If it shall hereafter happen that any Enterprise shall be made on the behalf of France upon the Estates of his Majesty because of the said assistance the which he now offers them they will declare themselves in his favour and will divert with all their power all designs to his prejudice Fourthly For the assurance of this the said Deputies from this time forward do promise it in the name of the said Rochellers and obligeth themselves to cause these Articles to be ratified with a solemn Oath as well by the Mayor Sheriffs and Peers of the Common Hall as also by all the Burgers and Inhabitants extraordinarily assembled to that end Fifthly As to his most Serene Majesty he promiseth 1628. March in the word of a King to succour them at his own proper Cost and Charges both by Sea and Land according to his Royal Puissance until he hath freed them from the Forts that are as well in the Isle of Re as about their City and procured them a Peace and to that end he will henceforward arm puissantly against the Spring to execute something worthy of his Majestie using means to divert the designs that are against the City and oblige the Troops that are about the City to retreat until by the happy success it shall please God to give to his Arms it shall be entirely delivered Sixthly His Majesty during all the time that the War shall continue shall assist the said City with such a number of Souldiers of his Subjects as it shall judge necessary for its Guard the said Souldiers being paid by his Majesty Seventhly His Majesty shall permit as well to his Subjects as to the Inhabitants of the said City to lade in all his Territories all ProvisIons of which it hath need and cause Authentick Patents to be dispatched and sent to all the Ports and Havens to the end that by vertue thereof without any other Pass-Ports Merchants may freely buy in their Cargazons and not be troubled in their transportation of them Eighthly That from this time forward his Majesty shall cause to be sent away with a sufficient Convoy the Corn and other Provisions which by his Command is already laden for to be sent with all speed to the said City to be distributed there at an honest price Ninthly To ease the poverty of the City and to help its most pressing necessities his Majesty 1628. March shall permit a Collection in all his Estates and at present establish such order as is necessary for that Tenthly There having been heretofore certain Articles of Treaty compiled betwixt the Duke of Buckingham High-Admiral of England and the said Rochellers to some of which the said Lord Admiral did agree with the good liking of his Majesty and referred the rest to a more particular Conference From henceforward his Majesty doth agree to and holdetâ— for good and valuable those that the said Admiral hath allowed of and as to the rest he will with the first examine them and give the said Rochellers such just contentment therein as they can expect Eleventhly and lastly In case it happens that his Majesty shall come hereafter to a Treaty of Peace with the most Christian King the said Rochellers shall be thereunto called by his Majesty and no Treaty shall be concluded without stipulation expresly for their Priviledges and Immunities according to the Memorials they shall give in to his Majesty who obligeth himself further to be Garrantee for the said Treaty David Vincent Dehinse With these Articles thus compiled we expected the Secretary of the Duke but he came neither this day nor the next so that the nineteenth we went with them to the Duke who kept them to consider of at leisure and promised that he would confer upon them with the Commissioners and send for us 1628. March Being returned home we found his Secretary there who seemed very sorry for his delay and made multitude of business his excuse but for our parts we were well pleased that he had not seen us desiring rather to communicate with the Master than Servant We waited until the 22th and seeing then that he did not send for us we sought an occasion to present our selves to him but he prevented us by sending us word that he was imployed in the urgent Affairs of the King though the truth was that he avoided Meeting us upon a difficulty that he and the other Commissioners made of the fifth Article of our Treaty which he would have changed but nevertheless desired not to enter thereupon into a contest with us The means that he chose was to send his Secretary to the Duke of Soubize whom he acquainted that the terms upon which we desired that the King would oblige himself to us had something of too much strictness and therefore desired him to be a means of bringing us to qualifie and receive them in these terms viz. That his Majesty being moved with the good affections which he hath always had for the Churches and particularly for the City of Rochel he promised in the Faith and Word of a King to give them all convenient assistance unto the obtaining of a good and firm Peace The Duke of Soubize having hereupon conferred with us we received great displeasure from this change and fearing that he avoided coming from some doubt they had of not being able to obtain a Peace which would deliver us from our Fetters and above all from that Fort for which they had undertaken the War yet nevertheless we 1628. March judged it not fit to shew the least backwardness to the Treaty for we polished our Articles and so carried them the 27th ditto corrected to the Duke who receiving them of us and reading them in our presence made shew of approving them and told us that without further Communication with the Commissioners of whom he stood not in need all being agreed unto carried them to the King presented them to the Council and assured us that we should have all contentment Leaving him it was matter of great joy to us that the Duke took no more notice of Hostages or receiving the Armies into the City and that without being obliged to any debate with the Commissioners our Articles were received The 28th ditto receiving advice that there was a competent quantity of Provisions at Plymouth we waited upon the Duke to beg of him that the Earl of Denby might depart the next day and that the Sieur Dehinse our Collegue might according as it was agreed upon accompany him in his Voyage and have the honour to receive the Commands of the King and his own He carried us immediately to the King who received us with these Expressions I understand that the Earl of Denby will set sail without delay take not that which he carries at present for a succour it is but for a refreshment to the end to give courage to your City until time will permit a more puissant assistance And after a
of his Conscience for his Majesty is far from pursuing any Demands or Pretensions of his own or to invade the Territories of the French King his Brother with whom he desires to come to a perfect Union so it may be accompanied with the assurance of those in France who make Profession of the same Religion with himself If it be demanded how it comes that the King of Great Britain offers at this time Succours to 1627. July those of the Reformed Religion and this City when being formerly earnestly solicited to it he would not hearken thereunto I answer that the King at that time was not obliged by Promise to take care that the Articles agreed upon by the last Peace were observed besides that then the Treaties between these two Kingdoms were in their Vigour and Reputation and that the King our Master had hopes to be as beneficial to you by his Intercession as by his Arms for he well understands that the Church of God is our true Common Country and therefore hath been very careful in all his Seizures by Sea and Land to preserve those of the Reformed Religion and especially this City from all damage But at present the proceedings of this Estate hath put his Majesty out of doubt as to their designs and left him at liberty by having trodden under feet the Reverence due to Publick Treaties and therefore if you refuse this opportunity you will hereafter seek it in vain and in such case my Lord the Duke of Buckingham hath commanded me to make a Solemn Protestation before God and Man that he holds the King his Master in Honour and Conscience fully acquitted from all Engagements and his Excellency will dispose himself to execute the other Commands which he hath in Charge God hath in mercy given you the opportunity of making choice of Good or Evil and I have it in Command to press you to a ready Answer and Declaration as to which of the two you will make choice of You ought to consider that you may at present resolve clearly hereof as well as with suspention and that as to us each hour of delay will be very prejudicial 1627. July After this he presented the Duke of Buckgham's own Manifest Signed by himself containing a Declaration of the King of Great Britain's Intentions as followeth WHat share the Kings of Great Britain have always taken in the Affairs of the Reformed Church of this Kingdom and with how much Zeal and Care they have laboured their good is most eminently known to all the Examples thereof having been as ordinary as the occasions The present King my most honoured Lord and Master had not come therein behind his Predecessors if his honest and laudable designs for their good and advantage had not been perverted to their ruine by those whose interest it was to have accomplished them What Advantages hath he refused what Parties hath he not pursued that by his Alliance with France he might work the more profitably and powerfully for the restitution of the Churches to their Antient Liberty and Splendour And how could we have expected less from so strict an Alliance and so many reiterated Promises from the Mouth of a Great Prince than Effects truly Royal and suitable to his Grandure but the Issue is so far short of that that his Majesty instead of obtaining freedom and security for the Churches and a general Peace to France by the reconciliation of those who breathe after nothing but all sort of obedience to their King under the enjoyment of Edicts hath met with nothing but the contrary some having prevailed by the interest they had in those of the Religion to the deceiving of them and that not only by dividing them from him but also by rendering him if not odious at least under suspect with them in perverting the means that he ordained for 1627. July their good to an end wholly contrary Witness the English Vessels not designed for the extirpation of those of the Religion express promises having been given not to make use of them to their prejudice and yet nevertheless they were carried to Rochel and imployed â—n the last Naval Fight against them What can any expect from so puissant a King as the King my Master for being publickly illuded than a Resentment equal and proportionable to the injury done him But he hath had Patience beyond Patience and whilest he could hope to relieve the Churches by other means he hath not had recourse to Arms until being made instrumental of the last Peace upon Conditions disadvantagious enough which had never been accepted of without the intercession of His Majesty who interposed His Credit and Interest with the Churches even with Menaces for procuring their agreeing to them for salving the honour of the most Christian King and giving him assurance not only of the observance of them but also of the melioration of the said Conditions whilest he should remain Caution towards the Churches but what hath been the issue of all this nothing but the abuse of his Bounty and that which His Majesty thought would have been a Remedy to all their Evils hath it not carried the Churches to almost the last point of ruine So little it fails that by the continuation of the Fort before Rochel the demolishing whereof was promised by the violence of the Soldiers and Garrisons in the said Fort and Isles as well towards the Inhabitants of the said City as Strangers who instead of being intirely with-drawn have been dayly augmented and other Forts built and by the Commissioners remaining in the said City beyond the time agreed Cabals have been held by the means of which Divisions have crept in amongst the Inhabitants to 1627. July the opening the Gates to Neighbour Troops and byother breaches of the Peace the said City and in it the whole Church hath wanted little of drawing its last Breath and nevertheless his Majesty hath contained himself and not opposed such great Injuries and Violations of Faith more than by Complaints and Intercessions until having had certain advise confirmed by intercepted Letters of the great preparations that the most Christian King made for falling upon Rochel and then his Majesty could not do less than vindicate his honour by a ready taking Arms against those that had rendered him as a Confederate in their Fraudes and Treachery and to give Testimony of the Integrity and Zeal which he hath always had to the establishment of the Churches which shall ever be most dear and pretious to him above all other things and that if any shall question whether this is the only end of his Arms and not rather some particular interest let him consider the Circumstances of time and dispositions of his Affairs and they cannot believe that the King my Master hath any design upon France or can have thoughts of Conquest in a time so disadvantagious That he hath at present for Enemy one of the most puissant Princes in the World and that if that
a Gentleman called Champ Flewry from the English Army with two Letters in Cyphers the one from the Duke of Soubize to the Dutchess his Mother and another from the Deputies to the Mayor 1628. Septemb. and Body of the City assuring them that before day was gone they would see the English Fleet arrived and about four or five in the Evening a great Party of the same appeared at the entering into the Road betwixt the Island and the Main and came to Anchor in the great Road of S. Martin and a la Palisse expecting those of the Fleet which were behind The 30th ditto it came to the Head of the Bay being joyned in the morning with a Squadron as it was in the Evening with another which came in by Antioch and so joyned altogether In the mean time those of the Camp remained not idle but put themselves in a posture of powerfully resisting the English and wrought diligently day and night to reinforce anew the Digue and Pallisade by sinking of Ships raising of Batteries placing of Candlesticks and Engines furnishing the Ships with Men and Ammunition and guarding the Coasts with Horse and Foot In brief they omitted nothing that could be done upon this occasion OCTOBER The second of Octob. new Stile the Rochellers seeing their succours at the Head of the Bay sent by Land the Sieur de la Land du Lac to acquaint them with the extremities that they were reduced unto and how the Digue was composed and the places where they might pass it The same day in the Evening the Rochellers received a Letter from their Deputies in England as followeth 1628. October The Deputies Letter to the Rochellers Gentlemen THe Fleet being scattered at Sea and not being able to re-assemble until Saturday in the Evening you have seen that the Weather since hath been improper for them but rest assured that they will take the first opportunity and that all are so disposed to do well that they will not depart before they have with Gods assistance relieved you This is the Resolution of his Majesty the Intention of the General all the Captains and Souldiers remain therefore most assured hereof From the Road in the Head of the Bay Octob. 1. 1628. Gentlemen Yours c. The third of Octob. new Stile about seven or eight in the morning the English Army Commanded by the Earl of Linsey set sail and seemed to give order to advance betwixt the two Points but stayed there two hours with some light approaches on each side but nevertheless without coming to blows nor did they any thing more than discharge many Cannon-shot and send some Fire-ships without any effect and after this retired to the great trouble of the Rochellers who believed they ought to have done better for they had already in their hopes swallowed the Provisions brought them by the Fleet. During this shadow of Attacque the Rochellers discharged many Cannon-shot from their Steeples Towers and Batteries on that side of which it 1628. October was reported in the Evening that one shot from the Tower of S. Nicholas killed four Persons of Quality on the side of Coureille In the City was also killed with one shot coming from the Gally the Sieur Gedeon Mignonneau The fourth of Octob. the English Army returned a second time as if it intended to attacque the Army of the King but did no more than the day before discharge some Cannon-shot and set six of their Fire-ships on fire but being a Calm and the Wind at North they effected nothing but burnt behind the Points of the Head of the Bay and Coureille unto the Plain of Angulin This saddened the hearts of the Rochellers greatly and took from them by their ill beginning almost all hopes of being delivered by this Army The seventh the Sieur Paul Mervault caused to be cast in Rochel four Culverines one whereof failed the other three proving good The same day the King sent a Gentleman into the City to know if they would come to any Treaty of Peace but he returned the next day without doing any thing the Rochellers refusing all particular Treaties and making again the forementioned difficulty of knowing how to address to the King The eighth ditto the English Army made a Signal accompanied with a Cannon-shot upon the arrival of Sieur de la Land du Lac which the Rochellers answered with the contrary Signal of a Fire upon the Tower at the Chain and with a Cannon-shot The eighth ditto there came into Rochel three Souldiers called Chardeuine la Verdue and la Paillette coming from the English Army with 1628. October each a Letter which they delivered to the Mayor being of this Tenure The Deputies aboard the Duke of Soubize their Letter to the Rochellers Gentlemen WE have given you already advice of our coming and of our firm resolutions to relieve you we send this to reiterate the assurances we have before given you and to tell you that though the Skirmishes of Tuesday and Wednesday had no effect you ought not to be discouraged but to hold your selves assured that with the help of God we will not depart from hence before you are either saved or we destroyed We have with Gods help force sufficient to make us hope well and see his bounty in your speedy deliverance if you can help us therein we do certainly conclude that you will not be sparing in it If you have any advice to give us touching the Pallisade and the manner of attacquing it endeavour to let us know it in the mean time we pray God to fortifie you The Duke of Soubize who will subscribe this salutes you and desires you to let this be as well for the Dutchess his Mother as for you We are From aboard the Duke of Soubize Octob. 6. 1628. Gentlemen Your most humble and most obedient Servants and Deputies Soubize Ph. Vincent J. Dehinse D. Bragneau J. Gobert 1628. October Besides this Letter the Messenger that brought it told Wonders of the Preparations that were made against the next High-tide and above all that they had three Ships to use as a Mine to blow up the Digue with in each of which there were many thousands of Powder from which they expected great effect for breaking the Digue and entirely opening the passage This caused some particular persons fore-judging that with the said High-water Victuals would come into the City to make on the tenth eleventh twelfth and thirteenth a publick sale of Corn Bisquet and all sorts of Provisions and there was found one amongst others who had forty Bushels of Corn and as many of Wheat ten Quintals of Bisquet twelve Bushels of Beans and as many of Pease six Bushels of Fitches one Bale of Rice twelve Quintals of dried Fish of Virginy and six Barrels of Butter As this did well with many so it killed a great many others whose Stomachs being debilitated by ill nourishment and the little that they had in a long time eaten were left without heat
he returned not a little discontented The 22. between Nine and Ten in the morning the Duke of Soubize followed by Mr. Baker Agent for the Duke of Buckingham came to the Gate of S. Nicholas desiring entrance into the City The Guard before the admitting of him acquainting the Mayor therewith he immediately repaired thither and sinding him betwixt the two Gates remonstrated to him the consequence of his coming into the City intreating of him if he desired the good and Conservation of Rochel and the Church of France to return to the Duke of Buckingham but the old Dutchess of Rohan his Mother who was some Months before retired hither coming to meet her Son after Salutations and Imbraces took him by the hand saying with a loud voice that she might be heard by the Mayor and the multitude that were there My Son come 1627. July see your Sister who is very sick At which words without demanding leave of the Mayor who found himself surprized and durst not openly and by force oppose him he went into the City with her as did also Mr. Baker who demanding to be heard in Council which was held after Dinner he made this Speech as followeth Gentlemen I am sent by my Lord the Duke of Buckingham High-Admiral of England to declare to you the Reasons for which by the Command of the King my Master he is come to the place where he now is and in sight of you accompanied with a Fleet of Ships laden with Souldiers Artillery and Ammunition ready to make a descent if occasion require It is sufficiently known to the World how the King of Great Britain our Master having Personally by an Adventure very rare and by a Prudence exceeding much his Age discovered before and since his coming to the Crown the danger ready to fall upon him and the rest of Christendom by the Ambition Fraud and Power of the House of Austria hath used all industry to prevent this danger and that not only by his own Forces but also by those of his Allies to which Resolution as he hath been pressed by almost all Princes and Estates of Christendom so none hath done it with more vehemency and efficacy than the French King his Brother-in-law and his Ministers not only by Arguments but also by Promises of Union and Assistance in that Common Cause And to conserve this Mutual Interest against a Common Enemy or suspected Friend was the reason why the King our Master hath more desired 1627. July the Amity and Alliance of France than of all the World besides hoping by this means to have the Power to divert the thoughts of this Great King from the ruine of his best Subjects those of the Reformed Religion and humbling the true Enemies of his Estate who keeps from him so many brave Provinces and Kingdoms possessed by his Predecessors In the prosecution of which Design he was willing to have sacrificed all his Interest for Common Good and securing of Christendom But his Majesty hath found by too dear experience that being ingaged in a War with Spain he did not only not receive the favour and assistance of France which with reason he might have expected but by expecting it received more prejudice and hinderances than from Spain it self and the reason hereof is most apparent for the grand design of this Estate is to take the advantage of the Ingagement of the King our Master with Spain to ruine and extirpate at the same time those of the Reformed Religion in France not that his Majesty will believe that this proceeds from the French King his Brother-in-law or the Queen his Mother being so great Princes and so nearly Allied to him but you Gentlemen know better than we the Powerful Influences that the Jesuits and Spanish Faction have upon the Councils of France which are said to be so strong that even with a high-hand Affairs are often carried against the King himself and by the force of this Faction proceeded the refusal of a passage to Mansfields Army raised and furnished in England 1624. at the very instant of their departure contrary to a Solemn Article 1627. July agreed upon with the French King for their passage by which refusal the Liberty of Germany hath been betrayed and twelve thousand English near totally destroyed The King our Master having interposed his Ambassadours for appeasing the last Wars against those of the Religion and with the consent of the French King himself becoming Guarrantee for the Peace and that those of the Religion were willing to submit to harder terms than at that time their Condition considered they needed to have done in hopes that the designs of this Estate would turn against their Common Enemies in Italy by the Power of this Faction it is nevertheless come to pass that not only the Confederates of the King in Italy have been abandoned but the Arms imployed there have since been made use of to reduce you to the extremity of Poverty and Famine of which I need not say more than that the Complaints of this City and all the Body of the Reformed Religion do still continue the Dukes of Rohan and Soubize having represented them to the King our Master Finally when this Faction perceived that all was to no purpose without prohibiting this City all Trade to Sea under pretext of an Imaginary Society of Commerce they have built a number of Ships of War but doubting that it would be sufficient to their design to fortifie themselves at Sea without at the same time weakning there the King our Master by an unexampled and unheard of Injustice in the midst of a full and perfect Peace and at a time when the King our Master was deeply ingaged in War by whch the Assurance and Riches of France increased they 1627. July made seizure of 120 Ships of his Subjects with Artillery Merchandize and Marriners and what other design could they have in it than to assure themselves of the ruine of this City For these Reasons alledged and many other of the same nature the King our Master the most Religious and Pious Prince in the World setting aside all other Respects than that of his Conscience hath a Sympathy of your Sufferings and his own Honour and finding himself obliged by Promise to procure the accomplishment of the Articles agreed upon especially being invited thereunto by my Lords the Dukes of Rohan and Soubize in the Name of the whole Body of the Reformed Religion he hath therefore sent hither my Lord the Duke of Buckingham who hath given me in Charge to make you an Offer in his Name of a powerful assistance as well by Land as Sea in case you resolve to accept of it for redeeming your Liberty by joyning with you in an actual War which he will do upon such Conditions as you your selves Gentlemen and all the World shall acknowledge that the King our Master hath no Eye to his own advantage but vour good the vindication of his Honour and discharge
shot carryed out of this World the Sieur Montferrior Brother of Monsieur Thoiras in such sort that this day was a day of great loss to each Party but above all to 1627. Septemb. the English in that Monsieur Burrowes was the only man of experience that they had The 27th The Sieur Ashburneham who was gone to Paris with the Sieur St. Surin arrived at Rochel with St. Surin in their way to Re who immediately after his arrival there was by the Duke sent Prisoner to one of his Frigats where was already the Son of Sieur Saugeon because as he said of the ill usage that Mr. Ashburnham had met with but it was believed in revenge for having been baffled by him The same day about three in the Afternoon they began Prayers in the Temple of S. John to continue every day until the Peace was made The 30th being Thursday the English took in the Evening three Barks laden with Victuals and Munition for the Citadel sunk three others forced ashore two at Aiguillion and put the rest to flight in such sort that at this time there got none into the Citadel OCTOBER The first of October the Sieur Thoiras finding himself pressed with all Extremity and seeing that all his people as well Souldiers as Voluntiers murmured against him and made Cabals for treating with the Duke of Buckingham and to deliver the place to him to the end to content them and to gain time and to amuse the English he sent the Sieur Montault to the Duke to know what Conditions he would offer him The Duke deferring the Treaty until the next morning after many goings and comings it was in the end agreed that if the Citadel was not relieved by the eighth of the Month which was High-water that both it and the Fort de la Pre should be put into his hands 1627. Octob. Thursday night before Fryday the 8th of October designed for the Rendition there went forty Barks and Pinnaces from Ollorne laden with Men and all sorts of Provisions for the Belly as well as war whereof 29 got happily into the Citadel by the favour of a very great North-East-Wind which blew so hard and master'd the English Army in such sort that it could not hinder their passing save that there were four sunk to the ground by Cannon-shot This succour came very seasonably to the Sieur Thoiras because in the morning according to Conditions he ought to have render'd the Citadel The Duke of Buckingham on the contrary was so discontented and discouraged that having discharged his Choler with multitude of Cannon-shot which broke in pieces fifteen or twenty of these Pinnaces but already un-laden two or three days after he took away his Cannon from his Batteries and Shipped them with part of his Men having taken a resolution to raise the Siege and to return for England but the Duke of Soubize who was near to him as also the Deputies of Rochel and the Inhabitants of the Isle intreating him very earnestly not to abandon them and offering him whatever was in their Power which prevailed with him to suspend this Deliberation until the Arrival of Sieur Dolbiere who he had sent into England and who put him in hopes of a succour of 6000 Men which the Earl of Holland would in a few days bring to him which in some kind restored his Courage and made him resolve to continue the Siege The 12th The King arrived before Rochel and took his Quarters at Estre he needed not to enquire 1627. October whether the Cannon and Muskets made not good Musick through all the Quarters of the Army for his welcome The 13th There were read in the Council assembled in the Town-Hall Letters from the Duke of Rohan writ the 9th and 10th of September from Nisines to those at Rochel by which he advised them of the Conjunction made by those of Languedoc with them and the English The 17th Seven Barks laden with Victuals and Munition with some Companies of Souldiers got into the Fort Pree without any Impediment but the same day a Pinace going out from the Cittadel was taken by the English Shalloops who slew the Son of Richardiere who commanded there and most part of his Men. The 18th A Ship laden with dry Fish and some Barks laden with Wine and other things from the Isle of Re came into Rochel there were fired at them from the Forts Lewis Port-Neuf and Coureille 35 Cannon-shot without touching any of them The 19th One called Franc one of the Messengers to the King's Council was brought into Rochel by John Farene a stout and bold Souldier who took him Prisoner near Lusignan as he rid post with many Letters and some even from the King himself writ to several Governours of Provinces by which he gave advice of the besieging of the Citadel commanding them to send all the Ships they could laden with Stones to fill and shut up the Haven of Rochel as also to have his Naval Army in readiness upon the first Command to come before Rochel And this by Letters dated the 14th of October The same day and the day following came from 1627. October Re to Rochel four or five hundred English who were quarter'd in Houses The 24th The Duke of Soubize writ to the Rochellers exhorting them to send Deputies to the King of Great Brittain upon which were named the Sieur Jaques David Sheriff on the behalf of the Common-Hall Sieur John de Hinsse on behalf of the Bourgesses and on behalf of the Church the Sieur Salbert a Minister who was in Re near the Duke of Buckingham The 25th Before day there came into Rochel from England a Ship with 150 Tuns of Corn as also some Barks laiden with Wine and other Commodities and entred without any damage though with the bright of the Moon and had been shot at thirty or forty times with Cannon from the Fort Lewis and the Batteries The 26th The Rochellers published their Manifest by which they gave an Account of the Causes and Reasons which moved them to joyn Arms with the King of Great-Brittain and put at the foot of the same their Kings Letter to the Duke of Angoulesme as also the Oath of Lewis the Eleventh made to Robert Cadiot Mayor of Rochel 1472. In this Manifest they say That one of the Conditions of Peace in 1622 which is recited was the demolishing of the Fort built near the City during the War as also that accordingly the King had given Letters to their Deputies Dated the 18th of December directed to Sieur Arnoult by which he enjoyns him not to delay doing it but that under divers pretexts he did not only elude the obeying him therein but on the contrary continued to fortifie it and after his death the Sieur Thoiras did the same more diligently 1627. Octob. so that neither their Complaints nor the reiterated Complaints of their Deputies to his Majesty of the breach of Agreements could produce any effect That their design in preserving
these ten Sail ten others had gone out had they not been hindered by a second intanglement of two Men of War falling foul upon one another in their going from the Chain and could not be cleared until the Tide was lost both to themselves and the rest that should have followed them this fault being imputed to one of the Captains of the Ships who as is believed not desiring the Voyage did it designedly The 20th the Rochellers played with their Cannon upon the Digue of the side of Fort Lewis to interrupt if possible their work which notwithstanding they continued The 21th betwixt two and three a Clock Afternoon being High-tide the Pallisade of ten or twelve great Ships mured full of Stones was fixed between Port-Neuf and Fort Marilac on the side of Coureille half a Cannon shot from the City whither they brought them under the favour and protection of the Gallies Men of War and Galliots of Brouage the Rochellers Cannon not being able to hinder them nor by their sallying out with ten Shalloops of War could they effect any thing but being advanced were constrained to retreat the Enemy having made ready all the Cannon of their Batteries which thundered so furiously upon them that they could do nothing even against the Men of War all that they were able to do being to return with their wounded men The 22th about nine in the Evening the Rochellers fell out by the Port of the two Mills with forty Horse and two or three hundred Foot besides with a great part of Seamen and Ship-Carpenters who with Planks and other materials went 1628. January to the Pallisade endeavouring to stop the Port-holes of the Ships mured full of stones to the end to bring them within the Chain or else to a place where they should not offend them but as they were with Ladders the Sea being low water mounting these Ships they found themselves unexpectedly received with a shower of Musket shot from those that guarded them which beat down three or four and made the rest descend faster than they mounted This gave such a consternation to those that were below to shut the Port-holes the defence being seconded by the numbers which came upon the Arms of the Port-Neuf and Coureille that they abandoned all to save themselves by flight and in such disorder that they run a great hazard of being all â—ut in pieces had not the Cavalry who from their Post saw their bad condition run to their succour and charged the Pursuants so briskly that they made them retreat even to the Pallisades killing many upon the place and amongst the rest a Captain who was come from Courcille to their succour The same day betwixt four and five a Clock in the Evening was shot from the Fort de la Fons upon the City divers Cannon shot of 32 and 33 pound Bullets without killing or hurting any person insomuch that the people seeing the little effect of the Cannon grew accustomed to them and did not regard them The 27th the Rochellers having advice that the Kings Naval Fleet of thirty Men of War conducted by the Duke of Guise was a few days before arrived at the Head of the Bay as also Don Frederwick de Tolledo Admiral of Spain with 35 or 40 other Men of War sent out with the 1628. January Evening-tide three Pinnaces of War with each their dispatch for advertising their Deputies in England with the arrival of these several Armado's as also that they had made a Pallisade cross the Channel with ten or twelve great Ships to the end that they should diligently seek succours They carried also Letters to the Estates and Prince of Orange and notwithstanding all the impediment from sunk Ships upon which was some Cannon and all the other Men of War these Pinnaces passed without difficulty The 28th arrived at the Camp at Estre Marquess Spinola whom the King received with all sort of Caresses shewed him the scituation of the Camp the Lines and the Digue he spoke thoroughout as is reported with much esteem and said above all that the Digne was the only means to take the City by FEBRVARY The 4th of February they saw from Rochel a Chain carried cross from Coureille to Port-neuf which was supported upon the water by Pipes at a distance one from another by an uncertain interval having betwixt every two cross pieces of Timber tyed and mortused one within another and in the middle of them a floating Engine turned by the Britch or Stern The 8th the Rochellers sent two light Galliots to England to hasten the succours and to represent the condition they were reduced to The 10th the King went for Paris after he had been before Rochel four Months less two days leaving all the weight of his Affairs the Principal Authority and Command of his Army and Title 1628. February of General with Cardinal Richelieu the Duke oâ— Angoulesme the Marshals of Schomberg and Bascompiere remaining there also in quality of Lieutenant Generals to his Majesty under Cardinal Richelieu The 18th divers other Ships were mured foâ— strengthening the Pallisade so that there was reckoned forty or fifty besides a Machine in the middle of the Digue The 19th some Horse being gone to Ronsay tâ— whet and provoke the Horse that were there upon the Guard were repulsed notwithstanding the succours sent them from the City and the Cannon which did their part and could not do betteâ— than leave three or four dead upon the place and among the rest one called Forest who was much lamented because of his valour and the service that he had done the City who was the next day Interred with much honour At this same time Cardinal Richelieu sent â— Trumpeter to Rochel with a Letter exhorting them to come to a Treaty for Peace saying that he had the Order of the King for it who for the facilitating of it was retired to Paris leaving to them the choice of the place for Treaty It was offered to be at one of their Gates promising to send thither Monsieur Hallier or others The thing was brought into deliberation in the Council of War assembled to that end but some opposed it with a high hand carrying it against the Mayor and the greatest part of the Council even by threats to raise the People against them if they should enter into such a Conference which as they said tended to the ruine of the City And so this Proposition came to nothing 1628. February The 25th and 26th with the Night-tide rose an impetuous Storm which broke part of the floating Chain and some of the mured Ships sending to the City a quantity of Wood and cross Timber and two Piles of the Fessine or Britch of the Machine The common people running out to carry away what they could of the Wrack the Cannon which played upon them killed one Maid hurt some others and dismounted a Trooper without doing him any other harm The 29th in the night a Galliot
have thereof writ us The Proceedings of the Captains are very much disliked but yours such as give great satisfaction The said Captains will receive the Kings Commands when the Corn shall be dispatched which possibly will not be to the contentment of them all in the mean time it will not be displeasing that you oblige them to keep to their Duty We have heretofore writ to you touching the Ship of Monsieur le Mayor taken by the English and carried to Bristol and how they would have condemned her and were upon the point to have done it alledging divers reasons for it above aâ—l the Deposition made of the Equipage in which the Mayor hath very little share but we have so sollicited the Duke that by his Authority as High-Admiral he hath suspended Proceedings for this Week and we shall endeavour all we can to procure an entire deliverance but we beseech you that for the future the desire of protecting others may not indanger the losing of our own and not to give any Pass-port which may render others suspitious for here they are very exact We shall add for the closing of this that having some days passed seen the Ambassador of Hollandâ— 1028. March who is a Person most affectionate for us we understand from him that the States had resolved to send Ambassadours to the two Kings to endeavour an Agreement and that they were to depart the 25th of Novemb. which none can hinder if they have not changed their resolution if they pass this way they will discover here whether their Inclinations are disposed for a real accomplishment of those things you were promised by the Peace Time will shew us the success of this Enterprise in the mean time we pray God that by this or any other way we may arrive at a Peace in effect as well as in name and that there may not be hid under her Ashes matter for a new Quarrel whatever it be we are assured that if any Propositions thereof be made you will do us the favour to advertise us readily of it and that you will not take any Resolutions without his Majesty otherwise if they hear any thing on this side to the contrary it will entirely ruine your Affairs We will not trouble you further than to assure you that we are both by Duty and Affection Messieurs Your most humble and most obedient Servants David Vincent Dehinse London Decemb. 25. 1627. POSTSCRIPT Messieurs WE advised you by ours from Plymouth that whether we apprehended the Intention of the 1628. March Duke aright or not it is certainly in shew for the providing of Corn which shall be sent you and we 〈◊〉 reiterate our advice if you please to make good and ready payment for it lest otherwise they should senâ— you hereafter no more Gentlemen WE sent you a Copy of the substance of this by the Sieur Pepin one of our Fellow Citizens who parted this day from this City taking his way by Dover for the lading his Bark with Wheat and other Commodities for Rochel and though he râ—â—kons to set sail with the first Wind we judge it necessary to send you this by Plymouth yet have nothing to add save that we are assured that the Corn the Duke should send to your City is lading with all diligence together with a great quantity of Bisquet Beer Beef Pork Salted Cheese Butter and other Commodities and that all God willing will be ready to sail by the end of this Month at the furthest under a puissant Convoy of Ships of War These are from Scile of France London January 7. 1628. Messieurs Yours c. Gentlemen WE have by all our former given you an account of our Negotiations since we arrived here and of the diligence we have used to procure the sending of Provisions to you if the effects have not appeared to you so soon as we have desired and your necessities required it is not from want of affection on this side and much less of our solicitation but from the difficulty of getting Ships in those places where the Corn was to be laden and contrary Winds for sending them from the 1628. March places where they were hired to the Ports where they were to take in their lading But the Sieur Bossay being arrived from you the sixteenth Current we have made such pressing Instances that a resolution is taken to send away what is ready that it may be to you an Earnest and Assurance of the rest And to confirm you further his Majesty and his Council finds it necessary that one of us should make a journey to you to inform you particularly of the good intentions they have here for you and of the preparations that they are making for your assistance Though each of us desire to take this Voyage we have agreed upon Monsieur Dehinse our Collegue and yesterday we went with him to take his leave of his Majesty he will tell you the good words that we then had which were such as we think it our duty to give you in his own terms viz. Receive not this as a Succour but as a small Refreshment to give Life and Courage to your City until the season of the year will permit a more powerful assistance to be sent you Assure your selves that I will assist you in such measure as I will procure you a good Peace from the King of France or oblige those that incompass you to retire Nay assure your City that I will never abandon you Whereupon the Duke undertaking to speak told us you see Messieurs you have the Word of a King for this and all the rest Sieur Dehinse will illustrate to you more particularly having with him the Request we presented to the Council the fourteenth present as well as the Project betwixt his Majesty and us which hath been since agreed upon If at first you apprehend that we superfluously dilate and discourse Sieur Dehinse will give you the Reasons and Motives for it as also the necessity we have had to make use of the uttermost power you have given us In the mean time you may 1628. March be assured that so far as we can judge they have 〈◊〉 here other than sincere intentions We promise oâ—â—selves that receiving this beginning of assistance with all sort of gratitude you will establish so good an order for the ready sale and consequently sure paymeâ—â— of the Provision which shall be sent you as will iâ—courage all others to supply you hereafter For â—â— parts we shall continue to labour to prevent your being in any want and to execute so far as is in oâ— power all that you have by your Instructions given â—â— in Charge We beseech you further that for our necessary assistance you will speedily return to us Monsieâ—â— Dehinse who informing us of your Condition wiâ—â— contribute much to the hastening of the Preparations and it will be needful that every three Weeks or Monâ—â— at least you send one to us We refer you
was of a very ill relish to us and fearing that a sudden Answer could not be so well framed as that it would not prejudice us whether in being too reserved which might disgust them and retard the sending of succours or in yielding too much beyond our Instructions in such sort as we should be disowned We told him in general that we could give all assurance that Rochel would never deny any reasonable Overtures for giving all just contentment to his Majesty therein but as to that which was upon particulars we most humbly besought him that as it had pleased him to command us to couch our desires in writing that it would likewise please him to let us be answered in the same manner to the end that agreeing among our selves upon that which hath been proposed to us that which we have to say may be the better digested Having testified his approbation hereof he led us from thence into the Guilded Chamber where the King was in full Council before whom having kneeled and by his Command standing up Monsieur David represented in brief that which we had more at large done in writing which accordingly he presented The King having taken it gave it us again and commanded us to read it to him which we did with a loud and distinct voice to the end that all might hear it and was of this Tenure The Deputies of the City of Rochel to his moâ—t Serene Majesty having had formerly some advice that he silently treated for an Accommodation betwixt the two Crowns in which the Ambassadours of the King of Denmark laboured and finding 1628. March themselves confirmed in this belief by the sending a Gentleman as Envoy from France under pretext of conducting some Prisoners who hath divers times had conference thereupon with the Lords of the Council and hath also had close Conferences with the Ambassadours of Denmark and that in prosecution thereof they went readily to Paris they have thought it their duty most humbly to supplicate his Majesty to give them Audience to the end they may give him and the Lords of the Council to understand what they believe is their necessary duty to represent upon this occasion First they find themselves obliged to acknowledge they have already had the Honour to render to his Majesty their most humble thanks and desire now to reiterate the same for that it hath pleased him from his own good and proper motion to hold it incumbent upon him to make good to them his Royal Word in reference to the Articles of Peace which the King their Soveraign had agreed with him concerning them in the year 1626. and for the execution of the same had sent upon their Coasts a puissant Army under the Conduct of his great Admiral in the Month of July 1 st Aâ— his Majesty in this assistance hath made his Piety and Geneâ—osity appear to all the World and thâ— entire confidence that may be put in his Royal Word by all those to whom he gives it so we hold it indubitable that he will be pleased to make it seen by us how happily they are protected whom he undertakes to defend with his Arms and that as they are invincible so his Prudence cannot be circumvented by any Artifice 1628. March Hereupon they supplicate him in all humility to consider what is the true end that those propose to themselves who manage these Overtures and bring in debate the Propositions for a Treaty It is true that Peace is desirable above all things and the City for which they act have an ardent passion for it especially being but newly delivered from the miseries of two Wars successively But the question is whether the present conjuncture considered that which is proposed is the true means to arrive at it and whether in the contrary there is not cause to fear that it is a snare extended for their ruine which if it please not his Majesty to provide against they see it most inevitable making no doubt but this Negotiation draws with it these necessary consequences First That though it may not slacken the true and good affection of his Majesty whereof they have an entire confidence yet it may at least the diligence of my Lords his Ministers in their preparations for their succours considering that the Treaty coming towards a conclusion the intercessors for it will not without doubt be wanting in designingly giving all imaginable hopes which out of frugality may retard preparations and now the least delay will be their ruine considering the condition in which they find themselves Secondly The news of Treating being noised will certainly keep at home those who prepare themselves to take Horse so soon as the Spring appears there being nothing more imprudent than to put on Harness when Peace is ready to be made Thirdly The bruit of a Treaty will indanger 1628. March the dissipating the Duke of Rohan's Troops Experience having always shewed that Forces of the nature of his composed of Volunteers without pay are easily scattered by any hopes of Accommodation every one being impatient of returning home to his own house Fourthly The worst is that during this delay those who besiege their City will with ease build all their Forts and finish their Line on the Land side assemble their Naval Army which is not yet in a good condition they will work at the Digue or Bank which they have begun without loosing one moment and at shutting the passage by Sea and inaccessibly imbarrass their Haven The Provisions which remained in the City after their furnishing his Majesties Army will be presently consumed In brief the Affairs are in such a state that the opportunity of relieving them being passed all the Forces of Europe will not be able to do any thing and then consequently the Treaty now proposed will vanish his Majesty will be derided and the City which hath ingaged with him will necessarily be forced to render and submit to the rage of a Victorious and irritated Master As his Majesty knows well how to judge of the validity of these Reasons and Consequences so they supplicate him in all humility that notwithstanding all the practices that may have been used to the contrary he will provide that there may be no slackning in any kind of the necessary diligence for preparing the relief which it hath pleased him to promise them And since the Convoy of Men and Victuals is almost ready by the great care that the Duke of Buckingham High-Admiral hath taken it would please him to command the whole Navy 1628. March to set sail with the very first in expectation 〈◊〉 his Majesty may by his Forces do some 〈◊〉 worthy of the puissance of so great a 〈◊〉 and oblige those to think seriously of a good 〈◊〉 who at present have no intentions 〈◊〉 it This is word for word as we read it and we 〈◊〉 that the King at the word 〈◊〉 smiled looking upon the President of the 〈◊〉 who was on his right
hand and the Duke 〈◊〉 was next to him and said something to them 〈◊〉 English which we could not hear but by his 〈◊〉 we apprehended that he declared his 〈◊〉 to it As to all the rest both he and the 〈◊〉 heard it very attentively and commanded us 〈◊〉 deliver our Writing to my Lord Conway Seâ—â—etary of State the King promising us to 〈◊〉 of it Then we took our leave with a Serene â—ountenance without having any of the Proposiâ—â—ons made at that time to us which the Duke had 〈◊〉 of The 16th which was the Lords day we devoted 〈◊〉 his service and the next morning waited upon 〈◊〉 Duke as he rise who told us that he and 〈◊〉 more of the Council were nominated for â—ommissioners to make a Formal Treaty with us 〈◊〉 the Name of his Majesty which would serve to publish to all the World such a Union between â—im and us as would put them out of hopes of his â—bandoning us or that we should leave him by a separate Accommodation But after this he came again to the Proposition that he had before made 〈◊〉 and told us that we were to consider what we could on our parts propound the better to secure his Majesty and to oblige him to the great expence 1628. March that he must be at by undertaking in goâ— earnest our defence To this demand we judged it safer to interrâ—gate than to answer and told him that the inâ—nite disproportion betwixt us and so great anâ— puissant a Monarch considered we could not haâ—â— so much temerity as to believe that we had aâ—â— thing to offer worthy of him or to put in balancâ— with the glory of so great and generous an actioâ— as that will be of relieving us that great Kingâ— are in this the Image of God who doth good to them from whom he can receive nothing Nevertheless if there were any thing wherein we could testifie to him our entire acknowledgment and to assure him of the sincerity of our intentions in never making a separate Treaty we should hearkeâ— to it with all respect Upon this with difficulty enough and in words sufficiently confused as a man who had something to say which he would not express he touched upon two things First that which he had before opened touching some Children to send hither as Hostages Secondly that in case of necessity we would ingage our selves to give retreat to the Kings Sea Forces as well as Land and added that he had desired to confer with us hereupon before our Conference with the Commissioners to the end that before them there might be nothing to debate of which might be of prejudice to us We answered that since his Majesty had freely offered that we should draw a Conceipt for a Treaty we would thereupon discourse the matter among our selves frame the Articles and communicate them to him with all speed which he approved 1628. March of and promised to send to us after Dinner Monsieur de Vie his Secretary When we were withdrawn to commune among our selves we all agreed that the Dukes two Oâ—ertures were dangerous and a snare extended against our liberty and as to the Hostages that that would be grievous to our Fellow-Citizens to see themselves bereaved of their Children sent to breath in a strange Air and to be bound by such dear Pledges And as to the other that the consequence of that seemed more great and the danger more eminent since that if they had any thoughts of seizing us they will have no more to do than under a colour of seeking retreat enter the Forts and so force the City to return to their Ancient Yoak and that if such an unhappiness should befall us our City would be an eternal Theater of War in that the King would never receive us into his favour But that which was most to be feared was that the Yoak of their Domination would be too hard to submit willingly unto and therefore if we must lose our Liberty right Reason obliges us to remain under our true and legitimate Master and seek whilst we may to make our Conditions with him but since this was the last remedy we ought in prudence to prevent the reducing us to such a Condition and at present to temporize and avoid these Propositions so far as was possible without discontenting them but if they insisted upon it at a time so important as was the present relieving of the City we must not retard it by rejecting what they demanded but agree to all referring it to the City who afterwards will ratifie so much thereof as they shall judge necessary for their security 1628. March Being all three of this Sentiment accordingâ— in all our actions we have been most unanimouâ— we took Pen and Ink and framed the Project foâ— a Treaty to the end that the Articles for thâ— same being agreed on by us and put in writingâ— we might barter more securely in our Communication whether with the Dukes Secretary or with the Commissioners and having long enough conferred together on the matter we gave him this Conceipt The Treaty between the most glorious Prince Charles by the Grace of God King of Great Britain and the Mayor Sheriffs Peers Burgers and Inhabitants of the City of Rochel their Deputies subscribing for them THe Deputies of the City of Rochel provided with full and ample Power being at present with his most Serene Majesty and having most humbly supplicated him to take and receive those of the City of Rochel under his Protection and Safeguard and to make them sensible of the effects by an assistance worthy of his Majesty by the means of which they may be delivered from the oppression they now lie under and be restored to the favour of their Prince the most Christian King and to the enjoyment of an assured Peace and his most Serene Majesty inclining favourably to this Request hath granted them his Protection and accordingly the Articles following have been reciprocally stipulated First As to the said Rochellers they promise all the aid and favour that is to them possible for the advancement and happy success of the Arms of 1628. March his most Serene Majesty in equipping as many Men of War as is possible for them for favouring the Sea Army of his Majesty in all their undertakings as in furnishing experienced Pilots for their Neighbour Coasts and the blocking up of Rivers in providing for those in their City his Majesty shall give orders to appointing Magazines and proper places for Store-houses for all sort of Provisions if it be judged necessary in receiving Vessels which Storms may constrain to put into their Harbour or shall be thrust thither by some other necessity that even in case all the Army of his Majesty should be thereunto pressed to give them retreat and shelter and provide for their security Secondly The said Rochellers will not hearken to any particular Accommodation nor imbrace any Treaty of Peace whatsoever save with the good liking and
facilitate their entry into Rochel if it were to be done That having executed their Order they were resolved to set sail on Thursday in the Evening to return for England and the rather because they were advertised that there would suddenly come upon these Coasts a Naval Fleet from Spain to fight them which they would avoid because they would not hazard the losing any of the Kings Ships The English being obstinate in this resolution the Sieurs Bragneau and Gobert considering in what danger Rochel was dispatched immediately one called Vidault the same Evening to advertise the Rochellers thereof in a little Skiff that the Earl of Denby gave them and furnished him with two Letters one that he was to cast into the water over against the Pallisade which contained chiefly that the Rochellers were not to be astonished if on Thursday in the Evening they saw the Fleet set sail for that they had therein no other design 1628. May. than after having been at Bell Isle to meet a part of their Fleet which Storms and ill Weather had divided from the Body to return the more powerful to succour them with the peril of their â—ives and the other altogether contrary and most true to advertise their Fellow-Citizens of â—he little and no affection or good will at all that the English Army had to relieve them and of the resolution they had taken to set sail for England on Thursday in the Evening notwithstanding all the Prayers and Remonstrances that they could make for Fighting or at least for remaining in the Road some time to the end that whilst it should be there at hand the Rochellers might have reâ—course to the Bounty and Clemency of their Prince for Grace instead of a total ruine as this retreat would import Things being thus they advised them thereof to the end that they might see that as long as the Navy remained with them they had not sought the Clemency of the King or essayed to make their Agreement The same Evening the said Vidault got into the City at eleven at night having passed without Impediments crossing the Men of War and Pallisades and setting a good face on it filled all the City with good hopes and told wonders of the resolution of the English but to the Mayor represented particularly the true state of things and delivered him his Letter The same hour the Mayor assembled the Council of War and before reading of the Letter he made them all take a solemn Oath of secrefie as to the Contents of it and then communicated it unto them and after that called in Vidault who informed them of all that passed in the English 1628. May. Army Hereupon they resolved not to lose time and before it was too late to seek the Kings Grace under the best Conditions they could and in such sort as they should not know it came from them and as they were in pain how to govern themselves in it they concluded they could not better do it than by making use of Sieur de la Leu who some days before had desired permission to retire out of the City and had obtained a safe Conduct of the King for it and gave order to John Godfrey Esq and Sieur du Richard to go to him and desire him in their names to accept the Commission which Sieur Godfrey did the next morning going to Sieur de la Leu who accepted of it and agreed that if there were any hopes on the Kings side to obtain a Peace under good Conditions he would within a day send a Trumpet if under passable and not too advangeous a Drum and if he could not obtain anything he would not send either one or the other but when he had run the adventure of losing his life he returned to the City giving them an account of what he had done This being agreed upon and reported by the said Godfrey to the Mayor and Council of War they ordered that de la Leu should go from the City on Tuesday morning by six a Clock whilst people were at Church that he might not be observed by any person fearing that if they saw him go out his Enemies would stir up the people against him to do him some mischief and in the mean time to make shew of good news and gave out that there should be given a Chain of Gold to the said Vidault to the end that that being reported in the Kings Camp the management of 1628. May. that they had projected might be the more advantageously acted Before the Mayor dismissed the Council he made them all take an Oath upon the Bible that they would not either directly or indirectly buy any Provisions whilst the English Army should be at the Head of the Bay fearing that that would discover to the people that the said English Army finding themselves too weak to force the Digue and enter the City with relief would retire and leave them as a Prey and thereby not only hinder the Treaty which they desired to have by the means of Sieur de la Leu but even put all the City into a Consternation On Tuesday at the hour designed the Sieur de la Leu went away unobserved save by a very few and about three in the Evening whether it was from his Intercession as he had promised or from other cause is not known a Trumpet presented himself at the Fort Tadon but one of the Captains that commanded there caused them to shoot at him without suffering him to finish his sounding or a Drummer his beating whose Drum he broke nor did they advertise the Mayor of their coming he and many others being full of wrath against the Mayor and Council for not communicating to them the Letter nor tell them why they had sent Sieur de la Leu out of the Town they came even so high as to accuse them of designing by him to make a particular Peace for themselves and abandon the rest to the mercy and discretion of their Enemies insomuch that they were constrained to insinuate something of the Letter to some of the most inraged for they cryed that they believed that Godfrey had done it and that 1628. May. it was signed by Bragneau and Gobert before their departure and that it was an Artifice to destroy them to save themselves But Thursday in the Evening when the English Army set sail it appeared but too soon what the Letter was and that those Opiniastres had prejudiced themselves by their too much curiosity and little confidence in them that laboured more for their good than for their own whereof some repented and acknowledged their fault when it was more than time So soon as the said Vidault was come into Rochel the Mayor caused Signals by Fire to be made from the Towers of S. Nicholas of the Chain and from the Lanthorn to advertise the English Army of his arrival and in the morning they fixed Ensigns upon the said Towers which were to remain there until the English
remaining under the condition of your Protection When things were well with us we despised the Counsel of our Friends and if we may so express it the Respects of our Native Country even until all is lost let us find at least if you please Sir in your Justice that which we have now no more means of recovering 1628. May. by the Clemency of the King our Soveraign God hath furnished us yet with life and vigour enough though with Wounds altogether fresh and bleeding to expect your relief yet one Month more Let your Majesty second this Miracle and to your Immortal Glory see us raised and the Churches of this Kingdom restored who without your aid cannot expect less than the stroke of the Knife that iss held so near our Throats Behold Sir our most humble and most ardent Supplications or to express it better in one word it is our Testament which we shall leave written upon your Throne before Heaven and Earth for a Memorial to Posterity of the most strange and memorable Desolation that an Innocent people ever suffered the incomparable occasion whereof may ever serve to sum up the Might and Puissance of a great King as you Pardon Sir to Women little Children Mothers and Fathers dragged together to the same punishment if they cannot speak at this time but with cutting words the face of dying persons is always frightful but the anguish of Death shall never make us deny to be for all this your Serene Majesties Rochel May 18. 1628. SIR Most humble and most obedient Servants the Mayor Sheriffs Councellors Peers Burgers and Inhabitants of Rochel and for all Guitton Mayor 1628. June JVNE The first of June in the night the Rochellers sent out two Shalloops one full of Fire-works and the other a Fire-ship to blow up some of the Vessels of the Pallisade to the end to make way for the Galliots which they were to send into England but having set fire too soon one wherein were the Fire-works flew in pieces before her arrival at the Pallisade and the other run ashore toward Port-Neuf which obliged the Galliots to return into the City The same day about six or seven in the morning the Sieur Tallement came into Rochel as well about some Affairs of his own as to sound the Rochellers if they would come to a Treaty but making no advance in it returned in the Evening The same day the Sieur Grandzy Colonel of a Regiment of light Horse came to the Port Coigne demanding to speak with the Mayor or with some on his behalf Immediately the Sieurs Proâ— Pierre Toupet Defos and Mosquay were nominated by the Council to whom he offered on the behalf of Monsieur Bassompier as having Power from the King to do all he could for procuring them a good Peace they answered him speaking in the Name of all the Body and following their Instructions that they desired to remain under the Obedience they owe the King but that they could do nothing before they had communicated it to their Deputies in England the Duke of Rohan and the Churches so that after returning most humble thanks to Monsieur Bassompier they supplicated him to mediate for them to the King 1628. June for necessary Pass-Ports and in the mean time permission for some competent Provisions to come into the City that during the Negotiation they might spare their Magazines After this Answer he parted promising to return the next day in the morning to bring them an Answer which he also did and declared to them that the King would not receive their Propositions but that his will was that they should submit to an Entire Obedience to which it was told him that the City could not understand that and that they would rather expect such Event as it should please God to give them and so they separated The 7th with the Night-tide betwixt ten and eleven in the Evening the Rochellers sent out a Galliot to cross the Pallisade which he found impossible for him to do because those of the Pollisade kept good Guards with their Galliots and pursued him unto the Haven making a great many Cannon-shot at him The 10th in the morning at the opening of the Port S. Nicholas entred the Sieur de la Land du Lac coming from England bringing a Letter from the King of Great Britain signed Charles Rex dated the 19th of May old stile directed to the Mayor Sheriffs Peers Burgers and Inhabitants of the City of Rochel without having any from their Deputies which caused great jealousie in the Rochellers they not being able to believe that the King had writ because their Deputies who were near his Person did not advise of it by which Letter he gave them an assurance of a puissant succour within a few days and of his good will towards them and concern for them exhorting them to be of good courage and that in a short 1628. June time they should â—eâ— themselves delivered The Letter is as followeth Gentlemen BE not discomforted though my Fleet be returned hold out unto the last for I am resolved that all my Fleet she ll perish rather than you should not be relieved and to this end I have countermanded it and have sâ—nt Ships to make them change their design that they had taken to come back I shall shortly send you some number of Ships to reinforce it and with the help of God the success will be happy for your Deliverance May 19. N. Stile Your good Friend CHARLES R. A Messieurs les Maire Escheuin c. The 15th the Rochellers writ this Letter to their Deputies in England as well to let them understand thâ—ir nâ—cessities as to cause them to hasten the succours A Letter from the Rochellers to their Deputies in England Gentlemen This is the seventh since our last perplexity and is to press you being on our parts strangely pressed and almost oppressed even to that degree that our total loss seems not far off if you come not readily to relieve us We have Provisions but for one Month to reckon 1628. June from this day notwithstanding the best order that we can take there is already many Families in horrible extremity and who live only of Herbs yet nevertheless we hope by the help of God to draw out our lives until the middle of July and do you raise Arguments from hence for your pressing with diligence and importunity without end his Serene Majesty from whom notwithstanding our extreme necessity and the Artifice which men have used it hath not been in any kind possible to divide us Some days passed they made us new Invitations to Treat but having demanded Pass ports for sending to his Majesty and the Duke of Rohan upon the refusal thereof the Treaty is broke Fail not to represent this to him as also the confidence that we put in his Royal Word which next to God is our only support We promise our selves as much his relief as we know the facility to it is
our parts we shall do our duty who are Rochel Aug. 20. 1628. Gentlemen Your most affectionate Servants the Mayor Sheriffs Councellors and Peers of the City of Rochel and for all Guitton Mayor The Superscription Messieurs David Vincent Bragneau Dehinse and Gobert The 22th the Rochellers received advice that the Sieur Grossetiere who had been taken returning from England whither he was sent to hasten succours 1628. Aug. had been carried to the Kings Camp to be proceeded against by way of Process whereupon besides that from the first news of the taking him they had writ to the Camp demanding the having him treated as a Prisoner of War and to be used in his Quarters as had been hitherto practised by one to another declaring that they should do the same to the Sieur Fiquere their Prisoner as they should do to others belonging to them They writ also to Cardinal Richelieu by a Drummer who found him at Chatiliers Barlot whither he was gone for change of Air because of the Contagion that was in the Army and delivered him this Letter following The Rochellers Letter to Cardinal Richelieu in favour of Grossetiere My Lord IT is some time since we understood the taking of the Sieur Grossetiere a Gentleman gone from hence in the imployment of this City under our Commissions who passing thorough one of the Provinces of this Kingdom was taken arrested and brought into the Kings Army We immediately writ thereof to one of the Generals relying upon the Common Right of War and of the quarter that hath been always given hitherto by the one to the other but we now hear this morning that they pretend to draw up Process against him and deliver him over to the Court of Justice to condemn him to Death as if he were accused of some Crime as a man without Authority at which we are most justly concerned he not having undertaken either Voyage or any action since this War but with Commission from us by which he hath been Authorised It is therefore 1628. Aug. that we address our selves finally to you my Lord who knows perfectly the intentions of the King and to manage them with most excellent prudence and by your Authority to keep men within bounds contrary to the natural heat of particular persons to the end to supplicate your Greatness that the said Sieur Grossetiere may not meet with any evil treatment who hath not in his Comportment done any thing to be spoke against having had our Order and Commission for all his Transactions according as we now certifie you and let it please you that we dare from your bounty promise our selves that by the present Messenger who is an Express you will let us know that this Address will not be fruitless and that you will cure us of the perplexity we are in upon this occasion and of all troublesome Events which may proceed from this Occurrence Above all we remain Rochel Aug. 22. 1628. Monseigneur Your most humble and most obedient Servants the Mayor Sheriffs Councellors Peers Burgers and Inhabitants of the City of Rochel Guitton Mayor Cardinal Richelieu's Answer to the Rochellers by the same Messenger that carried theirs Gentlemen IAm sorry that your Actions beg not the favour you desire from the bounty of the King rather than your words but I am greatly astonished that hindering 1628. Aug. all the City where you are from receiving the effects of his Majesties mercy you seek it upon a particular account wherein the generality of your Citizens have not any interest you are not in a state or condition to treat as Equals with your Master and to desire it is Criminal Nevertheless not to augment by this way the number of your faults I do not know what is the Kings pleasure whose Bounty is infinite upon the subject of Grossetiere But this I know that he cannot receive any punishment that is not less than his demerits It is your duty to keep those that are in the City where you are within the Circuit of your Walls his Majesty being resolved not to suffer any longer that his Souldiers pass the Line towards Rochel nor those of Rochel approach the same bounds and pass unpunished I advertise you hereof to the end that none of you be taken by inadvertency In the mean time I pray you believe that I have with passion desired that you may give me cause to evidence my affection and that I am very glad of an occasion to let you know that I am From Chastellier Aug. 23. 1628. Gentlemen Your affectionate Servant Cardinal Richelieu The 24th ditto the Rochellers sent a Letter to their Deputies in England of this Tenure Gentlemen WE have expected three Months ago the effects of the excellent Letters that we received from the King of England but we do not hear by what disaster it is that we remain here miserable without seeing 1628. Aug. any succours appear Our Souldiers can do no more they die of Famine in the Streets and all our Families are frightened with groans sighs indigency and uncertainties nevertheless we shall hold out until the last day But in the Name of God stay not longer or we shall perish Rochel Aug. 24. 1628. Yours c. The 26th ditto about eight or nine a Clock in the Evening the Rochellers sent out by Land an Inhabitant of the City called Beron a Watch-maker as a Messenger into England to hasten their relief but being in the Kings Quarters at Estre he was discovered and as soon taken and having found by him a Billet in his Doublet behind betwixt the shoulders where he had hid it they condemned him to be hanged as they did also two others who went out at the same time SEPTEMBER The 4th of September the Sieur Arnault Master of the Camp of the Carrabines of the King came on behalf of his Majesty to the Port de Coigne to speak to them making his pretence to be the desire of treating for the exchange of Sieur Fequiere his Brother-in-law with the Sieur Grossetiere Immediately there was sent thither on behalf of the Mayor and his Council the Sieurs de Fiefmignou and Riffault for the Common-Hall and Defos and Moquay for the Burgers carrying also with them the Sieur Fiquiere They remained with him in Conference from eight in the morning until one in the afternoon and continued 1628. Septemb. the same Conference the ninth as also the twelfth thirteenth and fourteenth following and in the end after these long Debates it was decreed that the next day in the morning there should be Deputies sent to Cardinal Richelieu and to that end were nominated Sieurs Riffault and Journault who after having had Pass-ports of the King went to wait upon the Cardinal at Ronsay with whom they conferred until the Evening and then returned to their City with hopes of obtaining their Peace under Conditions good enough but the coming of two Natives of the City viz. Mesnier and Beaumont who arrived the same day from England
strength left them not so much as to traverse their Cannon or to Toll their Great Bell for the Sermon and when they set their Guards they found often half of them dead in the morning and the like by their Centinels in so much that many Nights passed without 1628. October having any persons in the greatest part of the Courts of Guard so that the least attempt had carried the City but God looked upon us in mercy and prepared the King to exercise towards us the Wonders and Miracles of his Mercy and Clemency During the horrour of this Famine as there was Examples of Cruelty there was also many of great Charity in a free and voluntary distribution of their Over-plus as others had done of their Plenty for inriching of themselves and especially Sieur Thinault a Merchant and one of my Uncles called Sieur Duprat who having in their House a most great quantity of Wheat and other Corn sold not one grain but distributed it to those whom they judged to be in want for to repay them only when God should restore them to peace and ability Others there were who distributed Charity so in secret as the Authors thereof were never discovered and amongst others I had knowledge of one which seems to me most remarkable Le Sieur de la Goute a Honorary Advocate to the King had a Sister Widow to a Merchant called Prosni who being a very religious and charitable Woman when the Famine begun to be more sharp than ordinary assisted freely the Poor her Sister-in-law Wife to the Sieur de la Goute being of another humour reproved her for it asking her in choler what she would do when she had given all away to which she answered My Sister the Lord will provide for me The Famine increasing and the Siege continuing this poor Widow who had four Children finding her self in a streight having no Provisions at all left went to 1628. October her Sister for relief but instead of comforting her she reproached her telling her she had provided well to be so reduced with all her great Faith and fair words that the Lord will provide for me and that in good time he would provide for her This poor Womans Heart was wounded with these words and returning to her House much troubled resolved to take death patiently Being come home her Children met her with great joy as formerly they used to do but now told her that a Man whom they did not know it being late knocked at the door and as soon as it was opened threw in a Sack of Wheat of about a Bushel which is near two English Bushels and then went readily away without saying any thing to them This poor Woman though hardly able to believe her own eyes went presently out of doors and with the greatest speed she could in her famished condition run to her Sister-in-law and told her with a strong voice as soon as she saw her My Sister the Lord hath provided for me and then returned without discoursing further with her By the means of this unexpected relief coming so opportunely she spun out the time until the Kings entrance and never knew to whom she was obliged for this good and merciful act The 21th ditto betwixt seven and eight a Clock in the Evening the Kings Naval Army sent four Fire-ships against the English Fleet which obliged some Ships to cut their Cables but others defended themselves and turned them aside by the help of their Dragontins and Shalloops The 23th ditto with the morning-tide the English Army set sail coming to the Pallisade and 1628. October behind the Point of Coureille but without making any attempt contented themselves with making some unprofitable Cannon-shot The 25th in the night the Mayors House was again set on fire with dry branches cut from Fir-trees well prepared with Sulphur Pitch Turpentine and other combustible things but it was presently discovered and as soon extinguished And further the same night two hours before day twenty or thirty Souldiers set fire on the Port of Coigne but those that were on the Guard at the said Port put it out immediately The 26th there came by Land into Rochel a Gentleman from the English Army who brought three Letters one from the Duke of Soubize to the Dutchess of Rohan his Mother the other two from Sieur Vincent the one to the Mayor in particular and the other to the Body of the City in general by which they gave advice of all that passed in the said English Army and above all that my Lord Montague having communicated with Cardinal Richelieu for a Treaty of Peace was gone Post for England from whence they expected him every day and intimated that in the mean time they would procure a Pass-port for two of themselves their Deputies to go to the Kings Camp to communicate with them and from thence to go to them in the City to the end that at the arrival of the said Montague all things might be disposed to a good Peace and that the General charged them to give this advice and that in the mean time he was resolved to attempt against the Digue if the weather would serve The same day this Gentleman was sent back to the English Army with Letters in Cyphers which 1628. October expressed the great and last extremity of the City conjuring them if they would relieve it to do it within a Week at furthest otherwise they should be forced to render to any conditions Immediatly after this Gent. was sent back with his dispatch to the English Army the Mayor assembled the Council in the Town House to consider of what was necessary to be done and after mature consideration of the matter contained in the abovesaid Letters the report of the said Gentleman the miserable condition to which they were reduced the great and extreme necessities which pressed them their great feebleness such as they were not sufficient nor capable to resist the least assault their Enemies should make and the little or no appearance of being relieved by the English who had been there a Month with folded Arms they concluded that it was in vain to expect any longer relief from the English or also from their Treaty for that they should be all dead before their Negotiator would return and therefore upon the whole they resolved to apply themselves to the King for his grace and mercy For that end they took occasion from a Letter that the Sieur Arnault had writ that day to the Sieur Fequiere by the Drummer who brought him his Victuals which represented to them the strength of the Digue and the little hopes they had of relief from the English and that a good Peace would be better for them got by sending to the King to receive them into his Grace The said Sieur Fequiere having communicated his Letter to the Mayor they prayed him in his Answer to Sieur Arnault to advise him to come the next morning to the City and they would confer with
they had at last prepared a brave Army and brought it within their sight but was so late in it as they seemed to design that Rochel whose necessities they knew should render before they could be there and since their arrival it seems that they came thither but for their own affairs with the King and capitulating the reduction of the Town Indeed they had puissant means and particularly three Ships to Mine 1628. October which they protested they would imploy and promised better success than at the Stuccade or Pallisade at Antwerp but all was but words without effect and our Deputies seeing the going and coming of Montague to treat knew from the English themselves that they had sent him into England to have that Kings allowance and considering all these circumstances they concluded that since they spoke of a Treaty it would be much more agreeable to the King as also to their Fellow-Citizens to receive Grace from his own hand than from that of a Stranger Prince who had been so ill a Garrantee to them of the last Peace And that upon these considerations they had sought by those ways known to the Cardinal the means of speaking to him for obtaining of his Majesty by his favour the liberty of waiting upon him and open to him all their hearts and to endeavour also as they hoped to impress upon him their resolutions of leaving all thoughts of the English and instead of letting themselves die upon the expectation of their promises they would return to their duty in seeking the Grace of the King where they should find that which the relief of the others put them in danger of losing adding that God seemed to fight for him from Heaven having given him all weathers to his own desire both in building of the Digue and hindering what the English could do there The Cardinal being profoundly attentive to all this discourse commended the good intentions which they gave testimony of and said that they took the right way in having recourse directly to the grace of his Majesty which will be better and more surely granted them than if a Forreign 1628. October Prince should be interested in it but he further demanded what caution they could give for their serving his Majesty as they promised They answered that they would give two good Assurances one that the Interest of those for whom they acted required it the other that being two Deputies one should remain if it pleased the King as caution with his Head for the fidelity of his Companion excepting only the success The Cardinal said that he hoped that his Majesty would trust them and approve of the Project designed by them to this end and to give them light in what they were to treat of he told them his intentions touching them that he would not conceal from them that the Affairs of Italy pressed his Majesty and to such a point that days to him were years and that he would buy them at a dear rate that those of Rochel had given him to understand that they had yet enough for three full Months If so he would give them a blank Paper to write their own Conditions but if they were not able to hold out longer it was not reasonable that obdurate obstinacy should have such Conditions as a free and voluntary submission and propounded in the first place that his Majesty should send Commissioners into the City with whom their Deputies should be joyned to examine their Provisions and to make a faithful report thereof reiterating that if they had to hold out three Months they should grant them such Capitulations as themselves should desire but if extreme necessity forced them to render it was but just to do it upon discretion In reply to this they supplicated him not to 1628. October render them Messengers to their Fellow-Citizens of such bad news and said that the Expedient in searching what Victuals was remaining was impracticable as to a true discovery thereby because in times of necessity particular persons hide and lock them up as the treasure of their lives so that there may be for three Months and beyond and yet impossible to make it appear as upon the review in the Month of May there was not found more than for one Month notwithstanding that it is now near six Months since Besides that a reckoning ought to be made of all that the Sea brings of Fish and Cockles of all the Herbs that the ground produceth of all the Skins Soles Parchments and generally of all that hath any juice or moisture from which by the ingenious preparations of men Hunger can receive any nourishment And though all this is not sufficient to maintain the whole number for three Months yet reserving the Victuals for those that shall be capable to resist leaving others as a prey to Famine it may be able to pass beyond even that term they told him they knew there would never want persons who to render themselves acceptable would perpetually bring news that they are ready to render from day to day and that they knew such news had been entertained this four Months by which the vanity of it had appeared but the uncertainty herein may much better be judged of by their being yet as hardened as ever and it could not rationally be thought that they could be so imprudent as having no Victuals to suffer themselves to be reduced to the last point before making Conditions or thinking of Capitulating And all this considered he said as their 1628. October Deputy he most humbly supplicated that they might be made the Messengers of his Majesties Grace to the end that they may be the better able to value it for his service and to consider it for the good of those for whom they have to do seeing by experience that when they cannot live they know how to die Upon which Sieur Vincent who spake could not contain himself from weeping The Cardinal made hereunto answer that the representation merited consideration and that he would the same day go to his Majesty and hoped to procure his approbation for their going to their Fellow-Citizens according as they had propounded The Deputies returning him thanks added that they hoped that his Majesty would consider that though the Crimes of their Fellow-Citizens were most great and that they would not pretend to excuse them no more than themselves nevertheless the Flower de Luces which have always remained entire upon their Gates and Walls were yet more in their hearts and that they had always conserved them there and that because they shewed themselves deaf to divers Propositions by which the English would have detached their Fidelity from this Crown they had so long retarded their succours and suffered them to languish He answered with a benign Countenance and that which evidenced his Approbation of what they said We know said the Cardinal that what you say is true and it is the only door left you to enter by into the favour of
and of none effect as also all the Informations and Proceedings made on one part and the other LVIII All Prosecutions Proceedings Sentences Judgments and Decrees given as well against the deceased Sieur de la Nove as against the Steur Odet de la Nove his Son since their restraints and imprisonments in Flanders happening in the months of May 1580. and of November 1584. during their continual imployment in the Wars and service of the King shall remain cancelled and annulled and all that consequently followed the same shall be received in defence of them and the said de la Nove's shall be restored to the same condition as they were in before the said Judgments and Decrees without being obliged to refund the expences or assign the payment of the Penalty or Fines if they have incurred any nor shall men alledge against them any Non-suit or Prescription during the said time Done by the King being in his Council at Nantes the last day of April 1598. Signed HENRY And below FORGET And Sealed with the great Seal of yellow Wax HENRY by the grace of God King of France and Navar To our trusty and well-beloved the members of our Court of Parliament at Paris Greeteth Besides and above the Articles contained in our Edict made and granted in the present month concerning the Reformed Religion we have yet farther Granted some Particulars which we did not esteem necessary to comprehend in the said Edict and which nevertheless we will and require that they be observed and have the same effect as if they were therein comprised and to that end that they be Read and Inregistred in the Offices of our Court of Parliament to have recourse thereunto when it shall be needful and the Case require it For this Cause we Will Command and most expressly Injoyn That these Articles Signed by our own Hand hereunto annexed under the Counter-Seal of our Chancery you shall enter in the Registers of our said Court and cause the same to be observed in all poynts in the same manner as it is and ought to be in our said Edict For such is our will and pleasure Given at Nantes the last of April 1598. and of our Reign the ninth Signed by the King in Council FORGET And Sealed with the great Seal of yellow Wax with a single Label A DECLARATION By the present French King Lewis the XIV in favour of his Subjects of the Reformed Religion confirming the Edicts of Pacification Declaration Reglements and Articles heretofore granted them Dated at Paris the 8th of July 1643. and Verified in Parliament the 3d of August 1643. Printed at Paris 1644. with the Kings Licence LOVIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre To all to whom these presents shall come greeting The deceased King our most honoured Lord and Father acknowledging that the most necessary and effectual means for the preservation of peace in this Kingdom consisted in suffering his Subjects of the Reformed Religion to live under the benefit of his Edicts and defending them in the free exercise of their Religion he had a particular care to prevent by such wayes as he judged suitable to his Authority the troubling or disquieting of them in the said Exercise Having to that effect immediately after his coming to the Crown confirmed the said Edicts by his Letters Patents in form of a Declaration dated the 22th of May 1610. to the end that he might thereby so much the more oblige his Subjects of the said Religion to a dutiful obedience And to follow his example and imitate him in his bounty we will give them a testimony of ours and treat them as favourably as is possible if they shall render themselves worthy thereof by the continuation of their fidelity and obedience towards us as they have protested they will and never withdraw from us This makes us to hope that comporting as good and Loyal Subjects and living in that Union and Concord which is requisite for the good of our Service we may as it is our greatest desire with Divine assistance and under the prudent and wise administration of the Queen Regent our most honoured Dame and Mother whose good and sincere intentions are known to every one make all our Subjects as well Catholicks as of the said Reformed Religion to be sensible of our affection towards them and of our desire of maintaining them in a firm and assured peace We do therefore hereby give you to understand That we for these reasons and upon the most humble supplication on the behalf of our said Subjects of the Reformed Religion after having brought this affair into deliberation in the presence of our most honoured Dame and Mother the Queen Regent We by her advice together with that of our most dear and beloved Uncle the Duke of Orleance and of our most dear and beloved Cousin the Prince of Conde first Prince of our blood Dukes Peers and Officers of our Crown and many eminent persons of our Council have said and declared and we do say and declare by these presents signed with our Hand that it is our will and pleasure That our Subjects making profession of the Reformed Religion enjoy and have the free and entire exercise of the said Religion according to the said Edicts Declarations and Rules made upon this account without being troubled or inquieted in any sort or manner whatsoever The which Edicts remaining as well good as perpetual we have de novo so far as is or shall be needful confirmed them and we do by these presents confirm them willing and commanding the opposers of the same to be punished and chastised as disturbers of the publick Peace And we command our well beloved the members of our Courts of Parliament Chambers or Courts of Edict Bailiffs Chief Justices their Lieutenants and other our Officers to whom it shall belong each in his place that he cause these presents to be Inregistred Read and Published where need shall be and all the contents thereof to be received kept and observed according to their form and tenour and inasmuch as there may be need of these presents in many and sundry places we will and require that two Copies duly examined by one of our well beloved Counsellors and Secretaries faith be given to them as to the Original For such is our pleasure In witness of which we have caused our Seal to be put to these presents Given at Paris the 8th day of July 1643. and of our Raign the first Signed LOVIS And upon the fold the King and Queen Regent his Mother being present Signed PHILIPPEAVX And Sealed with a double Label with the great Seal of yellow wax Read published and inregistred in the Registers of the same requiring the Procurator General of the King to execute it according to its form and tenour and to send examined Copies to the Bailiwicks Chief Jurisdictions of this Circuit to be there in like manner read published Registred and executed with diligence by the
Substitutes of the said Procurator General who are injoyned and obliged to the execution of the same and to certifie the Court within a month of having done it At Paris in Parliament the 3d of August 1643. Signed GVYET THE DECLARATION Of King Louis XIV of France confirming the Priviledges granted to his Subjects of the Reformed Religion Given at St. Germain in Laye the 21th of May 1652. LOUIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre To all to whom these Present shall come greeting The deceased King our most honoured Lord and Father acknowledging that one of the most necessary things for conserving Peace in this Kingdom consisted in maintaining his Subjects of the Reformed Religion in the full and intire enjoyment of the Edicts or Laws made in their favour and to suffer them to enjoy the free exercise of their Religion He had a most particular care to prevent by all convenient means the troubling them in the enjoyment of the Liberties Prerogatives and Priviledges granted them by the said Edicts Having to that effect immediately after his coming to the Crown by Letters Patents of the 22th of May 1610. and since his Majority by his Declaration of the 10th of November 1615. declared and required that the said Edicts should be executed to the end to give to his said Subjects so much the more reason to keep within the bounds of their duty and after the example of so great a Prince and to imitate him in his Bounty we have resolved to do the like having from the same motives and Considerations by our Declaration of the 8th of July 1643. willed and ordained that our Subjects of the Reformed Religion shall enjoy all the Concessions Priviledges and Advantages especially of the free and intire exercise of their said Religion according to the Edicts Declarations and Reglements made in favour of them upon that Subject And forasmuch as our said Subjects of the Reformed Religion have given us certain testimonies of their affection and fidelity especially in our present Affairs from whence we remain most satisfied We therefore give you to understand That We for these reasons and upon the most humble supplications which have been made us in behalf of our Subjects of the Reformed Religion and after having brought this Affair into deliberation in our Council We being present We from the advice of the same and from Our certain Knowledg and Royal Authority have said declared ordained saying declaring and ordaining that our Will and Pleasure is That our said Subjects of the Reformed Religion be maintained and kept as certainly we will maintain and keep them in the full and intire enjoyment of the said Edict of Nantes other Edicts Declarations Decrees Rules Articles and Breviats expedited dispatched in their favour registred in Parliaments Chambers of Edict especially in the free and publick exercise of the said Religion in all the places where it hath been granted by the same notwithstanding all Patents and Decrees as well of our Council as by our Soveraign Courts or other Judicatures to the contrary willing and requiring that the Opposers of our said Edicts be punished and chastised as Disturbers of the publick Quiet And therefore we command and require our well beloved the members of our Courts of Parliaments Chambers of Edicts Bailiffs Chief Justices their Lieutenants and other our Officers each in his place as it belongeth to him That they cause the said Presents to be inregistred read and published where it shall be needful and all the Contents to be kept observed and maintained according to their Form and Tenour And forasmuch as there may be need of these Presents in many and sundry places We will and require That to the Copies thereof duly examined by one of our well-beloved Councellours and Secretaries faith be as well given as to the present Original for such is our Will and Pleasure In testimony of which we have caused our Seal to be put to these Presents Given at St. Germain in Laye the 21th day of May in the Year of Grace 1652 and of our Reign the tenth Signed LOVIS And under the King PHILIPPEAVX And sealed with the Great Seal EXTRACT OF THE Registers of the Council of State UPon that which is represented to the King being in Council by the General Deputy of his Subjects of the Reformed Relion because of the poverty of the Inhabitants of divers places making profession of the said Religion and of the want of the money which hath formerly been granted them for the maintenance of their Ministers in Consideration of the Tenths which they pay to the Ecclesiasticks they are constrained to cause one and the same Minister to preach in several places where the exercise of the said Reformed Religion is permitted which they call annexed places Now though they do not any thing herein which is not permitted them by the Edicts So it is that divers Decrees in the Council of his Majesty have been made which prohibite the said Ministers to preach in other places than those of their habitation which causeth great trouble and vexation to them for which it being necessary to provide his Majesty being in Council hath ordained and doth ordain That the exercise of the said Reformed Religion may be publickly practised by one and the same Minister in divers places in which the said exercise is permitted by the Edicts and no where else nothwithstanding all Decrees given to the contrary which his Majesty hath cancelled and revoked as contrary to the Edicts And his Majesty prohibits all his Officers and Subjects even to the Ecclesiasticks to trouble those of the Reformed Religion in their injoyments of the said Edicts Done in the Council of State of the King his Majesty being there Held at St Germains in Laye the 21th of May 1652. Signed PHILIPPEAVX LOVIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre To our first messenger or Sergeant upon this request greeteth We command thee and do command thee by these Presents signed with our hand That the Decrees of our Council of State whereof the Extract is here annexed under the Contra-Seal of our Chancellour thou signifie to all to whom it shall belong to the end they may not pretend ignorance thereof and defer obedience thereunto and further cause them to defend the Contents hereof and all other acts and things requisite and necessary for the execution of the said Decree and we give thee power Commission and especial Command herein without demanding other permission Willing that to the Copies examined of the said Decree and of the said Presents faith be given as to the Originals for such is our pleasure Given at St Germains in Laye May 21. 1652 and of our Reign the tenth Signed LOVIS PHILIPPEAVX by the King in Council Examined with the Original by me Councellor Secretary of the King and of his Finances EXTRACT OF THE Registers of the Council of State THE King being willing that his Subjects of the Reformed
Peace and without any precedent Denunciation of War was contrary to Justice and the Law of Nations which the King will make them repent in the end That if the Rochellers at first deferred declaring for them and sent Deputies to the Duke of Angoulesme it was in design to gain time and during that delay to make their Harvest for the King was most certainly advertis'd that the coming of the English was agreed upon with them and though they had not yet in words declar'd for them it was done in effect in receiving Deputies from the Duke of Buckingham and sending theirs to him and aiding him every day with Provisions that so the King had just cause to declare them Guilty of High-Treason and make them suffer for their Rebellion and he hopes in the end to make them Examples for it The said day with the Morning-tide the Sieurs David and Dehinsse went to the Isle of Re to joyn with the Sieur Salbret who was with the Duke of Buckingham and from thence to go into England to return that Prince thanks for his Assistance and to beg the continuance of it representing to him their State and Condition with them went to the said Isle of Re to reside near the person of the Duke of Buckingham the Sieurs Desherbiers and Bragneau for the City-Hall and Goyer Junier a good man and experienced Sea-Captain for the 1627. Octob. Burgesses without being prejudic'd by any Cannon-shot though many were made at them The same day with the Morning-tide thirteen Barks with six or seven hundred men got into the Fort la Pree without any Rencounter or Impediment from the English The 27th with the morning-tide there went out from Rochel to Re fifteen Sail as well Pinaces as Barks to the end to hinder the passages of those that would go to the Citadel and Fort la Pree the Enemy made many a Cannon-shot at them from their Batteries but without doing them any harm And the same day in the morning two Capuchins were brought in Prisoners which they sent back after Dinner without offering them any Injury And the Curriers did likewise bring Prisoner a Spanish Jeweller who had several precious Stones by him which caused a Debate in Council whether they should be declared good price some contradicted it and particularly the Sieur Vincent the Minister who having entertained this man and found him one of Sense was for gratifying him and to manage by him the beginning of a Treaty with the King of Spain which he maintained with many Reasons and expressed great diffidence of the Duke of Buckingham and the English but his motion was not relished The 28. those of Rochel sent forth nine other Sail as well Pinnaces as Barks equipped for War with three Companies of Infantry and some Voluntier Gentlemen which passed in spight of their Batteries from whence they played upon them with their Cannon but without effect 1627. October This same day the Sieur Salbert being excused going for England the Sieur Philip Vincent one of the City Ministers was by the Church and City-Hall appointed in his place and went the same day to the Isle of Re to joyn with the other Deputies that were there The 30. about four or five a Clock In the Evening twelve or thirteen hundred men commanded by the Sieur Canaples Master of the Camp to a Regiment of Guards were shipped at the Plomp for the Fort la Pre which passing without any obstruction and having a great Party there on Land endeavoured to make a descent but were at first by the English and French who joyned to hinder their Landing after a long Combat with the loss of fifty or sixty of those that were furthest advanced on shore forced to return to their Barks for saving of themselves in which Retreat many were drowned nevertheless the Night coming on which was so favourable to them that they found themselves very obscure they not only finished their descent to the Fort but even constrained the English to retreat with the loss of ten or twelve men and some wounded NOVEMBER The third of Novemb. there came fifteen Barks from the Isle of Re into Rochel some laden with Wines others with Commodities at which was shot sixty or more Cannon-shot from the Forts and Batteries without touching any of them The same day the Sieur Vincent came from the Isle of Re to Rochel to confer with the Mayor and Council upon some particulars relating to his Voyage for England and desired a commodious and safe 1627. Novemb. Vessel to be ready to sail with the first The Duke of Buckingham considering the supplies which the King sent to the Fort of la Pre and foreseeing that the design was to attack him and that he found himself weak he resolved upon a final Attempt and upon the sixth of Novemb. between seven and eight in the morning he assaulted the Citadel in two places the French making it on one side and the English on another At first they carried all before them gaining the Ditch and planting their Ladders against the Wall and Terraces but their Ladders proving too short and having to do with people who received them with much resolution they were in the end after two hours contest constrained to retreat with the loss of many men besides wounded which were sent the next day to Rochel to be treated and cured The same day about nine and ten a Clock in the Evening a House in Rochel was fired near the Bellfry to the Church S. Saviour where being lodged several combustible Commodities as Hemp Flax and Rosin c. it burnt so suddenly that the people in their Shifts were hard put to it to gain the top of the House and so to save themselves by their next Neighbours House The seventh Ditto there went from Rochel to Re nineteen Pinnaces and Barks in one of which was the Sieur Vincent who went to joyn with the other Deputies for England The eighth the Duke of Buckingham after this last attempt upon the Citadel despairing of gaining it and of being able to stay much longer in the Isle especially seeing there arrived from day to day considerable succours to come into the Field with and that his own Army was diminished more 1627. Novemb. than one third part proceeding from the eating too many Grapes according to Sieur de Comminges Prophesie resolved to raise the Siege and to imbark with the more security ordered his Retreat by the Isle of Lois which a small Channel of the Sea separates from that of Re and having made a Bridge for his passage in case he should be thereunto forced he marched his Troops putting in the Reer one of his best Regiments and Colonel Montjoy with his Cavalry to defend the Infantry if need were This Providence was of great use to him for the Night before his Retreat besides the Troops of the King which were already in the Isle Marshal Scomberg arrived there with three or four thousand Foot and two
caused the breaking off of the Treaty by the assurances they gave that the English Army would be on this Coast with the first favourable weather the Letter which they delivered to the Mayor being as followeth The Deputies Letter to the Rochellers Gentlemen GOD is our Witness of the anguish of our hearts for the miseries that you suffer and men shall be the same of our continual endeavours and intercessions with his Majesty and the Lords of the Council for hastening your assistance Hitherto we have been so unhappy that notwithstanding the excellent inclinations that they have here and the particular good Offices that the Duke hath done us we have met with nothing but cross upon cross ever since the departure of Monsieur Grossetiere insomuch that their good will cannot be seconded with the diligence promised by them and which is necessary 1628. Septemb. for you On the Lords day there arrived with us the Brother of the deceased Forrest with your Letters the abovesaid Grossetiere having not judged it fit for him to charge himself with them We cannot tell you how much we have been troubled finding that which we have ever justly feared we have always foretold your extreme necessities to morrow we will present to the Duke that which you have addressed to him and by his means to his Majesty that which you have writ to him and read also to them that which you have been pleased to write to us though they speak enough of it themselves for so it is that the Duke of Soubize and we do accompany them with the most instant supplications that is possible for us and with abundance of tears who shew great trouble at the excess of our grief and his Majesty shewing himself extraordinarily concerned caused at the same time the assembling of his Principal Officers to dispatch them to the Havens where the preparations were made In brief he established all necessary Orders for to make them diligent and indeed they have the three last days since advanced very much in such sort as we have now great hopes that within fifteen days at furthest the Fleet will set sail if God give a favourable season It goes so well furnished of all things necessary with so much resolution carrying a Command so express from his Majesty to conquer or die that we hope by the help of God for all happy success In the mean time because contrary Winds may happen his Majesty hath thought good besides six which have been dispatched by us since the return of the Earl of Denby to send 1628. Septemb. you back this Messenger to the end that if the season prove unfavourable and retards your succours you shall remain assured that with the first fair wind you shall not fail of it Seeing then that things are in this condition in the Name of God Gentlemen continue the Miracles of your Constancy we know that your necessities cannot be other than frightful representing to our selves our Children who with yours cry out of Hunger we eat scarce a morsel that we water not with our tears but do you retrench all Nutriture and even to our Children God knows nevertheless how dear they are to us and to all such as are not capable of applying themselves to the Common Defence make of Extreme Necessity a Vertue in expectation that God will Crown it with his Deliverance We write you this with eyes bathed with tears desiring nothing more than to be with you to bear a part of your Miseries as we have done of Prosperity But since the Providence of God hath disposed otherwise of us we beseech you to have this confidence in our Fidelity that we shall not spare any labour until God in his mercy make us to see this work conducted to his end and your Consolation and to the confusion of the Enemies of God and yours It remains resolved that one of us will imbark with them in the Fleet but we are in contestation which of us it shall be each desiring it with passion We shall yield nevertheless to reason seeing that we judge it necessary that one of us remain here and shall agree amicably in this as we have always done in all other things after we have weighed that which shall seem most profitable to us In the 1628. Septemb. mean time we joyn with you in prayers to God that he will uphold you by his Power according as hitherto he hath done and as we are assured that all Europe hath at this time their eyes upon you as an example of the greatest courage and generosity that can be heard of so that you will continue in such sort as Posterity shall also admire you for not having bowed under the greatest necessity having surmounted things the most insurmountable This is the desire and firm assurance of those who are so long as they shall have the least breath of life Gentlemen Your most humble and most obedient Servants and Deputies J. David Ph. Vincent London July 14. 1628. The Sieur Dehinse is at Plimouth as also the Sieurs Bragneau and Gobert at Portsmouth where they labour in your business Gentlemen WE add these lines to tell you in behalf of the Duke that in case it fall out that if the first Assault be not accompanied with success that he hopes you will not doubt but he will make a second a third and so on until he perish or that he hath relieved you In the mean time he expects that if the Wind is such as he can serve you or in case it turns and is against him that you think favourably of him You must not spare to do on your side all that is possible with your Fire-ships we doubt not of your establishing 1628. Septemb. so good order that the Enemy shall have no opportunity of surprizing you as of old the Turks did a place in the Morea which they gained after a long Siege whilst the people imprudently ran to the Haven where they received relief The 12th of August betwixt two and three a Clock Afternoon Bouffard Sieur of Magdeleine entered a Horse-back into Rochel by the Sea-side but not without running adventure three times of being taken by the Kings Horse who pursued him all along the shore from Port-Neuf until very near the Port of two Mills carrying news to the Rochellers that the English Army was shipped and ready to sail with the first good wind to come to their relief The 20th of August in the night the Heavens was seen from ten or eleven in the Evening until break of day all on fire and Lightnings in such manner as made it as clear as in full day without any noise or thundering in the Air Some reported to have seen on the Sea-coast an Apparition like men fighting one with another Afterwards it was noised thorough the City that at midnight there appeared in the Heavens over the Digue a Naval Fleet where after a great Combate there was a breach made which gave passage to the Ships