along towards Sigismond and the choice they had made of a new King Some Arguments were made use of in this Apology which were unanswerable by the Senate of Poland they being levelled peculiarly against it On Sigismond's sudden and clandestine Retreat after the Treaty of Linkoping the Swedes retort it thus on the Polanders You must needs own that if your King had served such a slippery Trick you would have long ago taken away the Crown you had bestow'd upon him The Act you formerly made against King Henry III. of France is an evident proof of it He secretly retired unknown to you to take Possession of his Father's and of his Uncle's Succession He soon after writ to you that he would take care ye should be as well govern'd as if he were among you in Person You took no notice of such a Pretence but immediately proceeded to a new Election Poland said you was never wont to be governed by Deputies Well be it so And what do you make of us whose Case is no ways inferiour to yours Swedeland neither cannot be without a King resident in it The Swedes made as pertinent Answers to that Charge of their having called an Assembly of the States without Sigismond's leave It is a received Custom among us said they That the chief Officers of the Realm have a Right to summon an Assembly of the States in the King's Absence and you have practis'd the same on certain Occasions It is not so long since that you held a Diet without your King Sigismond's leave It was for the maintaining of your Liberties Well then and we are resolved to do the like for the preserving of ours The King of Swedeland sends a Challenge to the K. of Denmark Charles both before and after his coming to the Crown was engaged in a War in Livonia against the Polanders He sometimes got the best at other times he sustained considerable Losses But the Polanders had Work enough both at home and in the Parts of Muscovia that hindred the Advantage they might have taken by a considerable Victory they had obtained in Livonia After this Christian IV. King of Denmark declared War against the King of Swedeland Perhaps Christian thought he might easily reduce Swedeland weakned by Civil Divisions and the Diversion of its main Strength and Army at that present employed abroad both in Livonia and Muscovia where Charles supported against the Polanders the Interest of Suski whom the Muscovites had placed on the Throne However the King of Denmark wrote a long Letter in the Year 1611. to the States of Swedeland wherein he complained of several Losses and Damages which he pretended himself and Subjects had sustained by means of the Swedish Nation Their Answer did not satisfie Christian and he doubtless expected a satisfactory one Denmark therefore declar'd War against Swedeland They that have a mind to pick a Quarrel with their Neighbours are generally more ready to make an Irruption than those are to make a Defence Christian enters into Swedeland takes the City of Calmar attacks the Islands of Oeland and of Borkholm becomes Master of them But the King of Denmark at his coming back finds the King of Swedeland incamp'd before him near Calmar Then it was that Charles sent a Challenge by a Herald at Arms to King Christian Copies of it were spread abroad in all Parts of Europe After some hard and reproachful Expressions that Charles uses against his Enemy Since you are at the Head of your Army said he to him Let us spare the innocent Blood of our Subjects let us decide our Quarrel in a single Combat after the laudable Custom of the Grecians of old I challenge you to it If you decline fighting I 'll never look on you to be a Man of Honour or a gallant Soldier But the King of Denmark's Answer was much more abuseful He declared That whatever Charles chargged him with was but a parcel of impudent Lyes vended by one who was better at such Railings than at downright fighting at the Head of his Army As for the Challenge he had received he said it argued that Charles stood in need of some Hellebore to purge his Brain withal Might not such course Language as this justifie that way of the Greek Poet of old who is tax'd with representing his Kings and Princes scolding at one another after a mean and scurrilous manner Truly Princes are much like other Men they forget themselves too often they happen to utter Words sometimes unbecoming their Rank and Character Here you have a Proof on 't Death of Charles King of Sweden It is likely that Christian by those last Expressions intended to upbraid Charles with an Apoplexy of which he had a Fit not long before Charles required pretty large Supplies of Money for making the necessary Preparations for a War with which Swedeland was threatned by the King of Denmark The States refused to grant any which put him into such a violent Passion that he fell into a Fit of Apoplexy upon it This Accident left such ill Symptoms behind that they brought a Weakness both of Body and Mind on him ever after It was thought the Grief which seiz'd him to see the Progress the King of Denmark had made over him did occasion this Relapse which cost Charles his Life for he died the 31st of October following being sixty one Years old His Son Gustavus Adolphus succeeded him This Prince was yet in his Minority though notwithstanding he had already given signal Proofs of his Courage and Valour THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS XIII King of France and Navarre BOOK III. 1612. The Condition France was in since Mary of Medicis came to be Regent THE face of Affairs was quite alter'd in Europe since the Death of Henry the 4th France was in such a Flourishing Condition both at Home and Abroad that Spain which a year or two before did stand in extream awe of her began now by degrees to get the uppermost The false Maxims of a depraved Policy with which the Pope and the Duke of Tuscany had slily prepossest an Imprudent Queen together with some Spanish Pistoles seasonably bestowed among her Cabinet-Councellors as a great States-man in those times has it did bring about this sudden Revolution This Queen Mary of Medicis being perswaded that an Alliance of a double Match to be made between both Crowns was altogether necessary toward the Establishing of her Authority both against the Princes of the Blood and all other Opposers III. Discours du Duc de Rohan sur l'Etat de la France Apres ses Memoires in 40. did therefore foment Divisions both at Court and throughout the Kingdom She created Jealousies and gave Umbrage to the best Allies the Crown had and raised the sinking Spirits of her Sons most formidable Enemies The Confederacy with England the Vnited Provinces the Protestant Princes of Germany the Commonwealth of Venice and the Duke of Savoy had been the Bulwark
Poland He succeeds to the Kingdom of Sweden Differences between King Sigismund and Charles Duke of Sudermannia The States of Sweden give the Regency of the Kingdom in the absence of King Sigismund to the Duke of Sudermannia The Duke of Sudermannia and the Senate of Sweden are divided King Sigismund Attempts in vain to reduce the Duke of Sudermannia by Force The States of Sweden depose King Sigismund Charles Duke of Sudermannia is chosen King of Sweden The King of Sweden sends the Challenge to the King of Denmark The Death of Charles King of Sweden BOOK III. THE State of France since the Regency of Mary de Medicis The Treaty of the double Marriage between France and Spain The double Marriage is concluded between the two Kings Intrigues in the Court of France when the Treaty of the double Marriage was known there The double Marriage at last passes in the Council of France The Popes Nuncio complains of the Sentence of Parlement on the Process of the Vniversity of Paris against the Jesuits The Nuncio's Invectives against the Advocate-General Servin The Nuncio's Advances to the Parlement to procure a Modification of the Sentence The Nuncio's Intrigues with the Clergy The Difficulties of the Jesuits to keep even in their Conduct to the Court of Rome and Parlement of Paris A Book of Doctor Richer Syndic of the Faculty of Paris makes a great Noise there The Cardinal du Perron and the Bishops of the Province of Sens assembled together to Condemn Richers Book Richer has the Syndicat of the Faculty of Paris taken from him Publick Rejoycings for the double Marriage New Disturbances in the Court of France The Duke of Mayenne is sent into Spain to demand the Infanta for the King Matthias King of Hungary and Bohemia is Elected Emperor after the Death of Rodolphus II. Antonio Memmi is chosen Doge of Venice after the Death of Leonard Donato The Embassy of the Mareschal of Bouillon into England The Discontent of the Mareschal Lesdiguieres Mary de Medicis depresses â—…e Factions of the Duke of Guise and Epernon The Count of Soissons undertakes to ruine the Ministers and engages outragiously to Attack the Chancellor de Sillery The Marquess de Coeuvres diverts the Count of Soissons from this Enterprize The Impostures of the Marquess of Ancres Some Persons suborned to accuse him of Magick The Affair of the Duke of Rohan at St. John of Angeli The Reconciliation of the French Protestant Lords The Protestation of the National Synod of Privas in the Name of all the Reformed Churches of France against the King's New Declaration The Entry of the Duke of Pastrane into Paris The Signing of the Marriage Articles between the Prince of Spain and the Eldest Daughter of France The Duke of Mayenne's Entry into Madrid The Signing the Marriage Articles between Lewis XIII and the Infanta of Spain A Conspiracy against the Duke of Parma A Discourse of Marrying Christina second Daughter of France to Henry Prince of Wales The Death of Henry Prince of Wales The Fortunes of Robert Carr in England The Death of the Count of Soissons A New Face of the Court of France The Condemnation of a Book of the Jesuit Becanus The Sentence of the Parlement of Paris against a Book of Schioppius Peace between the Crowns of Sweden and Denmark Revolutions in Muscovy A False Demetrius in Poland Demetrius enters Muscovy and causes himself to be Crowned there Demetrius and a great number of Poles are Massacred at Moscow Susky is made Czar of Muscovy and after lays down Ladislaus Prince of Poland is proclaimed Czar of Muscovy The Polanders are driven out of Muscovy and Michael Federovitz is elected Czar BOOK IV. THE Baron de Luz is killed by the Chevalier of Guise The Regents Anger against the Guises The Duke of Guise desires to combine with the Prince of Conde The Queen becomes jealous of the Prince of Conde The Violence and Mercenary Temper of the Duke of Guise The generous Sense of the Duke of Epernon The Regent is Reconciled to the Dukes of Guise and Epernon The Ancient Ministers are recalled The Confusion and Perplexity of the Prince of Conde The young Baron de Luz is killed again by the Chevalier of Guise The Death of Francis Duke of Mantua New Projects of the Duke of Savoy upon this occasion Artifices of the Duke of Savoy The Governor of Milan demands the Dutchess Dowager of Mantua and her Daughter The Regent of France opposes the Duke of Savoy's designs The Pope's Conduct in the Affair of Mantua The Republick of Venice supports the Cardinal of Mantua Ferdinand Cardinal de Gonzaga takes the Character of Duke of Mantua New Efforts of the Duke of Savoy to fetch away from Mantua the Princess Mary his Grand-daughter Ambitious Projects of the Duke of Savoy The Duke of Savoy carries Montserrat This Enterprize is the cause of New Metions in Italy Manifesto's of the Duke of Savoy and the Cardinal Duke of Mantua Artifices and Bravades of the Duke of Savoy His Intrigues at the Court of France are discovered The Marquess of Ancre being found Intriguing with the Duke of Savoy is exceedingly Embarassed The Ministers are reconciled to the Marquess of Ancre The Court resolves to send a powerful Aid to the House of Mantua The Queen is diverted from sending Aid so soon to the Cardinal Duke The King of Spain declares against the Duke of Savoy The Emperor requires the Duke of Savoy to desist from his Enterprize on Montferrat The Governor of Milan constrains the Duke of Savoy to submit to the King of Spain's pleasure A difference between the Duke of Nevers and the Governour of Milan The Marriage of the Elector Palatin to a Daughter of the King of England A Discourse concerning the Marriage of Charles Prince of Wales with Christina of France The Emperor Matthias comes to the Diet at Ratisbon The Catholicks and Protestants reciprocally complain of each other The ill success of the Diet at Ratisbon The Fortune of Bethlem Gabor Prince of Transilvania A difference between the Houses of Brandenburgh and Neuburgh about the Government of Cleves and Juliers Prince Wolfgang of Neuburgh Marries the Sister of the Duke of Bavaria and changes his Religion Difficulties to make the Peace concluded between the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua lasting The Governor of Milan presses the Duke of Savoy to Disarm The Dukes Evasion The Governor of Milan demands the Princess of Mantua on the King of Spains part The King of Spains Views in this demand The Republick of Venice traverses the King of Spain's Designs The Perplexity of Mary de Medicis in the Business of Mantua A Proposition made to the Council of France to cause Troops to march into Italy The Regent sends the Marquiss de Coeuvres into Italy to treat an Accommodation between the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua The vast Ambition of Conchini made a Mareschal of France and Galigai his Wife A Continuation of the Disputes about Grace
followed the Impressions of the Court of Rome Mary disliked too the Austere Humour of the Duke who would not fail to oppose her excessive Expences and Imprudent Liberalities The fear of causing Murmurs amongst the Protestants in discarding a Lord of their Religion without Reason possibly would have restrain'd the Queen and defeated the Cabals against him But they reckoned upon the Interest of the Mareschal of Bouillon with the Party He mortally hated the Duke of Sully and the Prince of Conde tempted by the Confiscation of the Estate of a Superintendant which Bouillon made him cast his Eyes on Declines interceding for a Man whose Plunder would enrich him Mem du Duc de Rohan Liv. 1. a Powerful Spur to make a Prince Act says one of the Wisest Men of that Time THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS XIII King of France and Navarre BOOK II. 1611. The Quarrel of Bellegarde and Conchini IN the Year 1611. Conchini entred upon the Exercise of his New place of first Gentleman of the Chamber Bellegarde who had served the preceding year in the same Quality was loath to leave the Apartment in the Louvre appointed for him who served in that Quality The Marquess of Ancre having already Lodgings in the Louvre upon the account of his Wife but the latter had not respect enough for him to give him any thing which of Right belonged to himself The Key of the Apartments was demanded of Bellegarde Divers pretences were found to defer this The Marquess of Ancre tired with these affected Delays demands it himself of the Great Esquire in the Queens Closet Upon a positive Refusal several Affronting Words past on both sides Conchini did not want Courage He goes out of the Louvre to avoid a Prohibition of Fighting and with a Design to demand the Reason of the Affront and Wrong Bellegarde had done him This Quarrel made a great noise at Court Memoirs de la Regence de Marie de Medicis every one followed that side his Passion or Interest led him to The Count of Soissons and old Friend of the Great Esquires forgot all his New Ties to the Marquess of Ancre He threatned Conchini to drive him from Court and his Passion of which he seldom was Master had Transported him farther if the Marquess de Coeuvres his Confident had not stopt him Is this the way you take said the Marquess to him to compass your Design of Marrying your Son to the Princess of Montpensier and ruine the Duke of Sully your Enemy to quarrel with the Queen and her Creatures Bellegarde is your Friend but the Duke of Guise whom you don't Love has he not contracted an Alliance with this Gentleman by Marrying the Dowager of Montpensier his near Kinswoman Do you think for the future your Interests will be dearer to Bellegarde than those of the House of Guise if you have no Consideration for Conchini at least consider your self The Count began to reflect a little when a Gentleman came to tell Coeuvres the Marquess of Ancre desired to have some Discourse with him in the Hôtel d'Etrees Coeuvres go's instantly exhorts Conchini to consent to an Accomodation Monsieur the Prince and the Duke of Epernon have offer'd me their Mediation says the Marquess of Ancre but if it comes to that Monsieur the Count will be more grateful to me Coeuvres made his Advantage of this Offer The Count of Soissons valued it as a piece of Merit with the Queen to accommodate a Quarrel which gave her Majesty some Disturbance The Count of Soissons quarrels with the Cardinal of Joyeuse and the Duke of Epernon Conchini thought himself extreamly obliged to the Count for having so dexterously managed his Honour Full of Gratitude the Marquess of Ancre promised Soissons to labour effectually to procure the Marriage of Mr. of Enghien with the Rich Hieress of Montpensier and to ruin the Duke of Sully The Queen consented in effect to the two Propositions which the Ministers and Marquess of Ancre strenuously pleaded for But when the Duke of Epernon and the Cardinal of Joyeuse came to understand the Queen disposed of their grand Niece without their consent they complained to her Majesty she had not Communicated to them a Matter which concerned them so nearly Farther they made great Complaints that the Count of Soissons had slighted them in carrying on a Matter of that kind with the Regent without their Privity This Prince full of Life but very Indiscreet took a Pique very unseasonably against two Persons whom he sought to engage in his Interests Endeavours were used for an Accommodation but all in vain Soissons was too passionate and Epernon too haughty The late King had designed the Princess of Montpensier for the Duke of Orleans his second Son and had declared this only to the Cardinal Joyeuse and the Duke of Epernon otherwise the Match would have been agreeable to the Niece and the Uncles But how could they prefer the last Prince of the Blood to the first Son of France The young Duke of Orleans died the 17th of November this year In default of him the Princess of Montpensier was desired for Gaston Duke of Anjou third Son of Henry IV. A Quarrel between the Count of Soissons with the Psince of Conti â—…is Brother The Count of Soissons had the beginning of this year two Notorious Quarrels one with the Prince of Conti his Brother and the other with the Duke of Guise Three days after the Marriage of this latter with the Dowager of Montpensier the Prince of Conti going in the Evening to the Louvre in his Coach met near the Croix du Tiroir the Count of Soissons who likewise was in his There being a stop in the Street it was necessary one of the two Coaches should put back to make way for the other The Counts Gentleman began to be rough and without observing the Liveries to use Threats and command the Princes Coachman to put back immediately Conti's Men would not yield bid the Coachman drive on and fear nothing The Count of Soissons then saw it was his Elder Brother in the Coach he instantly sent to make excuses for the Indiscretion of his Gentleman They protested to the Prince in the Name of the Count this happened by Accident and not by Design The weak Conti was not contented with the Deference which Soissons paid him When a Man has little Merit he easily thinks he is despised To Morrow with your Sword drawn cries the Prince as he passed by his Brothers Coach To stifle brutally for a small point of Honour all Sense of Religion and Nature was this the way to make himself less contemptible The two Princes are reconciled The Regent being informed of what had happened prays the Prince of Conde to intercede and Reconcile his Uncles She sends the Duke of Guise whose Sister Conti had Married to dispose his Brother-in-Law to receive the Excuses that Soissons made
Assistance of the Pope and Governor of Milan did not desist for all this The Count of Soissons sent him privately word to be very reserved to Berrault a Creature of Villeroy who aimed to surprize and daunt the Duke Siri Memorie recondite Tom. II. pag. 463 464. The Pope's Nuncio in France declared his Master knew nothing of the Designs of Charles Emanuel but this Italian Minister maintained them as well as he could and strove to prove the Justice of them to the Queen All this gave Umbrage This was the reason she earnestly recommended to the Cardinal of Joieuse to Discourse with the Pope upon this Subject and to Represent the Reasons which France had to oppose the Enterprize which the Duke of Savoy seemed to design The Duke of Savoy is forced to Disarm The World could not comprehend the Intrigues of this Prince perhaps he himself did not very well know what he would have Charles Emanuel undertakes to make a War on the Protestants and his chief Prospect is to raise the Hugonots of France in case he were left alone to act against Geneva At the same time he proposes to the King of England a double Marriage of the Prince of Wales with the Princess of Savoy and of the Prince of Piemont with a Daughter of England It was very difficult at first to make King James hear the Envoy from Savoy and yet the Duke pushed the Matter so far that the Court of Rome was alarmed at it Paul V. took Measures to break the Treaty which the King of England and the Duke of Savoy had no great mind to conclude A Capucin had Orders to go to Turin with an Instruction from Cardinal Borghese to divert Charles Emanuel from thinking on an Alliance with England All that could ever be guessed of so capricious a Movement was that the Duke thought to create a Jealousie in France and bring her by this means to finish the Treaty or the Marriage of the Eldest Daughter of that Kingdom with the Prince of Piemont He hoped too the Pope would break the Treaty of the Double Marriage between France and Spain and Assist the Prince of Piemont to Marry the Eldest Daughter of either of those two Crowns rather than suffer the Duke to bring a Protestant Princess to Turin The poor Duke spoil'd all his Affairs by aiming too much to be crafty His Intrigue with England did not succeed better than any of the rest The Regent determined too on the double Marriage between France and Spain thought no more on the Prince of Piemont except for Madam Christina second Daughter to the late King For his designs on Geneva and the Country of Vaux these he must quit too Mary de Medicis had acted her part so well with the Pope and King of Spain that they joyned with her to compel the Duke of Savoy to lay down his Arms. La Varenne was sent from the Court of France to Turin to conclude this Matter Charles Emanuel still flattered with some Hopes the Regent would be his Friend had a mind to do this with a good Grace He thought at least to make this Advantage that Mary de Medicis should take in good part the Deference which he feigned to have for her Majesty A Civil Meeting of the Protestants of France The Queen was the more Solicitous to put a stop to the Commotions in Savoy because the Court feared the Protestants met at Saumur might take Umbrage at it When the Reformed of France saw there was a necessity for them to defend themselves against those who attacked them with open force they began to form set Meetings in different Provinces of the Kingdom to agree on Measures for their Safety and the free Exercise of their Religion One or more Provinces joined together first held their Provincial Assembly Out of these they deputed a certain number of Gentlemen of those they called Elders or Ministers to form the General Assembly who were to take Resolutions for the common Good of the whole Body Reason and Natural Equity allow of these sort of Confederacies The Primitive Christians united and had their Meetings for the Regulation of their Discipline and preserving the Purity of the Gospel After their Example the Reformed had their Synods to draw up their Confession of Faith and form the Government of their Churches These being born in a Christian State where Subjects have Privileges and Liberties had not only their Religion to take care of but were under an Indispensable Obligation to defend their Right as far as the Rules of Natural Equity and Christianity admit against their King and a Faction of their Countrymen who strove to oppress them The Sovereign Power ought to hinder as far as may be all Associations and Meetings which may cause Disorder and Confusion in a State but this must be by a due Execution of the Fundamental Laws and maintaining those Rights and Privileges which Subjects cannot without Injustice be deprived of It is reasonable to alledge Men ought not to form a State within a State None would think of this if they were left peaceably to enjoy their Birthright But for Princes to pretend to prevent Disorders which would never happen if they were disposed to do Justice and to use these plausible Maxims to oppress with more ease those whom they have Sworn to protect is a Tyranny which it is lawful to oppose This is ever most dangerous when it is covered with the fair Colours of the publick Good The King of Navarre liked these Principles very well and thought them solid and conducing to the Welfare and Repose of Civil Society whilst he was struggling to defend himself against the power of the League but when he once saw himself Master of a fair Kingdom he soon abandon'd those Sentiments which Interest more than Reason had led him to embrace Princes never consult this Oracle they are only entertained with Discourses of Reason when they are not in a condition capable of understanding it In the following part of their Lives they are flattered and Transported with Passion for their own Greatness Whatever makes them absolute and Independent ever seems most Just and Reasonable to them After the Verification of the Edict of Nants Henry did not without great difficulty grant the Protestants leave to hold a General Meeting He was afraid the Lords that resorted to it or had their Creatures there should attempt any thing to his prejudice Are not the Synods said the King sufficient to determine Matters of Discipline and Religion As for Civil Affairs and the keeping the Edict of Pacification the two Deputies General which I allow the Protestants to have in my Court can represent to me the Griefs and Complaints of the Provinces I will take care to do them Justice This manner of Reasoning had been good if Henry had had the Knowledge and Integrity not to be Surprized by the Popes Nuncio and other crafty Men who were ever near him to Extort
Condition but was drunk before he finished it The Elector caused him to be set in a Chair and ordered the drunken Preacher to be carried back to the Princess The next time Madam he bid them tell her Make a better choice of your Men. If you would have me profit by your Advices send such Men as are more proof against the Temptation than I am Princes often would want place in History if it was not necessary now and then to divert the Reader and paint the Folly of Vice The Electoral Diet at Nutembergh John George the New Elector of Saxony came to Nurembergh with his Collegues about the beginning of October The first Affair treated of there was the Contest between the Dukes of Deux-Ponts and Neuburgh about the Administration of the Electorate during the Minority of the young Count Palatine of the Rhine Mercure Francois 16â—â— 1611. This was to continue till he was arrived at 18 years of Age according to the Golden Bull. Frederick VI. Elector Palatine deceased the preceding year had given by his Will the Guardianship of his Children and the Administration of the Electorate to John Duke of Deux-Ponts He was received at Heidelbergh in this Quality notwithstanding the Opposition of Philip Lewis Duke of Neuburgh who pretended to the Administration as being the nearest Kinsman as is appointed in the Golden Bull of the Emperor Charles IV. The Counsellors of the Palatinate liked the Duke of Deux-Ponts best because he was of the Established Religion of their Country whereas Neuburgh was of the Ausburgh Confession They grounded this Preference on the Examples of several Electors Palatine who appointed Guardians to their Children and Administrators of the Electorate to the prejudice of their nearest Kinsmen The Affair was remitted to the Emperor Till a full Decision of the Guardianship and Administration were adjudged with a provision to the Duke of Deux-Ponts The Electoral Diet of Nurembergh did not any more give a Defensive Judgment It was concluded here that the Duke of Deux-Ponts should keep the Place of Count Palatine without prejudice to the Duke of Newburgh's Title In the beginning of November the Electors sent a Deputation to the Emperor The Electors Demands of the Emperor to represent to him the things which they thought proper to desire from him These were that Justice should be Reestablished That he should chuse more Faithful Counsellors That he should Summon a General Diet That the Electors having no design to chuse a King of the Romans without the consent of his Imperial Majesty or to remove the Empire from the House of Austria Rodolphus would Name his Successor The Electors assured him at the same time they did not approve of the Attempts of his Brother Matthias In the close they Admonished him that the ill Administration of the Empire proceeded from his Majesty 's not following the example of his Predecessors who used to consult with the Electors The Answer of the Emperor Rodolphus Rodolphus only gave a General Answer I know says he the Empire do's want a King of the Romans The Electors have spoke to me of chusing one and I design to Nominate one who is fit to fill the Place I should have done this sooner if the Troubles in Bohemia had not entirely taken me up But before I declare my self I shall be glad to see a General Diet and I will be present there The Electors should take care that I may speak freely there what I think to be for the good of the Empire The Electors having received the Emperor's Answer broke up the 12th of November after they had resolved to hold a Diet at Francfort in the Month of April the next year for the Election of a King of the Romans Europe was then in Mourning for the Death of Margaret of Austria The Death of the Queen of Spain Wife to Philip the III. King of Spain She left behind her four Sons and two Daughters Philip Charles Ferdinand Alphonso and Ann whom we shall soon see Queen of France and Margaret There was a Solemn Service for the Queen of Spain in the Cathedral Church of Paris The Princes of Conde Conti and the Duke of Guise performed the Honours and the Archbishop of Ambrun spoke the Funeral Oration The Death of the Duke and Dutchess of Mayenne The House of Guise had not long before lamented the Death of the Duke of Mayenne the Famous Head of the Holy League in France He died at Soissons the beginning of October The Duke of Aiguillon his Son Succeeded him and took the Name of the Duke of Mayenne The Father had gained a mighty Reputation in War but his Remissness made him lose many fair opportunities of encreasing it His Revolt against King Henry the III. was pardonable for the desire he had to Revenge the Death of his two Brothers if it were lawful I will not say for a Christian but for any Man whatever to kindle a Civil War to Revenge a private Injury His Opposition of Henry the IV. was not wholly the effect of his Zeal for the Old Religion The Duke of Mayenne was more moderate against this Prince after he left the Communion of the Reformed than before The ill Humour which the Miscarrying of the League had put him into made him take in Despair a Resolution to retire into Spain But the Clemency or rather the Policy of Henry stopt him The King proposed very Advantagious Conditions to him The Duke had in some manner deferved well from him though he strove to exclude him from the Crown Whilst the League was active Mayenne always opposed the design of Philip to procure a Prince of his House to be chosen Farther he kept the Duke of Guise his Nephew steddy who was dazled with the deceitful promises of the Spaniards When they proposed to the Duke of Mayenne to follow the Example of Hugh Capet who reserved the Sovereignty for himself permitting the Governors of Provinces and considerable Towns to make themselves Dukes and Counts Vassals of the Crown I would sooner die replied he generously than make an Advantage of the Misfortunes of my Country Henrietta of Savoy his Wife died of Regret a few days after him and both had the same Funeral Solemnity at Soissons The Dutchess of Lorrain and the Cardinal de Gonzaga came to the Court of France The Court was at Fontainblean when they heard of the Death of the Duke and Dutchess of Mayenne The Cardinal of Gonzaga and the Dutchess of Lorrain his Sister were come thither to pay a Visit to Mary de Medicis their Aunt They had great Honours done them and were regaled with all the Diversions which the place afforded It is reported the Dutchess of Lorrain came to mention the Match which the late King had proposed himself of his Eldest Son with the Princess of Lorrain This was the best thing the Regent could do for the young King's advantage Siri Mem. recondite To. II. p.
Crown to be Entailed on his Heirs Male in short for setling Luther's Reformation in his Country and Abridging the too great Power of the Clergy Eric the Eldest Son of Gustavus Succeeded him but wanted the Virtues of his Father He introduced into Sweden the Dignities of Count and Baron which before were unknown there It was thought this was done to divide the Nobility among themselves The too great Union of this Powerful Body was able to create Trouble to a Family newly raised to the Throne The Dignities bestowed on some gave a Jealousie to the rest Those who had most Ambition made their Court to the King to obtain the same Distinction And the New Nobility were obliged to support the Authority of the King and adhere here to his Family to preserve their Privileges Eric made himself Odious by his Cruelties and Despicable by his Debauches and Extravagancies His ill Treatment of John Duke of Finland and Charles Duke of Sudermannia obliged them to rise and put themselves at the Head of the Malecoutents These two Princes Attacked Eric in Stockholm it self He first delivered up his Favourite whom all the Kingdom Exclaimed against They inflicted an Infamous punishment on him John and Charles would have something more than all this They agreed to take the Sovereign Power from Eric who abused it unjustly and that the Duke of Finland should be declared King and the Duke of Sudermannia should share with him in the Government without having any outward Marks of Royalty John thought himself now discharged from the Oath he had taken when Eric delivered him out of a close Prison where he had kept him three or four years The Duke had given Assurance by a Writing under his Hand that he would continue faithful to the King and not aspire to the Crown neither before nor after the Death of the King his Elder Brother and that he would acknowledge those Children for lawful Heirs of the Kingdom which Eric had by a Mistress of Mean Birth whom he afterwards Marryed Solemnly But John was not very anxious about the Religious observing his Promises When he was Master of his Eldest Brother not contented with shutting him up in a Castle he soon poisoned him John and Charles continued to attack Stockholm The Senate of the City delivered it up to them and poor Eric reduced to Extremity was left to the Discretion of his two Brothers The States of Sweden declared him fallen from the Crown and John Duke of Finland was set up in his place John King of Sweden endeavours to alter the Religion Established by his Father The New King of Sweden was not truer to the Duke of Sudermannia than he had been to his Predecessor Charles had no share in the Administration of the Kingdom Men promise any thing when they are to ascend a Throne but when they are once Established in it they find other Principles of Religion and Honour John had Married Catherine Jagellon Daughter to the King of Poland Whether the Princess had inspired her Husband with an Aversion to the Protestant Religion or the Reading the Books and Conversation of able Men of the Papal Communion had raised doubts in him or he hoped to be King of Poland after the Death of Sigismund Augustus his Brother-in-Law who had no Children as soon as John had made a Peace with Denmark by the Treaty of Stetin in Pomerania he applied himself seriously to change the Religion which his Father had setled in Sweden It is not a place here to relate all the Artifices he made use of to prepare the Minds of his People for the Alterations he designed I shall only observe that the King who wanted not Wit or Judgment was convinced there were a great many things to be altered in the Worship and Doctrine of the Church of Rome He can neither be reckoned among the good Catholicks nor the true Protestants Ever uncertain and wavering sometimes he relished the Project of Accommodation which Cassander had given to the Emperor Maximilian II. at other times he was inclined to the Greek Church The Answers of Jeremiah Patriarch of Constantinople to the Divines of Wirtembergh pleased him so much that he once thought to unite with that Communion Possevin a Learned Jesuit whom Pope Gregory the XIII had sent into Sweden thought he had persuaded King John to Reunite himself in earnest to the Church of Rome He confessed himself to that Jesuit the Popes private Nuncio he received the Communion in the Form used in that Church Possevin imposed as a Pennance on him for the Murther of his Brother Eric whom he had poysoned to fast every Wednesday throughout the year It is said John observed this Practice regularly all the rest of his Life Nevertheless he frequented the publick Service of the Church of Sweden There was a New Liturgy used which himself had introduced and the Pope refused to approve of The Mixture of these two Religions was one of the ways by which this Prince pretended insensibly to bring the People to forsake the Worship and Belief of the Protestants of the Ausburgh Confession Several Romish Churchmen came into Sweden The Irresolution of King John and his Indulgence drew them thither Several of his own Subjects too favour'd his dissembled Designs By their manner of Discourse the more unthinking People took these Preachers for free Protestants But others observed in spight of their Disguises all they spoke tended to insinuate into the Minds of the People the Doctrines of Popery The Archbishop of Vpsal suffered himself to be won by them Some Prelates and divers ignorant or ambitious Churchmen follow'd his Example There were some Bishops ordained according to the Roman Pontifical The Bishop of Linkoping several of his Brethren and a great number of Churchmen couragiously defended the Reformation setled by Gustavus Ericson The Clergy of the Dutchy of Sudermannia shewed a firmness of Mind which much confounded King John Charles his Brother declared highly for the Ausburgh Confession He opposed this Alteration with all his Might Neither the King nor I can make any Innovation in the Religion established by Law he replied to those sent to dispose him to comply All things are well regulated by the last Will and Testament of the late King our Father We must fix there For my part I am resolved never to depart from it The States of Sweden shew'd great Vigour on several Occasions They represented to the King that mighty Jealousies were risen in Sweden and Foreign Countries that his Majesty would overthrow that Constitution which his Father had wisely established and that to put an end to all those Rumours it concerned him to declare publickly that the Reformation received in that Kingdom was conformable to the Sense of the Primitive Church Farther the States commanded several Popish Books brought into that Country to be suppress'd they press'd the King to place able Men of unblemish'd Reputation in the Publick Schools to instruct the Youth In the last
place they desired that Sigismund the King 's eldest Son should be bred in the Protestant Religion because that young Prince began to give some Umbrage Queen Catherine Jagellon his Mother had so strongly tinctured him with the Principles of the Church of Rome that the Senators of the Kingdom having one day threatned him that he should lose the Right of Succession to the Crown if he did not soon renounce the Religion he had imbibed and embrace the Ausburgh Confession I prefer replied he boldly the Kingdom of Heaven to all the Crowns in the World No other Answer could be got from him On some Occasions the States of Sweden had more Complaisance for the King All seem'd dispos'd to receive the new Liturgy and the Accommodations he had invented Charles of Sudermannia the Clergy of his Provinces and some great Lords were the only People who defended the Reformation but the Interest of the Duke and the effectual Remonstrances of the rest brought back several whose Hopes and Fears had abated their Warmth and Zeal The King himself had lost much of that Ardor the Jesuit Possevin had inspired into him Whether he could not accommodate himself to the haughty Humour of Sixtus V. Successor to Gregory XIII or his Doubts were not sufficiently cleared or the great Power of his Brother kept him in awe John humbled the Catholicks who thought themselves now Masters of all things He drove out the Jesuits and demolished their College Gennila Bielke whom the King married after the Death of Catherine Jagellon cooled the Fervour her Husband had before shewed for the Roman Religion Kings often think they do that of their own Heads which a dextrous and insinuating Woman inspires into them John King of Sweden thought he had solid Reasons to doubt of the Truth of the Protestant Religion But his principal Motive though he scarce knew it himself was his great Complaisance for Catherine Jagellon The Queen Gennila might have brought him back to his first Religion in the same manner as the other had seduced him from it Sigismond Prince of Sweden is chosen King of Poland After the Death of Stephen Battori King of Poland Ann Jagellon his Widow and Aunt of Sigismond Prince of Sweden managed the Polish Nobility so well that the greatest part declared for him The contrary Faction chose the Arch-Duke Maximilian Brother to the Emperor Rodolphus But Sigismond's Friends carried it He was received in Poland beat the Arch-Duke and Maximilian being taken Prisoner redeemed his Liberty by renouncing all his Pretensions to the Crown of Poland The Swedes made their Conditions before the Prince left that Kingdom as the Poles made theirs before they received him The Principal thing which the Senate of Sweden stipulated with Sigismond was the preserving the Priviledges and Religion of their Country They added this Clause in the Treaty that if the King of Poland becoming King of Sweden after the Death of his Father should contravene any of the Articles agreed on that then the Swedes should be discharged from the Oath of Allegiance they had taken It is very probable that Sigismond before his departure from Sweden urged the King his Father to pursue his Design of causing his new Liturgy to be received together with the ancient Ceremonies which he had establish'd a little after his coming to the Crown When Princes have begun a Work that makes a great Figure they are loth to quit it and soon resume it when they see the least Prospect of Success Sigismond hoped his late Advancement would make it easie for him to accomplish the Work which his Father had drawn a rough Draught of And the King of Sweden strengthned by the new Alliance of Poland flatter'd himself that Charles of Sudermannia would not dare to oppose him He was deceived in his Conjectures The Churchmen of the Dutchy agreeing perfectly well with the Prince refused to receive his Liturgy This disturbed the King so much who was now at greater variance with his Brother than ever that he thought of recalling Sigismond in earnest The new King himself was tempted to return into his Country He would willingly have done it if the Poles had not briskly opposed it A Foreign Prince is easily dazled with the glittering Title of King of Poland But he soon takes distaste at the false Lustre of a Crown which only appears fair at a distance Those who have left their Hereditary Countries to go into Poland have repented This is the way to hazard the loss of an Effective Sovereignty for a Title which has more Pomp than Reality Sigismond knew by Experience the Truth of this Maxim The King his Father finding so great opposition from the Swedes who were more upon their Guard since the Election of Sigismond had nothing else to have Recourse to but to reconcile himself speedily to the Duke of Sudermannia and admit him to a Share in the Administration of Affairs The Apprehensions of John were something lessened by Charles's losing his Wife She left no Issue behind her and John pretended his Brother promised him never to think of a second Marriage If it were so the Duke in his turn broke his Word He soon after married Christina Daughter of Adolphus Duke of Holstein It is reported Sigismond courted this Lady before he went into Poland But a Sister of King John diverted the Prince her Nephew from the Match He after married Constance of Austria Daughter of Charles and Sister of Ferdinand Arch-Duke of Gratz in Stiria Christina enraged at this Contempt conceived so great a Hatred against Sigismond that after she was married to Charles of Sudermmannia she incessantly urged him to force the Crown of Sweden from Sigismond King John was not well satisfied with this second Marriage of Charles But his ill Humour did not last long He died soon after at Stockholm The Duke of Sudermannia was active as soon as he heard this News He set at liberty the Senators and Clergymen Sigismond King of Poland succeeds in the Kingdom of Sweden whom the late King had confined for opposing his Designs Sigismond very much distrusted his Uncle To prevent his enterprizing any thing to his Prejudice the new King writes that he was making all Preparations to come speedily into his Hereditary Countries In the mean time the Duke of Sudermannia takes the Administration as next of Kin to the King Puffendorf Introduction à Histoire Tom. IV. p. 11. Rhap 1. 2. John left another Son by his second Wife but he was yet a Minor The Senators without prejudice to their Oath taken to Sigismond promised to obey Charles in every thing he should order with their Consent for the Glory of God the Preservation of the Protestant Religion and the maintaining the just Rights and Priviledges of the Nation The Duke promised of his Part not to transact any thing of weight without the Advice and Consent of the Senate A Council is thereupon assembled at Vpsal to regulate Matters of
Religion They abolished the Liturgy and Ceremonies introduced by the late King and reassumed those of the Protestants of the Ausburgh Confession They elected an Archbishop who was well affected and deprived those of the Clergy who had devoted themselves to serve the late King in his Innovations The Swedes and the Goths only assisted aâ—… this Assembly The other Provinces weâ—â— afraid of displeasing King Sigismond iâ—… they engaged without his Consent Thâ—… Decrees of the Council were confirmed by the Duke of Sudermannia by the Senate the Clergy the Nobility the Ministers of State and the Burgo-Masterâ—… who were present Those who were noâ—… there subscribed after Sigismond and his Uncle Charles observed each other The Nephew's Distrust was encreased by Charles his demanding that before he left Sweden his Majesty would give him a Promise under his Hand that he would confirm the Liberties and Priviledges of the States of the Kingdom and suffer them to enjoy the same Freedom of Religion they had done under the Reign of Gustavus Ericson and in the beginning of the late King 's The Duke of Sudermannia farther represented to the King that the ill Condition of his Country would not admit him to carry much People away with him These Instructions and Demands increased Sigismond's Jealousie He thought his Uncle plainly discovered he had vast Designs Sigismond was resolved not to heed the Duke's Remonstrances And now Charles had greater Hopes than ever to embarass the new King when he saw the Poles gave Sigismond leave to go into his Hereditary Country under Condition to keep his ancient Oath not to abandon Poland as Henry III. King of France had done â—…nd that his Majesty should return when he â—…ad setled his Affairs in Sweden and have â—…is usual Residence amongst them The Swedes were disatisfied the new King had plainly declared the Decrees â—…ade at Vpsal in his Absence and without â—…is Consent to be null However they reâ—…eived him with great Marks of Joy â—…nd Affection Duke Charles withdrew â—â—fter he had made his Compliments to his Majesty He thought it proper to leave â—…im alone with the Council of his Kingâ—…om The Pope's Nuncio who was with â—…igismond much disquieted the Swedes â—…t was visible the new King hearkened to â—…he Councils of the Court of Rome He â—…roke the Regulations made at Vpsal and commanded another Archbishop to be chosen He who was raised to that Digâ—…ity was in his Opinion an Enemy to the late King Afterwards he demanded a Church in every great Town for the Roman Catholicks The States of the Kingdom and the Clergy vigorously opposed his Enterprize being assured of the Protection of the Duke of Sudermannia The time of the Coronation approaching the Senators demanded in the Name of the States of Sweden that the King should first promise under his Hand-writing not to hinder the Exercise of the Protestant Religion Sigismond replied only in general Terms that he would give his Subjects satisfaction after his Coronation All these Difficulties retarded the Ceremony The Quarrel between King Sigismond and Charles Duke of Sudermannia Men cover Liberty and Independence only for themselves Very far from procuring it for others they strive by all ways possible to enslave the rest of the World The Polish Nobility so Jealous of their Privileges and Liberty but accustomed to keep other People in Slavery incessantly cried to their King Sigismond that an Hereditary State is Governed otherwise than an Elective Kingdom That in Poland he was subject to the Laws but in Sweden he was above them These Maxims easily insinuate themselves into the Mind of a Prince Sigismond displeased to see himself dependant on the Senat of Poland was better satisfied with being Absolute in Sweden He Rejected the Petitions presented to him The Duke of Sudermannia stood Neuter in the beginning of the Dispute He advised the King to have regard to the just Requests of his Subjects but he was not very uneasie to find a Difference arise between them by his Denials and Delays The States secure of Charles Assistance abated nothing of their Pretensions The stubbornness of the King strangely incensed them and the Sermons of some zealous Preachers of the Protestant Religion warmed the most cold â—…nd indifferent They talked of offering â—…he Crown to the Duke and giving it to Prince John in case he would not accept â—…t Being persuaded it was not yet time â—…o hear a Proposition of this kind he conâ—…ented himself with going to wait upon â—…he King at Vpsal and strongly backing â—…he Pretensions of the States The Neâ—…hew and the Uncle so heated each other â—…hey were upon the point of Fighting They were parted and as soon reconcil'd â—…o prevent any Confusion and Disorder in â—…he Kingdom These Accidents conâ—…irm'd the States the more in the Resoâ—…ution they took to make the King Exâ—…lain himself before they would proceed â—…o his Coronation The Popes Nuncio and such of the Poâ—…ish Nation as then attended at Sigismond's Court now perceived clearly that in Pruâ—…ence he ought not to stand it out any â—…onger but must yield to the present Exgency of Affairs They told him withal That he was not bound to keep a Promise exâ—…orted from him by Violence Now Sigismond promises 'em any thing they 'd have He reserved only that he might have the â—…ree Exercise of the Popish Religion for himself within the private Walls of the Castle where he should make his Residence But he from that very time took a Resolution of destroying his Uncle The Plot of Murdering him at a Play having miscarried they undertook to drive at him with all the Vigour and open Violence that was possible Immediate Orders were given to the Polish Army to march toward Stockholm This made the States of that Kingdom begin to think of their own Security They Summoned the Inhabitants of the Highlands to come down to their Assistance In the mean time during all this bustle the King took no care of the Government nor of securing the quiet of the Kingdom When any Proposal was made to him by the States he likewise would make a demand of some other thing at their Hands The Polanders were still at him to return home and to come to no Conclusion with the Swedes They flattered themselves that the wider the Breaches and Divisions grew in Swedeland the easier it would be to reduce it So that Sigismond in fine following their Advice took thipping for Dantzick He left Orders how he would have the Kingdom Governed in his Absence but neither the Duke of Sudermannia nor the States would submit to any of them as judging the Persons imploy'd therein to be averse to the Treaty concluded at Vpsal before the King's Coronation The States of Swedeland commits the Government of the Kingdom during the King's Absence to the Duke of Sudermannia Soon after his Departure the States of Swedeland pray'd Charles of Sudermannia to take upon him the Government The Duke desired to be excused yet
Fate of one Battle would decide the Quarrel Sigismond was so overseen that his Camp was surprised at Linkoping Part of his Army was kill'd and some drown'd To save the remainder he sued to his Uncle for a Peace Charles agreed to it on condition that the five Swedish Senators that were with the King might be delivered up to him he charged them to be principal Authors of all these Distractions and that they should be brought to their Tryal for it at the next Sitting of the States The two Princes concluded a Treaty Charles renewed his Oath of Allegiance to the King And Sigismond ingaged that for his part he would govern the Realm henceforward according to the Constitution of the Country and his Coronation Oath He further promis'd to call a Parliament in four Months time and that all Matters in Controversy should be there decided in presence of such Commissioners as the Emperor the Confederate Kings and Electors should appoint on Application made to 'em for it There were other Stipulations made for the Mutual security of both Princes and for the Disbanding of their Forces on each side Care was taken to add this farther Article That in case King Sigismond performed not this Treaty his Subjects of Swedeland should be discharged of their Oath of Fidelity to him The States of Swedeland depose King Sigismond The King and Duke had frequent Meetings and all things seem'd dispos'd toward a lasting Peace Charles seemed sincerely inclined to observe the Treaty on his part But Sigismond vext to the Heart to see himself forced to submit to his Uncle's Terms retired secretly into Poland instead of going to Stokholm as he had promised He was no sooner arrived at Dantsick but that he publisht in all Courts of Europe that his Uncle was a Traytor and a Rebel and therefore pretended that he himself was in no ways bound to the Treaty concluded at Linkoping Was it possible for him to do any thing that could more contribute to the promoting of Charles his Designs who knew accordingly to turn all this to the best Advantage He therefore so managed the point that the States met at Linkoping where Sigismond was cited and summoned to make good his Promises at the last Treaty of Accommodation That he would embrace the Protestant Religion that he would come to make his Residence in Swedeland or that at least he would send his Son Prince Ladislaus to be brought up under his Uncle's Tuition in case that he himself did chuse rather to tarry in Poland It was at the same time Enacted by the States that in case the King refused to accept these Terms that he and his Issue should forfeit all their Right to the Crown of Swedeland which would be bestowed on a Person capable to govern this Realm after the Fundamental Laws of the Land Whilst Sigismond dallyed to return an Answer the Duke of Sudermania was desired to take the Government upon him and to maintain the Protestant Religion The States since held at Stokholm declared That they were no longer bound to the Oath of Allegiance they had taken to Sigismond because he had contravened his Grandfather's last Will and Testament had not performed the Office of a good King refused to observe the Treaty concluded with him at Linkoping and slighted all Remonstrances made to him Yet after all this they made an offer of the Crown to Prince Ladislaus in case that in a years time he came to reside in Swedeland and would be instructed in the Protestant Religion But that if Sigismond and his Son refused to agree to such reasonable Demands as these they Solemnly protested that neither himself nor his Issue should be ever capable of pretending to the Crown of Swedeland Charles Duke of Sudermnia chosen King of Swedeland Nothing in the World could be more favourable to Charles his Designs than such a Conjuncture of Affairs as this was King Sigismond took a fancy to maintain the Claim of the pretended Demetrius in Muscovia He had afterwards several wrangling Contests with the higher Nobility of Poland so that whilst he was thus taken up all he could do in some of the Remotest Provinces of Swedeland proved to be very weak and unsuccessful Then the Duke become Master of the Heart of the Country and of the best Garrisons summon'd the States to meet at Norkoping in March following in the stear 1607. To make the World believe that he had no hand in perverting the Loyalty of Sigismond's Subjects nor of Usurping of his place on the Throne he offer'd to lay down the Regency committed to him and even proposed to accomodate Matters with Sigismond or to place John the King's Brother on the Throne The States would have no further mention of either Sigismond or of his Son As for Prince John whether it was that he more loved his Ease than Ambition or whether he rightly guess'd at his Uncle's Real Sentiments in the bottom who made such Proposals but for a shew but truly coveted the Government for himself John I say did very generously refuse it in outward appearance declaring at the same time That he was content with his Dutchy of East Gothia and would always approve himself a faithful Subject if any Person that was better able to govern the Realm than himself in such Troublesom times as these Charles therefore after so many shews of declining the Crown which were never thought to be sincere accepted it at last It was ever setled on his Heirs Male and not to devolve to John but for want of such Issue Male of the Body of Charles The States being moreover sensible that Queen Catherine Jagellon was the chief Promotress of the Troubles and Difficulties that King John her Husband and her Son Sigismond had brought the Protestant Religion under decreed that their King might be only Marry'd to a Protestant The New King without any more adoe writ to Sigismond Mercure Francois 1607 1608. and to the Common-wealth of Poland to give them notice of his Accession to the Crown and to make them an offer of renewing former Alliances betwixt both Kingdoms The States of Swedeland writ to the same purpose to the Senate of Poland in particular Charles was presently after Crown'd at Vpsal together with Christina his Wife overjoyed to see her self now above Sigismond's disdain The King of Poland did not vouchsafe to make any Answer to his Uncle's Letter looking on him to be no better than an Usurper The Senate writ only to the States of Swedeland The Polanders took upon 'em to tax the Swedes after an insultting way with Disloyalty towards Sigismond they protested they would own no other as lawful King of Poland saving him They inveighed bitterly against the cunning Tricks made use of as they pretended by Charles to strip his Nephew of the Crown The States of Swedeland replied to this Letter by a Manifesto directed to the Senate of Poland wherein they did justifie their own Conduct all
Plot might be discover'd the Conspirators took a Resolution to set up the Duke of Parma in an Abby whither he had been retir'd to take the Air and be devout with the Capuchins and Assassinate him in this place They were to come after this was done to Parma in the Night-time to kill the Dukes Children and those of his House to sack the Palace and City and possess themselves of the Cittadel Another Party of the Complices were order'd to make themselves Masters by means of some Intelligence of the City and Castle of Placentia which they were to deliver up to the Duke of Mantua In all Conspiracies which require long time for Execution and a great number of Complices there 's almost always some one found who upon consideration reflects seriously on the Enterprize The fear of Punishment the hopes of being well rewarded the Horrour likewise of the Crime and Remorse of Conscience bring them to discover the Contrivance The Duke of Parma happen'd upon some Persons of this Humour who gave him notice of the Danger he was threatned withal After an exact Information of all the particulars of the Conspiracy Ranutius caused a Manifesto to be fixt up in all publick Places which contain'd the Story of the plotted Enterprise and the Names of the principal Complices whom the Duke summon'd to come and justifie themselves It appear'd that the Names of some Persons who were considerable for their Degree and Quality were suppress't Vincent Duke of Mantua some days agoe Deceased was so well describ'd as ev'ry one presently knew him by the Name of Chief Conspirator which was given him The Captain of his Guards was the second Man amongst the Plotters Francis his Successor complain'd aloud of the injury done to the Memory of his Father For this he demanded Reparation This Affair was so much nois'd in Italy insomuch that they fear'd an open breach betwixt the Duke of Parma and the Duke of Mantua The former had his Recourse to the King of Spain for Protection for whom the Famous Alexander of Parma had done Signal Services And the other the Queen Regent of France's Nephew implored the Succors of that Crown Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy would intervene for an Accommodation betwixt the two Princes But t' was strait known that this Disquieted Spirit sought to embroil them further and rather raise a War from whence he hop'd for an Advantage than any ways to make an end of the Differences The Parties agreed to refer themselves to the Arbitration of the Duke of Vrbin as to one part of the Contest The Governor of Milan stifled the rest of this Affair in the Name of the King of Spain and so the Princes dismiss't the Troops which they had raised A Proposal of Marriage between Christiana the 2d Daughter of France and Henry Prince of Wales To stop the continual Complaints of the Duke of Savoy the Regent sometimes offer'd to give Christina her second Daughter to the Prince of Piedmont yet this did not hinder the talk of Marrying her to Henry Prince of Wales the Eldest Son of James the I. King of great Britain Whether it was that Mary de Medicis had an Ambition to make all her Daughters Queens or that she wou'd break off the Negotiation already much advanc'd betwixt his Britannick Majesty and the Duke of Savoy for Marrying the Prince of Wales with the Princess of Savoy James had demanded the Eldest Daughter of France but seeing that the Regent was so far engag'd with Spain he gave ear to the Duke of Savoy's Proposition which he had made him As his Majesty had got in the World a great Name for loving Money very well so Cosmus Great Duke of Florence a more Monyed Prince than Charles Emanuel thwarted the Design He offer'd one of his Sisters for the Prince of Wales with a more considerable Fortune But the Pope perhaps at the Instigation of the Regent who pretended to make the Duke of Savoy amends by bringing about a Match for the Prince of Piedmont with the Princess of Florence the Pope I say wrote forceably to the Great Duke for to persuade him from any Alliance which the Holy Chair could not approve of Notwithstanding the Pope's Letter which seem'd to be Precarious Cosmus thought always to Marry his Sister into England he press't the Queen to assist him with her good Offices at Rome to obtain a Dispensation but Mary de Medicis who had other things in her Head flatly denied him The Duke of Savoy wrote to his Ambassadors in France to tell the King of England's Ambassador that his Highness knowing well the Difference there is betwixt a Daughter of France and a Princess of Savoy Charles Emanuel might not think it strange that a Daughter of Henry the IV should be preferr'd before his but he thought he should receive a sensible Affront if his Britannick Majesty should Reject a Princess of Savoy for to Marry his Son into the House of the Medicis The Regent shew'd so much eagerness for the Marriage of Christina with the Prince of Wales as Edmonds Knight and Ambassador from England believ'd that after the way Villeroy had spoke to him it might be King James's fault if this Affair was not concluded and that Mary de Medicis would with much willingness yield to him all the Conditions he could ask of her When the King had heard this News he order'd Robert Carr Viscount of Rochester his Favourite to write to Prince Henry who was then at Richmond and pray him to speak freely if he like'd of the Match Henry had notice that Christina was not yet nine years of Age and that her Eldest Sister's Portion was but 500000 Crowns in Gold But France said Rochester seems to have so great a desire for this Marriage as no one doubts but she may give more to the Second Daughter in case the Augmentation of her Fortune be insisted upon The Prince of Wales with great Prudence answer'd the King his Father upon all the Articles of the Letter of the Chevalier Edmonds which he had sent him at the same time As for the time said he ' they 'l bring the Princess of France into England I believe the sooner it is the better and that your Majesty ought not to demur hereupon As long as the Princess shall be in France the Queen her Mother will be Mistress either to forward the Marriage or to stave it off and to oblige her Daughter to give her Consent or hinder her from it The younger she is the more time we shall have and easiness to instruct her in our Religion and Convert her Since they ask of your Majesty to Explain your self as to the Liberty the Princess shall have in the exercise of her Religion I desire you Sir to answer your Ambassador positively that you will not agree to any other Conditions with France than what the Duke of Savoy had demanded when he offer'd you his Daughter That is to say that the Princess shall
who fain'd to talk of the Count of Spain that his most Christian Majesty had so good Intentions for the House of Mantua as he would never fail to take it into his Protection and Oppose with the force of his Arms those who should undertake to offer violence to his near Relations Charles Emanuel well understood this Discourse concern'd him more than it regarded the Spaniards He then laying aside his ordinary Dissimulation answer'd frankly that he hop't from the Equity of the King and his Mother Queen their Majesties wou'd not take it â—…l if he maintain'd in case he was forc't â—…'t the Right of his Children to the Estates of the House of Mantua My Daughter is big with Child proceeded he â—…nd don't we know but that she may be â—…rought to bed of a Son Be it what it will â—…he Princess Mary is the undoubted Heiress â—…f Montferrat If the House of Gonzaga â—…ill do any Injustice to the Mother or Daughter am not I in a necessity to take their Inâ—…rests I can't be perswaded that his most â—…hristian Majesty whom I have always â—…erv'd the best t' was possible for me would â—…rotect upon this occasion Persons who would â—â—ke away Mine and my Childrens Rights Whatever comes on 't if Men fail to do Juâ—â—ice we shall have Recourse to the Soveâ—â—ign Judge of the World and we trust he â—…ill be favourable to us Such is the Lanâ—…uage of Princes when they are going â—â—on unjustifiable Actions Geffier Resiâ—…ent from France at the Court of Savoy â—â—d Orders to speak more positively to â—â—e Duke and declare to him that the â—â—areschal Lesdiguieres should have an â—…rmy ready to march forward into Italy as soon as there should be any Attempt against the House of Mantua which the Crown of France took under its Protection The French being gone to Mantua to make his Complements of Condolence in behalf of the King of France and the Queen his Mother to the Cardinal upon the Death of the late Duke gave the same Assurance by the Queen's Order This did not a little serve to secure Ferdinand whom these Affairs had put into great perplexity The Popes Conduct in the Affairs of Mantua He was to expect some Succours from the Pope whose chief Interest is to maintain peace in Italy but the fearful and interessed old Man acted but weakly in this matter However urgent Breves the French Ambassador at the Court of Rome was with Paul V. for to stir him up to prevent the Troubles which this Controversie might raise in Italy Siri Memorie recondite To. III. pag. 16 17 c. no other answer could be got from him than that the Queen of France ought to press thâ—… Catholick King to send a precise Order to the Governor of Milan not to bacâ—… the Pretensions of the Duke of Savoy The Pope secretly gain'd over by the Spaniards to whom he was wholly devoted and who at first flatter'd themselves oâ—… making an Advantage of the Ambition 〈◊〉 Charles Emanuel had Counsell'd the Cardinal of Mantua to send the Mother and Daughter to Milan And when it was propos'd to him to take them both to Boulogne under the Care and Protection of the Holy Chair he excus'd himself of this for that Charles Emanuel had no confidence in him At length Breves having told Paul that it was however expected from his love for the common good of Italy that he should oppose his Spiritual and Temporal Arms against the Duke of Savoy in case he attempted to attack with open Force the Cardinal of Mantua the Pope answer'd in General Terms that he would follow the Dictates of his own Conscience and do as God should inspire him an usual Evasion of these Gentlemen who hearken to their Interests and Passions more than to the Voice of the Holy Spirit Pope Paul spoke with more Sincerity when in Reference to this same Affair of Mantua he said that he would not meddle with the concern of Princes who had no regard for his Authority and such indeed are the Sentiments of the great Personages who are of the Popes Communion They all of 'em know that this is but Usurpation Deceit and Pageantry yet in the Interim I cannot understand by what politick Interest all these Princes who are under the Popes Obedience keep still in with him These imagine whether it be good or bad that his Authority is necessary to them upon certain occasions and the Court of Rome crafty to make an Advantage of their so beneficial prejudicate Opinions think that they are quit with 'em if from time to time they wipe off and connive at some disdainful Aspersions whilst they can preserve their Revenues and a Spiritual Power over the Ignorant and Superstitious People without which the Pontifical Chair could have no long continuance or Duration The States of Venice stand by the Cardinal of Mantua The Venetians upon this Occurrency were less Fearful and more Wise than the Pope for these able States-men foresaw too well the Consequences of the Affair of Mantua and easily discover'd where the Artifices of the Duke of Savoy drove at The Senate therefore took particular care to encourage Cardinal Ferdinand and gave him the best Advice for not to suffer himself to be surpris'd unawares Nani Hist Veneta Lib. I. 1613. The Republick did moreover Negotiate very effectually both at Vienna and at the Court of France to persuade those Princes to oppose the secret Designs of the Spaniards and the undertakings of Charles Emanuel Matthias the Emperor did as much instruct his Kinsman the King of Spain as any other Prince in Europe and the Cardinal de Clessel kept him in this Jealousie Being both perswaded that the Spaniards design'd rather to Ruine than to Support the Authority of the Emperor in Italy Upon this account Matthias did not make any difficulty to chuse the Cardinal of Mantua for the Guardian of the Children of the late Duke and to dispense with his Age he not being old enough according to the Common Laws to be their Guardian Ferdinand Cardinal of Gonzague takes upon him the Title of Duke of Mantua At length after Three months pretence the Dutchess Margarita declared she was not with Child and Ferdinand de Gonzague took the Quality of Duke of Mantua The Prince of Piedmont came to fetch his Sister and Conduct her to Turin Isabella of Savoy another Daughter of Charles Emanuel Married to Caesar d'Este Duke of Medena came also to Mantua that so she night have a meeting with the Prince of Piedmont her Brother and the Dutchess Margarita her Sister This was a new â—…ontrivance of Charles Emanuel The Marriage of the Cardinal Nani Historia Veneta Lib. I 1613. Siri Memorierecondite Tom. III. p. 52 53 54. c. Duke of Manâ—…ua was thought a proper expedient to â—…ompose all Differences 'T was proposed â—…nd Ferdinand did not seem very averse to 〈◊〉 Margarita thought by shedding a few Tears 't would be easie
little thing and the one pretended to disannul what the other had done Prince Wolfgang of Newbourg marries the D. of Bavaria's Daughter and changes his Religion The Spaniards wisely made their Advantage of so fair an occasion to weaken the Protestant League and to bring over the House of Newburg to their Faction They proposed to Prince Volfgan a Match with Magdalen Sister of Maximilian Duke of Bavaria and of Ferdinand Elector of Cologne They promised him the Protection of the House of Austria a Pension from the King of Spain and the Support of the Catholick League if he would quit his Religion and enter into the Communion of the Church of Rome a very sensible Temptation to an Ambitious young Prince and who was big with Revenge for the horrible Affront which had been offered him Newburg falls before the force of it But Wolfgang whether 't were to keep fair with his Father who was a zealot for the Confession of Ausbourg or whether he had some other Reasons would not renounce his Religion before his Marriage He only consented to Marry the Princess Magdalen and the Duke of Newbourg gave his Consent not seeing the Snare which was laid for his Son who was blinded with Passion The Marriage was Celebrated at Munich the 10th of November this Year And that he might keep within bounds as to outward appearance the Prince was not Married by the Mass he only received the Nuptial Benediction by the hands of the Bishop of Aichstat at Evening Service in the great Church of Munich But at length Wolfgang declared himself in the Month of May the next Year He made publick profession of the Popish Religion at Dusseldorp The Duke his Father was extremely troubled at it The Proclamation which he publisht immediately after is an infallible proof of it It imported that every Munday throughout the Year publick Prayers should be made for the Conservation of the Protestant Religion in the Dutchy of Newbourg The Artifices and Fetches of the Duke of Savoy The Peace mude between the D of Savoy Mantua has much ado to continuefirm stable oblige us frequently to return to him The Treaty of Peace between Charles Emanuel and the Cardinal Ferdinand Duke of Mantua had been concluded with so much precipitation that they spoke there only of Resigning the Places in Monferrat without making any mention of the Mutual pretentions of each Party of the reparation of the Damages done in Monferrat which Ferdinand demanded nor of an Amnesty for the Subjects of the House of Mantua who had declared for that of Savoy which Charles Emanuel was willing to obtain These Affairs not being settled Disputes must presently revive Neither were the Princes of Italy very well satisfied with a Peace that was so infirm and subject to a Rupture They imagined and that with probability enough that the Marquiss d'Inojosa had made it because he could tell how to refuse Obedience to the positive Orders of the King his Master They were still afraid there was a Collusion between him and the Duke of Savoy and that they both of them had an under-hand Design At the very same time that Charles Emanuel Restored the Towns in Monferrat he re-enforced his Troops and the Governor of Milan remained in Arms diligently observing all these steps of which the most penetrating head could not understand the Secret The Venetians took care to continue to the Cardinal Duke the assistance which they had given him since the beginning of the Quarrel and to be themselves upon their Guard The Quarrel which arose between their Republick and Ferdinand of Austria Arch-Duke of Gratz who had a great Interest at the Court of Madrid obliged them to distrust the King of Spain 'T was upon the account of the Vscoques Pyrats and Robbers upon the Coasts of Dalmatia whom the Arch-Duke openly protected although the Venetians and the Turks did equally complain of their Robberys We shall say something in the Course of this History concerning this Quarrel which occasion'd the Vscoques to be known in the World The Governor of Milan presseth the Duke of Savoy to lay down his Arms. That which most perplext the speculative Italians about the Affair of Monferrat was that the Governor of Milan who was thought to be in the Interest of Charles Emanuel nevertheless powerfully prest him to lay down his Arms as soon as possible And at the same time that he was contending with him he would constrain Ferdinand to do all that the Savoyard could wish These steps Contrary in appearance are not difficult to be reconciled Spain endeavoured to make its advantage of the Quarrel His Catholick Majesty pretended to be the absolute Arbiter and to direct the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua as should be most for his Interest The Governor of Milan who had no mind to be at the charge of having an Army on Foot to oppose the Duke of Savoy in case his Attempts should make it necessary was continually pressing him to Disband his Troops And because it was of Importance to the King his Master to have at his Disposal the Heiress of Monferrat he boldly demanded her of the Cardinal Duke and thus the Intrigue comes out Now let us see how these Two Parties will get clear of the Demands of the Catholick King Inojosa had sent to Turin the Commander of the Castle of Milan possitively to tell the Duke that he must comply immediately with what was required of him Charles Emanuel bore very impatiently this Imperious way which the Spaniards took with him and with the other Princes of Italy althô he had been used to it for many Years But not being able openly to resist the will of King Philip he found out according tâ—… his usual way divers pretences to shrinâ—… back Never was a Mind more fruitfuâ—… of such Inventions than that of thiâ—… Prince He answered to this Message that he was ready to dismiss his Troops when the Marquiss of Inojosa should perform the private Articles to which the Cardidal Duke of Mantua had agreed at the time of the Treaty made with him Mr. the Governor hath himself given me positive assurances said Charles Emanuel that the Cardinal Duke did consent to deliver up into my hands the Princess Mary my Grand-daughter and to grant a general Amnesty to â—…he Subjects of Monferrat which declared for me Is it not fit that I should continue â—…n Arms till this be performed All the World was mightily surpriz'd when this Answer of the Duke of Savoy was known The Cardinal Ferdinand denied that he had â—…ver promis'd any such thing He pretendâ—…d likewise that Inojosa had told him to the â—…ontrary People could not tell what to â—â—ink of this Riddle Some said that â—â—e Governor of Milan having received â—…resents from Charles Emanuel and Ferdiâ—â—nd had impos'd upon them both in telâ—â—ng the Duke of Savoy that which I have â—â—lated before and in promising the clear â—â—ntrary to the Cardinal Duke that
having delayed too long was seized at the Louvre and kept close Prisoner in a Chamber by the Regent's Order Mercurâ—… Francois 1613. Memoires du duc de Rohan The Mareschal de Bovillon was one of the last to leave the Place To render himself less suspected he got himself Commissioned to Visit the Ministers first and to declare to them the Intentions of the Prince and the Rest The Mareschal was always Master of the Affair and could manage Conde as 〈◊〉 pleased he made no offer to stir from Court till he had first promised the Queen to bring back Conde and all the Lords of his Party Artifices of the Duke of Savoy to raise a Civil War in France 'T was so much for the Duke of Savoy's Interest to find business for Mary de Medicis in France that he must by all means Correspond with the Prince de Conde Besides that a Civil War would incapacitate the Regent to succour the House of Mantua Charles Emanuel had yet further hopes that the Prince and Lords combined with him breaking the double Marriage which was concluded with Spain as they pretended to him he would revenge himself on the Regent in forcing her to give her Eldest Daughter to the P. of Piedmont and perform the Promise which the late K. had made him The D. of Savoy at the same time that he held a private Correspondence with tha Party endeavoured to amuse the Regent he exhorted her vigorously to exert her Authority against all that should oppose it The Agents of Charles Emanuel had Orders to Protest to her Majesty that he did readily forget all the occasions of Complaint and the Affront she had given him in the Sight of all Europe by the Treaty of the double Marriage with Spain that he was extremely concern'd to see the new Troubles which Men of a Factious and unquiet Disposition gave her and that he never haâ—â— a Thought as some Persons would accuse him to support the Party of the Prince of Conde and to give him any Assistance Although his Highness said the Agents of Savoy to the Regent Doubts not but your Majesty's Prudence will soon dissipate this new Faction as you have the former the sincere Respect which the Duke our Master has for the Crown of France makes him take the Liberty to offer his Mediation to your Majesty If you believe 't will be of any Service to you He would likewise offer his own Person and his Troops if he was not persuaded that your Majesty has no need of such weak Assistance and if he was not under a necessity of putting strong Garrisons into his own Towns till the Difference between him and the House of Mantua should be adjusted The Regent had need of more sincere and honest People than the Duke of Savoy The King of Spain and the Duke of Lorrain offered her their Assistance as well as Charles Emanuel Different advice in the Council of France how to dissipate the Party of the Prince of Conde Memoires de la Regence de Mary de Medicis But her Majesty had no Inclination to bring Foreign Troops into her Country That might have been the way 〈◊〉 have made more Rise than did The Duke d'Epernon was immediately called back whom the Queen had again disobliged since her last Reconciliation with him There was more of Ostentation than Reality in the generous and disinterested Temper which this Noble-Man affected when he was recall'd Epernon had a little before solicited the Queen to receive the Office of first Gentleman of the Chamber Vie du Due d'Epernon Liv. VI. which he had enjoy'd under Henry IV. and to bestow it on Candale his Eldest Son Being disoblig'd that he could not obtain a thing which he thought due to his Services he desired leave to go to Mets of which Place he was Governor But when she began to hear the threatning Storm to Roar she pacifi'd the Duke d'Epernon by granting what she had before refused The Duke de Guise received also new marks of distinguishing Favour He pleased himself with the hopes of being General of the King's Forces in case they should March against the Prince of Conde 'T was the Advice of the Cardinal de Joieuse of the Duke d'Epernon and de Villeroi They said that the Malecontents not having Troops nor Money nor any Place of Retreat that therefore they should pursue them out of hand with the Troops of his Majesty's Houshold and that if his Majesty should advance as far as Rheims with that little Body of Men the Prince and the Lords of his Party being surprized unawares would be necessitated humbly to implore the King's Mercy or to flee out of the Kingdom in Disorder and Confusion The New Mareschal d'Ancre and Chancellor de Sillery were of another Opinion they said it were better first to Treat with them He could not endure that the Duke de Guise whom he both hated and feared should have the Command of the Army The other being fallen out more than ever with Villeroi was blindly led by Conchini Ever since the death of Madam de Puisieux the Chancellor's Eldest Son's Wife and Grandaughter of Villeroy these two could never agree Dole a Creature of the Mareschal d'Ancre was disgusted upon the Conclusion of the Marriage of the Marquiss de Villeroy Grandson of the Secretary of State because they had not given Dole the Office of Controller of the Finances which the Marquiss d'Alincourt Son of Villeroy had given him hopes of in case the Marquiss de Villeroy should Marry the Daughter of Conchini The Chancellor de Sillery took the advantage of this Discontent of Dole to gain the Favour of the Mareschal d'Ancre and to Ruin his Rival with whom Conchini had fallen out This Second Expedient pleased the Regent best who relied upon the assurances that the Mareschal de Bovillon had given her Mercure Francois 1613. She sent the Duke de Ventadour and Boissise Counsellor of State to Invite the Prince of Conde who was thought to be at Chateauroux to Return to his Post at Court Villeroy could not forbear saying that she exposed her self to the same Inconvenience which befel Henry III. when the League first took Arms against him The Duke d'Epernon had advised him to March immediately against the Duke de Guise who could not then make any Resistance But Henry not listening to such wholesome Advice rashly threw himself into those Misfortunes which cost him his Life God grant said Villeroy that the same thing doth not befall us since we neglect to crush this Conspiracy in its Birth which is likely to produce great Revolutions in the State They thought that this Old Statesman spoke thus only to get the Command of the Army for the Duke of Guise and that he would not be sorry to see a Civil War which might in the Issue prove fatal to the Mareschal d'Ancre and the Chancellor de Sillery The Prince de Conde and the Duke de Guise hated them
a Sum of Money in requital Rohan whose great Design was to be Head of those of his own Religion whom he was willing to Defend and to maintain the Reputation which he had gotten by his Zeal and Probity in Poitou in Guienne and Languedoc where he had very well Supported the Interest of the Reformed Party against the Connestable Governor of the Province Rohan I say was not concerned to keep his Post near the King A Sum of Money was very welcome to him in the present posture of Affairs Bassompierre is made Collonel General of the Swisses in the Room of the Duke of Rohan The business was to get a Man devoted to the Queen and agreeable to the Swisses She proposed Bassompierre in the Council But Villeroy who favour'd the Duke of Longueville whose Family he was a great Friend to told her Majesty that the Place of Colonel General of the Swisses had always been fill'd by a Prince and that the late King promised to give it to no Person but one of that Rank when he renew'd his Ancient Alliance with the Thirteen Cantons The Duke of Rohan said Villeroy was afterwards chosen as a Prince of the Blood of Navarre and Scotland Several of the Ancestors of the Duke of Longueville have Commanded the Swisses The offering him this Post of his Forefathers will be a likely way to draw him off from the Party of the Male-contents Mary did not approve of trusting a young Lord who declared against her and who had often quarrelled with the Mareschal d' Ancre about the Execution of their Offices Longueville was Governor of Picardy and Conchini of the City and Castle of Amiens Because Bassompierre was excluded by the Treaty with the Swisses Mary de Medicis proposed the Chevalier du Guise who unhappily died a little after Villeroy interposed a Second time by saying that this would open the mouths of the Male-contents more than ever who complained of the too high preferments of the House of Guise 'T was happy for Bassompierre that they did not come to a resolution then After he understood from the Queen her self that he was excluded from the Office of Collonel General of the Swisses because he was not one of the Princes he used all his endeavours to take away this obstacle One of the Montmorenci's having had this Employ with the consent of the Helvetick Nation Galatis a Friend of Bassompierre's undertook after all to obtain for him the consent of the Cantons He acquainted the Queen with this who gave him Three Weeks to try what might be done Galatis went directly to Switzerland where he obtained leave to raise Six thousand Men and the Consent of the Thirteen Cantons in favour of Bassompierre And thus this Lorain Gentleman became a Collonel General of the Swisses The sooner to bring this advantageous business to an Issue he paid out of his own Estate the Money promised to the Duke of Rohan But her Majesty afterwards re-embursed him Bassompierre was afraid that if the Duke of Rohan was not paid presently he might have some contrivance to prevent him from an Employ that was likely to be a Step to higher preferment The Conduct of the Reformed in France in the Affair of the prince of Conde The better to Engage the Prince of Conde and his Party to Rise against the Government the Mareschal de Bovillon flattered them with hopes that the Reformed Churches would declare for them He had taken care to discover this Project to the most intimate Friends of the Duke of Rohan Memoires of the Duke of Rohan whether it were that the cunning Mareschal had a mind to make the Prince believe that Rohan would readily join him or whether he had a mind to raise yet greater suspicions in the Court against a Person whom he had a mind to Ruine and make himself more necessary to the Regent Conde seem'd so well persuaded of the favourable Inclinations of the Huguenot Party that he wrote to the Deputy Generals of the Reformed Churches to let them know the Obligations he had laid upon them in not forgetting the Interests of the Protestants in the Manifesto which he had Addressed to the Queen But the Wise du Plessis-Mornai had the precaution to prevent the Deputy Generals from interesting themselves in this Affair and to prescribe to them the Conduct which they were to observe in this Conjuncture After having reflected upon the Steps of the Prince and the measures which he had taken with the Male-contented Lords du Plessis said very aptly that they which Halt at the Threshold are not like to go far And when he had read the Prince of Conde's Letter to the Queen he said Judiciously to the Ambassador of the States General of the Vnited-Provinces to the Queen that he could not imagine what was the Principle of that Charity which the Prince of Conde and his Party pretended to the Reformed Churches These Gentlemen added he are no less at the Devotion of the Pope than the Queen her self of whom they Complain Thâ—… Court of Rome will interpose to reconcile them and his Emissaries will not fail to make us more odious if we imprudently Side with those who hate us in reality and sollicite us only with hopes thereby to obtain better Terms for themselves The wisdom of du Plessis Mornai Villarnoux came to visit du Plessis his Father-in-Law upon the first report of the Rising of the Prince of Conde He sent him immediately back to Paris with Orders to admonish the Deputy-Generals that they should take Care not to draw the Reproach upon themselves of Rising upon any other account but the obtaining of the liberty of their Conscience That would be to wrong their good Cause to mix with it Interests purely Civil and that those of the Religion as they were Reformed Christians ought not to meddle with the Reformation of the State Altho' added he we should think it our Duty to joyn witih them as French-men who desire it of us the Opportunity is not Inviting the design of the Prince according to all appearance will not succeed His Retreat will be look'd upon as an effect of his Discontent or as a desire to Embroil the State The Queen will easily break all their Measures by promising to assemble the States of the Kingdom and to defer the Marriage of the King To what purpose do they think to meet together in a Corner of France Those People which the King can Attack without making any great diversion of his Forces will not continue long before they are reduc'd to beg his Mercy The Event justified this right Guess of this able Old Man Conde could not have drawn himself out of the Intrigue so safely if the Mareschal de Ancre had not apprehended that the Duke de Guise would have been too powerful if he should have had the Command of the Royal Army When the Mareschal de Bovillon had joined the Prince of Conde in Champagne The
Nevertheless Condi Duc de Rets joined Vendome they gathered together some Troops and set about Fortifying Bâ—…avet of which they had made themselves Masters as also of some other Places of the Dutchy of Ponthievre which belonged to the House of Mercoeur whose Heiress Coesar had married He writ to the King to Complain of the unjust Treatment that he found Instead of Answering this Duke who was never feared nor valued they sent Orders to the Comte de Vertus and to the Parliament of Britagne to hinder him from Levying or Assembling any Troops not excepting his Company of Guards unless he shewed express Orders from her Majesty Caesar wrote a Second Letter to the King he Complains there of the Affront which was offerd him in degrading him from his Government and justifies himself as well as he can with respect to the Fortifications of Blavet The Court as little regarded this Letter as the First Being more concerned about her Negociations in Champagne the Regent slighted the Duke of Vendome and Concluded a Treaty with the Prince of Conde The death of the Connetable de Mont morenci Henry Duc de Montmorenci Pair and Connetable of France died in his Government of Languedoc during these Troubles The late King had invested him with the First military Dignity which had not been filled since the death of Anne de Montmorenci his Father History gives us no great Character of this Connetable he was a Man of moderate Merits The judicious President de Thou is far from giving us so fine a Description of him as of his Eldest Brother the Mareschal de Montmorenci Henry his Son had married some time ago the Daughter of the Duke de Bracciano of the Family of the Vrsins in Italy He left Three Daughters Two by a First Wife one of which married the Duke de Ventadour and the other the Comte d'Auvergne afterwards Duke d'Angouleme The Third by his Second Wife was married to the Prince of Conde Whilest the Duke de Ventadour the President of Thou and Jeannin Boissise and Bullion Counsellers of State were in a Conference at Soissons for Mary de Medicis with the Prince de Conde and the Lords of his Party the Marquiss de Coeuvres Ambassador Extraordinary from France in Italy was there finishing his Negociation concerning the Affair of Mantua The Duke of Savoy The D. of Savoy avoids meeting the Marquiss de Coeuvres the Fr. Ambassador in Italy Memoires de lo Regence de Marie de Medicis Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 109. 191. who was not Ignorant that this New Minister of France was to join with the Ambassador who was sent from Spain at the same time to press his Highness to Disarm and to Conclude the marriage of his Daughter the Widow of Duke Francis of Mantua with the Cardinal Ferdinand de Gonzagua his Brother and Successor Charles Emanuel I say went out of Turin as soon as he heard of the Arrival of Coeuvres under a pretence of going to settle some Disorders which had happen'd in his County of Nice in Provence He could not digest the loftiness of the Court of Spain towards him Two of his Sons were Hostages as it were Victor Amadaeus Prince of Piedmont the Eldest which his Father had sent into Spain very imprudently upon the occasion of his Quarrel with the House of Mantua and Philibert whom the Spaniards had the precaution to hold in Custody ever since Charles Emanuel had sent him to make Satisfaction to his Catholick Majesty as we said before Indeed they had given Prince Philibert the Command of the Spanish Gallies but this Important Charge was properly spèaking but an Honourable prison The Guards and Officers which were about his Person had an Eye upon all his Steps and Actions Althô Two Hostages so Dear to their Father might have Secured the King of Spain that Charles Emanuel had no ill Design upon the Country of Milan yet his Majesty Ordered him to Disarm presently and Acting upon this occasion in Concert with the Regent of France his Orders were the more positive and pressing The Jealousie of the Princes of Italy by reason of the Correspondence between the two Crowns with relation to the Affairs of Italy The Republick of Venice and the Secular Princes of Italy saw with excreme Concern that the Alliance made between the Two Crowns by the Treaty of the Double Marriage tended only to Enslave Italy and that they must be contented for the future with whatsoever Spain should resolve upon in Conjunction with the Regent of France who willingly sacrificed the Interest and Authority of her Son to a prejudice which she had taken up that the surest way to be absolute in France was to hold a good Correspondence with the Court of Madrid The Cardinal Duke of Mantua whom the Two Crowns pretended to Protect Complained that the Catholick King endeavoured to marry him to a Woman he did not care for and to take away the young Princess his Neice from him Charles Emanuel made a greater noise because they would have the absolute disposal of his Daughter and compell him to lie at the Discretion of the Spaniards when he was Disarmed What now said he to the Ministers of the Princes of Italy which were about him Are we become the Subjects of the King of Spain Where we shall do the least thing that displeaseth him must we humbly beg his Majesty's Pardon and undergo the penance that he shall impose upon us Shall we bear the Caprices and the Haughtiness of his Ministers and Governors who upon any pretence will wage War against us and we be not in a Condition to oppose them Althô several Princes of Italy were not sorry to see the Duke of Savoy humbled yet they murmured Every one was afraid that upon the first occasion the Court of Madrid would Treat them in the same Imperious manner The Prince of Piedmont gave his Father notice that the Duke of Lerma an Enemy to their Family threatned to humble the Pride of the Duke of Savoy and to punish him for his Attempts We must submit said Victor Amadeus or prepare to feel the Effects of an angry and imperious Favourite against us All these Remonstrances did not shake the Duke of Savoy being resolved to do nothing unworthy of his Quality He protested he would rather abandon his Two Sons to the Discretion of the Spaniards and die with his Sword in his Hand than be anothers Slave And this is the reason why he left Turin when he understood that the Ambassadors of France and Spain were come to speak with him He would not stay to have Terms imposed upon him by these Two Ministers who had before agreed together to make the same Proposals Charles Emanuel had yet some hopes that the Face of Affairs in France would be changed by the motions of the Prince of Conde and that he should then find some way of coming off with Honour The Spaniards privatly traverses the Negociations
of the Marquiss de Coeuvres In the mean time he took care that the Ambassadors of the Two Crowns should be received with all Respect He writ very Civil and Obliging Letters to the Marquiss de Coeuvres sometimes to desire him to come to Nice sometimes to tell him that within a few days he would return to Turin Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Medicis The French Ambassador easily understood what he meant He informed the Court of France of all this management They thought there that it was not agreeable to the Dignity of the King Nani Historia Veneta Lib. 1. 1614. to let the Duke of Savoy any longer play upon an Ambassador Extraordinary which his Majesty had sent to him Coeuvres was Ordered to go to Mantua and to take Milan in his way that he might there take some Measures with the Ministers of the King of Spain The Marquiss d'Inojosa received the Ambassador with a great deal of Civility And they took care to give him the Pleasures and Diversions of the Carnaval But when they began to speak about the Affair of Mantua the Spanish Ministers who could not bear that the Court of France should have any hand in this Accommodation told the Marquiss de Coeuvres that that Affair would henceforward be negociated at Madrid whither the Cardinal Duke had sent one of his Principal Ministers The French Ambassador then understood that the Jealousie of the Spaniards would underhand give him a great deal of Trouble He set out for Mantua The Governor of Milan dispatcht immediately a Franciscan Friar with Orders to Treat privately with the Cardinal Duke to hinder him from accepting with the Mediation of France and to give him hopes of better Terms by the single Mediation of the Catholick King who was provok'd by the delays and resistance of Charles Emanuel The Prince de Castiglione the Emperor's Commissioner in Italy went himself to Mantua He lay Incognito in one of the Duke's Houses near the City This Journey was undertaken by Agreement with the Marquiss Inojosa who design'd to Corroborate by sending the Prince de Castiglione all that the Franciscan should say or at least to interpose the Name and Authority of the Emperor as a new Obstacle to the Interposition of France in the Affair of Mantua Castiglione represented to the Cardinal Duke that the Dispute between him and the Duke of Savoy being about a Feif of the Empire his Imperial Majesty took it ill that their dispute was referr'd to the Arbitration of another Power Thè Cardinal Duke of Mantua accepts the Conditons proposed by the Marquis de Coeuvres In spight of all these Intreagues of the Spaniards the Cardinal Ferdinand took the Advice of the Republick of Venice to accept the Terms proposed by France and to Consent to what was Demanded of them provided he should have the liberty of keeping the Princess Mary at Mantua Ferdinand made some Objections against the Amnesty which they desir'd of him in favour of those of Monferrat who had declar'd for the Duke of Savoy But he consented at last The Marquiss de Coeuvres having therefore obtained the Consent of the Cardinal Duke to marry the Dutchess Margarita the Widow of his Brother Francis to choose before the Consummation of the marriage Arbiters to Examine the pretensions of the Duke of Savoy to Monferrat to Pardon all those Rebels which Charles Emanuel protected lastly to require no Reparation for the War which had been made against him Ferdinand dispatch'd a Courier inâ—…o France to give the Queen Regent notice of what had been done He desir'd her to perswade the Catholick King to approve of this Agreement The Court of Madrid did not seem to wait till it was solicited Affecting to be as it were the sole Agent on this occasion and to give Laws to the Two Parties the Catholick King sent Express Orders that he should come to an Agreement upon these Terms The Republick of Venice thought that this Expedient would avert this War with which Italy was threatned if the Quarrel was not quickly ended and the Cardinal Duke by this Submission would gain the Favour of the Two Crowns in case the Duke of Savoy refus'd to accept the Terms which they jointly proposed The Marquiss de Coeuvres went to Venice to divert him self The D. of Savoy pretends to consent likewisè expecting Orders to return to France Mary de Medicis sent them to him She was well pleased to have made a certain shew of her Authority in Italy at a time when the Spaniards spoke so big there Coeuvres was Commanded to return by Turin and there to Treat with the Duke of Savoy to persuade him to accept of the Terms which the Cardinal Duke of Mantua had agreed to The Court of France was not much concern'd that Charles Emanuel should so soon come to an Accommodation with Ferdinand Being persuaded that the Spaniards would sufficiently mortifie him they were heartily glad that this bold and turbulent Man had his hands so full in Italy that he could not Succour the Prince of Conde The Marquiss d' Vrfe was lately come to Turin to Treat with the Duke of Savoy Siri Memoire recondite To. III. p. 222.223 in the Name of the Malecontents of France Coeuvres received a thousand Caresses at the Court of Charles Emanuel They there seem'd well dispos'd to the Accommodation But under a pretence that the Spaniards had ill Designs against him the Duke of Savoy Levied New Troops and strengthened himself more than ever New Troops levied at Turin The account which the Prince of Piedmont upon his return from Madrid gave of the Coldness and Haughtiness with which he was Received there Nani Historia Veneta Lib. I. 1614. and of the aversion which the Duke of Lerma had for the House of Savoy made Charles Emanuel almost mad Not content to make continual Invectives against the Attempts of the King of Spain upon the Liberty of the Princes of Italy he endeavoured to put himself in a Condition to Resist any that should Attack him Hereupon he Negociates with Maurice Prince of Orange John Comte de Nassaw comes into his Service Invited by a great Pension He raises new Regiments of Swisses and offers Commissions to several French Officers in short he intrigues with all Nations that were Enemies to or jealous of the Monarchy of Spain What an unhappy thing is it for poor Subjects to be at the Direction of a Restless Ambitious and Revengeful Prince They are ruin'd to day for the carrying on a chimerical Design to morrow to satisfie the desires of an unreasonable Ambition or else for the revenging of an injury which a Wise and Judicious Prince would out of Prudence overlook But such was the Fate of Piedmont and Savoy as long as Charles Emanuel lived The Negociation of the D. of Ventadour and other Commissioners of the K. with the P. de Conde and those of his Party The Marquiss
the Spaniards satisfied to see themselves after this the sole Arbitrators of the difference between the Two Houses of Savoy and Mantua summoned again Charles Emanuel to conclude the Marriage of his Daughter the Widow of Duke Francis with Cardinal Ferdinand Duke of Mantua and to Disband his Army forthwith Immediately after this was done they promised to endeavour an accommodation of his differences with the said Cardinal Charles Emanuel made this indifferent answer That he could not break up his Troops so long as France was in Arms on all Sides As for the Marriage of my Daughter with his Brother-in-Law he continued that my Council is of Opinion that I ought first to have Justice done me and be Endemnified for the Pretensions I have to Montferrat and the House of Mantua The Ambassador desired he might have his Answer in Writing to the end he might send it to Madrid The Duke made no stand at this and to give notice to the Spaniards that he would not obey them as their Subject Orders new Levies Casts new Cannon Stores his Magazines in presence of his Catholick Majesty's Ambassador This Resolution made the Spanish Agent fear lest Charles Emanuel repulst after an Imperious way as Inofosa had used him should run out into more desperate Attempts wherefore in milder Language he proposed to his Highness the sending of Lawyers to Milan with a power to Negotiate with them who should come from the Cardinal Duke upon the mutual pretensions of both Houses The Governor of Milan and the Prince of Castiglione were to be the Mediators of this new Negotiation in behalf of the Emperor and King of Spain Charles Emanuel could not reject the proposal He nominated Three of his most able Lawyers Both Parties met and divers Expedients were proposed to bring the Two Princes to an Accommodation The first Demands of Savoy's Agents appeared Extravagant but in the end were much slacken'd The Prince of Castiglione might by chance have ended this Affair upon Terms reasonable enough by a double Marriage betwixt the Two Houses and yielding up some dependance of Montferrat which was near to Piedmont and lay fit for the Dukes of Savoy if the Governor of Milan less Patient than Castiglione had not spoilt all through his too high Demands For he imperiously caused it to be signified that the Duke should disarm in Six days time being vext that Charles Emanuel made so much difficulty to accept of the Conditions which the Spaniards had offer'd him He before he had commanded thus after so absolute a way should have put himself into a Condition of making himself to have been speedily Obey'd in case of a refusal To send these precise Orders as coming from the King of Spain and not to have his Troops in any readiness for making an Irruption into Piedmont was not this to Expose out of Season a Powerful King in an Engagement with an Inferior Prince who had sufficiently made it known that he would never yield but at the last Extremity As soon as a Monarchy believes it self to be Superior it grows Imperious and instead of Treating upon Affairs imposeth Laws The Spaniards had got this haughtiness of Mind in the Reign of Philip II. and were willing to preserve it after his death Would not one have done better to have called to mind that Spain had already given some certain signs of her declining Condition What Spain would have Effected in those days France is endeavouring to imitate in ours We have seen him talk extream haughtily to Charles Emanuel's Grandchild He hath been proudly threatned to be Invaded by the Arms of France And what was the upshot of this The Duke of Savoy as Courageous and Prudent as his Grandfather was like him weary to see himself dealt with as a Subject He 's in Confederacy with a great Number of the Enemies which France has brought upon it self And he hath quickly seen those who had taken Cities and won Battles come to him and speak as Supplicant Too fortunate for to buy shamefully a Peace from a Prince whom they had slighted In Three Months time said a Proud and Brutish Minister of France There shall be no mention longer made of the Duke of Savoy The History of our times will speak quite another thing than this Man ever thought for Posterity will read there with astonishment and pleasure that so proud a King hath been glad that Savoy should acquiesce to let him quit all his Conquests towards Italy in his present and Predecessors Reign The Duke of Savoy endeavours to gain the Venetians to his Side As discontented as the Venetians were with the restless and troublesome Humour of Charles Emmanuel who strove to disturb the quiet of Italy to satisfie his Ambition yet they were not sorry to see that a Prince so unequal in Power to Spain Nani Historia Veneta Lib. I. 1614. should be alone capable to Hector and Perplex People who had a mind to make the whole World tremble at them The undaunted Courage of the Duke of Savoy which he shewed in maintaining his Dignity of a Sovereign Prince so well pleased the Senate as they were the better disposed to hearken to the proposals which Charles Emmanuel had to offer to this Republick Siri Memo. recondito Tom. III. p. 241. The Duke of Savoy perswaded that the Senators who did not want Courage were angry at the pride and haughtiness of Spain and that they would be glad to see an imperious plotting Nation far removed from their Frontiers sought to fathom the Inclinations of the Senate by making an Overture to them of a League Offensive and Defensive for the Conservation or rather Recovery of the Liberties of the Sovereigns of Italy But yet he did not know how to enter into a Negociation with them who had openly Complained against him for sending back their Ambassador after an unworthy manner Cardinal Aldobrandin his Friend had tryed to make up the business for him with the Senate but they would not give Ear to him James I. King of Great-Britain sought to be a Mediator in the Affairs of Italy and gain some Authority and Reputation in those Parts He laboured after the Amity of the Venetians for a long time and the Duke of Savoy had laid many of his Intrigues in England wherefore Charles Emmanuel resolved to apply himself to Carleton James's Ambassador at Venice and desire him to get leave for Piscina's Audience a Man of great Ingenuity and Eloquence whom he had sent to the Senate Carleton had not much trouble to obtain this The Seignory consented to receive Savoy's Envoy having a better Opinion of Charles Emmanuel since the Spaniards had molested him Piscina set forth all his Eloquence in a Speech to the Senate He Complain'd in it of the King of Spain's Attempts Protested that the Duke his Master had rather die than endure the Indignities the Spaniards shew'd him he lamented the unfortunate Servitude of the Princes of Italy Argued upon the
been Fiefs of the Dutchy of Milan The Emperor was much more respectfully dealt withal Charles Emmanuel writ to him a long Letter by way of Apology and Manifesto The Duke gives therein the reason of his Conduct Complains mightily of the Haughtiness and Enterprises of the Spanish King and his Ministers in Italy and accuseth the Prince of Castiglione of being devoted to the Humour of the Spaniards against the true Interest of his Imperial Majesty 'T was said that the Spaniards were not over-satisfied with Castiglione's proceedings They would have had the Principality of Piedmont put under the Ban of the Empire and the execution of this committed to the Governor of Milan The Imperial Court did not think it convenient to go with so much precipitation They were not so blind but they could perceive that the Spaniards were too powerful in Italy The Pope's Nuncio and the Ambassador of F. endeavour an accommodation betwixt Spain and Savoy Whilst the Spaniards and the Savoyards Fight one the other sometimes with their Swords and at other times with their Pens the Marquiss of Rambovillet and the Nuncio Savolli proposed different Projects for an Accommodation of the Duke of Savoy with the Governor of Milan The Regent of France who otherwise was not well pleased with the Duke of Savoy Nani Hist Veneta Lib. I. 1614. and would deal tenderly with the Court of Spain had given Orders to her Ambassador to endeavour for the Peace of Italy without much troubling her self to satisfie the nice Pride of Charles Emmanuel who aspired to Treat with Crowned Heads as if they were his equals Therefore Rambovillet Siri Memo. Recondite Tom. III. p. 287 288 289. c. press'd the Duke of Savoy to Disband his Army the first upon the Governor of Milan's word which he should give as coming from his Master to the Pope and King of France that neither Piedmont nor any other of the States belonging to the House of Savoy should be attackt Mercure Francois 1614. and that his Catholick Majesty should Disband his Troops Fifteen or Twenty days after The Pope and the King of France offered to be Guarrantees of the Treaty and Rambovillet protested to Charles Emmanuel that the Mareschal Lesdiguieres should come to his Succour with all the Forces of France in case Spain should break the Treaty The Duke was a long time shuffling hereupon He did not believe that he ought to put too great a Confidence in the words of France at a time when France had greater Engagements with the Crown of Spain than ever Besides he considered that the Governor of Milan not disbanding till after him he should lie at the discretion of the Spaniards who might chase him out of Piedmont before the Succours of France could get over the Alps But on the other Side reflecting that if he provok't the Pope and France in refusing with too much stubbornness the Conditions which their Agents offered him he should be forsaken of all the World Charles Emmanuel found himself in so great a perplexity as he did not know what Resolution to take A League with the Republick of Venice was his only Remedy he sollicited the Senate as much as he was able to join with him to drive away the Spaniards from the Milanese Spain said he to Zeno the Venetian Ambassador is nothing like what it was heretofore The Country of Milan lies on all Sides open and may be over-run in the space of one or two Campaigns If France doth not Declare for us she won't be against us Her best Officers and Soldiers who are most Experienc'd will come over to us and take our part even by the King's consent The Princes of Italy who are mostly depending upon Spain will make an Insurrection against her as soon as they see her Power shaken in our Principality Every one will be glad to share a Part in the Spoil The Duke had to no purpose exhausted all his Eloquence and Policy upon the Senate This prudent Assembly was not disposed to follow the impetuous and revengful Humour of Charles Emmanuel A too long Experience had taught them that his Highness sought for nothing but to Embroil Italy and set it all in Fire in hopes of making himself Great or at least be talkt of His Remonstrances and Proposals were not better hearken'd to in England nor by the States General of the Vnited-Provinces nor the Protestant Princes of Germany He proposed Leagues in all the Courts that were Jealous of the Grandeur of Spain and he could not find so much as one of these who would be drawn into his vast and Chimerical Projects Only the King of England did him some kindness with the Venetians But the Issue of this was to let the Senate see that it was not convenient to suffer Spain to oppress the Duke of Savoy and that a way ought to be found out of making an Agreement which might be Honest Firm and as Advantageous as possibly might be to a Prince who held so considerable a Rank in Italy The D. of Savoy accepts of the Conditions proposed Spain refuses them Charles Emmanuel after he had seriously reflected on the Posture of his Affairs took such a Resolution as he had been observ'd to take upon the like Occurrences and this was to accept of the Conditions which the Nuncio and the Ambassador of France had proposed to him The fear of having all the World upon his back and the hopes of getting the Mediators to be on his Side in case the Spaniards should make any difficulty of consenting to the Project of an Accommodation contributed much to the sudden alteration which appeared to be in the Duke of Savoy's mind Savelli upon this and Rambovillet prepared at Verceil a provisional Treaty till such time as a difinitive Judgment was pass'd upon the Difference rais'd betwixt the Houses of Savoy and Mantua Charles Emmanuel fairly offered to Sign it The Marquiss Inojosa would not do the like As he had at that time been for the Interests of the Cardinal Duke of Mantua with as much zeal as he at first had favoured the Duke of Savoy so he rejected the Article which contained in it that a certain dependance of Montferrat called Canavese should remain in Sequestration till the Controversie upon the Duke of Savoy's Pretensions against the House of Mantua was determined by Arbitrators chosen on both Sides The Mediators prepared in the City of Ast another Project of a Treaty in presence of Charles Emmanuel The Article touching Canavese in this was left out and they put into the Room of it That the Cardinal Duke should pay the Dowry give up the Jewels of Maragarite of Savoy his Sister-in-Law at a certain prefixt time and besides this should pay in Two years space the Portion of Blanche of Montferrat for which the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua had Contested so long a time The other Articles Decreed That the Prisoners and Places taken on both Sides should be Restored
and that each of the Two Princes should make an Act of Oblivion for all those of thier Subjects who had served against them Charles Emmanuel sign'd this willingly being exceedingly contented Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 293. 294. c. that he was to give no satisfaction to the King of Spain or to ask his Pardon but the Marquiss of Rombovillet was blamed for having been too hasty in his Negociation The Spaniards accus'd him for suffering himself to be lead by the Duke of Savoy Nani Hist Veneta Lib. 1.1614 Others reported that he was too impatient of his Return to the Court of France Mercure Francoise 1614. The Cardinal Duke of Mantua was in all appearance to better himself in this Treaty for how could he dispense with the payment of a Dowry and give up the Jewels of his Brother's Widow As for Blanche's Portion of Montferrat he pretended that the House of Mantua had been acquitted of it Ferdinand then when they Demanded it might have answer'd That his Predecessors had already satisfied the Debt But he was so devoted to the Spaniards for obtaining their Protection as he did not dare to accept of any thing without their Approbation The Duke therefore seeing that they had rejected haughtily the Treaty of Aste thô the Pope and States of Venice judged it reasonable Protested he had rather die than sign it The Emperor wonder'd he was not so much as mentioned in an Accommodation which toucht a considerable Fief oâ—… the Empire in Italy But there was not much care taken of his Complaints The King of Spain his Relation had less regard than any one else to the Rights of the Empire in Italy As to the Court of France the Opinions there of the Treaty of Ast were divided Mary de Medicis who favoured the King of Spain and had a thousand reasons to be angry with the Duke of Savoy was not very well contented with what Rambovillet had Negociated She would have been in the mind to have given Charles Emmanuel the Mortification of humbling himself before the King of Spain as he had done some years before But the Duke had his reserve of Friends in France A great many People there cryed out against the Pride and Haughtiness of the Spaniards who would not have Charles Emmanuel acquitted for Disbanding his Army Fifteen or Twenty days before the Governor of Milan They pretended that this Sovereign Prince whom the Duke of Lerma hated mortally ought to be obliged to Submit to the King of Spain and his Favourites discretion and beg Pardon of his Majesty for that he had not obeyed the Orders of the Court of Madrid without making any Reply Did ever any one behold the like Arrogance Inojosa carelesly answered them who brought him the Treaty of Ast to Sign That the King his Master had but newly forbid him to make any Peace with the Duke of Savoy The Mediators surprised at this sudden refusal desired of him however a Suspension of Arms for Forty days till they could have an answer from Madrid The Governor of Milan denied this and gave them to understand that Winter season was already begun and the bad Weather did oblige him enough to grant them what they Demanded The Marquiss of Bedmar the Spanish Ambassador at Venice made a great noise there saying to the Senate That 't was loud Injustice that the Duke of Savoy was not punisht for his Attempts against the Repose of Italy Ought not all the Potentates who are Interested to preserve its quiet unite with the King my Master and Chastise this Rashness of the Duke of Savoy Carleton the English Ambassador kept to another sort of Language He sollicited with all his might the Senate to declare that the Treaty of Ast was reasonable and that all the disinterested Princes believ'd his Catholick Majesty ought to be contented with it Beamar maintain'd against Carleton That this was not the King of Griat-Britains Opinion and that he had explained himself in this matter to the Spanish Ambassador at London The Venetians saw that this Treaty gave the Catholick King all that he could reasonably demand In the mean time because they would not further provoke the Spaniards who minded to do them much mischief they observ'd all possible discretion in their Answers to the Marquiss of bedmar We are very sorry said they that the Conduct of the Duke of Savoy has constrained the Catholick King to come to so great Extremities But we hope that God will inspire him with milder Sentiments and that his Majesty will Sacrifice a part of his Resentment and rest contented with the Justification which the Duke of Savoy will never be far from giving him These Civil dealings and Compliments nettled the Spaniards who perceived that they were not disposed to let them take the liberty of Revenge upon the Duke of Savoy according to their own will and fancy nor humble him as much as they pleased Give me leave here to make some Reflections upon these particulars What is the ground of this Controversie between Savoy and Mantua which makes for Two whole years so great a noise 'T was well nigh puting Italy and perhaps Europe in a Flame Almost all Potentates did concern themselves in it The dispute in the bottom is but some small Sum of Money or at most some Castles which the Dukes of Savoy pretended to against the House of Mantua Here 's the Reason why Charles Emmanuel takes up Arms overburdens his Subjucts carries desolation into Montferrat which becomes the Theatre of War The Cardinal Duke of Mantua represented to us as a Person of no very strong Head-piece and guided by Interested Ministers had nevertheless the cunning Ingenuity to bring Spain on his Side though at first they were against him whether this was an Action of his ability and parts or an effect of Fortune his Affair became the Catholick King 's business But upon what grounds did Philip or rather his Agents reject the Treaty of Ast and believe themselves in the right for to kindle a War and destroy Piedmont Upon a Trifle upon I do not know what punctilio of Honour Is' t then for this that Princes imagine they are dispens'd with from observing the chief Rules of Humanity and keeping the most express Commandments of Jesus Christ Sad unhappy Condition of Men if they must suffer that they who are set over them to study the Welfare and Preservation of others should lay wast Provinces ruine their Subjects and Neighbours and cause the Lives of an infinite number to be lost in satisfaction to their Vanity and for the pleasure of their capricious Humours All the King of Spain's Agents in Italy bustled after a strange manner in order to engage the Governor of Milan to make a new Irruption into Piedmont They flatter'd themselves that this Effort would render the Duke of Savoy more Submissive and tractable Inojosa prest forward through the Reproaches of his Countrymen on all Sides prepared for some
motion but this was so slowly as Prince Thomas Son of Charles Emmanuel had time to prevent the Spaniards and enter himself into the Milanese Country The City of Candia was taken at this time and put to Fire and Sword The Savoyard's Army return'd loaded with considerable Booty The Mediators complained of this Action But the Duke of Savoy disclaim'd his Son's proceedings 'T was endeavoured to excuse him by saying that the Prince knew nothing of what was done The Spaniards afterwards repair'd their loss by taking some small Places in Piedmont Charles Emmanuel a little time after intercepted a Letter from the King of Spain to the Governor of Milan 'T was there seen that some certain Persons had done some ill Offices to Inojosa with his Majesty He seem'd much dissatisfied with Inojosa's Conduct He was order'd to cause his Army to take their Winter Quarters in Piedmont and not to agree to any accommodation with the Duke of Savoy unless he did before hand submit to every thing his Majesty had prescribed before his last motions Charles Emmanuel did not fail to make this Letter publick And he found thereby a double convenience one in mortifying Inojosa's Arrogance whom this Letter had strongly censured the other in making it appear to the Princes who interceded for a Peace that Philip intended as absolute a Command over the Princes of Italy as he had over his Grandees of Spain Lewis XIII his Majority In the time that the Marquiss of Rambovillet began his Negociation in Italy Lewis XIII enter'd into the Fourteenth year of his Age. Mercure Francois 1614. Here then you may see him in his Majority Conformable to the Edict of Charles V. made at Vincennes in the Year 1374. and Registred in the Parlement at Paris with great Solemnity the following Year One might think it strange that he of all the Kings of France who was Surnamed the Wise Recherches de Paschier Lib. II. Chap. 18. should judge that a Prince could be capable to Govern of himself so young Historians relate that Charles believed it was very important for the Minority of Kings to be as short as possibly could be Mezerai dans la Vie de Charles V. for fear the Regent of the Realm should grow so powerful as to Dethrone his Pupil or at least carry away from him a great part of his Estate and Authority The good King thought more of his Family upon this occasion than any else He had not his health so well and his Two Sons in all appearance would be left Minors Of Three Brothers whom Charles had Two of them did not want for Boldness or Ambition Having now a Power to declare sooner For to secure the Crown to his Children it behov'd the King to forward their Majority The Uncles had less time to undertake any thing against the young King sooner than he would Govern of himself Of the Princes who might be mistrusted that Person might be turn'd aside from governing Affairs by other who were better minded under the plausible pretension of the King 's being at Age. That which is singular in this new Law is that he in favour of whom the Father made it had need of a Tutor and Regent the greatest part of his Life He was out of his Wits became crack-brain'd and infirm in Body And this sad Accident caus'd in France all the great Evils which Charles V. had a design to prevent This very Edict proves to us that 't is a long time since the Council of France set themselves on work to set out piteous Prefaces at the beginning of their most solemn Ordinances Charles V. saith in his That the Sons of France have such excellent Masters so good Governours to inform them as they become capable of managing themselves and administring Affairs much sooner than other Children We have seen Two Princes under Age in the Two last Reigns Have the Regents had the care to give their Sons any extraodinary Education Was France so unprovided of Men of Merit that Souvre and Villeroy should be judg'd the most capable of instructing the young King Charles V. besides brought another Reason which is no better than this God said he who gives Sovereign Power to Kings never fails to enrich them the soonest as may be with necessary Qualities to make use of it Alas Let 's behold now how God doth Miracles to enlighten young Princes Understandings and make them more Prudent than other Children These Gentlemen seduc'd early by Flattery hurried away by their Passions which find no great stop in their way usually begin later than others to become reasonable and oftentimes by a just Judgment of God upon a People whom he punisheth a King never knows the First Principles of Reason and good Sense According to Charles the Fifth's Edict a King ought not to be Inaugurated and Crowned till after the time of his Minority But this Formality was past over in favour of his Son who had publisht this Law Charles VI. was a Minor when his Father died and his Uncles contended amongst themselves for the Regency Lewis Duke of Anjou pretended to it as being the Eldest of the Brothers to the deceased King The Dukes of Berry and Bourgundy would have a share in it The Duke of Bourbon Uncle to young Charles by the Mother's Side maintained for his part that he ought to be call'd to the Administration of the Government as well as the Paternal Uncles Some Lords chosen for one Party and t'other were Arbitrators of the Difference 'T was determined That Charles VI. notwithstanding his Father's Law might be Inaugurated and Crowned Affairs dispatcht in his Name and under his Seal the Dukes of Berry Bourgundy and Bourbon might take care of the King's Education and of Lewis Duke of Orleans his Brother the Duke of Anjon might have the Name and Honours of Regent but should do nothing but in Concert with the Three other Princes From that time it hath been a Custom to Crown Kings during their Minority and dispatch Affairs in their Names and under their Seals The first Act in the King's Majority The First thing they made young Lewis Enact in his Majority appeared to be an Act of Religion and Justice I don't know whether Policy and Dissimulation were not the secret Motives to this Performance They were willing to impose upon the People Mercure Francoise 1614. who easily believe what they wish for with all Fervency His Majesty held a Council the First day of October The Declaration which he would have to be Registred next day was there dispatcht and Sealed Lewis at first promised to study every thing that was Expedient for a most Christian King who was Zealous of God's Glory a lover of Peace and the Tranquility of his Subjects to watch the Execution of the good Laws publisht by his Predecessors and make new ones as he should be advised in the approaching Assembly of the States General of the Realm The Edict of Nantes
Men and perhaps by degrees ruin them by engaging them after his Example to make excessive expences in Buildings Play and other more Criminal Pleasures In this he found his Account in a double manner It was his natural Inclination though he was a Manager good enough and those who could embroil the State would be drained of Money and Credit and forced to depend on the bounty of their Prince This did not succeed in all points as he had projected it If the Constable of Montmorency the Dukes of Montpensier and Epernon the Mareschals of Bouillon and Biron did not proceed so far as to take Arms to express their Resentment some because they were not Rewarded according to their mind others because some Ministers Confidents of the King had a greater share in secret Councils than themselves Yet these I ords created him great Disquiet The just punishment of Biron the most imprudent and violent of all the Malecontents and the Submissions of the Mareschal de Bouillon Defeated the Conspiracy which Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy had laid in his Journey to Paris and Philip the III. the New King of Spain had promised to support That of the Marquise de Vernueil a Mistress of the King who had foolishly promised to make her his Wife before he was married to Mary de Medicis was likely to have had terrible Consequences but was fortunately broke by the Condemnation of d'Entragues Father of the Marchioness and the Imprisonment of the Count d' Auvergue her Brother by the Mothers side and Natural Son to Charles the IX The King complained the Court of Spain promised Aid to all his Factious Subjects He shew'd his Resentment publickly when he discovered an Intrigue of the Spanish Ambassador with a Gentleman of Provence who undertook to deliver up the Town of Marseilles to Philip the III. Two Rival Powers have ever matter to Recriminate when the one thinks he can convict the other of a secret Infraction of Treaties The Ambassadour without scruple Reproached the King with assisting the Vnited Provinces after the Peace of Vervins and endeavouring to raise the Moors in Spain In some occasions Henry was not more upright and sincere than Philip. Princes seldom concern themselves much about so fair a Vertue No sooner had the King of France setled his Affairs and amassed several Millions by the Care and Management of the Duke of Sully Superintendent of the Finances but he began to think in earnest of Humbling the Pride of the House of Austria This was the Language of those times the World is busi'd at present in Leagues to oppose the Ambitious Designs of France Henry waiting only for a Specious Pretence to make War on Spain renewed his ancient Alliances abroad and carried on Negotiations with diverse Princes to bring them over to his Interests By the Treaty of Marriage between the Infanta Isabella and Arch-Duke Albert Philip the II. had given his dear Daughter the Soveraignty of the Provinces which Spain had at that time in the low Countries Catherine Sister of Isabel brought Charles Emmanuel Duke of Savoy her Husband but a very moderate Fortune So unequal a Division did not satisfie the Ambition of a Prince who was always stirring to make himself Great though he could never obtain his Aim Charles thought the Dutchy of Milan ought in Right to be given up to him Henry seeks to take the Advantage of Discontent of the Duke A Proposition is made to Assist the Duke in the Conquest of a Country which lay so convenient for him and to give the Kings Eldest Daughter in Marriage to his Son On these Conditions Charles voluntarily makes a League Offensive and Defensive with France Some pretend all the Powers of Europe were engaged in it or at least ought to have been to confine the House of Austria to Spain and its Hereditary Countries in Germany but the Project which is ascribed to Henry on this occasion is strangely Chimerical If it be true that this King ever entertained a thought of that kind and proposed no other end in so vast Enterprize than the glory of having brought Euâ—…ope to a Balance Henry doubâ—…less was the vainest Man in his Kingdom Is it not much more probable that seeing so favourable an occasion to revenge himself on Spain he was resolved to make his advantage of it The Declension of that Monarchy was visible to all the World Philip the III. a Prince Inferiour to his Father for his Parts found it in so ill a condition that being unable to supply Arch-Duke Albert with Provisions necessary for carrying on the War against the Vnited Provinces he was constrained to make a shameful Truce with the States-General in which he owns them to be free and Disclaims any Pretension of his own or the Arch-Dukes over them We must not think Spain wanted good Generals brave Officers or States-Men bred in the Cabinet of Philip II. but the Duke of Lerma her first Minister had neither Genius nor Ability to gain his Master Reputation abroad or govern a Monarchy opprest with its own Greatness The House of Austria was still weaker in Germany The Emperour Rodolphus had no great Vices but the Vertues which make up the chief Character of a Prince were wanting in him Shut up in his City of Prague he employed himself in any thing rather than Politicks Had he had good Ministers he would not have hindred them from acting well But he had so little care to chuse them or observe their steps that himself did not know whether he was well or ill served Rodolphus did not live in good understanding with his Brethren The Arch-Duke Matthias forced him to give up the Kingdom of Hungary to him and secure to him the Succession to the Crown of Bohemia Both unable to keep their Subjects of different Religion in Peace were obliged to receive the Conditions which the stronger Party imposed on them England is so seated it ought equally to fear least Spain or France become too Potent James the First succeeded to Queen Elizabeth a Princess whose Memory is still dear to the English for her great Courage her matchless Prudence and her sincere Love to her People Both Crowns strove which should make an Alliance with the New King They believed that being more Potent than his Predecessors by the Union of the Crown of Scotland to that of England he would be more able to hold the balance even or make it incline to which side he pleased But James still fearful and wavering governed by his Wife or his Favourites soon shewed the World he was fitter to manage the Pen than the Sword to write on a Question of Civil Law or Divinity than to Reign gloriously and make himself formidable to his Neighbours He made a Treaty of Alliance with Henry Both Kings engaged to assist the Vnited Provinces and to defend each other in case either of them was attacked by the Spaniards The Court of Madrid exasperated to find the King of Great Britain
League for the Safety of Italy we are ready to give our ancient Allies proofs we desire nothing more than to preserve and secure that Repose they enjoy Upon this Declaration the Senate answered very Wisely to the Duke of Savoy that it very much concerned all the Sovereigns of Italy to keep a good Understanding and provide for their common Safety But it is to be feared said they this will only serve to incense the Spaniards more and encrease the Distrust and Jealousie of a Crown whom it behoves as much nay more than its Neighbours to seek for Peace The Wise Politick Old Ministers of Henry IV. saw very well the Spaniards were not so much to be feared and there was more Ostentation than Reality in the threatning Advances of the Court of Madrid The Death of the Count of Fuentes Governor of Milan which happened at that time helped to revive their Courage They thought Spain would not be able to find a Subject capable of so well Supporting the Reputation of the Crown and covering so artfully the weakness of Philip III. and the Duke of Lerma his first Minister Pedro Gusman of Toledo Count of Fuentes died aged 85 years on the 22d of July 1610. He was a Man of extraordinary Capacity and great Experience in all Civil and Military Affairs He gained mighty Reputation in the Campagnes of Picardy about the end of the preceding Age and especially at the taking of Cambray But the care he took to profit by the Lessons of his Master Philip II. sullied the good Qualities of so finisht a Statesman and Soldier The ill Designs of the Court of Spain against the Duke of Savoy As Charles Emanuel was the boldest and I will add the most Imprudent of the Italian Princes to declare against Spain so he was the first and chief Object which felt the Displeasure of that Revengeful Court. In the first place all the Spanish Troops in his Service were remanded back He saw plainly they were seeking for an Occasion to pick a Quarrel with him being assured of a speedy Aid from the Mareschal Lesdiguieres his Friend Siri Memoire recordite Tom. II. p. 282 304. who commanded in Dauphine the Duke was not struck with the Threats made him from the King of Spain He spoke not only like a Man who was resolved to defend himself Couragiously but like one who would pursue the Designs set on foot before Henry's Death All the World was so fully convinced that the Superiority of Genius and Strength which had formerly made Spain formidable were entirely wanting in Philip III. that Princes far inferior to him haughtily insulted him The Imprudence and double dealing of the Duke of Savoy The Duke of Savoy might have securely despised all the Threats of the Spaniards if he had been more prudent and less Knavish Could he not plainly see France had no design to break with Spain but that the Regent would stir to prevent him from being Opprest He ought not then in point of Discretion to have provoked a Neighbour who notwithstanding her Weakness was stronger than a Duke of Savoy At the same time that Charles Emanuel was earnestly pressing Mary to obtain what the late King had promised him he was at the same time keeping secret Intelligence with the Count of Soissons and the rest of the discontented Lords and Heads of the Protestant Party in hopes of kindling a Civil War in France Being perswaded that the King of Spain would be glad to be reconciled to him and sought his Friendship he endeavoured to insinuate into the Court of Madrid that if she would grant him good Conditions he would do her very good Service against France Both Parties soon saw his Ways Thus was he equally odious and suspected in all the Courts of Europe suffered the Disgrace of being humbled in Spain despised in France and Italy and hated in his own Country which he ruined by his Chimerical Projects Divers Negotiations to oblige the Kingâ—… of Spain and Duke of Savoy to lay down their Arms in Italy Whilst these Intrigues were carrying on the King of Spain was in Arms in Italy and the Duke of Savoy had a considerable number of Soldiers there Strange Confusions for France and the Sovereigns of Italy The Regent was very impatient to Disband the Army in Dauphine Commanded by a Hugonot General but Prudence would not suffer her to do it in such a Juncture Siri Memoire recâ—…ndite Tom II. p. 335 336. The Pope apprehended least the Mareschal Lesdiguieres should pass the Alps under colour of coming to the Assistance of the Duke of Savoy When Mary pressed Charles Emanuel to lay down his Arms he asked such conditions as she did not care to grant him The Pope too made his Instances that Spain and Savoy should send away those Troops which gave France and Italy so great uneasiness But Philip pretended Charles Emanuel ought in the first place to lay down his Arms and make him Satisfaction The Duke on the contrary alledged that the weakest ought to stand upon his Guard when he seemed to be threatned by a Powerful Neighbour so that the Difference now seemed only to consist in Ceremony Nevertheless the more discerning Men thought they saw a Collusion here The Duke Dissatisfied to find the Regent intended in earnest to fall in with the Spaniard he began to talk too of sending Prince Philibert his Son to Madrid The King of Spain demands the Duke of Savoy should first of all make him Satisfaction Whether it were that the Court of Spain were assured that the Regent of France would willingly suffer the Duke of Savoy to be humbled provided no harm were done him or that Philip was absolutely resolved to reduce his Brother-in-Law who behaved himself so Haughty at a time when he sought the King of Spain's Favour Charles Emanuel received News from Madrid That his Catholick Majesty was exactly informed of his Ties to the late King of France and that before the King would consent to an Accommodation he required a very mortifying Preliminary of the Duke of Savoy Siri Memoire recondite Tom. II. p. 336 337. This was that he should send his Sons or at least one of them to Madrid to remain there as a Pledge of their Fathers Fidelity and farther that he should ask Pardon for his secret Treaties with France to the prejudice of the Crown of Spain Charles Emanuel presently summoned his Council together No Expedient could be found to evade these hard conditions but to press France earnestly to send a speedy Aid For now the Spanish Troops in the Milanese seemed ready to pour into Piemont Lesdiguieres gave the Duke fair words but Mary de Medicis very far from breaking with Spain in favour of Charles Emanuel advised him to send Prince Philibert to Madrid to pacifie King Philip. Thus did the two Courts make sport with a Man who thought himself crafty enough to deceive them both There was no way
left but for Charles Emanuel to assure the Spanish Embassador at Turin that he was disposed to make his Brother-in-Law Satisfaction He only demanded to have a Suspension of Arms agreed on and to have Assurance given him that the Governor of Milan would not make any Attempt on Piemont till the King of Spain should be satisfied In stead of hearing the Dukes Propositions they quarrelled with him demanded he should Renounce all his Treaties with France not excepting that of his Sons Marriage and Lastly Philip's Officers at Milan answered they had no Orders to grant a Suspension of Arms or that Security which the Duke of Savoy proposed France lays down her Arms in Dauphine and is jealous of the Spaniards who continue in Arms in Italy At the Solicitation of the Pope Mary de Medicis had broke the Army of the Mareschal Lesdiguieres in Dauphine The Regents Council had consented to this more willingly because they were perswaded the King of Spain would not dare to begin a War in Italy Was it probable he could be in a condition to support one there who had not the boldness to oppose the taking of Juliers by the Confederate Princes Philip had assured the Pope his Design was only to mortifie the Duke of Savoy to give him a Check and Constrain him to make him Satisfaction The rest of the Princes were not displeased to see the Pride of Charles Emanuel humbled All this while he wasted insensibly because he would stand on his Guard and keep up his Troops till the King of Spain Disbanded his Who could yet be sure that Philip would not at last invade Piemont after he had fatigued the Duke of Savoy and craftily engaged the Regent to Disarm on the side of the Alpes The Council of France was of Opinion the Queen should make some Advances and declare positively she would not abandon the Duke of Savoy That the Disbanded Troops might soon be brought together and she would send a powerful Aid into Piemont if Spain should undertake to attack that Country Charles Emanuel was very glad to understand the Regent had Writ to the Pope to complain that the King of Spain continued in Arms though France had broke her Army in Dauphine and to assure his Holiness of the Resolution taken in Council to preserve the Country of Savoy But the Duke of Feria Ambassador Extraordinary of Philip in France had setled so strict a Correspondence between his Master and Mary de Medicis that the Pope could without much Difficulty dispel the Umbrage which the Regent had taken and perswaded her to wait quietly the Success of the Journey which Prince Philibert was about to make into Spain Philibert Prince of Savoy goes into Spain The Prince went through Lyons and Bourdeaux attended by the Count of Verüe and the Bishop of St. John de Maurienne These were to be his Directors in so nice a Matter The Prince Arrives on Post-Horses at Madrid without having received the least Civility or Mark of Respect from the King his Uncle in any of the Spanish Towns he past through Siri Memorie recondite Tom. II. p. 416 417 This was to prepare him to appear as a Suppliant to make Satisfaction to a Great King justly incensed against a petty Prince And now he was to endure all the strain of Spanish Pride At the first Interview Philip gave his Nephew an obliging Reception enough Not one Word was said of the Duke of Savoy no News of him was asked the Court affected to enquire of the Welfare of the Princes and Princesses of Savoy without making any mention of their Father The Second Audience was more Slippery and Difficult Here was a Submission to be made to satisfie the Spanish Humour which might not be too mean and low for the Duke of Savoy Charles Emanuel stood very much on an Extream Nicety in point of Honour His Son framed an Harangue according to the Instructions he brought with him The Count of Verüe and the Bishop assisted the young Prince in the drawing it He learnt it by Heart and spoke it with a good Grace It was accompanied with all the Demonstrations of Respect and Submission which the Dignity of a Prince could allow of The King was not Displeased with it but the Duke of Lerma and the Grandees of Spain thought very heinously of it because he had not thrown himself on his Knees before the King and begged Pardon for the Duke of Savoy Lerma made great Complaints and required that the Prince should make Satisfaction by Writing The Spaniards drew up the Form and required Philibert to Rehearse it in the Kings Presence The Savoyards did all they could to spare their Prince so shameful a step The Form of the Satisfaction which the Prince of Savoy made for his Father to the King of Spain But the Spaniards continued inflexible Philibert was treated very roughly till he consented to what was required of him It was in vain the Count of Verüe represented the Prince had exactly followed the Instruction his Father had given him and that he had not Orders to make any such Submissions The Spaniards were pleased to suppose the Prince had a second Instruction in case their King was not satisfied with what was prescribed in the first However this be said they farther the Duke of Savoy will ever be in a condition to disavow his Sons Action After much canvassing the Matter no other Remedy could be found but Philibert and his Council must agree to the following Form The Spaniards drew it almost all up Great Sir said the Prince of Savoy the Duke my Lord and Father sends me hither to throw my self at your Majesties Feet His Age and Business not giving him leave to come in Person to intreat your Majesty on my Knees to be content with that Satisfaction I make you I have not Words lively enough to express the extream Grief the loss of your Majesties Favour has given the Duke my Father I throw my self once again at your Feet and resolve never more to rise but die here unless your Majesty shall grant me the Favour I sue for That is to Receive the Duke my Father and all our House into your Royal Protection In this Great Sir you will give us a Mark of your Clemency in pardoning the greatest Faults and of the goodness you have always shewn to our House which is perfectly devoted to you and Honours you as its Lord and Father A Prince of your Blood protests this now at your Majesty's Feet and I will Sign it with mine if it shall be necessary The Duke my Father relies wholly on your Majesty's good Will and we put our selves all into your Hands If your Majesty shall receive us into your Favour this will be a new Obligation and indissolubly ties us to become your Majesties Servants The Accommodation of the Duke of Savoy with Spain The Bishop of St. John de Maurienne gave the Duke of Savoy an Account of
what passed at Madrid When he heard his Son was received with great Haughtiness and Indifference That the Duke of Lerma boasted he had a Copy of the Treaties made with France and that the Court required Prince Philibert to ask pardon in the Name of his Father Charles Emanuel fell into so furious a Rage that for a long time he could not contain himself within the Bounds of Decency I will sooner lose my Life 〈◊〉 Siri Memorie recondite Tom. II. p. 424 425. my Children my Dominions than consent to any thing so unworthy of my Rank Am I then a Vassal to the Crown of Spain that I must ask Philip's pardon for making a Treaty which does not suit â—…ith his Interests There is now no need for management thanks be to God I am not so weak but I can hazard a Battle against Spain Let them Treat my Son ill Let them break the Laws of Hospitality These Hardships shall not oblige me to do so mean an Action When the Pope's Nuncio undertook to represent to the Duke that the State of his Affairs would not allow him to refuse to make some sort of Submission to his Catholick Majesty he was more Transported than before he said a Thousand nasty things he protested he would never consent tho' the Pope himself should order him The Nuncio was not Diverted by this he briskly told the Duke that he must not expect any Aid from France whatever happened if his Country became the Stage of a War it must unavoidably be ruined So that Charles Emanuel convinced at last by the News he had from France that the Regent would assist him with all her good Offices at the Court of Spain he consented Prince Philibert should make Satisfaction according to the Form agreed on with the Duke of Lerma The thing was done the 19th of November 1610. At the Intreaty of the Pope and the King of France replied Philip with his usual Gravity In consideration you are come hither and the Request you have made me I will not put in Execution what I have designed I will give Marks of my good will to the Duke your Father as his good Behaviour shall induce me Prince Philibert made a profound Reverence and humbly thanked the King for his Majesty's Gracious Regard to the Duke of Savoy had always Velasco Constable of Castile and Governor of Milan receives orders to Disarm Philip answered to the Pope and the rest who prest him to withdraw his Troops out of the Milanese that he must wait till Velasco who was appointed to Succeed the Count of Fuentes was Arrived at Milan He was on the Road when the Prince of Savoy performed the Conditions proposed to him The Pope and Mary de Medicis redoubling their Instances to Philip to Disarm he was under a necessity of complying As soon as Velasco was in Possession of his Government he received Orders from Philip to Disband the Army The posture of Affairs of the House of Austria in Germany were so bad and the Kingdom of Spain was so much exhausted of Men and Money that Philip â—…ad no other way to revenge himself of an inferiour Prince who had attempted to take the Milanese from him Nay France and the Pope were forâ—…ed to assist him privately to save his Honour Without this Charles Emanuel would have been a Match for him and the King of Spain would not have dared to attack him Different Projects of the Duke of Savoy The Duke of Savoy was ready to burst with Spight to see himself made the sport of all Europe He resolved to defer laying down his Arms as long as he could and to make his Advantage of the Troops he had on Foot Sometimes he would declaim against the King of Spain and made a Mein as if he would Disavow all the steps of Prince Philibert At others he was violent against the Regent of France and threatned to make work for her in her own Kingdom in case she would not perform the Treaties made with the late King One day he thought of Surprizing Genoa and for that purpose enter'd into a Negotiation with the Mareschal Lesdiguieres because the thing was not fesible without the Concurrence of France Some time after he Resumed his old Project on the City of Geneva Filled with new Hopes he strove to engage the Pope and Constable of Castile to favour him in the design to destroy a Common-weath equally hateful to the Courts of Rome and Madrid Charles Emanuel was on the point of Surprizing Geneva at the end of 1602. Some of his Men were got upon the Walls and ready to open the Gates to the Duke who was come near it if the Enterprize had not been happily discovered In the year 1609 he hoped to succeed better on the side of the Harbour The Contrivance was to conceal divers Soldiers in Vessels loaded with Wood and to run these down the River The second Attempt was defeated sooner than the first Du Terrail Head of this Enterprize imprudently spoke of it to some Persons who gave the Magistrates of the City notice to be upon their Guards After this in the Spring time 1611. the Duke of Savoy thought to try if he might not succeed better with open Force The Duke of Savoy resolves to Attack Geneva and the Country of the Valleys His Troops were ordered to pass out of Piemont into Savoy This sudden Motion of a Restless Ambitious Prince gave great Suspicions at first he strove to conceal his Designs on the Country of Geneva but the Inhabitants of the Town and those of the Canton of Bern soon discovered them They first Addressed themselves to the Mareschal Lesdiguieres and desired him to procure Assistance from the Regent Lesdiguieres promised his good Offices Before he wrote to Court he laid before the Duke his Friend that Geneva and the Country of Vaux as being under the protection of France she would not fail to defend them Charles Emanuel did not seem to give much heed to these Discourses and therefore the Mareschal earnestly prest the Queen and her Councel to oppose the Designs of the Duke they saw very well the Consequences La Nove Son to that Brave and Religious Gentleman who gain'd so fair a Reputation in the Wars of France and the Low Countries had order to go to Geneva with two Thousand Foot and the Canton of Bern received New Assurances of the King's Protection The Council of France resolves to protect Geneva and the County of Vaux Bellegarde Gentleman of the Horse was sent into Burgundy and the Marquiss of Alincourt to Lyons to watch the Duke of Savoy's Motions Berrault appointed Ambassador extraordinary at Turin went to represent to Charles Emanuel that his Enterprize would have troublesom Consequences and declare directly that the Regents Council were gathering Troops to defend a Town and Country which the Predecessor of Lewis the XIII had taken into the Protection of their Crown The Duke who reckoned on the
declared at the same time that neither his Conscience nor the Love he bore his Country could ever permit him to comply with the Orders left by his Nephew yet notwithstanding his seeming Modesty the Duke wanted only to be further courted in the Matter The Senate was to have almost an equal share with him in the Government and Governors of Towns did exercise a sort of Sovereignty in their Jurisdictions The King had contrived it should be so as a necessary precaution to ballance his Uncle's Authority and to lessen his Power Such a Scheme of Government was not for the Duke's turn He expected that the Senators would abate somewhat of their Rights and Privileges and that more Authority would be allowed him over the Governors of each City Matters were accordingly brought to that pass as he would have it The Duke then as if he had only yielded to the repeated Address of the Senate slides into the Saddle of State and marches to Stokholm Then he was wont to say That the best way of Government at that juncture was to put into execution what the King was indespensably bound to perform himself And are we bound said he to obey such Orders of his that are found to be contrary to his Coronaâ—…ion Oath As soon as the Duke enter'd â—…tokholm he Cashier'd the Governour of â—…he Castle for being a Roman Catholick he â—…lso forbid the Exercise of that Religion within that City he made great Presents to the Senators he granted Pensions to the Bishops and to the Professors of Colleges and won his Clergy's and Citizens Love by his Affable and Courteous ways His Wife Christina was brought to bed at that time and the Child was Christn'd by the Name of Gustavus Adolphus This Ceremony was concluded with a splendid Entertainment which he gave to the Senators and to the chief of the Nobility The Famous Astronomer Ticho Bradhe who then Calculated this young Prince's Nativity pronounced that he should one day wear a Crown This was sufficient to raise his Parents hopes to a high pitch It is usual for Persons that are enter'd upon Difficult and Glorious Designs to entertain such uncertain Prognostications 〈◊〉 undoubted Oracles The Duke of Sudermania thought that the calling together of the States would be a means to Establish his Authority The Confusion in which the King left Matters in Swedeland at his going away was a Specious pretence enough for this Convocation Charlâ—â— together with the Senate writ to the King about it But he made them no Answer This Silence of his was by some Interpreted as an Assent to this Meeting 〈◊〉 the States by others as an unjust Dissent But if so the Prime Officers of State iâ—… Swedeland do pretend that in such a Caâ—â— they are impowr'd by the ancient Lawâ—… and Constitutions of the Kingdom to convene a General Assembly of the States They met accordingly at Suderkopin As soon as the News of it came to the King he charged them not to proceed any further declaring that he would never ratifie such Resolutions that were taken contrary to his Will and Pleasure But no Regard was had to such Prohibitions of the King 's The States maintain'd that their Meeting at this Juncture of time was both Lawful and Necessary for the Welfare of the Kingdom They then came to a Resolution not to allow of any other Religion in Swedeland saving the Protestant Persuasion according to the Ausburg Confession of Faith That the Rites and Worship after the manner of Rome should be every where Abolisht That Priests of that Communion should hasten out of the Kingdom in a Fortnight's time The Duke of Sudermania was declared Regent during the King's Absence With this Limitation that all Affairs should be Administred by him in Concurrence with the Senate Many other Laws were ordain'd for the Preservation of the Liberty and Privileges of the Country and they who would not submit to such Regulations were declared to be evilly affected toward the Welfare of the Land and to be Disturbers of the publick Tranquillity Charles his Regency seemed now to be well Established A Misunderstanding betwixt the Duke of Sudermania and the Senat. so that Sigismond had no other way left him but to endeavour to create Jealousies and Divisions betwixt that Duke and the Senate This took and it was cunningly carried on Charles was the more readily disposed to fall out with the Senat for that he did suspect them with holding a Correspondency with those of the Province of Fineland who still held for the King The Senators on th' other hand complained that he did all things after his own fancy and dealt harshly with such as opposed his Designs in the least Charles alledged that they did wast the Publick Revenue and had fomented Misunderstanding betwixt the King and him with a design as it should seem to ruin both his Majesty and himself that they themselves might thereby become sole Masters He made a shew of laying down the Administration of Affairs that was committed to him but was extreamly surprised when he found not one of the Senate opposed that his seeming Resolution Therefore considering with himself that he had gone too far to retreat in hopes to slip his Neck out of the Collar he again laid hold of the Helm of publick Affairs He Summon'd a General Assembly of the Senates to be held at Arboga There the Senate with many of the Nobility formed a distinct Party in opposition to that of the Dukes many went home again and there were not very many that came to this Parliament held at Arboga The Decrees of the Convocation at Vpsal were here confirmed and whatever was enacted by the late General Diet at Suderkoping Addresses were made to Charles to request him not to Abandon the Government at this juncture with a promise that none should be allowed to have so great a sway as he in the Administration of publick Affairs Yet the Senate refused their Assent to these New Regulations and the Chancellor with some others left the Kingdom upon it Such a favourable Conjuncture as this King Sigismonds unsuccessful Attempt to reduce the D. of Sudermania by force prompted Sigismond to march with a good Army towards Swedeland if he had made more speed he might have disperst the Duke's Party which grew weaker every day but the King's slackness gave him time to gather strength and to seise on many fortified Places and to secure the Fleet. When Sigismond Landed the Elector of Brandenbourg and other Princes of Germany us'd their Endeavour to Reconcile the Nephew and Uncle but their Negotiations proved ineffectual Charles protested that he only sought the Preservation of the Peace of the Privileges and of the Religion of the Country But Sigismond would not trust him He resolved to be the ruine of an Uncle who openly aspired to no less than the Crown These two Princes was each of 'em at the Head of his own Army and there was great likelihood that the
hopes to make Advantages of the broils of France and to retake what Henry the IV. had forc't him to give in exchange for the Marquisate of Saluces all these Motives spurr'd on Charles Emanuel to omit nothing of what ever was capable to kindle a Civil War in France by means of the Princes of the Blood or at least by the Huguenot Party And for this reason he constantly Negotiated sometimes with the Count of Soissons sometimes with Mareschal Lesdiguiers He renewed his Intrigues according as he saw one or other Dissatisfied with the Court. The Marquess de Coeuvres dâ—…verâ—…s the Count de Soissons from such a Design The Prince of Conde and others had made Count Soissons promise to say nothing to the Marquess de Coeuvres his intimate Friend of the Complot against the Chancellor They foresaw that Coeuvres being used to stop the Count when his Choler had carried him too far he would not fail to Represent to Soissons that it was unworthy of a Prince of the Blood to be Outragious against the chief Magistrate of the Realm The thing happen'd as they had guess't it The Count de Soissons could not keep the Secret He discover'd it to the Marquess de Coeuvres who shew'd him the troublesom Consequences of such like undertakings But the Subject Matter was how to Disingage the Count from his Word which he had given to others Coeuvres luckily found out a way The difference that Soissons had in his Journy to Normandy with the Mareschal de Fervacques on the occasion of the Garrison of Quillebeuf which Fervacques had reinforc't unknown to the Count this Difference I say occasion'd the Marquess de Coeuvres to go several times into Normandy and to come back again to Court to give some satisfaction to the Count de Soissons who complain'd aloud of the Mareschal Fervacques Conchini impatient that Soissons did not return time enough to work the ruine of the Chancellor told himself to the Marquess de Coeuvres at the Mareschal Bouillons House in the presence of the Prince of Conde Harlai of Beaumont and Dolé the Reasons there were to hasten the Count of Soissons to return Coeuvres fain'd not to know any thing of a Plot amongst them against the Chancellor When they had discover'd it plainly to him he so lively represented the Indignity of the Action as they were ashamed of it If you have wherewithal to prove said he that the Chancellor hath not done his Duty is it not a more honest and surer way to inform the Queen of it and perswade her Majesty to take the Seals from him than to outrage unworthily the Chief Justiciary So great a Violence offer'd will not fail to pluck more upon your own Heads Who hereafter will succeed Sileri when he sees he can't exercise the Office with Security which of times exposeth him who is possest of 't to discontent Princes and Grandees in obeying the King's Orders The Mareschal de Bouillon was the first who yielded to the Remonstrances of Coeuvres These Reasons said he have so much the more reason in them to be received for that the Marquess generously alledgeth them in favour of one of whom he hath cause to complain T' was not then farther thought upon to put any such bloody Indignity on the Chancellor ev'ry one then took only Measures to destroy his Reputation he had in the Queens Breast The Marquess d' Ancres knavery and double dealing Conchini and his Wife labour'd herein with better Success than all the rest This Italian was the falfest Politician in the World At the same time he made use of the Count Soissons to destroy the Chancellor and Ministers of State he himself was the Person who hinder'd the Regent from contenting the Prince in giving of him the Government of Quillebeuf The Baron Luts Agent for the Marquess d' Ancre Sollicited in his behalf the Duke of Guise to declare for the Queen and uphold the Refusal which she design'd to give the Count of Soissons Guise was so adverse to this perfidious dealing of Conchini as he gave notice of it to Soissons The House of Guise the Cardinal Joyeuse and Bellegarde Master of the Horse dissatisfied at what Mary de Medicis had done to the Duke of Vendosme sought to reunite themselves with the Princes of the Blood against the Marquess d' Ancre Only the Duke of Epernon neglected to enter into this new Treaty whether it was that his Pride hinder'd him from Courting the Princes of the Blood to confirm his reeling Credit or that the Rheumatism which then afflicted him would not give him opportunity to think of Court Intrigues There was in Guise's Party a pack of French Lords who were not much better and perhaps worse than the Marquess d' Ancre T' was generally believ'd Persons suborn'd to accuse him of Witchcraft that Bellegarde had this year Suborned some Persons to accuse Conchini that he had of a long time us'd some Love-spells by means of a Looking-Glass This Affair much Alarm'd the Marquess d' Ancre He believ'd himself now so near his Ruin as he try'd to make the Duke of Mayenne his Friend to return to Court who was now at the Foot of the Pirenees to go into Spain Conchini intended to serve his Occasions with him and the Count of Soissons against his Enemies But he found out a means to rid himself of the Intrigue without the Duke of Mayenne's Assistance This occasion serv'd him likewise to do the Chancellor ill Offices with the Queen He had got some Commissions to Seal in order to have his Accuser Examin'd Sileri who did not love the Marquess d' Ancre but favour'd his Enemies made some Scruples of putting the Seals t' ' em Conchini complain'd of this to the Queen who from that time began to shew to the Chancellor some Displeasure Affairs of the Duke of Rohan at S lean d' Angeli's The Evil Counsels which the Queen Regent hearken'd to caus'd her troubles on all sides with the Princes of the Blood with the Grandees with the Parlement and at the end with the Reformed Protestants The Division amongst the principal Persons of this Communion afforded Mary de Medicis and her Ministers the means of undertaking certain things against the Edict which never would have been thought on if two Men capable to maintain their Religion against the whole World had liv'd in good Intelligence amongst themselves and acted Unanimously Memoires du Duc de Roâ—…ohan Livre f. Vie du Plessia â—â—rna Livre â—…L I speak of the Mareschal Bouillon and the Duke of Rohan The first serv'd himself with the Queen's Ear to ruine the other in the good Apprehensions she might have of him What pass't in the Assembly at Saumur exasperated so much the Mareschal against the Duke that Bouillon undertook to throw out Rohan from the Government of St. John d' Angeli which the Deceased King had bestow'd upon him The Duke de Rohan being well
Yoland his Daughter and of Edmund of Savoy whom she had married should inherit Montferrat preferrably to the Daughters of the Family of the Paleologues who might only pretend to a Portion suitable to their Quality Charles Emanuel had other Pretensions to a part of Montferrat by Virtue of the Will of Blanche Paleologus married into the House of Savoy She made Duke Charles II. Heir of a part of Montferrat which she laid claim to and of what was besides due to her for her Jointure The Sum was but Fourscore Thousand Crowns but the Interest for a long time added to the Principal made it amount almost to a Million of Livres This occasioned a very long Sute between the Houses of Savoy and Gonzaga Instead of ending the Process by a Definitive Sentence the Emperor Charles V. made the Affair more perplex'd He to content both Parties awarded the Possession of Montferrat to the House of Mantua and left as they were the Pretensions of Savoy by Virtue of a Testamentary Donation of Blanche Paleologus The Marriage of the last deceased Duke Francis with Margaret of Savoy was at last concluded with design to put an end to all the Differences of both Houses In favour of this Alliance Charles Emanuel gave up all his Pretensions to his Daughter and the Children begotten of her if she should have any 'T was agreed likewise on both sides that a Line should be drawn to divide as equally as possible could be the two Princes Estates which ran into one another But this Division being made the Duke of Savoy was minded to renew his ancient Rights insomuch as he was not so ready to maintain the Pretensions of Mary his Grandchild for Montferrat as his own Cartifices of the Duke of Savoy As soon as he had heard of the Duke of Mantua's Death he sent two Persons whom he chiefly rely'd upon not so much to comfort his Daughter as to instruct her in what she was to do in this present Conjuncture The first counselled her to say she was with Child to hinder Cardinal Gonzaga who came in haste from Rome to put himself into Possession of the deceas'd Duke's Estate his Brother Margaret was extreamly fix'd on the Interest of her House and Charles Emanuel had taken care to breed up his Children upon an entire dependance on their Father so that the young Widow was easily brought over to counterfeit her self big with Child Victor Amedaeus Prince of Piedmont went in Person to Mantua under pretence of visiting his afflicted Sister but he had secret Orders from his Father to take her out of Mantua with her Daughter to Turin or Milan or lastly to Montferrat of which Place the Princess Mary was Heiress It is not convenient said Victor Amedaeus to the Court of Mantua for a disconsolate Widow to live in a Place where she constantly finds Objects to renew her Sorrow and Decency will no more permit her to be with the Cardinal her Brother-in-Law who is not much older than she and hath so great Interest for the Succession of Mantua He besides ought to wish it so for his own Reputation Would he make himself responsible for all the Accidents â—…hich might happen to the Mother or the Daughter My Sister continued he ought â—…lso to take along with her the young Prinâ—…ess she can't be in better Hands Natuâ—…al Right gives to Mothers the Education of â—…heir Children They can take more care of them and be more tender of them than any other Person The Cardinal Ferdinand understood very well that the Savoyards thought of nothing more than making sure to themselves Montferrat under the Name of the Pupil who was in their Hands or at least at the disposal of John Mendoza Marquess of Inojosa Governor of the Milanese their good Friend Therefore the Cardinal alledg'd several Reasons to hinder his Sister-in-Law and his Niece from going out of the States of Mantua Is it Reasonable answer'd Ferdinand that we should suffer the Princess to go away who perhaps may quickly bring an Heir capable to make this Country happy The Princes of the House of Gonzaga are ordinarily born where they are to Govern and is it not more convenient for my Niece to be brought up in a Country where we shall endeavour to make her some time a Sovereign Mistress by Marrying her to the Heir of the House of Mantua If the sight of my Deceased Brother's Palace troubles too much his Widow we have other places whither she may retire for her Pleasure with all imaginable Liberty Charles Emanuel Negotiated at Milan with as much Zeal and Artifice He persuaded that they would not consent to entrust with him the Heiress of Montferrat caused it to be reported at Inojosa that she was the King of Spain's Grandchild that his Catholick Majesty was interess't to get her out of her Uncles Hands by the Father side that they should before-hand beware of the Cardinal from whom she carried away with her the Succession of a rich Marquisate that Philip III. was to take so much the more care of the Princess Mary that it was of great concern to his Majesty that Montferrat should be in the possession of a House which might be the best agreeable to him Lastly that it was to be feared lest the Gonzagues should marry their Niece into France with the Son of the Duke of Nevers their near Relation The Governor of Milan demands the Widow Dutchess of Mantua and her Daughter These Reasons t' was said backt with some Presents which Charles Emanuel had sent to the Marquess Inojosa engaged this Governor to send the Prince d'Ascoli to Mantua with a great Retinue to demand of the Cardinal the Widow Dutchess and her Daughter Such a Proposal at first surprised him but recovering himself a little he found an Expedient which broke the Measures of the Prince of Piedmont and the Envoy of the Governor of Milan T' is true answer'd Ferdinand that the Princess Mary hath the Honour to be related to the King of Spain but she hath this likewise of being the Emperor's and Queen of France's Niece I can't disdispose of her without the consent of their Majesties Besides the Dutchess my Sister-in-Law and I are at difference about the Tutelage of her Children It belongs to the Emperor on whom our Estates depend to judge which of our two Rights are best grounded The Prince of Piedmont and d'Ascoli departed after this Answer whether it was that the respect they had for so greaâ—… a Name stopt their Mouths or that they had not taken necessary Measures for speaking more resolutely The Regent of France opposeth the designs of the Duke of Savoy The Marquess Trenel was at Turin iâ—… the behalf of Mary de Medicis when the News was receiv'd there of the Death oâ—… the Duke of Mantua Amongst the Complements of Condolence to Charles Emanuel upon this troublesom Accident which happen'd in his Family Trenel as from himself insinuated into the dissembling Savoyard
to work upon her â—…over and to obtain leave of him to â—…arry away the Princess Maria but tho â—…he Cardinal might have some inclinatiâ—…ns for Margarita yet his love was not so â—…olent as to overcome all those Reasons which engaged him not to part with his Niece The Prince of Piedmont seeing him resolute in this point thought fit to try another method which was this that the Dutchess Dowager should retire to Modena with her Daughter till the proposed Marriage should be Consummated but in case it should be broke off she should go alone to Turin and that Caesar de Este should be obliged by promise to send back the Princess Mary to Mantua if the Emperor or Cardinal Duke should re-demand her New efforts of the D. of Savoy to fetch the Princess Mary his Grandaughter from Mantua Ferdinand was caught in the Snare Whether it was that his Ministers were bribed or that he had not quickness of apprehension enough to receive it the Cardinal imprudently accepted the proposal which his Enemies made him When the Ministers of France had notice of it they admonisht Ferdinand that if his Niece should once go out of his hands 't would be impossible for him to get her again and that the Duke of Modena would be so confined by the artifices of Charles Emanuel and the Marquis d'Inojosa that he would not be able to restore her thô he should be willing to do it They added farther if you should marry any one but Margarita and it should please God you have any Children what perpetual disputes will there be between them and the Heiress of one part of the Estates of your Family Have you duly weighed all these inconveniencies This Remonstrance opened the Cardinal Dukes Eyes but he had given his Word and he could not tell how to go back The Ministers of France and the Venetians helpt him out by perswading the Duke of Modena not to charge himself with a Trust which was like to enâ—…angle him in a great deal of trouble and vexation So that the Prince of Piedmont set out for Turin with his Sister Margarita â—…he being very much grieved to leave her Daughter behind her They came to Milan in the holy Week The Governor â—…nvited them to spend those days of Devotion there But Victor Amadeus and â—…nojosa had something else to mind than Holy-days The latter sent immediately â—…o Modena to engage Este to charge himself with the Dutchess and Princess of Mantua which according to Agreement were to be committed to his Care And when they were sure of the Duke of Modena the Captain of the Governor's Guards was sent to Mantua in Inojosa's Name to desire the Cardinal Duke to be â—…s good as his Word Ferdinand who â—…id not expect thus to be importuned aâ—…resh had no other way to come off but â—…o retract what he had said He alâ—…edged for his excuse that he could not â—…eliver up his Niece without the consent of the Emperor who had committed her â—…o his Guardianship The Titular Bishop of Diocesarea was sent to Milan to make up the business with the Governor Ferdinand ordered this Prelate to go likewise as far as Verceil whither Charles Emanuel was advanced under a pretence of coming to meet his Daughter Margarita but really with a design to execute a Project which he had in his Head The ambitious Projects of the D. of Savoy The Bishop of Diocesarea had power to Negotiate the Marriage proposed between the Cardinal Duke and his Sister in Law The Dissembling Savoiard sometimes seemed to listen to this Expedient but he had no desire to bring the matter to a conclusion The opportunity which he had of seizing on Monferrat was too good to be neglected Charles Emanuel plainly told the Bishop of Diocesarea that he would not give up the pretensions of the House of Savoy to Monferrat in favour of the Match he demanded back again not only the Jewels which his daughter had carried into the Family of Gonzague but also those which her Husband had presented her with The Cardinal Duke refused to restore the latter and Charles Emanuel full of great expectations designed nothing but to satisfie his Ambition He pleased himself with the thoughtâ—… of having time to effect his Enterprize before the Princes of Italy would be awakened out of that Sleep which â—…long and profound Peace had brought upon them The watchful Eye which the Republick of Venice had upon every thing that was doing in their Neighbourhood gave him some Disturbance But he imagined that if they did not approve of his Invasion yet they would stand by and look on rather than engage in a War As for the Emperor he did not much concern himself about it The Authority of the Empire in Italy is but a vain Title without Power The two Crowns were more to be feared But the Duke thought Maria de Medicis having her hands full by reason of the Factions of the Princes and great Men at home could not send any mighty Assistance to the House of Mantua And then he hoped to curry favour at the Court of Madrid by means of the Governour of Milan his Friend Besides there were at that time no Troops in those parts and it would require time to bring them thither However he thought the fear of bringing the French into Italy would make the Court of Madrid backward to declare it self either one way or the other And this in the very thing which would have checkt Charles Emanuel if he had not been blinded by his Ambition For indeed his Catholick Majesty fearing nothing more than that the French should have any pretence to carry their Arms into Italy his business was to take care that the Duke of Savoy should not tacque the House of Mantua which France would not fail to take under its Protection The Duke of Savoy invades Monferrat Charles Emanuel assembles his Troops as secretly as he can and parts from Verceil the 22th of April 1613. to enter Monferrat with his Army He presently surprizes several places others being not prepared to make any Resistance Surrender so that within a few days he was Master of all the Province except Casal He had also took this important Town and the rest of the Marquisat if Charles of Gonzague Duke of Nevers in France had not happily been in Italy at the time of his Invasion whether it was upon the account of assisting the Cardinal Duke with his Advice and with his Sword if there should be occasion or whether he pretended to Negotiate at Rome and at Venice about an imaginary descent into the Morea which he had designed he undertook to Conduct to Florence his Sister in Law Daughter of the late Duke of Maienne married to the Count of Saintfiore Son of the Duke of Sforce When Nevers was arrived on the Coasts of Genoa he received Letters which invited him in the Name of the Nobility of Monferrat to come immediately to their
assistance to stop the progress of the Arms of the Duke of Savoy Nevers went away presently with some Soldiers which he got together and with the assistance of a good Guide he luckily entred Casal which the Cardinal Duke had made as strong as he could Vincent de Gonzague the Cardinal's Brother hasted towards that place at the same time and in his Passage thrô Milan he endeavoured to convince Inojosa of the secret designs of the Enemy of their Family who flattered himself that the Conquest of Monferrat would facilitate that of Milan one day which was a thing he had long ago contrived This Enterprize occasions great commotions in Italy All Italy was allarmed at the report of the March of Charles Emanuel 'T was not doubted but Inojosa was privy to his Designs tho' he took particular care openly to condemn the Dukes Enterprize And tho' the Governor inveighed against him sent Circular Letters to the Princes of Italy and writ to France declaring that the King his Master disapproved the Action of the Savoyard and that his Catholick Majesty would vigorously oppose all those that troubled the Repose of Italy All the World believed that Charles Emanuel and he understood one another and that he had received considerable Presents from him And 't is a question whether the Marquiss of Bedmar Ambassador of Spain at Venice was more sincere in the Protestations which he made to the Seigniory implying that Philip would willingly concur with them in securing the quiet of Italy that the Cardinal Duke should be re-established in his Possession of Monferrat and that Charles Emanuel should be punisht for his Temerity When the Duke of Savoy's designs were publickly known the Republick of Venice represented to him that they were surprized to see him begin a War which in all probability would draw Foreign Forces into Italy which must first pass through his Territories These prudent Senators said to him There are some Conquests which don 't deserve to be bought with the loss of that Quiet and Tranquility which a Prince enjoys Have a regard to your Glory and to your Interest You thus hazard the loss of the one and expose your Country to be the Theatre of a War the End of which perhaps you may not live to see France and Spain will Interest themselves at least they will make themselves Arbiters in the Case and you must submit to their Decision Instead of listening to these wise Admonitions Charles Emanuel ordered the Ambassador of the Republick to leave him but t was not long before the Ambitious Duke perceived he was engaged in an Enterprize which was not like to prove Honourable to him in the Issue The Venetians sent Three thousand Men for the preservation of Casal The great Duke of Tuscany promised Two thousand Foot and Two hundred Horse to the Cardinal Duke The House of Mantua levied Three thousand Switzers so that they hoped in a short time to be in a Condition to meet the Duke of Savoy with Sixteen or Seventeen thousand Men but things did not perfectly succeed according to his Expectation As for the Pope he only promised his good Offices in order to a Peace The Quality of Universal Father is of mighty use when he thinks fit rather to Enrich his Family than to Succour an injured Prince The Manifesto's of the D. of Savoy and the Cardinal D. of Mantua In the mean time they publisht Manifestoe's on both Sides The Duke of Savoy asserted that the Guardianship of the Princess Mary belonged to the Dutchess her Mother he insisted mightily on the Cardinal Dukes refusing to keep his word Mercure Francoise 1613 and the excuse that that Prince could not part with a Pupil which the Emperor had committed to his Tutelage was pretty well refuted as indeed it was not a very good one The Emperors Interposition in that affair was desired by him that so he might make use of it afterwards as there should be occasion And he had sufficiently explained himself as to that Point when he promised to deliver back his Niece into the hands of the Duke of Modena Charles Emanuel laid forth his Pretensions to Monferrat with as much boldness as if they had been the clearest and justest in the World This is the way of Ambitious Princes They imagine that the World is easily imposed on and that Men will believe them upon their Word As for the Cardinal Duke he replied in his Manifesto that the Dutchess his Sister-in-Law not being of Age the Law did not allow her to be Guardianess of her Daughter and that Mothers forfeit the Guardianship of their Children when they voluntarily withdraw from the Family and Dominions of their Husbands From whence he concluded that Margarita having earnestly desired to go to Turin had thereby renounced her Guardianship of the Princess of Mantua He endeavoured to make good the Emperor's committing her to his Care But the Promise which he made and broke afterwards was such a Slurr upon him that he could not possibly give it a good Colour His best way had been ingeniously to have confest his Imprudence such a false step costs a Prince Dear The superannuated and extravagant Pretensions to Monferrat are very well refuted He did not fail to put the Duke of Savoy in mind of the Grant which he had made upon the Marriage of his Daughter with the late Duke Francis of Mantua In which Point he had been guilty of a far more considerable Breach of his Word than that was which Charles Emanuel made such a noise about How could he have the Face to insist so much upon the retractation of a surprized Man who himself was the most Perfidious and falsest Prince of his time At this time he Acted a Thousand parts to justifie his Conduct to the World or at least to gain time in managing the two Crowns Artifices and bravado's of D. of Savoy Sometimes he proposed to set the Arms of the King of Spain over the Gates of all the Towns which he had taken in Monferrat and to put them into the hands of his Majesty on Condition there should be a Garrison of Savoyards Sometimes he offered to let Philip III. have Casal on Condition that the House of Savoy should remain in Possession of all the rest of Monferrat When he writ to the Queen Regent of France he did it in the most submissive manner imaginable he was ready to deliver up to her Majesty all that he had taken from the House of Mantua And when Charles Emanuel perceived that his pretended Submissions did him no kindness he put on another Shape he Hectored and Threatned all the World Just as if all Europe had been at his Disposal If the Spaniards required him to desist from his Enterprize he answered them haughtily that he would side with France If the Pope urged him to make Peace he talkt of calling to his assistance an Army of Protestants into Italy And if the Republick of Venice pretended
Secretary Vargas to Milan to declare plainly to Charles Emanuel that if he would not consent to restore the Towns he had taken in Monferrat that Philip. would force him to it Besides that the Duke of Lerma hated the Duke of Savoy this Minister did not care for War whether it were that he thought Peace more proper for the Conservation of his Authority or whether he was willing to conform himself to the calm and pacifique temper of his Prince So that Charles Emanuel is in worse confusion than ever He had pretended to listen to some proposals of accommodation Siri Memoire recondite To. III. p. 81 82. c. Nani Historia Veneta 1613. which Massimi the Popes Nuncio had made him in the Name of the Pope Victor Amedeus Prince of Piedmont was also gone to Milan to Negociate that Affair But his Father always found some occasion when the matter was near being concluded And even at that very time when the Duke appeared inclined to Peace He endeavoured to carry on his Conquests in Monferrat Althô France and Spain then threatned him equally and the Princes of Italy had almost all declared against him yet he was not daunted but steddily resolved to make a new Effort to lay the Storm which roared on both Sides of him He sent out of hand the Prince of Piedmont to Madrid to represent his Rights to the Catholick King and he engaged his Brother the Duke of Nemours to make a Journey into France to bring over the Queen Regent if he could or at least to oppose the Duke of Maienne who made a powerful Interest in favour of the House of Mantua But they had less Respect for him in Spain than they had in France when Victor Amadeus arrived in Catalonia the King let him know that he forbid him to pass any farther till he should receive news of his Father's submission to his Majesty's last Orders The Emperor Commands the D. of Savoy to desist from his Enterprize upon Monserrat Siri Memoire recondite To. III. p. 84.85 c. According to the Project of Accommodation proposed by the Pope's Minister the Duke of Savoy was to deliver up to his Holiness the Places which he had Possession of in Monferrat At this the Court of Vienna took offence And indeed the Marquisat being a Fief of the Empire It belonged to the Emperor to decide the Controversie and to be the Sequester preferably to all others Matthias therefore sent Orders to the Prince of Castiglione his Commissary in Italy to go to Turin and tell Charles Emanuel that he should immediately raise the Siege he had laid before Nice de la Paille a Town of Monferrat and consent to the suspension of Arms which his Imperial Majesty had ordered on both Sides upon pain of forfeiting the Emperor's Protection and that he must with all speed lay down his Arms to dissipate the Jealousies which his Enterprize had given him But as the Emperor pretended to be the sole Judge of a Controversie concerning a Fief of the Empire so the King of Spain he too would be the Arbiter without the concurrence either of the Empire or of France All these incidents pleased Charles Emanuel What with Criticizing on some of the Articles that were proposed to him and expecting till the Competition should be decided he had time to push on his Conquests in Monferrat The Prince of Castiglione tired with the delays of the Duke of Savoy publisht a Proclamation in the Name of the Emperor where he enjoined Charles Emanuel to deliver up to his Imperial Majesty's Commissary all that he had taken in Monferrat to send within Ten days a Deputy who should Treat the Prince of Castiglione being present with him whom the Duke of Mantua should send about means to determine the Controversie to the satisfaction of those who were concerned in it And that the Affair must be finisht within a Month after they should meet on one Side and on the other But was it prudent to use a precise and absolute way of speaking before he had sufficient Forces in Italy to Command Obedience if either of the Two Sides should resist This was to expose the Authority of the Emperor too rashly The Dukes of Savoy and Mantua had no other regard for him but as his great Name might sometimes do them a kindness The Princes of Italy Feudatories of the Empire are willing to withdraw themselves as much as possible from any Authority which incommodes them as weak as it is The King of Spain himself undermines it slily upon this occasion His Catholick Majesty will have no other Arbiter in a Country where he is most powerful The Governour of Milan acts more effectually than the Imperial Commissary The Governour of Milan compels the D. of Savoy to submit to the K. of Spain Nani Historia Veneta Lib. 1.1613 Inojosa being perswaded that his Master was resolved to bring this Affair to a Conclusion without the interposition of France sends the Prince of Ascoli at the Head of Five thousand Men which joined Three thousand more of the Troops of Mantua Commanded by Prince Don Vincent the Cordinal Dukes Brother This Army advances towards Nice near to which that of Charles Emanuel lay the Savoiards did not then doubt Mercure Francois 1613. but that the Governour was firmly resolved punctually to execute the Orders of his Catholick Majesty There being no other way left but that of putting a good face upon it the General of the Dukes Army sent word to the Prince of Ascoli that the Duke his Master entred into Monferrat not imagining that King Philip would have espoused the Cause of the House of Mantua against a Prince which had the Honour to be his Majesties Brother in Law Since it is so added the Envoy the Troops of the Duke my Master are ready to retire I will only say that 't is not the fear of the Arms of Mantua but the Respect which his Highness has for the King of Spain that inclines him to this Resolution He will never Employ his Forces in any thing that shall displease his Catholick Majesty The Prince of Ascoli answered that he had Orders to Relieve the Town of Nice and to take Care that the Army of the Duke of Savoy leave Monferrat He added If the General will lead off his Army no body will pursue it but if he is resolved to stay we 'l presently be with him After so many cunning Tricks and Contrivances the Duke of Savoy was entaged to see himself once more the Jest of all Europe and to have spent a great deal of Money in Projects that were defeated in a Moment Before he would quite give up he had a mind to try Inojosa whose friendship he had always reckoned upon He proposed to him that he would blindly devote himself to the King of Spain in opposition to all the World on Condition he would leave him in Possession of what he had taken Offers so Honourable so
Advantageous to the King of Spain in appearance were despised The Duke was reduced at last humbly to desire that till the entire decision of the Controversie he might have one Place left him in token of his pretensions to Monferrat They would not enter into any Treaty with this good Prince but sent him Padilla a General of the Artillery one of the most morose Men in Spain who at first word told his Highness in Terms very concise and with an Air of severity that he must even restore all To compleat his mortification Padilla produced a Letter of the King of Spain's Short but Expressive which obliged the Duke to comply with whatsoever the Marquiss of Inojosa should prescribe to him Nothing so much mortifies an haughty and valiant Prince as to be treated like a Subject by one that is more powerful than himself But what shall say Poor Emanuel abondoned of all the Word was forced to receive the most rigid Terms Instead of giving a Positive answer to grave Padilla he sent of his Ministers to Milan with such proposals as tended to lengthen out the business and delay his Resolution Inojosa rejected them with Indignation and sent word to Charles Emanuel that if he did not presently Restore all that he had Usurpt the Prince of Ascoli should lay Siege to one of those Places which were Re-demanded that the Governor of Milan should come himself upon the Spot and hang up every one that dared to Resist him The Duke knowing no means to prevent it offered to Surrender and Resign all that he was in Possession of in Monferrat I can't tell but still he might have some little hopes of gaining time by reason of a Quarrel that arose between Inojosa and Castiglione Each pretended that the Places were to be delivered up into the hands of his Master But Castiglione who had only the Name and Authority of the Emperor to back him soon complied with the other who had the Power in his hands The Imperial Commissary only received one Town for Form sake and the Spaniards took Possession of the rest Never was there an Agreement sooner Concluded than this thô the Duke of Savoy made a great many Difficulties before he would be brought to it This was the last Artifice of a Prince who had a mind to have in Reserve a pretence to Break when he should see it Convenient A Treaty made with precipitation is never well fixt Ther 's always some room for Evasion left for one that has no mind to be honest A dispute between the D. of Nevers and the Governor of Milan Before the conclusion of this Agreement the Duke of Nevers who as we said was come thither for the Relief of Monferrat had some words with the Governour of Milan Nevers had joined Prince Vincentius of Mantua with an Hundred or Six score French Gentlemen Mercure Francoise 1613. These observing the steps of the Spaniards grumbled that the Prince of Ascoli had not the pleasure of an opportunity to Bang the Savoiard Army The Marquiss of Inojosa being angry that his Collusion with Charles Emanuel was discovered declared openly that he would not suffer the French to have any Soldiers in Italy nor that any should come into the Country of Milan that he would give no civil reception to any that should pass thrô that Province and if the Two thousand Men which the Chevalier de Guise was to bring with him into Italy should come thither he would cut them in pieces This Spaniard was so offended at the coming of the French that he Commanded the Gallys of Naples of Sicily and Genoa unitedly to oppose those Vessels which brought Aids from Provence and to hinder the French Troops from Landing in the Coasts of Italy Inojosa after all endeavoured to make the Cardinal Duke Jealous by giving it out that Nevers had a greater design to make himself Master of Monferrat than to assist the House of Mantua The Duke affronted with the arrogance and moroseness of the Governour told him that 't was too much in all reason for a Man of Inojosa's Quality to march with so great a Train but that the Duke Nevers of the Family of Gonzagua might be allow'd to have an Hundred or Sixscore Men at his Heels He added excepting four or five Friends that are come to me all the rest belong to me If the Marquiss d'Inojosa offers to abuse any of them I know the Reason As for his threatning to cut in pieces the Troops which may come from France to assist the House of Mantua 't is not to be rhought that his Catholick Majesty approves such Language There 's no body in the World can hinder the most Christian King from Assisting his Kinsman and Ally or opposing the unjust Designs of the Duke of Savoy He would also raise a suspition concerning me but I am not afraid that the vain talk of the Marquiss d'Inojosa should make the least impression My Interest is so much one with that of the House of Mantua Monsieur the Governour confirms himself the just suspicions we have of his Conduct We know his Aversion to the Cardinal Duke and we are not ignorant of the Reasons which he has to favour the Duke of Savoy agrinst the Pretentions of his Catholick Majesty Thus it was that the Duke of Nevers supported the Honour of France better than the Regent of the Kingdom And not listening to the wise Remonstrances of the Senate of Venice who prest her to bring Troops into Piedmont and other Places she suffered the Court of Madrid to have all the Honour of this Affair being ready to reap advantage from it as there should be opportunity Whilst the greatest part of Europe was in some Commotion The Marriage of the Elector Palatine with the K. of England's Daughter Larrey Hist d' Angliterr Tom. II. 1612.1613 on the account of the death of Francis Duke of Mantua James King of Great Britain who did not much concern himself with the Affairs of Italy lived peceably in his own Island he was Entertaining himself with Diversions and giving the People afflicted for the death of the Prince of Wales a Thousand spectacles Some said that the Father had a mind insensibly to efface the Memory of his Son which a little before charmed all England Instead of taking pains to discover the secret of the hasty death of his Son the King heaped new favours upon his unworthy Favourite who was thought by some to be the Author of it Robert Carr Viscount of Rochester was made Earl of Sommerset a very high Title which was not wont to be bestowed but upon the Princes of the Blood of England or at least to the near Kindred of the King by the Mother's Side This Favourite married afterwards Frances Howard Countess of Essex famous for her Crimes and Exploits Should I make a rash judgment if I should say that the good King lookt upon himself as a Man happily raised from the dead after the
death of his Son whose Court having for some time been fuller than his made him Jealous This was clear enough from a word that fell from him What will they bury me alive An expression which the World reflected on when the Prince of Wales came to die a little while after The occasion of so many Diversions and Festival Solemnities in England was the Marriage of the Princes Elizabeth the Kings Daughter with Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine This Alliance pleased the English extreamly and all the Protestants Mercure Francois 1613. The House of Austria took a great deal of pains to Traverse it And the Queen whom the Court of Madrid had took Care to make their Friend did her best to dissuade the King from it But he concluded it notwithstanding the Intrigues of the Spanish Faction James conferred the Honour of the Order of the Garter upon the Elector before the Solemnity of the Wedding The Illustrious Prince Maurice of Orange was Received into the same Noble and Ancient Society at the same time with his Nephew The Chapter of the Order was Convened at Windsor Castle the 14th of February this Year The Ceremony was performed with all the Solemnity imaginable The Elector Palatine who was himself in England to Negotiate his Marriage Received the Order in Person and Maurice being absent Received it by Count William of Nassau his Proxy Ten days after Frederick was publickly Married to the Princess Elizabeth Before and after their Wedding day the King Entertained the People with Plays and magnificent Spectacles Holland also was well pleased and joyful for a great while Prince Maurice Received in the Presence of the States General of the United Provinces the Garter which the Herald of the Order had brought thither and there was nothing omitted which might contribute to the Glory of the Ceremony The wise Barnavelt Pensionary of the Province of Holland Returned thanks in the Name of the States General to the English Ambassador who had presented the Garter in the Name of the King his Master to Prince Maurice The New Electoress having past from England into Holland in the Month of May following to go to Heydelberg she was Received almost in every City of the Province and particularly at Amsterdam with a Magnificence answerable to their Wealth and the Memory which they retained of the great assistances which their Infant-Republick had received formerly from the Crown of England The Protestants were in hopes that the Marriage of the Elector Palatine with the Princess of Great Britain would be very advantageous to their Religion But there was yet one thing which they wisht for And that was that King James would abondon his Design of Marrying his Heir to a Princess of the Popish Communion A Marriage talkt of between Charles Pr. of Wales Christiana of France But althô his Majesty did not stick publickly to say that the Pope was Antichrist yet he never had a sincere and fervent Zeal for the Establishment of the Reformation As soon as Prince Henry was in his Grave James proposed the Marriage of Charles his Second Son now Prince of Wales with Christina Siri Memoire recondite To. III. p. 44.45 c. Second Daughter of France The Regent frankly received the Memoires which the Ambassador of England delivered touching this Affair to Villeroy Secretary of State She hoped that the Protestants of France and elsewhere allarmed with the double Marriage concluded with Spain would be calmed when they saw that nevertheless the Crown of France was not set at such a distance from an Alliance with Protestants but that it still designed a strict Union with them in giving the younger Sister of the King to the Heir of the most powerful Prince of their Communion Althô the Conduct of Maria de Medicis in this Negociation was full of Artifice and Dissimulation the Court of Rome was Jealous and the Pope used all his Power to dissuade the Regent from listening to the offers of his Brittannick Majesty The Pope plainly told Breves the King 's Ambassador that he took it ill that there should be any design of mingling the Blood Royal oâ—… France with that of an Heretick Princeâ—… Breves took the liberty to represent to the Pope that the welfare of the Kingdom and of Religion it self required that the Proposals of the King of England should not be rejected The Old Man being devoted to Spain did not regard him He insisted to conjure the Regent not to enter into a Negociation so disadvantageous to the Church which is really as much as to say so little conducible to the Interests of the Court of Rome The Nuncio Vbaldini very much bestirred himself in France Ibid. p. 50.51 c. he tired the Queen with his Remonstrances he exhausted himself in finding out the most pressing motives of Piety and Religion at length he heated the Cabals of Devotees which are always numerous and powerful in an ignorant and superstitious Court. Said this Italian Prelate to the Queen Is it possible Madam that your Majesty should be so little sensible of the particular kindness of God to you 'T is to distrust his Providence to have recourse to the Alliance of Hereticks as a thing necessary for the Repose and Conservation of the Dominions of the King your Son Your Ministers think it convenient that you should hear the Proposals of an Heretick Prince Your Majesty agrees with them but that is not sufficient to clear you before God and all those who detest this sort of Politicks You should rather listen to the Voice of your Conscience and the good Advice of the Pope than the vain speculations of a Council that govern themselves by the maxims of the wisdom of the Children of this World rather than by those of Religion This Prelate advanced at that time a Principle of his particular Gospel which deserves to be related He declares that these pretended good People whom he would make the Queen afraid of entertain this piece of corrupted Morality that the Princes of their Communion are not obliged to observe Treaties made with those whom they are pleased to call Hereticks if the Terms appear to them to be never so little contrary to their Religion that is to the Court of Rome This Nuncio said moreover It is true Madam that promises made against the interest of God don't in any wise oblige and that we ought not to keep them But consider that your Majesty will hereafter find it more difficult to break your promise with the King of England than it is now to reject his Proposals Your Affairs are thanks be to God in a better Posture than they have been since the death of the King your Husband The Kingdom is in a peaceful State without the assistance of such an Alliance The time of your Administration will shortly Expire What a comfort will it be to you to deliver up to the King your Son France in a better Condition than you
to their Ambassadors at Rome Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 133 134 137. Vienna and at Paris to Treat zealously with the Pope the Emperor and the Queen of France in Ferdinand's favour The Ministers of the most Christian King and the Republick of Venice represented to Paul V. that his Title of universal Father indispensably obliged him to prevent the ill Consequences of the Enterprize of the Spaniard but the Pope was unconcerned and acted not in this matter being resolv'd peaceably to enjoy all the rest of his days the advantages of the Popedom he would have seen all the Princes of Italy Ruin'd without any Concern so that they let him alone and suffered his Nephews to grow Rich at their ease Breves Ambassador of France affronted at this natural or affected Negligence writ to Mary de Medicis that the Pope was but a lump of Flesh which grew Fat in Laziness a Man without Courage and without Experience who took no other Care but of making his advantage of the highest Place in the Church which Fortune had given him thô he did not see Merit in himself to pretend to it So that there were not hopes that his Holiness would give the least assistance to the House of Mantua All that Paul V. could do was to whisper in the Ear of the Cardinal Duke that he should obstinately refuse to part with his Niece and to Marry Margarite his Sister-in-Law to which the King of Spain perswaded him so much afraid was this timerous Old Man to offend the Court of Madrid Might it not be thus also that the Pope being well informed of the peaceable Temper of Philip III. and of the Weakness of the Spanish Monarchy did rightly Judge that all this Bustle was but an Intrigue of the Catholick King 's Ministers and that when their Master should see himself â—…hreatned with a War with France â—…e would put a stop to the forwardness of his Ministers and hear Reasons As to the Emperor there was less to be hop'd for from him than from the Pope Mary de Medicis perplext about the Affairs of Mantua-Siri Memo. recondite Matthias neither was in a Condition nor in an Humour to send Troops to Italy and besides he was afraid too openly to offend the Court of Madrid His Imperial Majesty confirm'd to the Cardinal Duke the Guardianship of his Neice But he writ immediately to King Philip to excuse himself and tell him that he could not fairly refuse that favour to Ferdinand And to satisfie the Spaniards yet more Matthias advised Ferdinand to deliver up the Princess Mary into the hands of his Catholick Majesty The House of Mantua had no other Refuge but the Protection of France The Kindred and Friends which it had there Solicited for it with all its might The Ambassadors of the Republick of Venice and of some other States did still Treat in its favour Mary aâ—… Medicis was well pleased with the Reasons which they alledged to her to exhort her to take her Nephews under the Protection of her Son Interest of Blood was united together with Reasons of State But the Timerous Regent could not come to a Resolution Being fond of the double Marriage with Spain which she had managed with a great deal of application and which she lookt upon as the strongest support of his Authority her Majesty was afraid least the Affairs of Mantua should produce a Rupture between the two Crowns and all her Projects should be unravel'd She suspected the Importunities of the King of Great-Brittain Ibid. p. 174. the Republick of Venice the States of the United Provinces the Prince of Conde and the great Men of the Party us'd with her to send Troops into Italy Her skill went so far as to discover that all these endeavoured only to Engage France openly to oppose the Designs of the Court of Madrid to declare War against the King of Spain and consequently to break the Treaty of the double Marriage which did not so well suit with their Interests In this perplexity Mary de Medicis did her endeavour at the Court of Madrid that the Affair of Mantua might be soon amicably Concluded But the Spaniards which knew her Temper did amuse her with fine Words whilst they heartily endeavoured to effect their Enterprise not being concern'd about the Negociations against their Master in France and Italy Nani Historia Veneta Lib. 1.1613 the Ministers of Philip declared plainly that he expected that he should have the Princess of Mantua committed to his Care and that the Cardinal Duke should Marry Margarita of Savoy his Sister-in-Law in order to compose the differences of the two Houses That Charles Emanuel and Ferdinand should immediately lay down their Arms and that the other contested Points should be referr'd to the Judgment of the Pope the Emperor and his Catholick Majesty 1615. These Conditions were agreeable to the Demands which Charles Emanuel had made And hence it appeared that the Prince of Piedmont who had at last obtained leave to go to Madrid had not ill managed the Affairs of his Father In the mean time the Duke of Savoy was enraged to find himself always curb'd and over-rul'd But Ferdinand was more agriev'd than he They were not content to take away his Niece but would also force him to Marry against his Will his Sister-in-Law whom he did not Love The hatred which he bore to Charles Emanuel very much Estranged him from the Daughter of a declared Enemy of the House of Gonzague He lik'd better the Sister of Cosmo Great Duke of Tuscany she would be a considerable Fortune The Venetians his particular Friends advis'd him this Match And Cosmo was inclin'd to Conclude it as soon as the Quarrel between the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua should be made up It is proposed in the Council of France to send Troops to Italy The Spaniards spoiled their Business by speaking too proudly It was earnestly represented to the Queen Regent that it was a Shame and a Dishonour to suffer the King of Spain to Domineer over Princes Allied to that Crown and that he should endeavour to hinder the King of France from concerning himself about the most important Affairs of Italy Mary de Medicis hard put to it on every Side began to give some signs of Life She declared roundly to the Ambassador of Spain that the King her Son should not see the House of Mantua Opprest Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 141 142. c. and that he should employ his Arms to assist his Kindred and Allies They talkt of nothing in France but a Rupture between the Two Crowns And the Nobles who breath'd nothing but War althô it be the Instrument of their Ruin and by consequence of their Slavery were in readiness to get a Horsback They held a great many Councils at Court about the Affair of Mantua every one advis'd according to their own particular Interest Villeroy and the Ministers who were best pleas'd with
I should not have found fault with these grave Magistrates for not relying much upon a young Prince whose little Genius and low Conduct gave them no great hopes but what shall we say of People that pretend to be the Guardians of Kings Here we see they dare not open a Letter written by a first Prince of the Blood to complain of the ill Administration of Affairs during a Minority Our Fathers were then Born to Slavery and we have gone on in the Paths they chalkt out to us Reflections upon Cardinal Perron's answer to the Prince of Conde None of the Parlements had the Courage to Answer the Prince several Officers of the Crown sent their Letters to Court unopened some few Printed Answers I find that of Cardinal Perron seems to me to deserve some Reflection This flattering and mercenary Pen did not dare to deny that there was a great many disorders to be regulated in the Government under the Minority of Lewis XIII Mercure Francois 1614. They have been pleased to multiply them since his Minority and during the long Reign of his Son How great a Reformation is necessary now and who at this time dares to Demand it One of the Ancients said the Cardinal hath wisely said that there is no Prince so bad but that he is better than a Civil War And thus we may say of the Government of Kingdoms that there is no Administration let it be what it will but it is better than Civil Discord Whether the Author who laid down this Maxim be a Greek or Latin one it is all one to us if we take it in its utmost Extent it tends only to Establish Tyranny in the World Would it be better to endure all the extravagancies and Bloody cruelties of a Caligula and Nero than to take Arms to Resist such abominable Monsters If any say that these two never had their like I will grant it But they that follow too near the Politicks of Philip II. of Spain and Charles IX of France will find some there like them Is it not lawful to defend one's Life and Liberty against such Tyrants I confess t is often better to bear the inconvenience of a bad Prince to a certain degree than to raise a Civil War A good Prince is a great Rarity The World would never be in Peace if it were lawful to take Arms as soon as a Prince ceases in all Instances perfectly to do his Duty But that a King who loads his Subjects with heavy Taxes to Indulge a boundless Luxury and Ambition who Sacrifices without Remorse the lives of a million of Men to his Vast and Unrighteous designs who Ruins at pleasure the Nobles of his Country who overthrow's the Priviledges of Princes and Great Noble-Men who Orders that his Edicts how contrary soever to the publick Good shall be Registred before there can be any Remonstrances made who shuts up the mouths of Parliaments who Banishes and Imprisons without any legal Process those who testifie their dislike of his Usurpations upon his Subjects and his Neighbours who abolishes without all Reason the most sacred and inviolable Laws who thinks it meritorious to make a million of Men miserable because they won't renounce a Religion which I may say they have had the liberty to be Born and Bred up in who does his utmost to enslave a Nation which has been always Free that such a Prince as I describe is better than a Civil War undertaken and carried on with wisdom and discretion so that one might hope for some redress of those miseries which would be but increased by patiently enduring of them this is the thing the Cardinal du Perron will never persuade Men of Sense to believe with all his Skill and Rhetorick Answer of Mary de Medicis to the Prince of Conde Mercure Francoise 1614. Mary de Medicis returned a large Answer to the Prince de Conde in Form likewise of a Manifesto to clear her self from his Imputations and to shew the irregularity of his Conduct who accus'd her If her Majesty does not make the best Defence with respect to some Articles yet with respect to others she gives good Answers enough The greatest number of those Disorders which the Prince Complains of began before the Regency The Avarice of Conde himself and of the Lords put her under a necessity of wasting the Treasure which had been heap'd up by the late King They increased the number of Malecontents form'd Cabals threatned to Rise So that she was obliged continually to give them Money to appease some to retain others To what purpose did the Prince begin to Complain now in the Fourth Year of a Regence which was now expiring Had he not done much better to have employed that Reputation and Authority which the Quality of first Prince of the Blood gave him in endeavouring to Establish a good Council and to regulate the Administration of Affairs But instead of applying himself to that which was of absolute necessity he spent his time in Intrigues to remove one or prefer another His irresolution and mildness of Temper made him a Cully to all the Factions that were on Foot at Court during the Minority of Lewis the XIII Nevertheless Mary de Medicis fearing lest the Prince should strengthen his Party by reason of the general Discontent of Men of all Ranks through the Kingdom Judged that the surest way to allay the begun Heats and Animosities was to promise in her Answer to the Prince of Conde an Assembly of the States of the Kingdom in order to redress every thing which they Complained of This experiment succeeded well The Faction of the Prince was weakned and her Majesty took Care that the Assembly of the States should not entirely answer their Expecttations But she did not so far rely on the way of Negociation resolv'd on in Council nor upon the assurances of the Mareschal de Bovillon that she had no thoughts of having an Army ready to Fight the Prince of Conde Mary de Medicis raises Six thousand Swisses in case they refused the advantageous accommodation which was proposed to them by the President of Thou whom the Queen sent for that purpose into Champagne This Magistrate whose integrity and ability the Princes and great Lords had a Respect for had a Conference with them at Soisson in which he endeavoured to adjust the matters in dispute between them and the Queen To secure herself against the Fears of the Malecontents it was resolv'd to send away the Colonel Galatis into Switzerland to raise Six thousand Men of his own Nation But the Duke of Rohan who was made Colonel General of the Swisses by the late K. was suspected by the Queen She did not dare to trust him with a Body of Troops in which the chief strength of the King's Army was to consist Mary de Medicis she thought convenient to make another Colonel General of the Swisses in the Room of the Duke of Rohan and to give him
Consequences of the great Power the Court of Madrid usurpt to themselves Entreated the Senate to reflect seriously upon all the Steps his Catholick Majesties Ministers had proceeded At last this long Harangue tended to Declare that Charles Emmanuel who gloried to be the Eldest Son of the Republick threw himself into the Arms of the Senate a Protector of Oppressed Princes whom his Highness did earnestly Entreat to assist him with their Advices and stand by him as a Father As the Venetians had some cause to Complain of the Duke's Irruption into Montferrat spight of their Remonstrances so his Envoy had Orders to appease 'em by offering to make them Arbitrators of the Duke's Difference with the House of Mantua The Venetian Writers Embellish with all the Art they are able these Actions in their History One would say that they were going to Insinuate into us that Sovereigns have the same Respect for their Senate the same Honour which mighty Kings had heretofore for the Senate of Old Rome I grant to the Senate of Venice all that is their due but I find them far beneath the Senate of Rome after she had extended her Dominions into Africa Spain Greece and Asia The Romans besides Scofft at those Kings who basely Crept to them And I don't know if the Quality of being Eldest Son of St. Mark which Charles Emmanuel took upon him be not as unworthy of the Duke of Savoy as to be a free Citizen of Rome is unworthy of a Sovereign Possest of a fair Kingdom A Prince who intends to make himself distinguisht thrô all Europe by upholding so bravely his Dignity against the King of Spain does it become him to Creep after this manner to the Nobles of Venice whose Original is not very Illustrious nor their Independence so Ancient The Ambassador whom the King of Spain had at that time at Venice will know at some time or other how to prove this to them He was the famous Marquiss of Bedmar whose Name will be odious to the Venetians for more than one reason When this Minister as jealous as any other would be of the Glory of his Prince had understood what Piscina had said to the Senate from the Duke of Savoy he Demanded to be heard in his Turn The Spaniard spoke briskly of Philip's good Intentions for the Conservation of the repose of Italy of the Money he had disburst and of the pains he had taken every day to this purpose The King my Master said Bedmar was in the right to make use of the most efficacious and rigorous means he could for bringing the Duke of Savoy to the reasonable Conditions which have been so often offered him The fear which his Majesty hath of creating too great a Jealousie in the Princes of Italy hath been the only means of keeping him back in this Occasion We have had all the Patience imaginable All Expedients have been set on Foot that were judged the most proper to end the difference that hath lasted so long a time betwixt the Houses of Savoy and Mantua If the sweet Temper and Clemency of my Master are of no other Service than to render the Duke of Savoy more Proud and Daring can any one think it strange that his Majesty should threaten him to use at this time the Power God hath put into his Hands and that he should Protect with the force of his Arms the Duke of Mantua who is Attackt with great Injustice The Proceedings of the Duke of Savoy are sufficiently known in the World and now he sees himself brought to that pass as that he must be contented with the equitable Conditions granted him and break up his Troops which his Restlesness and Ambition had rais'd to his vast Expences he laies Intrigues endeavours to Surprise unawares the Princes of Italy with a design to stave off the Composition offered him and avoid the shame of disarming after so great a Bustle The Senate hath insight and pries narrowly into Affairs They know from a long Experience the Humour and Dissimulation of the Duke of Savoy And this is sufficient to prevent their being blinded by the Artificial Discourse of his New Envoy Thô the Venetians were more favourable to Charles Emmanuel than to the King of Spain's Ministers the Senate avoided the making of any Engagement with the Duke of Savoy They excused themselves from medling with the Affair of Montferrat and the reciprocal Pretensions of the Houses of Savoy and Mantua the Arbitration of these things being referred to the Emperor and King of Spain His Highness was Exhorted to make an Agreement with the Cardinal Duke to give Some satisfaction to the Catholick King to yield to the strongest as far as the Quality of a Sovereign Prince would permit him At length the Senate endeavoured to comfort him with their promise of doing him all the good Turns they could upon this Occurrency and not to suffer him to be Opprest The Spaniards took it ill that Savoy's Envoy had so favourable an Audience at Venice The Governor of Milan who had conceived Anger against the Republick loudly Complained of it Mistrust encreased on both Sides insomuch as the Senate ordered New Levies and kept themselves on their Guard in Case there should happen an open Rupture betwixt Spain and Savoy The Venetians however affected to shew outwardly a perfect Neutrality They discours'd like common Friends who strive rather to be Mediators than embrace one Party before another Yet what ever care they took to hide and dissemble their true Sentiments the Court of Spain would not trust them 'T was well enough perceived that they would never suffer the Duke of Lerma to bring about his Designs which he had contriv'd for the Duke of Savoy's Ruine and to put the Princes of Italy into an entire dependance on the Catholick King 's will The Spaniards Jealousies and Suspicions were hereupon more awaken'd Charles Emmanuel had sent his Chief Minister's Son to Venice in Quality of Ordinary Ambassador and the Senate nominated Renier Zeno to be Resident with the Duke of Savoy whilst his Highness openly maintains a War against Spain The Marquiss of Rambovillet is nominated Ambassador Extraordinary from France into Italy Charles Emmanuel relied upon the Officers and French Soldiers who would never fail to Run into his Service as soon as the Governor of Milan should make a shew of being willing to attack Piedmont His Highness kept a strickt Correspondence with the Mareschal Lesdiguieres who was Governor in Dauphiny and the Spaniards did not question but this Old Friend of the Duke of Savoy Siri Memo. Recondite Tom. III. p. 263. 264. would willingly give him Succours These Considerations Engaged Inigo de Cardenas the Spanish Ambassador in France to go for Nantes where the Regent was at that time He had received Orders to Complain to her Majesty of the Duke of Savoy's obstinacy and to secure France Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Medicis in case the Catholick King
should find himself in a necessity to protect with open Force the Cardinal Duke of Mantua and punish the Pride and Rashness of Charles Emmanuel The Affair having been debated in the Queen's Council the necessity of an Accommodation of the Difference as soon as possible was throughly perceived the Consequences of which might go a great way farther This was not so much a Contest between the Houses of Savoy and Mantua There was behind-hand a fear lest the Spaniards should Invade Piedmont The Marquiss de Rambovillet was nominated her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary into Italy for to go and Negotiate an Accord joint with Julius Savelli the Pope's Nuncio Extraordinary France and Spain had sollicited Paul V. to interpose his Authority with the Duke of Savoy but the good Man did not care to meddle with Savoy's Affairs Charles Emmanuel profest he had no great regard of his Holiness and the Pope said Historie de Connestable de Lesdiguieres Liv. VIII Chap. 7. he did not care to Treat with a Prince whose Word he could not trust to The Instance of Spain came in Season to hinder the Duke of Savoy from taking any Officers and French Soldiers into his Service The Mareschal de Lesdiguieres sent to ask of her Majesty leave to raise in Dauphiny Two thousand Foot and some Horse for the Duke of Savoy The Regent would not grant this she forbids likewise all the French to go into Charles Emmanuel's Service In spight of all these positive and severe Orders of the Queen Lesdiguieres found out a way to pass some Thousands into Piedmont who wonderfully reinforc'd Savoy's Army Open War betwixt Spain and Savoy Charles Emmanuel was constant in his Resolution not to Disband his Troops unless the Governor of Milan would do the same likewise or give assurances that he would do it as soon as the Duke of Savoy had first began this in Honour to his Royal Majesty Inojosa would not flinch back a jot from his Pretensions that the King his Master had Right to give the word of Command Nani Historia Veneta Lib. I. 1614. and that it did not belong to a Duke of Savoy to Treat with the Crown of Spain as an Equal does with an Equal or a Sovereign with a Sovereign Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 226 227. c. There was then a necessity of coming to an open War The Spanish Ambassador at Turin having greatly reproach't Charles Emmanuel told him down right that his Catholick Majesty provok'd through so long a Resistance was going at last to do himself Justice Charles listn'd to this without being mov'd at it but plucking the Collar of the Golden-fleece from off his Neck Mercure Francoise 1614. which had been heretofore presented him returned it disdainfully to the Ambassador saying God forbid that I should ever wear the Order of a Prince who intends to deal with me as if I were his Subject The Governor of Milan had his Troops in readiness to march and he further expected a reinforcement which was to come to him from Naples and Sicily And now see Inojosa advanc'd near to Verceil with the thoughts that the Duke would humbly submit himself as soon as the Spanish Army should enter his Country 'T was believ'd this was not done without some Design that the King of Spain had ordered Prince Philibert Son of Charles Emmanuel whom his Catholick Majesty had made General of his Forces at Sea should Conduct himself to Genua the Troops designed against Savoy Was not this to insult over the Duke by making him see that his Son carried if I may so say to the Governor of Milan Rods wherewith Philip or rather the Duke of Lerma intended to whip a poor Prince who dared to resist a Potent King These Bravades did not at all astonish Charles Emmanuel He on his Side entered into the Milanese Country where his Troops did more harm than the Spanish had done in his His Highness got both Glory and Reputation For at last the Marquiss Inojosa appeared to be a Novice in the Art of War The Spanish Army fail'd of the fair opportunity of beating the Savoyards who were inferior to them in Number The bad Conduct of this Expedition had render'd the Governor of Milan despicable in Italy They were glad to see the Pride of Spain humbled Inojosa for to be avenged in some manner and at the same time curry favour with the Duke of Lerma who Protected him undertook to raise a Fort near enough to Verceil upon the King of Spain's Lands It 's called the Fort of Sandoval from the Name of the Duke of Lerma's Family The Governor's design was to bridle Verceil cover the Milanois and close up an Entry to Foreigners who might easily this way make an Irruption into it The Spaniards had for a long time thought on this Enterprise but for fear that such a Novelty might allarm the Neighbouring Princes the Court of Madrid let alone their Design They expected some favourable Conjuncture Inojosa thought that the opportunity of the Breach with the Duke of Savoy was a fit time to do it The important Service which he pretended to do his Master did not secure him from the Reproaches of the understanding Men of his own Nation They Complained that the Governor had lost time in building of the Fort of Sandoval They loudly said that 't was easie to Reduce the Duke of Savoy by Entering a good way into Piedmont with an Army much stronger than his The whole Court of Madrid took the liberty of talking sharply against Inojosa and Charles Emmanuel They accus'd the First of his Slowness Fear Ignorance and perhaps Infidelity As for the Duke of Savoy his Name was abhorred amongst them and detestable Philip's Chief Agent did not threaten Charles Emmanuel with less than irrecoverable Ruine Reciprocal Writings from the K. of Spain ☞ Duke of Savoy The Spaniards were laught at when they resolved to Fight with the Pen against the Duke of Savoy The Captain General of Justice in the State caused a Placaet to be put up wherein he Declared That the County of Ast and all other Seigniories Mercure Francoise 1614. which the Duke of Savoy as they said held in Fief of the Dukes of Milan were Confiscated to his Catholick Majesty by reason of Charles Emmanuel his Vassal's Treason The Prince of Castiglione the Emperor's Commissioner in Italy caused it likewise to be signified to the Duke That there was a Mandate wherein he was Ordered in the Emperor's Name to Disband his Army presently and refrain from all Acts of Hostility in Montferrat and upon the Lands of the Cardinal Duke of Mantua under Penalty of being put under the Ban of the Empire Charles Emmanuel on the contrary defended himself with his Pen very vigcurously His Exchequer Chamber Declared by a publick Act that the County of Ast was immediately held of the Empire and as for the other Lands specified by his Catholick Majesty's Officer they had never
de Coeuvres was informed before his departure from Italy that the Prince of Conde and the Regent were upon the point of Agreement This News unravelled the Designs of the Duke of Savoy He flatterr'd himself he should have time to make good his pretensions to Monferrat in spight of the King of Spain whilst his Catholick Majesty should be busied in Supporting the Authority of Mary de Medicis shaken by a Civil War rais'd by the Prince of Conde in France The Treaty which the Regent was about to Conclude at St. Meneboud in Champagne Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Medicis with the Malecontents was not so Binding but that the Prince de Conde held still a great Correspondence with Savoy Mercure Francois 1614. and there was still great Confusions in France These Considerations gave Charles Emanuel some hopes of being in a Condition to make the Governor of Milan know that his Catholick Majesty was not powerful enough to be absolute Master of all the Affairs in Italy Before we relate this new Quarrel which the Duke of Savoy had with the Marquiss of Inojosa or rather with the Court of Madrid it is necessary to look back on the Course of the Affairs in France and to give an account of the Negociation of the Duke of Ventadour and the other Commissioners of the King of France with the Prince of Conde and the Lords of his Party at the Conference of Soissons The latter came thither attended by Six or Seven hundred Horse and Four thousand Foot The Duke de Mayenne Governor of the Isle of France had put a strong Garrison into Soissons for the Security of the Prince and the Lords that came with him The 14th April they assembled in the Castle of Soissons After the Prince of Conde and the Malecontented Lords had protested that they had no other Design but to Serve his Majesty and to secure the Peace of France they desired Three things of the Regent that the States of the Kingdom should be Conven'd as soon as possible that the double Marriage with Spain should be Superseded and that both Sides should lay down their Arms. Hitherto things went very smoothly they pretended to design nothing but the publick Good But they reserv'd a Power to Treat not only concerning the Liberty and Security of the Assembly of the States of the Kingdom but also concerning the particular Interests of each of the Lords The Convocation of the States were granted without any difficulty The Regent had offered that in her Answer to the Prince de Conde's Manifesto There was a dispute about the Second Article They demanded a Suspention of the double Marriage till the End of the Assembly of the States The Commissioners of the Court had only Orders to grant it till the Majority of the King And to save the Authority of the Regent in an Affair which she had Negociated and solemnly Concluded with Spain the Court would not allow that this Article should be inserted in the publick Treaty They offered a particular Letter of the Regent to the Prince in which her Majesty would engage her self to defer the double Marriage till the Majority of the King The thing was accepted of with this modification There was only a formality wanting The day appointed for the opening of the Assembly of the States falling out before the Majority the double Marriage could not be Celebrated before the end thereof The Prince de Conde retires from Soissons and goes into Champagne The proposals which the Prince de Conde and the Lords of his Party made with Relation to their particular Interests raised great disputes in the Council of Mary de Medicis under a pretence of providing for their own Security The Prince and the other Malecontents demanded that they would put some important Place into their Hands and grant them several things for their own convenience 'T was necessary to send Couriers to Court Memoirs de Bassompierre Mercure Francois 1614. and to receive Instructions concerning these Affairs Thus the King's Army gained time to reinforce it self considerably Galati brought Six thousand Swisses which he had Commission to Levy Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Medicis Bassompierre their New Collonel General went to receive them at Troies in Champagne from thence he Conducted them to Vitri where Praslain was gathering together the King's Army These motions made the Prince de Conde Jealous who immediately left Soissons He had written to the Queen before to thank her for the Three Articles which she had consented too and to Advertise her Majesty that the Duke de Maierne and the Mareschal de Bovillon remained at Soissons with full power to Treat of those other Conditions which his Highness and the Lords of the Party had demanded Conde had a mind to seize Vitri with his little Army which he led towards Sedan But the Kings Troops prevented him He made amends for this by assisting the Duke of Nevers to make himself Master of St. Menehoud When the particular Demands of the Prince and the Malecontented Lords were proposed in the Queen's Council their Opinions were divided The Dukes de Guise d' Epernon de Bellegarde The Regents Council divided about the demands which the P. of Conde the Malecontents make with relation to their particular Interests the Cardinal de Joieuse and Villeroi Secretary of State cried out upon them as unworthy Conditions which the Queen could not grant with Honour and without parting with too much of her Authority Guise and Epernon said boldly that if the Regent granted Places of Security to their Enemies they likewise would demand the same and that they would look for Assistance out of the Kingdom This was plainly to threaten Siri Meme recondite Tom. III. p. 238 239 c. that they would join themselves with the Crown of Spain This appeared so much the more a contriv'd Design because the Ministers of Philip declar'd that the King their Master would not send the Infanta his Daughter into France as long as the Enemies of the House of Austria were there the Strongest Mary de Medicis began to be shaken by their Reasons who were of Opinion that she should suppress the Prince of Conde by Force The Parliaments the greater part of the military Officers in a word almost the whole Kingdom were at her Majesties disposal The Hugonots did not Rise only the Duke of Rohan was perhaps tempted to join with the Prince of Conde But Rohan did not eare to embark himself without having a prospect what was like to be the Success However 't was easie to stop him by giving some Satisfaction to the Reformed Churches concerning the Edicts of Pacification and above all in not accepting the assistance which the King of Spain offer'd and of which the Regent had no need Her Majesty did not want Money she had a good Army Conde and the Lords of his Party lying in the extreame parts of