so that strangers had all the intelligence of their resolutions which they dis-appointed and obstructed before they were in a forwardness to be set on foot But this great Minister knowing secrecy to be the Soul of Counsel and that none are better then those which continue unknown even after the execution brought forth every day wonders effected by his Prudence of which the Grandees themselves had not so much as a thought Indeed it was so much the easier for him so to do his Majesty being the most secret Prince that ever was Formerly every one was impatient at the obstacles and delays of the Marquess de la Vieville whereas after his establishment all those who had any affairs to negotiate or represent for his Majesties service were over-joyed that they were to Treat with a Minister whose Countenance was a Throne of sweetness and bounty and whose words have so powerfull a Charm that they still went away satisfied what ever difficulties were proposed by them Besides they were constrained as it were to pay him all respects and the Gravity too which the Graces have bestowed upon him is so agreeable and taking that the respect which it begets in the soules of men never thwarts that love which is due unto him and that love doth not at all hinder them from fearing to displease him The ancient Allies of this Crown formerly left for a prey to their enemies began to be confident to him as soon as ever they had known him and finding that his Genius did not terminate in a meer defensive they betook them to their Arms not onely to oppose those unjust Usurpations which were made upon them but also to assault and set upon those who had began them In short as he never declared himself to be for any Faction but on the contrary shewed himself much averse to all Rebellions both the Grandees of the Kingdome and Hugonots too were not long to learn that it would become them for the future to live within the limits of their obedience And lastly not being able to away with any Mutiny he soon began to make them take some course of living which is the surest foundation of Peace in a Kingdome so that every one had the content to see France flourish both at home and abroad and to acquire its former lustre which hath alwaies made it acknowledged to be the first Kingdome of Europe The Marriage of the King of England with the Lady Henrietta Maria of France THe first considerable affair which presented it self after the Cardinals admittance to the Administration was the Marriage of the Lady Henrietta Maria his Majesties Sister with Charles Prince of Wales the present King of Great Brittain The Spaniard had a long time feared it would be made up knowing that if France and England were leagued together they would become so considerable as that they would without difficulty frustrate and bring all his designs to nothing so he indeavoured to hinder it by pretending a desire himself had to contract an Alliance with England and accordingly hee proposed to match his Infanta with the Prince of Wales giving some hopes by Paraquance that he would restore the Palatinate though he had as little mind to deliver it as the King of Great Brittain had earnest Passion to recover it He held on this Treaty at least twelve years yet finding every day new excuses to defer the conclusion of it But at last the King of Great Brittain detected his deceipt which had lain hid under those delays and found out that his design was onely to gain time untill all the daughters of France were married elsewhere at least he had great conjectures of it to clear all and bring it to a conclusion he thought good that the Prince of Wales should in person go into Spain Hee had not been there many dayes before it was known both to himself and those of his Counsel that they had been untill that time entertained with vain hopes however he would not make known his resentments in a strange Country where he might receive much damage by it but being return'd into England he informed King James his Father of it with so much anger that they resolved to break with him rather sooner then later to avoid exposing themselves to the dis-esteem which other Princes might have of their management of this affair and withall to countenance the breach by the Parliaments approbation This resolve was as soon executed as concluded and King James having summoned a Parliament at least to consult on a means for recovery of the Palatinate informed them of the many reasons which he had to beleeve that the Spaniards had no intention of concluding those Propositions of marriage which had been so long in Treaty that the onely end of their design was to gain time and to fortifie themselves in the Palatinate and so to settle themselves there that shortly it would be impossible to remove them thence and therefore hee thought it fit no longer to hearken after it The Parliament were induced with so much the more ease to beleeve these reasons they having testified on divers occasions their suspicions of the Spanish tricks and in conclusion thought good not to regard any more their Propositions of the Match But the King of Great Brittain stayed not long there for the Prince of Wales his son who had now good esteem of France and a liking for the Kings Sister whom he had seen as he passed thorough that Court without discovering himself had perswaded him to give him leave to seek for that Princess in marriage which was proposed in Parliament and carried without much difficulty for many reasons which were there alledged particularly That the French being accustomed to live with those of their Religion it was to be beleeved they would not make such extraordinary demands in behalf of the Catholicks as the Spaniard would have done It was then resolved to dispatch an Ambassadour into France who might lay the first foundation of that Treaty so that the King forthwith made choice of the Earls of Carlisle and Holland The latter set forward about Mid-May He had order first to wait on the King alone and to pretend the interests of the Palatinate but indeed to discover how they would resent his Proposal and if rejected not to make any more noise of it accordingly hee met his Majesty and Compiegne he began to consider about means to recover the Palatinate and then acquainted him with a great deal of dexterity that the King his Master desired his Son the Prince of Wales might marry his sister The King who understoood that Proposals of this nature how remote soever ought not to be received but with honour testified that he had a great esteem of it and forthwith debated it with his Ministers to give him an answer it was concluded That this Match was very convenient for the Quality of his Majesties Sister That in the whole Empire there was not any more hopefull
any other mans of what condition so ever he be That this constraint is repugnant to the safety of Kings of which in History are many examples especially in these latter ages These reasons were very considerable but withall the Marquess D' Effiat followed them home with such address and vigour that they made the same impressions upon the Kings as they had done upon his Embassadours minds who indeed did much contribute by their Letters to bring it to a resolution Articles of Marriage between the King of Great Britain and the Princess Henrietta Maria of France THe Negotiation was so fortunate that the King consented to all those Articles which were demanded in behalf of the Catholicks and accordingly his Majesty gave command to his Embassadours to accord it and on the 10th of November they were signed by them with the Cardinal upon these conditions That the Kings Sister should have all manner of liberty to increase the Roman Catholick Apostolick Religion together with all her Officers and their children that to this purpose she should have a Chappel in every of the Kings houses a Bishop and twenty eight Priests to administer the Sacrament Preach Gods Word and doe such other Offices as their Function required That the children which should be born of this marriage should be brought up in the Catholick Religion untill the age of 13 years by the Princess That all the Domesticks which she carried into England should be French and Catholicks chosen by the most Christian King and they dying she might take others into their place French and Catholicks by and with consent of the King of Great Brittain Moreover that both the King of Great Brittain and Prince of Wales his son should bind themselves by oath not to attempt by any means whatsoever to make her change her Religion or to force her to any thing which might be contrary to it and should promise by writing upon the faith and word of a King and Prince to take order that all those Catholicks as well Ecclesiastick as secular which had been imprisoned since the last Act made against them should be set at liberty That the English Catholicks should not be any more hunted after for their Religion nor constrained to swear any thing contrary to the Catholick Religion and that such seizures of their Goods as had been made since the last Act should be restored to them And generally that they should receive more liberty and favour in respect of the Alliance with France then had been promised them upon the Spanish Treaty This was as much as could be desired for the present in behalf of Religion until the Princess who was indued with all the qualifications both of Body and Soul which could render a Princess beloved should have acquired a good power over King James his spirit and the Prince of Wales her husband and so finish the remainder which the King expected both from her zeal and behaviour with the more confidence because Ladies have a great hand over their husbands and Father in Law when they are once intirely loved by them Politique Observation THere is good reason to hope for the Conversion of a Prince from the Princess whom he marries Women have so natural an art to perswade men and to lead them to what they desire that there is hardly any thing impossible for them to do Their beauty alone hath such strong charms that they imprint in the soul by their eyes all the affections they have a mind to and the Love wherewith they are cherished gives them so great a power that if they have never so lâ—ttle ingenuity one cannot defend himself from their perswasions and if it be thus true in general it is not lesse in the particular of converting their Husbands or the People who are subject to them History is so full of Proofs of this nature that one must be altogether ignorant if he knows not that the divine Providence hath divers times made use of their means for this glorious purpose Thus Clotilâ—a daughter to the Duke of Borgogn was the occasion that Clovis one of our first Kings her husband imbraced the Christian Religion and banished Idolatry out of his States Iâ—gâ—nd Sister to Childebert King of France being married to Hermenegild King of the Gâ—ths converted him to the Holy Châ—istâ—an Faith Chieâ—umte daughter to the King of Merâ—e in England married a King of the West Saxons made him become a Christian and she her self a Saint Thâ—â—dâ—linda wife to â—â—gâ—lulph King of the Lombards perswaded him and a great part of his people to lay by their false Gods and to live under the Lâ—ws of he Gospel Gizel daughter to Hâ—nry Duke of Bavier and Sister to the Emperour Henry the first being married to Steâ—hâ—n the first of that name King of Hungaria made him and his whole Kingdome resolve to in â—race the Fâ—â—th of Jesus Christ and thus many others of the like examples do verifie that Qâ—eens have ever had a great power in this particular and the spirit of God which hath made use of them for such glorious effects saith The unbâ—lieving Husband shall bâ— sanctifiedly the believing Wife Heaven it self fights for them in such occasions when they labour for his glory besides it cannot be denyed but that their Rbetorick is perswasive that their accord do some time passe or currant and undeniable reasons that their words are charms and that their addresse is able to master the greatest courages In the midst of this diligent care which the Cardinal took for the Interests of Religion and the State his Prudence was not forgetfull of any thing which might bee thought in favour of the Kings Sister It was agreed in respect of eight hundred thousand Crowns which his Majesty gave her in marriage that she should renounce all successions either Paternal Maternal or Collateral which might befall unto her and accordingly after she had received leave from her mother the Queen Mother so to do she did renounce and the King of Great Britains Embassador did ratifie it that in future no such pretensions might arise to trouble the quiet of the Kingdomes as formerly had been Withall he took such tender care of all advantages for her that she could not suffer any inconvenience by any accident whatever It was agreed upon by his care that the Prince deceasing without issue the mony should be totally restored to her to be disposed of according to her own will whether she did live in England or in France That if he had children by this marriage there should onely be two thirds of her Portion returned the other being moveable that the last twenty of the third part should be made a yearly rent to her during her life that her Dower should be eight hundred thousand pound sterling por annum returning French mony at sixty thousand Crowns rent which should be assigned to her in Lands and Houses one of which should be such and accordingly furnished that she might make
consideration of that diversity of Religion between the Princess and the Prince of Wales his Majesty should send to his Holiness to procure a Dispensation before the Marriage were effected to obtain the said Dispensation the Cardinal proposed to the King to send Father Berule Superior General of the fathers of the Oratory and to commit the charge of it to him as a person capable of such a negotiation and whose Piety which amongst the People is extreamly recommendable might take off all shadows or apparencies which the weakness of their senses or the malice of the Spaniards might raise abroad concerning it It should seem he did fore-see that Fury wherewith the Spanish Partisans writ against this marriage So angry they were that they had not prevented it not reflecting that for eleven whole years they had testified to the world that they would have done the self-same thing But that I may not be hindred by those outragious speeches which proceeded from those spirits puft up with Ambition who then began to discover that France had a Minister capable to countermine them and to oppose their unjust designs I shall inform you that the instruction which was give to Father Berule was to go to Rome with all diligence and to obtain the Dispensation from the Pope to which purpose he was to represent to his Holiness That the King of Great Brittain having demanded the Princess Henrietta Maria the Kings Sister in marriage for the Prince of Wales his son his Majesty was the more inclinable to hearken to the Proposition because hee looked upon it as a probable means to convert the English as heretofore a French Princess married into England had induced them to imbrace Christianity But that the Honour which hee owed to the Holy Chair and in particular to his Sanctity who had formerly held him at the Font of Baptism in the name of Pope Clement the Eighth had not permitted him to conclude upon the Treaty before the obtainment of his Dispensation That this Marriage ought to be regarded for the Interest not onely of the Catholicks in England but of all Christendome who would receive great advantages by it that there is not any thing of hazard for the Princesse seeing she is as firm as could be desired both in the Faith aâ—â— Piety That she should have a Bishopâ— and eight and twenty Priests to do all Offices That she should have none but Catholicks in her Houshold That the King of Great Brittain and the Prince of Wales would oblige themselves by Writing and Oath not to solicite her directly or indirectly neither by themselves or any other persons to change her Religion Moreover that there being nothing to be feared in relation to the Princesse there were great hopes that she might be intirely beloved by the King who was well disposed already to become a Catholick and by the Prince of Wales That shee might the more contribute to their conversion in regard that women have very great power over their Husbands and Father-in-Laws when Love hath gotten any power in their affections That for her part she was so zealous in Religion that there was no doubt but she would employ her utmost industry in so pious a design That admitting God should not succeed her iâ—tentions either upon King James or the Prince of Wales there were hopes her Children might become restorers of that Faith which their Ancestors had destroyed seeing she had the education and bringing of them up in the belief and exercise of the Catholique Religion until they were thirteen years old and that their first seeds of Piety having being instilled into their souls and cultivated with carefulnesse when they became capable of good Instructions might infallibly produce stable and permanent Fruits that is so strong a Faith as might not be shaken by Heresie in a riper age And after all That the Catholiques of England would forthwith receive great advantages by it seeing both the King of Great Britain and the Prince of Wales his Son would oblige themselves by worâ— and deed not to hunt them out or when they were discovered to punish them To free out of Prison all such as were layed up to restore them their Monies and Goods which had been forced from them after the last Act if they were possible to be had and generally to treat them with more favour than if the Treaty with Spain had gone on Lastly he had order to inform the Pope that to render a greater respect to the Church he had conditioned that the Princess should be affianced and contracted according to the Catholique form like that which was observed they Charlâ—s the Ninth in the Mariage of Margarice of France with the late King Henry the Fourth then King of Navarr These things spoke in their own behalf and were so eminently visible that no doubt could be made of them The Father Berule too wanted neither Ability nor Good-will but represented them to his Holyness with such dexterity that his Sanctity gave him hopes of a favourable answer 'T is true the Pope would not grant him a dispence without conferring with the Cardinals that he might give no jealousie to Spain who had been dealt with in the very same manner when they desired a Dispensation for the Inâ—anca but they were of his own naming and such as no one could think were more subject to Passion than Justice So they met divers times about it and though it were with the ordinary delayes of the Court at Rome without which they esteem no affair can be discussed and judged with Prudence or Majesty enough yet in sine they referred the expediting of the Dispensation to the Popes pleasure All that was cross in the business was barely this Father Borielâ— being naturally addicted to refine all things was perswaded that there had not been assurances strong enough obtained from the English for the securing and hindring the placing of Protestant Officers over the Princesses children the solicitation of Officers to change their Religion the continuation of forcing English Catholiques to take Oaths of Abjuration against the Catholique Religion and the holy See though indeed it had been expresly concluded and agreed on That the King of England and Prince of Wâ—lâ—s should engage both by Writing and Oath not to enforce them any more However this induced both the Pope and Cardinals to think fit not acquainting the â—ieurâ—dâ— Bethune with it though the Cardinals Prudence had tyed up the said Father Bâ—rulâ— in his Instructions not to doe any thing without him to oblige the King in the Instrument of Dupensation to procure from the King of Great Britain new assurances in these parcicuâ—ars So that he following his own sense and specious reasons upon which he relyed his Holyness dispatched him upon those conditions and sent him back to the King with all diligence Politique Observations IF Piety prohibit Ministers to doe things contrary to Religion Prudence obligeth them to referre the management of affairs to Persons who
the King of Spaine THE Pope who is equally qualified with the Title of Common Father to Christian Princes as well as that of Soveraign Bishop was much displeased to see the war was upon the point of flaming out both in France and Italy The condition of France mooved him with pitty it being both against the Church as well as against the Kings authority but besides that this piety did not make him less sensible of the War in Italy He had some apprehensions to for his own States doubting lest they after those of Genoua might become the Scene of this Tragedy this was it which obliged him to send a Legate into France and Spaine or into some other neuter place where the two Kings Deputies might be found to negotiate a Peace as the Cardinal of Florence was heretofore sent to treate a peace at Vervins and Aldobrandine for the Peace of Savoy His Holiness spoke of it to the Sieur de Bethune as a thing which he had resolved on and told him that he desired to make use of one of his own house for this employment and that he would willingly prefer his desires and that the affections which he had for peace more then any other He presently proposed to him his Brother the Cardinal de Saint Onufra to which the Sieur de Bethune only answered that he was very capeable of the Legation But that they that have been so long in a Cloyster living in such an extraordinary Piety as he did would commonly judge by the rules of devotion which being so it might happen that he would not consider at all the affair of the Valtoline more then by the specious pretext which the Spaniards had given out for their invasion and thus considering all in a spiritual way without regarding those interests of state which would happen there could hardly be found all the necessary qualifications to make the peace between the people who should be interessed it it It was said in few words and no reply on the one side or the other The Pope then having changed his discours soon after alter'd his design and proposed to send the Cardinal Barberin his Nephew who earnestly desired to be imployed in this negotiation and to make the voyage between France and Spain Although the Sieur de Bethune honoured him as one of the most virtuous Cardinals of the Consistory yet he knew that he wanted experience in affairs to negotiate this business Besides finding the Spaniards indisposed to renounce the passages of the Valtoline he easily concluded that the voyage would be to no purpose but however looking upon the inclination of him to this voyadge he would not testify to his Holiness that he misliked his choyse only upon the first motion of it he expostulated it with his Holiness and represented how much it troubled him that his Holiness should give this commission to a Person who being so neerly related to him could not but be very dear to him thinking that the consideration of that one thing would work more with him then all others and then he added to the intent his journey might be the shorter that it would be proper to draw up and agree upon those points with the Spanish Ambassadour in which the greatest difficulties were contained without which finding the business all confused and undigested either in France or Spaine it would of necessity follow that he must be a long whiles absent from the Court But the Pope who had been propossessed by the Cardinal his Nephew who took a singuler delight to please him took no notice of it and a few dayes after conveened an Extraordinary Consistory to deliver him a Legats Crosse and caused him to be conducted in Pontificalibus by all the Cardinals out of the gates of Rome according to the usual custome They who had been upon the same employments before him return'd back to Rome for a few dayes that he might take orders for their occasions but did not appear on any publique employments The great affection which the new Legat had to the journey made him prolong it no more then one day so that he set out immediately punctually observing his Holiness command of using an extraordinary industry to prevent the progresse of the war in Italy to administer on his part the offices of a Common Father by procuring a Peace between the Kings of France and Spaine Politick Observation IT is no lesse Glorious then profitable to the Pope to mediate Peace between Princes one of the best and noblest properties of the Sun is to establish such a Temperature and moderation amongst the divers and sundry Elements that they may all subsist together and contribute to the preservation of the universe for without this as the Naturalists have observed the Elementary World would revers to it's first nothing by reason of the disharmony which would remain between them Just so the moderation which the Popes who are in the Church as the Sun in Heaven shall use amid'st the broyls and wars which shall at any time arise amongst Christian Princes is a work which contributeth to their great glory and splendor If it be honourable to them it cannot be lesse advantageous to seeing their authority is never so considerable as in times of Peace and that their Oracles are no more heard or regarded in war then a civil Magistrats command amidst a mutiny or insurrection Certainly nothing can so well befit them as this they having the honour to be Christs vicars here on earth who took the flesh upon him that he might bring peace to all the world which also he recommended to his Apostles as the thing he would have most cheriâ—hed Thus to do is to follow the glorious footsteps of their Master this is to follow his intentions and to prosecute the ways which he hath prescribed but that they may effectually instil this moderation into the minds of Princes they must needs dis-roab their own selves of all sort of interest For as the Sun if he were clothed about with any of the Elementary qualities would not be able to reduce them to a moderate temper so the Popes cease to be any longer entrusted by Princes when once they take part with any particular interest for who so once appears partial is no longer fit to be credited or to make any proposal which will not be suspected Father Berule arriveth at Rome to obtain the dispence for the Lady Henrietta Maria of France to be married with the Prince of Wales LET us give leave to Cardinal Barbarin to make his journy into France we shall anon overtake him at the Court and take notice of what passed in his negociation Let us now speak of another important Affair which was treated on in the Court of Room for Madam the Kings Sister we have already told you about the end of the forgoing yeer that the match with the Prince of Wals being concluded Father Berule was sent to Room to procure a disperse for it where
to fight gave the signal and fell upon them the Seamen were so dexterous that they got the wind of them in lesse then two hours there were above two thousand shot made and though the night came on yet the Fight ended not for the Duke perceiving nine of the greatest Ships retiring towards Rochel pursued them with such good successe that hee came up with them about day break and two others of their biggest Ships were not able to get off for want of water and so stuck on ground but long they did not so continue before they were taken It is true those of the Army who were got upon the Orelop and having killed all they met with the Souldiers who were in the Hold set fire to the Powder and blew up all above with such force that the Splinters of it were carried a quarter of a League off three of the Kings Ships were burned with it and above three hundred men lost amongst which were the Count of Vauvert the Sieur de Ville Neufeu and Veilon a Captain of Holland This accident did much take off from the content of the Victory yet it cannot be denied but that it was glorious enough for the happinesse of France in reducing the Rebels to that passe that they could not any more make any attempts by Sea Thus the rest of their Vessels which were of no great consequence retired some to Rochel and some into other places according as the Wind did drive them but never durst afterwards appear any more These things thus ended the Duke of Montmorancy landed at Oleron where he met with no resistance the Sieur de Soubize having withdrawn himself into England so that the whole Province was setled in quiet both by Sea and Land of all which his Majesty was very certainly informed who received the newes with much joy Politick Observation WHatever joys or delights Fortune insinuateth into those who revolt yet it is usually seen that all their designs end in ill success Experience hath made it often manifest that such Crimes seldome go unpunished and that Heaven hath used to sacrifice them to example They cannot more properly bee likened to any thing then to those high Mountains the points of whose Rocks seem to hreaten Heaven and which sending forth store of Clouds out of their Bosomes seem to obscure the light of the Sun though at last they are all dissipated by that fair Planet of the day who making those very same Clouds into Thunder-bolts causeth them to fall down upon them for to chastise their Insolency And is it not the same thing with Grandees who revolt and Rebell After they have made some attempts upon the Authority of their Soveraign are they not in fine ruined and brought into extremities by the Power of his Armes who takes occasion to crush them to peeces with that Power which they would have usurped themselves and did not of right belong unto them History abounds with exemplary Proofs of this Truth the many that are would spoil the design of quoting two or three onely But for the greater illustration of it I shall say thus much the injustice of a Cause is almost an infallible sign of an ill successe seeing Heaven doth commonly confound what Man hath wickedly built If at any time they shall become so powerfull as to secure themselves from the hazards of Battels yet they can never obtain a remission from Heaven They who attempt to grow great by unjust means will in fine meet their utter ruine God doth peradventure suffer them for the punishment of States to obtain advantages for some time but at last the violences which they Act fall upon themselves and they become a just subject for their Soveraigns Revenge The Arrival of Cardinal Barbirini in France as Legate from the Holy Chaire for the Affaires of the Valtoline WHilest the Fire of this Civil War was burning up of Languedoc The Cardinal Barbarini Legate from the Pope arrived in France and came to Marseille where he was received with great honour as also at Lyon according to the Orders sent by the King He came to Paris the one and twentieth of May and his Majesty caused his entrance to be made with the most Pomp that hath been seen for a person of his condition I shall not need insist on the relating that he is bound by the Laws of the Kingdome before he Officiate the Function of a Legate to present the Brief which the Pope hath given him for the imployment to the Parliament of Paris which is a Custome so ancient that I shall omit speaking any more of it but I shall observe that the Pope having ommitted in the Brief to give the King the Title of King of Navar which could not be denied to him without Injustice the Parliament refused to acknowledge it and obliged him not to make any further procedure in the businesse untill it were amended The Legate comming to Paris alighted at St. James de Haut-pas where the Clergy of the City the concourse of the Court and other Officers to the number of twelve thousand went to salute him and receive his Benediction After this the Prelates of Paris came to do their respects to him there was a little dispute in what habit they should appear before him the Legate desiring they should be in their Rockets and Camail covered over with a Mantlet as a mark that they had no power in his presence but the Prelates not being able to stoop to this Order by reason it was contrary to the Rules of the French Church it was concluded in the middle way between both to give some satisfaction to the Legate that they should go so habited to salute him and that they should accordingly accompany him in the Cavalcade to Nostre-Dame where being come they were to take off their Mantlets but all was done under a Proviso of saving their ancient right The King sent the Duke of Nemours the Sieur de Bonnevil the Introductor of Embassadours and several other Lords of great quality to receive him at his first arrival At night Monsieur the Kings Brother waited on him with a great number of Lords and saluted him with extraordinary respects and one his entrance accompanying him gave him the right hand The same day he had Audience from the King where nothing passed onely Complements but the next day he proposed what the Pope had given him in charge hee exhorted the King in general terms to Peace he urged his Majesty to restore things in the Valtoline to their former State as they were before the Army of the confederated Princes entred into it and beseeched him to grant a Cessation of Arms in Italy His Majesty answered to these three Propositions that he was ever inclined to Peace and that he would still be induced to it provided it were for the Publick safety and honourable for him and his Allies That as to what concerned the Valtoline the Treaty of Madrid made but a few years before
punished according to their deserts and to take off any pretext for their making of Factions in the State should they but arrive to the end which they proposed to themselves he resolved to beseech the King to give him leave to retire himself from the Court He could not be reproached for this Act without injustice seeing the discontent of all those Factious persons was onely grounded upon the Power Authority and Glory which he had acquired for his Master and the good Order and Government which he had established in the State Great and Noble Souls cannot endure that Envy her self should have the least occasion to detract from their Glory and accordingly he testified to the whole Nation that he did not at all consider his own Interests Now that hee might the easilier obtain his request of with-drawing himself and that he might the better dispose his Majesty to grant it he entreated the King being then at Fountainbleau that he would give him leave to passe away some few days at Limours by reason of some indisposition which he found growing upon him which the King gave way to and being there he was visited by Monsieur what resentments soever he had for the Marshal de Ornano's imprisonment as also by Monsieur the Prince of Condy whom he had perswaded the Queen Mother to Caresse notwithstanding all her aversions from it that he might ingage him in his Majesties interests and divert him from taking part with those of the Cabal From thence it was that Monsieur the Cardinal writ to his Majesty beseeching him that he would be pleased to let him withdraw himself He presented to him that for his own part he never had any other designs in his service then his glory and the good of his State but was now extreamly much discontented to find the Court divided upon his occasion and the fire of dissention ready to flame out and all with design for his ruine That he would little esteem his life if imployed in his Majesties service and for the good of his Crown but that it could not but trouble him to see himself basely Butchered in the midst of the Court as it was almost impossible for him to avoid it he being every day attended by a multitude of men whom he knew not and not having any one near him who could defend him from any violence which might be offered to him that in case his Majesties pleasure were such that he would command him to continue neer him and in this danger he would most gladly obey him without the least repugnancy because there was not any thing which he would prefer before his Majesties Will. But the confidence he had that his Majesty could not take any delight to behold him ending his dayes by such a death to which he could not be exposed but his Majesty must remain injured and offended did oblige him to think good to retire himself from the Court He added that his want of health too which was much impaired by that great concourse of people with which he was dayly over-pressed did make him beleeve he could not long hold out in the management of Affairs and that his Majesty had so much the more reason to grant him his request in regard his weaknesse would in a little while make him uselesse in his service He writ to the same effect unto the Queen Mother and begged her to imploy her Power with his Majesty to obtain his requests But their Majesties were so far from having the least inclination to admit of his retirement that on the contrary the King openly declared he would never give his consent to it he being sensible enough of those great happinesses which he had procured to the Kingdom already of that credit and esteem which he had raised his Arms unto amongst strangers of the submission to which he had reduced the Heretiques of the good Order which he had established in the Treasuries and of the great height whereunto he had advanced the Authority of his Scepter The Queen Mother too considering over and above these reasons which were not unknown to her what a losse it is to a State to be deprived of a grand Minister how usefull the Cardinal was to her Counsels and Interests at the same instant resolved to oppose his removal so that it was by their common advices concluded to command him no longer to think of absenting himself and to let him know that his services were too well known to procure an assent for his departure and lastly that he need not be afflicted at the sense of those wicked designs which were contrived against him nor at the inconveniences which he suffered in point of health for that it were easie to remedy both one and t'other Monsieur the Cardinal who prefers nothing in respect of their Majesties will and pleasure submitted all his resolutions accordingly The King too that he might provide for the safety both of his life and health assigned Guards to him who were to wait on him every where and defend him from any attempts of his enemies he commanded the Sieur de Folain to have an especial care that his health were not prejudiced by the multitude of people who made addresses to him but that entrance were onely permitted unto such as had occasion to speak with him about some urgent Affairs These Provisions of the King were so many certain testimonies of the good Will which his Majesty did bear towards him and I think that the honour he got in this Action was more considerable then all the rest for by it he evinced to the whole Nation that hee was not tied to the Court but onely for his Majesties service and that his own particular intrests and concerns were not valued at all by him Politique Observation IT is impossible to prevent that the splendour of an extraordinary vertue honoured by a Prince with a great power should not raise up the Envy of those who have never so little Ambition in them The Sun doth not more naturally attract divers vapours from the earth which afterwards become Clouds and darken his light then a grand Minister doth ordinarily see his own merit and the greatnesse of his Genius draw upon him the hatred of the Grandees that they make use of factions and divisions against him We have elsewhere said that Fortune was never yet seen to defend them from this infelicity and I shal now adde that the cheef and ready way for great men to exempt themselves from the blame and the troubles which envy may stir up against them is to manifest that their medling in affairs of Publique concern is free from all manner of self-interest which may easily be done by their desiring to withdraw themselves from the trouble of Government to lead a private life This moderation will stop the mouths of the most imbittered men who after this cannot find any thing to object against the power wherewith they are honoured and are forced to convert their
for the Country where they live so that they do not heartily embrace the Interests of it and in case a war should break out none would be so ready as they to entertain intelligence and give advices to the enemies They are also easily provoked against the natural inhabitants of the Country upon any suspition that they are lesse esteemed by them then others which induceth them to stick close together and to raise Factions against the State withal their bodies may not be punished though there be some kind of reason for it least they should generally resent it and raise up a thousand Broyles These are the chief reasons why it is impossible to preserve a Family of Officers Strangers in a Queens Court This was it which did oblige those of Sparta as Xenophon reporteth it not to suffer any strangers to live in their Commonwealth which made the Athenians take the same resolution as Plutarch observeth in the life of Pericles and which made Suetonius commend Augustus that he would rarely grant to any the being free or naturals of his Kingdome and which induced Polydore Virgil to say in his History of England That it was not the custome of English to admit of many strangers amongst them least the difference of their customes and fashions might cause them not to live in a good intelligence with the natives of the Country The King sends the Marshal de Bassompierre into England THe Queen Mother having been acquainted with the disorder which had hapened in the Queen of Englands Family first sent the Sieur de Barre to her to testifie to her that she was sorry for her and took part in her discontents and shortly after there being no reason to put up such an injurie the Cardinal advised his Majesty to dispatch the Marshal de Bassompierre as extraordinary Ambassador to the King of England for a redresse in the business Amongst divers others he was more particularly made choise of for that employment because there had been many of his near kindred retained near the Queen who were now all sent back again So that it was thought considering the near Interest of his family that he would be the more zealously affectionate in dispatching such instructions as should from time to time be sent to him He was but coldly entertained in England because audience had been denied to the Lord Montague who was sent into France upon the return of those Officers however he was no whit discouraged at it knowing that any Ambassador ought to shut his eyes at all little difficulties and obstructions so he may carry on his Masters work to a good issue The King of England appointed Commissioners to treat with him upon that affair who being met together he represented to them in order to his instructions that amongst other things comprehended in the Articles of Marriage it had been concluded and agreed on That the Queen of England should have free excercise of her Religion that she should have a Bishop and a certain number of Priests to exercise the Offices of her Religion That all her houshold should be Catholiques and French and that all the English Catholiques should in general receive greater priviledges then had been granted them if the Treaty with Spain had been effected That the late King James and the present King Charls his son then Prince of Wales had confirmed it by oath and that King James had commanded his Officers not to trouble or molest the Catholiques any more whereupon that the King his Master had conceived great hopes of prosperity and happiness for the Queen his Sister neither could he believe that the King of England his Brother in Law would break his word given upon the consideration of Royal Marriage who until then had amongst other virtues the reputation of being Just to his promises That this new Alliance instead of reuniting their persons and Interests would now rather breed great divisions between them and at such a time when they had most need of being in amity with one another both for assisting of their Allyes and their own particular preservation And that notwithstanding all these premises the King of England had sent back all those Officers of the Queen contrarie to the Treaty which had been confirmed by oath that he placed about her Officers who were English and of a Religion contrary to hers and besides all this that the Catholiques in General were every where troubled and ill treated for their Religion sake So that the King his Master unable to abandon the Queen his Sisters Interest had sent him to his Majesty of Great Britain to put him in mind of his promises and to perswade him That her Majesties Catholique Officers might be re-admitted to her as also that his Catholique subjects might be more favourably dealt withal The English Commissioners could not deny what had been concluded in the Treaty but they would lay the fault of the Officers return upon their own shoulders pretending that they had raised troubles in the Kingdome in his Majesties own Family and that of his dear consort the Queen but they did not produce any sufficient proofs upon the business And as to that which concerned the English Catholiques they pleaded that it had only been granted for formalities sake and to satisfie the Pope But the Marshal producing before them the late Kings Oaths confirmed too by another of the present King then Prince of Wales they could no longer tell what to say to the business but fled to other complaints not material or any wayes relating to the matter in question The Marshal replyed and that very tartly that he could not sufficiently admire that the Articles of Marriage and confirmed by Oath were not observed That the Queens Officers were sent back under pretence that they troubled the State without giving the King his Master any notice of it and without acquainting him in the least with those crimes which were presented to be committed That presently thereupon English Officers and those Protestants should be placed in their rooms That indeed those accusations were to be esteemed as frivolous and admitting them for just yet ought they to be chastised only and others French and Catholique put into their places by the rules of the Treaty But that indeed those pretended quarrels or Jarrs raised by the Queens French Officers were so far from being the true cause of their return that on the contrary the Lord Moâ—ntague had been at Nantes not many dayes before their being sent over to congratulate the King and Queen Mother concerning the good understanding which was between their Majesties of Great Britain and concerning the great satisfaction which the King received at the Queen his wifes behaviour That of the suddain and unlookt for discharge of her Officers happening so immediately upon the neck of this joy could not but appear strange and that as it did much wound the King of Englands Reputation so it likewise injured the King his Masters Generosity who was
it by Force of Arms. It cannot be doubted but that this is the safest way of dealing with an Enemy provided it be managed without breath of any oath or Promises passed between Comanders of both parties for otherwise Stratagems only pass for infidelity yet it is lawfull to use all devices and win them to a Credulity and thus did every one commend the procedure of the French Army at the siedge of Gisonne neer Saint Severin against the Army of Ferdinand The Arragonois wearied out with the Incomodities of the siedge had recourse to their devices and endeavoured to practise with some French to deliver up the place The French too generous to be so cowardly and too faithful to be corrupted would not however loose the advantage which they might make by this proposal of theirs they seemed to approve of it and assigned the hour for execution In the mean while they inform the Governour of it who laid some certain Souldiers in ambush neer the Gate by which they were to enter by which means he slew about a hundred on the place took divers Prisoners and by this losse brought Ferdinands Army into a great disorder and trouble The King goes from Rochel to Paris to dissipate those Factions which began to rise thereabouts by the Hugonots in Pircardie Champagnie and Brie THE Cardinal who dived into the Counsels and designs of Forraign Princes acquainted his Majesty with those promises the English had made to assist the Rochelois and that his presence would be very needful in the Camp both to incourage his Souldiers as also to hasten on the works where every one in his sight would labour in emulation of one another But on the other side his Majesty was informed that his being so far from Paris had given opportunity to the Hugonots of the Provinces neer adjoyning to make assemblies and to incourage the people to revolt He was advised of several meetings which they made in Picardie Champagne and Brie under divers pretences as sometimes of Civility of a wedding or some quarrel in all which meetings there were means used to perswade the people to rise and take up Arms. He was also wel acquainted that they designed to seize upon some strong place or other so that his Majesty was obliged to return to Paris that by his presence and authority he might dissipate these growing mischiefs In the mean while that no time might be lost and that the Rebels might have no advantage order was sent to the Queen Mother to secure the Counts de la Suse and de Roussy in the Bastile The former she arrested by an Exempt in her Antichamber and the second at Roussy by the Duke d' Elboeuf The King having resolved upon his Journy thought it necessary to commit the care of the siedge of finishing the works and the Bank and of keeping the Souldiers in obedience and from disbanding which they formerly used to do upon his Majesties removal unto some Person whose dilligence and credit might be capable of giving successe to it Besides it was necessary that this person should be exceeding Loyal for the preventing that misfortune which befel Charles the ninth when he lay before the same town where he was put unto infinite trouble and charge and all to no purpose because they whom he trusted with the Chief commands and orders were not faithful and true to him It being very difficult to find all these three qualities in any one Person the King cast his eyes on the Cardinal as the only man in whom he could totally confide for carrying on of the siedge and all other things in order thereunto His Majesty discoursed with him to that purpose now the Cardinal although he was not ignorant that the absence of the Court is commonly a great disadvantage to such as are in favour by reason of the oportunity which they who are envious of their condition have to work them a mischief yet he readily accepted of that employment and protested to his Majesty that he would not spare any pains or diligence to bring it to a happy issue though it cost his blood and life which he should think well sacrificed in his Majesty service so the King gave him a full power to dispose of all things during his absence and gave him the command over the Duke of Angoulesme the Marshals de Bassompierre and Schomberg the Marshals of the Camp the Master of the Artillerie and all other Inferiour Officers whatever But I cannot omit with what reluctancy his Majesty went from him to Paris For it is very remarkable that his Majesty having received the Adieux of all his Officers rid up apart to a certain person of quality who was then to receive his Commands for Italy and keeping close with him said not a word for a good while together so troubled he was at his departure until at last my heart quoth he is so sad and heavy to leave Monsieur the Cardinal for fear least some mishap befal him that I am hardly able to speak for grief and therefore tell him from me that if he would have me think he loveth me that he must be careful of himself and that he adventure not hereafter into any of those dangers which he usually doth That he consider in what state my affairs would be if I should loose him I am not ignorant quoth he how that there are many people who endeavour to obstruct and hinder his bringing of his business to effect but tell him I do so much esteem his service that I shall never forget it These words were very obliging and assured testimonies of the great affection which his Majesty had for him The glory too which this Grand Minister did every day obtain by his happy services in his Majesty behalf was a tye very powerful to continue those affections of his King and Master Politique Observation THE love of a Prince is a great Honour to a Statesman and that not only in respect of the particular Benefit which floweth from it but also in regard of the Publique good which he doth watch over Where he is not beloved he wanteth authority without which he cannot do any thing worth consideration For the obtaining of this love then he ought to use his utmost art and diligence and he is bound to prefer it before his own or any other Interests whatever Alcomiaas the Grecian Servant to King Philip being told that the Athenians and Thebans wished his death with a great eagernesse replyed he was sorry for it yet that he regarded it but little so he could preserve his Masters affection This ought to be the Rule of a Chief Ministers conduct when he finds himself in his Masters good esteem For to hope that he may please his Soveraign and the Lords of his Court too is a vanity and can never be brought to passe Now to the Intent he may enjoy his Masters love in an eminent degree I should advise him not to rely too much on
a Deity They knew Heaven would be very severe in punishing those who violated it and they would not only be overwhelmed with Infamie but that it would be of ill consequence to the State considering how true it is that Justice and Fidelity are the two chief things which support the Thrones of all Kings Prosecution of the Subject I Cannot omit the great assistance which the Venetians did this year send unto the Duke of Mantua it being impossible for his Majesties whole Army to have been with him soon enough although some few Troops had already come to him The King had by his Ambassador negotiated those Succours with the Venetians upon the first discovery of the House of Austria's design Now the Venetians were the easier enclined to send these Succours it being their very great Interest to hinder the Spaniards growing power in Italy especially so neer them they having so often and so long had designs upon them Besides they well knew that they had at that present several good Towns and places which formerly belonged to the Dutchy of Milan but had been taken from it by their Common-wealth which peradventure the Spaniard might have a mind to recover from them In conclusion they send divers times Mony Victuals and some Troops unto the Duke of Mantua which did not a little help to preserve him Politique Observation THere is not any thing more dangerous then to suffer a potent Ambitious King to seize on a Neighbour Princes Country by violence seeing his conquest will only serve for a Bridge to the next Kingdome An Ambitious King is like a great River ever eating into it's Banks without regard had either to the Justice or Injustice of his designs When he hath once proposed his end he careth not by what means it is atchieved His chief care is how to make a party in his Neighbours Country how to raise a division which may open an entrance for his Ambitious designs He spareth no cost to corrupt their Officers and Ministers He is like some people in Affrick who sleep with their eyes alwayes open and as he believeth the greatest glory to consist in possessing the greatest empire so he imagineth the design of Command to be a just cause of War If his Forces be not strong enough he bloweth division amongst his Neighbours to make them revolt and maketh use of those who are credulous that he may subject their fellows to his Dominion He winks at Justice not that he may Judg with Equity but that he may not behold if possible the injustice of his own intentions In short there is not any thing which he will not do if it lead him to new conquests Which being thus who can be ignorant of the obligation which lyeth upon all Allyes to assist one another when any attempt is made upon any single Country amongst them The assistance which they lend is a security to their own States and in fighting for him they confirm their own quiet But above all they who are nearest bordering upon one another ought to be careful in this particular because they run a greater hazard When an Army is at our Gates it is little worth then to call upon a relief far from us for great Armies do not flye no they march but slowly and before they can arrive to assist us we are lost and taken He who being unable with his own strength to defend himself calleth in a friend far distant from him is like a sick person who being taken with a sodaine dangerous fit sendeth for an able Physitian to another place twenty miles distant and in the mean time before his Doctor arrives becomes incurable Antiquity hath furnished us with an admirable example of the thing in that of Sâ—gâ—nte which being besieged by the Carthaginians was taken before the relief from Rome could come up to it And of later times the City of Sienna being besieged by the Imperialists was in expectation of the French assistance but to little purpose they being at too great a distance to come up to them In such occasions those Countries neerest at hand are to be employed they being in reason bound to rise in their behalf and hereupon it is that Alliances and Leagues made with them are much more advantageous then any others whatever Prosecution of the History NOtwithstanding that the Treaty of Peace and the Renewing of Alliance between France and England had been concluded in April whilst his Majesty was at Suze yet the final confirmation of it was used to be done by oath and by extraordinary Ambassadors interchangeably sent which Ceremony had been put off until his Majesties return back to Paris from his Italian-Expedition and was now performed in September at Fontain-bleau whither the Lord Esmond came from the King of Britain for that purpose The King caused him to be entertained with very great honour as had been accustomed on such occasions particularly invited him to dine with him at his own Table that day when the Ceremony was celebrated The appointed hour being come he was conducted into the Church of Bourg magnificently prepared for that purpose where the King and all the Princes of the Court wayting on him hear'd Vespers At his entrance he saluted with great respect the King and Queens after which he took his place in a Scaffold made ready for him The King made the oath in his presence and swore upon the Holy Evangelists to observe and perform all the Conditions of the Treaty which he had signed The same oath was made at London the same day with no lesse Ceremony by the King of England in the presence of the Marquis de Chasteauneuf Extraordinary Ambassador there forth at purpose Politique Observation AS Sacraments render Actions the more venerable so have all people thought it fit to confirm their Treaties therewith that Princes might be obliged the more Religiously to observe them But in all times they have been as various as Nations That which was most universally observed was to drink in the same Glasse It is true those of Thracia and Aegypt did not use the same Cup but the same Ox-horn The Jewes used to kill certain Beasts and divide their entrailes The Caldeans passed through certain Flames holding a Sword in their hand to confirm their oaths But the Ceremonies of the Arabians seem to me more extraordinary then all the rest Some eminent Person of the Treaters placed himself in the midd'st and beating his hand with a sharp stone drew bloud which was gather'd up with some part of their Cloths wherewith they besmeared seven other stones about which they stood invocating the names of Denis Vrania The Scythians mingled blond with Wine dipp'd their Arrows their Hatchet and Javelins in it with several Protestations of Fidelity and then drank it up causing the witnesses of their oath to do the same The Romans were accustomed to call their Great Priest who raised an Altar of Turf placed a Hog on it which he smit with a
which was out of Cannon shot This struck such a dread into the Townsmen and Governour of the Place who had never seen his Majesty so bestir himself that they could not but imagine he would have taken all that pains for their sakes without punishing them with rigor in the conclusion so they presently dispatched Deputies to the King to beg 3 dayes time that they might consider and confer what they should do but his Majesty replyed that he would quarter in the Town that very day so they then presently surrendered knowing it to be Rashness to resist a Prince so couragious and one who knew so well to conduct his Army Politique Observation DElay which a man granteth to an Enemy is frequently of such consequence that a good or bad successe doth depend on it One dayes time gives the besieged leave to make such trenches as will not be regained in a whole month Henry the second for having attended thus but a very little was forced to raise the siege of Perpignan and if Pyrrhus had assaulted Sparta the same night that he sat down before it he had then taken it without difficulty which he could not the next day Memorable is that example of Peter de Medicis recorded by Guiccardine who stayed only one or two hours to let the rain passe and so came too late to Florence and found that his Enemies had but one hours notice of his arrival which gave them time enough to Arm themselves to resist him and in fine they did hinder and prevent his entrance which otherwise he had gained had it not been for that little stop It is as much follie to give time to a mans Enemies to fortifie themselves as it is discretion and advantagious to take them unprovided and before they have time to prepare themselves for a defence The taking of divers other Castels THE Castles of Clermont of Meyrac of Allinge and divers others thereabouts rendered themselves upon the first summons and all the way was open and free from Chambery to Geneve and Pont de Gresin so that his Majesty went directly by the Tarente where Prince Thomas was entrenched with about 9 or 1000 men in a place very advantagious and where a few men might stop a very great Army but he no sooner saw the Kings Forces appear but he sounded a retreat withdrawing himself from place to place from the Kings Army which followed him until he had past the â—â—ount St. Bernard he not so much as offering to make any resistance which he might easily have done the Passages being very narrow and strait Politique Observation HE who hath at any time considered upon Mountains the impetuous course of a Torrent which running along the plain â—nters with such a violence into a Valley that it carries away all the harvest roots up the trees turns topsie turvie the houses of the Villagers forceth the Country people to clime the tops of Trees drowneth all the Cattle and in a word commits a thousand ruins hath a most perfect view of what passed in the Tarente upon the comming in of his Majesties Army where ever he came they did all things whatever to obey his commands the most advantagious Stations were quite abandoned by the Soldiers whom their own very fear had routed all the Towns deserted and particularly in the City of Constance there was not one man to be found to fight withall The King makes himself Master of all Savoy AFter his Majesty had made himself Master of this Vallie he designed a Fort with 4 Bastions and certain Redouts at the foot of a Mountain which cut off all communication Between Piedmont and Savoy and hindred the march of any Forces which would passe into it It was guarded by 5 or 6000 men whom he lest there so that there was no other avenue for to be taken but that of Morienne which would be shut up by the taking of Charbonniers Accordingly his Majesty commanded the Marshal de Crequy to go and besiege it and the Marquis de Vignoles at the self same time to commence the siege of Montmelian which was as soon executed as commanded So that his Majesty being at St. Pierre D' Albiguy the Cardinal shewed him in his Tent that which never any Prince had the Honour to behold at one time Three several Sieges that of Montmelian that of Charbonniers and that of Laville from all which he might see the smoak of his Cannons Charbonniers and Laville were quickly taken and Montmelian was so blocked up that it was impossible to relieve it with any it provision of men or victuals Thus his Majesty was Master of Savoy so that the Duke himself could not make his entrance in to it by any way to regain it all the Passages being shut up Politique Observation SUch victories as these being founded upon the invincible generosity of the King assisted with the incomparable prudence of the Cardinal cannot be sufficiently admired Whence it comes that leaving the usual method of this History I shall turn the Politique Observations into Praises Is it not to be concluded that there is nothing which equalizeth his Courage and good Fortune both which conspire in emulation of one another to render him the most Illustrious and most Glorious Monarque of he whole Universe Doth not truth oblige us to acknowledge that he is both the greatest and wisest Captain that every yet was and that the Rayes of hâ—s Valour do obscure the light of those brave Commanders whom Antiquitie dâ—d so much admire In the Ages which shall succeed us his victories will be proposed as an Example to all who shall weyld the Scepter The Generousness of his Actions shall be as a looking Glasse and a School to all such as would follow his tracts The Reputation of his Arms and so many graces and admirable vertues wherewith Heaven endued him had much contributed to the conquest of all those Countries which justly belong to him if the mis-fortunes of this Kingdom and those who are of neerest relation to it had not obstructed and opposed it There was not any one Enemy who durst present himself before him with his Arms but soon carried away the Marks of his Valour And it seems that those have in particular had no other advantage admit it were in the siege of a Place where a hundred might beat a 1000 or where the quantities of their Forces did much exceed his Majesty Numbers But to add new Rayes to his Glory never durst they stay to expect him and they placed their safety in the swiftnesse of their feet and a shameful flight The King marcheth toward Lyon at the perswasion of the Queen Mother THough the happy successes of his Majesties Arms seemed to banish all cause of fear yet as Women are naturally timerous The Queen Mother was troubled with much impatiency that his Majestie should ingage himself any farther in the War particularly against the Spaniard partly for the natural inclination shee had for Spain by her
Publike Registers where in one of the chapters of Royal Râ—ghts it is expresly so recorded But this Register being but of four hundred â—eats standing at most whereas this Custom is as ancient as the Kingdom it self I would fain ask them where the Salique Law is to be found which hath been inviolably observed in the Kingdom above twelve Ages together Thus it was established by the Custom to which oftentimes there must be recourse had and which must be admitted for a Law carrying in its forehead the Image of Justice much more evidently then any written thing and being also more prevalent to induce the people to a due observation thereof Who can then forbear to have this particular custom in great esteem or not embrace it for a Fundamental Law when it hath been observed from the beginning of this Monarchy and then established for the Kingdoms good Troubles hapned in consequence of Marriage THe greatest troubles have been the consequences of Marriages and they who have contumaciously violated this custom have been constantly punished by their Kings The example of Merouee son to Chilperic ninth King of France will evidently prove the establishment of this Custom in the beginning of this Monarchy who assuming the boldness of marrying with Brunehâ—ut without his Fathers consent became the object of hiâ— Iustice and was punished according to his desert and Pretixtatus Bishop of Rouen who had a hand in the marriage was impeachel in a Council held at Paris of that very thing as a great Crime he indeed was the first who exceeded the limits of his duty in this partitular and accordingly was he chastised for it Saint Bâ—ruâ—ra willing excuse unto the King the Comte 〈◊〉 hibaut de Champagne accused for designing to marry his children without his Majesties consent alledged it was improbable a man of his integrity would ever run into so great a premunire Thus Philip Conâ—te de Namur broâ—her to Baudouin Conâ—te de Flandres being overseer of Jean and Marguerite his Neeces daughters to the said Baudouin engaged unto Philip Augustus in a Treaty that they should not be married without his Majesty's consent which one of our Historians saith to be in reference to the Soveraign right which our Kings have over such persons whose marriages may occasion troubles to the Kingdom Is there not yet extant in the Kings Charters an Oath made by the Grandees of the Nantion unto Charles the Fifth which absolutely implies they were not to marry with Rebels disobedient or enemies of the State One of the Crimes charged in the Duke of Alençon's Indictment was his treating a Match between his Son and the Dutchesse of York an English Prince's daughter without approbation from Charles the Seventh The same Charles the Seventh would not look upon his Son Lewis the Eleventh though of Age for having treated a Match with Charlotte de Savoy without his knowledge though it remained unconsummated until his permission first had and obtained Doth not an English Historian though an enemy to France say that the Match between Anne ae Bretagne and Maximilian of Austriche unto whom she was betrothed from her Infancy was broken in regard the King had not consented thereunto Now if any one imagine that this permission cannot avoid a marriage once consummated I shall indeavour to convince them of the contrary by laying before them the example of Lovic de Begne who having married Ausgarde without her fathers consent was in conclusion forced to quit her though he had children by her and though he was his eldest Son and to marry Adelaide and his son by her was acknowledged for right heir to the Crown by name Charles the Simple I shall add this one more of Judith daughter to Charles the Bauld who having though a Widdow to the King of England married Comte Baudouin against her fathers Will saw her marriage disanulled by Pope Nicholas the first together with the Bishops of France and was compelled after obtainment of her Fathers approbation to be re-married as she was at Auxerre Monsieur 's Marriage with the Princesse Marguerite of Lorrain ALthough the Sieur de Puy-Laurens was very passionate for the concluding of Monsieur's Marriage yet Princes Families being often divided into factions the President Coigneux was not so inclin'd but on the contrary took occasion in the t'others absence whilest he was at Brixels negotiating with the Spaniards for aid to represent divers reasons unto Monsieur to divert him from those thoughts He was not to learn that in case Monsieur married the Princessee Marguerite and the Sieur de Puy-Laurens the Princesse of Falsbourg himself should totally lose that little credit and authority which he then had he was apprehensive of the ascendency which a Woman hath over the soul of a Prince when she is once passionately beloved by him Besides he was the more concern'd in that particular of the Princesse Marguerite because he conceived she would be guided by the instinct and directions of the Princesse de Falsbourg who would in fine rule all lastly he doubted there was no way left to break off this match which would be imputed as his fault by reason of the place he held with Monsieur so that there would be no hopes for him to be restored to the Kings favour or the injoyment of his Goods and Offices These were the true motives and grounds which induced Coigneux to declare himself against the marriage and to disswade Monsieur from any further progresse therein although his advices were seconded with no other reasons then the service of his Highnesse and the good of his affairs He one day took the boldnesse to tell him that he ought not to steer such a course as would undoubtedly render the King irreconcilable unto him seeing his greatest glory and power was tied unto his Majesties grace and favour which this marriage would assuredly hazard nay utterly destroy he layed before him how that though Princes are sometimes excusable for doing such acts in their heat and passion which are displeasing unto their Soveraign yet they never ought to flie into such extravagances as may totally ruine them in their Kings Favour If may sometimes peradventure turn to their own advantage to run out into discontents as the increasing of their stipends or the obtaining of some other gratification but so it cannot be if they imbarque in such designs as may cause an absolute breach All the lustre which Princes have and which rendreth them venerable is the effect of their Soveraigns favour just as the light of the Stars is derived from the Sun their Fountain But these Councels of Coigneâ—x being known drew the whole house of Lorrain to have an eye upon him And I verily believe they might have wrought some good effect upon Mâ—nsieur seeing he was ever inclined to be obedient unto the King had not the return of the Sieur de Puy-Lauâ—eâ—s prevented it who at first dash spoiled all the t'others indeavours This new Favourite had gotten so great an
into Germany for it was no small blow unto the Emperour to draw away from him the Electors of Cologne and Treves the Duke of Baviers and divers other Catholick Princes that in some sense it wee to cut off one of his Arms and assuredly to destroy a third part of his strength that in conclusion he believed his Majesty of Swede was obliged in point of discretion to permit them to sit still provided they did totally decline the Emperour's asistance with whom alone he was ingaged that hereby convincing the World he intended not the subversion of Religion a thing much taking with the people it would evidently follow that his enemies would oppose him with the lesse resolution The King of Swâ—den received his Majesties request made by the Marquis de Breze with a great deal of honour but being a Prince of great understanding he forthwith â—ounded the depth of the Catholique Princes promises and made apparent unto him that their Proposals were not real that they had possessed his Christian Majesty with false impressions that they had drawn upon themselves the evils which they indured by their own unreasonable wilfulnesse contrary to the many fair invitations sent unto them of forsaking his enemies and injoying their estates in quiet under an indifferent contribution which he expected from them He likewise declared unto him the resolutions of the League concluded in the Assemblies of Lantshud and Ingolstat which were directly repugnant to these proposals as also the Duke of Baviâ—rs Letters who in the middest of his protestations of forbearing hostility did not however cease to raise forces fortifie Towns and send Letters of Exchange for the advancing of new Levies by all which it was evident enough that his designs tended only to linger out the time whereby he might take better aim in future The Marquesse de Breze replied unto him that in truth the evil designs of those Catholique Princes could no be executed in regard of he time pass'd especially after sight of their Letters yet it was to be hoped they would hereafter manage their affairs more advisedly if there were a Treaty concluded with them That the King his Master was far from countenancing their unjust pretences but that in case they should be reduced to reason as his Majesty well hoped and themselves had fairly promised he should then affectionately desire they might be permitted to sit still in order whereunto he requested there might be a cessation of Arms for fifteen days in which time some reasonable end might be concluded The King of Sweden promised to be willing for the Treaty in the behalf of France without which he should hardly have been perswaded to passe over the Duke of Baviers and the other Catholick Princes after those affronts received from them In fine it was no more then he might have desired he being too prudent not to observe how by granting them to become Neuters he did much weaken his enemies and how that satisfying the World he intended not an invasion of the Church the Emperours Forces would not be so zealous in his service by which means he might the easilier perfect their destruction Politique Observation IT is great Prudence in a Prince who undertaketh a War not to declare himself against Religion a thing which mightily incourageth them who defend it for that most think it glorious to spend their in the preservation thereof They are still put in mind of those Eternal heavenly rewards of which they shall becomâ— partakers so that if a Crown of Laurel proposed as a reward in the Olimpique Games could produce such great passion in those who entred the Lists how much more them will the assurance of a rich Crown proposed in the Heavens animate the courages of the Souldiers They are informed how the death with which they meet is not so much a death as a happy passage from death which leadeth them from the grave to immortality from unavoidable miseries to infinite goods from tears to unspeakable joy and from a fight to triumph Thus it being natural unto man-kind to be concern'd at the apprehension of great rewards it cannot be imagined how much they add unto the courage The most fearfull are stout and bold in defence of their Religion of which the primitive times of the Church have afforded us frequent examples seeing women and children have for the conservation of their Religion tryumphed over the greatest courages of Emperours He who never thought to go out of his own house willingly taketh up Arms when the Churches Liberty is in question The Jews saith Tacitus were not much concerned to die in their wars because they believed another life And Gaesar saith The Druides of France were unconquerable in the Field because they believed the Transmigration of Souls and took it for a shame to be fearful of losing that life which should be restored unto them again What resolution then would the Catholique have amidst their belief of another everlasting and most glorious life The Valour of man doth not so much consist in his bodily strength as the resolution of his soul and in that resolution which banisheth all sence of Fear from the heart which infuseth an universal heat and leadeth men on to surmount all kind of difficulties Now who knoweth not that one Faiths chiesest effects is to replenish the soul with an heavenly fire and to infuse it with power for the destruction of what ever resisteth the glory of God No passion doth so encourage as the zeal of Realigion it rendereth men sensless in all sufferings converteth stripes into pleasures causeth labour to be delightful and maketh the most cowardly and weak to become couragious A Treaty of the Catholique Princes of Germany with the King of Swede THe King of Swede having thought fit to suffer the Catholique Princes to become Neuters and consented to a cessation for fifteen days there were Articles drawn up and those the most reasonable that could be wished they implyed 1. That the League should forsake the Emperors Alliance and Interests and relinquish all Intelligence with him 2. That they should recall their Forces from the Imperial Army 3. That the Palatinate should be restored 4. That the Duke of Baviers and the other Catholick Princes should return unto the Protestant States whatever had been taken from them since the year sixteen hundred and eighteen 5. That they should not permit the Emperour to make any Levies in their States 6. That they should deposit some places in the King of Swede's hands for their performance of the Treaty 7. That in consideration of these agreements the King of Sweden should ingage not to use any acts of Hostility against them or exact any contributions from them There could not possibly be proposed any Articles more just then these whereby to settle the Princes in neutrality for in case they ceased to assist the Emperour the King of Swede would likewise forbear drawing any advantages from them and relinquish those which his Armies
at that time they had no other honour but that of being issued from the County of Abspurg in Switzerland Besides Princes allyed by marriage commonly joyning their Forces together do not a little help to defend one another upon an occasion and even to favour those enterprizes which either of them shal make to increase their power Lewis the second well knew how to break off the Match between Charles Duke of Burgogn with Margaret daughter to Richard Duke of York and Sister to Edward King of Enâ—lâ—nd which would have joyned the English Forces with those of Bâ—rgogn by demanding that Princess for Charles his brother though he had no intention to marry him to her he being too too prudent to match a Brother so inclinable to Rebellion with an enemy so Potent as she was It is true if the Aliance of France with England was then thought to be disadvantagious to the good of France yet now that which may be concluded on with them is of so much the greater concernment because having nothing more to do then to ballance the house of Austria it could not gain a greater advantage in relation to that design then by this means for this being one of the powerfullest Kingdomes in Europe will turn the scales to that of the two Crowns with which it shall bee joyned in Alliance France cannot hope that England would upon any consideration of marriage whatsoever relinquish their own particular interests seeing Soveraigns have nothing which is dearer to them but it will have good reason to beleeve that it will never invade us unless provoked by honour or some great Consideration and on the contrary that they would assist us with a good will in such enterprizes where they could receive nothing but Glory After all Fâ—ance will have this benefit to hinder their being leagued with our enemies who joyned with them might much damage us and it is advantage enough to avoid those mischiefs which would follow if it were left undone and by that means to prevent the uniting of our enemies with them The Cardinal knew That that Minister who hath a care of the Church interest draws down a thousand blessings from Heaven upon the State Accordingly he did particularly imploy himself to get as much liberty as possibly he could in England The Earles of Carlisle and Holland came with confidence that there could not be any great strictness used in that particular but imagined as their Master did that the diversity of Religion which was in France would induce them not to be too earnest only of an Assurance that the Princess and those of her retinue should have free liberty to exercise that Religion whereof they made profession but the Cardinal quickly told them That the King his Master being more obliged by divers Considerations to procure greater advantages to the Church then the Spaniard they ought not to hope that he would be satisfied with less then they He represented to them that his Majesty being the eldest son of the Church and bearing the Title of the most Christian King would be much blamed if he proceeded upon other terms besides that this Alliance could not be concluded without the consent of the head of the Church That it would be ill received at Rome if it should be proposed there with conditions less favourabâ—e to the Catholicks then those which were granted to the Spaniards To which for the present the Embassadors replied That the King their Master had not procured the Parliaments consent for this Alliance with France and breaking off that with Spain but in consideration that they would not have been so strict in requiring so many favours in behalf of the Catholicks and withal that it was held there as a fundamental Law not to grant them any freedomes by reason of many great inconveniences which would in time happen to their State The Cardinal was not wanting to reply that he was well informed neither the King or Parliament were induced to break with the Spaniards untill they were convinced that their Treaty was onely feigned and that they had other designs then of giving the Infanta to the Prince of Wales and as for what related to the Peace of the State he answered that the liberty which was granted to the Catholicks could not trouble it seeing experience hath evidenced it on a thousand occasions that there is not any thing which doth more stir up People to Commotions then the restraint which is imposed upon the exercise of religion That that is it which incites people to shake off the yoke of their obedience and that never any thing but mis-fortunes have followed that Prince who would force men in that beleef which they had a long time imbraced That in truth Religion might by fire and sword be destroyed and rooted out before it be fully setled in the soul but after that it will be so far from being changeable by force that rather on the contrary violence will but ferment and fix it so much the more because those things are more difficult then the care which ought to be had for their conservation That in effect this Maxime was verified in France where the liberty which was granted to the Hugonots by the Edict of Peace had converted a far greater number then all the rigours of punishment and war These reasons were so strong that the English Embassadours found themselves unable to answer any thing against it But it was not sufficient to perswade them the King of Great Brittains consent was needfull It cannot be denied but there were great hopes of obtaining it considering his particular inclination he himself being well disposed to be converted and that he was also satisfied in Conscience concerning the principal difficulties in the Catholick Beleef and had permitted the Arch-Bishop of Ambrun sent at his intreaty by the King to sound him upon some other points to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to above twenty thousand Catholicks in London indeed it was apprehended a little hazardous lest the Parliament should not consent to it they having a great power in the resolution of affairs This difficulty induced the King after the Cardinal had informed him of it to send the Marquess de Effiat into England in the quality of an extraordinary Embassadour to negotiate all the affairs which related to the marriage In his instructions were particular orders to indeavour to perswade his Majesty of Great Brittain to like well of those reasons which the Cardinal had imparted to his Embassadour and moreover to tell him in particular that considering the Parliament was composed of Protestants and Puritans he ought to suspect them on this occasion that himself being party against them there was no apparence of any reason to delay that which concerned the Catholicks Interest Moreover that it was dangerous for a Soveraign to use violence towards his subjects in matter of Religion seeing that it teacheth to despise life and who so despiseth his own life is master of
have the reputation of an extraordinary Honesty especially to the transacting of such things which notwithstanding their innate Justice may provoke any evil spirits For though the most upright regulate their Judgements by some Principles which serve them as a Law in the Government of a State yet the most part ghuessing onely by their own senses and apprehensions judge of the Affairs by the Persons who conduct them Opinion guides the whole world and sets a price upon virtue it self and the reputation alone of him who negotiates may cause his designs to passe under the notion of good and lawful If the Foxes good counsel be once suspected by a man he will be hardly perswaded that a Person replenished with all the ornaments of a singular integrity will engage himself in unjust designs The repute of such a person sets a value and a price upon his words and actions and the opinion which is conceived of him is so absolute an Empire that there is no Appeal from his Judgement It is an ancient saying Truth is the strongest thing in the world But however if once Opinion hath fixed her Throne in the mindes of the people Truth will have somewhat to doe to disappoint her The prescriptions of a Physitian who is in esteem doe even passe for good And the Acts of a person who hath the credit of a sublime Virtue cannot be found fault withall The wiseft of the Pagans were not ignorant hereof but made great advantages by it as occasion offered it self Scipio the African would sometimes be a long while together all alone in the Capitol pretending he did conferr with Jupiter concerning the affairs of the Commonwealth and all this he did that he might be thought to be endued with a more than humane Piety Minos the Law-giver of Candia went down to make Laws into a subterranean Cave which he called Jupiters Grot and thence brought them all written perswading the people to believe that they were inspired into him by that Divinity And this was an easie way to perswade the people to whatsoever they had a mind to God himself hath thought it very proper too when he would bring any great thing to passe for he hath chosen usually such men who by their eminent virtue are able to make all people believe that whatsoever they declare could not be but truth He hath commanded the Prophets and Apostles to publish such sayings as would jarr and clash with the senses of most men and yet he hath replenished them in respect of his choice with the many graces that it were almost impossible for the most part not to believe them The deputation of the Sieur de la Ville-aux-clercs to the King of England in the qualitie of an Extraordinary Ambassador AFter the King had payed this respect to the Pope and that the Articles of Mariage had been coucluded upon the twentieth of November His Majestie cast his eys upon the Sieur de la Ville-aux-clerâ—s one of his Councellors and Secretary of State to dispatch him into England as an Extraordinary Ambassador He gave him particular order to testifie unto the King of Great Britain and the Prince of Wales the great affection which he had to live with them in a strait and near intelligence and to assure them that one of the chiefest reasons which drew him to agree to the Mariage was the consideration that as one link of their Friendship was tyed by Blood this would render it indissolvable After these Complements were once past he commanded him to procure the Articles of Mariage to be ratified and to obtain their Oaths and Promises by Writing according to what the Ambassadors had engaged their words He discharged himself with honour both to the one and t'other Commission and having several times entertained them with the Content that his Master would conceive by their Alliance he at last concluded with such dexteritie that he had instilled into them all sorts of good will and affection for France and in particular for his Majesties Interests and so invited them to a quick consummation of the Treatie that the sudden chances which usually happen to affairs of this consequence might not breed any alteration or change This was the ground-work upon which he founded his demands for their Instruments and Oaths which had been promised and which both of them were readily disposed to effect and accordingly they promised upon the Holy Evangelist not to attempt by any wayes or means to induce the Princesse to change the Roman Catholique Apostolique Religion or to force her to any thing which might be contrary to it They likewise promised upon their Faith and words of Princes to grant to the Catholiques more Liberties and Franchises in every thing which concern'd their Religion than had been given in favour of the Match with Spain not to force them to take Oaths contrary to the Rules of the Roman Church and to take effectual care that they were no more troubled in their Persons or Estates for their Religion provided they exercised it in private and lived in obedience as good Subjects ought to doe and finally both of them signed and delivered two Deeds for the better assurance of their Oaths and Promises After all this his Instructions did not oblige him to be contented with words onely as to that which concern'd the Libertie of the Catholiques so that he proceeded with great earnestness to obtain the effects of it and he was assured that upon the conclusion of the Mariage there should be a Patent of Enlargement granted to all such as were Prisoners for their Religion-sake without being any more troubled for the future and for what related to all in general there was a Deed made under his Majesties own Hand and Seal directed to the Lord Conway Secretary of State commanding him to signifie to all whom it concern'd that it was his Majesties pleasure no farther prosecution should be made against them and accordingly the Lord Conway gave notice hereof to the Chancellor Treasurer to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and to all other chief Officers principally requiring the Grand Treasurer to restore unto them all the monies which had been forced from them and payd into the Exchequer with order not to do the like hereafter and thus by obtaining their Promises Words and Assurances they had as much security as they could wish for could they but be contented to exercise their Religion in private and without noyse Politique Observation THe word of a King hath alwayes pass'd for so sacred that ours have sometimes scrupel'd at the confirmation by Oath of what they once gave upon their words It was for that reason Saint Lewis would not swear in his own person to the League then made with Henry the third King of England at the Camp neer St. Aubin Anno 1231. but desired it might suffice if he caused it to be sworn in his name and presence by the Prior of St. Martin the fields Indeed there being nothing
would not have so great an influence in perswading most men to what ever they desire I could say it was for this reason that the enemy of our Salvation designing to involve us in sin made his first addresses to Eve rather then upon the man knowing shee would easiliest contribute to the effecting of his intended end if hee could but once make himself Master of her Will. But without being beholding to examples of invisible Spirits who knoweth not that the Emperour Augustus affected to make himself be beloved by several of his enemies Wives not that hee might indulge his Senses or delight himself in Voluptuous Pleasures but that hee might fish out of them any Resolutions which were taken to his dis-advantage or Ruine and Tacitus is the man from whom wee learn this excellent device Open War in the State of Genoa WHilest Love was filling England with Mirth Mars was kindling a Fire of War in Italy The Duke of Savoys Army assisted by the French being all well provided the General would no longer defer the advancing of his Troops into the State of Genoa the rather because the Spaniards were imployed in other places and the Genoveses had but a few Forces to defend themselves The Prince of Piedmont was with the Duke his Father and the Marshal de Crequy with the Constable his Father-in-law The King in Consideration of the Alliance between Savoy and France consented that the Duke should give the word and that the Marshal should likewise pay the same respect to the Prince of Piedmont The Order which they observed was thus That the Constable should march with the Avant guard towards the Coast of Loppiata and his Highness with the body of the Army towards Cremolin The Constable comming before Loppiata the Inhabitants made some small resistance but they were soon forced and their Town Pillaged to strike a terrour into others this induced those of Gua a City belonging to the Territories of Genoa to send their Keys to the Duke who when he sent the Marquess of St. Reyran with his Regiment to Quarter there found some resistance for that Nicholas Doria in the mean time had put in some Forces there to defend it so the Duke commanded the Count of Veriie to march thither with certain Companies which strook such a fright into Doria and his Forces that they presently lest the place and Captain Martin Corseque delivered it at the first summons The City of Novy which is very large sent at the same time to the Constable to assure him they would open their Gates and accordingly he seized on it and then turning towards Gavy he defeated in his march five Companies of Neopolitans whom the Spaniards had sent to secure the place and shortly after the Duke of Savoy joyned with him to incounter with six thousand men part being of Collonel Gasees some Modenois and other some Parmesans who pretended to defend the Town But they soon cut one party of them in peeces near Ottage in a fight which lasted neer two hours and then falling upon four Squadrons of Horse not far off the same place they routed them with such good success that they took the Town and Castle of Ottage with three and twenty Colours killed above two hundred Neapolitans and Genoveses upon the place took above a thousand Prisoners and amongst them the chief Commanders Upon this defeat they concluded to make themselves Master of Gavy which was absolutely necessary for their marching up to Genoa The Castle is built on a Rock and the Town well fortified insomuch that many were of opinion it would be a hard task to take it seeing too that Barbarossa in the expedition which he made in the time of Francis the first into the River of Genoa could not take it in But the Constables courage which was not used to stoop under any Fear did not forbear to make his approaches upon the Town He who commanded it made a Sally with about three hundred men of which two hundred were slain in the place which so terrified those of the Town that they sent an assurance that they would open their Gates provided they might be protected from being Plundered and maintained in their ancient Priviledges which was granted to them and the Constable being got into the Town began to besiege the Castle At the first the Governour pretended a Resolution to defend it discharging several shot into the Town beleeving that the Castle could not be battered and supposing there were not any points of Rocks upon which any Cannon could be mounted to command it but the Constable soon let him see that there was not any thing impossible to the courage of the French for in a few days he had raised a Battery upon certain Rocks which did so awe him that he was forced to surrender upon Composition on the last of April Some Spanish Relations say that the Governour was rather frighted with Pistol shot then forced by the Cannon to surrender but their anger was at the Constable who had made himself Master of the place After these happy exploits the Prince of Piedmont took ten thousand men of the Army to go force the Passages of the Mountain Griego where the Genoveses were intrenched and to make way for the Siege of Savonne He presently forced their Trenches so that he had full Liberty to march as far as Pleve a Town scituated in the Mountains defended with a good Castle and several small Forts his courage made him resolve to carry it by assault after he had taken in those little Forts though it seemed capable of holding out a longer Siege which was executed with so much resolution and good successe that the place was won in an instant the besieged yeelding themselves as soon as they found the Gates and Walls were already secured upon condition of saving the lives of all such as should be found without Arms. All which was done with no small resistance for there were at least two hundred killed and taken together with seven Colours which were sent by the Prince to the Princess of Piedmont and afterwards to the King together with those three and twenty others which were taken at the defeat of Ottage and the Staffs of two Masters of the Camp Caracciolo and Catanda fent by the Duke of Savoy as the the fruits of those Victories which his Majesties Armies had obtained with a Letter in answer to that which was brought him by the Marquess de Saluce The Prince of Piedmont having suffered his Army to Pillage for about six and thirty hours in Plâ—ve he destroyed the Country towards Albengua the Magistrate of which place sent to offer to him the obedience of the Inhabitants accordingly he entred into the Town with some few Troops and from thence went towards Orvietta which the Genoveses had newly surprised but he forced it in a few dayes time After this once done he summoned the City of Ventimelia the inhabitants made some shew of resistance but the Prince
being come within a League of it they soon sent their desires to be admitted to Composition The Castle made some difficulty of surrendring but when the Governour had once seen a Battery raised on the points of the Rocks where five hundred Nissars had drawn the Cannon by the strength of their Arms he resolved to do as the Town had Thus in the moneths of March April and May did the Armies of Savoy over-run in the State of Genoa all that did resist them and made themselves Masters not onely of the places by us named but of divers others to the number of one hundred seventy four strong and weak so favourable is Fortune to those who undertake any thing with extraordinary boldnesse and courage Politique Observation FOrtune or to speak more properly Divine Providence doth commonly favour those who being truly generous do attempt any great enterprise Not that God worketh miracles for the crowning them with successe but indeed because couragiousness giveth them great advantages especially when it is accompanied with Prudence and that the Divine Providence co-operating with second Causes doth assist their indeavours Courage begetteth a certain hope which like a Spur stirreth up to great attempts from which Fear had formerly diverted them courage alone is sufficient to strike terrour into an enemy who fighting more by constraint then good will do usually give ground when once they find themselves vigorously assaulted Who knoweth not that it is courage which perswadeth to invade and subject other Countries Experience hath often evinced that an invading Prince hath a great advantage over him who is onely intent how to defend himself especially if he be Prudent in falling on him in a favourable conjuncture of time as when his forces are diverted into other imployments or worn out or unarmed They who have most judiciously weighed the Victories of Caesar do much ascribe them to his native Generousness which carried him on to attempt any thing without the least fear insomuch that he despised the un-relenting fury both of the Sea and Winds which spare no man and commanded the Pylot who conducted him not to fear since he carried Caesars Fortune in his Boat Never did his Souldiers shew their backs no danger could affright him well he knew death to be the end of life but not that it was a mis-fortune He built his Glory upon Conquests and the difficulty of his enterprizes re-doubled the Force of his Courage Fortune was alwaies his friend and he made it apparent that nothing was impossible to a man of Resolution The Prosecution of War in Italy FOrtune indeed did much adde to the Courage of the Arms of France and Savoy for the obtaining such great Conquests in so little time but much of the honour must be ascribed unto the Cardinal who first advised the expedition who issued out all Orders under the Kings Authority who executed them in so happy a conjuncture of time that neither the Spaniards or Genoeses could possibly defend those places which were assaulted by reason of their want of Forces And lastly who had so good intelligence in the States of Genoa that he did not a little contribute to the good success of this design Yet however Fortune or rather Divine Providence which over-ruleth Armies doth but laugh at mans Wisdome and seemeth to delight in distributing both good and bad success to their designs Thus was it with the French and Savoyards for the Scales seemed to turn against them and their Conquests came to a Period The Fame of these great Victories did so trouble the house of Austria that extraordinary preparations were made in Germany for the sending of a Potent Army under the command of Feria Governour of Milan for the assisting of the Genoeses The Marquess de St. Croix was likewise commanded to put to Sea a Fleet designed for that purpose who had imbarked neer four thousand Souldiers in twenty five Gallies and five Gallions of Sicilia These Forces of the Enemy came with a great advantage the Plague having consumed at least two thirds of the French since their arrival in Italy The Marshal de Crequy fell sick of it and not long after the Constable Besides divers Cities of Genoa seemed to shake off the yoke of their Obedience with joy and delight they turned about and before the end of June rise against their new Governours and Garisons with great violence as if Fortune had purposely done it to shew that misfortunes seldome come single And lastly the ill-management of the Artillery and want of Waggons for the Carriage of Provisions for the Army of all which the Duke of Savoy was in fault occasioned more disasters then all the rest besides the jealousies which grew between him and the Constable did not a little add to compleat them Things being in this posture did much incourage the Spaniards and the Duke de Feria that he might not lose the advantage of it entred into Montferrat about the beginning of July where he took Spione by force and not long after Acqui which the Constable had made his Magazine of Arms and had therin placed 3. Regiments to guard the munitions which he had there stowed up The taking of this place necessitated the Prince of Piedmont and the Constable to recall the Forces then marching towards Savonne that they might joyntly fall on upon the Duke of Feria but they found him incamp'd so advantagiously at Ferzo between Bistague and Acqui that they could not possibly come neer him the Passages being so narrow that onely two men could march a Breast At the same time the inhabitants of Albengua Novy and Acquy revolted against the French Garisons and shortly after divers other lesse places and six thousand Genoeses comming before Gavio the Governour and his son cowardly surrendred the place upon condition to be carried safely into France The Genoeses received them upon this Composition and conducted them accordingly but being there arrived their Treachery was not long unpunished by the Parliament of Provence Gonvernon the son being hanged the Fathers body taken up burned and his Ashes thrown into the Ayr death having prevented the execution of judgment upon him True it is Courage doth oftentimes compell Fortune to be favourable and the French Army though thus persecuted did yet make head against the Duke de Feria and prevented his further progress so that he was forced to make some other diversion by entring upon Piedmont and lying down before Ast with design to besiege it The Constable was yet there very weak it being thought he would have died so that he went off and the Marshal de Crequy upon the thirtieth of August came into his place with four thousand French The same day he made a Sally with the Prince of Carignan forced the enemy from a Bridge which they had kept six dayes and made them run away with shame though they had eighteen thousand foot and seven hundred horse Was not this a generous exploit of the French and
fell off from their obedience he represented to them the disasters which would infalliby fall upon them if they should suffer themselves to be led away by some who endeavoured it he informed them of the small reason or hopes they had to believe the Duke of Rohan's promises or the assistance of the English Fleet which could not hinder the relieving of the I le of Ree his words thus animated what with his address and the confidence which they bad in him so wrought on them that they subscribed a Declaration which they delivered to him in which they protested to live and dye in that Loyalty which they owed unto his Majesty This was as much as could be wished for all the other Towns great and small uningaged in the Rebellion did the like and his Prudence was so succesful that the Towns of Briateste Castres Pamiers Puylâ—urens Mazares Sainct Amand Cabarede Mazâ—res Masdazil â—alat and many others made the like Declarations under their hands and seals But the misfortune was that having left divers mutinous and factious Spirit of â—onsieur de Rohans Party in Castres Pamiers and some others of those Towns before named they did not remain firm to the Resolutions he had insinuated to them by which means the Duke of Rohan soon after became Master of them Politique Observation IN Publique exhortations Prudence is many times as effectual as Force But for the safty of Towns the Inhabitants ought to be prevented their Arms taken away and the most Factious amongst them turned out from them To prevent them is of great consequence they being like the Camileon which taketh any colour that is laid before it Sometimes a very little matter will settle them if applied in time and before Faction hath got any great power in their minds One man well prepared and esteemed by them may easily stop their violent proceedings by laying the miseries which follow war before them by acquainting them with their own weaknesses and by assuring them of enjoying their goods in Liberty and Peace A mutinous people may at first be wrought upon by their own Interests the Rule by which they Judg of all things For they naturally think well of nothing but what pleaseth them and reject that for evil which putteth them to any pains or trouble To believe their promises and not disarm them were a madness seeing they never hold long in the same humour the least shew of liberty charmeth them They are alwayes Enemies of the present State of Affairs Lovers of Novelties moved with any winds nay those of their own raising They do more affectionately embrance those things which are prohibited then those which are permitted them Great friends they are to innovations Infidellity is a Quality which they eat and drink not to be seperated from them insomuch that to leave them armed when a revolt is mistrusted were to permit a Sword in a mad mans hand The apprehending and securing of seditious persons is the next thing considerable which ought especially to be done A discreet Phisician doth make it his first work to draw out all the ill humours from his Patients body which serve to nourish his Fever and the first thing which a Minister is bound to observe in a place where Rebellion is like to break out is to withdraw all such discontented mutinous and Factious persons as are any way likely to carry the people to revolt That rigor which is used to such persons ought to be esteemed as a Commendable Pitty If they should complain of their condition it is much better to suffer the Insolencies of their words in a place where they cannot do any hurt then to run the hazard of their mutinous Actions in a City which they may probably cause to revolt The King unable to stop the Duke of Rohan's proceedings by fair means maketh use of force THe way which his Majesty used to hinder the proceedings of Monsieur de Rohan was very advantagious but it did not totally to the businesse The King finding it commanded an Army to be raised and committed the Conduct of it to the Prince of Conde sending him a Commission of Lieutenant General of his Forces in Languedoc Dauphine Guienne and Lyonnois He had upon the first rumour of those revolts there expedited certain Regiments thither but finding there would be need of a greater power to stifle the Rebellion in its Cradle he dispatched this Commission to the Prince of Conde with order to raise new Levies and to take the Field with the first He presently hereupon came to Lyon but upon better consideration it was found proper to divide the Army into two parts because there were several places to be looked after and far distant from one another so the Prince of Conde had the better half the t'other being committed to the Duke de Montmorency's care then Governour of Languedoc Monsieur the Prince marched out of Lyon about the beginning of December â—â—â—nded by the Marquesse de Bourg and de Ragny Marshals of the Camp the Mâ—â—quesse de Nangis Comte de Tournon Comte de Charlus Vicomte de l' Estrange Montreal and divers other Gentlemen Voluntiers He had two Troops of Carabins and near about two thousand foot with these he lay before Soyon a strong place upon the Rhone which did very much trouble the passage of the River he assaulted it and in two dayes forced them to deliver There was likewise another little Town not far off Saint Aubin which did much infest those parts the Prince surrounded it took it by storm and put all the Souldiers in it to the Sword From thence he went to Aiguemortes to confer with the Duke de Montmorancy who was then there and having sent for ten Companies of the Regiment of Normandy he commanded them to march against some certain places which the Duke of Rohan by reason of their importance had resolved to defend but the very fear which the Inhabitants and Souldiers apprehended on sight of the Army made them open their gates so they entred without resistance At the same time he commanded the Marquesse de Fossez Governour of Montpellier to go and besiege Corconne and the Sieur de Ornano to secure Aubenas both of them behaved themselves with courage in it and performed his commands the former taking Corconne a place strong of scituation being the Key to Seveunes and the second making himself Master of Aubenas by perswading the Nobility of those parts to fall into it In the mean while the Duke de Rohan was in the Comte de Foix whether the Duke de Montmorency pursued him as well to fight him as to oppose his designs They followed him some dayes without doing any thing worth notice But the Duke de Montmorency who had too much courage came up so near him near Castel Naudau that he could not avoid the fight Orders were accordingly and the Duke de Rohan being charged on the left by the Sieur de Arpageon seconded by the Company of the
Fortune but to follow Plato's advise who in his Book de Republicâ saith That to be a King and to Rule to serve and be beloved to fight and overcome are three such things as a man need not trouble himself to look after they being the Guifts of Fortune and only subjected to her power who granteth them to whom the pleaseth I am not of his opinion but do suppose that a Minister is bound having once obtained any great credit in his Masters soul to uphold it by all the cares and diligences which may render him beloved Philosophy teacheth very well That to obtain ones desire there ought to be causes applied to the subject by which a man designs to work whence it followeth that those qualities which make a man perfect and accomplished are the true causes of love so that he is obliged to let his Master see he is endued with those and the like recommendations and vertues amongst which I place that of a faithful servant in the Front For as an ancient hath observed services have a particular attractive power in them which insinuate affection and charm the mind Those subjects which are most useful are most beloved and as nothing is beloved but for Interest so those persons who are most conducing to the good of the State and the preservation of their Masters Authoritie are ever best affected And to speak the truth I believe that necessity maketh them more considerable then any other quality whatever For as the Bough of a Tree is in considerable in respect of the whole Body yet it is of great use to him who without it were in hazard of being drowned Just so is it with him he is beloved embraced and esteemed above all things when there is a need or want of him But a Minister what necessity so ever a Prince hath of him ought not if he would be dear to his Master become importunate or craving either by being alwayes in his sight on by begging any favour or boon of him Too great a Familiarity will bring his qualities into contempt how eminent so ever they be and the consideration of his services would be much diminished by his importunities Lâ—cullus one day asking Sâ—neca his intimate friend what course he should take to render himself acceptable unto the Emperour Nero in the Goverment of Sicily was thus answered by him That he is most in Princes favour who doth him most services The surest Rules which in this case is to be observed is this To see him but seldome to speak but little to him unlesse when occasions of State require it and then too with great respect and submission and in such terms as may never clash with his Masters thoughts and mind If there be any ill news to be discoursed let others first acquaint him with them The Souls of great men hate ill tidings as of Broyles and Insurrections things which diminish the respects which are due to their Authority He will not a little Fix and settle himself in his Masters favour by testifying a good courage in his occasions and affairs The Reason of this is Princes do naturally love those who are men of resolution they look on such as the supporters of their State Authority and lives and they who are themselves the greatest cowards do yet love such as are courageous stout and hardy Phalaris the Tyrant hath given us an example of this particular when he writ to a certain emulator of his I confesse thou art a good man and thou canst not deny but all in thy house are bad whereas if thou doest observe any vice in my person yet thou wilt find me still attended by wise learned and courageous followers and attendants These are the Chief Buttresses which support a Ministers favour to these I will only add That seeing there are not any qualities how eminent soever which the envy of some or other will not attempt to disguise unto his Prince he therefore ought with great care to remove such persons from him and that with the more Authority in regard Justice alloweth of the punishing such who requite services done for the Common good with Ingratitude Cardinal Richelieu Commandeth the Army in his Majesty absence THE Prudence of a King is no lesse demonstrable in his choise of Officers than in his Commands and in particular the King acquired no lesse Glory in commiting the care of the siedge of Rochel unto the Cardinal then if he had been there in person The whole management of affairs did evidence how judicious a choise his Majesty had made For Monsieur the Cardinal every day animated the Souldiers by his presence payed them weekly gave them cloths to preserve them from the cold every day oversaw all his Officers and Commanders to give them necessary instructions and to redouble their courages by his words and Actions by these means he so hastned on the works both by Sea and Land that his Majesty at his return found the first finished and the second in such forwardness that it deserved to be esteemed the eighth wonder of the World The Souldiers who are naturally addicted to mutinies and plunderings lived in such decorum that they had lost their very inclinations to one or t'other the Country men brought their provisions into the Camp without fear and received ready mony for them The Marchants kept open their shops as if it had been in a well governed City drunkenness and swearing were criminal faults And the Religious Persons whom his Majesty had sent thither of all sorts and orders were respected and held in such esteem as if they had been in a Church The most experienced in Military affairs could not sufficiently admire the Cardinals conduct in so much that they who knew him not would have imagined he had been bred all dayes of his life in the wars Some certain Persons there were who flattered the Ambition of those Grandees then under his Command by telling them it was unfit for them to obey a man of his Profession seeing their Offices gave them power to Command in his Majesties absence But the wonders of his conduct and courage were such that they were forced to confess nothing could out do him and that considering how many hapinesses he did atchieve unto France by one and t'other it were unreasonable not to obey his Majesties choise of him every one in particular acknowledging that no one but himself could under go those daily laborious knotty difficulties which he so easily did Politick Observation MIlitary discipline ought the more carefully to be observed in order to good successe because without it nothing followeth but confusion Vegetius a man well versed in such affairs saith The Romans had never been so potent but by their continual order and exercise in Arms. The strength of a Fort consisteth more in the Form then the matter the Power of an Army is undoubtedly as great by the good order amongst them as by their numbers Discipline is one of the Chief
proper to pay them often and little then seldome and by great sums which they consume in a short time by a natural ill husbandry without considering that that once gone they are liable to a thousand wants and inconveniences which may happen by sicknesse to the very great decay of them Courages and Resolutions The Kings Forces are Masters of the Field in Languedoc THe revolt of the Towns in Languedoc which the Duke of Rohan had gotten into about the beginning of the year did at first make a great noise but soon after Monsieur the Prince the Dukes of Montmorency and Vantadour who commanded his Majesties forces become Masters of the field and before the end of it repossessed themselves of all those palces which were capable of being forced in a few days for they thought it improper to ingage themselves in any long sieges because that might have given the Duke of Rohan opportunity to seize upon others Monsieur the Prince presently took Poussin and many other places upon the Rhone which were of great importance in those Countries by reason of the hinderance they brought to Commerce Not long afterwards he marched towards Tholouze that he might confer with the Duke of Montmorency Vantadour and d' Espernon who were to be there to consider what was fit to be done Now as he passed by Tarascon he had intelligence given that those of Nismes had seized of the Castle de Vauvert belonging to the Duke of Vantadour and he finding himself obliged by many considerations concludeth to pursue them but they of Nismes seeing him come up neer unto them forthwith surrendred it up into his power His Courage made his journey to Tholouze the longer but having had the satisfaction of reducing this place he arrived there with great content and after some conferences had with those Lords who met there it was ordered that the Duke of Vantadour should take some forces into Vivaretz to impede the Duke of Rohans proceedings in the Sevennes that the Duke of Espernon should march towards Milhaud in Rovengue the Count de Carmain with some Regiments to Foix which the Duke of Rohan had much ruined and that the Prince and Duke of Montmorency should remain in Tholouze untill March. Whilest they were yet there the Parliament made the processe against the Duke of Rohan and condemn'd him to be executed in Effigies declaring his Goods to be confiscated to the King who bestowed them on Monsieur the Prince The States of the Province were at the same time assembled together as well to consult of the means for keeping their people in obedience as to raise contributions and taxes for the maintenance of the forces The Kings Officers pressed hard on the Rebels to ingage them to fight and sometimes met with them for they well knew that long deliberation is an enemy to good successe especially in matters of War The Duke of Vantadour went from Tholouze towards Vivaretz about the end of January and passing as near the Rebels as possibly he could he had notice given him that all their Cavalry were issued out of Nisms scouring up and down the Country and that they committed all kind of disorder under the command of the Sieurs de Laignes de la Chassagne and d' Aubay Hereupon he commanded his Troop of Curasiers and that of his guard to follow him whom he carried up so near and advantagiously to the enemy that he ingaged them broke their ranks cut some in peeces took divers Prisoners and put the rest to flight The taking of Pamiers and other places by the Prince of Conde ABout the same time the Sieur de Perant Governour of Vsez fell upon six hundred foot of Mamoirac's Regiment seconded with a hundred Curassiers and fought with them Marmoirac two of his Captains one Ensign and about one hundred Souldiers were killed upon the place the rest were pursued to the very Gates As for Monsieur the Prince and the Duke de Montmorency they departed from Tholouze directly to Pamiers where Beaufort the Duke of Rohans Lievtenant General in Foix had built a Cittadel which by the leasure he had was made very strong they led up the Army to it and made their approaches so happily that they onely lost two men Monsieur the Prince raised a Battery filled up the Ditches and prepared every thing for a Breach the Battery was so quick that in a few hours there was a reasonable way open which the Prince having notice of he would needs go with the Marshals of the Camp to view it who drew out some of every Regiment to fall in upon the Town which they did and being got over lodged themselves under the Wall being unable to passe further on by reason of the Trench they met with but the standing which they had was so advantagious that the inhabitants could not offend them at all and not a man of the Town could appear but they presently fetcht him off with their Musquets insomuch that they forced them to demand quarter which the Prince caused to be given unto them from thence he went to â—ealmont a strong Town in Alkigeois against which place he raised three Batteries which thundring upon them forced them to surrender upon composition The next thing he did was to dispatch the Marquesse de Ragny with the fore guard towards Castle Franc which they reduced under his Majesties obedience and thence he caused some Troops to face Cosâ—â— and Saint Seveâ— Brassao and Castebrian which places were forced to open their Gates The Harvest now was comminâ—â—on and the Cardinal gave him and the Officers under him notice that his Majesty thought it not amisse to Forrage round a hour Montaâ—â—an Casâ—res Nismes and divers other principal Towns in Languedoc These orders drew the Prince neer to Castres the Duke de Montmorency before Nismes and the Duke â— Espernon before Montauâ—â—â— They 〈◊〉 Castre having notice of the Princes design drew all the Forces they could make out of the neighbouring Towns and Garrisons to prevent the Forragers and at first comming they made some skirmishes with his Souldiers and upon those who came within shot they leâ—â—flie their great Guns The Prince was not dismayed at it but onely looked on it as an occasion to increase his glory They whom he commanded to make the wast fell lustily to their work to the admiration of all those in the Town who with their whole forces made a salley out upon them Their first was a very violent encounter and maintained with great courage untill at last they were beaten back to the very Ditches from which time they did no more attempt to beat off the Forragers from their work The Duke de Montmorancy for his part took Poussin in his march a Town re-fortified by the Duke of Rohan and Mirabel a place of importance and then joyning his forces to those the Duke de Vantadour and Marquesse Desporsez he went to Forrage about Nismes where the Duke of Vantadour cut off about one
such an affront without a ready help and assistance so they used such dilligence in planting the Cannon that they were mounted within twenty paces of the Walls and ready to make a breach within two or three hours after their arrival Whence it happened that the Inhabitants being astonished presently rendered themselves and the Castle had not the hardiness to hold out above 24 hours though there were 500 men in it whom they would not receive but in the quality of Prisoners of War to qualifie by their fear the heat of the rashness which they had used It is true that the most part of them were quickly freed from this fear being in a Bravery that day sent to the Duke of Savoy with this message that seeing he wanted men they had sent him some and only kept Balbian who was Commander in chief of the five hundred men and some of the principal Officers who were carried to the Castle of Dauphine Politique Observation RAshnesse is much to be blamed in sieges as courage is to be commended it is base for such as find themselves in a place of defence to render at the first summons and not to sell it at the price of the lives and bloods of some of the besiegers but it is imprudent so to do if the strength of the besiegers or weaknesse of the place make them despair of keeping it It is handsome for them before they yeeld to testifie by some generous action that it is not out of cowardize that they surrender but it is not commendable for them to provoke the anger of their enemies which if they should draw upon themselves it were an excesse of heat which were hurtfull upon such an occasion as well as in all other enterprises and subject to turn into Ice after its first heats are over and produceth nothing but confusion in those whom it possesseth The Laws of Prudence in War oblige those who are in an apparent weak condition to stoop under the Arms of their enemies at least not to provoke them with outrages those of Justice giving leave to the victorious to chastize the insolency of them who do otherwise I have alwaies much esteemed of 〈◊〉 Livy his opinion who saith that temerity besides its inconsideratenesse doth ordinarily punish it self by infortunate successes True Courage is founded upon strength which giveth hope of overcomming It is not onely animated with passion which serveth for a spur to quicken it but with judgment which maketh one scorn those forces and designs which are formed against it Now although this rashnesse be more pardonable then a shamefull cowardize yet it hath alwaies passed in the judgement of the wise and persons of Conduct for a fault full of consideration The taking of Veillare by the Marshal de Schomberg THe Marshal de Schomberg had order at the same time to march over the Mountains with 8 or 10000 men to recruit the Army so that passing by Veillare he resolved to assault it and in eight daies he became Master of the Town and Castle which strook such a terror into the Duke of Savoy that he began to think of putting an end to these affairs by sweetnesse acknowledging that the first Victories which the King and the Cardinal had obtained in commanding his Majesties Army had given the Souldiers so great a Courage that there was nothing able to oppose it self to their violence Politique Observation IT is with Victories as with Torrents when the way is once open and the passage free for the Waters they overturn whatever they meet with and there is nothing found which can resist their violence so the first Victories of an Army do so stagger their enemies courages that it is afterwards easie for them to vanquish all that present themselves before them True it is those are the absolute effects of a true Valour whereas those second ones are rather to be attributed to their reputation The first advantages infuse fear into their enemies which if they once apprehend they are almost half overcome before hand Souldiers are ordinarily more affected with what they fear then with what they hope and they do many times leave and forsake the field not because they have lost the Battel but because they beleeve that it is lost in fine an Army fights with so much the more courage and assured hopes of overcomming by their being flesht with Victory whereas the t'other defend themselves faintly because they expect to be vanquished in prosecution of the forepast victories obtained against them And if any small losse happen to them be it never so â—ittle all the Towns abandon them and submit to the Conquerors party Thus after the defeat of Antiochus his Army all the Towns of Asia sent their Key to the Consul who led the Roman Army to bring them under obedience as Titus Livy hath observed And so after the losse of the Lacedemonians Army all their Towns rendred themselves in two or three dayes to the Romans as the same T. Livy hath recorded And Diodorus Siculus tells us that upon the getting of one Victory by those of Thebes under the Conduct of Epaminoâ—â—as against the Lacedemonians they became Masters of all Greece so available and powerfull are the first advantages which are gotten in Wars that they give a continuance of happy successes to all following enterprizes The Death of the Duke of Savoy THis taking of Saluces together with the other Victories which were obtained at Veillane and the taking those other little places thereabouts struck such a terrour into the enemies that they abandoned the Fort of St. Pierre and all the Valley excepting onely the Castle of Bresol which was taken the day following But that which was most strange was the Duke of Savoy conceived so sensible a displeasure at it that it deprived him of this life in a few daies after fortune had taken away from him the greatest part of his Estates Grief hath made evident in this Prince what experience hath shewed us in divers other persons that it is able to drie up the radical moisture to extinguish by little and little the natural heat and to strike its poison even to the heart and at last to kill out-right As the necessity of death is not to be avoided so the Law which hath imposed it admits not of any exception Death doth alike exercise its power over Princes and poor people delighting to make them once equals after they have lived in an extraordinary difference It is as natural as our births and as agreeable with mans nature as it is with the Sun to set and as it is natural so it cannot be bad for that nature maketh nothing which is evil Besides why should any one think it evil seeing our departure out of this World is followed with fewer afflictions then our comming in There is nothing in it of suffering but the inquietudes which trouble the mind and the grief which the body indures before the separation of the Soul Wherefore I
Observation THere are four principal causes which make Kings to march out of their own Country Ambition which hath no limits makes them impatient of being confined within those of their own States and desirous to inlarge them at their neighbours expences The natural inconveniences too of their own Country may draw them out to seek a better where they might live with more ease as our first French the Vandals and Goths did Some flatter themselves in the belief that there is not at this day any lawfull Prince at all whose Estate had any other beginning and that Kings have no juster Titles then by Conquests with their Swords Lastly they go forth to revenge those injuries which are done them it being allowable to repel Force with Force and to decide their differences in the field by that power which God hath given to them They quit their Countries to assist their Allies it being not only necessary for a Prince who aims at an extraordinary pitch of Glory not to injure any person but also to defend and protect those who are joyned with him by interest alliance or kindred The Assembly at Ratisbonne ABout the same time there was held an assembly at Ratisbonne and the King of Swede understood that it was then and there resolved to make a strong resistance against the Justice of his Arms and that the Emperour had contrived a design wherein though he was much mistaken to force him out of Germany and to make him perish in the Baltique Sea not vouchsafing to treat a Peace upon those Proposals which had been sent to him only for restoring the States and Liberties to those Princes and Republiques from whom he had ravished them Resistance heightens and augments Courage and this made the Swedish King march up into the Country and resolve upon great designs which we have seen him bring to passe But first he had recourse to such Kings and States with whom he was in League About September he writ to the King desiring him by that ancient Alliance which had been between the Kings of France and Swede with mutual promises not only to preserve friendship between one another but also when occasion should serve reciprocally to assist one another to imploy the power of his Arms and Authority to defend that cause which he had then undertaken in prosecution of which he had passed the Sea and all in the behalf of those who were tied to him by kindred and allied to the Crown of France The King whose courage could not indure that any wrong should be offered to his Allies received this request so much the more favourable in respect it were as glorious a thing in him to contribute to their establishment and accordingly he gave the most advantagious answer to his Embassadours that could be expected However the Cardinal offered one thing to his Majesties consideration that it would be needfull to take care for the maintaining of Religion in preserving of States and to ingage the King of Sweden not to commit outrages against it where he found it setled His Majesty took time to deliberate and resolve on the Articles of their Treaty which being concluded and assigned about the beginning of the yeer following I shal then re-assume my discourse of it in its due order Politique Observation HAsty rashnesse in resolving upon grant affairs is as dangerous as a nimble executing of them is advantagious Prudence ought to guide both one and t'other And whatever Justice appear above-board in designs yet they are subject to have but ill successes if not commenced with mature deliberation Though the wise man resolve to do such a thing which he knows to be just yet he will take time to deliberate on the means And as the interest of Religion is very considerable so the Cardinal would not act any thing untill that were secured Whereas on the contrary rash hasty persons do greedily run unto the end which they have once concluded but never examine the ways which conduce to attain to it thus they do many times find themselves so at a losse and intangled in the executing their designs that they at last find no dore to walk out at with honour and so leave off with shame and confusion Hence it is that Demosthenes in his first Oration against Philip saith They who counsel with great hast are not the greatest Counsellours those Stomacks which make a quick digestion do not concoct so good a Chilâ—â—s as those whose heat is moderate as Physitians tell us and true it is those spirits which make their resolution with most heat and promptness do commonly came lamely of at last cast The King honoureth the Sieur de Montmorancy and Thoyras with the Staff of Marshal of France SHortly after his Majesty came to Paris well knowing that rewards of honor are not only due to those who have deserved them but withall usefull to incourage others to follow their example He resolved to honour the Sieurs de Montmorancy and Thoyras with the Staffs of Marshal of France as a mark of Valour which the former had shewed in the War of Piedmont and which the second had shewed to all Italy during the Siege of Cazal They being persons of great esteem every one commended his Majesties choice which he had made in raising them to that eminent degree of honour But the Rebellion of the one and the evil Government of the other did shortly after sully part of that glory which they had merited they shewing by their Procedures that valour and prudence do not alwaies meet in the same subject Politique Observation THe rewarding of services is so necessary for the good of a State that when it is once laid by the practice of vertue is neglected especially if it be not distinguished by marks of honour There are but a few of the same mind with the Phylosopher who said he never expected other fruit from his good deeds then the contentment to have done them and that he thought himself very happy to receive that testimony from his Conscience which she gave to him It is true a truly noble man doth not so much regard the Recompence as the Action of Vertue which render him deserving but it cannot be denied that those marks of honour do make lively and excite resolutions to noble actions The wisest Phylosophers have said that the two supporters upon which all the motions of a State depend are reward and punishment without which there were no doubt but that great disorders would soon follow and vertue become totally neglected The King Honours the Sieur de Servient with the Office of Secretary THe King who was not to seek in any thing which concerned the good of his State would now make another proof of the knowledge he had of that Prudent maxime One of the places of Secretary of State being vacant by the death of the Sieur de Beauclere his Majesty recollected in his mind the services of the Sieur de Servient the Prudence wherewith
for a King without Conduct who had vanquished the English in so many encounters taken Rochel forced the Alps twice relieved Cazal suppressed his Rebellious Subjects bounded in the ambition of the house of Austria setled religion in divers Provinces of his Kingdom secured the Pope from the Spanish oppression gave peace and liberty unto Italy by his Victories became the Arbitrator of Christendome and whose Arms strangers did apprehend with fear and terrour It cannot be said of him but that he was the most couragâ—ous in his undertakings the most Pious in his Conscience the most Just towards his Subjects the most Daring in any dangers the most Prudent in his Councels and the most deservedly to be admired for all his Actions that ever yet reigned over us Have we not all seen how his zeal and courage for Religion hath ingaged him to expose his person the most flourishing years of his time his Nobility his Treasures and in some kind to hazard his own State and all to abate the Insolencies of the Church's enemies It might indeed have been said that some other besides him had atchieved all those glorious Actions which we dayly see before our eyes provided any enterprise had been done without him Had he not in his own person ordered Battels had he not personally appeared in sundry dangers and had he not been actually assisting at all his Counsels to resolve what orders were most proper to be followed But the one is as visibly apparent as the other and he who would beleeve their aspersions must necessarily be born among the Antipodes All Europe was so sufficiently convinc'd of his Majesties rare and divine endowments as not to suffer themselves to be surprized by the calumnies and devices of such wicked imposters and all such as have had the honour to know though but a little of the Conduct of affairs have had ground enough to admire those great lights of Nature and particular blessings of Heaven wherewith his Majesty was stored by means of which they who were of his Counsel have seen him take such expedients as could not but be so many marks of an extraordinary Prudence Politique Observation IT is a misfortune for a King to be exposed unto slanders Let a Princes actions be never so glorious yet Man is naturally so averse from Government that he is hardly to be restrained from evil speaking against him who rules over him not excepting God himself as may appear in the particular behaviour of the Israelites But however it cannot be esteemed for other then a monstrous ingratitude thus basely to reward the great cares which he undergoes for the publick good neither can it be denied but that such reviling whereby the reputation of his glory is endeavoured to be eclipsed ought to be severely punished and especially when it tends to raise troubles in the State It is much more just to honor the actions of a Soveraign with respect then to asperse them with blame which cannot but be rash and inconsiderate unlesse accompanied with a most exact knowledge of all his designs besides those Calumnies which are laid to their charge are so much the more dangerous in regard that admitting they do not drive men into a distrust of him yet do they undeniably diminiâ—h that confidence which his Subjects would repose in him That Lye which is reported with asseveration does commonly leave some impression in the mind behind it though it beget not an absolute beleef Reputation is a Treasure which Kings cannot sufficiently esteem this is it which makes them venerable not that it adds to their vertues but renders their vertues more conspicuous not that it gives perfection to their abilities but sets off their splendour and this splendour is it which maketh men more obedient and subject to their Wills and Pleasures Opinion governs the whole World and gives Princes themselves Authority in their very Thrones Experience hath told us that we are not apt to credit a truth if reported by a Lyer so likewise no one will easily subject himself to a Prince who is commonly reputed for uncapable of Government being once in dis-repute he may cease to hope either for obedience or respect he loseth with his honour all the Love which was formerly payed unto him and fear will not long stay after the losse of Love Which being so no one can doubt of the Justice nay absolute necessity of inflicting exemplary punishments on such as have the boldnesse to offend their Soveraigns by their Calumnies He who doth not chastize them doth expose himself to eminent dangers for that men having once heard him ill reported of take the lie for a truth if the Authors remain unpunished and thus consequently he will fall into scorn and run the hazard of losing both person and estate And as he who puts one injury incoâ—rageth others to do him more and greater so it may well follow that the same party having first offended him by words may take the boldnesse next time to do it by deeds The King is carefull to justify the Cardinal by his Letters and Declarations ALthough small aspersions raised against a Prince ought not to be chastized with too much severity yet when they tend to the destruction of his Authority and the troubling oâ— his State the greatest rigour is but little enough The Emperour Theodosius did one day upon the score of a fiction raised against him answered as became his Clemency saying If he who scandaleth his Prince doth it by way of Pastime he should scorn it if by ignorance or folly he should pity him if he did it out of Malice he should forgive him Which is only to understood of small injuries such as are not prejudicial to the State and which indeed deserve rather a Princes Scorn then his Anger whereas those others deserve to be punished with severity Whence it follows that no one can doubt but that these Libellers ought to undergo the rigours of Justice their absence having secured them and his Majesty satisfying himself only by setting forth the nake sincerity of his Intentions and the justice of his Proceedings in his Letters and Declarations His Actions indeed were a defence to themselves being accompanyed with so much honour and glory that there was not any aspersion but vanished at their presence But it cannot be expressed with what care his Majesty was affected in the Cardinal's behalf how solicitous he was to vindicate him for he had not only not the least thoughts of abandoning him to the malice of his Calumniators but he rather undertook to justifie him to the life upon all occasions in his Declarations and Letters which he sent unto the Parliaments of Provinces to the Queen-Mother and Monsieur He needed not any Mediator with his Majesty for that he knows better then any other person the solidity of his Counsels the Fidelity of his Zeal the Justice of his Intentions the Generousness of his Courage and the Moderation of his Conduct The greater reason
influence over Monsieurs affections that he easily countermined and blew up al the others reasons neither could Monsieur possibly guard himself from the subtilty of his insinuations He perswaded him to believe that the King would doubtless at length agree unto the Marriage especially seeing his first Lady was altogether of his Majesties choice and a person totally adhering unto the Interest of Lorrain and in regard there was not any inequality between the former aâ—d this divers Kings of France having matched with the Princesses of Lorrâ—in and the Princesse Marguerite her self being daughter to a daughter of Frâ—nce He represented unto him that he could not chuse but follow the same steps which Hâ—nry the Great had trodden out unto him who did not stick to marry his late sister unto the family of Lorrain which only consideration were sufficient to induce his Majesties confirmation of this marriage and lastly that in case it should please God to set the Crown upon his head the whole Family of Lorrain a thing of no mean consideration would be inseparably tied unto the interests of France These reason at first glance seem specious enough yet could they not have made any deep impression upon him had he represented unto him as indeed he ought how the late King was forced to marry his sister unto the House of Lorrain that he might thereby reclaim them from thwarting his designs how that the late Madam had in that small time of her being married unto Monâ—â—eur raised such a fire in the Court as was not easily extinguished and how that the Alliance of Hâ—nry the third with the House of Lorraâ—n had only served to incourage their boldnesse and give them opportunity to prosecute their design of pulling the Scepter from him But these things entred not into his thoughts the passion which he had for the Princesse of Falsbourg having blinded â—im and left him no eye-sight but only how he might incompasse the consumnation of his Masters marriage That Princesse her self whose Soul is very active omâ—â—ted no invention to facilitate her designs and being not to learn how powerfull young Beauties are to captivate the greatest courages there needing no other device to render them beloved then the bare letting them be seen she used her utmost indeavours to draw Monsieur unto such places where the Princesâ—e Mâ—râ—uerite was that in fine the flames of her Beautâ— adding new forces to the Siâ—ur de Puy-Laurens his reasons might compel Moâ—sieur to submit unto the Laws of Love Accordingly it succeeded and the marriage was performed in presence of a Religieux of the Cistercian Order who had not any authority from his superiour but only from the Cardinal de Lorrain Bishop of Thal though he had not any jurisdiction over him to impower him to administer Sacraments for that he was exempt from the Diocesse of Lorrain as all the rest of his Order The Abbesse of Remiremont with whom the Princesse Marguerite was brought up was assistant at the Ceremony as also Monsieur dâ— Elâ—oeuf and Monsieur de Puy Laurens who were witnesses besides these there were not any other present excepting only two Bernardines to assist him who married them and all this secresie was used to prevent his Majesties knowledge thereof and escape the punishment which they could not but expect would fall upon them as a reward for such attempts and not only so but likewise because they much doubted the validity of the marriage which was thought such that Monsieur de Vâ—udemont could not forbear saying that in case his daughter were not fit one day to wear the Crown of France yet she would alwaies be good enough to make an Abbesse of Remiremont suspecting belike the weight of his Majesties prohibition Politique Obseruation AMongst the divers Prerogatives of Princes that of hindring marriages is not of the least importance The right whereof may be proved from the Authority of some Canonists whose reputations stand clear in the schools of all Divines and who affirm it in expresse terms But not to quote their testimonies me thinks we need no other proof to evince this truth then common custom For were not the Emperours the first who determined the conditions and qualities of those who might marry Were not they the original institutors of who might and who might not marry Hath not the Church extracted her decrees from their Laws Besides those decrees of the Church have not our Kings eftablished new Orders as is to be seen in the Ordinance of Blois where Henry the Third declared all Marriages void wherein the Banes were not published which however are not so adjudged by the Church And what hath given credit to the Decree of the Councel of Trent but our Kings Declarations Now if the validity depend upon their Seal how can it be denied but they likewise have authority to inforce this new prohibition And have they not likewise Ordained notwithstanding the Decree that Heretiques should not be obliged to contract their Marriages in presence of the Curate of the Parish where they live which cease not to be valid and in force Besides is there not likewise another Ordinance which impowered by our Kings only and the custom of Bretayn which maketh the marriages of Guardians with their Pupils to be void then not effected by the permission of the Justice whereas the Church is of another opinion These are reasons which do evidently maintain and prove that our Kingâ— have a disposing power in the marriages of their Subjects And indeed what reason were there that they should be denied this priviledge seeing the whole power is principally conferred upon them for the preservation of the publique Peace and private Families which depend exceedingly much as is not unknown unto any one upon marriages which besides that it is so granted by the chief of Divines is likewise deduceable from common experience Let not any one therefore make a question of it But if any one demand in what manner they may hinder and obstruct marriages I shall make use of a distinction in my answer and say that for the making of a general prohibition it is requisite to Ordain a publique and universal Law to signifie their Will unto their Subjects as was done in the Ordinance of Lewis the Eleventh which inforced the publication of Banes And in case of a particular marriage there need only a particular inhibition to be signified unto the particular persons intending to contract themselves so that they be duly informed of the prohibition issued out against their further proceedings therein The Catholique Electors of the Empire propose to become Neuters During our Kings abode at Mots the Catholique Electors were in such disorders that they were forced to make addresse unto his Majesty for his protection The King of Sweden prosecuted his Conquests in the lower Palatinate with such extraordinary successe that they look'd on themselves as all undone if his Majesty did not assist them the Eperours Forces being reduced to such an
great atchievements to be made use of in a mans own defence and to secure him for the ambushments of his enemies Clemency ought to shut a Soveraign's eys that he may no more behold their faults who beg his favour in matters of revolt having first layed by some of the chief for examples sake And is it not then a generous revenge to pardon a man already overcome especially if he be of the same blood Pardon is sometimes as difficult to be supported by Grandees as the confusion of a defeat some have chosen rather to perish then to beg it Withall a King is so far from receiving any detriment in his government by granting it the rather on the contrary Clemency is a spell which charmeth every one to love him it is one of the strongest Pillars of his State besides the glory which it carries with it whose splendour is not small generosity having no stamp more venerable then Clemency And Experience evidenceth that all good courages have a natural sweetnesse to cure wounds without leaving any scars behind them The Herb called by Homer Nepenthe presented to Helen by the Queen of Egypt was much esteemed of for the allaying of all griefs for causing an oblivion of offences and for restoring the same sentiments of affection which had been before the breach of friendship The Grecians were esteem'd very wise who when they could find no other expedient to redresse the many crimes during the time of the thirty Tyrants published a Decree by them called the Amnesty commanding they should all be buried in Oblivion and the valiant Scipio took the same course with his revolted Souldiers telling them he desired Oblivion might efface their fault and in case that could not do it it might at least be smothered in silence to the intent it might not be cast in their teeth All that Princes have to consider in communicating the effects of their Clemency is so to pardon that they leave neither the courage nor the liberty of relapsing into a second fault by making sure of those who may occasion it Those who humble themselves they ought to set free from the rigours of their justice yet the favours they grant ought to be managed with such prudence that whilest they forget those crimes which they pardon the other may forget their ways of offending them The Cities of Languedoc return to their Obedience AS a Tempest usually giveth place to the Sun so divers the revolted Cities of Languedoc upon his Majesties approach to their Province returned to their obedience and among others Bagnols Alby Lunel Villenene Maguelonne Frontignac and Beziers But the Calm did intirely manifest it self after Monsieur's accommodation had been signed and confirmed every one then returning to his duty yet because the Peace of that Province and the peoples safety were necessarily to be secured his Majesty commanded that Brescon the Castle of Pezenas the Cittadel of Beziers and divers other places should be eraz'd which not being any Frontiers could onely serve for a retreat to Rebels Withall he gave Commission to the Sieur de Muchaut Master of the Requests assisted by the Marquess de Tavannes Marshal of his Camps and Armies to chastize divers partakers of that Rebellion both in their persons and the razure of their Castles And in conclusion that he might draw a general acknowledgement of the Rebellions committed by those of that Province and leave some better settlement behind him he assembled the Estates at Beziers upon the first of October the next day the Session began himself being personally present He appeareth with that splendour wherewith he is usually inviron'd when he sitteth in his Throne of Justice being accompanied by the Cardinals Princes Dukes and Peers Marshals of France and other Lords attending him The first sitting of the Court was in his Majesties presence and the Keeper of the Seals having represented to the Bishops Gentlemen and other Deputies there present how hainous the crime of Rebellion which they had committed in the late Commotions was he was most humbly beseeched by the Arch-Bishop of Narbone their Speaker that he would pardon the whole Province in whose name he promised him a most inviolable fidelity Whereupon the King that he might fully make to appear the effects of his Clemency not only pardoned them but suppress'd the Esleus and confirm'd their priviledges yet he made a new order for the imposition of monies which were at any time to be levied in their Province Politique Observation IT is not enough to beat Rebels out of the field and to force them to their houses a Soveraign is moreover obliged to establish such an Order in the Province where the Rebellion hath been that it remain not exposed to the danger of a second storm after he shall withdraw himself He ought judiciously to imitate the Prudent Physician who having rais'd his Patient out his bed indeavoureth to re-establish his temper and to restore him to such a condition of health that he may not fear a relapse It would be a great rashnesse to punish all that are guilty so to do would assuredly raise a greater revolt and which instead of troubling one single Province might indanger the whole Kingdome It is indeed proper to assemble some of them that he may receive and acknowledgement of their crimes their submissions and their repentance that once past his Clemency ought to pardon the multitude his Justice having reserved some of the Ring-leaders for exemplary punishment Thus Aristides having received intelligence in the War how some the noblest of the Athenians finding themselves oppressed by poverty and discontented to see themselves depriv'd of that Authority they had formerly injoyed in them management of affairs had conspired against the people and resolved to deliver the Common-Wealth into the hands of the Barbarians rather then live in the estate whereunto they were then reduced satisfied himself with causing eight of the principle to be taken to punishment and exhorted the rest to behave themselves with such courage that their generousnesse might efface the memory of so ignominious and enterprize which one thing wrought more effectually with them then if he had severely punished them It is only fit for inferiour Judges to raise informations against all the particular accessaries to a crime Kings who Clemency maketh far more glorious then Severity ought to wink at the disorders of the multitude seeing they had not ingaged in a Rebellion but by the Artifice of the chief men of the Province who are more in fault on but by the Artifice of the chief men of the Province who are more in fault then all the rest I will moreover adde that it were proper they did a little sweeten those Orders which clash with the peoples sence and which have served for a pretence to their Rebellion for it is exceeding dangerous to be obstinately resolute in any thing that goes against the hair of the multitude not that I should think it Prudence to admit of what